The leaves of a tall maple tree on one side of the courtyard had turned red into flames. An autumn wind blew, and a few leaves fell in the wind, spinning and falling in an irregular trajectory. One of them floated for a long distance and landed beside Guo Xu's mouth impartially. Guo Xu just took a breath at this time, and then inhaled the leaf into his mouth.

"Phew! What is it? Guo Xu was awakened, and spit out the maple leaf in his mouth hard, only to feel a strange smell in his mouth, and after a closer look, there was a bubble of white bird feces on the maple leaf, which should have been left a long time ago, because it was already dry, but after Guo Xu's saliva soaked, the dry bird feces became vivid. There is only half of a piece of bird poop left, and the remaining half is naturally in Guo Xu's mouth.

"Ahh Guo Xu loudly spit out the bird droppings in his mouth, and at the same time scolded angrily: "Bastard, at this moment, even the leaves are also coming to bully me, am I so unlucky?" Come on, come on! ”

Several attendants rushed out from under the corridor when they heard the sound, and hurriedly called: "Your Majesty, where are the slaves and maids, what's wrong with the emperor?" ”

"Go, cut down that maple tree for me by the roots, and tell the guards to shoot all the birds in the front and back harems of Ouchi from today onwards, and leave not a single one behind." Guo Xu shouted loudly.

"......" The chamberlains were stunned like wooden chickens, what is the emperor crazy about? This maple tree is 100 years old and is one of the most beautiful trees in the palace. The emperor and the ministers praised it, and the masters of the Hanlin Academy once held a poetry meeting for it, and the emperor himself liked this maple tree, so he moved to this pavilion to live, but at this moment he wants to cut down this tree? Also, how did the birds in the palace offend the emperor, and the emperor wanted to shoot them all. This temperamental emperor who has been moody recently doesn't know what he's crazy about.

"Why don't you go soon? You don't listen to me? Do you want to resist the decree? Guo Xu said angrily.

"Yes, yes, slaves and maids will do it." The attendants hurriedly agreed, got up and went to prepare.

Soon after, the sound of the felling dingding sounded, and the two chamberlains began to cut down the tree with axes in their hands, and the old maple tree trembled under the sharp axe, and the red maple leaves fell, and finally with a bang, the maple tree that had lived in the palace for a hundred years was cut down by laziness, and fell to the wall, crushing a large glazed tile.

Guo Xu stood under the corridor and watched all this, gritted his teeth and said with hatred: "Old thing, I cut you up and told you to bully me." ”

Guo Xu turned around and was about to enter the house to drink tea, at this moment, there was a sound of footsteps, and two people came on the corridor. When Guo Xu saw them, he hurriedly stopped.

"What is this for?" Lu Zhongtian walked closer quickly, frowned and pointed to the collapsed maple tree on the west wall and asked loudly. His tone didn't look like he was talking to the emperor, but like he was asking one of his officials. He didn't even call the emperor, nor did he salute Guo Xu.

"Looking at the eyesore, I asked someone to cut it down." Guo Xu said lightly.

Lu Zhongtian frowned and looked at Guo Xu for a long time, and said in a deep voice: "The emperor is still more stable, and he can't spoil the things in the palace." This maple tree was ......"

Guo Xu interrupted: "Do I need my grandfather's permission to cut down a tree?" Am I no longer in power to dispose of a tree? ”

Before Lu Zhongtian could speak, the man behind him jumped up: "What are these words?" How do you talk to your elders? My father works hard for your Guo family every day, and his hair is so tired that his hair is gray. Me too, I used to be so carefree, but now I have to go to the yamen every day to worry about your Guo family's affairs, you live comfortably in the palace every day, do you want to say these strange things to my father? Hee-hee-hee, you can really lose your temper. ”

It was Lu Zhongtian's baby son Lu Tianci who spoke, this guy has been the third envoy for two years, and he still looks so thief-eyed, and the purple robe crown belt can't change his obscene temperament. However, compared with before, there is really more arrogant aura on the body, and the body is more obese. It's like a giant rat that has fallen into the granary, eating with a full stomach and a round stomach, and of course it is still a lewd appearance with a thief's eyebrows and rat eyes.

"Godci, bastard, how can you talk to the emperor? I can't stop talking. Lu Zhongtian scolded Lu Tianci in a deep voice, and at the same time bowed and saluted: "The old minister has seen the emperor. ”

Lu Tianci also puffed out his eyes and said perfunctorily: "I have seen the emperor." ”

Guo Xu didn't want to make a fuss, so he waved his hand and said: "My grandfather and uncle are exempt, what my uncle said is right, my words are wrong, and I am also willful." It's just that the maple tree has been cut down, but it can't be saved. ”

Lu Zhongtian smiled and said: "It's just a tree, I thought it was the servants who made their own decisions, so I was a little angry." Even if you block the emperor's eyes, you can cut it off. ”

The petty clashes were eased under the deliberate cover-up of both sides, and the atmosphere of suspicion quickly returned to normal. Neither side wanted to tear their faces, so both sides restrained themselves.

"Why are my grandfather and uncle here? What's the matter? Guo Xu asked.

"Your Majesty, the old minister is here to discuss with the emperor about the affairs of the north." Lu Zhongtian replied in a deep voice.

"Something about the north? I...... Don't want to worry about those things. Didn't I say that my grandfather should be in charge of the affairs of the DPRK and China, I listened to my grandfather and uncle. I'm not interested in those things. I didn't sleep well last night, and I'm going back to the dormitory to catch up on sleep, or my head will hurt. Guo Xu said lightly.

"Your Majesty, military affairs still have to be discussed with the emperor. The emperor can't just ignore everything. The old minister is old, maybe he will return to heaven one day, and the emperor will have to face all this by himself. Therefore, the emperor still needs to deal with these things. "Lu Zhongtian said.

"I ...... Hehe, I know how many pounds and taels I have, I am not the self-righteous person I used to be. The decisions I made since I ascended the throne were all wrong, and I knew that I was not equipped to deal with them. So, it's up to my grandfather to do it for me. Whatever it was, my grandfather sent an official letter in the name of the Cabinet or the Privy Council. I don't want to cause trouble. I knew that my grandfather worked hard every day, but if he could work hard, he asked his grandfather and uncle to work harder. Of course, take care of your body as well. I think that my grandfather's body is old and strong, and he can live to be 100 years old, no...... Maybe 200 years old is unknown. In short, my grandfather's health is a blessing for me and a blessing for my Great Zhou. That's it, I'm really sleepy, I'm gone. Guo Xu stretched out his hand to cover his mouth, yawned a lot, waved his hand, and really turned around and walked away.

Lu Zhongtian and his son stood in place and were a little stunned, Guo Xu's tone was gentle, and his words were extremely humble and polite, as if he had unreserved trust in Lu Zhongtian and his son. However, when Lu Zhongtian heard it, there were words in every sentence, and there were thorns in every sentence. People who have ghosts in their hearts will naturally deeply understand the connotation of the other party's words. Of course, Lu Zhongtian has a ghost in his heart.

"Daddy, it looks like he really doesn't want to take care of things anymore. In this case, let's make our own decisions in the future, and we don't need to report to him. Anyway, now that the courtiers are listening to their father's words, why bother to waste time with this waste. Lu Tianci said in a low voice.

Lu Zhongtian sneered and reprimanded, "What do you know? It's not that he doesn't want to care, but he knows that he can't be the master anymore. He is not haste, be patient, and keep quiet. He knows the current situation, and he wants our father and son to take the blame for him. Didn't you listen to what he said? He wanted the old man to handle affairs in the name of the government hall and the Privy Council, which meant that he did not want to make a will. But...... The spearhead of public grievances is pointed at our father and son, and it has nothing to do with him. Hehe, playing with the old man, I'm afraid I'm still a little stunned. ”

Lu Tianci was surprised: "It turns out that he thinks so. It's really hateful. ”

Lu Zhongtian sneered: "He wants to shirk responsibility but it is wishful thinking, God-given, we can take the idea of the next thing, but we must force him to make an order." We can't make official decisions in the name of the two governments and three departments, although we can do this, but we can't fall for him. Da Zhou is still his surname Guo Da Zhou, and the current situation is not easy to handle, we can't let him shrink his head and become the eighth king, and we can't let the people target us. He Guo is blocking the arrows for us in the front, and our father and son are benefiting from the back, understand? ”

Lu Tianci nodded and said, "Daddy, the child understands." ”

Lu Zhongtian said in a deep voice: "It's a pity that our layout failed before, and Han Desui, the king of the Southern Courtyard of Liao, actually died. Otherwise, we should rest easy. He and I have a personal pact. Even if the Liao people attack my Great Zhou...... My father and son will also take advantage of the opportunity. It's a pity ....... That Jurchen Wanyan Agu is afraid that it will not be easy to get along, I feel that this guy has bad intentions, and I don't know what will happen in the future. This is really worrying. I wanted to send someone to talk to Wanyan Aguda, but I was a little hesitant. ”

Lu Tianci said: "Daddy, is he worried that Yan Agu will fight?" ”

Lu Zhongtian nodded slightly and said, "It is very likely that the soldiers and horses of the Jurchens and Yeluchun are preparing to expand their troops." Although a tripartite peace agreement was signed, who knows what they have in mind? The situation is confusing and unpredictable. Now, we can only measure Zhou's material resources to please them. Let's hope they won't be so ambitious. But we also need to be prepared, which is why I wanted to get in touch with Wanyan Aguda. I don't want my father and son to end up with a bamboo basket and no water. This has to be kept completely secret, and you'd better keep your mouth shut. I don't want you to ruin my big deal. ”

Lu Tianci said in a low voice: "Daddy, why don't you just abolish him, with our strength, even if Daddy becomes the emperor, no one dares to object." ”

"Shut up!" Lu Zhongtian roared: "What do you know? This is not the time to act rashly. Do you think we can do anything now? Although Guo's popularity is now sluggish, it has not yet reached the time that Wanfu pointed out. Besides, there are Guo Kun and Lin Jue's gang in Funiu Mountain. But if you take even half a wrong step, you will push the people's hearts to their side, and that will be the worst outcome. Even if...... Even if you do something, you have to kill Guo Kunlin first, do you understand? ”

Lu Tianci nodded hurriedly and said, "Yes, yes, everything is arranged by my father." ”