Fang Zheng was once again kicked out of the imperial study by the angry emperor, he couldn't remember how many times he had been kicked out, it seemed that this prospective father-in-law was not easy to deal with.

Out of the palace gate, Fang Zheng did not return to the house, but went directly to the temporary residence of the shadow subordinates in the west of the city. The preparations for the secret service were imminent, and the emperor was in a hurry, and Young Master Fang, who had always been lazy, was very abnormal, and for the first time in his life, he started to do things seriously. He had a lot of things to discuss with Vincent and dozens of old brothers, after all, he had no experience in this kind of thing, and his subordinates were the backbone of the shadow organization in the future, Fang Zheng didn't have any official status at all, so he didn't mind that everyone would discuss things together, so that he could check and fill in the omissions and avoid a few words of scolding from the emperor.

Inside the Pan Shang Shu Mansion.

It was already night, and there were a few oil lamps lit in the spacious study, and the bean-sized lights were swaying in the breeze.

Pan Shangshu sat firmly on the Taishi chair, his waist was straight as usual, and his expression was as calm as usual, but the gray hair between his temples and the orange peel-like wrinkles on his face showed that this powerful minister who had been in charge of the court for decades and was already old. No matter how much power you have, no matter how much money you have, what can you leave behind when you are old? After all, it's still a handful of loess, and you can't take anything with you.

It's a pity that Pan Shangshu can't see it, or he deliberately refuses to think about this question, how many people can see through power and profit in this world? From the Ninety-Five Supreme to the mountains and fields, who is not chasing these two things all their lives?

Therefore, although Pan Shangshu is close to his prime, his power is so great, he is already under one person, above ten million people, he still can't let go. The older a person gets, the more afraid he is, he is afraid of losing that kind of scenery, he is afraid that the huge family of the Pan family will decline and decline after he dies, and he will not regain its former glory, and he is even more afraid that the emperor's cold gaze when he looks at him is like a cold arrow, piercing his heart......

Lin Qingshan sat silently opposite Pan Shangshu, looking at the old man of Longzhong, and somehow there was a little pity in his heart. It's really strange, the court covers the sky with one hand, treats political enemies decisively, and all civil and military officials have to accept the snorting officials, princes and teachers, does he need mercy?

With his eyes closed, Pan Shangshu seemed to be napping, for a long time, but suddenly spoke, his voice was hoarse and dry: "Are you sure?" ”

Lin Qingshan said respectfully: "It's confirmed, and the emperor has handed over this matter to Fang Zheng to handle, and now Fang Zheng is quietly developing." ”

When Pan Shangshu heard Fang Zheng's name, his old face couldn't help but flash a little anger, and he snorted: "That yellow-mouthed child who has not dried up, how can He De be so deeply favored?" ”

Lin Qingshan smiled faintly and did not answer Pan Shangshu's words. He is just a staff member, from the first day that Pan Shangshu took him in after he failed in the scientific examination, he knew his identity deeply, staff, he could provide information to the boss, he could give advice to the boss, but he couldn't respond to the boss's resentment and complaints about the emperor.

With a deep sigh, Pan Shangshu said sadly: "The emperor is going to deal with the old man!" The ministers are not tolerated by the king, how can they be based on the court, and why can they be powerful in the hundred officials? That's it, that's it, the old man resigned and went ......"

As if he had seen through Pan Shangshu's attitude, Lin Qingshan smiled lightly: "Why did the old man say anything about retirement? Regardless of whether the boss is the prince's teacher, if the prince ascends to the throne in the future, who in the court will dare to compete with the boss? Let's talk about the power that the boss has painstakingly cultivated over the years, can you bear to abandon it? If the boss retires, who do your protégés and former officials of the Hua Dynasty rely on? Please think twice! ”

Pan Shangshu glanced at Lin Qingshan deeply, closed his eyes again, and said with a pleased smile: "There are many people in the world, only Qingshan knows me, hehe." ”

Lin Qingshan hurriedly bowed down and said, "The subordinates are not talented, and they are willing to relieve the worries of the boss." ”

Pan Shangshu smiled: "Why did Qingshan teach me? ”

Lin Qingshan's eyelids jumped, and he hurriedly said: "Don't dare, the subordinates think that the boss's worries are nothing more than the unpredictable power of the sky, which is disliked by the king, and those who are disliked by the king, one is called party fighting, and the other is that the boss's authority is too heavy, but these two things are the foundation of the boss based on the court and commanding hundreds of officials, and it is impossible to let them out." In this way, the contradiction between the boss and the emperor has become a dead end and cannot be resolved. ”

Pan Shangshu was noncommittal, and said with a light smile: "Well, go on, don't worry." ”

Lin Qingshan glanced at Pan Shangshu's face, but for a while he couldn't figure out whether he was encouraging himself or not taking his words seriously at all, after thinking about it, Lin Qingshan still gritted his teeth and said what he wanted to say, but his voice was lowered a lot.

“…… Since it has become an unsolvable dead end, the subordinates think that there is no need to solve it. ”

Pan Shangshu's eyelids jumped when he heard this, and he suddenly opened his eyes, and a few traces of terrifying cold suddenly flashed in his cloudy eyes, and then disappeared immediately, regaining his turbid appearance.

With a faint smile, Pan Shangshu said calmly: "What does Qingshan mean by this?" There was an eerie chill in his tone.

Pan Shangshu's reaction Lin Qingshan saw it in his eyes, and he was also terrified, his face turned pale, and layers of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. Following Pan Shangshu for many years, of course he knows Pan Shangshu's character, today's words are really rebellious, if Pan Shangshu has not made up his mind, or hesitates, then Lin Qingshan will definitely not see the sun tomorrow, with Pan Shangshu's character, he has the heart of rebellion, he will not leave a disaster around him to implicate himself.

But high risk often means high return, Lin Qingshan understands better that if his words reach Pan Shangshu's heart, it is not impossible for him to become a marquis and worship the prime minister after he succeeds in the future, and his glory is infinite.

This is a big gamble with his life as a gamble, and if he wins, he will probably return to his hometown with honor, and sweep away the shame of the ridicule and ridicule of his hometown at that time, and then make his wife and son, and become the envy of everyone.

If he loses, he will completely disappear from this world, and no one knows where this middle-aged man who often goes in and out of Shangshu Mansion has gone. After a few years, his name will be forgotten as if this person had never existed in the world.

Although the literati are weak, they are three points better than the martial arts. Almost in the blink of an eye, Lin Qingshan gritted his teeth and made a decision.

"The boss is good, the words of the door may sound very rebellious, but they are indeed the words of the door. …… The emperor is old, but he has not given up the throne to the crown prince for a long time, which shows that the emperor is not satisfied with the prince enough, and even ...... It is not known whether the emperor has the heart to change the prince......"

Lin Qingshan looked up at Pan Shangshu's calm face, and continued: "Therefore, the subordinates think that the position of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is not very strong now, and the boss is in a high position and has too much authority, no matter whether the emperor has the heart to change the prince, he will definitely not be able to tolerate the boss anymore, no emperor likes to see the minister holding more than half of the power in the world, which is a provocation to the supreme imperial power!" ”

Pan Shangshu's orange-peeled old face finally twitched a few times when he heard this.

Lin Qingshan was very satisfied with Pan Shangshu's reaction, and continued: "Please forgive your outspokenness, no matter whether the boss resigns or not, the emperor will definitely not let you go." The old man's protégés and former officials are all over the world, this is something that the entire Chinese Dynasty knows, in the eyes of the people, this is the old man's high morality, but in the eyes of the emperor, your strength and prestige have been against the imperial power, let me ask, how can the emperor allow you to resign and leave Beijing, and spend your old age at ease? Isn't this a return of the tiger to the mountain? ”

Pan Shangshu's face finally changed, and the expression on his pale face changed, scared, unwilling, and then hideous. Under the light of the bean, it looks terrifying.

Lin Qingshan was frightened, and he didn't dare to say anything more, but he let go of the big stone in his heart. It seems that Pan Shangshu was moved by his own words.

Pan Shangshu didn't know these truths, but he was in a high position, and he had already been involuntary for many years, his desire and pursuit of power, the reliance of his protégé and former officials, and the emperor's trust in him, forced him to have to go to the peak step by step, he didn't want to do many things, he didn't want to do it, but naturally someone helped him do it well, and then it came to his head.

Once upon a time, he became a stinger in the emperor's heart? The monarch and the ministers were harmonious, and the memories of his happiness are still lingering in Pan Shangshu's mind, time has passed, until today, but he wants to be eliminated by the emperor and then quickly, the world is impermanent, why not!

After settling down, Pan Shangshu suddenly asked: "Fang Zheng is preparing to set up a shadow agency, what does His Royal Highness the Crown Prince say?" ”

Lin Qingshan said respectfully: "I went down to see His Royal Highness the Prince, and the Prince only said one sentence: 'Whatever the father does, there must be a reason for him, and Lone fully agrees.'" Then he sent his men and returned. ”

Pan Shangshu sneered, then looked at Lin Qingshan, and said in a deep voice, "What about you?" What do you think? ”

Lin Qingshan said without hesitation: "Boss, Fang Zheng has set up a shadow agency, this is the first step for the emperor to attack you, you can't ignore it!" ”

Pan Shangshu looked at Lin Qingshan with a smile and said, "You have said so much to the old man, what do you want to express?" ”

Lin Qingshan snorted, he didn't dare to speak, and then, as if he had made up some kind of determination, Lin Qingshan raised his head, looked directly into Pan Shangshu's eyes calmly, and said lightly: "In this situation, the subordinates think that since the power of heaven is unpredictable, with the ability of the boss, it is better than ...... Another day! ”

Another day! Pan Shangshu's heart was shocked, his face changed drastically, and he said sharply: "Do you know what you're talking about?" ”

Lin Qingshan nodded, "Your subordinates know, boss, do you have any other choice?" If you are willing to be killed, then your subordinates are willing to die with the boss! ”

Who wants to stretch their neck for someone to chop? The ministers who have been in power for decades are accustomed to the scenery at the top of the ivory tower, how can they be willing to be beheaded by the emperor with a word?

Pan Shangshu sat on the chair in despair, staring at the bean-sized oil lamp on the desk, and didn't say a word for a long time.

"Boss, when you are constantly interrupted, you will suffer from it. You should make a decision, put the prince on the dragon chair, who will dare to argue with you in the future? If you are not at ease with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, you can even ...... Fill somebody's shoes. ”

Pan Shangshu's eyelids jumped again when he heard this, and his breathing suddenly became heavy.

Lin Qingshan's voice was very low, almost inaudible, as unpredictable as mist: "My lord, the picturesque splendid rivers and mountains don't necessarily have to be surnamed Zhou, it can also be surnamed Pan." ”

Pan Shangshu's old face kept twitching, his cloudy old eyes were bloodshot, radiating a greedy and excited light, and his breathing was as heavy as a cow's gasp, mixed with the dull phlegm sound in the chest of the elderly, like a lingering breath when he was dying.

The co-lord of the world, the position of the ninety-five, the yellow robe is draped...... Pan Shangshu has had such dreams tens of thousands of times. Every time he woke up from a dream, he could only wear the official uniform of the minister, hold the wat board in his hand, yawn and sit in the official sedan chair, and came to the Jinluan Palace to go to the early court. He bowed three times to an emperor who he thought was unqualified and incapable of sitting on the dragon chair.

Why can't it be me who sits on it? Why can't you let me say the phrase "Zhong Aiqing is flat"? If I come to be the emperor, I will do better than him, and the country will never be as internal and external troubles as it is now, and the people of the world will be under my leadership, with abundant food and clothing, and prosperity of etiquette and religion, and the country will become strong and prosperous in my hands.

Pan Shangshu's eyes gradually turned terribly red, yes, I have this ability, the world is full of my protégés and former officials, and there are many middle and senior generals in the army who are loyal to me, as long as I ascend to the heights, the dragon chair on the Jinluan Hall is no longer far away from me. Since the emperor has already moved to kill me, there is only one way to break the net at this time.

For this country, I have paid a lifetime of energy and wisdom, and now that I am old, the emperor wants to unload the mill and kill the donkey, how can I be willing to stretch out my neck and suffer that knife? I supported this country! Why can't I have a copy? What's more, my odds of winning are not small, and the opportunity, maybe at this moment, grasp it, and the country will change the dynasty!

Lin Qingshan smiled, smiling happily. Pan Shangshu's ** hidden in his heart was successfully stimulated by him, like a blowout, unstoppable. This also means that if the big thing is accomplished, he Lin will be the first hero of the founding of the country, be crowned a wife and a son, and enjoy the holy family forever. He Lin Qingshan, from now on, is no longer the failed talent of the first show!

Pan Shangshu's gaze changed from being afraid and cowering, to hesitating, gradually, and finally firm.

"The weight of the tripod, you can't ask?" The corners of Pan Shangshu's mouth suddenly smiled: "The weight of the tripod, maybe you can ask!" ”

With a sigh, Pan Shangshu said leisurely: "That's it......"

Then Pan Shangshu stood up, pondered for a moment, and said in a low voice: "If you want to hurry, you can't reach it, this matter should be slowly figured out." You go and test the meaning of the officials under the old man, remember, don't leak the slightest rumor, you can only try, you can't say it clearly! This matter is related to your and my lives, don't be hasty! ”

Lin Qingshan's eyes flashed with excitement, but his tone was still calm: "The door is saved." ”

Pan Shangshu brushed his beard and said: "During these days, the old man went to visit several generals in the army, and whether he succeeded or not, it depends on the will of God......

Lin Qingshan couldn't help but ask, "...... Boss, is the prince ......?"

Pan Shangshu smiled: "Since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince fully supports his father, let him continue to support him, everyone has their own ambitions." ”

Lin Qingshan obeyed the order awe-inspiringly, and was about to turn around and leave.

"Wait! sent someone to tell Xiao Huaiyuan that he should carefully watch the prince's every move and tell the old man at any time. ”

"Yes."

Lin Qingshan retreated, and Pan Shangshu sat in the study in a daze, looking fixedly at a painting hanging on the wall, which was painted by the emperor himself, and a picture of proud bamboo was given to him after the painting. The green and upright green bamboo on the picture stands proudly in the bleak cold wind, indomitable.

Pan Shangshu stared at the painting attentively, his eyes filled with muddy old tears, and then rolled down, muttering in his mouth: "Bamboo has no heart, why do you have more branches?" Your Majesty, Your Majesty...... The old minister wants to be a loyal minister, but you forced the old minister to be a loyal minister......"

A gust of night breeze blew, and the oil lamp on the table shook a few times, stretching Pan Shangshu's figure back and forth. Pan Shangshu suddenly shuddered for no reason......

At the same time, Young Master Fang Zheng, who was chatting and farting with his subordinates in Xicheng and exchanging feelings, also shivered.

Looking at the sky inexplicably, Fang Zheng stroked his arms covered with goosebumps, and muttered, "Damn!" It's autumn, it's time to eat crabs......"