The afternoon sun shines through a window into a study room full of quaint atmosphere in the courtyard.

The wooden cabinets in the study room are stacked with all kinds of books.

Moreover, there is not the slightest dust on the paper of each stack of books, and it seems that there are often people who come to turn them.

In the other corner of the study, in front of a desk, two people sat opposite.

After the meal, the man in the cloak wanted to continue to rest on the roof, but Lord Zhou seemed to have something to discuss with him.

So, he followed the other party to this study.

After taking their seats, the two first exchanged a few words.

Immediately afterwards, Zhou Xin, who was still smiling, suddenly became serious and said in a deep voice.

"Brother Wang, I don't know what you thought about last night."

When the man in the cloak saw that the other party asked about this, he put away his mind and replied.

"Although I have only been with Ling Lang for a few days, I know that he is kind-hearted and not a brave and ruthless person. So, I'm afraid last night's incident was aimed at you."

He didn't deliberately hide the meaning of his words, because he had already seen something in the other party's eyes.

Zhou Xin leaned on the desk and pondered for a while before he said.

"I might as well say more about the presence of others last night. In fact, what Brother Wang said yesterday is not unreasonable."

The man in the cloak lifted his deep eyes and looked at each other quietly.

He knew that the other party had already heard the meaning of what he said yesterday.

He said calmly, "Being an honest official may block the financial path of others." Maybe that's why adults are being calculated."

Zhou Xin's darkened face revealed a hint of surprise.

He didn't expect that a person in the rivers and lakes would be able to point out the problems in the court so thoroughly.

It's just that he thinks that last night's assassination was not because it was in the way of people's money.

So, I saw him shake his head and said, "What Brother Wang said is true, but what happened last night was not as simple as blocking people's money."

The man in the cloak looked puzzled and said, "What is that?" ”。

Zhou Xin took a breath slowly, and said with a solemn expression, "The battle of the crown prince."

He didn't explain too much.

Because if it is a matter in the court, it is really too troublesome for the people in the rivers and lakes to talk about it in detail.

However, his words made the cloaked man fall into deep thought.

I thought in my heart, "More than ten years ago, the emperor's cultivation has reached the fourth grade, and his lifespan will definitely exceed 100." And now that the emperor is only over fifty years old, why do the princes want to take the heir?"

It wasn't until a long time later that he raised his eyes and said, "The position of the East Palace has been decided, and Your Majesty is in good health." Thinking about the party struggle right now, are the princes a little anxious? ”。

As soon as these words came out, Zhou Xin's eyes suddenly showed a look of surprise, and he thought in his heart, "Although this person is from the rivers and lakes, I only said these four words, and he has already seen through the problem."

It's just that he wants to think about it, but he still said in a deep voice.

"Perhaps Your Majesty... I guess it's meant to be for that."

The affairs of the royal family are too cruel, maybe the emperor also wants to see which prince is his successor.

The man in the cloak looked at the other party with a little deep meaning, and said, "I don't know if Lord Zhou, has you already chosen the master?" ”。

Zhou Xin frowned, his face was a little ugly, and he said in a deep voice, "On the sixth day of the first month of last month, His Royal Highness sent someone to negotiate with me.... But I am only loyal to Your Majesty, and as for who Your Majesty is, it has nothing to do with me... Therefore, I declined His Highness's kindness."

The man in the cloak was stunned, as if he didn't expect the other party to say this.

But after thinking about it, I also felt that what the other party said was true.

It's just that the situation in the court, sometimes even if it is inaction, it is also an action.

So, I saw him look at the other party and said leisurely, "Lord Zhou is reasonable, but maybe it is precisely because of this that he will offend some people."

Zhou Xin calmed his face and said, "How do you say this?" ”。

The man in the cloak looked into the other's eyes.

He knew that the other party should already have the answer in his heart, and the reason why he asked him was nothing more than to hear his opinion.

Fortunately, he said, "If everyone is like an adult, then the princes, won't there be no one to use?" So, perhaps, what happened last night was a disgrace for your lordship, and a warning to officials like you in the imperial court."

At this point, Zhou Xin's already blackened cheeks suddenly became a little more gloomy.

He knew what the other party was saying, and maybe it was the reason for it.

But suddenly, another thing occurred to him.

With this in mind, he asked directly, "Brother Wang, why do you have such an opinion on the affairs of the imperial court?" ”。

He was immersed in the conversation before, but it wasn't until he thought deeply that he realized that the person in front of him didn't look like a mountain man no matter how he looked.

The man in the cloak didn't speak, his eyes just quietly staring at an inkstone on the desk.

Sometimes, what is hidden deep in the blood, even if he wants to hide, he can't hide it.

He knew that what he said today was contrary to the identity he had created earlier.

But so what, he has even seen through life and death.

Then how can he be dragged down by this life experience again.

Moreover, seventeen years have passed since that incident, and the people of the world today have long forgotten the people of the Ten Tribes who were annihilated.

Zhou Xin saw that the other party was silent, so he stopped asking about it.

He knew that people who could know many things, but were willing to become mountains and wilderness, must have an unknown past.

It's just that a trace of love suddenly arose in his heart.

So, he said in a deep voice, "Brother Wang, I see that you are also a learned person, why don't you enter the court as an official, you must know that the new policies introduced by His Majesty in recent years are all towards being similar to brothers, cultivating into a strong person."

The man in the cloak smiled bitterly and said, "Neither is he a talented eight buckets, nor is he a rich five-car, how can he pray for the common people."

Zhou Xin saw that the other party belittled himself so much, so he said, "I can't hide it, after last night's incident, I have the intention of resigning in my heart." And this time I went to Beijing, firstly, to restore my life, and secondly, I also wanted to return to my hometown and cultivate the mountains. Therefore, if Brother Wang has great ambitions, and this official also has a few close friends in the court, I am willing to introduce you to your brother! ”。

He has indeed given birth to the intention of resigning.

But he felt that although this person was a little depressed, he was a genius. In addition, His Majesty has now paved a way for people in the rivers and lakes to become officials, so if this person is interested, then he can give the other party a chance.

The man in the cloak moved his gaze from the inkstone to the brushes hanging on the side.

He suddenly wanted to ask the other party a question, a question that had puzzled him for a long time.

"Lord Zhou, there is something below, I don't know if to ask?"

Zhou Xin saw that the other party had been pondering for a long time, so he said, "Brother, may I ask."

The man in the cloak raised his head, looked at the other party squarely, and said leisurely in a meaningful tone.

"My lord thinks that if the first emperor was in power, would he be able to have the merits of the saint today?"

Zhou Xin was stunned, but he still said in a deep voice.

"Emperor Taizu overthrew the rule of Meng Yuan, had the merit of founding the country for all generations, and...

Before he could finish his sentence, the man in the cloak suddenly interjected calmly.

"The first emperor mentioned below is not Taizu, but Emperor Jianwen."

………………