"Lord Xia, why are you so excited today..."Peng Yue saw that the smile on Xia Yan's face had not faded since he stepped into Xia Yan's mansion. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

"Zirui, you've been away from the dynasty for many days, and you don't even know the news..."Xia Yan joked with a smile, "I don't need to hide this matter from you, but I personally told you a little... Ha ha... And you don't have to shy away from it, today's emperor... He gave me the title of "Shangzhu Country". ”

"Huh? Why? Peng Yue's expression suddenly became stunned, because he knew what this title meant, but he quickly calmed his expression and changed it to a smiling face, "It seems that in the past few days since I left the court, Lord Xia has done a lot of great things..."

"Actually, it's not a big deal..."Xia Yan said this, but his face was slightly bloody, "It's just that I presented the edict to the emperor to worship the emperor God, and the emperor was very happy when he saw it, so he promoted me to a young master, a special Guanglu doctor, and a pillar country... Actually, I didn't expect the emperor to reward me like this..."

"I see..."Peng Yue was also a little speechless when he heard this, he didn't expect that Xia Yan would be canonized for such a ridiculous reason, "Then I will congratulate Lord Xia here..."

"It doesn't have to be like this..."Xia Yan waved his hand, but the joy on his face just now disappeared suddenly, "Actually, I'm also hesitating, do you say that the title that the emperor gave me is a bit too high, after all, except for Chang Yuchun in the Taizu period and Yao Guangxiao in the Chengzu period, I have not been posthumously awarded this title after the death of the "Shangzhu Kingdom". When Xia Yan said this, he didn't know whether to be proud or worried.

"This..."Peng Yue knew that although Xia Yan said this, he still wanted it in his heart, so it was not easy to refute his face, "Since the emperor has given you this title, there must be a reason for him, what is the use of you refusing now?" ”

"You're right!" Xia Yan smiled, "He Guo Xun can be the Duke of Yi Guo, what if I confer a "Shangzhu Kingdom"?" Haha..."

At this moment when Xia Yan was smiling, Peng Yue couldn't help frowning, he finally understood why Xia Yan would gladly accept this title without the slightest hint of resignation, it turned out that he had always been worried about Guo Xun being crowned the Duke of Yiguo, so he wanted to overpower Guo Xun in this regard. Maybe this title was hinted at in Xia Yan's words, so as to win it, at this time, Peng Yue couldn't help but secretly blame Xia Yan for being confused, and at the same time, he didn't understand that he had such a good name, is a false title really that important?

"Lord Xia, how did I hear that there was a Taoist priest a few days ago... was killed with a rod, is this true or false? Peng Yue obviously didn't want to dwell on that issue any longer, he knew that it was pointless to persuade Xia Yan at this time, because Xia Yan had already accepted it happily, and if he made another excuse, it would be impossible at all. Moreover, Xia Yan's mood has changed, and at this time, he is persuaded to stop dwelling on false fame, I am afraid that he will not be able to listen to it, because he cares about this, so Peng Yue turned to other topics.

"Oh? You also know about this, it seems that you are not indifferent to the affairs of the government now. Xia Yan smiled and took a sip of tea, "You know this Taoist priest, he died unjustly, he called... Duan Chaoyong..."

"Huh? Duan Chaoyong died? Peng Yue looked surprised, "It is said that the emperor should not be so impatient, it has only been less than a year, how can the emperor investigate this matter thoroughly?" Didn't Duan Chaoyong also present 10,000 taels of silver to the emperor last time? ”

"If you wait for the emperor's patience to run out, and then investigate this matter thoroughly, then I don't know when it will be, that Duan Dynasty will be insidious and despicable, how can this clown who jumps off the beam make waves again!" Xia Yan said indignantly on the side.

"Then Lord Xia, what do you mean..."Peng Yue rubbed his fingers, he faintly felt as if Xia Yan had done something that he shouldn't have done again.

"I'm afraid there's something you don't know yet..."Xia Yan saw that Peng Yue's expression was a little confused, so he patiently explained to him, "Do you still remember the idea that the emperor proposed half a year ago to let the crown prince supervise the country and cultivate for a period of time by himself?" ”

"Of course I remember, but later, after Yang was killed with a cane, didn't the ministers change their minds and fiercely oppose the emperor's approach, and in the end, didn't the emperor give up this idea?"

"I'm not talking about this matter..."A treacherous smile suddenly appeared on Xia Yan's face, "I have already found out, the Taoist priest who made that suggestion to the emperor is Duan Chaoyong, you said this kind of traitor, can you not get rid of it as soon as possible?" ”

"So you revealed this matter to the emperor?" Peng Yue asked, his brows furrowed.

"Of course I won't take the initiative to expose this matter to the emperor..."Xia Yan stroked his beard with a smile, "I'm just letting people spread this matter and let all the courtiers know that this suggestion was made by his Duan Dynasty..."

"And then?" Peng Yue couldn't help but admire Xia Yan's trick enough, although he just spread the news, but once the courtiers knew the truth, everyone would point the finger at Duan Chaoyong, and even at all the Taoist priests who cultivated and refined the pill with Zhu Houxi. If Xia Yan really had the idea of taking this opportunity to suppress the Taoist forces, it would be dangerous, and he had to dissuade him.

"Then of course, it was the excitement of the crowd, and they all asked to investigate and deal with Duan Chaoyong, and at this time, someone sent a secret letter to report that Duan Chao used false means to deceive the emperor..."Xia Yan said with a face full of joy, as if those things happened again in his bright eyes, "Originally, the emperor wanted to ignore this matter at first, but the ministers reacted extremely fiercely this time, maybe the emperor had great hopes for Duan Chaoyong, so he asked Duan Chaoyong to experiment on the spot..."

"That period of court will not be so stupid, so it will be exposed, right?" Peng Yue listened to Xia Yan tell this, but he was thinking about the disadvantages of this matter in his heart, he knew that if there was a little mistake in this matter, it would be self-defeating. For example, when the ministers asked the emperor to punish Duan Chaoyong, they must be reasonably grasped, not only to show the urgency of the situation but not to show too intense emotions, otherwise it is difficult to ensure that it will not cause Zhu Houxi's resistance and make things fall short. And we must take into account the tolerance of all the Taoist priests in the palace, if someone can't control it, and suddenly goes to the Taoist fold, and reprimands Zhu Houxi for alchemy and cultivation, and the Taoist priest confuses the monarch and misunderstands the country, then this matter is estimated to be stirred up, in short, there are too many uncertainties in this, and Xia Yan's move is indeed a bit dangerous.

"Of course Duan Chaoyong is not stupid, if he was stupid, he would not have deceived the emperor for so long..."Xia Yan flicked his sleeves, showing a look of disdain, "But he just has such a few tricks, nothing more than saying that he needs to be prepared, and he doesn't work when he meets someone or something, but this time it doesn't work..."

Why is that? Didn't he offer 10,000 taels of silver to the emperor last time? Peng Yue asked suspiciously, "Could it be that the emperor can't tolerate him now?" ”

"It's not that they can't tolerate him, it's that they themselves have a weak heart..."Xia Yan smiled and pointed at Peng Yue, "The last time you said that Duan Chao used it must be a deception, so... Therefore, some people insisted that Duan Chao used a pseudo-technique, and also bit out the fact that the 10,000 taels of silver that Duan Chao used to sacrifice was Guo Xun..."

"So it seems that Guo Xun can't hold his breath..."Peng Yue also knew at this time that someone in Xia Yan's mouth insisted that the 10,000 taels was Guo Xun's origin, and this matter must have been instructed by Xia Yan, because others were not so firm, and it was impossible for him to be so resolute, and he faintly felt that this matter was not just as simple as wanting to "bring down" Duan Chaoyong.

"Yes, even Guo Xun couldn't hold his breath, and he wasn't sure if Duan Chaoyong could refine gold and silver, and at that time, many ministers in the court were impeaching Duan Chaoyong, so he kicked Duan Chaoyong away and wiped himself clean..." At this time, the emperor was already suspicious, and Tao Zhongwen also stood up at this time, questioned the spell used by Duan Chao, and took the lead in confessing to the emperor, saying that his recommendation was wrong, and at this time, Duan Chaoyong could only bow his head and confess..."

"Guo Xun can't hold on, how can Tao Zhongwen do such a thing..."Peng Yue lowered his head and muttered in a low voice on the side.

"It's not surprising, things have come to this point, what else can Tao Zhongwen do, it is estimated that Tao Zhongwen was afraid that Duan Chaoyong was recommended by him at the beginning, so he couldn't bear it, but seeing that Duan Chaoyong was almost unable to support it, why did he bother to go to the troubled waters again?" Xia Yan explained quite easily on the side, "And Tao Zhongwen also has his selfishness, Duan Chao is more greedy than this person, for example, last time he persuaded the emperor to leave the court temporarily, in fact, Tao Zhongwen was also very dissatisfied with this, and he was also afraid that Duan Chao's limelight would overshadow him, so taking this opportunity to eradicate Duan Chaoyong may not be in line with Tao Zhongwen's thoughts." ”

"Did Lord Xia see through this, that's why he took such a move?" Peng Yue's expression suddenly became a little uncertain at this time.

"It's... Actually, I'm not very sure about this, I had some risky thoughts at the time..."Xia Yan touched his chin a little embarrassed, "But it's okay, now the matter has finally been resolved smoothly, but it's a pity... It's a pity that Guo Xun didn't have anything to do, and the emperor didn't pursue him... Alas, it's a pity ... It's a pity..."

"Lord Xia, your move is not only a bit risky, it's just too risky!" Peng Yue said with a frown, and at the same time saw through Xia Yan's true thoughts. In fact, Xia Yan's move was not aimed at Duan Chaoyong, but Guo Xun, Xia Yan's move was fundamentally to eradicate Guo Xun by using Duan Chaoyong's affairs!

"I know it's a bit risky... But it's really uncomfortable for such a villain to stay in the court..."Xia Yan didn't notice the change in Xia Yan's expression, just talking to himself there.

"Lord Xia, not to mention you this time... Alas, in short, there are endless troubles..."Peng Yue saw Xia Yan's attitude, and it was not easy to break him, but he was just thinking about how bad the "follow-up effect" of this matter was.

"Yes, there are indeed some problems that are more difficult now, I didn't expect the emperor to not punish Guo Xun, not even a word of reproach..."

"Lord Xia, why can't you wait and find out about this matter now?" Peng Yue said helplessly, "I told you last time that this matter will be exposed one day, and that time is also the best time, but you want to... Waste this opportunity! ”

"Where is the waste? Didn't the emperor execute Duan Chaoyong? Although Xia Yan said this, he also felt that he was in a bit of a hurry to do this matter, so he couldn't help but feel a little weak.

"Yes, the emperor executed Duan Chaoyong, but has your real goal been achieved?" Peng Yue frowned and stared at Xia Yan, although he didn't say it thoroughly, but the meaning was already clear, "Although the emperor executed Duan Chaoyong this time, the performance of the ministers also made him accumulate a lot of resentment, so the emperor's reaction to this matter was not fierce because... He deliberately wanted to give his ministers a dismissal, and he wanted to get back his face. But if this matter is not exposed this time, waiting for the emperor to find out by himself, then the emperor's anger at that time can be imagined, not to mention Duan Chaoyong, no one can get out of it! ”

"Uh... Alas..."Xia Yan lowered his head and sighed heavily, "This matter... It's true that I'm impatient, I shouldn't... It's so breathless..."

"It's not just that... You can really say that you cut the grass this time without eradicating the roots, Duan Chaoyong was executed, but you also offended the forces behind Duan Chaoyong because of this, Guo Xun is just that, you contradict him... It's not bad, but Tao Zhongwen is different, Duan Chaoyong was recommended by him, you do this, it is difficult not to arouse Tao Zhongwen's jealousy and suspicion here, maybe it will be followed by the dissatisfaction of all the Taoist priests in the palace, you suppressed Duan Chaoyong this time, who is not worried that this kind of thing will fall on their heads in the future, Tao Zhongwen's status in the emperor is now you also clear..."Peng Yue analyzed one by one, and Xia Yan next to him frowned.

"It's not that serious, is it? Tao Zhongwen is just a Taoist priest after all, although the emperor gave him an official title, but in the eyes of the emperor..."Xia Yan muttered quietly on the side.

"Yes, in the eyes of the emperor, he is still a Taoist priest, but he is a Taoist priest with extraordinary significance, sometimes his words can determine the life and death of a person, I advise Lord Xia to pay attention to Tao Zhongwen, don't make the relationship with him stiff..."

"It's... I know this, I won't have any conflicts with Tao Zhongwen..."Xia Yan was also a little helpless when he said this, in fact, he hated those Taoist priests and eunuchs the most, but now that the status of Taoist priests is becoming more and more obvious, he really needs to let them have a little bit on weekdays, and he doesn't feel a little depressed when he thinks of this Xia Yan.

"It's not just Tao Zhongwen, there are many people we need to care about..."Peng Yue's fingers clasped the table case with a clatter, "For example, the current commander of the Jinyi Guard, Lu Bing, since he returned from the last southern tour, Lord Lu has been favored, and Lord Lu... On weekdays, he is also jealous and hateful, although ... Although I like to collect some black money, it is still worth befriending..."

"I know this, my personal relationship with Lu Bing is still good..."Xia Yan said with a smile, "And the Xu Jie, you mentioned last time, after I transferred him back, I found that this person is really a malleable talent, and I was planning to promote him after cultivating him for a period of time..."

"Hmm... Anyway, what I mean is that now we have to distinguish the main contradiction, and at this point... Since you want to deal with Guo Xun, put aside the other contradictions..."Peng Yue scratched his head, "But for private matters, I still hope that Lord Xia can pay more attention..."

"Haha... I know that the purpose of your coming here today is still for personal matters, otherwise you wouldn't have come here to talk to me, and to go around and around the Duan Dynasty..."Xia Yan stroked his beard with a smile, "I will pay attention to this matter, but... But Zirui, when will you be able to return to the court? The court can't do without you, I... Hope you can come back too..."

"Hmm... I also want to go back and settle the matter of my personal mouth, which is my last wish, and it is... Ling'er has a wish..."Peng Yue said with a sigh.

"Oh? Do you want to go back to the court now? Xia Yan looked at Peng Yue with a happy face, and no matter what Peng Yue said, it was related to Ziling, "But you'd better wait at home for a while, don't rush back to the dynasty first..."

"Huh?" Peng Yue looked at Xia Yan with a puzzled expression, not understanding what he meant by letting himself return to the dynasty for a while, and not allowing himself to return to the dynasty for a while.

Xia Yan also seemed to see the doubts in Peng Yue's heart, so he explained with a smile, "If you go back to the court now, it won't work as it should, but let the emperor call you back, it will be different... In the past few days since you left, there have been a lot of problems in the household department, and the emperor's funds for cultivating the Tao... It's also a little stretched, so the emperor must remember your kindness, and there may be some unexpected surprises when he summons you back at that time..."

"Huh? Something is wrong with the household department again? Peng Yue straightened up, but then he looked relaxed again, "Lord Xia is right, it seems that I really shouldn't go back to the court at this time..."

"You don't have to be nervous, there's nothing wrong with the household department, it's just that there are many things that you were in charge of before, and after you leave, they will naturally seem busy..."Xia Yan said with a smile, "But don't wait too long, otherwise when they straighten things out, it won't be good for you to go back then, haha... However, I estimate that the emperor's will to summon you back to the court will come down soon, so you can wait at home for a few days. ”

"Ahh Okay then..."Peng Yue smiled awkwardly, but he felt a little bitter in his heart: "What are you now?" Count him Zhu Houxi's housekeeper? Did he return to the court just to raise more money for Zhu Houxi's cultivation? Huh..."