Cao Jixiang saw that Zhu Qizhen had no intention of arresting people in his heart, so he had to speak: "Your Majesty, the old slave thinks that General Shi Heng's words are the words of the old city to seek the country. ”

Zhu Qizhen saw Cao Jixiang's statement, and he felt a little irritable in his heart, and in addition to the fact that these two people usually boasted of supporting them, they sometimes inadvertently offended Zhu Qizhen between their words.

Now that this is the situation, Zhu Qizhen was a little anxious in his heart, so he wiped his face and said: "I know about this matter, you go down first, let me think about it and then talk." ”

When Shi Heng heard this, the emperor was clearly a tone of resignation, so he said: "What the emperor is very worried about is that this matter is very important, so it is better to slow it down." ”

When Cao Jixiang heard this, he said: "The emperor is sage, it is very appropriate to be concerned. ”

"Okay, Shi Aiqing, Cao Aiqing, you wait for the two of you to kneel down first." Zhu Qizhen opened his mouth and said.

When Cao Jixiang and Shi Heng heard this, they kowtowed to Zhu Qizhen and left.

Zhu Qizhen thought about it in his heart, and felt that this matter was a little troublesome, and the more he thought about it, the more anxious he felt, so he simply didn't think about him.

Shi Heng and Cao Jixiang went out and separated.

However, not long after Shi Heng returned to the house, a mule cart with a tightly drawn curtain came to the back, and a little white face with a white face came down, followed the person guarding the door of Shifu and said a few words, and then drove the mule cart in.

After arriving at Shi Heng's mansion, the little white face with a white face and beard got off the mule cart, immediately opened the curtain, and shouted respectfully inside: "Gonggong Cao, it's time to get there, the little one will serve you to grow old." ”

The person inside stretched out a hand, and the little white face with a white face and beard hugged him from the side and helped the other party out of the car.

The person who came down was Cao Jixiang.

At this time, someone in the stone mansion went up and said, "Grandpa Cao, my master has been waiting for a long time. ”

Hearing the other party's words, Cao Jixiang just nodded slightly.

The family member of the Shi Mansion knew that this was Lord Shi's distinguished guest, although he felt that this person was a little unruly, but he did not dare to slack off at all, and respectfully bent down to Cao Jixiang and said, "Gonggong Cao, please come with the little one, General Shi is waiting in the flower hall." ”

The white-faced little white face opened his mouth and said, "Lead the way." ”

Seeing him snorting and drinking like this, the family of Shifu was angry, and he slandered that he dared to be so arrogant even if he was a eunuch who was gone. Although he had such thoughts in his heart, he didn't dare to disobey his intentions on his face, and said, "Yes, yes, please do it this way." ”

After saying that, he led the way, and the little white face with a white face and beard supported Cao Jixiang and followed behind.

Walk through the flowered gardens to a water pavilion facing the lake on all sides, with only a wooden corridor connected to the pavilion in the middle of the water.

"Gonggong Cao, Lord Shi is waiting for you in the water pavilion over there." The family of Shifu pointed to the water pavilion in the lake and said.

The white-faced and beardless little white face was quite alert, so he said to Cao Jixiang: "Father-in-law Cao, the little one is waiting for his father-in-law here." ”

Cao Jixiang nodded and said, "It's okay, then you just wait here, and my father-in-law will go to see General Shi." ”

After speaking, Cao Jixiang left the two of them and walked towards the pavilion in the middle of the lake alone.

Shi Heng was drinking alone in the pavilion in the middle of the lake, and when he saw Cao Jixiang coming, he hurriedly put down the cup and said, "Gonggong Cao is really a believer, and he came so quickly. ”

Cao Jixiangpi said with a smile; "Brother is calling, how dare Cao not come."

Saying that, Cao Jixiang looked at a large mirror standing in the middle, and said with a smile: "Lord Shi is really interested, the ancients said that the bronze mirror can be dressed, you make such a big mirror, I don't know how big the adult's clothes are." ”

"Father-in-law Cao laughed, the younger brother is just greedy for scenery, and he wants to be able to enjoy the scenery of the lake in the lattice, so he made this one thing."

"I see, hehe, Lord Shi is a profound and ingenious person." Cao Jixiang said with a smile.

When Shi Heng heard this, he laughed and said: "What kind of elegant person is Shi Heng, at most he is a martial artist, Gonggong Cao is so beautiful to others, Shi Heng doesn't know how to speak." ”

Cao Jixiang also smiled: "General Shi doesn't have to be polite, Cao is just a feeling, and it is definitely not a lie." ”

Shi Heng smiled and pointed at Cao Jixiang and said: "It's too late for the world to confront Father-in-law Cao, wouldn't Father-in-law lift Shi to the sky when he said this." ”

Cao Jixiang also laughed when he heard this: "General Shi is really a wonderful person. ”

"Needless to say, Grandpa Cao, come on, come on, sit down and have a glass of wine together."

Shi Heng pulled Cao Jixiang to sit down, Cao Jixiang was not restrained at all, nor did he shirk, and sat down directly.

The two sat opposite each other, pushing the cup and changing the lamp, and after three rounds of drinking, Cao Jixiang put down the jade chopstick, and asked Shi Heng: "What is the so-called matter that General Shi Heng summoned to come down today?" ”

Hearing Cao Jixiang's question, Shi Heng said: "Things are ordinary, today you and I are in the same hall, and we have heard what the emperor said, Shi Heng asked Cao Gonggong to invite him today, and I want to ask for an idea." ”

Cao Jixiang pretended to be surprised and said: "General Shi Heng, the old man doesn't understand, what did the saint say today, what do you want to ask the old man for something." ”

When Shi Heng heard this, he couldn't help but secretly slander in his heart: "It's really an old fox, just now that you instigated the emperor in front of the emperor to wipe out all the candle shadow shaking red disciples in the Jingshi, and now when you hear that the emperor's tone is wrong, you actually pretend that there is no such thing." No wonder there are rumors outside that Cao Jixiang is an old fox who has accumulated years, which is not bad at all. ”

However, although he had such thoughts in his heart, on the surface, Shi Heng was silent, and just said to Cao Jixiang: "Gonggong Cao is really a noble person who forgets things, didn't the Holy Lord say to you and me today that there is no need to act like this now." ”

"How to behave, the old man drank some wine, and he can't remember much." Cao Jixiang is still pretending to be crazy and stupid.

Shi Heng was very disdainful of this old fox in his heart, the two of them should have been grasshoppers on a rope with their hearts, but this old man pretended to be deaf and dumb like this, and liked to play people like monkeys.

In desperation, Shi Heng had no choice but to speak: "Gonggong Cao, didn't the emperor say today that you don't have to shake the candle shadow now, you won't forget it." ”

Hearing this, Cao Jixiang pretended to be suddenly enlightened and said: "It turns out that this is such a thing, and the old man should be a big deal." The emperor did have such an order, I don't know what General Shi Heng wants to do when he brings up the old matter again. ”

Shi Heng saw that this old man's mouth was so tight, he couldn't say that thing, so he had to say by himself: "Gonggong Cao, do you know that the candle shadow shaking red was created by Jian Huaizhen in the past, this woman is quite good, if you don't cut off the qi wings now, it will definitely be a big trouble for my generation in the future." ”

Seeing that Shi Heng had confessed, Cao Jixiang replied slowly: "This may not be, the eldest princess is the opponent of your General Shi Heng, but she is the child of the Zhu family and the master of the old slave." ”

When Shi Heng heard this, he couldn't help but be angry, it stands to reason that when he was in front of the emperor today, it was Cao Jixiangli who mainly cut off the candle shadow red. It's just that this old horseman's kung fu is extremely powerful when he sees the wind, and the emperor has no such intention, so he immediately treats this matter as if it has never happened. This ability really made Shi Heng sigh to himself. ”

"Father-in-law Cao, I won't tell you, Shi Heng once dealt with the eldest princess, although the eldest princess is very weak, but her talent is like the sea, her martial arts are high, and there is a group of martial arts people to help her, now I want to move her, but I'm afraid it's not the right time, now Shi can think of a way to cut off the wings of the eldest princess first."

"Lord Shi is really a person who does big things, but Cao still has something unclear, and he asks General Shi Heng for advice." Cao Jixiang suddenly asked very seriously.

Seeing Cao Jixiang's attitude, Shi Heng felt that his words hit Cao Jixiang's heart, so he said: "If Gonggong Cao has something to inquire, Shi Heng should know everything and say everything. ”

Cao Jixiang smiled slightly, and then asked, "General Shi Heng thinks that the emperor has any intention for the eldest princess." ”

This sentence stopped Shi Heng, and he opened his mouth to Cao Jixiang and said, "The meaning of Gonggong Cao's words, please forgive Shi for not knowing what he meant." ”

When Cao Jixiang heard this, he patted General Shi Heng's arm and said; "General Shi was born in the army, and he naturally won't know about the old things of the previous dynasty in the palace, and the things of the people who are rotten in the valley."

Hearing this, Shi Heng said with a smile: "Shi Heng just doesn't know much about these palace secrets, and I ask Gonggong Cao to teach me." ”

Cao Jixiang smiled and said: "These things are really quite difficult to say, and since General Shi wants to know, then Cao Mou will talk about it." ”

Hearing this, Shi Heng also stopped eating, stared at Cao Jixiang and asked, "What does the emperor think of the eldest princess?" ”

Cao Jixiang smiled and said: "Actually, things are simple, the emperor is afraid that the power of the eldest princess is dominant, and it is difficult to control. ”

"Gonggong Cao didn't mean that the emperor didn't trust the eldest princess very much." Shi Heng asked in surprise.

Cao Jixiang sighed and said: "The emperor actually deserves it, Cao has served the emperor for so many years, and he understands in his heart that the emperor only trusts one person in his heart." ”

"Who." Shi Heng hurriedly asked.

"Then who else, the only person the emperor trusts is the emperor himself." Cao Jixiang shook his head and said.

Shi Heng asked in surprise: "Could it be that the emperor doesn't even trust Gonggong Cao?" ”

Cao Jixiang nodded vigorously and said, "What General Shi Heng said is not bad at all, the emperor does not trust the old slave very much. ”

"How so?" Shi Heng asked.

"If you don't understand the rules of the palace, I'm afraid it's hard to clarify, General Shi can know that the emperor is traveling this time, and the guards he took away are all those people." Cao Jixiang asked.

Shi Heng thought for a while and said; "It should be the men and horses of the Imperial Forest Army and the Jinyi Guard."

"What Master Shi said is not bad at all, not enough to have a point, these people are actually related to me Cao."

Shi Heng asked with some puzzlement: "This is really a bit strange, doesn't the emperor want the people of Gonggong Cao." ”

Cao Jixiang patted his thigh and said: "What General Shi said is not bad at all, it is exactly like this, from these circumstances, the emperor is not very at ease with Cao someone, so there is this arrangement." ”

In this way, the emperor may not have believed Gonggong Cao, this matter is really tricky. If you want to deal with the eldest princess, if you don't have the golden sign of the emperor in your hand, I'm afraid it will be extremely difficult to deal with. Shi Heng said to Cao Jixiang.

"What General Shi Heng said is reasonable, but although the matter is obvious, I can't persuade the emperor." Cao Jixiang smiled bitterly.

When Shi Heng heard this, he also sighed and said: "It's all to blame on that Yu Qian, originally the emperor was still obedient to you and me, if it weren't for the emperor's apology for ordering Yu Qian's death, it would have only gotten to such a point." ”

"Yu Qian's matter has passed, and there is no way to do it, now we have to focus on how to make the emperor change his mind and send troops to strangle the candle shadow and shake it red." Cao Jixiang's face was solemn, and he said slowly.

"By the way, this is said to be in Shi's heart, the candle shadow is a big trouble in my heart, if I can't eradicate this, it will definitely be a stumbling block in the future. This is not something to be taken lightly. Shi Heng secretly gritted his teeth and said.

Shi Heng had already gotten together with Nangong Jiuzhong of the confession gate, and wanted to borrow a knife to kill and cut off Jian Huaizhen, but he didn't expect that at the last moment, since it was destroyed by Nangong Jiuzhong, who was red by the candle shadow, and the confession door that was already in his hands was also out of control because of Nangong Mingfeng's death.

This change disrupted Shi Heng's two lines of government and opposition to go hand in hand to control the power, in this case, Shi Heng had no choice but to retreat and strike at the candle shadow first.

Cao Jixiang saw Shi Heng's uncertain face, although he didn't understand why he hated Candle Shadow Shaking Red so much, but Candle Shadow Shaking Red was also his enemy, and Cao Jixiang didn't want Candle Shadow to be red and bigger, which was not good for him.

"I have an idea, I can turn back to Providence, General Shi is willing to try." Cao Jixiang said with a smile.

When Shi Heng heard this, he opened his mouth and said, "Could it be that Gonggong Cao already has a good plan. ”

Cao Jixiang smiled and said; "Although I don't dare to do it myself, but from the current situation, there is no other way to do it."

"Then you have to ask Gonggong Cao for advice." Shi Heng said with a smile.

"Actually, it's not difficult to do, the emperor's current intention is just that he doesn't want to ban it because he hasn't found the bad deeds of the candle shadow shaking red." Cao Jixiang smiled and said.

Shi Heng asked with some confusion: "This is what I have thought about too, but the current situation is extremely different, now that the power of the rivers and lakes is rising, and the imperial court is weak, even if we want to deal with these rivers and lakes sects, it is quite tricky." What's more, the stalker also found out what bad deeds the candle shadow was shaking. ”

"The emperor still has the Imperial Forest Army, as long as the Imperial Forest Army is dispatched, no matter what the rivers and lakes can be razed." Cao Jixiang smiled and said.

Shi Heng smiled and said: "Dispatch the Imperial Forest Army, it must be a holy decree, Shi someone doesn't have the courage to fake the holy decree." ”

"If there is no holy decree, the emperor can make a holy decree." Cao Jixiang opened his mouth and said.

Shi Heng unconsciously admired and said: "Good idea, really good idea, it seems that this can really be done at the moment, but what kind of method can we use to move the emperor." ”

Cao Jixiang smiled and said: "Although the candle shadow is red, there are no bad deeds, so help them make some bad deeds." ”

As soon as he heard this, General Shi Heng suddenly realized: "Sure enough, it's a good idea, this trick is really clever." ”

When Cao Jixiang heard this, he also smiled and said: "General Shi is really thorough, Cao's method is not bad." ”

Hearing Cao Jixiang's words, Shi Heng smiled and said: "Father-in-law Cao's method is really superior, quietly, borrowing a knife to kill people, even if Jian Huaizhen wants to seek revenge, I am afraid that it will not fall on the head of me." ”

"Yes, that's exactly what I said. The eldest princess is quite powerful, and if we can not provoke her, we will not provoke her first, otherwise, this matter will definitely be yellow. Cao Jixiang reminded from the side.

"Gonggong Cao is right, the eldest princess is still moving at the moment, and when she moves, she is startling the snake, but it is not beautiful, so it is better to leave it for the future to clean up." Shi Heng laughed.

After laughing for a while, Shi Heng suddenly asked, "Do you think the emperor will recognize the reason for death and not shake the candle shadow?" ”

When Cao Jixiang heard this, he thought for a while, and then said: "It will never be like this, according to the emperor's temperament, as long as you can say that the emperor is moved, the big thing can be successful." ”

Hearing this, Shi Heng couldn't help laughing and said: "What you say is reasonable, what you say is reasonable, isn't it the same for the change we made back then, now it's just dealing with a small sect, what's the difficulty." ”

"That's not bad at all, it's just a sect, and it's not difficult for us to make a plan." Cao Jixiang said.

"Come on, Grandpa Cao, you and I have a drink, and I wish this time a smooth success." Shi Heng raised his glass to Cao Jixiang and said.

When Cao Jixiang heard this, he raised his glass and smiled and said: "General Shi, the current major event has not yet succeeded, don't be too happy, get carried away, I'm afraid that I will show my feet, if things are exposed, the emperor blames it, and you and I will have to go around without eating." ”

Shi Heng smiled and said: "Isn't Gonggong Cao the first day he met me Shi someone, isn't it Shi Heng's usual plan to act after acting, steady and proper."

Hearing Shi Heng's words, Cao Jixiang also smiled and said: "That's a good saying, if there is a gap in the matter, it will be difficult to make up for it in the future, so when you act, you must not be careless, if the matter is done, don't leave a living mouth." ”

"That's nature, wouldn't it be self-inflicted to leave your mouth alive. Only the dead in the world cannot speak. Father-in-law Cao can rest assured. Shi Heng also laughed.

The two discussed it properly, and they began to drink and talk.

They all felt in their hearts that as long as they could design to make the emperor believe that the candle shadow was not good for the Ming Dynasty, they would definitely be able to suppress the candle shadow by the emperor's hand. suppressed the candle shadow and shook the red, and he could unscrupulously develop his power in the court and the rivers and lakes, and then the Ming Dynasty would fall into his hands.