In Luoyang City, Zhang Rang's private house, the lobby is brightly lit, the candles are flickering, and the table is full of all kinds of wine and food.

He hadn't hosted a banquet for many years.

Today's Zhang Chang is in a high position, and only the son of heaven in the palace can make him bend his knees.

When the others saw him, they either wanted to meet him or they wanted to take a detour from afar.

Today, the guests invited by Zhang Rang have already arrived, and if someone else sits under him, I am afraid that he will already be sweating and uneasy at this time.

But the person sitting on it is now talking and laughing freely, and he is not afraid of Zhang Rang at all.

Gai's reputation in the palace is not under Zhang Rang at all, it is Zhao Zhong, who is also trusted by Emperor Ling in the palace and Zhang Rang.

Zhang Rang is domineering, Zhao Zhong is respectful, so from outsiders, Zhao Zhong's power is not as good as Zhang Rang, but if the two of them completely tear their faces, it will probably be a dead end.

Naturally, this banquet was not only the two of them.

Beside Zhang Rang, there was another Zhongchang attendant Wang Fu seated.

Although they are both regular attendants, Wang Fu is not as good as the two of them, so he just sits on the side, his demeanor is respectful, and he does not dare to speak at will.

"Zhang Changshi's wine is not easy to drink. No merit, I don't know what happened to this search? I want to see if I can drink this wine first. Zhao Zhong held the wine glass in his hand and casually picked up the dishes on the table.

He has been in the palace for a long time, and he tastes a lot of imperial dishes on weekdays. Now he has to admit that this dish in the Chang Servant's Mansion is not bad even compared to the palace.

Zhang Rang saw Zhao Zhong's expression and said with a smile: "Our eunuchs are not liked by those scholars. You and I are on duty in the palace together, and we should be in the same boat. ”

"In the eyes of those scholars, you and I are not the same dog? If one day I fall, will they let you go? Although you did a little worse in Cai Yong's matter that day, but in the end it was His Majesty's intention, and I won't care about you. ”

"In this way, I still have to thank Chang Chang for his magnanimity? Don't adults remember villains?" Zhao Zhong said with a smile.

He is quite fearless now, and he has worked with Zhang Rang for many years, how can he not know Zhang Rang's heart?

This person has always been domineering, especially since he has been in power all these years, and he has been flying and jumping away, and there is no one in his eyes.

Today, he actually "condescended" to invite him to the banquet, and there were many compromises between words, so I thought that he must have asked for it.

Zhang Rang held back the anger in his heart, if it was a change in the past, he would have already gotten up angrily, but as Zhao Zhong expected, he did ask for someone today, so he would suppress his temper.

He just smiled and said: "Zhao Changshou said that he laughed, you and I both do things for Your Majesty, where is there any position of dignity." However, what you said just now is not bad, and the invitation to you this time is to discuss a major matter. ”

He turned his head to look at Wang Fu on the side.

Wang Fu, who was originally sitting in a precarious position, spoke at this time, "Now that Queen Song is not favored in the palace, it is a rare opportunity, and it is a good opportunity for us to get rid of the Song family." ”

Now the queen of Song in the palace is from a famous family, and she is solemn, and she doesn't need it, and she doesn't like to associate with them, so the eunuchs in the palace are quite afraid of her.

"Get rid of the Song family?" Zhao Zhong was stunned for a moment, and then smiled dumbly, "The Song family is originally a family, and they occupy the identity of a relative, and now the Queen of Song has never been wrong, do you think that Cao Jie and others got rid of a Dou Wu back then, and today you can get rid of the Song family?" ”

"Besides, I have never had a grudge with Queen Song, and I don't like Wang Chang to serve you. Why should I risk dealing with her? If things work out, there will be no benefit for me, and if things don't work out, they will take their own lives. ”

Zhang Rang shook his head, "Why did Cao Jie and the others get rid of Dou Wu back then, you and I know very well. As for today's matter, we got rid of the King of Bohai before, and Princess Bohai was the aunt of Queen Song, so we offended Queen Song for this reason. But if you defeat Queen Song, will it really do you any good? Zhao Changshi, if people don't know, they can't do it unless they do. ”

Zhang Rang's words paused, and suddenly smiled with a little meaning, "I heard that Zhao Changshou is now very close to He Guiren." He Guiren can get to this day, and he is a person with means. Distinguish the pros and cons. ”

"Besides, there is no one behind him, whether it is in the palace or outside the palace, there is nothing to rely on. If you gain momentum in the future, won't you have to rely on Zhao Changshi? You're not bad-eyed. ”

Zhao Zhong stared at Zhang Rang, "You want a piece of the pie?"

Zhang Rang shook his head, "What will happen in the future, you and I will rely on our own means." It's just that for now, we still have to let her He Guiren sit on the throne of the queen, otherwise everything is empty talk. And now is the best opportunity. ”

Zhao Zhong was silent for a long time, and finally he exhaled and said with a smile: "I think Zhang Changshi has already planned it." Why don't you tell us? ”

"Zhao Changzhi made a good choice." Zhang Rang laughed heartily and raised the wine glass in his hand, "Let's join forces, what about the Song family?" This time there is no escape. ”

The three of them raised their glasses and drank freely, but they had their own thoughts in their hearts.

………………………………

A few months later, rumors spread in the harem that Queen Song was immoral, so she could not conceive a dragon heir for many years.

The concubines also often mocked the Empress Song before Emperor Ling, but Emperor Ling did not say anything about it, but became more and more estranged from Empress Song.

Until this day, Zhang asked Wang Fu and others to talk about the fact that Queen Song had set up witchcraft in the harem and cursed the Son of Heaven.

Emperor Ling sent someone to invite Empress Song to talk about it.

At this time, Liu Hong was standing on the top of the high steps, and took a step back to his dragon chair.

He turned his head and glanced at the chair behind him.

There's nothing unusual about the chair with the dragon's body carved into it, but it's just that what it means is really intoxicating.

That is the supreme power.

Whoever sits on it is the Son of Heaven.

When he was in Hejian back then, he naturally never thought that there would be today, who would have thought that the emperor of the Han family, who is now dictatorial and assertive, would also worry about some silver money back then.

Now he naturally still worries about money, but today's sorrow is naturally far different from the sorrow of the past.

He turned his head and looked up.

Outside the palace gate, the long road is endless, it is his country.

He lowered his head slightly, narrowing his gaze a little.

A woman came in slowly from outside the temple.

Empress Song is from everyone's background, even if she already has some guesses in her heart about why Emperor Ling summoned her, she still lowered her eyebrows and sleeves and did enough etiquette.

The Spirit Emperor laughed, took a step back, and sat down on the dragon chair behind him.

When Emperor Ling entered the palace from the river, there was no help inside and outside, and at that time, the Empress Dowager Dong chose thousands of choices, so she chose the Song family for him.

There is the use of eunuchs inside, and the support of the Song family outside, which makes him, an outsider, sit firmly on the dragon chair under him.

Later, Emperor Liu Hong's throne was stable, and he gradually snubbed this Song family girl.

He raised his eyes to look at the person he hadn't seen for a long time.

I haven't seen her for a long time, but she has lost a lot of weight.

Liu Hong opened his mouth and smiled: "I haven't seen you for a long time, but you have lost a lot of weight." You are the master of the harem, and you should have heard about the things in the harem recently. Now that Zhang Rang and others have reported that you have done the things of the witch Gu of the old years in the harem, let me ask you, what do you have to say? ”

"Since Your Majesty has summoned the concubine to come, I have already made a decision in my heart. Whether a concubine is self-evident or not, and what is the difference? Empress Song said.

Her face was dignified, not as gorgeous as that of He Guiren, but now she looked a little too thin and pale.

Liu Hong restrained the smile on his face, slowly stood up, and said softly: "If you don't argue, then I can only take this matter seriously." ”

Empress Song didn't speak, just raised her eyes and looked at the king standing on the high ranks.

When Emperor Ling's foundation in the court was not stable, their husband and wife also went through a period of mutual support.

But when did the people on the ladder begin to drift apart?

She smiled: "The concubine knew that His Majesty had no choice but to choose me as the queen back then, but she has been in the same boat all these years, thinking that Your Majesty is still the Majesty of the year, but in the end it is still the concubine's wishful thinking." ”

Liu Hong was silent.

"The concubine was born in the Song family and has studied since she was a child. As for the person he hated in his life, Sejong abandoned Chen and went to the Golden House. Empress Song smiled miserably and looked at the Emperor Ling in the hall, "The person I envy in my life, Zhongzong has a deep love for the sword." ”

"When I entered the palace at the beginning of that year, I thought that His Majesty should be Zhongzong, but I didn't want His Majesty to be the king today." Empress Song finally glanced at the king in the distance.

The high level is heavy, but in fact, it is not far away.

It's just that even if she climbs to the high level, the person on the step is no longer the young man she saw when she first entered the palace.

As for the false accusations of Zhang Rang, Wang Fu and others, she has nothing to defend and is unwilling to argue.

She turned and walked away, leaving only a few fluttering words.

"Concubines should be violent in the room. Never come out. ”

"May the concubine and Your Majesty never see each other again in this life."

With the departure of Empress Song, the hall was completely quiet again.

Liu Hong listened to Empress Song's words and watched her leave.

He raised his hand slightly, but when he was halfway up, he finally put it down again, and finally did not say anything to hold it.

Liu Hong raised his hand and touched the dragon head on the chair under him, but remembered a sentence that Empress Dowager Dong often talked to him after he sat on the dragon chair.

The heavenly family has no selfish feelings.

…………………………………………

In the winter of October, the Empress Song died in a violent room, and her father was sentenced to death without his countryman's marquis and brother, and his body was abandoned outside the city, so that he could not be restrained.

The government and the opposition were shocked, the family was frustrated, and the eunuchs were in a big voice.

On the Wushi Mountain, Lu Zhi suddenly returned to the mountain, but he ordered Lu Jie to dismiss the students on the mountain.

When everyone on the mountain followed Lu Zhi for a long time, they naturally knew Lu Zhi's temperament, and they guessed a little about why he was like this.

Now that the affairs of the Song family are in an uproar, with Lu Zhi's temperament, he dismissed everyone at this time, but I am afraid that most of them are related to this matter.

The students on the mountain are here to study, and their thoughts are different at this time.

Many people sighed and left the mountain. After all, the eunuchs are now extremely powerful, even if they are not afraid of death at home, but there are still relatives in the family.

Lu Zhi can break his family and business and be a person with lofty ideals, but they must not be unscrupulous.

Naturally, there were some people who wanted to stay and share this matter with Lu Zhi, but Lu Zhi still ordered Lu Jie to drive these people down the mountain.

This naturally does not include Liu Bei, now Liu Bei's reputation in Luoyang is not small, plus the previous Cai Yong incident, it can also be seen that Emperor Ling now values Liu Bei a lot, so even if he stays on the mountain, it will be fine.

On the side of the Luoyun Pavilion, Lu Zhi was sitting cross-legged by the lake, holding a bamboo slip from Cai Yong's collection in his hand, and the fishing rod thrown into the water next to his hand was shaking slightly.

Liu Bei came from afar, came to Lu Zhi's side, put down the wine and food he was carrying, and said with a smile: "I haven't drunk with Lu Shi for a long time, and today is a rare opportunity." It's just that Lu Shimo wants to think that these small dishes I made with my own hands are crude. ”

"Xuande also has good cooking skills, but I haven't heard you mention it." Lu Zhi glanced at the food in the food box, and it didn't look bad.

"Since I was a child, my family was poor, so I naturally had to do more. Children from poor families always have to be in charge early. Liu Bei said with a smile.

Lu Zhi nodded and put down the bamboo slip in his hand, "Why wasn't I like this back then?" When I was a teenager, I ran around to study. I have been to Liangzhou and Beihai. Speaking of which, I've walked most of the world. ”

"At that time, I asked for a book but couldn't get it, how could I think of today."

Liu Bei said with a smile: "Master Lu has the hardships of the past, so he has today's success, and he always achieves each other in the future.

"Xuande doesn't go down the mountain. Although I know that Your Majesty will not do anything to you, there are many things I have said in this book, and I can't say that it will affect your career in the end. Lu Zhi picked up a pot of wine, tore open the mud seal and took a sip.

He naturally heard the meaning of Liu Bei's advice, but instead began to persuade Liu Bei to go down the mountain.

"Lu Shi is such a character, don't you think that the book will be useful?" Liu Bei asked with a smile.

Lu Zhi smiled, "What does Xuande mean?"

"I heard that when the party was in charge in the past, there were students who demonstrated on the long street, and were later arrested by Duan Gong and imprisoned. The result? But that's it. ”

"Now the eunuchs are in power, flourishing in those days, although Lu Shi's reputation is heavy, but he is not as good as many scholars back then. Even if you go to the book, it will be in vain. It's better to wait and see. Liu Bei sighed.

"Where are the things in the world, there are nine things that are sure of everything." Lu Zhi also smiled, "You always have to try to know the result." ”

Liu Bei took out the food in the food box and placed it in front of the two of them.

"I don't know what Master Lu said in the book?" Liu Bei asked after a moment of silence.

Lu Zhi took a sip of wine and looked into the distance.

It was sunset, and the glow of the setting sun was reflected in the afterglow of the sun, covering the surface of the lake with a layer of gold.

"Since I am in the book, I naturally want to explain everything clearly. First, I hope that Your Majesty will relieve the anger of the people of the party. Second, Xu collected the corpses of the Song family to calm the soul. Third, never ask for things in private, and hold the Lord accountable. As for all the other little things, they are nothing compared to these things. Lu Zhi smiled casually, as if what he said was a trivial matter.

Liu Bei smiled bitterly, no wonder Lu Zhi wanted to persuade him to go down the mountain.

This first abolition of the party system alone is already a big and big thing.

In contrast, the affairs of the Song family have become a dispensable triviality.

He was silent for a moment and sighed, "Why should Master Lu be like this? ”

The matter of the party has always been a taboo in the court, and those mentioned in the above book will be deposed at least or killed.

"Since you have decided to go to the book, you naturally want to tell all the troublesome things at once, otherwise if the crime is very large, there is no end, won't you regret it at that time?"

Lu Zhi smiled, "Xuande also thinks that I shouldn't be able to read a book?" ”

Liu Bei was silent for a moment, and then said with a smile: "With Master Lu's temperament, it would be strange if he didn't go to the book. ”

"Sure enough, you still know me." Lu Zhi smiled, "Just now you mentioned the fact that the former students petitioned on the street. I have a somewhat different view on this matter. ”

Liu Bei smiled: "Master Lu, please speak."

At that time, those students may indeed be young and vigorous, and some of them were either indignant, and some were deceived by others. It's just that in their hearts, they always feel that the parade in the streets is for the good of the country. Lu Zhi said with a smile.

Liu Bei nodded, which was naturally undeniable.

"No matter what the outcome is, the first ones are always using their own methods to wake up those who are sleeping."

"In this world, there are always some people who laugh at others for being stupid. It's just that those so-called stupid people really can't see what the situation is? ”

"Of course not." Lu Zhi took a sip of wine and asked himself, "The world is turbid, and it is difficult to distinguish between black and white. It is not necessarily wrong to be punctual in bending oneself. But there must always be some people who stand up first, and show a bright path for those who come after them, for those who have not yet seen the way ahead. ”

"Even if you know that you are doing a knife in the hands of others, there are some things that must be done by some people."

Liu Bei silently took a sip of wine and said softly: "Heaven and earth have righteousness, and miscellaneous manifolds are endowed with manifolds. The lower part is the river mountain, and the upper part is the sun star. Yu people say Haoran, full of gloom. The royal road is clear, containing and Tuming Court. When the poor festival is seen, one by one. In Qi Tai Shi Jian, in Jin Dong Hu Pen, in Qin Zhang Liangshi, in Han Su Wu Festival. ”

Lu Zhi smiled when he heard this, "No matter what kind of world, there must always be these fools." ”

……………………

Lu Zhishu is not provincial.

Liu Kuan was mostly involved in the court, but he never blamed Lu Zhi for this.

A few miles from the east gate of Luoyang, the place where Cai Yong was said goodbye in the past.

Liu Bei had already set up the drinks and was waiting for the arrival of the person who was going to send him off.

The person who wants to say goodbye today is Cao Cao, who was dismissed because he was implicated by the Song family.

At this time, the dust was not far away, and Cao Cao and Le Jin came with several horses.

Seeing Liu Bei, Cao Cao turned over and dismounted.

"I don't want to see off Cai Gong here with Xuande in the past, and today my family has become a person who is going to travel far away." Cao Cao said with a smile after taking the wine handed over by Liu Bei.

He is already a free and easy person, not to mention that he has already expected what happened now.

Liu Bei smiled: "Meng De is free and easy."

"What if you don't have it? If sprinkling and rolling can be exchanged for a clean and uneventful, is so happy. Cao Cao said with a smile after taking a sip of wine.

"Where does Meng De want to go?"

Cao Cao looked up at Luoyang City behind him again, and said with a smile: "This time, you should return to your hometown, build a house in the bamboo forest, read and hunt, and live a quiet life."

"Bei thought that it wouldn't be long before you would return to Luoyang." Liu Bei said with a smile.

Cao Cao raised the wine jar in his hand towards Liu Bei and grinned, "Who can say what will happen in the future?" ”

The two drank all the wine in their hands, and Cao Cao rode away.

Liu Bei looked at the splashed smoke and dust, silent.