After retiring from the dynasty, the ministers left one after another.

And the Qi Wang Party, such as Lu Chaoyang, Yang Rong, Li Xuan and others, did not gather around Zhu Gaoxian to pat on the back, after all, it was in the Jinluan Palace, and the party was embarrassed to be so obvious, and it was impossible to say anything about going home.

Xia Yuanji, the head of the household, was not in a good mood today, and his old friend ended his political career in the court absurdly, which made Xia Yuanji feel a kind of desolation of a rabbit and a fox.

"Xia Laoshangshu, please stay."

Xia Yuanji turned around to look, it was King Qi who was silent in the court just now, with peach blossom eyes, red lips and white teeth, it was hard to imagine that such a handsome young man who was docile and docile when he was quiet could set off countless storms in the court.

"Lord Qi, is there something wrong with you?" Xia Yuanji bowed slightly, slightly puzzled.

Zhu Gaoxian smiled and arched his hand: "This king will hold a banquet in the Fudong Building of the Qinhuai River tonight, I wonder if Master Xia can enjoy his face and drink two cups of wine?" ”

Xia Yuanji waved his hand: "Forget it, Qinhuai River is where young people go, I have an old bone, I can't afford to enjoy that kind of glamorous blessing, the prince personally invited him to give the minister a lot of face, Lao Xia I understand, but the household affairs are busy, and I ask the prince to forgive me, I will not accompany him, and I will leave." ”

Just as Xia Yuanji turned around and wanted to leave, Zhu Gaoxian suddenly spoke: "Xia Laoshangshu doesn't know the truth that the lonely sail is easy to sink and the peaks are stumped?" If you walk alone at night for a long time, you will always hit the knife edge when the black light is blind. ”

After the crown prince lost power, Xia Yuanji ruthlessly refused all communication with the East Palace and broke away from the princelings.

This way of detachment is very special, if it is placed in normal times, it will definitely be targeted by the group, but the tree is falling and scattered, and now there are many anti-bones of the princelings, Xia Yuanji's move is also reasonable, who doesn't want to have a longer political career, it's just chasing power and profit.

Unlike other people who broke away from the princelings, Xia Yuanji did not join any party after leaving the princelings, and became a lonely minister who was fluctuating in the wind and rain.

No one knew what Xia Yuanji meant by this, because he was too stupid, and it didn't look like the shrewd and capable Tobe Shangshu did it.

If he was ruthless enough, he should directly join the once hostile Qi Wang Party and find a backer, but Xia Yuanji didn't.

If he is nostalgic enough, he should live and die with the princelings at this time, why should he be a rebel.

Therefore, Xia Yuanji has now become the most special person in the six books, but he is high-powered, highly qualified, and after making such a puzzling behavior, he can still stand tall in the household department.

But how long can this last?

Lonely minister, it's very difficult.

And Zhu Gaoxian's words are undoubtedly hinting at this.

Xia Yuanji's face turned cold when he heard this: "Old Xia, I have a hard mouth, I don't say anything when I bump into it, I hit the knife edge when I walk at night, it's a big deal to have a big scar on my head with a bowl, where is death, people live for a lifetime, don't you want to do whatever you want." ”

This is not a face-saving statement, and it is also wild.

But this has always been Xia Yuanji's style of doing things, he is used to it, his personality is strong, and anyone dares to scare him.

What about you, King Qi, I dare to be tough on the emperor! Who is afraid of whom, there is a kind of offline order to kill me!

There's a kind of you killing me, putting a knife on my neck, do you see my eyelids wink!

Besides, Xia Yuanji is not so easy to be killed by online orders, don't look at this old Shangshu's age, but his body is still tough, and his fist is vigorous.

Yongle was fierce in the court, and there were often fights among the ministers in the early dynasty, Xia Yuanji's temper did not offend people, but with the ancestral "Xia Ji Eight Fights" boxing method, he had set a record of one dozen and three and could fight back with his advanced body, which was admirable.

"Xia Lao Shangshu is too worried, this king worked with Lao Shangshu when he was in charge of the country in Wenhua Palace, although the time is not many months, but he also understands the temper of Lord Xia."

Zhu Gaoxian smiled and said, "If you want to overwhelm Xia Lao Shangshu with power, it is impossible, Lao Shangshu is high-spirited, and this king admires it." ”

"Since the prince knows the temper of my old horseman, why should he say more?" Xia Yuanji said lightly, "It's just death, why be afraid?" Xia Mou has already died once, so why not die again, life is bumpy and displaced, Xia Mou has been straight in this life, and he is also chic, and he has no regrets! ”

After speaking, Xia Yuanji turned around and left, the body under the official robe was weakened by years of fatigue, the corners of his clothes swayed, and he was quite windy and cold, and the strong man was gone and never returned.

In the final analysis, Xia Yuanji and Zhu Gaoxian are actually the same kind of people, they seem to be tame, but in fact they are unruly, no one is convinced, whoever is unhappy will do it, Lao Tzu will play with you with his life, you will kill me!

Zhu Gaoxian said slowly: "Master Xia, you have this courage, this king admires, but if you die, what should the household do?" The successor of the household department, you should not have had time to train it, then the green and yellow will not be accepted, the household department is unmanned, can you really rest assured to go? ”

Xia Yuanji's figure paused for a moment, and said disdainfully: "The household department is the household department of your Zhu family, and Daming is also the Ming of your Zhu family, what does it have to do with me Xia Yuanji?" ”

Zhu Gaoxian pursed his lips and smiled, and said: "Since Lord Xia intends to do so, this king will not say much, but I heard that Hu Guang, a cabinet scholar, is very talented, I wonder if he can become the head of the new generation of households after Lord Xia?" ”

Xia Yuanji was stunned for a moment, and blurted out: "How can Hu Guang be in charge of the household department!" Although this person has talent, but his talent is not in the household department, he is sleek, if this person is the household department, he will definitely let ......"

Speaking of this, Xia Yuanji's voice suddenly came.

Niang Xipi, it's set!

"It seems that Xia Laoshangshu still cares a lot about the household department." The corners of Zhu Gaoxian's mouth rose slightly.

Xia Yuanji's face darkened: "King Qi, you really know!" ”

King Qi is also treacherous, and a seemingly inadvertent sentence has a bad heart hidden in it, which directly provokes Xia Yuanji.

Xia Laoshang, who seems to be arrogant and uninhibited, actually always has a weakness in his heart - the world!

For Xia Yuanji, the household department is more important than his life, he doesn't care who is the emperor, but he cares whether the country is healthy or not. Now that the household department is not in charge, if Xia Yuanji falls, who will lead the household department? The household is the money bag of the Ming Dynasty, and Shangshu is the leader of the household, if the leader is not right, the household is not right, and the court is troubled, which is one thing that makes Xia Yuanji think about it.

He no longer cares about the position of the second rank of Shangshu, but Xia Yuanji knows that he can't fall now, at least he has to find a suitable successor before he can leave with peace of mind.

"Xia Shangshu, invite Qinhuai River tonight, I don't know what to do?" Zhu Gaoxian asked with a smile.

Xia Yuanji was a little helpless, and replied weakly: "You win, the old man will go to perfunctory tonight, but I said in advance that I will go to the banquet, it does not mean that I will be loyal to you." ”

Zhu Gaoxian chuckled lightly and arched his hand: "Tonight, this king is in the Fudong Building of Qinhuai River, waiting for Xia Lao Shangshu, Lao Shangshu is strong, he has beaten the Five Tigers Huang Zhong, and he will cut the dancing Ji under the crotch." ”

Xia Yuanji's face darkened: "Go, go, I'm so old, don't make fun of me." ”

But when he thought of the charming dancing girl on the Qinhuai River, Xia Laoshang muttered a little in his heart: "This King Qi is really fucking rich, the dancing girl of the Qinhuai River is notoriously expensive, and the worst one is more than ten taels of silver, I can't take out the silver to order one after passing by several times, cough cough ......."

Xia Yuanji, Xia Yuanji, the bull's ear of the household department, in charge of the world's money, has been in charge of his duties for thirteen years, and has passed hundreds of millions of snowflakes and silver from his hands, but he has not even left more than ten taels of silver.

How can you not be admired for being so old?

……

If you ask where Jinling City is the most beautiful, it is, of course, the Qinhuai River at night.

The smoke cage is cold, the moon is long, and the sand is long, and the night is close to the restaurant in Qinhuai.

The fluorescent lights sprinkled on the surface of the river from the cracks in the willow branches, as if a layer of gold dust was condensed on the surface of the Qinhuai River, like a dream. The spring breeze wrinkles the tranquil river, creating ripples. Occasionally, passing waterfowl leisurely spread their wings and gently skim the water, flying off into the distance.

The pleasure boats on the Qinhuai River are different from the duck boats on Xuanwu Lake, which are leisurely and contented, and the painted boats carved with delicate patterns slowly sail across the river, drawing ripples that seem to be plated with color against the background of the moonlight. Walking into the darkness, the ripples disappeared, and only the sound of oars, the melody of the waves crashing on the shore, and the melodious song of the singer.

The largest painting boat on the river, three layers of cornices, carved beams and painted buildings, like the heavenly fairy palace, the sound of the piano is like the flow of fairy sound, the dancing girl dances in the sound of the pipa, the staggered between the plans, the tourists on the boat are all the ministers of Beijing, the nobles and nobles.

dared to make such a big show at the feet of the Son of Heaven and invite so many big people to the banquet, and the master behind him didn't know what kind of power he should be.

Xia Yuanji wore a thin robe and walked through the crowd, and the people around him all bowed their hands and said "Xia Lao Shangshu", but Xia Yuanji just bowed his head slightly and didn't say much.

The long-awaited Qin Huai night banquet, Xia Yuanji at this time suddenly felt disappointed, and even the charming and moving dancing girl felt that it was an eyesore.

The magnates of the capital are so extravagant here, it can be seen that the people of Li have been suffering for a long time, eating the people's fat and people's ointment, and drinking the people's blood!

Drunk and drunk, Xia Yuanji only felt the disgusting smell of rot in the air, and he was almost out of breath, and hurriedly walked to the no-man's land on the fence of the painting boat, where the lights were dim, quiet and cold, so that Lao Shangshu could barely breathe.

Lao Shangshu leaned in front of the railing, the river and the night moon were the same color, and the ripples were rolling.

"Zhumen's wine and meat stink, and there are frozen bones on the road."

In the quiet corner of the painting boat, a young man's calm voice suddenly came, and Xia Yuanji looked at it casually, it was King Qi in white clothes.

Today's Zhu Gaoxian just tied up his long black hair with a cyan headband, and his white robe was slightly curled in the wind, graceful and graceful, and he looked like an immortal.

"That's talking about your Qi Wangfu, right?"

Xia Yuanji sneered, "You King Qi is majestic, as soon as you set up a banquet, you will attract a large number of powerful people, just like a vulture smelling the smell of carrion, and it is uncontrollably attracted over, Xia admires." ”

Zhu Gaoxian said lightly: "Without Zhu Gaoxian, there will be a second King of Qi, as long as there is carrion, there will be vultures, as long as there is a banquet in power, there will be this extravagant scene." ”

Xia Yuanji had the heart to refute, but he couldn't say the words when they came to his lips.

Yes, King Qi is telling the truth.

Even if there is no Zhu Gaoxian, there will be other people in power, as long as there are people in power, there will definitely be "vultures", power breeds desire, desire breeds corruption, and repeats endlessly...... Where there is light, there will be shadows.

And the next person in power will hardly be as sober as King Qi.

Power is like a pot of wine that is hard to resist temptation, tasting it, tasting it again, taking one sip, one last sip, feasting on it, and finally soaking in the vat, drunk like mud.

Xia Yuanji is not an innocent child, he is a powerful minister who turns his hands into clouds and rains in the court, and he is also a rare sober person.

Even if he is used to seeing the darkness, Xia Yuanji still finds it difficult to accept: "If all the officials of the Ming Dynasty are like this, the Ming Dynasty will ...... in the future."

He didn't dare to say any more, but someone did.

Zhu Gaoxian said lightly: "The rule of the Ming Dynasty has long been doomed, and the future Ming Dynasty will die in the party struggle, am I right, Xia Laoshangshu." ”

This is a very dangerous topic, but Zhu Gaoxian can say it so lightly, Xia Yuanji gasped and stopped talking.

"You see the darkness, but you dare not speak it, so what is the difference between you and those who are in the darkness? According to the Great Ming Law, those who harbor criminals will be punished for the same crime! ”

Zhu Gaoxian sneered, "If the rule of officials does not change, the Ming Dynasty will die." The erosion of the magnates you see on the painting boat, to put it bluntly, is just a group of bedbugs bred by the mediocrity of the rulers, and now the Ming Dynasty is prosperous, and it can still be supported by national strength, but the national strength of the Ming Dynasty will always fade one day, so what? Only by changing can we prevent the foundation of the Ming Dynasty from being eroded by moths! ”

Xia Yuanji's scalp tingled when he heard this: "Since ancient times, how many people have died well?" ”

At this time, Xia Yuanji suddenly understood who the hero of tonight's banquet was.

All of this was prepared by King Qi for him Xia Yuanji!

Zhu Gaoxian, in the name of King Qi, set up a banquet in the Qinhuai River, and the people in power set up a banquet, attracting countless magnates, some black and white, and the fish rushed into this painting boat, and when Xia Yuanji went to the banquet, how could he accept his temper, and at this time, King Qi took advantage of the weakness to enter and directly attack Xia Yuanji's heart weakness with the rule of officials!

Even if Xia Yuanji has figured out the layout of this now, it still doesn't help, he saw it, this scene of erosion, and King Qi's heart-damning remarks will always be engraved in his heart, if he can't get rid of this heart disease, Xia Yuanji will live in regret for the rest of his life!

And with the strength of Xia Yuanji alone, how can he pull the cake of the interests of the Manchu Dynasty's civil and military affairs, he needs an ally, a strong ally, and this ally has already stretched out his hand to him - the sword bearer of the Ming Dynasty, King Qi!

From the moment Xia Yuanji walked into the painting boat, he had already lost to Zhu Gaoxian, all he could do was to get into King Qi's trap and follow King Qi to eradicate his demons.

Good calculation, good calculation!

"Several people who changed the law in ancient times were able to die well, Qin Zhishang was torn apart, and Anshi, the king of Song, died depressed, and I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to make an exception."

Zhu Gaoxian suddenly smiled, his smile was sunny and warm, but the words he said were terrifying, "So why do I want to change the law, I think I have a long life?" Even if I have the sole power, if I encounter change, I am afraid it will be difficult to die well. Xia Lao Shangshu, can you die for me, if you don't want to, this king will not force it. ”

Xia Yuanji was stunned: "Do you want to listen to what you are talking about?" ”

He really ......

I'm crying to death!

What kind of nonsense is this, what does it mean that I can die for you?

Why don't you die?

Why don't you force it, that is, let me die voluntarily?

"Xia Laoshangshu, if you want to change the law, what you need is a powerful victim who has the tacit support of the superiors, I am willing to be the superior who acquiesces in the support, and make suggestions behind the scenes, but I don't know, is Xia Laoshang willing to be this sacrifice?" Zhu Gaoxian asked.

Xia Yuanji smiled: "I deserve a good book, with my years of hard work, even if I am dismissed, I can die a good death, if there is no accident, I will also be a famous person in history in the future, why should I sell my life to you?" ”

"There are people who are alive, but they are dead; Some people died, but he lived forever in people's hearts. ”

Zhu Gaoxian said flatly, "There are often superiors who acquiesce in supporting change, and there are also powerful ministers who are willing to sacrifice, but if the two appear together at the same time, but not often, after you and me, I am afraid it will be difficult for Daming to encounter such an opportunity." If Xia Laoshangshu is unwilling, I naturally will not force it, you and I were born in the prosperous era of the Ming Dynasty, watching the dynasty in the Spring and Autumn Period, even if the rule of officials collapses, it will be a matter of one or two hundred years later, even if the reform of government officials, it may not be able to continue this national ancestry. ”

"You see, even you said it yourself, so why should I sacrifice?" Xia Yuanji spread his hands.

"But ......"

Zhu Gaoxian said faintly, "Are you really willing?" ”

Xia Yuanji's pupils shrank, as if his heart was pinched by a strong and powerful hand, making him unable to breathe.

Are you really willing?

Willing to miss such an opportunity, let the rest of his life be tormented by the demons, when lying on the couch, as soon as he closed his eyes, he was in a trance in front of him, and when he only had one breath left, he still regretted it......

Are you really willing,

Natsuhara Yoshi!

"King Qi, you are really a madman! Lunatic! ”

Xia Yuanji gritted his teeth, "You are crazy, and your methods are disgraceful!" ”

"Yes, I'm a madman, a madman who controls everything in the dark. But I'm such a madman that countless people can follow me and be willing to be loyal to me, because they are all madmen! ”

Zhu Gaoxian laughed insolently, casually picked up a white porcelain wine bottle with half a pot of spirits left next to him, raised his head and poured it into his throat, the transparent wine slid down his throat and fell to his chest, soaking the clothes in front of his heart, dimly revealing the well-defined and strong muscles under the robe.

After drinking liquor, Zhu Gaoxian casually threw the wine bottle into the water of the Qinhuai River, his posture was wild, his breath seemed to swallow the sun and the moon, and the stars and the Milky Way trembled.

"In my eyes, no one's life is more noble, because all people's lives are controlled by me, and they can be sacrificed as sacrifices at any time, but they will not sacrifice in vain, and after their deaths, their names will be engraved on the meritorious monument of the Han people, and they will always be remembered by the world!"

"This opportunity to sacrifice was given to them by my King Qi."

"Xia Lao Shangshu, what do you think?"

Xia Yuanji took a deep breath and closed his eyes tightly, the rich smell of wine in the air made his face flush a little.

Suddenly, Xia Yuanji opened his eyes, with an undisguised unruly look in his eyes, the people in the Qi Wangfu were all unruly madmen.

"Xia is still the same sentence, there is only death, why be afraid?"

"Why should I give you this life?"

(End of chapter)