Luoyue City, Xiangguo Mansion.

Yuan Bingde pushed open the window of the study, and a cold came to his face.

As the saying goes, an autumn rain is a cold.

The rain struck on the tiles, pooled into a trickle on the ridge of the roof, dripped down the eaves, turned into thin long lines, and smashed on the ground, ticking and ticking.

Yuan Bingde looked at the rain and tapped the window frame with his fingertips.

In such weather, it is easy to make people feel irritable.

Yuan Shixin took a sip of hot tea, looked at his son standing in front of the window, and asked, "Why can't you sit still?"

Yuan Bingde didn't look back, and said softly: "Father, after all, this matter is not trivial!"

Yuan Shixin stared at Yuan Bingde's back video, put down the teacup, stood up, stepped forward, stood beside Yuan Bingde, and said softly: "Your heart is a little messy!"

Yuan Bingde took half a step back and smiled sideways, "Father, who can calm down in the face of that one?"

Yuan Shixin pressed one hand on the window frame, looked at the gloomy sky outside the window, sighed and said: "My father has been in the same hall with him for more than ten years, and every time I feel that this heaven of the Great Jin Dynasty is not the one on the dragon chair, but him." ”

Yuan Bingde withdrew his hand, put his hands in his sleeves, and said in a low voice: "Presumably it's not just my father who thinks so!"

Yuan Shixin patted Yuan Bingde on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Fortunately, my father has you by his side, our national teacher, but he is a man who speaks his word above the court, but it's a pity that he can't sit on that dragon chair after all." Many people can accept a national teacher who works hard for national affairs, but they will not accept that the Great Jin Dynasty has such a son of heaven, so he can only be a national teacher, a national teacher who can command the world, or a national teacher who rebels and leaves. ”

Yuan Bingde bowed slightly, his father was slightly shorter than him.

Yuan Shixin sighed with emotion: "He, he should be a very lonely person, this government and the opposition, there are people who respect him, there are people who fear him, and there are people who hate him, but there are no people who follow him, which is why our emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty will trust the national teacher so much." ”

Yuan Bingde was silent for a moment, then turned his head and asked, "Father, do you need a national teacher?"

Yuan Shixin raised his eyes and looked at Yuan Bingde, laughed loudly: "De'er, let's wait until we change hands first!"

After speaking, Yuan Shixin walked back, and said as he walked: "Father is already at the age of knowing the destiny of heaven, even if he lays down this country, can he be an emperor for a few years? De'er, my father is just a son like you, and in the future, the foundation of our Yuan family will depend on you." ”

Yuan Bingde closed the window, stood on Yuan Shixin's side and whispered: "Father, according to our plan, in a few years, most of the territory of the Great Jin Dynasty will be in the bag, and at that time, you will be a veritable Ninety-Five Supreme, and my Yuan's imperial hegemony will definitely be completed in the hands of my father." ”

After speaking, Yuan Bingde poured a cup of tea for Yuan Shixin.

Yuan Shixin nodded and said: "You sit down, there are just you and me in this study, you and I, father and son, you don't need to care about those false courtesies, now you are also a prince, you should also have some royal domineering, the virtuous king is not bad, but it may not be suitable at the moment." ”

Yuan Bingde bowed his head and said, "Yes!", and sat beside Yuan Shixin after speaking.

Yuan Shixin glanced at his son, in Yangzhou City, the son Yuan Bingde was handsome, humble, and famous.

If it is a peaceful and prosperous world, the name of this virtuous king is appropriate, but if you want to compete in this troubled world, this virtuous king is not as good as an overlord.

After taking a sip of tea, Yuan Shixin suddenly asked, "What do you think of these four people?"

Yuan Bingde replied: "They are all capable people, and they can be reused." ”

Yuan Shixin smiled slightly, and then asked, "De'er, then why do you think these four people are willing to serve us?"

Yuan Bingde pondered for a moment and said, "Isn't it for the sake of the future high-ranking officials and prominent positions?"

Yuan Shixin shook his head lightly and said: "The poet Ning Yun is light, uninhibited, and you know his preferences, it is difficult to be elegant, and it is even more inconvenient to speak, do you think he will be willing to go to court every day and shout long live? As for the lover Liu Piaopiao, although she is the woman of her father, but she is a woman of the dust, how can she enter the harem in the future? Even if the father is strong against the public, then he will not end up being ridiculed by the people of the world? If the father wants to be the first emperor of the ages, how can he leave a stigma in this kind of thing?"

Yuan Bingde sighed lightly and said: "Father, in this way, the painter Kan Huazi is even more of an idle cloud and wild crane, it seems that only the master He Xiangfeng is very proficient in this vertical and horizontal matter, and he can be ranked as the prime minister in the future." ”

Yuan Shixin chuckled and said, "De'er, do you still remember the overlord who tasted the courage of lying on the salary? The two strategists around him had different fates. ”

Yuan Bingde's expression changed slightly, and he looked at Yuan Shixin and said: "Father, with my Yuan family's foundation, I won't do this cunning rabbit death and lackey cooking." ”

Yuan Shixin snorted lightly and said: "De'er, remember, you are a high-ranking person, you don't want to be you, but the people below will inevitably not think too much." ”

Yuan Bingde hurriedly got up, saluted Yuan Shixin and said, "The child has been taught." ”

Yuan Shixin nodded and said: "You sit down, he He Xiangfeng is a smart person, and this smart person will choose to leave himself the safest way back." Even if I have the heart to use it for him in the future, I'm afraid that he will follow the example of that Tao Zhu Gong and disappear. ”

Yuan Bingde knew the meaning of Yuan Shixin's words, he looked up at Yuan Shixin and asked, "Father, since these four people can't get benefits from my Yuan clan, why do they want to be used by me willingly?"

Yuan Shixin smiled and said: "When they were under the command of their father, they all received a lot of favor from me, my father told you this, just to tell you that these people alone can't make a big deal, Jianghu people are always Jianghu people, if our Yuan clan wants to dominate the world, strong soldiers and horses are our confidence, understand?"

Yuan Bingde nodded and said, "The child understands." ”

Yuan Shixin continued: "Actually, if the national teacher wasn't the deputy head of the Xuanyi Sect, I wouldn't have to go to such great lengths to ask you to contact the people of the Sword Pavilion to intercept and kill him. De'er, this Xuanmen Gate will not fall for a day, and it will always be a thorn in the heart of my father!"

Yuan Bingde was puzzled and said: "Father, this Xuanmen is just a Jianghu sect, after my father ascends the throne, let's find an excuse to send troops to destroy him Xuanyimen." ”

Yuan Shixin shook his head lightly and said: "Xuanyi Gate is not as simple as you imagined, today's interception, I'm afraid that I will miss." ”

Yuan Bingde was silent for a moment, and said in a firm tone: "No, the five masters of the Sword Pavilion ambushed him, no matter how powerful he is, he is invincible with two fists and four hands." ”

Yuan Shixin glanced at Yuan Bingde and said lightly: "I'm afraid that your confidence is that elusive shadow!"

Yuan Bingde's hands trembled, and sweat instantly soaked his back.

Yuan Shixin glanced at Yuan Bingde, who was kneeling on the ground and didn't dare to speak, and said with a smile: "Hurry up, what are you doing?" Father doesn't mean to blame you, you can have this ability to help you, it's too late for Father to be happy." ”

Yuan Bingde bowed his head and said: "It's not that the child deliberately concealed this matter, but the master who sent the shadow to the child asked the child to keep his mouth shut." ”

Yuan Shixin patted Yuan Bingde on the shoulder and said: "De'er, you are a person who can achieve great things, and you are the son of your father, your father is not afraid that you have secrets, I just want to tell you, don't rely too much on this group of people in the rivers and lakes, the deputy head of the Sword Pavilion, and still want to learn from Huo Xingwei, just rely on his sword, at most, it is just a sword that my Yuan clan kills the enemy, and I want to be a national teacher?"

Yuan Shixin snorted coldly, "He also deserves it?"

Yuan Bingde got up, half-sat in his chair, and did not speak.

He thought he had seen through his father, but it turned out that he just thought.

Yuan Bingde's back was cold, and at this moment, he had even begun to doubt the three people of "poetry, painting, and meaning" who had always been trusted.

As for the "lover", he has always been on guard.

Yuan Bingde didn't know how his father knew about the existence of the shadow.

Yuan Shixin picked up the teacup, looked at it and put it down, Yuan Bingde hurriedly added tea to his father.

Yuan Shixin took a sip of tea and said: "De'er, whether you are a virtuous king in front of the world, or the means you use are insidious, as long as you can achieve great things, these are nothing, but what my father wants to tell you is that everything must be under your control." ”

Glancing at Yuan Bingde, whose face was a little pale, Yuan Shixin said lightly: "You can't even cut the deer building in your own hands, and you still expect it to help you get the world?"

Although the four owners of the "poetic and picturesque" building are people in the deer cutting building, this cutting deer building was not taken over by Yuan Bingde from his father.

In the eyes of Kan Huazi and several people, the current Yuan Bingde is their master, but in the eyes of the other landlords of the Cutting Deer Building, Yuan Bingde is just the same landlord as them.

Especially on the left and right, as the owner of the "second floor", he did not obey Yuan Bingde's orders, in his opinion, the relationship between him and Yuan Bingde was just a cooperative relationship.

As for the future, the left and right also have their own plans, and the position of national teacher is far from satisfying his ambitions.

Yuan Bingde bowed his head and said: "Father's words, the child understands, after returning to Yangzhou, the child knows what to do." ”

Yuan Shixin nodded and said: "As for Xuzhou, you can start to do it, the land of Sanzhou is in the hands of my Yuan family, why worry about the big thing?"

Yuan Bingde pondered for a moment and asked, "Father, what is in the palace?"

A gleam flashed in Yuan Shixin's eyes, "Then it depends on what the result is today!"

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Because of the rain, there were not many people on the streets.

A mediocre-looking man wears a hat and walks slowly in the rain.

The left and right groups of people rushed through the street, and as they passed, He Zhen glanced at the man, flicked his thumb, and the sword was unsheathed.

Left and right pressed He Yan's hand, and said in a low voice: "It's just an ordinary person, there is no need to make extraneous branches, let's go!"

After speaking, several people continued to rush towards Xiangguo's Mansion.

The man raised his hat lightly, looked at the few people in the distance, and scolded in a low voice, "Waste!"

He is a shadow, he is also Huo Xingwei's nephew, his name is Sui Xing.

For this assassination, a few days ago, he sneaked in quietly while Huo Xingwei was not in the National Teacher's Mansion.

After entering the National Teacher's Mansion, he hid in the stable, fed his hunger with the dried meat he carried with him, and drank the water that the sweaty BMW drank.

Sui Xing keenly felt that in this huge National Teacher's Mansion, there were a few subordinates who were all good players.

Fortunately, the person in charge of taking care of the sweaty BMW was a person sent by the imperial horse supervisor in the palace, and he did not find out about the existence of Sui Xing.

And Qin Shu, he is a coachman, he is only responsible for driving, never going to the stable.

Every time the national teacher went out, it was the little eunuch of the imperial horse supervisor who prepared the carriage in front of the main gate.

Sui Xing hid under the carriage.

Today is the third day he hid under the wagon.

The group on the left and right finally made a move.

Sui Xing didn't expect that he could stab his senior uncle to death with a sword, because he knew that it was impossible.

Knowing how powerful his master was, Sui Xing could guess how powerful his uncle was.

Back then, the master ran away from Xuanyi Sect because he was defeated by his uncle.

When Sui Xing's sword stabbed Huo Xingwei, he originally wanted to withdraw his sword and leave, but Huo Xingwei's two fingers caught his sword and prevented him from leaving.

He still revealed his identity in front of his uncle.

It's just that he doesn't understand why Uncle Shi just let him go.

He didn't think much about it, Master hadn't appeared for many years, he just had to act according to Master's orders, and he didn't want to think about anything else.

Since the master wants him to be the shadow behind Yuan Bingde, then he will do a good job of this shadow.

The master also told him that even if he obeyed Yuan Bingde's orders, he had to remember that his life was the most precious.

Even if it is Yuan Bingde, it is not worth sending him to death.

After leaving the carriage, Sui Xing did not rush to find Yuan Bingde, but found a place to change out of his night clothes.

And the broken hat on his head was bought by him from a beggar.

It was a very old beggar, curled up in front of a family's door to shelter from the rain, if it hadn't rained, I am afraid that the old beggar would have been opened and driven away.

Sui Xing is not afraid of the rain falling on his body, but his current identity requires him to wear a broken hat on his head.

He threw the old beggar a piece of silver, and without waiting for the old beggar to kowtow in thanks, he took the hat from the old beggar's head and put it on his head, and turned away.

How can you let the old man kowtow to himself? This is a life loss.

Besides, I'm buying something, so there's nothing to thank!

When He Zhen flicked the sword out of the sheath, Sui Xing's eyebrows moved slightly, and he thought that He Zhen had discovered him.

In all fairness, Sui Xing still appreciated He Zhen's swordsmanship.

It's a pity that the object of their sword is their uncle.

Not long after walking on the street, Sui Xing turned into a small alley, as if an ordinary man had arrived home, and in the depths of the alley, Sui Xing had disappeared.

After coming out of Yuan Shixin's study, Yuan Bingde returned to the secret room in Xiangguo's mansion and waited for the return of the left and right groups.

When he left the study, Yuan Shixin told him that if he failed, he didn't have to wait for Sima Ruolan in the palace, and he quickly took Yuan Chengzhi to leave Luoyue City as soon as possible.

Yuan Bingde understood what his father meant.

In the secret room, Yuan Bingde's face was a little hideous, it must be the woman surnamed Liu, who was the one who made irresponsible remarks in front of her father.

This woman also gave birth to a son to her father.

Yuan Shixin has been hiding this from Yuan Bingde.

A sense of crisis emerged in Yuan Bingde's heart.

He was scheming and giving advice to Yuan Shixin, just to get the position of king side by side.

Even if Yuan Shixin fails, what if he is still the king of Yangzhou.

The door to the chamber opened, and a group of people on the left and right walked in.

Hearing the knock at the door, Yuan Bingde's expression returned to calm, and he hurriedly got up to greet him, and asked eagerly, "Mr. Zuo, how is it?"

Left and right left arched their hands to Yuan Bingde, and did not answer Yuan Bingde's words, but asked rhetorically: "Your Highness regards me as your own person?"

Yuan Bingde smiled and said: "What do you mean by Mr. Zuo's words? Since Mr. Zuo arrived at Xiangguo Mansion, I have always treated each other with courtesy, and naturally I regard Mr. Zuo as my own. ”

Zuo Zuo snorted coldly and said, "In that case, why did His Highness hide that person's identity?"

"Who is that man?"

Yuan Bingde looked puzzled.

He Yan held the sword in his arms, stared at Yuan Bingde and said, "Why does Your Highness ask knowingly, isn't the man in black who suddenly appeared next to His Highness?"

"The Man in Black?"

Yuan Bingde thought for a moment, and suddenly realized: "Could it be him?"

Left and right glanced at He Zhen.

Beckoning a few people to sit down quickly, Yuan Bingde said: "Mr. Zuo, I have asked someone to prepare hot tea and dry towels, I know that you people in the rivers and lakes are not afraid of this little rain, but wipe it and drink hot tea is more comfortable." ”

After a few people entered the house, they grabbed a towel and wiped it indiscriminately, He Zhen threw the towel on the chair, poured a cup of tea for the left and right, looked at Yuan Bingde and asked, "Does Your Highness know who this person is?"

Yuan Bingde nodded and said, "You don't know, my father has always been hiding a master by his side, called a shadow, and even I have never seen this person appear." Come to think of it, my father has been in Luoyue City for more than ten years, and if there is no master by his side, I am afraid that he will be plotted by the younger generation long ago. ”

Zuozuo took a sip of hot tea, and said with some doubts: "Since this person made a move, why didn't the king tell you?"

Yuan Bingde shook his head and said: "Maybe my father doesn't want to expose this person, if a few succeed, then the shadow doesn't have to appear, by the way, Mr. Zuo, since the shadow has appeared, but what accidents have occurred?"

Hearing Yuan Bingde say this, he sighed left and right, shook his head and said, "I'm ashamed to say that today's incident was planted by me in the Sword Pavilion." ”

Yuan Bingde stood up in a panic and asked, "What's going on, please tell me more about Mr. Zuo!"

Left and right glanced at He Zhen, "Let's say it!"

He Zhen said coldly: "We can't beat it, the operation failed!"

"How so? Is he so powerful?"

Yuan Bingde couldn't sit still and walked back and forth in the house.

After all, the person in front of him has now become the prince of a state, and seeing that the disciple said it so simply, he added a few words left and right: "Your Highness, our information is still a little worse, and the coachman of our national teacher is a hidden master." ”

This time Yuan Bingde was really taken aback, he pressed the corner of the table with one hand and asked, "Is there such a thing?"

Jiang Shuishui arched his hand and said: "Your Highness, I, Jiang Shuishui, ask myself that my swordsmanship is good, but in the hands of that coachman, I didn't survive five moves, and I was injured by this person's calf, and my junior brother was also defeated by this person." ”

Yuan Bingde looked at Jiang Shuishui, his eyes moved slightly, and then he said with concern: "How are the gentlemen's injuries?"

Seeing that Yuan Bingde did not pursue the failure of the operation, the faces of the left and right sides improved slightly, and he arched his hand to Yuan Bingde and said: "Except for He Bingde, our old bones have all injured some muscles and bones, and we still need to recuperate for some time, if it weren't for that shadow to appear, I'm afraid that the apprentice would also be injured by Huo Xingwei's palm." ”

Yuan Bingde sighed: "It turns out that the first person in the world is so powerful, but I am shallow." ”

Zuo Zuo smiled bitterly: "I didn't expect that I haven't seen him for more than ten years, he has reached such a height, even the disciples he taught are so powerful, this Xuanyi Sect is worthy of being the head of the nine major factions, and it can be regarded as a blessing for Sansheng to be able to fight Huo Xingwei today." ”

Yuan Bingde showed a look on his face, it turned out that the coachman was a personal disciple of the national teacher.

He Zhen didn't drink tea, he wasn't in the mood to drink tea, and the sword he was proud of was slow.

Yuan Bingde, who had already sat back in his seat, took a deep breath, looked left and right and asked, "Mr. Zuo, the shadow also missed?"

Left and right left were silent for a moment and said, "He stabbed Huo Xingwei." ”

"What?"

Yuan Bingde, who originally thought that the operation had failed, showed a look of surprise on his face and stood up again.

Zuo Zuo coughed lightly and said, "Your Highness, don't be in a hurry to be happy, listen to me finish speaking." ”

Yuan Bingde glanced left and right, his expression returned to calm and said, "Mr. Zuo, please speak!"

Left and right nodded and said: "At that time, I was fighting with Senior Brother Wang and Huo Xingwei, and was injured by him, and the apprentice hiding in the shadows took the opportunity to stab a killer sword, but was stopped by Huo Xingwei, at this time, the shadow suddenly appeared, and a surprise sword just stabbed Huo Xingwei in the lower abdomen, but it was only an inch into it, for a master like Huo Xingwei, this small injury is nothing." ”

Yuan Bingde hurriedly asked, "What about later?"

Left and right: "Later, I don't know what Huo Xingwei said to the shadow? The shadow left, and Huo Xingwei had no intention of killing us, so we came back." ”

Yuan Bingde had a question in his heart, why didn't a few people take advantage of the shadow to stab Huo Xingwei and besiege him?

He didn't speak, though, he had to wait for the shadow to return.

Seeing that Yuan Bingde was silent, he said left and right: "Your Highness, I worship the Sword Pavilion and have a grudge against Xuanmen, this time I asked the sword, I went in the name of the Sword Pavilion, and this matter should not affect His Highness." ”

Yuan Bingde waved his hand and said, "Mr. Zuo doesn't need to worry about this matter, since the national teacher can let you return, he will definitely not investigate this matter again." Moreover, with the wisdom of the national teacher, I am afraid that I will not be able to hide this matter. ”

After pondering for a moment, Yuan Bingde said: "Mr. Zuo, my father has already explained to me, if the action fails, let's leave Luoyue City as soon as possible, without further ado, I will order someone to prepare some precious herbs for a few gentlemen, let's leave." ”

Left and right arched his hand and said, "Then according to what His Highness said!"

Half an hour later, several carriages left Xiangguo's Mansion and left Luoyue City on this rainy day.

A quarter of an hour later, Cao Ning, who received the notification from the defenders of the city, hurried towards the National Teacher's Mansion.

————————————————

After two days of fast horses, Yuan Xi and Lu Yiping finally arrived in Ziyang City.

did not settle in the post house, Lu Yiping directly took Yuan Xi to the Shu Palace.

If Zhou Bochang and a few people knew about this matter, they were afraid that they would be shocked.

They have gone to Ziyang City with Lu Yiping many times, but the number of times they have set foot in the palace of the king of Shu is only a handful, and Yuan Xi is only the second time to go to the royal capital with the general, so there is this honor, it can only be said that Yuan Xi is worthy of being Yuan Xi.

However, after entering the palace, Yuan Xi could not meet the king of Shu directly with Lu Yiping, but was led by a little eunuch to a guest room to wait for the king of Shu to summon him.

Coincidentally, this little eunuch who led the way can be regarded as an acquaintance of Yuan Xi.

After settling down with Yuan Xi, Ye Bei smiled at Yuan Xi and said, "Lord Yuan, I'm just waiting outside, if you have any orders, you just call me." ”

Yuan Xi nodded to Ye Bei, took out a piece of broken silver from his arms and handed it over: "Brother Ye, I left in a hurry last time, and I have time to thank you in the future, this little meaning is not a tribute." ”

Ye Bei hurriedly pushed his hand and said: "What does Lord Yuan mean, the small ones can't be accepted, if you let the Mink Temple know, you will definitely punish me." ”

Yuan Xi took Ye Bei's hand, put the silver in Ye Bei's palm and said: "You just take it, I won't say it, how can anyone know?" I want to bring you a gift, but I don't know what Brother Ye likes, so I have to give my brother some vulgar things, don't laugh at me." ”

Putting the silver in his arms, Ye Bei said in a low voice: "Then thank Master Yuan, you rest first, I'll go!"

After speaking, Ye Bei closed the door.

Yuan Xi had nothing to do, and after sitting down, he took out the box of clouds and played with it in his hand.

After playing for a while, he heard some movement outside the door, Yuan Xi listened and stood up.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door!