Outside the flower hall, a full moon hangs high in the night sky. The silvery moonlight shines on the earth, reflecting on the white snow. The scattered lights flicker, like stars falling to the ground, silent and distant.
Li Xian raised his head and looked at the person in front of him. After a long time, he sighed and said.
"Yuan Yu, you are a talented person, but you are too focused on being an official. This is not a good thing. Now I will go to Yunnan and Guizhou. I don't know when I will be able to succeed. You are two years younger than me, why are you so impetuous?"
The face of the person sitting opposite Li Xian froze. Under the candlelight, half of his face was hidden in the darkness, making people feel a little chilled inexplicably.
Xu Jue, now called Xu Youzhen, also named Yuanyu.
He and Li Xian, oh, and that damn pretty boy Xiang Wenyao, were both Jinshi in the eighth year of Xuande. Jinshis from the same discipline often had connections in the officialdom in the future, so they were naturally close to each other.
Once upon a time, the three of them had maintained a good relationship for a long time because they were similar in age, had similar temperaments, and had no conflicts of interest.
But now...
"Brother Li asked me why I am so impetuous. Why don't you ask Brother Li himself?"
After taking a long breath, Xu Youzhen turned the cup in front of her, raised her head and laughed at herself, saying.
"There are no other people here, and I am not afraid of Brother Li's jokes. When I first became an official, I prided myself on being talented and knowledgeable, with the will to manage the world and benefit the people, and the ambition to stabilize the country."
"However, the court is dangerous, and if you make a mistake for a moment, you will be doomed."
"Back then in Bunren Hall, I just said a wrong sentence, but it became a mark that I can't get rid of for the rest of my life. Seeing you...and Xiang Yingchang promoted step by step, they are already the third-rank minister."
"But I am always lingering in the Hanlin Academy. I can't go in or out. I won't be rewarded for my merits, and I will be punished for my faults. If it were you, Brother Li, would you be willing to do it?"
Xu Youzhen said this with a smile, but the more so, the more Li Xian knew how excited he was at the moment.
As if she realized that she was a little out of sorts, Xu Youzhen let out a long breath, slowly released the cup that was about to crack, and said with a wry smile.
"Although I am the associate manager of the Ministry of Industry's river management this time, I am responsible for more than half of the corresponding exploration, drawings, material selection, embankment construction, and manpower deployment. However, after returning to Beijing, such a huge project... Master Chen and I were sent away with a small reward of money and silk."
"That's all. After all, when it comes to Master Chen, a stable position is the most important thing. Everything else is external. With that big canal standing, Master Chen's minister of the Ministry of Industry can sit firmly. As the saying goes, if a disciple has something to do, he can do something for him. Master Chen is willing to contribute, and I am willing to do so."
"But, Brother Li, do you know that even in the Hanlin Academy, there is almost no place for Xu to establish himself. Just the day before yesterday, His Majesty ordered Academician Xiao to collect information from various places and compile "Huanyu Tongzhi". Most people with lower qualifications than Xu were selected, but Xu was excluded.”
"Brother Li, do you think you wouldn't be anxious in such a situation?"
Yes, if it were him, he would probably be worse than Xu Youzhen.
You must know that in the scientific examination, the three of them passed the examination together, especially Xu Youzhen's score was the best. The so-called literary talent and talent for helping the world are not lies.
On the spot of the imperial examination, he was praised several times by the late emperor. He was even accepted as a disciple of Chen Xun, then the bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, and entered the Hanlin Academy directly.
On the other hand, Li Xian and Xiang Wenyao were placed in the Sixth Department and started as principals because their results in the imperial examination were not that good.
At that time, Hanlin Academy Qingliu Huaxuan, the closest courtier, was a place that all scholars flocked to. Relatively speaking, although the director of the Six Departments was also a good place to go, it was obviously not comparable to Hanlin Qingliu.
However, everyone's circumstances are different. Who would have thought that now that he has ascended the throne, he has been lukewarm towards the Hanlin Academy, which he should be closest to, but instead promoted many officials from the six departments and departments.
Even Chen Xun, the leader of Qingliu, took the initiative to transfer to the Six Divisions.
This is naturally a huge opportunity for Li Xian and Xiang Wenyao. After the civil war, the court was seriously short of officials. They almost faced the bottom line of selection and rose all the way. However, in their early forties, they became A minister of the Sixth Ministry, a senior official of the third rank.
But on the other hand, for Xu Youzhen, this was the beginning of his nightmare.
First in Bunren Hall, his proposal to move south was opposed by all the ministers, and then he was ignored. Finally, he found an opportunity to control the river, but found that he had already hated the emperor.
Xu Youzhen was right when he said that this time the Ministry of Works built the canal, and he put in a lot of effort.
On the one hand, Chen Xun was born in the Imperial Academy and was not proficient in these practical matters, so he was willing to delegate power. On the other hand, Xu Youzhen himself cherished this opportunity, hoping to save his career.
However……
Nothing has changed!
After returning to Beijing, Chen Xun received a few words of praise, but Xu Youzhen's name did not even appear in the court.
It’s not that Chen Xun is taking credit. For a minister of his level, there is no need to do everything personally. If things are not done well, he will be held accountable. Got the inferior ride.
Therefore, Chen Xun naturally reported Xu Youzhen's achievements truthfully. However, the court did not show any sign of it. They only gave him some rewards and sent him away.
There is no real promotion, transfer, or change in official position!
He, Xu Youzhen, was a Hanlin scholar when he left Beijing, and he was still a Hanlin scholar after returning to Beijing.
The compilation of "Huanyu Tongzhi" this time made Xu Youzhen realize the fact that he might just be an Hanlin scholar for the rest of his life!
This makes him despair, so...
"Yuanyu, in the officialdom, there is no one who does not want to be an official, but..."
Li Xian's expression was complicated and he seemed a little hesitant.
After a while, for some reason, Li Xian finally gritted his teeth and spoke.
"There is no one else here, and you and I have known each other for many years. Now that we have talked about this, Brother Wei will reveal his true identity to you. This trip to Yunnan and Guizhou is the result that Brother Wei wants most. Maybe you understand?"
Xu Youzhen frowned and was a little silent.
He and Li Xian have the same temperament and have known each other for many years, so they naturally understand what he means.
So, Li Xian sighed and continued.
"The current situation in the court will not be stable within ten years. With such a treacherous situation in the court, I believe that I have no choice but to take chances again and again. At this time, staying away from the court is the wisest way to protect yourself. .”
"Yuanyu, you and I are still young. Even if we waste ten years, we are still in our early fifties. By then the government will be stable, the East Palace will be complete, and everything will be calm. What's the harm in trying to make plans later?"
If the first sentence is relatively obscure, these two sentences are almost breaking the window paper.
If Zhu Jian, who had just left, heard these words, he would definitely feel guilty that he had paid in vain.
Who would have thought that Li Xian was not forced to leave the court, but took advantage of the situation.
For Li Xian, he didn't want to be associated with Zhu Jian and others at all. In fact, when Zhu Jian first approached him, he hesitated whether to agree.
However, he soon realized what he was getting into.
You know, there are so many officials in the imperial court, why did he be promoted to be the Minister of Rites?
Of course it's because he was once the emperor's minister.
When the Emperor returned to the south, he needed someone with his background to greet him. Moreover, his official position should not be too low, so he was singled out.
In other words, he had his current official position only because of the grace of the Supreme Emperor.
This determines that he cannot be alone in the current political situation.
Because even if he does nothing, the court will regard him as the Emperor's man. Even if he stands idly by on this matter, others will only think that he is ungrateful and mean.
Although Li Xian was not a member of the Imperial Academy of Qingliu Huaxuan, he was also a serious scholar. If his reputation was ruined, it would be difficult for him to gain a foothold in the academy in the future.
Therefore, he could only agree.
However, at the same time, Li Xian also realized that this was just the beginning.
The more he came into contact with Zhu Jian, the more Li Xian could feel what a huge force he had behind him, and what he was plotting in secret.
This scared Li Xian.
He knew that if he continued, he would only sink deeper and deeper.
In front of us, what can be foreseen immediately is that once the officials of the East Palace are prepared, whose mouthpiece will they become when the prince is young?
The answer is self-evident!
Not to mention, in recent days, as the Empress was about to give birth, there were all kinds of vague rumors, although in the end, these groundless rumors disappeared with the birth of the little princess.
However, Li Xian was keenly aware that the wind in the court had begun to blow, and the court in the next few years was bound to be in a dangerous situation.
So, you have to stay away.
In fact, even if Yu Shiyue hadn't stepped forward, Li Xian had already made plans. He would follow Zhu Jian to come forward and help the East Palace. He even had the manuscript ready. How could he anger the emperor and make himself Suffered relegation.
Before going to court, he was even prepared to be demoted from a third-rank official to a seventh-rank county magistrate.
Therefore, what he said to Zhu Jian was actually half true and half false.
The current situation is indeed much better than he imagined.
Although it is impossible for him to be transferred back to the center in the past few years, he can avoid many disturbances. Moreover, when he gets to the local level, he is still a senior official of the third rank. More importantly, he has not offended anyone directly. The emperor, of course, offended Mr. Hu, the most senior person in the court.
However, firstly, Li Xian felt that Mr. Hu's character was not that careless, and he deliberately suppressed him after demoting him. Secondly, secondly... he was still young. Mr. Hu was already seventy-five this year, which is ugly to say. Yes, Li Xian'ao can also beat him to death.
As for saying that he violated the unspoken rules of the court, as I said before, time will dilute everything. After five or eight years, who can still remember such a court meeting.
Besides, it may not really take that long...
Judging from the current situation, at least the prince is grateful for his "goodness". If in the past few years, the prince has grown up and the East Palace is stable, then the hope of his comeback is very high.
This is almost the most beneficial result that Li Xian can achieve in the current situation.
Of course he has nothing to be dissatisfied with...
Therefore, what Li Xian said to Xu Youzhen was not that he could stand up and speak without pain, but he truly spoke from the bottom of his heart.
As for the prince's wedding in ten years, if he can still get through it safely by then, it means that everything is done, and it will be Li Xian's opportunity to return to the court and show off his talents.
However, Xu Youzhen obviously couldn't listen to these words.
He put down the cup in his hand and said with displeasure.
"Brother Li, you and I are different. Even if you leave the capital, you are still a third-rank official and a frontier official. But what about me?"
"In the Hanlin Academy, there are many old Hanlins who are depressed and frustrated. They have spent their whole lives buried in papers. Now I have no hope of becoming a close servant. If I can't catch this group of people, my career will never be the same. No expectations.”
With that said, Xu Youzhen stood up, bowed her hands and said.
"Therefore, please help me, Brother Li! Even if there are all kinds of difficulties, it will be more satisfying than being unable to retreat and unable to come back."
Li Xian sat on the chair, not knowing what to say for a moment.
To be fair, he really didn't want Xu Youzhen to get involved in this matter, but even a close friend would find it difficult to influence others on such a major matter.
After a while, Li Xian asked.
"Have you ever asked Master Chen for his opinion on this matter?"
During the imperial examination in the eighth year of Xuande's reign, Li Xian, Xiang Wenyao, and Xu Youzhen were all readers for Chen Xun, so they naturally fell under Chen Xun's sect.
Xu Youzhen said nothing, but needless to say, how could Li Xian not know the character of teacher Chen Xun.
Looking up at Xu Youzhen, Li Xian asked seriously.
"So, even if Master Chen and Brother Wei don't agree, you still want to do it?"
This time, Xu Youzhen remained silent, but nodded firmly without hesitation.
So, Li Xian leaned back on the chair a little weakly, with a complicated expression. After a moment, he spoke again, his voice became extremely calm, and said.
"In that case, it's up to you. As for Mr. Zhuge, I do still have a bit of a thin side. Later I will write a handwritten letter for you to visit Mr. Zhuge at his house. He will know what I mean after reading it."
"In addition, I will also say a few words for you about the young master of Duke Chengguo's mansion. This young master... In short, his words are very useful among today's relatives."
After hearing these words, Xu Youzhen was overjoyed and bowed down, saying.
"Thank you very much, Brother Li. If he gets a fortune, he will never forget Brother Li's help today."
Li Xian sat up straight and accepted the gift calmly. After Xu Youzhen straightened up, he said seriously.
"Yuanyu, I will help you in whatever way I can. I have explained the truth to you clearly. However, since you insist on taking risks, you can do whatever you want. However, what you do after that has nothing to do with Li Yuande. The letter will be delivered to your house tomorrow."
"Uncle Li, see the guests off."
In the past, every time Xu Youzhen came to visit, Li Xian would be sent to the gate, but this time, he did not move.
Xu Youzhen was silent for a moment, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she didn't say anything, she just cupped her hands again.
Then, he turned around and left without any hesitation.
When the moonlight fell, Li Xian came to the window and looked at the bright moon in the distance. He didn't know what to say in his heart...
On the other side, Xu Youzhen came out of Li's house with a complex look on her face.
Immediately, he smiled somewhat self-deprecatingly.
For a moment just now, he was actually about to be convinced.
but……
Xu Yuanyu, Xu Yuanyu, don’t you understand that Li Yuande’s wise and wise way of protecting yourself is totally unworkable to you?
You want the same thing, but you take different paths.
Some things cannot be forced, Xu Yuanyu, the opportunity is right in front of you, whether you want to sink your life or take the risk and succeed, you can't hesitate at all!
Taking a deep breath, Xu Youzhen strode towards the warm sedan not far from the door of the mansion.
"master……"
Waiting outside the gate of the mansion was an entourage in his fifties, with an ordinary appearance and even slow movements. When he saw Xu Youzhen coming out, he immediately stepped forward to greet him.
Xu Youzhen didn't say anything. She walked onto the sedan chair, but her voice came out undetectably, he said.
"Reply to Eunuch Shu, the matter...is done!"
