There is no such thing as a feast that lasts forever. Seeing that it was already late at night and everyone was exhausted, Ji Jushan arranged a place for everyone.
He Yuanlong had been drunk for a long time, so Ji Jushan asked someone to find a private room for He Yuanlong to sleep. Lu Chongya and Zhang Wenwen also went back to the guest post where they had been living for the past few days. The two people chatted quite well, but instead Shi Luo, who had studied with Lu Chongya in the Imperial College, was not familiar with the former, so he stayed in Xiangsi Pavilion on his own.
While Ji Jushan was busy, Bai Wugeng and Zhu Zhaoer also left side by side. After leaving the main entrance of Xiangsi Pavilion, they were about to board the carriage when they heard a call from behind.
"Mr. Bai... please stay."
"Brother Shi, what advice do you have?" Bai Wugeng turned around and looked at Shi Luo. Although Shi Luo is older than him, Qi Dan does not need to call him brother according to etiquette, but after all, Bai Wugeng's "identity" is just a mysterious rich man, so it is not too polite to be polite.
"Well..." Shi Luo pondered for a few breaths, and then said: "Should I call you Mr. Bai? Or... something else? I think the importance of this title can affect our next conversation. Content and my future.”
Hearing Shi Luo's words, Qi Dan's expression changed. He told the coachman to take Zhu Zhao'er back to the Shangshu Mansion before formally meeting Shi Luo face to face: "That depends on what you think."
Shi Luo nodded and thought for a moment, smiling a little bitterly: "Then let's... Your Highness."
Although this conversation was so confusing that others could not figure it out, the two parties involved clearly understood the meaning they conveyed to each other.
Shi Luo asked how to address the other party. Firstly, he hinted that Qi Dan had already seen that Bai Wugeng and the fifth prince were the same person, but because he did not know the relationship between Zhu Zhaoer and the other party, he did not point it out. Secondly, he wanted to test the other party's eyes. , what kind of position do you have or what role do you need to play.
Qi Dan's rhetorical question cleverly avoided the opponent's temptation and kicked the ball back to Shi Luo. Instead, he used it to find out what the opponent was thinking - "Mr. Bai" meant that Shi Luo wanted to be his "friend" ", then the two will talk in a relatively equal manner; and "Your Highness" means that Shi Luo has requirements for himself, so he can only feel inferior to others.
And Shi Luo's next behavior is very intriguing - he really wants to continue dating as an "equal", but the reality he lives in makes him have to submit to others, which is why he smiles so much. Helpless.
Of course, this does not mean that Qi Dan is contemptuous or that Shi Luo is flattering, but Shi Luo, as a person who wants to ask for help, has to act like a beggar, and Qi Dan also has to put on a little show to establish his prestige - -After all, he is quite optimistic about Shi Luo, and Shi Luo is a guy with a reputation as a "crazy talent".
"Let's talk while we walk." Qi Dan nodded slightly, "How did you figure it out?"
Shi Luo responded without thinking: "Because Brother Ji's behavior is too strange."
"What's the explanation?" Qi Dan was a little curious. In his opinion, Ji Jushan's performance tonight was unsatisfactory. Both the control of the scene and the etiquette of the reception were very good. If He Yuanlong hadn't been involved, then for Ji Jushan It's quite satisfactory.
Of course, He Yuanlong's troubles were a headache for Ji Jushan, but it was a good thing for Qi Dan - he could use this change to better observe everyone's character and talents.
"I have been in the capital for a few days, and I have had a lot of contact with Brother Ji - in my opinion, he is a very planned and thorough person, but he also has a weakness - that is, once something happens If it is beyond his control, he will be a little confused, and then it will be difficult to control his expression and behavior. In other words, his joy and anger are too obvious. This has also been reflected in our banquets in recent days. It shows that Brother Ji will be much more excited than usual when he is drunk - but he is too nervous tonight, isn't he?" Shi Luo said eloquently.
"It's because of this..." Qi Dan himself also speculated in his mind like Shi Luo, but he found that he didn't know much about Ji Jushan's private appearance.
"When I say he was too nervous tonight, I don't mean that he didn't do well enough. In fact, it's because he did so well - a person who usually likes drinking and talks long words after drinking hardly ever takes the initiative at a banquet. There were only a few cups and few words, and every step was progressed to perfection - if it wasn't that Brother Ji took the wrong medicine today, it would be that this banquet was of great significance, or in other words - the attendees were very important, important to him I think he couldn’t make any mistakes today.”
"After I discovered that the identity of 'Bai Wugeng' was far more complicated than it seemed, I asked some people in Xiangsi Pavilion about the name Bai Wugeng while I was going to the bathroom, but everyone's descriptions of you were almost astonishing. Consistent, after putting aside most of the compliments about your character and appearance, I realized - there is no information at all about your identity and background, not even 'rumors'."
"Is that all?" Qi Dan raised his eyebrows.
Shi Luo also lived up to his reputation as a "crazy talent": "It's only 50% sure, but for me, 50% sure is enough."
It doesn't matter if he is wrong, Shi Luo can talk nonsense after drinking anyway, and judging from what Ji Jushan said at the banquet, even if "Bai Wugeng" is not the fifth prince, at least he knows about the relationship between Ji Jushan and the fifth prince. Otherwise, Ji Jushan would not have said anything like "Your Highness" in front of this person.
"It's really... there are so many mistakes." Qi Dan also shook his head and sighed. He himself thought that Ji Jushan's performance was too obvious, but he felt that only Shi Luo could see such an obvious thing. I couldn't help but rate the others a little lower.
"Actually, I'm not the only one who guesses like this... The person who has been with Xini should also be able to see it, but because of his character, he will never say it. I guess he will have to communicate with other people when you reveal his identity. People pretend to be confused," Shi Luo said again.
"Is it really okay to say that about others behind their backs?" Qi Dan smiled playfully, but he didn't mind it in his heart - like most high-ranking people, he didn't dislike his subordinates fighting with each other to a certain extent. .
"No." Shi Luo denied it directly: "I don't think that telling the truth is belittling them. On the contrary, I think that if we are all lucky enough to work under you, the fifth prince, I will be the one with a lower official position. one."
The "madness" of the mad genius Shi Luo is not actually how much he looks down on others, but that he always likes to tell the truth - he seeks fame from the fifth prince, so he will not pretend to please and sell tricks; he hates it He Yuanlong's behavior is to write words to criticize the other party; he will say whatever he thinks, without covering up or concealing.
But there are very few people in this world who can listen to the truth, so Shi Luo is regarded as a typical example of "wild" and "uninhibited". It is true that his character does have a crazy side, but most people who criticize him for being "crazy" , in fact, he just exposed the false disguise and revealed his true face.
"Is it because of your outspoken personality?" Qi Dan made a joke that was not a joke.
Shi Luo shook his head: "That's not the case. I have a very clear positioning of myself - based on my qualities, I am only suitable to be the third person in the think tank."
"Oh?" Qi Dan suddenly became interested, "I would like to hear the details."
Shi Luo did not show a complacent attitude when facing the fifth prince's shameless questioning. He just said with a normal expression: "The number one person in a think tank may not necessarily be the one who makes plans, but he must be good at overall planning and can convince the crowd. And the second person must be good at planning and planning." The number one should be a counselor who is known for his stability. He is cautious and prudent, takes every step, and turns his advantages into victory through bit by bit accumulation; while a 'bold counselor' like me can only sit in the number three position at best. In the position of the character.”
"Because there aren't that many miracles in this world, so the limit of a counselor who can only produce so-called ingenuity is this." Shi Luo said very seriously. "I know my talents, but...who hasn't had an unattainable dream?"
Shi Luo’s words are very unpleasant to listen to, and many people will sneer at them or even become furious, because he not only denies the value of some people, but also denies their “beliefs”.
But if you think about it carefully, this is probably the reality.
In military terms, there are many more examples of "the strong defeats the weak" than "the weak defeats the strong", and "forward attack" with a strong enemy and a weak opponent is the optimal solution.
Qi Dan looked at Shi Luo carefully for the first time. This man made him feel refreshed. This was such a difficult state to achieve - self-aware and unyielding.
Shi Luo is such a person. He can look at himself objectively from the perspective of a bystander. He clearly knows his own value and knows that there is really nothing to gain based on his character, but he still stubbornly chooses own persistence.
He knew the truth didn't sound good, but he didn't want to tell lies.
He knew miracles were rare, but he wished he could create one.
This is the reason why he must rely on the wings of this prince. He has a premonition that this His Highness must be a troublemaker, and he is willing to bet on his premonition.
Even if it’s only 50% or less.
But for the conspirators, as long as it is not zero, it is enough.
As the saying goes: descendants twist flowers and move mountains, and predecessors cross seas and climb mountains. He is even more talented and has a tongue full of wind and thunder. Once it's safe, it's easy to be safe. A sinking boat is ashamed to see thousands of sails.
After sitting in Xiangsi Pavilion for a while, Qi Dan received more surprises than he had imagined.
