Chen Kan stopped on the bank of Jinshui River and quietly meditated on the purpose of Qiu Fu's words.
But after thinking about it for a long time, I still had no clue, so I had to go home first.
After entering the mansion, Chen Kan discovered that Chang Ning was still waiting for him to come back.
"Husband, didn't you say you would be back in a while? Why are you so late?"
Chang Ning pouted to express his dissatisfaction, and Chen Kan immediately forgot about other things.
No matter what Qiu Fu's plans are, they are not as important as his wife.
Since he wanted something, he could just wait. He still didn't believe that Qiu Fu could keep putting it off.
Chen Kan walked up to Chang Ning, hugged him sideways, and said with a smile, "It's not like Qiu Fu doesn't know what's going on, so he insists on dragging me along to talk about things."
After explaining, Chen Kan carried Chang Ning and walked toward the backyard.
Chang Ning didn't say much. She just complained without any intention of blaming him.
The next day, as soon as Chen Kan got up from bed, he heard a report from his servants that Duke Qiu Fu of Qi State was visiting!
A smile appeared on Chen Kan's face. He expected Qiu Fu to come.
But coming so early is a bit strange.
Thinking back to what he said yesterday, Chen Kan could basically predict that what Qiu Fu wanted must be unusual.
After putting on his clothes, Chen Kan said calmly: "Since Duke Qi is here to visit, please open the middle door to welcome him!"
Qiu Fu came with great fanfare, and according to etiquette, Chen Kan had to go out to greet him in person.
Yun Cheng led the servants of the Hou Mansion to open the middle door. Standing there, Qiu Fu raised his hands with a smile on his face and said, "You come to the door so early in the morning to make trouble. Please don't blame me, Lord Hou!"
Chen Kan stepped out of the threshold and returned the greeting: "What are you talking about, sir? If you can come, my little prince's mansion will be full of glory. Please come quickly!"
After a few polite words, Chen Kan invited Qiu Fu in and sat down in the living room.
Just when Qiu Fu was about to say a few polite words, Chen Kan asked straight to the point: "My lord, I came back last night and I have a question stuck in my throat. I wonder if your lord can help me clear up my doubts?"
Qiu Fu was stunned. He didn't expect that Chen Kan would even skip the polite words above the officialdom.
For a moment, I felt a little surprised and suspicious.
But after all, he was a general who was used to wind and rain, so he calmed down after thinking for a moment.
Asked: "I wonder if the Marquis has any questions?"
Chen Kan did not show off, and asked bluntly: "I accept the fact that your father-in-law recommends me to be the dean of the Naval Academy, but I am really curious. What is your intention in selling me this favor?"
As soon as Chen Kan said this, a look of astonishment flashed across Qiu Fu's face.
"What does the Marquis mean by this?"
Seeing that Qiu Fu continued to act stupid, Chen Kan suddenly showed a bitter smile on his face.
"Young Master, please stop teasing me. I really don't know your intentions. It stands to reason that now that you are a minister, even if you want something, as long as you let out some news, countless people will follow." Just send it to your father-in-law, why bother a young man like me?"
Chen Kan spoke very straightforwardly.
Now he really didn't want to continue guessing.
In other words, he is deeply disgusted with the officialdom.
In Chen Kan's view, everyone is a warrior. Since they are warriors, isn't it good to be straightforward?
Why do you have to come here only to experience the unspeakable things?
Is this interesting?
The shock on Qiu Fu's face was even stronger, and he obviously never thought that Chen Kan would have such a complete showdown.
But the sparkle in his eyes gave him away.
It showed that he was not as surprised as he looked.
After a while, Qiu Fu took a deep breath and said: "For the Marquis to reach this point, it seems that I am not candid enough."
Chen Kan nodded and looked at Qiu Fu quietly, waiting for his next words.
But Qiu Fu seemed to have done it on purpose. After saying this, he stopped talking.
Chen Kan was about to continue asking, but suddenly he seemed to realize something.
Then he stood up and invited Qiu Fu: "Please come with me, sir."
Qiu Fu smiled, as if he was satisfied with Chen Kan's understanding of emotions.
That's right, he didn't trust the environment in the Hou Mansion, so he didn't say a word.
Chen Kan could say whatever he wanted in the Hou Mansion, but as an outsider, he naturally did not dare to speak casually.
The two stood up, and Chen Kan led him directly to the study room in the backyard.
Chen Kan closed the door, pulled out a stool from under the desk, and said calmly: "Master, please sit down!"
Qiu Fu sat down as he was told and looked around the study room, with a look of appreciation on his face.
Chen Kan didn't speak in a hurry anymore. He took out a tea set from the bottom of the book, found a small stove from the corner, lit a pine cone and threw it into the stove, and used a teapot to make a pot of water and boil it.
Qiu Fu watched Chen Kan's movements quietly without urging him.
Half the time for burning incense has passed, and the kettle on the stove is steaming.
Chen Kan cleaned the tea set and took out a tea cake from a small box.
There is no need for a tea knife. Just break off a piece with your hands and pour water to wash the tea leaves.
He poured a glass for Qiu Fu and another for himself.
It's not that Chen Kan doesn't understand the etiquette of drinking tea, it's mainly because it's unnecessary.
When they reach their status, it would be boring to stick to those mere formalities.
Pushing the tea cup towards Qiu Fu, Chen Kan took a sip of tea and asked lightly: "My lord, can you clear up my doubts now?"
Qiu Fu took a leisurely sip of tea and remained silent.
Chen Kan frowned and said, "This is my private study. Even a lowly wife will not come in casually."
After receiving Chen Kan's assurance, Qiu Fu said slowly: "Just now, the Marquis said something wrong!"
"What words?"
A trace of doubt appeared on Chen Kan's face.
"hehe."
Qiu Fu chuckled lightly, and then said lightly: "Indeed, at my level, it is difficult to impress me with ordinary worldly things. Even if I like something, someone will rush to deliver it to me, but There is something that I want but can’t do anything about.”
As soon as these words came out, Chen Kan's expression suddenly changed, and he lowered his voice and asked sternly: "Master, do you know what you are talking about?"
When Qiu Fu saw this, a wry smile suddenly appeared on his face, and he stopped and said: "Master Marquis, don't get me wrong, I have no intention of rebelling, nor do I have the guts to rebel."
Chen Kan said coldly: "Since it is not the imperial power, what else is there that my father-in-law can't do even if he wants to?"
Qiu Fu shook his head and said with a half-smile: "Since there is nothing we can do about it, rebellion cannot be included. It is no exaggeration to say that if I want to rebel, I can raise an army of 200,000 in an instant. Marquis Xin Don’t believe it?”
Chen Kan didn't say anything, but frowned more tightly.
Chen Kan understood Qiu Fu's words. In Qiu Fu's view, the rebellion had not yet reached the point of being powerless.
"My lord, it's better not to keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, if you continue to talk, I'm afraid I will be the general who leads the army to suppress the rebellion today."
As soon as Chen Kan said this, Qiu Fu's face suddenly became serious.
He took a sip of tea, smacked his lips, and then smiled: "What I want but can't do anything about is life!"
"Life?"
Chen Kan looked at Qiu Fu in confusion: "What do you mean by this?"
"Yes, I want my life, I want my own life!"
Qiu Fu put down the tea cup in his hand and suddenly sighed and said: "Everyone knows that I and Zhu Neng are the two Dinghai needles of the Ming Dynasty, but now, Zhu Neng's needle is about to break."
Chen Kan knew every word of Qiu Fu's words, but the combination made him more and more confused.
What does it mean that Qiu Fu's needle is about to break?
Seeing Chen Kan's confused look, Qiu Fu couldn't help but sigh again.
Then he suddenly changed his voice and asked: "Master Marquis, what kind of person do you think His Majesty is today?"
After hearing this, Chen Kan suddenly became alert.
Since ancient times, people who have misrepresented the monarch have not had a good end, let alone people like them who have misrepresented the monarch.
"Why, Lord Marquis still has some scruples in his own home?"
Qiu Fu refilled his cup of tea and looked at Chen Kan with a look full of teasing.
Chen Kan calmed down, and then replied calmly: "The sage said that a king will rise in five hundred years. In my opinion, your majesty is naturally the king who will be seen in five hundred years."
"Master Hou, do you really think so?"
Qiu Fu didn't seem to believe it and asked.
Chen Kan nodded without hesitation. He and Qiu Fu were not familiar enough to talk about the king's character at will. Who knew whether Qiu Fu was following Zhu Di's orders and deliberately testing him?
Seeing Chen Kan nodding his head without hesitation, Qiu Fu couldn't help but show a look of loneliness on his face.
Then he said: "But in my eyes, Your Majesty is a suspicious, selfish and cruel person!"
After Qiu Fu finished speaking, he looked at the surprise in Chen Kan's eyes and couldn't help but smile and asked, "Why, Lord Marquis doesn't believe it?"
There was no way he could answer this, so Chen Kan chose to remain silent.
Qiu Fu didn't care, but continued: "Your Majesty is the descendant of Taizu, so he has naturally learned Taizu's viciousness and viciousness. Do you know why Zhu Neng is bedridden?"
Before Chen Kan could ask, Qiu Fu continued on by himself: "On the Dragon Boat Festival, local officials presented some plump hairy crabs to His Majesty. His Majesty rewarded Zhu Neng with some. After Zhu Neng ate them, he could no longer do anything. Moved."
After listening to Qiu Fu's story, Chen Kan suddenly understood.
Zhu Neng is allergic to seafood and suffered so many injuries when he was young that he suffered a cold.
Seafood is a great thing.
But Zhu Di still rewarded him.
Chen Kan couldn't help but think of a folk legend. Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang rewarded Xu Da, the king of Zhongshan County, with a roast goose.
Xu Da ate the roast goose and gained wealth for his descendants.
Chen Kan was silent for a moment, looked at the four characters "Gong Gaozhu" on Qiu Fu's forehead, looked at Qiu Fu and asked: "What does the Lord and this Marquis say have to do with your life?"
Qiu Fu smiled brightly and said: "I heard that the fleet under the command of the Marquis is invincible in Nanyang. If the Marquis wants to go boating on the sea someday, you might as well take me with you. I also want to appreciate the elegance of the sea."
