Night fell.
Jiang Suizhou was busy in the Ministry of Rites for a while, and he didn't return to the palace until the sky was completely dark.
He didn't forget about Xu Du, and as soon as he returned to the mansion, he went to Xu Du's courtyard.
Because he didn't know the meeting beforehand, Gu Changyun didn't come—this was the purpose of Jiang Suizhou's ignorance of the meeting. There were some things he needed to talk to Xu Du in private.
Dinner was just prepared in Xu Du's courtyard at this time. Seeing Jiang Suizhou came, Xu Du was extremely calm and asked the maids who were waiting to add a pair of dishes, and then they all went out.
The people retreated, leaving only the two of them.
Xu Du's residence is quite quiet, with bamboo shadows swaying outside the window, and ink lingering in the room. There is still a game of chess on the table in front of the window, with an unsolved game on top.
Jiang Suizhou sat down at the table, looked at Xu Du, and saw Xu Du smile slightly.
"The master actually knows that there are affairs to be handed over to his subordinates on the fifteenth of each month," he said. "Subordinates are not as clever as Chang Yun, thinking that if the Lord doesn't know, how can I see you."
He put it bluntly, clearly putting Jiang Suizhou's identity on the table.
Jiang Suizhou is also different from his imaginary and conspiracy, relying on the ancient lack of audio and video equipment, bluntly said: "There are many books in the study, I can get a clue from them, and I know that I have something to do with you today."
Xu Du was stunned, as if he didn't expect him to be so straightforward.
"The subordinates have only seen this kind of soul robbing in the script since childhood, but didn't expect this speculation to be true." He said slowly.
Jiang Suizhou chuckled lightly: "I don't want to come either. By chance, there is really no way."
Xu Du laughed.
"It's really interesting. It's not worth seeing this anecdote, and it won't be a waste of a trip in this world," he said.
He was very open-minded and natural, Jiang Suizhou looked at him for a moment, and said, "So, I still don't know what you are looking for."
Xu Du heard this and asked, "Which aspect is the plot mentioned by the Lord?"
Jiang Suizhou said: "You knew that even though I became King Jing, it was not him. You are his subordinates, naturally each has a purpose. Now I know that Gu Changyun is coerced by his family, then, what about you?"
Xu Du showed some surprise on his face.
"The Lord has even found out this?" he asked.
Jiang Suizhou looked at him quietly.
After a while, Xu Du burst into laughter and nodded.
"Chang Yun is indeed because of this. His parents died young and he was dependent on his grandmother and younger sisters. At that time, the master liked him, but he did not want to get involved in the court dispute, so the master used some means." He said. "Unexpectedly, you are so smart that you can even see this."
"What about you?" Jiang Suizhou asked him.
Xu Du paused, then raised his eyes to look at him, his eyes clear.
"The subordinates are from merchants and have nowhere to go into official positions." He said. "But I just want to be in the community, I have planned all my life, but my fame and fortune are nothing more."
Jiang Suizhou knew that not long after Jing Chao started the imperial examination, he had extremely strict requirements on the wealth background of those who entered the officialdom. Within the five services, as long as there are merchants, opera singers, or prostitutes, they are not allowed to participate in the scientific examination.
Jiang Suizhou paused, and then asked, "So, you are under King Jing?"
Xu Du laughed a few times.
"A certain nationality is unknown, and now, apart from His Royal Highness King Jing who is in a difficult situation, there is no other way to find it." He said.
"Besides, although a certain person is trying to gain fame and fortune, he is not unscrupulous. If he enters Pang Shao's family, wouldn't it be a matter of stinks for thousands of years?"
What he said was frank.
Jiang Suizhou believed him 80% of his attitude. He pondered for a moment and asked, "So, what is the money given to you on the 15th of each month?"
He is well aware that a person's words cannot be trusted, and it depends on what he does.
Whether Xu Du is honest with him depends on these important matters.
He quietly looked at Xu Du, then saw him turn around, went to the secret compartment on the bookshelf, took out an account book, returned to the table, and handed it to Jiang Suizhou.
"The prince has saved money in recent years and raised a group of dead men." He said. "The number is small, there are about ten in total. Because the dead soldiers need to be trained for many years before they can be used with confidence, the Lord will find the subordinates and hand over the training of the dead soldiers to the subordinates."
Jiang Suizhou was a little surprised, took the account quietly on his face, and looked carefully.
The number and cost of each dead man can be remembered clearly, and even with the date, there is a large book in detail in a month.
Jiang Suizhou paused and said, "So, you always go out to play every month, and you always go to the street to buy paper and pen, but I never let you report it?"
Xu Du smiled and nodded: "The Lord is really smart."
Jiang Suizhou read the account book quietly, Xu Duhou stood by and did not urge him. After a long time, Jiang Suizhou put down the account book, took out the money he had prepared earlier, and handed it to Xu Du according to the amount on the account book.
This is to tell him by action that he trusts him.
Xu Du smiled and stretched out his hand and took the banknote.
"You did a great job." Jiang Suizhou said. "There will still be a lot of use for you in the future."
Xu Du smiled faintly: "Lord, do not hesitate to give orders."
Jiang Suizhou paused, then raised his eyes to look at him: "But, have you ever thought about it, what about the future?"
Xu Du had no words, tilted his head and motioned for him to continue.
Jiang Suizhou spoke slowly.
"The rise and fall is a natural law." He said. "If your energy is exhausted, and the sun is rising, how can you get the fame and fortune you want?"
Xu Du heard the words, but did not speak for a long time.
After a long time, he laughed, his laughter was clear and clean.
"Everyone in the world believes that the separation of the two dynasties between the South and the North is a foregone conclusion and will continue for a hundred years. Even if the North Liang still has Huo Wujiu, it cannot be changed. Why does the Lord think that the prosperity of the South is exhausted? ?"
Jiang Suizhou asked, "Why was Huo Wujiu captured?"
Xu Du replied: "The lone army entered the enemy, and the reinforcements were cut off."
Jiang Suizhou continued: "So, what about the Nanjing court now?"
Xu Du paused, and then smiled: "The Lord said, Huo's defeat in this battle is the horse's stumbling, and Jing Zhi's defeat is the foundation decayed?"
Jiang Suizhou had no words, and the right to acquiesce.
After the two were silent for a while, Xu Du stood up and saluted Jiang Suizhou deeply.
"In a difficult situation, the subordinates didn't have any hope, but let's look at them, every step is a last resort." He said. "But now, it is the fortunate for your subordinates to meet the Lord. Surely the future, the Lord has planned for a long time, and the subordinates will obey your orders and be your right arm."
Jiang Suizhou paused, speechless for a moment.
Xu Du spoke to him, willing to believe him, it is naturally good. But the hat Xu Du wore to him was too high, and it made him feel a little confused for a while.
What's the future, what plans does he have
He just knew that in the near future, they would be taken over by Huo Wujiu.
—
The Anyin Hall was quiet.
After dinner time, the master never came back.
Meng Qianshan was spinning around in a hurry, and every time he turned, he would sneak a glance at Huo Wujiu.
I saw Huo Wujiu sitting at the table and reading quietly. But he didn't know if it was Meng Qianshan's illusion. He always felt that half an hour had passed, and Madam Huo's book hadn't turned a page.
Meng Qianshan had sent someone to ask.
After a while, a small servant ran back all the way, entered the main house, and ran to Meng Qianshan panting.
"Returning to Duke Qianshan, the prince went to Mrs. Xu's room." He said. "The maid in Mrs. Xu's courtyard just came to report, saying that the prince hadn't given instructions in advance. He had just returned to the mansion and went straight."
Whoops! How can this be good!
The young man reported it in the room, and Mrs. Huo sat next to it and heard clearly. At this time, Meng Qianshan wanted to make up a lie to coax Madam Huo over, but he couldn't do it.
He waved his hand quickly and drove the young man out.
When the young man retired, Meng Qianshan was filled with pleasing smiles, walked to Huo Wujiao's side, and ordered the maid next to him: "Why are you so ignorant? The vegetables are already cold, so let's warm them up... "
The words behind him were swallowed.
Madam Huo, who was sitting there, put down the book, without raising her eyes, she took up the chopsticks and picked up a chopstick of cold vegetables.
He eats by himself.
Meng Qianshan felt a bit strange for a while.
It's like... It's not just the people in the house waiting for the prince to come back for dinner, the lady Huo, who usually ignores the prince, is actually waiting to have dinner with the prince.
At this time, Mrs. Huo was obviously... not very happy.
If this is the case, Meng Qianshan knows that he must tie the bell to untie the bell. Madam Huo's air pressure is a bit low at the moment, and it's not something they can cope with. Only when the prince comes back after finishing his meal, he will go to coax the ancestor in person.
Thinking of this, Meng Qianshan waited tremblingly on Huo Wugui and ran out of food.
Unexpectedly, the prince never came back after the meal was over.
Until a long time later... Madam Xu's maid came.
"Duke Qianshan, the prince is resting with Mrs. Xu today."
That maid said so.
The author has something to say:
Jiang Suizhou: surprise!