Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Chi looked at each other in surprise and hurried forward to salute.
Cheng Shao looked a little solemn. He nodded at Zhou Shaojin and said to Cheng Chi, "Come with me. I have something to tell you."
Zhou Shaojin entered the house.
Cheng Shao stood under the pomegranate tree in the yard and asked Cheng Chi: "Have you had any contact with people from the Seventh Prince's Mansion during this period?"
Cheng Chi had no intention of hiding it and nodded.
Cheng Shao said, "Two days ago, Zigong was rushed 800 miles away. The civilians rioted and many people died. The emperor was furious. An official submitted a statement saying that this incident was related to the Seventh Prince. You should sort out your own affairs and don't get involved."
Cheng Chi raised his eyebrows: "Salt well? Is the Seventh Prince taking a cut from it?"
"Most likely." Cheng Shao said, "The treasury cannot be taxed less, so we have to collect more, which will naturally cause public resentment." Then he warned him, "This matter can be big or small, but I think the emperor wants to use this as an opportunity to rectify the officials, so don't run into the gun."
Cheng Chi suddenly thought of what Zhou Shaojin had said about his past life, and said with a smile, "Second Uncle, others say you are indifferent and lofty, but I think you are indifferent, right?"
Cheng Shao asked, "What do you want to say?"
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "I just feel that sometimes you can keep silent about things that can benefit the people with just one word from you. If you want to please the emperor, it doesn't seem to be entirely true..."
Cheng Shao said: "If the water is too clear, there will be no fish. If you don't do something, someone else will do it. But as long as it doesn't harm the foundation of the country, I can tolerate it."
Cheng Chi said: "What is the foundation of the country?"
Cheng Shao said: "The people are living in misery."
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "What if the king is incompetent?" He paused and said, "Or what if the king has no moral integrity?"
Cheng Shao's eyes flashed with a sharpness, and he said, "This has nothing to do with you. Don't forget that you are now a descendant of the Cheng family. If you are not careful, the whole family will be destroyed. I don't care how you make trouble outside, but you can't bring disaster to the family. In addition to your brothers and sisters, there are children who know nothing in the family."
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "Don't worry, I also have a wife and children to take care of. I'm just a little curious. I think if it was the king who had lost his virtue, you probably wouldn't be so calm and composed, right?"
Cheng Shao did not deny it, and said: "Sometimes the unintentional actions of those in power cause a lot of trouble that should not have occurred. Therefore, the king's immorality is often the root cause of the people's suffering."
"I understand!" Cheng Chi said calmly, with an expression that showed an undisguised disappointment.
Or maybe he had no intention of hiding it.
Cheng Shao knew his nephew's abilities, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw him. He asked worriedly, "Did something happen?"
Cheng Chi was a little hesitant.
Cheng Shao just stood there calmly waiting for his answer.
Cheng Chi did not expect Cheng Shao to be so persistent in waiting for an answer, and said helplessly: "I found out that the Crown Prince has a heart disease, but the Fourth Prince knows about it."
Cheng Shao was even more confused and asked, "What does this have to do with the Seventh Prince?"
Cheng Chi was a little surprised and said, "You know that the crown prince is ill? Why haven't I heard you mention it before?"
"This is not a good thing." Cheng Shao said, "The emperor didn't say it explicitly, but he hinted at it in his words. Do you want to participate in the selection of the crown prince? I think you are a little anxious. The emperor is in his prime, and he will be in peace and prosperity for at least ten years. Instead of worrying about who will succeed him, I think it is better to be patient - as long as you can do practical things, no matter who becomes the emperor, you will always be used. Why do you take this risk? Besides, you have Dalang above you. As for taking sides, I'm afraid he is more anxious than you - he has achieved his level, and he is only an assistant cabinet. Once there is a problem with the crown prince, he will have no choice but to take sides."
Cheng Chi's mind was occupied by Cheng Shao's knowledge of the Crown Prince's illness, and he did not think too much about the issue of standing. He pondered and said, "Besides you, do you know who else knows about the Crown Prince's illness? According to the law, the Crown Prince cannot inherit the throne if he has such an illness..."
Cheng Shao hinted to him: "But the crown prince has a good son."
In other words, the emperor had no expectation at all that the crown prince would succeed to the throne.
This is also in line with the emperor's art.
There is no second master in heaven.
According to Shao Jin, the emperor does have nearly ten years left to live. By then, the crown prince will be over 40 years old, and the eldest grandson will be in his prime. The crown prince's illness will only last a few years at most, and the eldest son can succeed to the throne smoothly. In fact, if the crown prince dies, the eldest grandson will succeed to the throne. This will also avoid suspicion between father and son.
The fact is, the Crown Prince did die of illness before the Emperor, but what no one expected was that the Emperor's eldest grandson also died of illness before the Emperor.
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "You are the one who knows the emperor best. If the crown prince and the eldest grandson both die before the emperor, who will the emperor choose as the crown prince?"
Cheng Shao's eyelids twitched, and he asked, "What do you mean?"
Cheng Chi said: "It's Mu Xiu tomorrow. If you don't come, I'm afraid I will go to find you. I think the Seven Stars Hall will end in my hands. But what to do with these people in the Seven Stars Hall is a big problem. I originally wanted to find a way to get rid of some of the most vicious ones, and let those who don't want to retire go with them. Those who have retired from the underworld can be given a suitable position in the garrison. Those who don't want to go to the garrison can also be arranged to be constables in various government offices. But if you are willing to be a constable, you have to leave your hometown. Although I can tamper with the files to make their resumes look fine, most of the villagers know what they do..."
The seventh prince is in charge of the Xishan camp.
Cheng Shao breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You don't have to ask the Seventh Prince for help on this matter. Just give me the list and I'll make the arrangements."
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "Okay. I'll have the personnel confirmed in two years, and you can slowly help arrange them." Then he asked about the succession, "Not to mention the health of the crown prince, I'm not optimistic about the eldest grandson of the emperor succeeding to the throne, skipping over several uncles."
Cheng Shao had no intention of talking to Cheng Chi any more.
Cheng Chi said, "It's not that I want to meddle in other people's business, but Big Brother has been following the lead of the Yuan family for so many years. However, Yuan Weichang secretly reached an agreement with Shen Minzhi on Big Brother's entry into the cabinet. This is understandable. From Yuan Weichang's perspective, he has his own plans and arrangements, but Yuan Weichang didn't leak any information. I'm just afraid that when Big Brother has to take sides, he will be tricked by Yuan Weichang."
Although Cheng Shao had reservations about Cheng Jing's ability, he said, "You were chosen by your second uncle at that time, and you were too young. Your second brother is more loyal and honest than smart, but your eldest brother is stronger and is willing to help the clan members..."
Isn't this just choosing the tallest person from among the short ones
Cheng Chi sneered and said, "Why don't you go up yourself?"
"I am too noble to be in the same league with the world." Cheng Shao said solemnly, "And I think my current position is the best. I can show my face in front of the emperor whenever I want, and stay away from the six ministries and three departments, so that the emperor can rest assured. I can also remind you so that you don't step into the quagmire and can't get out."
That's true.
Having someone like Cheng Shao will greatly enhance the career prospects of the Cheng family.
"As for the issue of standing on the right side," Cheng Shao thought again and again, and said, "I think you should talk to Dalun - he is in the Zhanshi Mansion, and you can get to know the Fourth Prince. The Fourth Prince grew up in Kunning Palace, and has a special relationship with the Crown Prince. If the eldest grandson of the emperor is unable to ascend the throne, the Fourth Prince has the greatest possibility. If the eldest grandson of the emperor eventually ascends the throne, the Fourth Prince will surely become a rich and noble prince."
Cheng Chi listened, and his inky black eyes suddenly became even deeper.
He asked, "Do you think highly of the Fourth Prince?"
Cheng Shao looked at Cheng Chi meaningfully and said, "Don't you think highly of him? Otherwise, why would he come to give gifts on Yun'er's 100th day celebration?"
Only then did Cheng Chi's heart start beating violently.
He took a few long breaths, and it took him a long time to calm down.
Cheng Shao felt that they had talked too deeply today, so he said, "Don't worry about your elder brother. I will remind him." Then he changed the subject, "Liao Shaotang returned to his hometown to take the exam. Before he left, I gave him a few volumes of contemporary essays. I wonder how he did in the exam?"
Cheng Chi knew what he wanted to know, and he no longer stuck to the topic of the crown prince. He smiled and said, "Before he left, he came to say goodbye to me. I also told him a few words, whether it was good news or bad news, to report it to us."
Cheng Shao said: "His writing skills are not bad, and the Liao family is not an ordinary family, so they must have made some preparations."
Cheng Chi said: "If he can make the list this time, I suggest that he take the test together with Jiashan next year. It's an exam for one person, and it's an exam for two people. It's better to have you help with the questions than running around like a headless fly."
Cheng Shao laughed and said, "Even if it's for your sake, if he takes the next exam, I will still have to give him questions. You know how to order people around!"
As they were talking, the curtain of the main room was lifted and Chenxiang came out. Knowing that Cheng Chi and Cheng Shao were talking, he did not come forward, but stood far away in the corridor and said loudly: "Second Master, Fourth Master, the old lady wants to ask you if you have finished talking. If you have, please come in and have tea. She wants to ask someone to pick up Master Abao and Master Aren later, and we will have dinner together tomorrow."
"Okay!" Cheng Shao knew that he was getting old, and Abao and Aren would still need Cheng Jing and the others to take care of them. The more they visited each other, the better their relationship would be, and the deeper their feelings would be. "I think the weather should be good tomorrow, why don't we go boating over at Chashihai?"
If Zhou Shaojin goes boating in Chashihai in the name of Mrs. Guo, he will have to arrange the relevant matters.
Cheng Chi said, "I think we should just go boating at home. My mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and brother-in-law are here too. There are too many children. I'm afraid we won't be able to take care of them all if we go to Chashihai."
"Okay." Cheng Shao said with a smile, "I'll draw a picture for the kids."
His calligraphy and painting are both excellent, and he is highly praised by the emperor, so his paintings are hard to come by.
Cheng Chi said thoughtfully: "Call Gu Dalun as well."
Cheng Shao clapped his hands and said, "Not bad, not bad. Let's call Master Yuan and Master Peng over as well."
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Hey guys, today's update.
O(∩_∩)O~
※(To be continued)