Jiang Songwen is still too young. Although he is scheming and has some means, he cannot draw inferences from one example to another. It is even more difficult for him to guess the Emperor Longqing's thoughts and intentions.
Jiang Zining sighed in his heart.
If he had not maneuvered the matter and quietly shifted the story of Jiang Songwen's murder of Wei An and Shen Chen into a situation where all the court officials started to take sides, causing Emperor Longqing to suspect that Prince Linjiang was forming a clique, the matter would not have been resolved so easily.
According to Emperor Longqing's original plan, he was going to let Prince Linjiang succeed to the throne. If his plan really came true, in order to win Prince Linjiang's heart, Emperor Longqing would definitely sacrifice someone to make up for Wei An and Shen Chen's matter so that Prince Linjiang could rest assured.
Jiang Songwen couldn't figure this out.
He didn't know that these little things may seem trivial, but if placed in the context of a larger situation, they are turning points that can determine life and death. Many of the details that determine life and death are contained in these little things.
And he had followed Emperor Longqing for so many years, and he understood Longqing's mind best and knew what he feared the most. Even his close concubines in the harem probably could not compare to these.
Emperor Longqing pondered for a long time and did not speak again. Jiang Zining just stood beside him, watching his father's heart with a respectful and cautious look.
When the finger-thick incense in the golden lacquered auspicious beast unicorn incense cauldron on the incense table was almost burned, Emperor Longqing's somewhat low and hoarse voice sounded from the curling green smoke: "Shen Chen is really well-informed."
Jiang Zining laughed, as if he was completely unaware of the murderous words of Emperor Longqing. He frowned and then relaxed his brows, smiling attentively, "Yes, after all, he is the Marquis of Pingxi. You value him, and the King of Linjiang also treats him as his own son. In addition, he is about to become the son-in-law of the Wei family. How much honor has he added to him? Many people want to go up and talk to him so that they can have some friendship. This is also human nature."
There are many hidden meanings in these words. To Emperor Longqing's ears, the situation has not yet completely turned to Prince Linjiang, but the people under him have already heard the news and started to curry favor with Shen Chen one by one.
If this is the case with Shen Chen, what about King Linjiang
As for the King of Linjiang, he may not have had the mind or opportunity before, so he has always been respectful and honest. But once so many temptations are placed before him, can he really maintain the same cautious heart as before
People can't resist temptation.
Emperor Longqing lowered his eyes, calmly changed the subject, and asked Jiang Zining: "By the way, where is Prince Linjiang?"
Jiang Zining seemed not to have heard clearly, and thought for a while before answering: "I have already arrived in Shandong. Shandong is in rebellion. I heard that his subordinates suggested that he should not go to Shandong, but take a detour, but the prince disagreed and insisted on going from Shandong..."
He paused, then laughed again and said, "After all, the prince is famous and renowned, and is known as the **. Those rebels have already retreated after hearing his name."
The expression of Emperor Longqing was hidden in the smoke and it was unclear. He just repeated the word "**" in a faint tone, as if with a hint of ridicule: "Retreat three steps?"
Those rebels were very stubborn. The court sent so many troops, but in the end it didn't have much effect. Jingxi, Jinzhong and other places were still occupied by those rebels. So many officials went to the capital but avoided that place, but King Linjiang chose to go to the mountain of tigers even though he knew there was a tiger there
What does he think
Was he really so brave and skilled that he was not afraid of rebellion, or did he want to show the military and civilians his power as a vassal king? To remind people of his past military exploits
Jiang Zining suddenly realized that he did not understand the sarcasm in Emperor Longqing's words. He hummed and took over the conversation with a sincere sigh: "Yes, people outside say that Prince Linjiang is courageous. He is worthy of being the one who once evaluated the rebellions of the Prince of Chu and the Prince of Jin. He is very brave."
Emperor Longqing groaned and propped his head with one hand, seeming to be very sleepy. After a while, he asked him again: "So what do you think?"
This is the key point of the question.
Jiang Zining knew that how he answered these words might very well determine whether Emperor Longqing's mind would really change.
This is an answer that determines his own future, and also an answer that determines the fate of King Linjiang and everyone in the Wei family.
His mind was extremely clear, and after calming down for a moment, he said the answer he had thought about countless times: "I don't think so." He said: "The Prince of Linjiang has always been a man of affection and righteousness, very compassionate to his soldiers, and has a good reputation in the army. He has a very good relationship with Prince Zheng, and the Marquis of Pingxi is now engaged to Princess Shouning. I guess that the prince probably wants to find out about Prince Zheng's movements, so he did it even though he knew that Shandong was rebellious and it was impossible to do it."
His words were truly praising King Linjiang.
But it was also true that it was causing Emperor Longqing to speculate the worst about Prince Linjiang.
This is the art of speaking. Sometimes you praise someone not necessarily because you want that person to have good things.
After he said this, he lowered his head and waited for Emperor Longqing's reaction.
After a long time, Emperor Longqing coughed for a while, motioned to Eunuch An who had heard the noise and rushed in to pour tea, drank a sip of tea and said lightly: "Yes, I forgot that our fifth son has always been a man of affection and righteousness, isn't he a perfect man?"
Jiang Zining finally let go of the worry that had been hanging in his heart, knowing that Emperor Longqing had really become suspicious of Prince Linjiang.
All the effort he put in before was worth it.
He first wrote letters to many of his disciples, asking them to go or instigate officials along the way to pay a visit to the King of Linjiang, and to have the officials along the way present beautiful women to them.
King Linjiang rejected one or two, but there were still many. He couldn't keep rejecting them. Once one was successfully received, others would naturally flock to him.
When Prince Linjiang had seen more, the article would be ready. Jiang Zining then signaled the imperial censors under him to take action and report Prince Linjiang for violating etiquette, breaking rules, and forming a clique for personal gain.
Emperor Longqing might not have taken it seriously at first, but when he saw more and more officials flocking to Prince Linjiang, how could he really have no grudges
Once he has some grudge in his heart, he will naturally be suspicious of everything.
Sometimes, there is no need to wait for the person to make a mistake, they don’t have to do anything, what other people do can be blamed on them.
He sat beside him, his feet on the ground, without any trepidation at all.
Having been with Emperor Longqing for a long time, he knew his temper very well. He knew that this was enough. If he continued, it would seem too deliberate. He knew the principle of knowing when to stop and grasped the timing very accurately. (To be continued)