This is the truth, and Luan Xin naturally understands it.
But he had another question.
"Wangchao is so self-willed, aren't you worried that it will backfire on you one day?" When Luan Xin asked this question, his expression was calm, but his dark eyes were filled with incomprehensible complexity, "Do you think you are a flatterer who is good at flattery and sycophancy?"
Gu Chi smiled and said, "So what if he is a flatterer?"
This rhetorical question almost made Luan Xin lose his temper.
After thinking it over carefully, he came to the conclusion that as long as Gu Chi didn't care about his reputation, being criticized as a sycophant wouldn't really cause him any harm, and he could even live a good life. If this was the evaluation of people in his own time, what about the evaluation of future generations
"When the cunning rabbit dies, the running dog is cooked; when the birds are all gone, the good bow is hidden." Luan Xin looked straight into Gu Chi's eyes, not allowing him to dodge or hide, and said in a sonorous and powerful voice, "Wang Chao is not afraid that he will end up like this one day? Flatterers never end well."
Gu Chi smiled and said, "Gong Yi, are you worried about me?"
Luan Xin did not answer.
Gu Chi didn't care either.
He actually said something shocking: "Can't the dog be cooked after the rabbit is dead?"
Luan Xintong Kong was shocked: “???”
"When the country is settled, the counselors will die. If so, it is a good omen that the rabbit dies and the dog is abandoned. Gongyi, I don't want to have such a scholar. If one day I really end up with the end of the bow being put away after the birds are gone, it is also the time and fate." Gu Chi's eyebrows were no longer depressed, but only open-minded and relaxed, with a trace of smile in his eyes, "Besides, she is the lord, she won't do this."
Luan Xin just thought this sentence was absurd and funny.
What a naive idea this is
He couldn't believe that these words came from Gu Chi's mouth.
Luan Xin said calmly: "You can't see through people's hearts by looking at the tide."
Gu Chi retorted, "It is justice that cannot understand the lord."
Luan Xin: “…”
He probably didn't expect Gu Chi to be a die-hard fan of Chen Tang. Regardless of whether he would accept this recommendation or not, Luan Xin really wanted to know the answer, so he asked, "Gu Wangchao, so the matter of Wen Yangong was also instructed by you?"
Gu Chi pretended to be dumbfounded: "What?"
Luan Xin: "Did you instigate the death of Lord Wen Yan?"
Gu Chi said innocently, "Mr. Wen Yan committed suicide. How could it be Chi's idea? Gongyi cannot pin the blame on Chi for something that has nothing to do with him just because he killed a few soldiers who violated military discipline on his own initiative. It's too unfair."
Luan Xin's expression was clearly one of disbelief.
He suddenly mentioned something: "Xin heard something - that day when we attacked Xiaocheng, it was you who ordered the arrows to be shot at Gongxichou!"
If you count them carefully, Gu Chi has done a lot of shady things.
Gu Chi put his hands in his sleeves and said confidently: "Why didn't Gongyi find out the whole story? That day, Chi instructed Shousheng to plot against Gongxichou, but Wen Yangong on the city wall also ordered people to shoot cold arrows at the lord. If Gongxichou hadn't helped to block it..."
Speaking of this, Gu Chi felt a toothache.
The two of them helped each other to receive the sneak attacks in front of the battle. It was outrageous no matter how you looked at it. Even if we say there will never be such a thing again, at least it was unprecedented.
Gu Chi not only failed to achieve his goal, but also got himself into trouble.
Luan Xin understood: "So you want to kill me?"
Gu Chi was confused and asked, "Why is Gongyi so sure that Chi did it? Wen Yangong committed suicide, and his wife can prove it. It's obvious that he was afraid that the head of the Qiu family would settle the score later, so he was panicked and drew his sword to kill himself out of fear..."
Luan Xin naturally wouldn't believe it.
"On the day the ransom money arrives, you send a message to Wen Yangong: 'Qiu has sent the ransom money, and tomorrow we will send someone to escort Wen Yangong's family.' Gu Wangchao, can you explain what this 'tomorrow' means?"
Gu Chi remained calm on the surface, but his scalp was slightly numb.
He didn't expect that Luan Xin could find out the clues even though he acted so secretly, but none of Qiu Cheng's other old ministers noticed it. He continued innocently: "Tomorrow is just tomorrow. How come Gong Yi said it became ironclad evidence that Chi had ordered Wen Yanong to be forced to death?"
Luan Xin: "Because time was of the essence, he misled Wen Yangong into thinking that the head of the Qiu clan would persecute him, and guessed that the money sent was not only the ransom money, but also a letter of urgency. With such a hint, he was frightened and drew his sword to commit suicide. Gu Wangchao, is that right or wrong?"
Gu Chi: “…”
Having said that, he stopped pretending and came clean.
Anyway, the lord has to take more than one blame.
Even if there is one more, he can’t be crushed to death.
The arc on Gu Chi's lips gradually disappeared, replaced by a cold and ruthless expression: "Yes! So what? Gongyi thinks Chi did something wrong? Wen Yangong shot the lord with a cold arrow before!"
Luan Xin clenched his hands in his sleeves and said, "He has already lost. There is no possibility for him to make a comeback if he is sent back to the Qiu family. He will not pose any threat to the master at all. Asking for ransom money has forced people to death. Isn't Wangchao afraid that the truth will be revealed and the master's reputation will be implicated?"
Gu Chi's attitude is very bachelor.
"If that day comes, I will apologize."
Gu Chi glanced at Luan Xin out of the corner of his eye and then quickly retracted it.
Tsk, I finally figured out what Luan Xin’s problem is.
I'm not afraid of hatred, but I'm afraid that I don't know when the hatred was made, and I will die in a confusing way just like Qiu Wenyan.
"Do your job when you are in the position." Gu Chi straightened his back and said confidently, "Gong Yi should understand this principle better than me! I, Gu Wangchao, have done things with a clear conscience all my life. If Gong Yi wants to seek revenge for his former master, you can just come at me!"
Whoever gives in first is a grandson!
Luan Xin uttered word by word: "Gu! Chi!"
Gu Chi said calmly: "I dare not say that I will win, but it doesn't matter if I lose. Anyway, there is only one person in the family. Even if I lose miserably, my family property is confiscated and my clan is exterminated, there is only one life!"
See, being single has its advantages: you can do things without any worries.
He has the advantage right now, so there's no need to panic.
Seeing Gu Chi's unyielding attitude, Luan Xin didn't know whether to be angry or relieved.
Duke Wen Yangong had done him a favor, and he had helped him plan for several years to repay his kindness, and they had developed some feelings for each other. The other party was not a very good lord, but he was not a big failure either. Duke Wen Yangong's defeat was, in his opinion, an inevitable trend and an event in this world. The only difference was sooner or later, but he would not lose his life.
Previously, I had always suspected that it was done by Lord Chen Tang.
Luan Xin tried again and again, and the test was inseparable from long-term contact and communication with Chen Tang, and even heart-to-heart talk. He admitted that he was shaken in the process, and even uncontrollably found excuses for himself, saying that Qiu Cheng's death was not her intention...
Now that the truth is out, he no longer has to waver, let alone face the difficult question of how he should decide if Chen Tang is the murderer.
Luan Xin: "You will suffer the consequences sooner or later."
A scholar of literary mind should not trust anyone wholeheartedly.
Chen Tang was the first to realize that Luan Xin and Gu Chi were in a relationship, and it was only one day later. Guess how she knew? Gu Chi, who was still harassing Luan Xin on the fourth day of the Chinese New Year, came to her on the fifth day and barked at her: "Are you guys breaking up?"
Chen Tang was hiding and preparing to cook a small hot pot.
When Gu Chi came over, she could only reluctantly give him half.
But you need to prepare additional ingredients for two people.
The slices of meat on the table were all cut by her herself.
Each piece is crystal clear. You can pick it up and put it in the prepared pot for a few seconds and then take it out. It tastes absolutely fresh and tender.
She also made shrimp paste, peeled the shrimp by herself, and pounded the shrimp meat by herself. When Gu Chi came over, Chen Tang was holding two silver-white copper maces weighing about 100 pounds, pounding a piece of pork rhythmically. Originally, it should have been beef, but oxen were rare, and Chen Tang didn't want to let the oxen become lame or go crazy and die just to satisfy her appetite... She made do with pork.
Gu Chi put his hands in his sleeves, waiting to eat the ready-made food.
He said, "What do you mean by breaking up?"
Chen Tang: "They didn't break up, and you're still eating, drinking, and living in his house. Or did he just kick you out because he couldn't stand it anymore?"
Gu Chi almost choked.
"God knows, Chi Fenming has suffered an undeserved disaster for his master!" He was not just trying to get food, drink or a place to stay, but was clearly trying to guard against Luan Xin and get more information. Everything was for the master, but she was hurting herself.
Chen Tang listened attentively while pounding the pork.
After listening to Gu Chi, she put down the bronze mace.
After washing his hands carefully, he put the pounded meat paste into a copper basin, kneaded it into round balls, and put them into the soup prepared by the chef. Fanxin responded, "I see, no wonder Gongyi is always so stubborn. I tried several times but failed to pry open his mouth. I didn't expect that he discovered the cause of death of the old rookie... It was indeed my carelessness that exposed my tracks. However, Wangchao, you didn't suffer an unprovoked disaster. Who wrote 'death' on the palm of your hand at that time?"
Chen Tang wrote it, and Gu Chi also wrote it.
The two of them are in cahoots and neither of them is innocent.
Gu Chi almost had a heart attack: "My Lord!"
They are not innocent, but the hatred is on him!
"My Lord, aren't you worried about Chi?"
Chen Tang smiled and said, "Why are you worried? He has already given you a way out. Isn't that what he said, 'You will suffer the consequences sooner or later'?"
Luan Xin believed that if Gu Chi kept jumping around like this, he would eventually kill himself. There was no need for him to make any moves. He just needed to add fuel to the fire at the critical moment. His attitude towards revenge was quite negative.
Furthermore—
Chen Tang smiled and said, "Don't worry, Wang Chao, I'll protect you!"
In fact, even without protection, it is unlikely that Gu Chi would be at a disadvantage.
Gu Chi couldn't help but said sourly: "... My Lord, you are so relieved. If it wasn't for the accidental conviction of Luan Gongyi yesterday, this debt would have fallen on your head sooner or later. With such a hidden danger, your Lord is not worried at all..."
How much does the lord like Luan Gongyi!
"What are you worried about?"
"I'm worried he might be unfaithful."
"I don't mind whether he is loyal or not. To put it more clearly, it doesn't matter where his heart is, but where his body is. So what if he betrays me mentally? It's OK as long as he can't find fault with what he does." Chen Tang smiled generously, "He is still wavering."
Gu Chi: “???”
Chen Tang said, "He wavered after only a month with me. How could he still have other intentions after so many years? Even if the old rookie is really the dead moonlight, how can the dead fight against the living? Besides, doesn't Wang Chao think it is very interesting to watch such a loyal and righteous person struggling and wavering for himself, and falling into the quagmire of worldly emotions? Even if he betrayed me, he was suffering endless torment in his heart..."
The more you value sentimentality, the easier it is for you to be swayed by it.
Gu Chi: "…sympathize with Luan Gongyi."
The previous lord was a scumbag, and it was obvious what a scumbag he was.
The current lord is a scumbag, so scumbag that it is hard to guard against.
“…Maybe Chi should sympathize with himself first.”
Chen Tang has already prepared the hot pot ingredients.
He smiled and said, "Fresh hot pot, I apologize to you."
Chen Tang asked the chef to prepare two kinds of soup bases early in the morning, one is mushroom soup and the other is spicy soup, and the seasonings should be as rich as possible.
Gu Chi knew the mushroom soup, but not the spicy soup. He carefully identified it and asked, "Why did the lord add the fragrant powder to the soup?"
There were chili peppers at the time, but most people ground them into powder for use as incense. Chen Tang discovered this by accident from Chen Zhi.
Chen Tang explained, "This is chili pepper. Drinking it can warm your body, but if you have a bad stomach, you should avoid it. It can easily burn your chrysanthemums."
After listening to Chen Tang's thoughts, Gu Chi knew the other meaning of chrysanthemum. His mouth twitched slightly, but he still wanted to die. He chose the spicy soup and tried to taste it. In an instant, the spiciness rushed straight to his brain, and the tip of his tongue was hot, painful and numb. A ball of fire ran through his throat to his internal organs. He coughed for a long time, and only felt better after drinking the goat milk handed by Chen Tang.
"You're not used to it, try a different soup base."
Gu Chi refused: "No need."
The spiciness made his eyes blurry, but he was still enjoying the food.
Chen Tang: “…”
Shrimp balls and pork meatballs are Gu Chi’s favorites.
He ate hotpot at Chen Tang's place for several days, from the fifth to the seventh day of the Chinese New Year, and successfully experienced what it meant to have chrysanthemums spark a fire.
On the eighth day, the government offices were unsealed, but Gu Chi was nowhere to be seen.
When Qi Shan asked, Chen Tang said, "I ate too much spicy hot pot and had a stomachache. I asked for half a day's sick leave early."
I love vegetables and I love eating.
Qishan: “…”
Luan Xin: “…”
After work started, everyone became even busier.
Those who are strong basically start with a half-hearted attitude.
Lord Chen Tang took the lead.
After all, they don't have much time left.
The first thing is spring ploughing. If it is delayed, it means that Sibao County's harvest this year will be affected. The sharp reduction in land tax is only one of the reasons. The more serious thing is that the food pressure will increase and more people will starve to death. Without food, many things will not be done.
This is not what Shen Tang wants to see.
Everyone knew how much she valued farming and did not dare to delay it.
After much haste, some things were finally completed before the spring plowing season.
For example, field records, planning, and land reclamation... This matter was still done by Luan Xin and Gu Chi, who were not happy to see each other at that time. For example, the physical examination of the whole area was in the charge of Dr. Dong and Luan Xin, and the selected good seedlings were sent to Longwu.
Another example is the optimization and experimental planting of cotton seeds. With the help of Shen Zhi and Lin Feng, after more than 150 generations, a batch of relatively stable drought-resistant and large boll cotton seeds were finally obtained. Other varieties are still in the experiment and have also made progress. The single quality is fine, but the progress is not ideal when it is superimposed on a cotton seed. Luan Xin also participated in this matter.
He also had to go to the government office on duty every few days.
Luan Xin felt that being indecisive was not enough.
The second is to prepare for war.
Prepare the food and soldiers needed for the expedition.
It is necessary to consider who will go into battle and who will stay behind to look after the house.
Chen Tang didn't want to think about it so early, but—
"Huang Lie sent a letter informing us of the time to reunite. It seems that he wants to end the fight in one fell swoop."