Even though the inside was turbulent, Yan Sikong had no choice but to suppress the raging hatred, and respectfully saluted: "Junior... I have seen Eunuch Xie."
Xie Zhongren sat in the grand teacher's chair, coughed softly, and said slowly: "Master Yan, there is no need to be polite."
Yan Sikong straightened up, staring at Xie Zhongren without blinking, taking in the wrinkles, textures, hairs, and spots on the old gray face one by one, as if the more carefully he looked, the more he could understand his opponent .
Xie Zhongren also looked at him with sharp eyes, waiting for Yan Sikong to speak, although the two of them knew the purpose of Yan Sikong's trip.
"This junior is taking the liberty of visiting today, and he is here to plead guilty to the father-in-law." Yan Sikong clasped his hands.
Xie Zhongren chuckled: "Our family doesn't understand this, what kind of crime did Master Yan invite?"
"My father-in-law appreciates it. Yesterday, the younger generation received a generous gift from the father-in-law. The younger generation was busy with work and had not had time to move. He was not at the house yesterday. My servant was ignorant, so he took it on his own initiative..."
"Oh, this matter. Mr. Yan has worked in the Ministry of Officials for more than half a year. He is diligent and fair, and is well-known. Now he is the future husband-in-law of Princess Wanyang. Our family really appreciates such a young talent as Mr. Yan, and intends to make friends..." Thank you Zhongren curled his lips into a smile, "Could it be that Mr. Yan doesn't look down on me, a person with shortcomings?"
Yan Sikong said neither humble nor overbearing: "This junior has absolutely no intention of doing so. He just won't be rewarded for his lack of merit. This junior really does not dare to accept such a great gift. He has ordered someone to send him back to his father-in-law's mansion. This junior is not strict, and he knows that this matter has not been done properly. , so I came here to plead guilty to my father-in-law."
Xie Zhongren gave a long "hmm" with a strange tone: "This gift will be returned after receiving it, Mr. Yan, you are slapping our family in the face."
"The younger generation dare not, the younger generation has always respected the father-in-law, and asked the father-in-law to be more generous, and not to care about the younger generation."
Xie Zhongren laughed lowly, "As Yan Ge's proud student, do you really respect our family?"
"My father-in-law has served His Majesty for many years, and he has contributed a lot to sharing His Majesty's worries. This alone is worthy of the admiration of the world."
Xie Zhongren said with a smile: "I have heard that Master Yan is eloquent and articulate. When I saw you today, it really is amazing. What are you doing standing up? Sit down."
Only then did Yan Sikong sit down, and an eunuch immediately offered tea.
"Actually, it doesn't matter whether the gift is refunded or not. Our family has watched Princess Wanyang grow up. This gift should be a dowry for the princess. Master Yan is unwilling to accept it, but he is afraid that Yan Ge will care about it?"
"If you say you're not afraid at all, then you're lying to your father-in-law. This junior is a student of Mr. Yan Ge, and Mr. Yan Ge has promoted me so much. This junior thinks that we should avoid suspicion."
Xie Zhongren snorted, "Whether it's you or me, or the old man, we all serve His Majesty and are loyal to the country. There should be no distinction between closeness and closeness. Now the parties in the court are opposing each other and hindering each other. This is the last thing Your Majesty wants to do." I would like to see it, and I am also worried about it."
Yan Sikong yelled at this stray dog for his lack of integrity and shame. If he hadn't been an eunuch but interfered too much in politics, how could he have caused conflicts between the parties and made the court a mess. Now he is "concerned about the country and the people". He echoed cautiously and perfunctorily: "Eunuch is right."
Xie Zhongren changed the topic: "As the head of the Department of Merit Examinations of the Ministry of Officials, I heard that you were the one who made the list of questions for King Jingyuan this time. What do you think about the temporary reduction of Datong's armaments?"
Finally got to the point.
Yan Sikong coughed lightly, slightly modified what he said to Liu An, and carried it over. What he said was impeccable, and never showed his personal opinions and emotions.
After hearing this, Xie Zhongren frowned slightly: "Liu Shangshu also said the same thing. Could it be that he is afraid of taking responsibility and asks you to speak up."
Yan Sikong clasped his hands and said: "This list was decided by Liu Shangshu and I through discussion, and we both have similar thoughts on this matter."
"Hehe." Xie Zhongren chuckled, "Our family won't believe this, then Liu Shangshu hasn't been humiliated face to face by Prince Jingyuan, has he?"
Yan Sikong was taken aback for a moment, then fell silent for a while.
This is what Xie Zhongren wanted to take advantage of. Feng Ye opposed the marriage in public at the banquet, and he was left standing outside the mansion for two hours when he begged to see him. Ridiculously ridiculing him, even treating him as a prostitute, and humiliating him to the extreme, these are well known in the city, even if Xie Zhongren would not believe in leaving messages, the eyeliner Yeli he planted in Hualiu Street saw it with his own eyes.
The vast majority of people would not believe any absurd rumors such as broken sleeves. They only thought that Feng Ye was born in a noble family, and they looked down on him as a child of a poor family. This is not uncommon in intermarriages.
Literati are very face-saving, in the eyes of outsiders, Yan Sikong must have a grudge for being so humiliated, but he dared not speak out.
Xie Zhongren wanted to use this to alienate them, he might be able to use his tricks...
Xie Zhongren wanted to see what was going on from his face, but when he saw his expressionless face, he thought that he was pretending to be calm, and continued: "Master Yan and Shizi used to be good friends, but they don't miss him at all. Even if you marry the princess, I'm afraid you won't get the support of the Feng family."
Yan Sikong lowered his head: "The juniors only do their own duties well, and don't think too much about other things."
Xie Zhongren smiled secretly: "Is it inconvenient, or dare not? Are you really able to bear this breath?"
Yan Sikong pursed his lips, remained silent for a long while, and then said in a deep voice, "I don't know what the father-in-law's words mean?"
"Ming people don't speak dark words." Xie Zhongren said lightly, "You are a student of Mr. Yan Ge, but who is your master? Your king, your father?"
"... Your Majesty."
"You respect your master, and you are always obedient to Yange. There is nothing wrong with it, but now you are going to become a consort. Let's figure it out."
Yan Sikong panicked: "Junior... I don't understand."
"Our family is not afraid to tell you the truth. Yan Ge has always been against His Majesty. His Majesty wanted to establish a Second Highness, so he ordered the ministers to protest in every possible way. His Majesty wanted to reduce Datong's armaments. Let it go, how can you look like a minister?"
Yan Sikong's face turned pale, this was not an act, it was because he realized that Emperor Zhaowu had already turned his anger on Yan Zilian for the failure of establishing reserves and reducing armaments, no matter how stupid Emperor Zhaowu was in the past, he still respected and feared Yan Zilian, Now that Xie Zhongren dared to say such a thing in front of him, it proved that Emperor Zhaowu's dissatisfaction with Yan Zilian had reached its peak, and he probably wanted to rectify it together.
This news made Yan Sikong feel cold all over. It seems that the Feng family is not the only one that is in deep crisis right now.
Xie Zhongren saw that his words worked, and he was even more persuasive: "Master Yan is so smart, he should understand what our family means. If it were someone else, why should I waste my words, but Mr. Yan is the son-in-law chosen by His Majesty. Thank you for your appreciation, after winter, we will choose a good day and auspicious day to marry you and Princess Wanyang, a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall, so you must not disappoint His Majesty's expectations."
Yan Sikong's face was ashen, and he said in a deep voice: "Elder-in-law means..."
Xie Zhongren sneered: "It would be the best if you can persuade Mr. Yan Ge to rein in the precipice, if not, our family will advise you to plan for yourself early, and His Majesty does not want to abolish you and damage the reputation of the princess, do you understand? "
Yan Sikong clenched his fists tightly, his body trembling slightly, he said softly: "This junior is loyal to His Majesty, and has absolutely no intention of disobedience, I hope you will find out clearly."
Xie Zhongren showed a satisfied smile: "Master Yan is a sensible person, our family will report to His Majesty for you."
"Thank you, Eunuch."
Xie Zhongren lowered his voice: "If Elder Yange and Feng Jianping have any movements, should you also tell His Majesty the truth?"
Yan Sikong remained silent, with a troubled expression on his face.
If he agrees too readily, Xie Zhongren will definitely have doubts.
Xie Zhongren smiled: "It seems that Master Yan is still not transparent enough."
"I… "
"Forget it, Mr. Yan might as well think it over carefully. Our family said this heartfelt words to Mr. Yan for His Majesty and Princess Wanyang. If Mr. Yan doesn't get lost..." Xie Zhongren said in a cold tone, "That's a pity gone."
"...Thank you for your father-in-law's suggestion. The words of the father-in-law are enlightening, and the younger generation will remember them in their hearts."
Xie Zhongren smiled and took a sip of tea slowly.
A coldness flashed in Yan Sikong's eyes. Now, apart from them, there are only two weak little eunuchs in the house. He wants to kill this old dog without any effort. Fear and despair, his countless fantasies made him unable to live and die, but now that the two are close at hand, he can't do anything. He took a deep breath, suppressed the malice surging in his heart, cupped his hands and said, "Young man, I also want to ask my father-in-law about something."
"Speaking."
"Your Majesty, do you really want to send troops to Liaodong?"
Xie Zhongren said indifferently: "The Jin people are ready to move now, even if they transfer troops to Liaodong, it is for the sake of the overall situation."
Yan Sikong clenched his fists secretly: "Junior...understood."
Xie Zhongren smiled lightly: "What do you understand?"
Yan Sikong paused, expressionless said: "I understand His Majesty's determination."