Feng Ye ordered Xiao Liu to send Yan Sikong back to the city, while he hurried to Jingshan Camp.
When Yan Sikong was wandering on the carriage, he suddenly felt that what happened in the past two days was like a dream. He didn't really wake up until the magnificent imperial city was reflected in his eyes and became clearer and more magnificent. .
At the foot of the emperor, there are many shadows hidden under the flashy appearance. They are like monsters running through the ground, gnawing at the foundation of this dynasty.
Back home, Yan Sikong didn't have a moment's rest, called Ali to the study room, prepared paper and ink, wrote down a few words, and then handed the pen to Ali: "Rewrite these words."
Ali waved his hand.
"It's okay, just write it down."
Ali had no choice but to take the pen, draw the ladle according to the same pattern, and write down the words. Although the writing was crooked, it was not difficult to read.
Yan Sikong picked up the piece of paper, staring at the handwriting on it like spring worms and autumn snakes: New History, eleven volumes and nine chapters
Then he folded the paper, but after a pause, he unfolded it again, rolled the paper roughly, handed it to Ali, and said solemnly: "Ali, I need you to do something now." You have to go there yourself, and you can’t leave it to others.”
Ali nodded.
"You put on a disguise and go to Qingyang to ensure that this piece of paper will be seen by the censor Cai Zhongfan. This must be done without anyone noticing." Yan Sikong stared deeply into Ali's eyes , "Can you do it?"
Ali nodded again, and thumped his chest hard with his fist.
"Bring more taels of silver, go and come back quickly, if..." Yan Sikong let out a sigh of relief, "If someone finds out, take the taels of silver and fly away, and don't come back again."
A trace of sadness flashed across Ali's ugly face, and his facial features were twisted together. He stuffed the ball of paper into his arms, knelt down on the ground, kowtowed heavily to Yan Sikong, and then got up and left. up.
Yan Sikong sat in the chair without moving, a pair of eyes fixedly looking at the void, revealing a bottomless chill.
—
The day before the birthday ceremony, Yan Sikong went to the palace to give lectures to the crown prince as usual.
As soon as he arrived at the East Palace, he saw several big sandalwood lacquered red boxes outside the palace. The Prince Fu was discussing something with his mother and concubine, and the inner eunuch maid was serving at the side.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness." Yan Sikong stepped forward to pay his respects.
"Sir." The crown prince was very happy to see Yan Sikong, he came up and grabbed him, "You came just in time, quickly give me advice, what kind of gift should I present to my father tomorrow?"
Yan Sikong went over to have a look, and there was a rare treasure in each box: "Your Highness, where did these... all come from?"
Before Chen Kuang was appointed as the crown prince by Ce, he was neglected in the palace. Even the yearly gifts that should be given to each prince every year were withheld in every possible way. His mother and concubine were never favored. The prince, for many years, has only been a Zhaoyi. After the appointment of the crown prince, she was only a mother and a son, and she was reluctantly conferred the title of Concubine Hui. It was impossible for them to get such a reward.
There is only one possibility, it was sent by the minister.
Sure enough, Chen Yu said: "This Hepu pearl belt was sent by Mr. Yin Wang of Yingtianfu, this pair of Yaobian Tianmu tea bowls was given by Mrs. Chen Taifu, this piece of Taihu Lake stone was transported all the way from Suzhou by Mr. Song, and it is naturally formed." Shou' shape is a rare treasure of heaven... "
"Your Highness." Yan Sikong interrupted him, "Your Highness plans to choose one of these to give to the Emperor?"
Chen Kui nodded: "I don't know what my father likes, I'm discussing it with my mother."
Concubine Hui came over: "Yes, Master Yan, you are a smart person, you can choose one for Qi'er."
Concubine Hui was only a little maid back then, she was quite pretty, but she was like wild flowers on the roadside, although they were bright, they were all over the mountains and valleys, not very conspicuous. After drinking, Emperor Zhaowu had a sudden mood, fortunately for her, he didn't know whether to say that her life was good or bad, so she gave birth to the eldest prince. He was bullied in the palace for more than ten years, and lived a cautious life, so his character was submissive. Not very assertive.
Yan Sikong bowed to Concubine Hui, and then said to Chen Yu: "Your Highness, in my opinion, these are not good."
Chen Kui was immediately lost: "Sure enough, it's not precious enough, but in the East Palace, there is nothing more precious..."
"No, I don't mean that." Yan Sikong said, "These gifts are the wishes of my subordinates, you have to remember them, but don't take it to heart, just remember it."
Chen Kui blinked his eyes: "What do you mean by that, sir?"
"Your Highness, let's go in and talk."
Chen Kui understood, knelt down and placed Concubine Hui, and dismissed all the servants.
The two walked into the hall and sat in the place where they usually give lectures. Yan Sikong looked around and looked at Chen Kui's eyes, and said: "I know that Your Highness has suffered injustice for many years, and at this time I also want to win the favor of the Holy Majesty." love, but no matter how expensive a gift you give, you won’t get what you want.”
Chen Kui corrected his sitting posture, looking at Yan Sikong with some vigilance and some apprehension.
Yan Sikong sometimes felt that Chen Wei was a bit like himself when he was a child, smart, sensitive, and thoughtful, but because he was too young, he still couldn't hide his emotions well.
Chen Kui said expressionlessly, "As a subject, it's only natural to please your father."
"Naturally, this method cannot be used."
"Why?"
"Your Highness becoming the crown prince does not mean that the suffering you have suffered in the past is over. From the moment you were registered, everything has just begun."
Chen Kui took a deep breath and looked at Yan Sikong fixedly.
"Your Majesty is only in his forties, and he is in good health. The princes are all immature and far from the age to leave the palace. As long as they are still in the capital, His Highness's position as the crown prince will not be stable for a day."
Chen Kui pursed his lips and nodded silently.
"Your Majesty loves the second prince the most. The strength of the other princes and their relatives should not be underestimated. Your Highness... I am sorry to say bluntly that your Highness has no advantage other than being the eldest son."
Chen Kui clenched his fists: "Why did Lord Yan suddenly tell me this today?"
The change in address made Yan Sikong immediately realize that he was pressing hard, and he turned his forward leaning body back: "It was His Royal Highness who asked the minister to congratulate the staff officer, but Xu is the minister who overstepped. I plead guilty. Today I am just giving a lecture. Yes." As he spoke, he took out a scroll from his book bag and spread it out in front of him.
Chen Kui grabbed his wrist and looked at him sharply: "Speak."
Yan Sikong smiled lightly, coughed lightly, and said, "Although your highness only has this one advantage, it outweighs everything else. What your highness needs to do now is first, not to make mistakes, and second, to guard against villains. If your highness gives those gifts tomorrow If you send any one of them to the emperor, you will violate the first rule."
"Why?"
"The emperor will know that you have already started to win over courtiers and cultivate power. This move seems to be borrowing flowers to offer Buddha, but it is actually throwing stones at your feet."
"But I didn't..."
Yan Sikong grabbed Chen Kui's hand, his eyes were stern: "It doesn't matter whether you have it or not. Your Majesty thinks you have it, so you have it. Do you know how many years the ministers have been arguing with His Majesty in order to get you registered? Your Majesty has always wanted to help you." Li Second Prince, you must never let him have such thoughts again, or give him such a chance."
Chen Kui took a deep breath, looking at the expression, it was like the rest of his life after a catastrophe, and he couldn't recover for a long time.
Yan Sikong patted Chen Kui's hand, and slowed down his voice: "Your Highness, there is no need to panic. I have a minister here, and I will do my best to protect His Highness."
Chen Kui stood up suddenly, cupped his hands at Yan Sikong and said, "Mr. Xie."
Yan Sikong hurriedly knelt down: "Your Highness has broken my servant."
Chen Kui helped Yan Sikong up: "In Mr.'s opinion, what should I give my father?"
"Just send a pair of hymns, His Majesty won't notice it, but it won't cause him to be suspicious, and let him see that His Highness is diligent in his studies and successful in his career. Someone will speak well of His Highness." .”
"Okay, listen to sir."
Under the guidance of Yan Sikong, Chen Kui wrote a long poem with gorgeous rhetoric and full of praise. Yan Sikong changed all night, trying his best to meet Chen Kui's level of writing, but he couldn't miss a single word.
People in the world love to use the past to satirize the present. There must be many people waiting to find out Chen Kui’s faults. Even an unintentional word may be distorted into a fatal deep meaning. Otherwise, there would not be so many people in history who suffered from the literary inquisition. Therefore, Without the talents of Broadcom from ancient to modern times, I would not dare to take on such a job, and it happens that Yan Sikong has it.
Not only can he help Chen Yu write a perfect poem of praise, but he will also use the grievances between Cai Zhongfan, the imperial censor of Qingyang, and Wang Shengsheng, the second assistant of the cabinet, to launch the first wave of attacks on Xie Zhongren.
In fact, he didn't intend to win over Chen Kui so early. As he expected, this kid is extremely vigilant, but he is not the chief author of that chapter, but he is the reviewer of the new history compilation. This matter will definitely implicate him. And many people, big or small. He needs a strong ally to help him get out of this crisis. Chen Kuang can't help him, but behind Chen Kuang, the conservative courtiers headed by Yan Zilian will help him for Chen Kuang's sake.
Even if none of these people worked, he still had someone he could count on.