Chapter 194: 201. Xiao Shimei, Suggest Standing in Line Early, Keep the Cold Stove Warm!

201. Xiao Shimei, Suggest Standing in Line Early, Keep the Cold Stove Warm!

Magistrate Ouyang Rong discovered very early on.

The trend of this world is similar to a certain period of Tang Dynasty history in his previous life.

This blurriness made him pay extra attention to information in this regard when he first woke up in Donglin Temple, often comparing these two periods of history and summarizing quite a few points.

First of all, the Great Gan seems to correspond to the Great Tang, and the current Wei Zhou also corresponds to the short-lived Wu Zhou period that the Great Tang once experienced.

The difference is only in the name. In addition, there is the existence of groups like qi cultivators, and I don't know if this is the reason for the slight differences in names and so on.

However, Magistrate Ouyang Rong searched the memory of Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan in this life and found that the national title "Gan" came from the hexagrams and lines of the Li Qian hexagram in the "Book of Changes," such as "Great is the Li Qian! Firm, strong, central, correct, pure, and refined."

In addition, the title of the Li family Gao Zu who founded the Great Gan involves the complex Northern and Southern Dynasties history that gives Magistrate Ouyang Rong a headache. As for the current Wei Zhou, it seems to be just a difference in name compared to the Wu Zhou in previous history.

At this moment, the deeds and experiences of the Wei family Empress, who sits high in the temple and is old, are somewhat similar to Wu Zetian, whom Magistrate Ouyang Rong is familiar with in his previous life. It's just that because of the existence of qi cultivators, some things are more legendary.

In addition, the similar national title "Zhou" is easy to understand. The Wei surname originated from Kang Shu, the ninth son of King Wen of Zhou in ancient times. When the Wei family Empress first ascended the throne, she also claimed to be a descendant of King Wen of Zhou, setting the national title as "Zhou," which was to inherit the rites of Zhou, govern the prosperous industry, and show the posture of reviving the ritual system of the Zhou Dynasty.

It can only be said that in order to build the legitimacy of the regime, everyone in ancient and modern times likes to rub against their ancestors.

Besides that, up to the first year of Shengli, April, when Magistrate Ouyang Rong woke up in the Underground Palace, the development trajectory of the Wei Zhou Dynasty for nearly ten years was similar to that period of history in his previous life.

It's just that there was the interference of violent organizations like qi cultivator sects, which made the Wei family Empress establish this new regime more intensely. However, the results were the same, and they reached the same goal by different routes.

The third emperor of the Great Gan, Li Shan, who is the one buried in Qianling, with the temple name Gao Zong, was still alive and was called the Two Sages together with the Wei family Empress.

It's just that he was plagued by illness in his later years and could not restrain the power of Empress Wei, and finally was exhausted to death. The court affairs also fell into the hands of Empress Wei.

The successor designated by Gan Gao Zong Li Shan before his death was the then Crown Prince Li Su Xian. Li Su Xian was the seventh son of Li Shan and also the third son of Li Shan and Empress Wei.

The first two sons of the two had already died, and the only remaining children were the third son, Crown Prince Li Su Xian, the fourth son, Prince Xiang Li Lun, and the young daughter, Princess Princess Changle.

It's just that after Li Su Xian ascended the throne, the then Empress Dowager Wei family was at odds with him, and finally demoted him to Prince Xunyang Prince and changed the fourth son Li Lun to be the emperor.

However, by this time, the Wei family Empress had already been in power, and through two incidents of abolishing and establishing emperors, she had completely mastered the court situation, her ambition expanded, and she no longer needed a puppet emperor.

So she imprisoned the emperor Li Lun in another palace, manipulated the government herself, finally replaced her son as emperor, changed Gan to Zhou, and set the capital in Shenjing Luoyang.

However, I don't know if it was because her murderous heart had converged in her later years, and there were only a few biological children left, so she couldn't bear to kill again; or because she saw that the fourth son Li Lun's performance was quite cooperative, and the move of giving up the throne was very decisive, obedient, and sensible.

The Wei family Empress didn't kill Li Lun, demoted him to Prince Xiang, changed his surname to Wu Lun, and raised him in the deep palace, which could be considered as nursing him by her side.

Although it was not the favor she showed to her young daughter Princess Princess Changle—the one Magistrate Ouyang Rong had remonstrated with and accused at the beginning—it could be considered as not treating him badly.

This move also gave quite a bit of psychological comfort to the civil officials and ministers inside and outside the court. The pro-Li faction inside and outside the court began to lean toward Prince Xiang Li Lun, becoming a force that fought against the two nephews of the Wei family Empress.

As for the former Prince Xunyang Prince Li Su Xian who was demoted, he was successively moved to Hongzhou, Jiangzhou, and other places in the Jiang Nan Circuit. Finally, because quite a few people everywhere were calling for rebellion in the name of the abolished emperor, the Prince Xunyang Prince Li Su Xian family was completely demoted to commoners and disappeared from most people's vision.

And the situation of the Great Zhou Dynasty right now is happening against this background. The Wei family and the pro-Li faction are in the white-hot stage of fighting for the imperial heir.

After Xiao Shimei left, Magistrate Ouyang Rong, who was lost in thought in the study, mobilized the memories of his previous life, turned his head slightly, and sorted out the general trend of the Li-Wei imperial heir dispute.

Especially the Yingzhou Rebellion that happened in the northern border of the Great Zhou Dynasty, which he had been paying attention to while controlling the water, made Magistrate Ouyang Rong's spirit wake up, and he reacted in a daze.

"I didn't pay attention to anything outside the window before, only focusing on the affairs of Longcheng County. I didn't expect that I was actually at this critical node."

"Does this world also have the Yingzhou Rebellion? How come there is a feeling of witnessing history? It's really eating melons at close range."

"Looking at it this way, the court situation of this world is not much different from the previous life. That Wei family Empress is still sitting on the Diaoyutai, watching the Li-Wei dispute coldly. It seems she is preparing to use a 'spare tire'..."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong muttered a few words, sighed and shook his head.

Actually, Magistrate Ouyang Rong didn't specifically understand these in his previous life, but helplessly, he was close to vermilion and close to ink. It was a niche literature and history postgraduate entrance examination group, and the "righteous gentleman postgraduate entrance examination group" he joined was a group of keyboard politicians who dared to touch the slides of any dynasty.

I don't know where the dog group friends learned so much messy knowledge. Magistrate Ouyang Rong dived a lot, so he naturally understood quite a bit.

He also knew that the Great Zhou Empress in the previous life didn't choose either of the two popular sides in the imperial heir dispute, but took a different path, like a god's move, bringing the abolished emperor's family, who were far away from the Divine Capital court, back to Shenjing Luoyang to balance the two factions that had already fought until their pig brains came out...

It's just that he didn't know whether his arrival would produce a butterfly effect, making the trend of the Li-Wei dispute in this life different.

"This Longcheng County is only in a corner of the Jiang Nan Circuit, far away from the Divine Capital court. I have been burying my head in work these days, acting low-key, and haven't spoken nonsense. It shouldn't affect the choice of that Wei family Empress."

In the study after Xiao Shimei left, Magistrate Ouyang Rong muttered to himself, pacing back and forth in front of the desk. At some point, he suddenly stopped and raised his head, his eyes suddenly enlightened:

"Wait, Xiao Shimei suddenly asked me about this. Could it be that Teacher Chenjun Xie Xun told her something? Otherwise, she wouldn't ask with her personality."

"If it was Teacher Chenjun Xie Xun's meaning, wouldn't that mean Xiao Shimei's family is already in it and has stood in line?" Outside the house, the sun was bright.

Inside the house, Magistrate Ouyang Rong's face was sunny and cloudy. Silence for a long time.

The figure in the study disappeared.

Only a sigh echoed lightly in front of the table.

The figure in the study vanished.

"No... no." Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang in the door shook her head: "Not very busy." "Then why did it take so long to open the door? Hmm."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong shook his head, Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang stepped aside, Magistrate Ouyang Rong passed her and walked into the study. "Yo, you've poured tea for me?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong laughed.

Immediately, he saw the maids outside the door all dismissed, Xiao Shimei closed the door and entered the room. For some reason, her eyes kept looking at him.

"Why is this tea a bit cold?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong muttered, glanced at the water stains on the table, and the tea set that seemed to be newly washed and had water droplets hanging on it, and couldn't help but ask: "Was Xiao Shimei also drinking tea just now?"

"Yes." Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang's hands couldn't help but be behind her back, nodding like garlic.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong laughed, shook his head, and suddenly said:

"Is Xiao Shimei writing a letter to Father?"

This time it was Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang's turn to be stunned, "How did Eldest Ru Shixiong know?"

"You were called back by the Su family in a hurry before, so I guessed that such an urgent matter is likely related to Teacher. Just now when I entered the courtyard, I saw you writing in the desk, so I guessed it might be a reply or something."

He paused, took a sip of tea, "This is not hard to guess."

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang was speechless, didn't comment on the previous guess, just nodded and said: "Indeed, I am writing a letter to Father. Eldest Ru Shixiong understands me."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes and said: "If it's convenient, you can tell me if there's anything." His words seemed to imply something.

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang couldn't help but look at Magistrate Ouyang Rong, and then her peripheral vision couldn't help but glance at the bead curtain tightly covering the inner room. "What is Xiao Shimei looking at?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong couldn't help but put down the teacup and looked back curiously following her gaze.

"No... nothing." Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang immediately shook her head and smiled lightly: "Just lost in thought, thinking about what Eldest Ru Shixiong said."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong smiled, and suddenly lowered his voice:

"Since Xiao Shimei listens to my words so seriously, then Ru Shixiong, I don't mind saying more... Does Xiao Shimei want to hear more? Just now you left in a hurry, and some words were not expanded."

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang's face changed slightly. At this moment, for some reason, her standing position was a bit special, and her body blocked the position between Magistrate Ouyang Rong and the bead curtain in the back.

"Only tell me alone? Or should Eldest Ru Shixiong not say it, or... or change the place another day, let's not talk here."

"Is it okay, Eldest Ru Shixiong?"

"Senior brother just woke up, you should rest a while longer. We can talk another day; anyway, I, your junior sister, am always here." Magistrate Ouyang Rong did not suspect anything and shook his head, saying:

"But some things cannot wait; it is better to do them sooner. Life is impermanent, and gatherings and partings have no fixed destiny. Sometimes, no one knows if this departure is a long separation or an eternal farewell."

"Why has senior brother suddenly become so sentimental?"

"It's nothing. Perhaps it's just from lying in bed for so many days; I'm feeling a bit stifled inside." Magistrate Ouyang Rong shook his head nonchalantly and offered an explanation.

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang wanted to say something but stopped.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong suddenly stood up, paced around in circles, turned his head, and said with a straight face:

"Junior sister, listen carefully to what I am about to say. I will only tell you, and I will only tell you once."

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang was stunned. Looking into Magistrate Ouyang Rong's earnest eyes, her small face turned bright red. Seeming to have misunderstood something, she raised a hand and gestured:

"Tell only me? Perhaps senior brother shouldn't say it, or... or we could change the place another day. Let's not talk about it here."

"Is that alright, senior brother?"

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang looked at Magistrate Ouyang Rong with pleading eyes. The last few words she uttered were like a shy, whispered entreaty.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong couldn't help but frown: "Why change the place or time? Does discussing state affairs have such requirements? Why should it be like Su Xiaomei, who bathes and changes clothes every time? Or are you saying it's not safe here?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong looked around.

"Discussing state affairs?" This time it was Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang's turn to be stunned. Looking at Magistrate Ouyang Rong, who was acting like a thief preparing to whisper secrets, she couldn't help but say: "Senior brother came to me to discuss state affairs?"

"Otherwise?" Magistrate Ouyang Rong's heroic brows furrowed slightly as he looked at Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang. "N-nothing."

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang was a bit distracted, shook her head, and said: "Senior brother, please speak."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong said directly: "Didn't you ask me just now at the Plum Deer Garden who would win the struggle between the Li and Wei factions?" "That's right." Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang nodded.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong said directly:

"The current Emperor will not choose the two Princes of the Wei clan, nor will he choose the Prince of Xiang; they are both smoke screens." He stared at the stunned Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang and said directly:

"The current Emperor will eventually have the family of the Prince of Prince Xunyang, who was demoted and sent away, return to Shenjing Luoyang and grant them the position of Imperial Heir. This is a certainty. If one wants to resolve the conflict between the Li and Wei factions, this is the only solution for now!"

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang was dumbfounded, "Really?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded, "Junior sister can tell the teacher. As for why, this kind of thing is obvious once pointed out; the teacher will understand. It's just that those involved are often blinded by the situation. Tell him to prepare in advance—to choose a side early, or to 'tend to a cold stove,' anything will do."

Having said this, Magistrate Ouyang Rong prepared to stand up and leave.

But at this moment, a slight "click" sound came from the inner room. "What sound is that?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong asked curiously.

"N-nothing, the window in the inner room wasn't closed."

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang hurriedly waved her hand. Sure enough, following her explanation, the sound of the window swaying in the wind came from the inner room again. Magistrate Ouyang Rong withdrew his gaze.

But for some reason, Magistrate Ouyang Rong felt Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang was a bit restless. He shook his head and prepared to leave. Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang looked up and hurriedly said:

"Wait, senior brother, don't go. Say it again. You mean the struggle between the Li and Wei factions is a third party reaping the benefits?"

"That's right." Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded, his attention drawn back.

But what he did not know was that at this moment, a certain inner room was packed with people, and it was deathly silent.