Chapter 1010

Xie Changling rode in a carriage, setting off to return to the capital.

His face was flushed with heat, he pulled open his collar, exposing his chest.

He cursed angrily, "Crazy!"

Then he gulped down cold water, but still not feeling cool enough, he started crunching on ice cubes, biting them with a loud crunch!

"The elixir from the Jade Spring Palace is truly too fierce. My lord, should we invite an imperial physician to diagnose?"

"Do not use an imperial physician." Xie Changling looked irritable, his face gloomy, yet his complexion was flushed, looking like he was suffering from unbearable heat.

"Then... should we arrange for two beautiful maids..."

After hesitating for a moment, Xie Changling nodded, "Yes!"

The servant heard this and withdrew.

A moment later, the beautiful maids entered the carriage, and soon, creaking and whimpering sounds came from inside the carriage.

The heat was relieved, but the anger had not subsided. He seemed to view this matter as a great humiliation. He, such a proud person, had always strived to be first in everything since childhood, never allowing himself the slightest flaw, not even allowing himself to make mistakes, yet he was so absurd as to... in a carriage...

Emperor Jian Shi is a madman.

He asked his subordinate, "Where has the Right Minister reached now?"

"Reporting to my lord, the Right Minister was delayed halfway, saying he was ill."

He immediately sneered, mocking, "He fell ill at just the right time. Send a letter, tell the Right Minister to return to the capital within half a month. If he cannot do it, this official will definitely impeach him before the Emperor for dereliction of duty, clinging to power, being a parasite, and being utterly incompetent! I think it is time for someone responsible to take the position of Right Minister."

The subordinate hesitated.

Seeing this, he was extremely dissatisfied, "What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and go do it. Also, gather everyone in the study for a meeting. This official has important matters to announce."

The subordinate nodded hurriedly and left to carry out the order.

The storms in the court had nothing to do with Chen Guanlou.

The Prince of Chu was defeated, and the news reached the capital; he only worried about the Marquis Pingjiang. Once the court solved the south, it would free up its hands to solve the Northwest.

It must be admitted that Emperor Jian Shi has some luck on him.

In terms of control over the court and officials, Emperor Jian Shi is far inferior to the late Emperor. However, luck is hard to say, but Emperor Jian Shi won, and the Prince of Chu lost!

With such a great achievement falling on the Emperor's head, I don't know how arrogant he will become.

The Hou Fu is in mourning, cutting off all social interactions, closing its doors to live its life.

Chen Guanlou entered the Hou Fu from the back door and clearly felt that the Hou Fu had become much colder.

The flowers were the same flowers, the scenery was the same scenery, and the people had not changed. But one could clearly feel that the atmosphere of the entire mansion was somewhat desolate and somewhat decadent.

He came over today to keep an appointment.

The head steward invited him to drink, so he came.

He is outside the five degrees of mourning from the Hou Fu, so the old lady's passing does not affect his life.

The ones most affected are the two brothers, Marquis Pingjiang and the Second Master.

The former is still lingering in the Northwest, and the censors have not forgotten him, impeaching him from time to time.

The latter cannot indulge in debauchery or luxury, repeating a monotonous and boring life every day. Even his diet has become extremely bland; he cannot eat meat and fish openly, only secretly, avoiding everyone. He also has to avoid everyone when drinking; it is bitter!

Who told the two brothers to be filial sons!

Filial sons must look like filial sons and cannot let people pick out faults.

Because it is the mourning period, the head steward prepared a table of simple wine and dishes, without any luxury at all. They were all common side dishes for drinking.

"Is the Hou Fu poor to the point of madness?"

Seeing the table of simple wine and dishes, Chen Guanlou teased.

The head steward sipped his tea, "Extraordinary times, you should understand. Come, this old man will toast you with tea instead of wine."

"Don't! I should toast you. I drink wine, you drink tea, let's each do as we please!"

Chen Guanlou poured and drank for himself, and only after drinking a cup did he ask: "Is it okay for me to drink wine in the Hou Fu? Will I be scolded for not understanding the rules?"

"Don't worry! You are outside the five degrees of mourning, so drink as you please."

"With your words, I am relieved." Chen Guanlou laughed, "Are you bored and specifically called me over to relieve your boredom?"

"The Prince of Chu has lost!"

"I know! It has spread all over the world." Chen Guanlou picked up a fried peanut and threw it into his mouth, crunching loudly. The Hou Fu's cook is truly amazing; even a bowl of peanuts is more flavorful than those outside.

"The Marquis is in danger!" the head steward said.

Chen Guanlou raised his eyebrows, "This was something expected long ago. Don't tell me you didn't consider the Prince of Chu's defeat."

"Considered it, and made full preparations. But... the Emperor there, it is said that he is taking medicine more and more crazily, to the point that his temperament and temper have become somewhat manic. There is one thing you probably haven't heard yet. The Emperor is trying to tamper with history, changing the altar explosion case back then to Heaven's wrath. The late Emperor died suffering Heaven's wrath!"

Chen Guanlou:...

People who are Emperors really know how to play!

Tampering with history, changing it as soon as he wants, truly willful, and also truly refreshing!

"Can the court officials agree?"

"The Emperor doesn't value the court officials' opinions at all. Now he is forcing Xie Changling to organize this matter."

"Can Xie Changling cooperate?" Chen Guanlou was very curious.

"Why wouldn't he cooperate! The Prince of Chu has lost, and now is the time for Xie Changling to show his skills and display his ambitions; he needs the Emperor's support. No matter how unwilling he is inwardly, he will eventually compromise and choose to cooperate with the Emperor."

"Politics is the art of compromise; these words are indeed reasonable." Chen Guanlou sighed immediately.

The head steward was pondering 'politics is the art of compromise', and the more he pondered, the more flavorful it became. In the end, he was so excited that he stood up and picked up a pen to write down these words.

He disliked that his own handwriting lacked strength, after all, he was old.

He hurriedly greeted Chen Guanlou, "Quick, write this down."

"Is it necessary?" Chen Guanlou was a bit disgusted, disturbing his eating and drinking, the simple joy of enjoying food.

"Of course it is necessary! You kid, any sentence you say casually is a golden rule. It is only because you are the kind of person who doesn't care. It's a pity you don't take the imperial examination. If you took the imperial examination, this sentence would spread, enough to make you famous in the scholarly world, famous throughout the world!"

The head steward became more and more excited, demanding that Chen Guanlou take the most serious attitude and leave his calligraphy.

"This old man knows you have been practicing calligraphy! I imagine it is initially presentable."

"More than presentable! Master Jueneng of Baoguo Temple personally said that my calligraphy has formed its own school and can be called a master."

The head steward rolled his eyes silently; boasting about oneself should have some sense of proportion. Boasting like this is meaningless. Calling oneself a master has come out, have some shame.

Chen Guanlou picked up the pen, without any seriousness or solemnity, and wrote the words 'Politics is the art of compromise' very casually and gracefully.

He finished!

He asked: "How is it? Is it presentable?"

The head steward leaned in to look, his heart slightly startled. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would never believe that this calligraphy was written by Chen Guanlou. Compared to the chicken-claw-like handwriting from years ago, it was completely different, clearly two different people.

"Your calligraphy, when did you practice it to this point?"

"I practiced it long ago."

Ever since he was promoted to the Ninth Rank, his calligraphy was like his saber technique, self-taught, becoming more and more smooth and free. Waving the brush and splashing ink, like a saber and like the wind!