The path of the villain is not easy

Chapter 82

"You are not strict with your subordinates. Although those who don't know are innocent. But you have to be punished. I order you to make up for the silver taels that bought the people's good land, and then exempt them from rent for two years as compensation. How?"

"Your Majesty is wise, and I obey the order." Changsun Lianyi bowed his waist and cupped his hands in reply.

"Your Majesty..." Zhang Li wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Emperor Yan.

"Okay, let's let this matter go. Retire." After the Emperor Yan finished speaking, he stood up from the dragon chair and left towards the rear of the hall amidst the courtiers' escort.

After Emperor Yan left, the officials also began to leave one after another.Changsun Lianyi and Zhang Li followed behind the group of officials and walked out of the hall slowly.On the stairs outside the hall, Changsun Lianyi deliberately slowed down and approached Zhang Li, and said in a low voice, "Zhang Sizhi, it's ok. Your surprise attack is quite good."

"That's what the prime minister taught well before."

"No, that's your hard work. I underestimated you. Oh, by the way, you asked me in the hall just now whether I put this little money into my eyes. I can give you an answer now."

"All ears."

"Listen well, I really don't pay attention to this little money. I usually put it in my pocket. I'm just wondering, does Zhang Sizhi usually pay attention to money? Don't you panic? ?” Changsun Lianyi said with a mocking face.

Then, looking at Zhang Li's gloomy face, without waiting for his reply, he walked away with a smile on his face.

At this time, in the imperial study room.

Emperor Yan knelt behind the desk with a pensive look on his face.After a while, he opened his mouth and asked Mr. Gao, who was serving him, "Gao Xian, you said that in the hall, Prime Minister Zuo and Prime Minister Si Zhi were just performing for the group of gods. It is true."

"Well, how can a broken man like this old slave be worthy of talking about the affairs of the court princes." Gao Xian bent down again, and said respectfully.

As the saying goes: "Accompanying a king is like accompanying a tiger." After serving Emperor Yan for so many years, he deeply understood this truth.He would rather give a cautious evaluation in the eyes of Emperor Yan than a commendable praise.

"If I ask you, just tell me. It's just you and me here, so you don't need to be so cautious. It won't reach the ears of the ministers."

"Yes. Your Majesty."

"This old slave thinks that Zhang Sizhi has always had a good relationship with Prime Minister Zuo? Why did he suddenly report Prime Minister Zuo? And it's still at this time. So I think..."

"Do you think that this is Prime Minister Zuo acting for me again, to reduce his influence among the people by smearing his own reputation?" Emperor Yan asked
"The old slave is humble."

"You think it's fake, and the officials probably think it's fake too. But I think it's true. If it's really the eldest grandson Lianyi who wants to perform for me, then the person who reported it should be someone who doesn't have much contact with him. And not this prime minister, Si Zhi, who has always had a good relationship with him."

Gao Xian didn't answer, but slightly arched his hands, expressing his agreement with Emperor Yan's point of view.

After Emperor Yan finished speaking, he pondered for a while, and then said: "But what you said is not impossible. In this way, time must not be spared, you go and let Fei Yuwei investigate and investigate the relationship between Prime Minister Zuo and Prime Minister Si Zhi. What dirty things happened during the time. If there is no such thing, or if it happens after the list appears, it means that the two are acting."

"Old slave obeys," Gao Xian said with a bow, and then walked out of the room on tiptoe.

The Flying Fish Guard is an institution specially set up by Emperor Yan to monitor the daily speech and behavior of the officials.Similar to Jin Yiwei of Changsun Ji's previous Ming Dynasty.

Not long after, Gao Xian came back from outside the room.Ministers like Changsun Lianyi, whether in the official office where they work or in their own mansion, have special spies for surveillance.

Usually some words and deeds will be recorded in a book and handed over to Feiyuwei headquarters for processing.If there are some important matters, they will be reported directly to Emperor Yan, and some daily routines will be kept for collection.For Emperor Yan to inquire when necessary in the future.

Gao Xian walked up to Emperor Yan, and after seeing the ceremony, he said: "Your Majesty is really ingenious. The Flying Fish Guard's booklet records that a month before the disaster, the first two had a dispute over the appointment and removal of a dereliction of duty official, and there was a gap. A couple of unpleasant things happened."

"The conflict between the two really broke out yesterday, because Prime Minister Zuo directly rejected the disaster relief official recommended by Zhang Sizhi, and handed over the vacant spot to his nemesis Xue Changshi."

"So, because of this incident, Zhang Sizhi became so angry that he revealed some scandalous things about Prime Minister Zuo?" Emperor Yan asked.

Gao Xian nodded.

"Does Zhang Li have such a heart? He can't bear a little humiliation. He likes to turn over his boss's old account so much. How can he become a big weapon in the future." After Yan Emperor finished speaking, he muttered again: "However, it is not impossible. usefulness."

Gao Xian didn't speak.Knowing the evaluation of Emperor Yan, he completely tied Zhang Li and Changsun Lianyi together. Emperor Yan needed someone to check and balance a senior official like Changsun Lianyi to find a balance point in the court.And Zhang Li is a good choice to check and balance the elder Sun Lianyi.

…………

Changsunhou's mansion, secret room.

Changsun Lianyi and Changsun Ji looked at each other, and after a long time, Changsun Lianyi said: "Although what happened in the morning court today seems dangerous, it is actually not dangerous."

"At this time, no matter whether Emperor Yan wants to deal with our Changsun Mansion or not, he will not punish me this morning. I could have predicted this from the beginning."

"You are not afraid that your predictions will be wrong. Emperor Yan followed the trend and put you in prison. After a while, he will list some crimes for you and cut off your head." Changsun Ji asked playfully.

"He won't do that. Emperor Yan, I know him too well. Either he does something or he doesn't do it. If he wants to do it, he likes to kill me. If Emperor Yan really uses this matter to kill me, then Emperor Yan can only kill me alone. , but my subordinates can’t move.”

"The problems left over from this will be even bigger. Although it won't erupt now, when the new emperor ascends the throne, if he can't suppress the ministers and there is no old minister to assist him, then the court will be chaotic and scattered. At that time, the country of Yan will soon perish."

"Then why did you do this? That Zhang Li was jokingly called your right-hand man, and now you forced him to rebel. Your strength has decreased a lot." Changsun Ji said with a relaxed voice.

"About one-fourth of the strength will be reduced. However, this incident is not all bad. At least it can prevent Emperor Yan from paying too much attention to us. It will allow the Changsun Mansion to escape this catastrophe safely." Changsun Lianyi explained road.

"No, I think you not only want the Changsun Mansion to survive this catastrophe, but you also want to become an assistant minister handpicked by Emperor Yan to assist the new emperor. Otherwise, you wouldn't spend such a large amount of money."

"Do you think that Emperor Yan is paving the way for the new emperor, so Emperor Yan can't hold on for long. At this time, the strength of the Changsun Mansion has been greatly damaged, and it is no longer a threat to the new emperor. In addition, you are a veteran of the founding of the country. If you have the qualifications and ability to suppress the officials, will Emperor Yan entrust the new emperor as your assistant?"

Changsun Lianyi's eyes sparkled slightly, but he didn't speak, just looked at Changsun Ji quietly.

(End of this chapter)