When everyone came out of Ciqing Palace, it was getting late. On this day, everyone was really in a panic, but they were just calm on the surface.
Then everyone went their separate ways, those who went back to the palace went back to the palace, those who went back to Wuyi Hall went back to Wuyi Hall, and those who went home went home.
Zhang Chao, the Minister of Rites, intentionally separated from Yan Song and others and walked with Qin Dewei. After leaving the Meridian Gate, Teacher Zhang asked:
"Why on earth did you propose that Empress Dowager Zhang should take custody of the prince? What is your purpose, what are your plans, and what will happen to the situation next? It's best to explain to me, otherwise I really don't know what to do!"
Qin Dewei sighed, frowned and said, "Teacher, if you ask this, I actually don't know what to do! I just take it one step at a time, how do I know how the situation will evolve!"
Teacher Zhang felt strange. It was rare to see an unscrupulous disciple with such "ignorance".
Most of the time, Qin Dewei looks confident and confident that everything is under control, and then he arranges meticulously step by step, link after link.
And every time the results proved that Qin Dewei was not bluffing and was indeed confident.
Teacher Zhang asked again: "What did you say? If you didn't know what the situation would be like, how dare you recommend Queen Mother Zhang so decisively?"
Qin Dewei replied helplessly: "Because I really have no choice but to choose a path that is not the worst."
Teacher Zhang has become accustomed to relying on Qin Dewei's comprehensive judgment over the years. He was very surprised when he heard this sentence, "Don't you know what the next step will be?"
Qin Dewei shook his head. The difference between this matter and usual matters is that there is no historical reference at all, and it is impossible to use the golden finger of foresight to deduce.
He knew that there would be a palace change, but he did not expect that the palace change would happen a year earlier and the Queen Mother Zhang would still be alive;
Historically, Emperor Jiajing woke up on the same day and did not create a political window. However, in this time and space, Emperor Jiajing showed no sign of waking up today.
Things we encounter in daily life are inevitable due to historical accidents. If you find the correct rules, you can follow the clues;
But today we encountered an accident that is inevitable in history. It happened completely randomly. There are no rules to learn from. How can we predict it?
Therefore, Qin Dewei can appear calm and still have everything under control, making it difficult for people to tell the truth.
After repeated cross-examination, Teacher Zhang confirmed that Qin Dewei was not trying to show off, and that he really did not have a meticulous arrangement step by step. He was immediately speechless.
"Do you know that everyone is racking their brains to guess your intentions and layout?" Teacher Zhang was inexplicably angry.
Qin Dewei can't understand, why are you angry with such a good teacher?
Teacher Zhang asked again: "Then you must have an idea, what exactly do you think!"
Qin Dewei also understood that he had to let the teacher know his thoughts, otherwise it would be difficult to cooperate in the future. He explained in detail: "That's what I think. First of all, I can't support Queen Fang as regent.
There are three more reasons here. First, Empress Dowager Zhang is in front of Empress Fang and is the elder. For example, Empress Fang changed her name to support Empress Fang in suppressing Empress Zhang, which violates the ethical principles.
Moreover, my Ming Dynasty has never had a precedent for a queen to be involved in politics, so it is even more difficult to support Queen Fang. To completely break the original etiquette, the emperor must do it!
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Secondly, as long as Queen Fang gets involved in politics, everyone will definitely try their best to collect information about Queen Fang. They will definitely notice that she is from the same hometown as me, and we have even known each other since childhood.
Under such circumstances, if I openly support Empress Fang as regent, I will immediately become a loser, and others will fully oppose it!
I haven't reached the point where I can dominate the world with one hand, and I can't do things where I can easily be besieged.
Thirdly, as the saying goes, the first rafter will die first, and now it is difficult for anyone to judge the next step. It is very risky for Empress Fang to test the waters of politics first.
After all, Queen Fang is also an old fellow countryman, and there is great potential for the development of the relationship in the future, so she cannot be allowed to take risks easily. It is better to let Queen Mother Zhang give it a try first.
For example, if the emperor wakes up in a few days and expresses his anger, it will be Empress Dowager Zhang's business and will not affect Empress Fang.
Once Queen Mother Zhang has completed her experiment and proven that the regency model is feasible and the Emperor is still awake, it will not be too late to find a way to support Queen Fang."
Teacher Zhang listened carefully, digested the reason why Qin Dewei did not support the disclosure of Queen Fang today, and asked again:
"Then what do you mean when you said just now that your proposal for Queen Mother Zhang to take custody of the prince is the least bad option? Strictly speaking, the Zhang family has a grudge against you!"
Qin Dewei continued to answer: "In any case, someone will definitely propose that Queen Mother Zhang take custody of the prince in order to gain wealth. Then it is better for me to speak out first and get the first one, since there are no other candidates anyway.
Moreover, after I took the lead in initiating the initiative, I could also get some extra benefits. For example, I could occupy the moral high ground. If Queen Mother Zhang retaliates against me, she needs to be more careful. Otherwise, wouldn't it be like repaying kindness with enmity?
The second advantage is that you can take the opportunity to establish an image in front of the world of distinguishing public from private and never abandoning public affairs for private purposes!
Everyone knows that I have a grudge against the Zhang family, and everyone knows that Empress Fang and I are from the same hometown, but I still took the lead in advocating that Empress Dowager Zhang be temporarily regent. Doesn't this clearly show my public spirit?"
Zhang Chao couldn't help but sighed worriedly and said, "Aren't you afraid of playing with fire and burning yourself? After all, Queen Mother Zhang is definitely not your ally. What should she do if she wants to take revenge on you?"
Speaking of this, Qin Dewei finally showed the confidence of the Wenyuan Pavilion, "Actually, it was a forced choice to elect Empress Dowager Zhang. The emperor had such a big change, and I was caught off guard!
There was no arrangement in advance, so I had to try my best to find the safest possible position! It’s not that I hadn’t considered the safety of Queen Mother Zhang after she got involved in politics, but I felt that there wasn’t much danger, or that the risks were all controllable.
First, Queen Mother Zhang will not have absolute power, but will be a virtual regent. Our Ming Dynasty does not have a harem regent mechanism, and she has no foundation internally or externally, so how can she control power?
Secondly, I think Queen Mother Zhang’s lifespan is limited, so I’m afraid she won’t be able to last long, and even if she wants to slowly build up her power, it will be too late.”
Zhang Chao discovered a bright spot: "You still dare to say that you have no prediction? Didn't you just predict the life span of Queen Mother Zhang?"
Qin Dewei also had a hard time explaining it. Judging from his observations after traveling through time, the butterfly effect is the least obvious of natural phenomena. Earthquakes, droughts and the like will still happen.
Secondly, the less obvious butterfly effect is the natural life span. Through observation and calculation of the normal death time of celebrities, compared with the original history, the deviation is only about half a year at most.
Calculated in this way, Queen Mother Zhang’s lifespan is only half a year to one year, which is totally affordable!
Qin Dewei couldn't explain the origin of the prophecy, so he said casually: "I looked at the face of the Queen Mother today, and her life is not long."
Teacher Zhang didn’t ask further questions. After all, Jiajing men have their own magic!
As one of the people closest to Qin Dewei, Teacher Zhang has heard magical prophecies many times and has long been used to it. In other words, this is the Qin Dewei he is familiar with!
But Teacher Zhang suddenly remembered another question and asked worriedly: "Suppose the emperor wakes up, how should you explain to the emperor?"
Qin Dewei said with a sad face: "Actually, I asked Queen Mother Zhang to come out for the sake of the emperor's safety!
The emperor is unconscious and has lost the ability to protect himself. I am beyond reach outside the palace and worried!
Now the Queen Mother Zhang least wants anything to happen to the Emperor. As long as the Emperor is still alive, it will be difficult for the Queen to compete with the Queen Mother Zhang in terms of etiquette, so the Queen Mother Zhang will definitely try her best to protect the Emperor from villains in the palace!
That’s why I still support Empress Dowager Zhang in taking charge of the affairs even though I know I have a grudge against the Zhang family! As long as the comatose emperor can be safe, it doesn’t matter if I am personally aggrieved and retaliated against!"
Teacher Zhang:"......"
You have told me the pros and cons. Is this what you call a "safe position"?
This disciple is really talented. He encountered a big event in a hurry without any precautions. He was able to think of so many things and weigh so many pros and cons in a short period of time!
After all this calculation, verbally bluffing support for Queen Mother Zhang does seem to be the least bad option.
Before leaving, Qin Zhongtang said to the teacher: "In addition, I have my own method on how to enhance my self-protection ability. The teacher does not have to worry about my safety!"
After separating from Teacher Zhang, Qin Dewei returned home and went directly to the courtyard next to the ancestral hall.
Tao Xiuxuan, who was sitting in the bright hall, saw Qin Dewei come in, put down the ancient book in his hand, frowned and said: "What do you want to do? If you still want to go to jail for me, then don't open your mouth."
Qin Dewei sat on the futon next to him skillfully and sighed: "Xiangu, I am very confused now and don't know where I will go."
Tao Xiuxuan replied: "I'm sorry, I am practicing the dual cultivation of life and life, not the art of divination and fortune-telling, so I can't help Mr. Qin with any guidance."
Qin Dewei added: "You don't know, a lot of things happened today, which really made me feel a little uneasy."
"So?" Tao Xiuxuan sat up straight and moved a little away.
But Qin Dewei continued to get closer: "That's why only when I'm here can I get a moment of peace of mind. I don't ask for guidance, I just ask the fairy to untie my knot."
Tao Xiuxuan picked up the ancient book again, pretended to read it again, and responded: "I don't have this ability."
Qin Dewei said with emotion: "I am a great scholar and a minister of the Third Ministry. I don't know how many people's interests are involved in me. Everyone inside and outside wants something from me, and everyone above and below them considers the gains and losses with me.
Only Fairy Girl has only the Great Dao in her heart, and wants nothing from me except dual cultivation. She is simple and pure, and makes me feel at peace. She is truly a unique existence."
Tao Xiangu picked up and put down the ancient book in her hand, and asked indifferently: "What happened to you today? Are you constantly disturbing me?"
Qin Dewei said dejectedly: "Something happened in the palace. The emperor is unconscious and has no signs of waking up. The imperial doctor is helpless.
If the Emperor Jiajing is like this, then a Jiajing man like me will be like a rootless tree, where will he go?"
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But Tao Xiangu was not good at comforting people. After thinking for a while, she explained to Qin Dewei:
"There are things like fame and power. When things go smoothly, you feel that only others are being entangled, and you are the chosen one. Once you lose control, you are trapped in it."
Qin Dewei held one of Tao Xiuxuan's hands and said with a wry smile: "I am very confused and full of fear for the future, as if I am about to die. Only the fairy girl can save me now."
In Tao Xiangu's impression, Qin Dewei had a high position and was always strong and confident. She had never seen him so helpless.
Qin Dewei gradually approached Tao Xiuxuan and said softly sincerely: "Please teach me the immortal magic!"
That's all, Tao Xiuxuan closed his eyes and turned slightly red.
If it was just to give him a moment of happiness, and not for the path to immortality, there would be no need to force the foundation to be built for a hundred days.
Qin Dewei slowly grabbed both of Tao Xiangu's hands, "I heard that Xiangu has magic in her hands that can maintain the life of a dead person for a long time, so that they won't die completely because they can't drink water or eat?
I ask the fairy lady to teach me this magical method, and it will definitely help me get rid of the dilemma in my heart!"
Tao Xiuxuan opened his eyes and looked coldly at the man who was face to face at a close distance. How did you, Qin Dewei, manage to say the most utilitarian things in the gentlest words?
Qin Dewei was still holding on to Tao Xiangu's hand, "Xiangu! I want to learn medicine! What do you think, please say something!"
Tao Xiuxuan had many things to say, and she didn't know whether to say them or not. She pulled her hand back with all her strength, and then pushed Qin Dewei further away.
Then he said angrily: "Why do you want to learn this!"
Qin Dewei said naturally: "Of course I have to heal the emperor with my own hands, otherwise what else can I do?"
Tao Xiuxuan felt that his mood was unstable again, and he might be the one who needed some relief now! Forcibly suppressing his fluctuating emotions, he asked again: "Did your grandfather tell you?"
Qin Dewei nodded and said, "If Master Tao hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have known about it."
I have never seen such a humble man! Tao Xiuxuan stood up and went back to the back room: "The secret method will not be spread to outsiders! Mr. Qin, please come back!"
Qin Dewei quickly grabbed Tao Xiangu's Taoist robe: "I learned this for your own good, Xiangu! Otherwise, if others knew that Xiangu had a good remedy, they would probably let Xiangu enter the palace to extend the emperor's life!
The people in the palace are complicated. How can I be willing to let Fairy Girl go to that place surrounded by tigers and wolves? If there are any shortcomings, wouldn’t it make me regret it for the rest of my life? Why not teach it to me and let me take risks on Fairy Girl’s behalf!”
Tao Xiangu: "..."
How do you, Qin Dewei, always say the most utilitarian things under the banner of "for your own good"?
Tao Xiuxuan looked outside again and said unhappily: "It's already late at night, you should go first!"
Qin Dewei said anxiously: "The emperor is still in a coma in the palace and has not eaten for a day. He really can't wait any longer. Therefore, without further delay, let's hold a candle and talk at night! This way we can use it tomorrow!"
