Huan Xi came out of Suliangguang Room, holding back his resentment, and came to the guest house where Chen Caozhi and Ran Sheng lived. He stood in the courtyard and shouted: "Chen Caozhi, come out to see me!"
Chen Caozhi was talking with Ran Sheng under the lamp. When he heard Huan Xi's rude shouting, he stood up and walked out slowly, saying politely: "What are your orders, Your Majesty?"
Huan Xi sneered and said: "Don't pretend to be innocent. What do you want me to recruit Murong Chui for? You want to stop me!"
Chen Caozhi smiled and said: "So that's what happened. Your Majesty, please come in and talk."
Huan Xi wanted to hear Chen Caozhi's clever argument, and then he bluntly humiliated him, snorted coldly, strode inside, sat down on his knees, raised his eyebrows and raised his eyes, waiting for Chen Caozhi to explain to him——
Chen Caozhi had some time to rest, so he took a sip from the tea cup and slowly put it down, but did not offer tea to Huan Xi. He said, "Since the prince has asked Duke Huan about this matter, then I just obey the order. What else can I say."
Huan Xi didn't expect Chen Caozhi to speak to him in such a contemptuous tone. He was so angry that he shouted angrily: "Chen Caozhi, you invited me in to speak to humiliate me, right?"
Chen Cao said: "Exactly."
Huan Xi's body trembled uncontrollably and he opened his mouth to speak, but all he could say was a hoarse sound of "ho ho". He wanted to stand up and draw his sword to slash at Chen Caozhi, but his feet were cramped and stiff due to rage and he could hardly move, but
Chen Caozhi's ears were not deaf, and Chen Caozhi's voice was still clear: "How virtuous and capable are you, and worthy of my help? Can't you see your face clearly when the sky falls in Mount Saga by the spring? Why don't you go and cry to Duke Huan,
Are you saying that I, Chen Caozhi, have humiliated you?"
Chen Caozhi's three explicit questions were like three sledgehammers, hitting Huan Xi's chest hard. Huan Xi almost vomited blood, stood up with a trembling body, pointed at Chen Caozhi and said: "You and I will fight until death!" But he didn't dare!
Draw your sword and fight on the spot——
Chen Caozhi smiled and said, "We'll see."
Ran Sheng watched Huan Xi staggering away and frowned: "Brother, are you deliberately trying to anger Huan Bodao?"
Chen Cao said: "It's time to resolve some things. It's not good for me to delay."
Ran Sheng asked: "Huan Bodao left in a rage. What do you think he will do?"
Chen Cao's way: "Crying to Duke Huan and telling him that I have humiliated him, and asking Duke Huan to decide what to do with me, is the worst policy; hiding private soldiers to kill me, is the middle policy; killing my father to seize power, and then dealing with me, is the best policy
."
Ran Sheng said: "What strategy do you think Huan Bo will implement?"
Chen Cao said: "Although Huan Bodao has been disfigured, he values face more. He will not cry to his father, and even if he did, Sima Huan would not believe it. How could I say that?
!So even though Huan Bodao was stupid, he would not have made such a move; as for killing his father and seizing power, I don’t think Huan Bodao had such determination and courage."
Ran Sheng said: "So, Huan Bodao will ambush and assassinate us. Brother, do you need to arrange anything in advance?"
Chen Cao said: "When my brother and his party leave Gushu and return to Jiankang, it should be a good opportunity for Huan Bodao to ambush us - don't alert others for now, I have my own countermeasures."
…
Huan Xi was scolded by his father and humiliated by Chen Caozhi. He had never been so dark and angry in his life. He returned to the courtyard where he lived like a zombie. He walked back and forth in the courtyard like a trapped animal and punched a loquat tree in the courtyard.
The tree trunk was shaking, but the loquat leaves were thick and not a single leaf fell. However, Huan Xi's fists were in unbearable pain and he shook his hands vigorously——
"Bring some wine!" Huan Xi shouted sharply. He had not drank for more than a year since his mother's death. Today, he is filled with anger. No wine is enough to relieve his worries. Huan Xi is now pure and has few desires. His wife, Yuan, has been living in his mother's house for a long time.
, the original two concubines also died of a sudden illness two years ago, and they have not taken any more concubines since then.
Huan Xi poured himself a drink, crying and laughing——
"Brother, don't call me when you're drinking. Having fun alone is not as good as having fun with everyone."
Huan Xi's second brother Huan Ji came in and sat across from him to drink. After two drinks, he noticed that his brother looked different and asked, "Why are you so angry?"
Huan Xi was dripping with wine and said bitterly: "Chen Caozhi, I swear to kill you!"
Huan Ji hurriedly asked what was going on, but Huan Xi only told him that Chen Caozhi had prevented him from recruiting Murong Chui as Sima, but did not mention that he had just arrived at the guest house to humiliate himself. Huan Ji said angrily: "Chen Caozhi is too deceitful, dad."
Are you just going to believe the slander?"
Although Huan Xi held a grudge against his father Huan Wen, he still had sense and would not reveal his resentment towards his father in front of Huan Ji. He only said: "Dad has been deceived by this man for a long time. I want to kill him and get rid of this traitor. My second brother is willing."
Help me?"
Although Huan Ji hated Chen Caozhi, he would not kill him quickly. After all, Princess Sima Daofu of Xin'an had wishful thinking for Chen Caozhi, and he had no feelings for Sima Daofu. But if his brother Huan Xi was willing to kill Chen Cao,
If so, he will never object to it. If his thoughts are not humane to others——
Of course, some reminders are still necessary. Huan Ji said: "Chen Caozhi openly opposed my brother. It is true that he deserves to be killed, but my father is still deceived by this person. My brother kills him without authorization. How can my father agree?"
Huan Xi couldn't bear it any longer and said, "I will try my best to be punished by dad and kill some traitors!" Then he sneered and said, "Father won't ask me to die for Chen Caozhi."
Huan Ji said: "Brother is right. Before Chen Caozhi is dead, dad will of course take the overall situation into consideration. If Chen Caozhi is dead, dad will only think about me, the Longkang Huan family, and will do his best to protect brother."
Huan Xi slapped the case and said: "Okay, this matter has been decided, Chen Caozhi must die."
Huan Ji asked: "How will my brother deal with Chen Caozhi? Chen Yu, a brother of Chen Cao's clan, has the courage to do something wrong with his husband. My brother must not ignore it."
Huan Xi calmed down, thought for a long time, and said: "I will not kill him in Gushu City. This is not easy to excuse. Isn't Chen Caozhi going back to Jiankang in the next two days? I am twenty miles north of Gushu City.
The ambushes in the Tengzi Mountain and Hongmu Mountain area killed Chen Caozhi and his entourage, and then blamed the bandits. Even if my father knew that it was me, he could only help me cover up. As for Chen Yu, although he was brave,
But how could I confront him head-on? I would only use strong bows and crossbows to ambush him, and shoot Chen Yu first."
Huan Ji praised: "Brother, I have exhausted all my plans. Chen Caozhi will undoubtedly die."
Huan Xi gritted his teeth and said: "I want to capture Chen Caozhi alive, humiliate him, make him kneel at my feet and beg for mercy, and then cut him into pieces to vent the hatred in my heart!"
Huan Ji didn't understand where Huan Xi had such deep-seated hatred for Chen Caozhi, but he would not dissuade Huan Xi, and would also provide some help because he wanted this matter to become a big deal——
…
In the afternoon of May 30th, Chen Caozhi bid farewell to Huan Wen. He planned to leave for Jiankang tomorrow. After reporting to the Ming Emperor, he returned to Qiantang Province to worship his ancestors——
While they were talking, Li Jingshu came in holding Huan Xuan, bowed down to Chen Caozhi Yingying, and said, "Jingshu pays homage to Master Chen. We haven't seen each other for several years. I'm glad Master Chen is now a father. I'm so happy." She also ordered little Huan Xuan.
Salute to Chen Caozhi.
Young Master Chen Cao had no choice but to praise Huan Xuan for being smart and cute. Unexpectedly, Li Jingshu said, "I heard that Mr. Chen's eldest son, Mr. Bo Zhen, is already engaged to Gu Canjun's daughter. They are getting married on the fingertips. It's really interesting. Jingshu wants to do this for me."
Xuan begs the daughter of your right wife Xie to be your wife - what does the general think?" Li Jingshu's last words were to Huan Wen.
Chen Caozhi hurriedly said: "Ms. Li doesn't know something. Xie Youdu and I made an agreement when we were in Gong County. If the children of Youdu's wife Huan and my wife Xie are a boy and a girl, then it will be a marriage."
"There is such a thing!" Li Jingshu glanced at Chen Cao suspiciously. Xie Xuan's wife was Huan Hua's daughter. Since Chen Caozhi said so, Li Jingshu certainly couldn't argue anymore. After thinking about it, she said: "Master Chen's daughter
He is about the same age as Xiaoxuan and is also a good match."
Li Jingshu originally wanted to ask Dao Yun to be Huan Xuan's wife, but now she decided to settle for the next best thing. Although Chen Fangyu was a concubine, she was Chen Cao's eldest daughter, so she could accept it——
Huan Wen knew that Li Jingshu wanted to establish a marriage between Huan Xuan and the Chen family of Qiantang. Thinking about it, this marriage seemed good. At first, Princess Nankang wanted to marry her daughter Huan You'e to Chen Caozhi. She smiled and said nothing.
Let’s see how Chen Caozhi expresses his stance——
Chen Caozhi thought: "Li Jingshu is surly and moody, and Huan Xuan is a prodigal son. How can I, Chen Caozhi's daughter, marry into such a family!" But if he refused at this time, Huan Wen would be offended, so he immediately said with a smile: "
Being able to marry the Huan family of Longkang is also a high achievement for me, the Chen family of Qiantang. As long as Duke Huan and Lady Li do not give up, we can discuss the marriage after their children grow up."
While Li Jingshu was still waiting to speak, Huan Wen smiled and said: "Why should Qingqing be too impatient? Xuan'er is less than four years old. Do we have to perform six rituals with Chen Zizhong's daughter now?"
Chen Caozhi also laughed and then resigned.
At this time, Huan Xi was having a secret conversation with Murong Chui in the Zicheng military camp. Huan Xi expressed his intention to get rid of Chen Cao and hoped that Murong Chui and his son would help him. Murong Chui was shocked when he heard this and said: "No, no, absolutely no" -
Huan Xi said displeasedly: "General Murong, Xi regards you as a loyal and righteous man, so he told me this top secret, but you stopped me. Why?"
Murong Chui said: "Chen Caozhi was a person whom Duke Huan relied on, but the eldest son killed him for no reason. Duke Huan will be furious, because he is afraid that the eldest son will not be able to inherit Duke Huan's legacy."
Huan Xi sneered and said: "Even if I don't kill Chen Caozhi, my father will probably not let me inherit his inheritance. How can I take this opportunity to kill Chen Caozhi to vent his anger!"
When Murong Chui heard what Huan Xi said, he felt a chill in his heart. Could such a person be the emperor? To vent his anger on killing Chen Caozhi, he would not care about his own future. Murong Chui would die sooner or later if he followed such a person, and said: "I'm here
What I worry about is that instead of killing Chen Cao, the prince will offend Duke Huan. How should the prince handle himself at that time?"
Huan Xi stared at Murong Chui and asked solemnly: "General Murong is going to inform?"
Murong Chui said: "The prince is very kind to my father and son. How can Murong Chui be such a despicable person? It's just that my father and son are ministers in charge of traveling. We must be careful in everything and dare not interfere with such extraordinary actions of the prince."
Huan Xi's face softened slightly and he said, "That's all, I won't force you." When he walked out of the tent, he added, "The humanity of Murong Chui and his son, the heroes, is exaggerated."