On a hot afternoon, the small courtyard of Lin Jue's study was very cool when he entered it. Several large trees surrounded the study, providing thick shade and blocking the scorching sunlight, as if adding an insulation layer to the study.
In the large study room, Lin Jue sat on the wicker chair behind the desk. In front of him, Shen Tan sat upright, softly reporting the details of the incident in the capital and the subsequent handling of the incident.
In fact, Shen Tan sent a message to the army as early as the day after the incident in the capital. When Lin Jue finished dealing with the Jurchen incident and the army was preparing to set off in triumph, the news was also sent to Lin Jue. Lin Jue After receiving the letter, he sighed deeply and said only: I won't shed tears until I see the coffin! Then he never made any further comments on the matter.
Everything that happened was actually under Lin Jue's control. As early as when Lin Jue was preparing to go out with his army, Xuanyi Guard found out the secret information that the Queen Mother sent Huang Jiang to contact Shen Fang and Liu Sheng. Queen Mother Shen Akui said that she Smart, but actually very confused. In the capital at this moment, what kind of actions can escape Lin Jue's eyes. Xuan Yiwei has already been a department that Lin Jue and Ma Bin have discussed to develop vigorously. Yiwei has built an independent and well-developed powerful department for intelligence investigation and investigation of official misconduct. How could it be possible that Liu Sheng and Shen Fang, two people on the blacklist, were not closely monitored. After knowing this situation, Lin Jue He immediately realized that Guo Kun and his son were going to make some small moves behind his back after he led the army to leave. Lin Jue naturally sighed in his heart. He really hoped that Guo Kun could rein in the situation and that this would not happen. However, when Shen Tan sent the news When it came into his own hands, Lin Jue was helpless. Guo Kun and the Queen Mother did it behind the scenes. After doing so, they strengthened their determination to carry out major changes in the government.
Although there was a notification by letter, Shen Tan of course still had to make a report in person. There were many things that could not be explained clearly in the letter. After a detailed description, Shen Tan finally said: "This is what happened, completely. Just as you predicted before. All the actions I arranged based on your predictions worked. The reason why things were calmed down was because your predictions were accurate. Hey, how I wish this didn't happen, but it just happened. My My state of mind is actually very complicated and difficult to describe, and I feel very sad."
Lin Jue stood up, bowed his hands and said: "Brother Shen, I would like to express my sincere respect to you. This matter is not easy for you. You have a close relationship with the palace, but it is very difficult for you to do this. It's a kind of torture. But Brother Shen, why am I not like this? Don't I have a close relationship with Prince Liang and the Emperor? And Cai Wei, how sad and embarrassed she must be in the middle. Today's situation is not your fault. I, we just responded passively. I feel very sad about the current situation. People's hearts are fickle. Who would have thought that something like this would happen just after things stabilized. I originally thought that we would not It seems that I was too naive when this happened. Some things are not based on our will. Now that something has happened, we must face it positively. What do you think?"
Shen Tan nodded and sighed: "Yes, I understand the truth, but I feel really uncomfortable in my heart. Brother Lin, I want to ask more, does what you promised me before still count? You said you wouldn't do it because of this happening. I will take revenge on the emperor, are you still willing to do this now?"
Lin Jue looked out the window, tapped the table with his fingers, and said after a while: "Brother Shen, my promise to you will certainly count. I will not kill him. I will not let others attack him. But, I might as well make it clear to you that if such an emperor is allowed to continue, the Great Zhou Dynasty will be over. I believe you also agree with me. This kind of person who only cares about himself, regardless of the overall situation, and is extremely suspicious and suspicious, will rarely achieve great things. For the Great Zhou Dynasty, it must be a source of chaos."
Shen Tan frowned and nodded slowly: "But, as you said at the meeting today, are you going to abolish him and establish a new king?"
Lin Jue shook his head and said: "Brother Shen didn't understand what I meant. The crux of the problem is not who to make the emperor, but the imperial power itself. If another person becomes the emperor, how can you guarantee that he will be a sage monarch?" It is unwise to place your hopes on a monarch who is not sure whether he is a saint or not. I will not depose him, he can still be the emperor, and no one will take that position from him. As long as he honestly does not cause trouble behind his back, He can be there for the rest of his life."
Shen Tan said in surprise: "What exactly does Brother Lin mean? I don't quite understand."
Lin Jue smiled and said: "I will tell you. After I think about it for a few days, I will explain my thoughts to you in detail. I hope to get the support of Brother Shen then."
Shen Tan nodded and said: "Brother, don't worry, I have already sworn to God that I will stand by your side no matter what time. Besides, do I have any choice? In the eyes of many people, I am also an ungrateful person who betrayed the emperor."
Lin Jue laughed and said: "It seems that you and I are going to be reviled by thousands of people, but so what? How can we not be as satisfactory as everyone wants, but I just want to be worthy of my heart. We are doing this for the sake of the great Zhou Dynasty and the welfare of all people. The right path is the right thing to do, so why fear rumors and misunderstandings? You, me, and many people around us must take responsibility."
Shen Tan said in a deep voice: "It's true. A true man should do something and not do something. We are not doing it for personal gain, only for the public interest, and have a clear conscience."
…
Shortly after sending Shen Tan away, Lin Jue ordered someone to invite Guo Caiwei to the study. Guo Caiwei had been waiting anxiously in the room, and Lin Jue ordered someone to invite her. She hurried over. Entering the study, she greeted Lin Jue. When she was walking, Lin Jue saw a layer of sweat on her smooth forehead.
"I have met your husband!" Guo Caiwei bowed with her skirts folded.
Lin Jue handed over the gauze scarf with a smile, poured another cup of herbal tea and said with a smile: "Wipe your sweat and drink some herbal tea to quench your thirst. Can you take a nap after the banquet is over? You should pay attention to your body and sleep more to maintain your health. Otherwise She will soon become an old woman."
Guo Caiwei looked at Lin Jue blankly, her eyes were red, and she said softly: "My husband should not be so kind to Weier, I should scold Weier. I am not worthy of my husband being so kind to me."
Lin Jue was stunned and frowned: "Where do you start talking about this?"
Guo Caiwei sighed softly and said: "Why should my husband ask questions knowingly? I am ashamed and frightened in my body and mind. It is really hard to forgive my brother for doing such a thing. The better my husband treats me, the more bad premonition I have."
Lin Jue sighed and sat down, stretched out his hand to Guo Caiwei and said: "Weier, come here and sit here."
Lin Jue patted his thigh. During normal intimacy, Lin Jue liked to hold Guo Caiwei and sit on his lap to play with her. That position also represented the most intimate position. But this time Guo Caiwei was not as coquettish as she had done countless times before. The situation was the same as usual when she sat down. She only blushed but didn't move her body.
Lin Jue was a little embarrassed, coughed and said: "Weier, you and I have been together through thick and thin for many years. Don't you still understand me? No matter what, I trust you. This matter has nothing to do with you.
You are you, your brother is your brother, you are not him, and he is not you."
Guo Caiwei nodded and said: "I understand the truth, but he is my brother after all. Even though I want to stay out of it, I can't. It's really difficult for me to be caught in the middle. Husband, I won't hide it from you. I went to the palace to see them a few days ago.
You persuaded my brother and mother to admit their mistakes to you. But then I figured it out. This matter is not over just by admitting your mistakes. I know there are some things that we women should not have to deal with, but I
But I can't stay out of it. I've thought a lot in the past few days. I know that my husband, you are dedicated to serving the country and the people, and you have worked hard and achieved great results. My brother should not do this. Therefore, even if you make any decision, I will not blame you.
I just ask my husband, for the sake of our relationship as husband and wife, and for the sake of my father, to be accommodating to my mother. She is just a woman, just for the sake of her son. Just like I did with Zhan'er, maybe I
I will also do stupid things, and I hope that my husband can forgive him. In addition, I want to ask my husband for one thing. Under the current situation, I cannot stay in the position of dominating the Lin family's eldest wife, which will make it difficult for my husband. So I
I am willing to give up the position of a great wife and let other virtuous people with suitable positions take the position. In this way, the husband will not have to worry about my body and appearance."
Lin Jue frowned and looked at Guo Caiwei and said: "Weier, what are you doing? I said, you are you and he is him. What your brother did has nothing to do with you, so why do you insist on taking it from yourself? You
I understand your mood. After all, they are your mother and brother. How can you remain indifferent? It is normal for you to go to the palace to see them or even plead for them. Will I blame you for this? What if it is because of this?
Your brother's matter involves you. Doesn't it mean that Zhan'er and I are both at fault? Because we are also your relatives. One person does things and one person is responsible. No matter how useless your brother is, I'm afraid he doesn't want to implicate others. What are you talking about?
It is even more ridiculous to give up the position of eldest wife. You have been in charge of the family house for these years without any bias. No one in the family has any complaints about you. Is there any reason to be punished for no fault? Unless you yourself do not want to be in charge of the family house.
If you don't want to serve me anymore, that's easy. I'll give you a divorce letter, and we can say goodbye and we can be happy. Why not go to such trouble to resign as a lady? Do you want me to do this?"
Guo Caiwei's face turned pale and she hurriedly shouted: "Husband, I didn't mean that. I blamed myself for this."
Lin Jue shook his head and sighed: "Of course I know how you feel. This has nothing to do with you. I will say it one last time. As for your mother and your brother, I have already promised you that I will not do anything to them. Your brother, I
Everyone can be forgiven, let alone your mother. Am I the kind of person who disowns all my relatives? My biggest weakness in this life is that I cannot be cruel enough to attack the people around me. Even if they do something that I hate, I promise you.
It is still effective, and you don’t have to worry that I will kill your brother and your mother. You also know that I will not do that. You must not use my softness to blackmail me or deliberately say something to irritate me. Then I will be very angry.
angry."
Guo Caiwei said happily: "Husband, at this time, are you still willing to... spare my brother?"
Lin Jue nodded slightly and said: "Of course. How could I be a regicide?"
Guo Caiwei said softly: "Thank you, husband, for sparing my brother's life. Even if he is dethroned from the throne, he should be satisfied."
Lin Jue shook his head and said: "I won't abolish him. He should just be his emperor."
Guo Caiwei said in shock: "Could your husband be joking?"
Lin Jue said in a deep voice: "Of course not. Don't thank me either. I didn't do this for you. Your brother must be punished for what he did, but the punishment may not be to kill him or cripple him. Wei'er,
You can rest assured now. Let me say it for the last time, this matter has nothing to do with you, and I will not kill your brother and mother. But you can no longer interfere in other matters. This is the final bottom line. What happens next
I won’t allow you to say anything more. I won’t tolerate anyone who wants to stop what I’m determined to do. I won’t touch your brother and your mother, but if they refuse to bow their heads, then
That's another matter. What I mean by bowing your head is not something like giving away a drunk crab, but rather being prepared to give up all struggles. If you have time, you'd better go to the palace and tell them what I mean.
That’s what you should do as your daughter and sister, as well as my wife, Lin Jue.”
