This day was not originally the day when Zhang Shou went to the East Palace to teach, and the morning court time was longer than usual. Therefore, he originally planned to leave quickly after leaving the court, but he did not expect that when he just left the Fengtian Hall, there was already someone waiting there.
The chamberlain stopped him, and then said politely, "The emperor has summoned him."
Because Chief Yue Shan and others were also summoned to the morning court, he specifically asked: "Has the emperor summoned anyone besides me?"
As usual, this kind of question is not illegal, but the young-looking chamberlain did not dare to say anything, and looked as if he was silent. Seeing this, Zhang Shou of course had no choice but to ask the question again, and could only look at the envy and jealousy of others.
Under his gaze, he followed the young chamberlain out of the left wing door to the east of Fengtian Hall and north of Wenzhao Pavilion.
Although he did not often go to court, he often came and went to this area east of the palace city, so when he came out, he found that it was facing the back wall of Wenhua Hall and the west wall of Ciqing Palace. Naturally, he was not surprised at all.
However, when the young chamberlain led him directly to Ciqing Palace, he felt a little strange. What he just said seemed to be the emperor's summons, not the crown prince's summons, right?
The chamberlain leading the way quietly observed Zhang Shou along the way. He noticed that he suddenly stopped, with some doubts on his face. He quickly stopped too, and then explained with an apologetic smile: "Scholar Zhang, the emperor has ordered that he will be here soon."
I will summon you at Ciqing Palace. I think this matter has been sent to the prince in Ciqing Palace. You will know it when you ask. How dare I coax you?"
Zhang Shou thinks about it. At this juncture, no one dares to come up with a story about Lin Chong accidentally entering the White Tiger Hall. There has never been anything in Ciqing Palace that prohibits entry unless the reading official is on the reading day.
Rules. Even if he really enters Ciqing Palace, nothing will happen to him.
Thinking about it, he was probably a little frightened by the recent messy things, but he didn't show it in front of the waiter, he just smiled faintly. And he put on such a posture of rejecting people thousands of miles away, that
The young chamberlain didn't seem to dare to find something to say, and it wasn't until he was sent under the high wall of Ciqing Palace that he suddenly uttered a very soft sentence.
"Sister Zhang, please be careful of Eunuch Chu."
This nonsense sentence aroused Zhang Shou's vigilance. He suddenly turned his head and stared at the other person. He felt a little uncomfortable at first, but then he raised his head and looked directly into his eyes. He tried his best to show calmness, but he was cold.
Asked: "If I tell Eunuch Chu this message, what do you think will happen to you?"
"That slave must have mistaken the person." The young chamberlain replied without hesitation, and then bowed.
"Eunuch Lu is the godson of Eunuch Chu. He was deposed for crimes before. After learning that Eunuch Chu was demoted to Ciqing Palace, he sent people several times to bring things with him. However, Eunuch Chu not only returned them all, but also said that they would never be together again in the future.
As for Eunuch Lu, he had to kneel down to show his unwavering loyalty, and the rest of his disciples also expressed their loyalty again and again. This was the case even after he left the Supervisor of Ceremonies, so what will happen if he returns to take charge of the Supervisor of Ceremonies?"
"My servant happens to know that the charity hall at the exit of the secret passage in your home, Mr. Zhang, belongs to the Supervisor of Ceremonies. Think about it, who will be unlucky if something like this happens now? Is it Eunuch Chu who is no longer the Supervisor of Ceremonies, or Eunuch Chu?
The current palm print is Eunuch Qian, who has always been loyal and honest? After this incident comes out, Eunuch Qian will definitely take the blame and resign. Won’t Eunuch Chu return to be the Supervisor of Ceremonies?"
Faced with such a guy who tried his best to instill in him that Chu Kuan had ulterior motives and was absolutely untrustworthy, Zhang Shou couldn't help but feel angry and funny. How did people see that he believed in Chu Kuan?
You know, from the first time at the literary meeting hosted by Princess Yongping of Yuehua Tower, when I met Chu Kuan who didn’t look like a eunuch at all, he even accepted someone’s words to help him out, and then even said something about the inheritance of the fire.
After the eunuch's words, his vigilance towards Chu Kuan has always been at full level.
Therefore, after staring at the other person for a while with a half-smile, he said lightly: "What I want to tell you is, whether someone else asked you to tell me these words, or you thought of it yourself to remind me, you
They all forgot one thing."
"That is... don't judge others by yourself. I don't care whether Eunuch Chu is good or bad, but you or others may value the Master of Ceremony's palm very seriously, but he may not." If this were not the case, Chu Kuan would never do it.
Because of that "little thing" before, he easily lost his position as Chief of Ceremony. This person should have a thousand and ten thousand ways to keep this position.
In his opinion, while some people were fixated on the position of Supervisor of Ceremonies, Chu Kuan had already set his sights on the Prince of the East Palace and was using his own methods to gain favor in front of the Third Prince!
What is the title of the Chief of Ceremonies?
Chu Kuan probably doesn't care about him for a long time. If he can make the three emperors trust him, then from Ruizhong, the current emperor, and the future emperor, Chu Kuan can bring the favorability of these three generations of emperors to full value. What can't he do at that time?
Seeing that the young chamberlain's face became embarrassed and frightened as if he did not expect his reaction, Zhang Shou continued: "In addition, you said that Eunuch Lu and others still entrust Eunuch Chu to the top and dare not disobey him.
, I think it is because of the prestige he has accumulated over the years, rather than because Eunuch Chu really wants to use this to declare to others that he can come back at any time."
"To be honest, I think that Eunuch Lu or someone else went to him to swear that he would never have any second thoughts or to show his loyalty. With Eunuch Chu's character, he would probably say that he is no longer in the company.
The ceremonial supervisor will not accept any of them."
The young chamberlain didn't expect that Zhang Shou would say so many words for Chu Kuan without hesitation. His face turned blue and white for a while, but at this moment, he heard a deep voice coming from behind.
sound.
"Haha, Chu Kuan is really ashamed of what Academician Zhang just said."
Seeing Chu Kuan coming out of the door calmly, the young chamberlain couldn't dodge, and his face turned pale with horror. As if he had foreseen the consequences of his "admonishment" just now, Zhang Shou said with a smile: "Eunuch Chu, why do you have to be so self-effacing?"
?If the emperor doesn’t know your character clearly, why would he transfer you to Ciqing Palace? You know, some people have said before that Ciqing Palace does not need a chamberlain who can read and write.”
Zhang Shou emphasized the word "someone". Anyway, they both knew each other well, so it would be useless to be famous. When he saw Chu Kuan smiling knowingly at him, he glanced at the young chamberlain just now and said very kindly and cordially:
"However, what this young father-in-law just said was probably not out of any malice. How about I ask Eunuch Chu for a favor and forgive him for once?"
Chu Kuan was slightly startled, and then smiled as if nothing had happened: "Xueshi Zhang is joking, I am just a Qingyi in Ciqing Palace, how can I be qualified to forgive others? God knows this, you know it, I know it, he knows it, then
That’s it.”
Zhang Shou then looked at the young chamberlain who was looking more and more sad, and said with a smile: "Young Master, did you hear what Eunuch Chu said? Whether you were complaining about Eunuch Lu for your own sake or someone else, so you came to me angrily.
Speaking of this, someone else told me this through you. Since you have said it and let me and Eunuch Chu hear it, you have done your best."
"So, you might as well work hard to do your own responsibilities and keep your eyes open to see clearly whether Eunuch Chu's next move is as I guessed or as you said. Of course, the most important thing is that you have to
Live well and don't let anyone harm you, otherwise it will really be a joke."
When Chu Kuan heard Zhang Shou talk about letting the other person save his life in a joking tone, he couldn't help laughing: "Since you said that, Bachelor Zhang, it seems that I have to plan carefully, otherwise I will let him die.
Wouldn’t it be impossible for me to escape even if I jumped into the Yellow River? Fortunately, I know him... You are the Supervisor of Ceremony and promised Luo Sanhe, am I remembering correctly?"
Seeing that Chu Kuan could even remember the name of such an insignificant person like himself, the young chamberlain didn't know what to say and could only stand there at a loss. But the next moment, he heard something that made him think he was crazy.
If so.
"What happened last night was very big. I'm afraid the Qianqing Palace will have to change a few people this time. Although I am only serving in the Ciqing Palace now, thanks to the emperor's love, I can probably say a few words and recommend you later.
Go to Qianqing Palace. Under the Emperor’s nose, a little guy with a strong sense of justice like you should be able to live a good life."
As Chu Kuan spoke, he smiled at Zhang Shou and said: "The emperor is always willing to be a little tolerant towards those who hate evil and punish the strong and help the weak. Of course, the premise is that he himself is upright. Otherwise, if he says one thing and does another, the emperor will
There’s no room for it.”
His mood was so high and low that Luo Sanhe simply didn't know how he left Ciqing Palace. And his back, one foot high and one foot low, leaving in despair, looked tragic and confused to Zhang Shou. Of course, he admired Chu even more from this.
Kuan's method was clever. However, before he opened his mouth, Chu Kuan nodded to him.
"To be honest, judging from the past, Zhang Xueshi, you have always kept a distance from me when there is nothing to do. When there is something, you just send each other a message, and there is no friendship. I really didn't expect that you would make the comment you just said to me. Although I
After staying in the palace for more than thirty years, I have not only godsons like Lu Chan, but also so-called godsons, and countless colleagues and subordinates, but they still don't understand me as well as you do."
When leading Zhang Shou inside, Chu Kuan was chatting as if in small talk, and he didn't seem to care what Zhang Shou thought. As he walked, he said nonchalantly: "I think if I hadn't been the Queen Mother, I would have disappeared."
He died quietly outside the palace gate. Although it is common for poor people to leave their children who cannot support themselves at the doorsteps of wealthy people no matter what age they are, I cannot accept it."
"Even if I am indeed born with a defect, that is not the reason for my parents to abandon me! If I don't want to have a child, I can just abort the fetus before the child hits the ground. Why let the child come to the world?"
"The funniest thing is that after I had lived peacefully in the palace for a few years, someone came to contact me in the name of my parents and threatened me to spy on the palace for them. Haha, I can't even earn a favor in a day, but I have to rely on
Sheng En blackmails me to do this or that? It’s simply a big joke!”
"Parents who were born without raising children, even if they are not enemies, are no more than passers-by, not to mention using this as a threat! Of course, I quietly reported it to the then princess, who is now the Queen Mother, as soon as possible."
Zhang Shou didn't know why Chu Kuan said this to him, but he had to say that everyone has a tendency to gossip. At this moment, he listened with great interest to Chu Kuan talking about this old story. Especially when he heard that
Chu Kuan's implication was that the person who abandoned him in the first place probably had ulterior motives and wanted to use him as an informant to spy on intelligence. He couldn't help but laugh.
In order to prevent Chu Kuan from misunderstanding his own agreement, although he agreed with the other party's words, he did not echo them, but asked with interest: "What happened next?"
Chu Kuan did not show off, but said with a smile: "Later, of course I cooperated with the Queen Mother, echoing inside and outside, and set up a trap for the guy who wanted to instigate me. When the Queen Mother
While I was hunting down all the people, I also blocked the guy who sent the message in a yard, and he actually yelled in shock and anger, saying that he was my biological brother from the same father and mother."
"Seeing that I had no mercy, he said with a smile on his face that he was willing to work for the palace. He also plausibly said that since I have such a shortcoming, I will never climb very high in this life, so I might as well help him. As an elder brother, he will definitely be able to do something for me in the future.
Will you take good care of me... Haha, there are people in this world who are so shameless and think that people can do anything for them just because of blood ties?"
"Don't say that he is just a so-called brother, but also a biological parent. I also want to ask, why?"
It was only at this moment that Chu Kuan turned around and said calmly: "If you ask me, a family of three with no relatives is the best. If there is only one child in the family, then naturally most parents will do their best.
We will not favor boys over girls, nor favor one over another. Unfortunately, if a family of three continues like this, the world's population will definitely decrease sharply."
"This idea is certainly unrealistic, but Zhang Xueshi thinks about it. Even in a big family, children of the same generation have to fight for each other since childhood. Some people, no matter how good their qualifications are, cannot get what they deserve because of their background.
To cultivate, some people are as stupid as pigs, but they have the best things because they are born in the direct lineage clan. And those small families that are not even well-off, let alone those so-called reading seeds, are the whole family.
supply, at the expense of other people’s futures?”
If it weren't for the fact that Chu Kuan's argument was based on denying the clan concept of living together in groups for thousands of years, rather than advocating the one-child policy, Zhang Shou would have almost thought that the person in front of him had come from time travel!
Even though it was certain that Chu Kuan was not a time traveler, Zhang Shou was still amazed by the radical arguments of the people - all dynasties hoped that the people of the world could best be maintained at the level of a family of five, and tried their best to suppress those wealthy families who could compete with the local government.
High sect, but that is because from the perspective of the ruler, they want to curb the tyranny, and it has nothing to do with personal injustice and sacrifice.
But Chu Kuan found another way because of his own experience! He even doubted that if this was not Ciqing Palace, the other party's speech would be more eccentric!
Sure enough, when Chu Kuan entered the place where the third prince lived and studied, he said in front of the third prince: "One husband and one wife, the husband and wife are harmonious, and then, the children should be raised well, the marriage should be established fairly, and the children should not be given as descendants.
A family fortune that is enough for you to live and settle down... These things may sound simple, but looking at the world, it is easy for one generation to do it, but it is as difficult as climbing to the sky for three generations and five generations to do it.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Shou heard the emperor's voice: "Chu Kuan, are you scolding me in a different way?"