Xie Ming

Family matters weighed heavily on my mind, leaving me with no heart to attend to anything else, when my career coincided with the arrival of Zhizhong at my residence.

Xiao Jingchuan changed the subject and led Qiu and Gu to the front hall to discuss politics.

As they walked through the corridor and approached the back door of the front hall, Xiao stepped over the threshold and suddenly thought of something, casually asking about the future.

"By the way, Feiyu."

"This morning in court, I intended to bestow favors upon my subordinate generals, granting them the titles of marquis or earl."

“You know, especially people like Pei Zhong, Ming Lu, Hu Chen, and Chang Ting.”

"These are all brothers who have survived countless battles on the battlefield."

He gestured as he spoke, leading Zhongqian to walk forward.

"Look at me, I was granted the title of Duke in the past two years, and now I have quelled the internal strife and am in complete control of power."

"It's unacceptable not to give the subordinates an explanation!"

"Why are you doing this in public, blocking and obstructing us like this?"

“I was just about to make my move to this side of the main hall when you interrupted me.”

"We finally managed to get back on track, and with just one look from you, you've cut us off again and disappeared. What's wrong with you?"

Suddenly remembering the morning court session, Xiao poured out his grievances.

Here in my own home, only my brothers are near me, so I feel no restraint and have few worries.

In contrast, when Zhi Zhong heard Lao Xiao muttering to himself, he was speechless, shook his head to suppress a laugh, and didn't rush to reply.

The three of them then gradually emerged from behind the screen wall.

Xiao Ju was in front. He glanced outside and didn't see Yao Zuyin at the head of the table, but he saw the jinx leaning against the chair in front of the table. Their eyes met and he hurriedly asked.

"Hey, where is Master Hongren?" Xiao Lang asked hastily.

However, before Ye could finish speaking, the jinx glanced at him and led him to a corner of the front hall.

Under the eaves, a small stove was placed in a corner, with some kind of medicinal herbs simmering in a clay pot over the fire, and a faint aroma of herbs wafted nearby.

"Oh, then."

It turned out that the jinx wanted to return the favor.

But Yao Zuyin, fanning himself with a palm leaf fan and blindfolded, tried to interrupt the conversation by tilting his head to meet her voice.

"Hoo hoo hoo, here it is, here it is!"

After speaking, the old monk put the palm-leaf fan aside, fumbled for the bamboo walking stick sticking up on the wall, grabbed it in his hand, tapped the ground twice, and was about to get up to greet him.

Seeing the situation, the jinx was quick on his feet, taking two steps to his side, helping the master steady, and walking closer to Xiao Lang.

"Oh my, Master, what's wrong?"

Looking over, Xiao, Gu, and Qiu also stepped forward, and in their heated exchange, they couldn't help but give the derelict jinx a good scolding.

"You jinx, you've been sitting around doing nothing all this time."

"Didn't I tell you to serve me? How come you're letting the master pick up the small stove himself? You've gone too far."

"Also, around noon I asked you to go to Lingyin Temple and pick up two nimble young monks for the master to serve. Did you send someone to do that?"

As he spoke, Xiao Lang took the hand and led Yao Zuyin to sit down in the chair in front of the table.

"Uh, they've already called for manpower."

The jinx, having been criticized, hung his head and recounted everything in detail.

Hearing the tone and attitude of the words, the old monk Hongren, who had just sat down again, couldn't help but speak up to defuse the situation.

"Hoo Hoo Hoo"

"Xiao Chuan, you've misunderstood this young general."

"It's not that he doesn't want to help, it's just that I'm used to preparing medicinal meals myself."

"If you insist on having him help, he will only get in the way and make mistakes easily."

He suddenly changed the subject, relying on his sharp old ears to tilt his head and face the center of the room.

"Young friend Qiu, it's been a few days since I last saw you. Hangzhou was in chaos during the Mid-Autumn Festival. I heard you were thrown into prison."

"how?"

"Are you alright anywhere?!" The old blind monk asked, trying to pinpoint the location by sound.

Upon hearing this, Zhizhong, seeing that his name had been called, quickly took two steps forward, barely managing to clasp his hands in a salute and smile.

"Oh, Master."

"Thanks to Buddha's protection, all is well." "Thinking back to that critical moment, I was unable to do my part, which was due to my lack of foresight. I am ashamed, truly ashamed." He shook his head with a bitter smile, feeling ashamed of his appearance.

"Thanks to your divine assistance, Master, and the message sent from the north, Old Xiao was able to conquer the Central Plains in one fell swoop and achieve his goal."

"I was stubborn and misjudged things before, which almost caused a disaster and made a big mistake."

"In the future, I will still need to rely on the master's generous guidance."

"I'm ashamed, I'm ashamed."

Yao Zuyin's words were sharp and unrestrained, while Qiu Zhizhong's response was one of shame and embarrassment.

"Hahaha, come, sit down, everyone sit down."

Having heard his words, the old monk readily accepted the situation and didn't pursue the matter further.

Taking the initiative, he pulled Xiao Lang aside, raised his hand in the air to indicate the direction, and told his two servants to come closer and sit down.

"Young friend Qiu, there is no need to be so self-deprecating."

"Just do your best and leave the rest to fate."

"Who, again... ah, can truly be like Zhuge Liang?"

"Completely flawless?"

"Heh, at Wuzhang Plains, didn't it all end in failure?!"

"Therefore, this old monk believes that the success of this grand plan is truly due to divine assistance."

"Xiao Chuan is a lucky man, and Heaven will surely bless him."

"We are merely helping the dragon from the side, going with the flow, and letting things take their natural course."

He subtly shifted the conversation, taking the initiative, and then turned his attention to Xiao.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingchuan knew that he was just teasing him and quickly admitted defeat, begging for mercy in a tone that was quite agreeable.

"Hehe, Master, that's enough, stop flattering me."

"This has put me in an awkward position."

"What good fortune? I... I just can't see it myself."

"If it weren't for your protection and Zhizhong's protection, I'm afraid I, Xiao Jingchuan, would have long since become some desolate grave."

"How could they have achieved this momentum today?!"

Retreating to advance, being cunning and avoiding trouble.

However, it was obvious that the old monk was blind in appearance but not in mind, and he was shrewd and calculating. How could he let him go so easily?

"Hahaha, okay, did you see that?"

"This kid's still a bit cocky, he hasn't gotten too high yet, huh?!"

"Hoo Hoo Hoo"

"Well, as the old saying goes, water overflows when it's full, and the moon wanes when it's full."

"The closer it gets to this point, the more precipitous the flowers and the more dangerous the hidden dangers and murderous intent there are!"

"Whether it's you or your men in the army, you must never get too cocky."

"Only by being cautious can one achieve the desired result."

"If you don't heed this advice, one wrong move and you'll lose everything! Huh?!"

With a gentle nudge, the words have already revealed their brilliance, and are indeed words of wisdom for governing the country.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingchuan's expression changed from relaxed and playful to serious and earnest.

Of course, he was not as accommodating as the foreign dignitaries, so Yao Zuyin quickly shifted the topic to Qiu Zhizhong and began to elaborate on it.

"Uh, yes."

"Xiao Chuan, I heard what you and Qiu Xiaoyou were saying just now."

"Young friend Qiu, why don't you tell him to petition for the soldiers' merits, to be ennobled and appointed as prime minister? Tell him, so that this duke can wake up properly."

Master Hongren employed a two-pronged approach, striking at both ends with ease.

"Ah, yes, that's how it is."

"Well, Lao Xiao, the reason I tried so hard to stop you from mentioning the title of Marquis at today's court meeting was actually because of the current political situation, and I had no choice but to do so."

"this."

Qiu Zuo also straightened his posture, composed himself, and began the political discussion. (End of this chapter)