I am a prince in Zhutian Films

Chapter 368 Remind Gu Qianfan

Yu Ran Ju is the most upscale restaurant in Tokyo, no doubt about it.

In the private room, Gu Qianfan and Zhao Wei sat together, drinking tea and listening to music.

"Commander Gu, no, you should call him Deputy Envoy Gu now. You have been promoted to Deputy Envoy of the Imperial City Department and are wearing a scarlet robe. Why don't you hold a banquet to liven things up?"

Gu Qianfan laughed at himself: "Your Highness, I am now alone, without any relatives or friends, and I am also the living devil of the Imperial City Department. If I hold a banquet, I am afraid no one will be willing to come."

He was happy to be promoted to the fifth rank and wear a scarlet robe, but he was also happy that his mother would be eligible to request an imperial decree, be included in the Gu family's genealogy and ancestral hall, and enjoy the family incense.

As for the rest, it is not that important to Gu Qianfan.

Zhao Wei smiled and said, "Deputy Envoy Gu, I know your ability. To be honest, I think you are a bit under-appreciated in the Imperial City Department."

This was not a compliment from Zhao Wei, but a true statement.

Gu Qianfan entered the Imperial City Department because he was used by Qi Mu. Otherwise, with his status as a Jinshi and his own abilities, it would definitely be much smoother for him to take the path of a civil servant than it is now.

"Your Highness, you think too highly of me."

Gu Qianfan was very humble. In the eyes of many people, his achievements were already remarkable. There were only two people in the entire court who were as old as him and could wear the red robe. However, Zhao Wei passed the imperial examination at the age of thirteen and became a general at the age of fifteen. He guarded the northwest border and almost destroyed the Dingnan Army in Xiazhou. He was not comparable to him at all.

"I wonder what your Highness wants me to do today, why did he ask me to come here?"

"Can't I just chat with you when I have nothing to do?" Zhao Wei smiled and took a sip of tea. "In the eyes of others, Deputy Envoy Gu is a living devil who can stop a crying child, but in my eyes, I think people like Deputy Envoy Gu are easy to get along with."

Gu Qianfan really didn't know how to respond for a moment. After all, ever since he entered the Imperial City Bureau and got the nickname "Living Yama", almost everyone avoided him. Zhao Wei was the first person who said that he was easy to get along with, which made him feel very strange.

"Your Highness, I have the same idea."

"Really? Then we really have the same idea. Does this count as mutual appreciation?" Zhao Wei smiled faintly, then put away his smile and said seriously, "Let's talk business. After a while, my father wants to make me the crown prince. He asked me to form a team. Gu Qianfan, this king is very optimistic about you."

Gu Qianfan was startled, and quickly stood up and saluted: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I will only be loyal to you."

Zhao Wei was silent for a while, then smiled and said, "Okay, that's all for today. By the way, I'm going to go see this year's Jinshi candidates later. I remember you're also a Jinshi candidate. Do you want to go and see them too?"

"This... I'm afraid they won't welcome me. I'd better not go and spoil their fun."

Gu Qianfan hesitated for a moment, but finally declined.

"Well, you went to Jiangnan first, and then got a promotion when you came back. I guess you must be very busy, so I won't waste your time."

Just as Zhao Wei said, Gu Qianfan did have a lot of official business accumulated recently, so he didn't bother to be polite with Zhao Wei.

"Your Highness, I will take my leave now."

Gu Qianfan saluted again and was about to leave when he heard Zhao Wei suddenly ask, "Deputy Envoy Gu, do you think the clean stream is definitely good and the eunuch party is definitely bad?"

Gu Qianfan turned around and looked at Zhao Wei with a puzzled look, as if he didn't understand why Zhao Wei asked this question.

"Gu Qianfan, I think you are good, so I want to remind you that Qi Mu is not as simple as you think. You still have to be careful."

Gu Qianfan's face suddenly changed, and he looked at Zhao Wei in disbelief, but Zhao Wei just smiled faintly, got up and left the private room.

When passing by Gu Qianfan, Zhao Wei patted him on the shoulder and left a word.

"Qi Mu and Xiao Qinyan are mortal political enemies, and you... no matter what you say, it cannot change the fact that you are Xiao Qinyan's biological son."

Speaking of the father and son pair of Gu Qianfan and Xiao Qinyan, Zhao Wei also found it quite ridiculous.

Xiao Qinyan is a high-ranking official in the court, but few people in the world know that he is Gu Qianfan's biological father. This is really absurd.

You know, when Xiao Qinyan married the daughter of the Gu family, he had already passed the imperial examination and the Gu family was also a well-known and powerful family in Tokyo. How could no one know about their marriage?
Not to mention, when they broke up, Gu Qianfan was already quite old, and they had lived together for so many years, how could no one know about this?
It is no exaggeration to say that this is a huge bug that cannot be worked around.

However, it is normal for TV dramas to have bugs. After all, which TV show doesn’t have some bugs? It’s just that the degree is different.

But I have to say that the relationship between Gu Qianfan and Xiao Qinyan is really too buggy. Do you really think that the intelligence capabilities of ancient people were so poor?
After parting with Gu Qianfan, Zhao Wei came to Zhiyuan Courtyard in the rear.

This was where he entertained the fifty-eight successful candidates of this year's imperial examination. The bustle coming from inside could be heard from a long distance away.

"Your Highness."

Zhao Wei nodded: "Are they all here?"

"All fifty-eight Jinshi are here."

Zhao Wei hummed: "Let's go."

Hearing this, Shuangxi immediately shouted: "His Royal Highness Prince Han has arrived."

The originally bustling courtyard suddenly became quiet, and everyone hurriedly stood up and saluted.

Zhao Wei waved his hand with a smile on his face: "No need to be polite, everyone. Today is a banquet for friends to meet over literature. There is no King of Han, only Zhao Chengzong, the second-class Jinshi of the Xinhai year. Speaking of which, I am considered your senior. My teacher in the imperial examination that year is also your teacher in this imperial examination."

Having said that, Zhao Wei's identity was there after all, and everyone was still quite restrained.

However, as time went by, everyone gradually relaxed, and the bold ones even took the initiative to find Zhao Wei to chat about music, chess, calligraphy and painting.

After all, Zhao Wei was a top second-class Jinshi, almost making it into the first class. Naturally, he had great attainments in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and he quickly integrated into the group.

From literary arts such as calligraphy, chess, and painting to local governance and border battlefields, everyone ate, drank, talked and laughed. The banquet lasted until nightfall, when everyone gradually dispersed.

"Ouyang Tanhua, wait a minute."

Zhao Wei called out to Ouyang Xu, causing those who were about to leave to look at him curiously.

No one else has a good impression of Ouyang Xu.

First of all, Ouyang Xu is not a sociable person. Apart from Du Changfeng, he hardly communicates with anyone else.

In everyone's eyes, he is arrogant.

Furthermore, Ouyang Xu’s association with the Gao family also made many people look down on him.

Finally, yesterday Ouyang Xu was in the palace, trying to rely on ghosts and gods to get to the top, and this was spread by the top scholar Shen Jiayan and the second place Xu Qingwen, so that everyone looked down on him even more.

By the way, because of this incident, Ouyang Xu took the initiative to find Zhao Wei and expressed his gratitude.

After all, although Zhao Wei disrupted his plans yesterday, in the eyes of others, Zhao Wei was grateful to him.

Apart from this, the two had no other communication, but unexpectedly Zhao Wei called him.

Ouyang Xu turned around and bowed slightly: "Your Highness."

"Wait a moment, I have something to ask you, come here." Zhao Wei said, turned to look at Shuangxi, and ordered: "Shuangxi, send the students off for me."

After saying that, Zhao Wei stepped into the hall, followed closely by Ouyang Xu.

Zhao Wei went straight to the point and took out a jade pendant.

Ouyang Xu recognized the jade pendant as his Tongxin pendant at a glance, and his face changed drastically. "Is this your Tongxin pendant?"

Ouyang Xu was flustered, but he tried to remain calm and said, "Yes, Your Highness."

"I have heard about your affairs in Qiantang, so I have asked for this Heart-to-Heart Pendant back for you." Zhao Wei handed the Heart-to-Heart Pendant to Ouyang Xu and patted his shoulder. "I don't want to get involved in your private affairs, but you are lucky that Gao Hui likes you. Of course, I don't care about the Gao family, but I have to give face to Aunt Cao. Be a good official in the future and don't let me down."

"Thank you, Your Highness. I will keep your words in mind." Ouyang Xu breathed a sigh of relief, and there was even a hint of joy in his tone.

Obviously, he thought he had caught Zhao Wei's eye.

"I'll give you the Tongxin Pei, but you also have to issue a letter of withdrawal from the engagement, and don't mention this matter again in the future."

"Yes, Your Highness. I will write it right away."

Soon, Zhao Wei received the letter of divorce and waved his hand: "Okay, you can go down first. Work hard in the future. This king is optimistic about you."

"Yes, Your Highness. I will take my leave."

Ouyang Xu bowed and retreated, just passing by Zhao Huai'en who was entering the room.

"Master of the house."

Zhao Wei blew the ink and said with a smile, "Well, I'm back. How's Miss Zhao doing?"

"The teahouse has been renovated and will be open in the next two days. Do you want to go, Madam Zhao?"

"Forget it. I drank too much today. Let's go back home and wait until their teahouse opens before going to see it again."

……

……

Southern Yamen, Imperial City Division.

Under the candlelight, the entire Imperial City was as bright as day, with wax flowing down and solidifying on the candlesticks.

Just as Zhao Wei said, during the time when Gu Qianfan went to Qiantang, the Imperial City Bureau had a lot of official business to be processed.

Therefore, when Gu Qianfan walked out of the Southern Court, the moon was already at its highest point in the sky.

Suddenly, his ears moved and he asked sharply, "Who?"

A middle-aged official in purple robe, long beard and elegant manners appeared from the darkness. He was the representative of the clean stream in the court, the Right Counselor and Chief Censor Qi Mu.

Logically speaking, the upright officials in the court would never speak to the people of the Imperial City Department in a friendly manner, but Qi Mu looked at Gu Qianfan lovingly and said, "I heard that you returned to the capital, so I decided to come and see you in the dead of night."

"Uncle Qi?" Gu Qianfan hurriedly bowed and saluted: "Why trouble you to come? Qianfan originally wanted to go to pay his respects on the agreed date..."

Qi Mu waved his hand and interrupted, "I have always regarded you as my nephew. I know you are seriously injured this time, and I am extremely anxious. How can I wait for three days? Don't worry, I have asked someone to investigate. You are the only one in the entire Southern Court who stays here to fight all night."

Qi Mu noticed that Gu Qianfan looked thinner than before, and his eyes showed concern. He asked, "Where are you injured? How well have you recovered? You stayed up so late, is it because of the Dali Temple Jiangnan case? There is always work to do, and your health is the most important thing. You have to take good care of yourself, and don't take it lightly just because you are young. If you hurt your original body, how can I be worthy of the late Minister Gu?"

"Yes, I will keep your words in mind." Gu Qianfan showed his admiration for Xiao Qinyan, and said, "By the way, I have sorted out the things I found in Jiangnan this time, and I will give them to you."

Gu Qianfan led Qi Mu into the yamen. He opened a secret compartment, took out a box, handed it over solemnly, and said, "Here are all the evidences of Lei Jing's collusion with Jiangnan officials. With them, you will definitely be able to bring Lei Jing down."

"Yes, the court is lucky to have you as a minister, and I am lucky to have you as my nephew."

After reading the evidence, Qi Mu sighed, but he was not as happy as Gu Qianfan imagined. He sighed, "Unfortunately, now is not the time to act. Lei Jing has served the emperor for more than 30 years. He still has the emperor's favor and the relationship is still there. More importantly, Lei Jing seems to have a connection with King Han. King Han did not mention Lei Jing in his report on Jiangnan. The emperor does not seem to want to expand the case in Jiangnan. It may not be possible to hit the target if Lei Jing is exposed at this time, so it is better to leave it for another day."

Gu Qianfan felt disappointed, but still responded, "It's all up to you."

Qi Mu knew that Gu Qianfan was dissatisfied with this treatment, so he advised: "Don't be discouraged, I told you at the beginning that since you have chosen the path of hiding in the dust, you must be able to endure loneliness.

You are a young talent, a top-ranked scholar in the imperial examination, and a master of both civil and military affairs. It was indeed a bit unfair to you when we arranged for you to transfer to the Imperial City Department.

But if we in Qingliu want to deal with people like Xiao Qinyan who flatter their superiors and bully their subordinates, we have to plant a nail in the Imperial City Bureau, which is a powerful tool for investigation and detection.

Over the years, you have lived up to my expectations. Lei Jing would never have thought that the living devil under his command was a hidden stake planted by our Qingliu."

Hearing the title of "Living Yama", Gu Qianfan's expression changed.

Although it was very subtle, Qi Mu was still keenly aware of it and comforted him: "This reputation is not very pleasant, but for the court and for our Song Dynasty, what does a little false reputation mean?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Qianfan quickly said seriously: "Qianfan has never regretted it."

Qi Mu nodded with satisfaction: "Xiao Qinyan is going back to Beijing to serve as prime minister again. Lei Jing has been trying to curry favor with him recently. A hawkish leader and a treacherous prime minister, if the two of them collude, I don't know how many things they will do to harm the country and the people. You must investigate it thoroughly."

Thinking of what Zhao Wei had said - no matter what, you are Xiao Qinyan's biological son, an inexplicable emotion flashed across Gu Qianfan's eyes, but he hid it well and Qi Mu didn't notice it.

"Yes, Uncle Qi."

Qi Mu patted Gu Qianfan on the shoulder and said, "Work hard. I hope you can be promoted to the fifth rank. By then, I will write a letter to ask for your aunt to be granted the title of a noble lady."

At this point, Qi Mu sighed: "Alas, your father was the same. He only had a sister like this, but why did he let her divorce so easily? In the end, she couldn't even enter the Gu family's ancestral tomb, and you, as her nephew, had to take the trouble to ask for an imperial decree for her."

Gu Qianfan said in a deep voice: "In my heart, there is no difference between my aunt and my own mother. The reason why I followed your order to come to the Imperial City Division was because you said that in times of peace, only here can one get promoted the fastest."

In fact, his nominal aunt was his biological mother, but in order to draw a clear line between himself and Xiao Qinyan, he could not even recognize his biological mother.

Seeing that Gu Qianfan was in low spirits, Qi Mu encouraged him, "You are now the deputy envoy of the Imperial City Department. As long as you perform a few more great deeds and wait until Lei Jing's eunuch party is defeated, you won't have to worry about the position of the chief envoy. By that time, I will probably have been appointed as prime minister, so it won't be difficult to recommend you to be the governor of a state."

Gu Qianfan bowed to express his gratitude: "Thank you very much, uncle, for your kindness."

Qi Mu waved his hand and said, "By the way, I heard from your letter before that the King of Han wanted to recruit you. After you returned to the capital, did he look for you?"

Thinking of Zhao Wei's reminder again, Gu Qianfan's heart moved inexplicably and he lied.

"No."

Qi Mu nodded: "Well, that's good. The identity of King Han is questionable and it is not appropriate to contact him."

"His Royal Highness the King of Han looks almost exactly like the Emperor. Is there any problem with his identity?"

Hearing Gu Qianfan's rebuttal, Qi Mu's face changed slightly, and his tone became a little stern: "Even if there is no problem, King Han is not suitable for the throne. He values ​​military power over culture and acts too radically. If he takes the throne, I am afraid that it will lead to our Song Dynasty falling into an irretrievable situation. It is precisely because of this that the emperor has not made up his mind to make him the crown prince. In the current situation, our Song Dynasty should still focus on stability."

"Yes, Uncle Shi. I've got it in mind."

Qi Mu nodded with satisfaction, brainwashed Gu Qianfan again, and then quietly left Nan Ya.

Gu Qianfan's eyes were dim, and there was an inexplicable emotion flashing in them.

He didn't look away until Qi Mu completely disappeared into the night.

Then he left Nan Ya, went home, rode out of the city, and went to the cemetery in the suburbs.

(End of this chapter)