Chapter 17: The Emperor and His Ministers Have Already Met with the Time (17)

The courtyard where Shen Minghuan lived was close to the corner. He chose it himself just to plant a bamboo forest outside the courtyard.

Look at the green bamboos in the Qi River.

There is a gentleman who is as good as a knife and as good as a polish.

He fits all the beautiful imaginations of the noble sons of this era.

The courtyard looks very simple, without too much decoration and eye-catching colors, simple to the point of being a bit crude. However, a closer look reveals that it is exquisite everywhere, and even every arc has a unique design.

Push open the small courtyard door, and there is a chessboard on the stone table facing the door all year round, mostly "Shen Minghuan" and Shen Changqing playing chess. However, today there are two people sitting at the stone table, playing chess opposite each other.

Shen Changqing dropped a piece, and the jade and stone collided, making a crisp sound. He turned his head, his eyes passed Shen Duo and looked at Shen Minghuan who was approaching from the door, kind and tolerant, "Minghuan, are you back?"

Shen Duo turned his head in a hurry, and his movement was too big to overturn the chessboard, and the chess pieces fell to the ground.

His eyes were burning, his breathing was rapid, and his fingers were trembling slightly. It was hard to tell whether he was excited or angry.

In winter in Yanling, even if there was no snow at this moment, the sky and the earth were white.

Only the bamboo forest outside the courtyard still had green.

When the courtyard door opened and closed, the vibrant green poured into the small courtyard, but it willingly turned into a leaf on the boy's shoulder, eager to add more brilliance to him.

- Even though he was dazzling enough.

It is better to eat without meat than to live without bamboo.

Behind Shen Minghuan was a rustling bamboo forest, as if it was because he walked through it that the bamboo forest seemed to come alive.

And only when he lived here did the existence of the bamboo forest have meaning.

Shen Duo had not seen Shen Minghuan for nearly fifteen years.

The little boy who used to have red eyes and hold back tears, and had to bow to wish him a safe journey, has now grown into an outstanding teenager.

Just looking at his demeanor, you can tell that he is extraordinary.

Shen Duo once looked at his hometown from Xiqiu across the mountains and passes, day after day and year after year.

He sent away the spring flowers and autumn leaves, sent away the wife who supported him for half his life, and sent away the returning geese from the south to the north and from the north to the south.

He described Shen Minghuan's appearance in every letter, and learned about Shen Minghuan's elegance from the words of the messenger. He felt extremely relieved and proud in these countless moments.

The imperial edict that summoned him back was vague, only praising him for having an outstanding child. Shen Duo was thinking all the way, what price did Shen Minghuan pay to make the emperor agree to his return?

He could not think of it, but the rumors since he came to Beijing told him the truth.

Those feelings of being touched, relieved, and proud... dissipated bit by bit, and the joy of returning to his homeland was also covered by anger. If words can lie, then how much of the letters he had received and the news he had heard were true?

Shen Duo looked at Shen Minghuan with a complicated look.

Shen Minghuan pretended not to see him, and replied to Shen Changqing with a faint smile: "Yes, I'm back, and I made grandpa worried."

Shen An suddenly realized, "So the owner of the family knew that the old man would come here!"

He realized that his interruption was too rude after he finished speaking, and covered his mouth as if he was confessing his sin.

Shen Changqing's eyes were full of smiles, "I also know you know."

Shen Minghuan said "hmm", as if he found it funny, and he also said seriously: "I also know that grandpa knows that I know."

He made himself laugh after he finished speaking. Shen Changqing looked at him dotingly and shook his head helplessly.

Shen Duo: "..."

Didn't anyone notice that there was another person here?

He coughed heavily a few times in an attempt to attract the attention of the people present.

So Shen Changqing, Shen Minghuan, and Shen An, who were talking happily, turned their heads and stared at him with questioning eyes, as if waiting for the prisoner who was about to be executed to make a final appeal.

Shen Duo: "..."

Shen Changqing looked at him with disdain, "Such a big man, can still scatter Minghuan's chess pieces all over the floor."

*

Shen Changqing did not stay for long. After confirming that Shen Minghuan was unharmed, he found a reason to leave, creating conditions for the reunited father and son to talk.

"Che means clear water." Shen Duo looked at him and sighed, and spoke after a long time: "I named you Che, hoping that you will be clean and bright in this life, and have no regrets. I named you Minghuan, and I hope you will be smooth and worry-free, always happy, and more joyful."

He squatted down, and used the action of lowering his head to pick up the chess pieces to hide the surging emotions in his heart. "If I ask you to stop now and stay away from the disputes over the succession, are you willing?"

The system was in tears, [Woo woo woo, host, I'm sorry. ]

[Why are you crying? I didn't do all this for you. ]Shen Minghuan was frightened by the crying and tried to comfort him awkwardly.

Shen Duo interpreted Shen Minghuan's silence as a rejection. He stood up and put the chessboard on the stone table, nodded, and smiled bitterly: "I know you are better than me. You are a young talent and you need ambition, but why is it the second prince?"

Shen Duo could accept Shen Minghuan working for Luo Xiuyuan. As he said, the child has grown up and is eager to show his talents. Even if there is danger, there is no reason for parents to stop him.

The premise is that it is the right path.

"Because the second prince is better..." Lie.

Shen Minghuan smiled slightly, "The eldest prince can't let you return to Beijing, father."

"Then should I thank you?" Shen Duo tried to be patient, but there was still a bit of sarcasm in his tone.

He was angry that this man ignored the future of Daqi for a little benefit, but he was also afraid that this man really chose the second prince for him.

If that's the case, then isn't he the root of all these sins?

Shen Duo's voice trembled: "Do you know what people outside are saying about the Shen family now?"

Shen Minghuan sighed, "Why care about the world's views? History books are written by the victors."

"You..." Shen Duo widened his eyes in surprise, and his expression was complicated: "How can you say such a bastard?"

Before Shen Minghuan came back, Shen Changqing had talked to Shen Duo.

Shen Duo didn't understand why his father, who had never tolerated a grain of sand in his eyes in his memory, would so firmly support Shen Minghuan's absurd behavior fifteen years later, but refused to explain the reason to him.

"Si Ming, I don't care how confused and dissatisfied you are, you have to remember that the current head of the Shen family is Ming Huan."

Shen Changqing's tone was serious before ending the conversation, like a reminder and a warning.

Shen Duo closed his eyes slightly and said, "Shen Che, you are the head of the Shen family. The Shen family is not just you, me, and your father living in the ancestral house. You have to be responsible for the Shen family."

"You are right." Shen Minghuan nodded in agreement, "The best way is for you to sever the father-son relationship with me and drive me out of the house, so that I will not implicate the Shen family."

"Shen Che!" Shen Duo was furious. He believed that Shen Minghuan was angry, but even if he was angry, his words were too hurtful. "I'm your father, can't I say a few words?"

He said sarcastically: "You are the one in charge of the Shen family now, how can I have the right to drive you out of the house, I should be the one to leave, right, head of the family?"

Shen Minghuan seemed not to notice the anger in his tone, and nodded again: "Yes, I am the head of the family, so I drive myself out of the house?"

Shen Duo's breath was choked.

He felt that this was not okay. He and Shen Minghuan had not seen each other for a long time. During the days and nights in Xiqiu, he also drew courage from his longing for the child.

After fifteen years, this relationship should not be wasted in meaningless quarrels.

"Shen Che, it's not appropriate to talk now, let's calm down." Shen Duo stopped the loss in time and left.

Shen Minghuan sighed with regret, he really wanted to be kicked out of the house.

[Host?] The system cautiously tested.

It didn't know why Shen Minghuan said this. In its opinion, Shen Minghuan was fully capable of solving it in a better way.

If its host wants to build a good relationship with someone, no one in the world can refuse.

Shen Minghuan slowly placed the chess pieces on the chessboard one by one without answering.

*

Luo Xiuqi has been very proud recently.

At the dinner that day, the emperor personally restored General Zhuo's reputation, and he was still the invincible general of Daqi.

But Zhuo Feichen showed a gesture of following the lead of the second prince, which really made Luo Xiuqi the center of attention.

Even the famous Prince Li Lan, who came from afar as a hostage, respected him first-class.

At the banquet, Luo Xiuqi was intoxicated by the praises in his ears.

After that night, he was so busy that he couldn't even find time to look for his Mr. Shen. Too many people came to visit him, and Luo Xiuqi was so coaxed that he couldn't find the north.

He showed his strength to the fullest at the dinner. Shen Minghuan, Li Chengzhuo, and Zhuo Feichen, with just the three of them, not to mention the position of the crown prince, they can even compete for the throne.

Nowadays, there are many scoundrels in the court who are greedy for fame and fortune. They have no other skills, but they are best at changing their attitude according to the situation.

The words were particularly pleasant, which made Luo Xiuqi, who was tortured by Shen Minghuan, linger.

Because Luo Xiuqi's attitude of liking to be flattered was too obvious, the people below naturally catered to his wishes.

"I have wanted to pay my respects to Your Highness before, but every time I saw Your Highness's majesty, I felt ashamed of myself, so I missed the opportunity. It's a pity."

"Lord Wang's words make sense. In my humble opinion, Your Highness's majesty is no different from that of the emperor."

Luo Xiuqi was shocked when he first heard someone compare him to the emperor, but later he became more and more calm after hearing more.

It only took three days from "equal to each other" to "Your Majesty can't even flatter him". Luo Xiuqi raised his lips and said "I dare not" but didn't try to stop it.

Such a big commotion naturally reached the emperor's ears.

Its speed and completeness were just like the rumors that suddenly arose before and were quickly heard by Luo Xiuqi. It was so magical that it made people confused.

No one wanted to be belittled to flatter another person, let alone the emperor who had always been high and mighty?

No matter how much he loved Luo Xiuqi, he couldn't help but feel a little resentful when he saw that the other party let it go and even enjoyed it.

——The throne will be yours sooner or later. I love you so much, I pave the way for you, and eliminate threats for you. Are you really so impatient?

——Or am I also one of the threats you want to eliminate?

The emperor, who was full of fatherly love, suddenly felt a little chilled.

However, feelings are something that are hard to take back once they are given.

Although the emperor no longer planned everything for Luo Xiuqi like before, Luo Xiuqi was still the special one among all his children.

Shen Minghuan listened to the report of his subordinates quietly and happily placed a piece on the chessboard. There was no one opposite him. It was more like playing with black and white than playing chess.

The storm outside was clearly caused by him, but he was the most relaxed and comfortable.