It was almost June in a blink of an eye, and the continuous rain had not stopped for three days. The streets washed by the rain looked particularly clean, and the white walls and gray tiles had a unique charm in the misty rain.

Oil paper umbrellas of various colors form the most beautiful poetic scenery on Lin'an Street, the small bridge and flowing water under the style of Jiangnan, the beauty who looks back and smiles under the oil paper umbrella, the elegant young man in the restaurant and tea shop, or the imperial street where cars and sedans are still coming and going, all appear particularly quiet and peaceful in the misty rain.

The whole Lin'an is like a poetic painting. Even the big tile area where even the peddlers and pawns and the most gathered casino brothels give people a peaceful poetic feeling at this moment.

The pedestrian under the straw raincoat looked hurried, and the splashing rain under his feet made a crisp sound. Lan'er Tea Shop had no idea how many shopkeepers had changed, but the business is still quite prosperous now.

The guests entering and leaving hurriedly passed by the pedestrians who had taken off their straw raincoats. In just a moment, the tea shop suddenly closed without warning.

The drizzle that lasted for several days obviously could not stop the undercurrents in Lin'an City. On the surface, it was a quiet and poetic scene, but in the eyes of those who were interested, Lin'an seemed a bit more solemn and murderous under the misty rain.

At the magnificent gate of Dali Temple, soldiers shuttled back and forth between them. The imperial guards in the city seemed to have a strange atmosphere between the various yards, and the scene of people whispering from time to time, as well as the sudden and rapid departure of people, the tranquility of misty rain seemed to contain infinite murderous intent.

The envoys of the Jin Kingdom set off for the Jin Kingdom three days after the Mongolian Kingdom left, and Ye Qing, Lin Ming and Li Xiang met again. Even when the envoys of the Jin Kingdom left, Ye Qing personally sent them to the Gen Mountain Gate.

"King of Yan, the envoy of the Dali Kingdom asked for a visit." The rain outside the window seemed to be getting bigger. Ye Qing, who was sitting by the window and enjoying the rain, drinking tea, looked up at Zhong Jian, who was carrying an umbrella.

"No." Ye Qing smiled and said relaxedly.

Zhong Can shrugged his shoulders helplessly, then turned around and left.

Zhu Xi looked at Ye Qing thoughtfully, thought for a while and asked, "Why didn't the King of Yan see the envoy of Dali?"

"The great affairs of the country should be the saint and the saint. How dare Ye overcome them?" Ye Qing said with some verbal confusion.

Zhu Xi looked at Ye Qing in a daze. Although he had not met him much since Ye Qing returned to Lin'an, it was precisely because of Ye Qing's return to Lin'an that Zhu Xi's life in Lin'an and even in all aspects had undergone earth-shaking changes.

Today, Zhu Xi naturally does not have to live in the small thatched cottage in the past, but has a decent house in Lin'an. Even his students and others have changed the quality of life in Lin'an.

All of this can be seen from Zhu Xi's slightly red expression now that with the changes in various aspects, Zhu Xi's entire spirit is completely different from that of the time.

"Is the King of Yan unwilling to follow the post-Han Tuozhou and did not intend to interfere in the matter of Ziqi and Luodian, or did he actually have other plans?" Zhu Xi has been drinking tea with Ye Qing almost every day in the past few days, and then discussed some things about Confucian classics and other matters, so in the past few days, he has also known more or less about the matter between Ye Qing and Dali Kingdom.

"This matter is not as simple as Mr. Zhu thought. Which matter in the court is not like this? Mr. Zhu should be clear about the court..." Ye Qing picked up the teacup and said.

"In this way... the King of Yan felt that the envoy of Dali State was not simple? There was an ulterior motive behind it?" Zhu Xi also took the teacup and stopped to ask.

"I think there is a mastermind behind the scenes that the reason why the envoy of Dali State bypassed the court and contacted me again after the marriage of the emperor was nothing more than trying to provoke a relationship that I had not trusted with. So, if the envoy of Dali State succeeded..." Ye Qing sighed a little emotion.

"But even if the envoys of Dali Kingdom participated in it, the Master's view of you... I'm afraid there is no progress? On the day of the Emperor's wedding, as you said, there was a possibility of a change, but now more than half a month has passed, the Master is like he has forgotten you, the King of Yan in Lin'an. Don't you think there is something strange about this, or the Master does not intend to completely change his concerns about you, the King of Yan?" Zhu Xi asked with a smile.

"It seems that Lin'an is incompatible with my horoscope and is born with mutual restraint. Every time I return to Lin'an, I have to face the dilemma like a net of heaven and earth." Ye Qing stroked his chin and looked at Zhu Xi with a smile and said, "But Mr. Lin'an seems to be born with mutual restraint. In this way, you and I are the same fate in Lin'an."

Zhu Xi shook his head and smiled bitterly at Ye Qing's jokes, but he had to admit that what Ye Qing said was not far-fetched.

"If the King of Yan is still concerned about fame, if the King of Yan agrees, it might as well leave it to me, just like when you were in the Northern Expedition, I must have created another one for the King of Yan in Lin'an.

It is not difficult to be famous, although Shi Xiang is also full of people and powerful people emerge... "Zhu Xi said in contemplation.

"The fact of fame has been left behind since the day Ye Qing's Northern Expedition. The reason why he is hesitant now..." Ye Qing looked out the window at the rain line that looked like a pearl curtain.

"But in the last Northern Expedition, the King of Yan did not do this. Otherwise, how could he be tacit with me?" Zhu Xi frowned. Now he could become a guest in the Prince of Yan's mansion. In addition to the sudden change in Ye Qing's attitude towards him, he thought that what he left was to rely on the mouths of a literati to help Ye Qing establish a good reputation.

Ye Qing looked at Zhu Xi who didn't believe in him calmly, took a deep breath and said, "The reason why I was tacit with the gentleman was not for the reputation of Ye, but for the success of the Northern Expedition, and to be able to capture Yanjing in one fell swoop. The war is not simply leading troops to fight, and the complete supply of food and grass can lead to victory. Looking at the years of our Song Dynasty, although we are not considered strong, we are definitely not a mob. The reason why we have always won fewer victory and more defeats against the Jin people is obviously in the court. So, no matter which stop, Ye needs to ensure that he has a stable rear and will not be stabbed in the back at a critical moment."

Zhu Xi looked at the calm Ye Qing seriously, and after a long time, he sighed and said, "So this is why King Yan did not plan to meet with the envoy of Dali?"

"Now it seems that Shi Miyuan will not be eliminated for a day, and I will not be at peace in Lin'an for a day. Following Han Tuozhou's footsteps, suppressing Ziqi and Luodian again, helping the great masters understand the siege, which is not as simple as my northern expedition in the north. No matter what, during the Northern Expedition, Ye had all the trajectories north of the Yangtze River as the rear, so that he could also use this to offset those dissatisfied with me, Ye Qing. If he suppressed Ziqi and Luodian, behind Ye, he would be directly facing the Lin'an court, and he had to be careful." Ye Qing's brows became more worried.

"I still remember that the King of Yan once said in the early years: There is no good general in the north, which has forced my Song Dynasty to settle down in a corner, and the prime minister in the south, which has made my Song Dynasty bow to the Jin Dynasty. Since there are hidden dangers in the court, with the current momentum of King of Yan, can it not solve the stubborn disease of the Song Dynasty? Or is it because Shi Miyuan is powerful in the court, so you have to avoid his sharpness?" Zhu Xi asked thoughtfully.

Ye Qing shook his head and smiled bitterly, then looked at Zhu Xi and said, "After that being said, it is not easy for Ye to find a place in the court now? Shi Miyuan is always wary of me, afraid that I will get involved in the court. Now the emperor is an adult, and the court is very arbitrary. Ye wants to find a place in the court in a short time. The emperor's attitude is crucial. Now the trust between Ye and the emperor is hard to understand. The envoys of Dali Kingdom outside are making pitiful faces and pressing step by step. Can't you still see that this is Xiang Zhuang's sword dancing in Pei Gong?"

Zhu Xi's expression slowly became solemn. What Ye Qing said did have his reasons, and these were obviously something he had never considered.

After all, the reason why Ye Qing is difficult to occupy a place in the court is not because of Ye Qing's qualifications and achievements now, but because Shi Miyuan's obstruction, he alienated the relationship between Ye Qing and the current emperor and the emperor, and used the envoys of the Dali Kingdom to press Ye Qing to confirm that Ye Qing had a two-minded heart for the court.

Naturally, in the current situation, Ye Qing obviously could not advance rashly. The mutual suspicion between the monarch and his ministers, and even the dissatisfaction with Ye Qing by the current sage, coupled with Shi Miyuan's obstruction, Ye Qing is now afraid to overtake and meet with the envoys of the Dali Kingdom, let alone his unknown ambition to annex Ziqi, Luodian and even Dali.

"In this situation, can't you think of a way to solve it with the wisdom of the King of Yan?" Zhu Xi was silent and asked helplessly.

"Watching the changes is the best way to solve them, or... go into the tiger's den and grab the tiger's son, but if that's the case..." Ye Qing was a little hesitant. He was really afraid that if this happened, there would be no way back in everything.

"I hereby assure the King of Yan that even if something happened that I didn't want to see, I would always stand on the King of Yan's side this time, how about it?" Zhu Xi said with a rare expression of seriousness.

"No hurry, the situation in Lin'an needs to be seen again. After all, after I return to Lin'an, whether it is moving or not, Shi Miyuan will be anxious, not me, Ye Qing. So I believe that Shi Miyuan will sooner or later have a flaw. At that time... it will be the time for me, Ye Qing to eliminate the treacherous minister for the court." A sneer appeared on Ye Qing's lips.

Zhu Xi nodded silently. Although Shi Miyuan had no major mistakes in the court since he became an official, of course, even if there was a major mistake, the fact that the northern land was successfully recovered by Ye Qing and the capture of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun was completely covered up.

But even so, Shi Miyuan's greed for money was still as obvious as the lice on the bald man's head.

Moreover, in the past two years, Lin'an has been rumored that there are probably more gold and silver in Shi Miyuan's mansion than the imperial court.

Which of the officials in Jiangnan who want to be promoted and those who want to enter Lin'an needs to get Shi Miyuan's nod to get what they want?

But if Shi Miyuan nodded in agreement, how could it be so easy? Of course, it is inevitable to give all the money he has saved to Shi Miyuan, so that he can achieve his goal of promotion. Finally, after taking office, he will take back the money he has filial to Shi Miyuan from the people.

After all, all this will fall on exploiting the people in the end. Although the increase in taxes in Jiangnan has not yet shaken the court, the sufferings and severe taxes of the people are about to break through the illusion of Lin'an's prosperous era and be completely exposed to the world.

Zhu Xi looked at Ye Qing with some concern, but he had to admire Ye Qing's tolerance for the situation in Lin'an, which almost exceeded his expectations.

This is enough to show that over the years, Ye Qing has been able to stay in the north for an important reason. In addition to his extremely deep cunning, it is this unstoppable endurance that allows Ye Qing to escape from danger again and again in the face of the suppression of the imperial court and even the emperor.

Putting himself in his shoes, Zhu Xi did not think that when he was in a situation like Ye Qing, he could still maintain such tolerance as Ye Qing. He would not even wait until the situation develops to such a severe situation and be suppressed by his enemies from the court.

When he was an official in the local area or later in the palace, Zhu Xi never understood what power and strategy was.

The character of a scholar and scholar is important in the court, but his character, which is too tough and easy to break, and his pedantic spirit, is a great scholar like Zhu Xi, who is not suitable for intrigues in the court at all.

"After getting along with the King of Yan these few days, I finally fully understand why my career was so unhappy." Zhu Xi's expression did not seem lonely at this time, but seemed extremely honest. Seeing Ye Qing slowly shifting his gaze from the window to him, he paused and continued, "If the King of Yan doesn't dislike him, I would like to spend some time. When Lin'an calms down, I go to Yanjing to take a look. I wonder if the King of Yan is welcome?"

Ye Qing looked a little surprised. Since he returned to Lin'an to visit Zhu Xi and expressed his request, Zhu Xi has not given him a clear answer until today, but today... Zhu Xi actually agreed unexpectedly.

"What sir said seriously?" Ye Qing asked anxiously with a happy expression.

Looking at Ye Qing's joyful expression, he didn't seem to be deliberately pretending, Zhu Xi smiled and nodded and said, "Take it seriously! Absolutely!"

Seeing that Ye Qing was still a little unbelievable, Zhu Xi no longer concealed his thoughts and explained to Ye Qing calmly: "I either focus on Neo-Confucianism in this life or hope to make a difference in the career of officialdom. However, no matter what, my ambition has always been... I have to leave something for the world throughout my life. Scholars study poetry and books hard for ten years, both to be able to make a name for themselves and to do something for the world and the people with their own knowledge. Over the years, I have been resentful about the unsuccessful career, blamed the world and the people, and also lamented that I was not lucky. But what King Yan said today made me realize that the court was not my ideal."

Ye Qing thought for a long time, but he didn't know what the most profound sayings he said today, but he actually made the stubborn Zhu Xi enlighten and suddenly realized.

But no matter what, since Zhu Xi has agreed to go to Yanjing, there is no need for him to worry about the reasons, right?

"But I have agreed in advance that I am old and I am afraid that even after I arrive in Yanjing, I will not be able to do many things myself..." Since Zhu Xi's knot has been completely untied, he seemed much more frank when speaking.

"Don't worry, sir, there is no problem with Ye in anything. I don't plan to let him do anything by himself. As long as he is willing to go, Ye will be satisfied and grateful." Ye Qing picked up the teacup and said to Zhu Xi.

"So the King of Yan doesn't know how many scholars he can accommodate in Yanjing..." Zhu Xi asked with a smile.

"The teacher has the final say in Yanjing Academy. Ye will never ask about it at will. In the entire Yanjing Road and even the entire northern region, the teacher can set up branches at will. All affairs are designated by the teacher. Ye is willing to pay only money and efforts." Ye Qing put down the teacup and said.

"The King of Yan is worthy of being the King of Yan. It is indeed a happy person, then..."

"A word is certain!" the two of them said in unison, then laughed and raised the teacup again.
Chapter completed!