Chapter 652: Chapter 645: Primordial Spirit Hunts the Killer, Holding the Way to Slaughter
Lin Xiaosu led the way, with Yin Ti closely following on one side, answering Lin Xiaosu’s first question: What was the scene at the time of the incident?
They gradually moved away, and the people in the venue stood apart in groups.
Minister of the Ministry of Justice Song Lifu’s eyes flickered...
A very soft voice came to his ears: "Master Song, did Li Chengnian... did he commit a taboo?"
It was the voice of the Seventh Prince.
Song Lifu said: "Does Your Highness mean that he stood up to speak for the Wenhua Pavilion, which seems to have the suspicion of winning people’s hearts?"
"Exactly, this is a major taboo in officialdom; our little brother seems a bit inexperienced, you, as an elder, should guide him more."
Song Lifu laughed: "Your Highness already treats him like a brother!"
"I once served in the military, and military people are always simpler. Based on what he has done, he is worthy of being my brother, but being in the Imperial Family, it’s inconvenient to express it openly," the Seventh Prince said.
Song Lifu said: "Your Highness is not skilled in matters of the court but can see that this is a taboo; naturally, Your Majesty can see it too. So, may I ask Your Highness, why does Your Majesty still approve of him winning people’s hearts this time?"
The Seventh Prince was stunned.
Yes, even he, a greenhorn in officialdom, could see that this brother had the suspicion of winning people’s hearts. How could his father, who has controlled the realm for over forty years, not see it?
Why did his father not feel the slightest resentment toward him, but instead strongly endorse him, personally delivering the gratitude of the Wenhua Pavilion to him?
"Sir, why is this?" the Seventh Prince asked directly.
Song Lifu explained: "It is a mutual need! Although Mr. Li is young, he is deeply versed in the ways of officialdom. He needs the support of the court grandees, and Your Majesty also needs their recognition of him."
Although the explanation was simple, the logic was immediately apparent.
The Seventh Prince was not a fool; he vaguely understood some of it.
His father’s promotion of this prodigy was very abrupt.
There would be dissent in the court, and even in the folk, people would say, the sole purpose of this rapid promotion of an Inspection Envoy by His Majesty was to depose the Crown Prince.
This is not the explanation his father wanted to hear.
What his father wanted to hear was that the promotion of this Inspection Envoy was proper; it was just a coincidence that this Inspection Envoy discovered evidence of the Crown Prince’s crimes. The Crown Prince was deposed not because of scheming but because when one commits a wrong, there is inevitable retribution.
Therefore, his father was reinforcing a fact, that is, Li Chengnian is someone worthy of promotion.
In officialdom, employing people involves a public opinion atmosphere.
And Wenhua Pavilion, in charge of Dynasty records, has another function, which is to manage the opinions of scholars across the nation.
In this era, it’s almost equivalent to the national archives and the propaganda department combined.
If Lin Xiaosu gains their recognition, there will be far less noise among the people.
All this, under Song Lifu’s reminder, turned over and over in the Seventh Prince’s mind until he finally understood.
Song Lifu’s last words came gently, extremely gentle: "Your Highness should also start learning the heart skill of officialdom now."
The Seventh Prince’s heart suddenly jolted.
The heart skill of officialdom!
Historically, there is no such phrase!
They would only talk about the ways of officialdom, not the heart skill of officialdom.
In the officialdom, the heart skill, there is a specific prefix, Emperor! Emperor’s Heart Skill!
The dignified Minister of the Ministry of Justice, a true bigwig in officialdom, would he say something wrong?
Impossible!
What he subtly told the Seventh Prince was exactly this...
You, now need to prepare to compete for the heir!
In the past, with Hong Ding present, the princes avoided the competition for the crown out of fear.
Because his position as Crown Prince was almost set in stone.
Daring to challenge this position was seeking one’s own doom.
Which prince dared to be so reckless?
Even if he was truly reckless, there would certainly be less reckless elders who would sternly warn not to overstep the bounds.
But now, the situation has greatly changed.
Hong Ding is finished.
A void appeared in the Eastern Palace.
Your Majesty has eight sons, with Hong Ding already out, the position of Crown Prince will emerge from among the seven.
The situation of the seven sons vying for the throne has already formed.
"Master Song!" the Seventh Prince sighed deeply: "I understand your point, but... speaking from the heart, I really don’t like that hall."
That hall.
The Eastern Palace!
He clearly expressed his intention, disliking the competition for the Crown.
Song Lifu said: "What does Your Highness like?"
"I fought on the battlefield for ten years and seven months. The world says it’s the low point of my princely career, but Master Song, do you believe? Riding on horseback over Zheyuntai, overlooking the vast Northwest mountains and rivers, drinking a bag of strong Northwest liquor, drawing my sword and singing in the northern wind, that was actually my greatest delight."
Song Lifu sighed: "Looking down on the Liuchuan River, toasting and singing under the moon, indeed a heroic spirit, but Your Highness, General Xuelong was also with you that day; why did he almost face extermination? When fate cannot be self-mastered, where in the world can one sing freely? You need to understand that only when you become the ultimate Chess Player can you live the life you want."
The Seventh Prince gazed into the Northwest for a long time, "Master Song, how about you? What plans do you have?"
"What plans I have depend on what plans Your Highness has. If Your Highness plans to compete, I also plan to compete. If Your Highness plans to get drunk in the brothel, ride freely at the border, I actually have a villa in Jiangnan, if I retire and return to the countryside, perhaps I might live more gracefully and lightly than Your Highness."
His meaning was already clearly indicated.
If the Seventh Prince plans to go all out to compete for the heir, then he, Song Lifu, will also compete.
How to compete?
He also has a path, which is the vacant Prime Minister position.
He competes for Prime Minister not for himself, but to hold this pinnacle position in officialdom and pave the way for the Seventh Prince.