Mythic version of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 7129 A Rumor Without a Ground?

There are some things in this world that have no meaning no matter how much you chant scriptures, but there are some things that will have a certain effect as long as you keep chanting scriptures, and may even affect other people's perceptions.

Unfortunately, the problem is that the kind of thing that's considered "plum blossoms in a melon field" (a metaphor for something suspicious or disrespectful) can become effective if repeated too often, and it can also damage other people's perceptions.

Therefore, when Zheng Xuan spoke of the impropriety of a melon patch and warned Chen Zichuan to be careful, Sun Qian instantly understood what it meant.

"How did this news get out?" Sun Qian asked with a hint of caution, his head bowed. Some scriptures should not be recited carelessly, as it could be fatal.

If Chen Xi and Liu Tong get into trouble, then all the top experts in the world, including Sun Qian, will have to choose sides, which would be extremely dangerous.

"It's not that the rumor spread, but rather that Chen Zichuan himself was somewhat indulgent in this matter. The cause wasn't that others spread rumors, but that Chen Zichuan really did not leave Weiyang Palace." Zheng Xuan said to Sun Qian very seriously, "No one dares to spread this rumor, but the truth cannot be silenced."

This is actually a very critical point. Without this incident, even if the major families had ideas, they wouldn't dare to think about it in this direction, because it would be easy to offend a group of people at once, and a group of people who are at the top of the world.

But if something really happened, even if nothing actually happened, and others were to be honest, I had seen Marquis Chen come out of Weiyang Palace late at night, how would the major families view this issue? To be honest, they would have to prepare for at least three possibilities.

"Damn it!" Sun Qian cursed under his breath, but he really didn't doubt that Chen Xi had come out of Weiyang Palace in the middle of the night. He had seen it before, not to mention others. He just hadn't thought about it that way. Even now, when others said it happened, Sun Qian believed in Chen Xi's integrity. The problem was that such things were impossible to disprove.

You can't ask Chen Xi to prove it, you can't ask Liu Tong to prove it, and you certainly can't ask Liu Bei to say that you're all talking nonsense. This kind of thing is a typical example of something that can't be notarized, which is really ridiculous.

"I do believe in Chen Zichuan's integrity and character, and I know very well what he has sacrificed for the world, so there's no need for this." Zheng Xuan took the matter lightly, but as he said before, it was useless. Zheng Xuan's opinion did not represent that of others.

“I understand.” Sun Qian nodded in a deep voice. He had seen Chen Xi run away from the government office early in the morning several times, only to escape from Weiyang Palace in the middle of the night. But even though he had seen him before, he had never thought of it this way, because he knew that this matter was pure nonsense.

After all, to ignite decades of hard work, the imperial empire he had built, and the ideal of placing himself above all people for a woman is not something a man with great ambitions would do. Beautiful women are always available to Chen Xi.

So, despite meeting him so many times, Sun Qian had never considered this possibility. But now that Zheng Xuan had spoken up, Sun Qian realized, damn it, just because he thought this way didn't mean everyone else thought the same way.

To put it bluntly, most people in this world enjoy palace intrigue and revelry. As for whether this stuff actually has any impact, most people don't even consider it. After all, most people are just people who enjoy themselves.

"Most people are just ordinary people," Zheng Xuan said calmly, then picked up the warm yellow wine beside him, took a couple of small sips, and said with a hint of wry smile, "Then the question is, how do you think the major families view this matter?"

“Normally, most people would just treat it as a joke and not many would believe it. But that’s the normal situation. The abnormal situation, um, means they think it’s a good point to test the waters?” Sun Qian’s expression became much more serious, even a bit cold.

"No, they're just repeating a grade. The more they repeat, the more it becomes like chanting scriptures. If ordinary people believe it, it creates a disturbance in their thinking, and there will be a response." Zheng Xuan looked at Sun Qian and gave a general explanation of what the group was doing. Sun Qian quickly understood what Zheng Xuan was saying.

“Whether it succeeds or not doesn’t matter. It’s just a repetition, a repetition of the past, because the facts are true. In any case, it’s a fact that Chen Zichuan came out of Weiyang Palace in the middle of the night, and it’s also a fact that Han Qiong was guarding the entrance of the side hall of Weiyang Palace in the middle of the night.” Zheng Xuan said with a hint of helplessness. “So it’s impossible to shut them up, because it’s not just the aristocratic families who are reciting the past.”

"What are their demands?" Sun Qian asked, his eyes slightly closed and a hint of coldness in his voice.

"Does everything have to have a demand?" Zheng Xuan said with a smile. "Gongyou, you're thinking too simply. Their current operation is just chanting scriptures until everyone thinks it's a normal situation. The Prince of Jin believes in Marquis Chen, and you all believe in Marquis Chen. Moreover, Marquis Chen would never burn everything he created for a momentary desire, so this is impossible."

Sun Qian's expression relaxed considerably. It turned out that this matter was actually a series of palace intrigue novels. To be honest, Sun Qian had read quite a few of Chen Xi's novels in private, and some of them were of very good quality.

“In that case, we can only let them recite it. After all, this is something Zichuan did himself, and it’s impossible to keep quiet about it.” Sun Qian said with a light laugh. Since it’s just reciting scriptures and repeating them over and over, Sun Qian thought it was just for fun. At most, he would tell Chen Xi to be careful not to sneak out of Weiyang Palace in the middle of the night.

As for telling others not to spread this, well, if you came out of Weiyang Palace in the middle of the night, it's only natural that others would see it and spread it around. Sun Qian even suspected that this story might not have originated from aristocratic families, but rather from the old elite soldiers who patrolled Weiyang Palace.

To be fair, the old guard spreading these stories might just be making things up, like telling dirty jokes, but as they get spread more often, they'll inevitably add more content, which is perfectly normal.

“You’re thinking too simply,” Zheng Xuan said, shaking his head. “If you recite scriptures too often, you’ll get used to it even if you don’t believe them, but some things will be hidden beneath that complacency.”

Sun Qian looked at his teacher in confusion, not understanding what Zheng Xuan was talking about.

“When Her Highness the Princess abdicated, she was not yet forty years old, and Chen Zichuan was only about forty-five or forty-six. What do you think would happen if she recited scriptures too much?” Zheng Xuan said calmly. “Of course, if you think that Chen Zichuan has little attraction for Her Highness the Princess, then just pretend I didn’t say anything.”

Sun Qian's expression became much more serious. Many things cannot withstand scrutiny, and now that he was starting to think about them, Sun Qian had to admit that after the Yuanfeng year, everyone would definitely relax the relevant controls, and if Liu Tong had any intentions, Chen Xi would not be able to stop him.

"This scripture is meant to be recited for everyone, until everyone gets used to it, until Chen Zichuan and the Princess both find the story plausible, but both sides, out of rationality, suppress that possibility, and then create another possibility." Zheng Xuan's eyes, which appeared somewhat cloudy after drinking a little wine, flashed with a sharp light. "If this scripture is recited for fifteen years, do you think you'll get used to it?"

They will inevitably get used to it, and even when that day comes, whatever happens between Chen Xi and Liu Tong will seem both unexpected and perfectly reasonable to them.

“But theoretically it’s impossible.” Sun Qian took a deep breath, thinking he would get used to it, but still asked with some doubt.

“Chen Zichuan is a rational person, but the Eldest Princess is not. The Eldest Princess is a sentimental person who looks like a rational person. She knows right from wrong, but she may not choose the right one. People can go crazy.” Zheng Xuan said very seriously. “In terms of education, if I am second, it is hard for anyone to be first. I have taught Her Highness the Eldest Princess. I have seen a certain obsession in her eyes.”

After listening, Sun Qian rubbed his temples. He agreed with his teacher's judgment. If he said that Liu Tong looked like a rational person but was actually a sentimental person who could go crazy, then he was definitely a sentimental person and would definitely go crazy at some point.

In other words, something that seems impossible for two rational people to do has a fatal flaw from the very beginning.

"There's another point. If the Eldest Princess really goes mad, Chen Zichuan will have no chance of refusing. This kind of 'thread play' is just too outrageous," Zheng Xuan said with a hint of helplessness. "Of course, I'm not saying that the Eldest Princess can control Chen Zichuan, but that if the Eldest Princess needs to, she will become a second Chen Zichuan, even if it's just a clumsy imitation. But there is indeed no one who understands himself better than Chen Zichuan himself, which is actually quite dangerous."

Sun Qian gasped. "Now that you mention it, I'm a little scared!"

“Chen Zichuan and the eldest princess’s offspring have the right to inherit the throne. Moreover, compared to being born in this era and competing with the Prince of Jin for the position of crown prince, if they were born in the next era, the probability of success would be much higher than now, and the loss to the country would be smaller.” Zheng Xuan said very seriously. “Of course, this smaller loss is still terrifying, but Chen Zichuan’s offspring can definitely use this loss to persuade their father to support them.”

"After all, the imperial enterprise was created by his father. Such a small loss is enough reason for him to be a little willful. In the end, it is the parents' love for their youngest son." Sun Qian lay half-reclined in the armchair, pulled a piece of deerskin from the side and covered himself with it. It was a very warm study, and he was in very good physical condition, but at this moment he felt a chill from the inside out.

Because it's so reasonable, damn it, it's just too reasonable. Liu Tong was sixteen when he ascended the throne. The first year of Yuanfeng was roughly two years because of Jianyuan and Chen Xi's entry into the throne. There were some unexpected events in the fifth and sixth years of Yuanfeng. The actual length of the entire Yuanfeng Dynasty was about twenty-two years.

Liu Tong abdicated at the age of thirty-eight, while A Dou ascended the throne at the age of twenty-five. If the Xian'an Dynasty lasted for twenty years, then the time was almost exactly right, which is quite ridiculous.

"Moreover, compared to causing trouble at this time, it would be less stressful, more likely to succeed, and more to gain at the end of the next era. What might be a slight loss of imperial power for Chen Zichuan is not so significant for the major aristocratic families. More importantly, no aristocratic family was involved in the whole affair; they were essentially just going through the motions," Zheng Xuan said with a hint of sarcasm.

After chanting the sutras too much, Chen Xi might still laugh at it, but when Liu Tong is looking for candidates, his eyes will naturally fall on Chen Xi. Compared to others, Liu Tong has the ability to control Chen Xi.

So the whole thing seems very unlikely, but for the major families, it's a matter of reciting scriptures and potentially receiving a large share of the benefits in thirty years. So why not recite them? Besides, once the scriptures are recited, and recited too many times, Chen Xi can't keep quiet about it.

After all, Chen Xi's stories are everywhere, so what difference does one more version of the rumor make? Besides, the scriptures he recited weren't fake; they actually happened. Who told you, Chen Zichuan, to go in and out of Weiyang Palace in the middle of the night?

Of course, if you, Chen Zichuan, can honestly say that you were working overtime, then we will believe you. The question is, can you honestly say that you were working overtime?

Honestly, this is quite funny. Chen Xi really can't say that he was working overtime; he was more like slacking off. But as the saying goes, if you're slacking off in the side hall of Weiyang Palace, then there's definitely something wrong with you!

No matter how much you explain, there's definitely something wrong with you slacking off in the side hall of Weiyang Palace!
"So this matter is unavoidable. The major families may not be able to figure it out clearly, but for them, it is a cost-effective and beneficial thing. So they will definitely keep an eye on it. The only solution is for Chen Zichuan to be careful. It's best not to go through the Empress's door if possible," Zheng Xuan said solemnly.

“Okay, I’ll tell Zichuan the whole story later. To be honest, we really didn’t think about this. After all, Zichuan already has his own version of palace novels.” Sun Qian said with a hint of helplessness. Zheng Xuan was speechless when he heard this. However, food and sex are human nature, and it’s unrealistic to completely ban such things.

However, just after Sun Qian finished speaking, he felt his spiritual talent receive a special fluctuation. After roughly sorting through these fluctuations, Sun Qian quickly realized that they were a code.

No matter what, there is a codebook. Even if it is not used often, it is still easy to understand the conventional and simple decoding. So after thinking for a while, he understood what it meant.

Okay, no need to tell me and Chen Zichuan, we both heard it.

After decoding, Sun Qian was jolted awake and instantly realized that this thing was sent by Liu Tong.

"Um, teacher, have you ever heard a saying in Chang'an that goes, 'If you think of something, it will surely be answered'?" Sun Qian asked tentatively. Zheng Xuan was silent for a while, opened his mouth several times, but finally shut up.

"I've heard about it before, but I didn't expect that if I said it here, that person would actually hear it," Zheng Xuan said, slightly restraining himself, with a hint of helplessness.

“I was negligent. Zichuan embodies the will of the empire, and his spiritual talent also draws upon the wandering spiritual will of the people. So, if someone in Chang’an mentions Zichuan’s name, they will be heard if there isn’t enough national fortune and protection.” Sun Qian said with a hint of helplessness. He could say it every day without any problem, but others really couldn’t just casually mention Chen Xi’s name.

Sun Qian then looked around and moved his hands to close off his study.

“Teacher, remember what I’m about to say and don’t answer. What you said earlier wasn’t just heard by Zichuan, but also by the Princess herself.” Sun Qian said very seriously. Zheng Xuan’s old face froze, somewhat incredulous. He could understand that Chen Xi could hear it, after all, it was Chen Xi, the vessel of the Empire’s will. But why could Liu Tong hear it?

“The talent of playing with silk threads is a bit troublesome,” Sun Qian explained simply. “While we are talking, Her Highness the Princess and Chen Zichuan may also be talking. Let’s leave this matter alone and let the two of them figure it out themselves. They have the ability and strength to do so.”

After saying this, Sun Qian removed the shield and then let Zheng Xuan speak. Although he estimated that even without special shielding, given his level and fortune, he would not be spied on, this kind of trick is only good for gentlemen and not for villains, especially Liu Tong. The Puppet Show is a talent for manipulating others or oneself as a puppet, and there may be more sophisticated applications. Therefore, Sun Qian directly used his methods to make his teacher be careful.

"Lord Chen, I apologize for my presumption, but what I said is not empty talk." After Sun Qian removed the shield, Zheng Xuan cupped his hands in front of him and said. Sun Qian rolled his eyes. With Sun Qian present, Chen Xi would not pursue the matter.

"But it's good to talk about this now." Sun Qian had a half-smile on his face. Just telling Chen Xi might not solve some problems, but if Chen Xi and Liu Tong knew about it, it would be easier to resolve.

“That’s true.” Zheng Xuan nodded, but after Sun Qian’s suggestion, Zheng Xuan lost interest in continuing the conversation. Besides, he had already achieved his goal, and it was getting late. So he nodded to Sun Qian, indicating that he would leave.

Sun Qian got up and helped Zheng Xuan out of the study, suggesting that Zheng Xuan stay at his place if he couldn't manage. Zheng Xuan said that he wouldn't go back tonight, because tomorrow a group of old men might come to Sun Qian's place with white silk ribbons to swing on. Those old men who lived to be eighty years old would really risk their lives for this.

Sun Qian was somewhat speechless upon hearing this, but upon reflection, it was indeed true. Back then, Zhong Yao had suffered from this once, and Sun Qian was somewhat wary of such an attack.

“So I’ll go back to my residence tonight. Those old guys of my generation, even if they have any ideas, will come to me first. And their tantrums might work on you, but they might not work on me.” Zheng Xuan said with a light laugh. “I’ll help you fend off those guys. After the announcement in a few days, those old guys shouldn’t be coming to you anymore.”

"Then I'll have to trouble you, teacher," Sun Qian said, helping Zheng Xuan along.

I'm taking my car to get it serviced today; I'm praying nothing goes wrong.