Shipin Dalizheng

Rong Tang took him to the private room on the third floor of his own entertainment center. In his own territory, he would always feel more comfortable doing anything.

Gu Zhongxun had also come to play and was deeply impressed by Rong Tang's business acumen. They had also made their own playing cards, but had never considered turning it into a livelihood. By the time Rong Tang finally succeeded, they were filled with regret. When they tried to get involved, they discovered that Rong Tang had a monopoly on both the raw materials and the manufacturing process. While Rong Tang was selling all sorts of beautiful playing cards, he was also constantly researching and promoting new ways to play. Their brains weren't enough; before they'd mastered the old, new ones would appear, leaving them unable to keep up.

They knew that although this newly promoted noble son was younger than them and had no family support, he was stronger than all of them combined.

If you can't beat them, then join them. It just so happened that the poem written by Rong Tang caught the eye of King Huai and met the requirements for making friends with others. So he volunteered to be the introducer, hoping that Rong Tang would become a part of his camp.

Although Rong Tang had hinted that he wouldn't join either side, anyone with a discerning eye could see that it was impossible for Prince Rui to recruit him. With today's incident, Rong Tang had become estranged from the entire Ministry of Rites, effectively creating a complete rift between him and Prince Rui. Adhering to the principle that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, he decided to establish a close relationship with Rong Tang. Even if they weren't on the same side, they couldn't be enemies.

The two of them drank a few rounds before Gu Zhongxun suddenly lost his composure, his eyes reddening. "Big Brother, although you're younger than me, you're honest and upright, much better than me, worthy of being a big brother. Xiao Zhenyue... he's been my friend since childhood. Even though we always eat, drink, and have fun together instead of doing anything serious, we've been friends for seven or eight years. When his family got into trouble, I wanted to go see him and ask my father to help him, but my father told me not to meddle in other people's business, so I chickened out... I wasn't a good friend. None of us who used to hang out with him dared to go see him, but you, we were only imprisoned together for a few days in Jingzhao Prefecture Prison, and you dared to go see him and even asked the jailer to look after him... This makes us feel ashamed..."

After drinking this much, Rong Tang concluded that he was not really drunk, but was just taking advantage of the alcohol to say what he had always wanted to say.

"Your family has been operating in Shangjing for decades, and it's not easy. It's normal for you to consider various interests. After all, there's irrefutable evidence that Minister Xiao accepted bribes. Your father is right to be afraid of bringing trouble to the Zhongqin Marquis's Mansion."

Gu Zhongxun smiled bitterly. He knew very well that few officials were honest. Minister Xiao was in that position, and accepting bribes was already a light offense. He was persecuted simply because he blocked Prince Rui's way. And precisely because he did not participate in the party struggle, Prince Huai did not allow anyone to rescue him, and was just waiting for the vacant position to be filled by his own people.

"After all, I was too heartless. Even if I can't go to see him, secretly giving them some money to make their life in there easier is good."

He drank another glass of wine and looked even more drunk.

"You know, when you and the Liang family were directly confronting each other, my father didn't want me to play with you either. He said that you had to join the Huai Wang faction... You know, it's not that our family had to participate in the factional struggle, but we had no choice. Ever since my aunt entered the palace as a concubine and gave birth to the prince, our Gu family has been in the Huai Wang faction. Life and death are tied to it."

Rong Tang also understood this, so he also knew that even if Gu Zhongxun and He Qilin had a friendship, it was a friendship that could not withstand any storm. At present, Prince Huai and Prince Yong had not openly revealed their intention to compete for the throne, but everyone knew that this day would come sooner or later.

While they carefully maintained this balance before the storm, playing one day at a time, they were also prepared for a day of war in the future.

"Then how did you convince your father to continue playing with me?"

Gu Zhongxun let out a sigh. "I told my father that I don't know which will come first, tomorrow or an accident. What if my cousin fails and hundreds of our Gu family members are thrown into the Ministry of Justice prison? Does he want someone to visit him? Even if it can't save anyone's life, let the family die with some dignity? He scolded me, but he didn't stop me."

He looked very happy, but also helpless. "Look, even my friendship with you was motivated by a purpose. I see you as a ray of hope in hell. Now, big brother, tell me what qualifications are needed to be your friend?"

Rong Tang slowly touched the teacup beside him, "Theoretically, you are already my friend. Based on our current relationship, I treat you the same as I treat Xiao Zhenyue. But there are exceptions!"

Gu Zhongxun looked at him directly. "What exception?"

"After Minister Xiao was convicted, I inquired about his family. He was a decent official and had no murders on his hands. Although Xiao Zhenyue was a playboy, he had not committed any serious crimes."

The words were clear enough, but Gu Zhongxun's expression was a little unnatural. "Is that so?"

Rong Tang certainly understood where the crux of the matter lay. The fight between their camps vying for the throne was so fierce that they resorted to every possible means, including framing, murder, and putting the blame on others. It was impossible for no one to die.

"My bottom line is not to harm the harmony of nature and not to kill innocent people."

Gu Zhongxun chewed on it for a while, then seemed to understand something. "I think I understand what you mean."

After resting for a while, Gu Zhongxun said goodbye and left. He was born on a drifting boat and had no choice and no escape, but as Rong Tang said, perhaps he could leave himself a way to survive.

He walked a distance and looked back, only to see eunuchs from the palace waiting at the door of the shop. He was shocked to realize that Rong Tang knew that the palace would come to summon him, and deliberately chose the shop on Qianmen Street, which was closest to the palace, to chat with him. At such a young age, he was more cunning than anyone else.

He muttered, "Prince Rui, you really made a mistake."

An hour ago, Tang Tiantian and Princess Zhao Ling entered the palace together and were led to wait outside the emperor's study.

Sima Zhi had official business, so he met the emperor first and presented him with a newly made snowflake sword. Of course, this was not made specifically for the emperor, but the emperor did ask the Ministry of Works to make a new model of sword for him to see. Today, Sima Zhi used a sword in Wei Shangshu's mansion, and if he didn't find an excuse, he would be punished.

Emperor Xuanning weighed the new sword and found it was just the right weight, making it feel powerful when wielded.

"He Daban, find something to try your hand on."

He Daban turned around and said, "Your Majesty, why don't you go outside and chop down a small tree."

There were some ornamental trees planted outside the imperial study. Emperor Xuan Ning chose one that was as thick as his wrist, swung his steel knife and chopped it diagonally. The upper half fell off crookedly with a bit of bark attached.

He Daban: "Your Majesty is mighty."

Princess Zhaoling: "Father is mighty."

Sima Zhi: "My emperor is mighty."

Emperor Xuan Ning laughed heartily. When he was young, he was also able to go to the battlefield. But now, he could only be said to be a weak scholar who could not carry anything on his shoulders or lift anything with his hands. His physical fitness was only equivalent to that of an ordinary man.

He can chop down a small tree by himself. If this knife falls into the hands of a general like Sima Zhi, its power will be even greater.

"Lord Sima... I'm talking about your brother Sima Xin. How many swords like this has he made?"

Sima Zhi replied, "Several new designs have been made, and each has several swords. This one is specially presented to Your Majesty, and is named Longquan."

Actually, it wasn't, but there was no other way. This knife had caused trouble, and it could only belong to His Majesty. Thinking about his impulsiveness, if Rong Tang hadn't reminded him, he didn't know whether he could get rid of Wei Shangshu's bite. He was scared.

"Longquan? Not bad, a good name."

Emperor Xuan Ning wanted to ask for a reward, but he held back at the critical moment. He had no money and had to restrain himself.

Then he saw Tang Tiantian standing quietly behind Princess Zhao Ling.