Without much fanfare, the news that Master Zhuang returned alive to the capital spread quietly throughout the court. Emperor Jianshi issued an edict to reward the Zhuang family. There was no fanfare or celebration. The Zhuang family gave people the feeling that they just wanted to quietly take Master Zhuang back to live in his old age. Chen Guanlou, who knew the inside story, naturally understood that all this was instructed by Emperor Jianshi. Did the Zhuang family not want to make a big fuss? It was obviously Emperor Jianshi who did not want the news of Master Zhuang's return to become the center of attention. As for the disappearance of Master Zhuang, no one mentioned it. Emperor Jianshi wanted to keep a low profile, so the court officials naturally knew about it. As for the disappearance that year, whether it was the work of the previous emperor or there was another reason, it was no longer important. I thought the matter of Master Zhuang had come to an end. I never expected that half a month after Master Zhuang returned to the Zhuang family, news came out that he died of illness. When he learned the news, Chen Guanlou was drinking tea and almost spit out a mouthful of tea.
"Dead?" "The news came from the Zhuang family, there's no doubt about it." Doctor Mu nagging at him. "How did he die?" "Of course he died of illness. Since the Taifu returned to the Zhuang family, the imperial physician has been living in the Zhuang family to treat the Taifu. But the Taifu's condition was too serious, and he eventually died of illness." Chen Guanlou: ... At the beginning of the year, I saw the Taifu in the palace. Although he was a little embarrassed and had Alzheimer's disease, he looked energetic and looked like he could live for at least one or two years. If he took good care of himself, he could live for two or three years. Unexpectedly, returning to the capital cost the Taifu's life. He couldn't help but think, if he hadn't brought the Taifu back to the capital, would the Taifu still be alive, living well, not worrying about food and drink, with people serving him, and no one disturbing him. He opened his mouth and said casually: "There are so many skilled doctors in the Imperial Hospital, but they can't cure the Taifu's illness? Is the Taifu's illness really that serious?" Medical Officer Mu said: "It is said that it is quite serious. When he was taken home, he couldn't speak or get out of bed." Chen Guanlou:... He took a deep breath, his face was cold, and he smiled sarcastically, "People who get in the way are really disliked and don't live long." "Chen Yucheng, you seem to have something else to say?" Medical Officer Mu asked curiously. Chen Guanlou waved his hand, "I just spoke out of my feelings. I have nothing else to do today, so I'll leave first." He got up and left the Tianlao, wandered all the way to the Ministry of Justice, and met the new Shangshu Sun Daoning. Sun Daoning was promoted and made a fortune, and he was full of official power. Chen Guanlou didn't indulge him, and said straight to the point: "The Taifu is dead!" Sun Daoning wanted to put on airs, but seeing that Chen Guanlou didn't buy it at all, he was embarrassed by putting on airs. He was tangled in his heart and was very unhappy. He felt dissatisfied that he was promoted but could not act cool.
He thought, the other party was really here to defeat him. If he had known this would happen, he should have sent someone else to find the whereabouts of the Taifu. He coughed lightly, suppressed his dissatisfaction, and said, "Death is like the extinguishing of a lamp." Chen Guanlou sneered, "You should remember clearly what the Taifu looked like when he just returned to the capital. It has been such a short time, and he is gone. You have never thought about the deep meaning of it!" "What if you thought about it? Is this something you and I can think of? This official wishes to know nothing and has never met the Taifu. There are many waters here, and this official is anxious to withdraw. Do you still want to get involved? Chen Guanlou, don't think too highly of yourself." Sun Daoning looked very angry. Hearing the news of the death of the Taifu, he shivered twice on the spot, and his heart was chilled with fear. It was not easy for him to stabilize his emotions, but Chen Guanlou came to provoke him again. Chen Guanlou said nothing. Anyone could see that he was in a bad mood. It was best not to provoke him. Sun Daoning was afraid that he would do something irreversible under impulse. He calmed down and comforted him softly: "Don't think too much. The Grand Tutor is old and sick. Leaving at this time may be a kind of luck." Chen Guanlou nodded and said nothing. Sun Daoning continued: "We all have to recognize our own identities. Things at that level are not our business. As the saying goes, you should not meddle in other people's affairs. You have always practiced this sentence. Why are you so excited this time?" Chen Guanlou glanced at him, "The Grand Tutor disappeared in the Tianlao, and I found him again. Alas... I don't know if the Grand Tutor knew all the truth before he died, and whether he died peacefully." "What truth is there? The Grand Tutor's biggest wish after the incident was to hope that Your Majesty could ascend the throne smoothly. Your Majesty did it, and the Grand Tutor should rest in peace." This made sense. Chen Guanlou couldn't refute it. Sun Daoning continued, "If the Taifu knew that sacrificing him would allow His Majesty to inherit the throne smoothly. Do you think the Taifu is willing to sacrifice? I think he should be willing. He has no regrets!" Since the Taifu was imprisoned, Emperor Jianshi has established a perfect victim image. After being deposed as the crown prince, he did not complain about the heavens and others, but was willing to be a filial son and grandson. The perfect victim image moved the world, and the court officials were indignant, and they all wanted to stand up for him and take back everything they had lost. When the previous emperor died suddenly, he was poisoned and unconscious, and almost missed the throne. The perfect victim image once again became popular. Chen Guanlou chuckled and changed his tone, "Congratulations to the adults on getting what they want, getting promoted and getting rich." Sun Daoning's face turned from cloudy to sunny, and he said happily, "I received your gift. You are thoughtful." "Your Excellency has been promoted, why don't you have a banquet to celebrate?" "No need to make a big fuss." "Your Excellency seems to have some hidden worries?" Sun Daoning sighed immediately, and then said: "Many people in the court have been transferred this time, and I am not the only one who has been promoted. Do you know who the new Minister of the Ministry of Revenue is?" Chen Guanlou thought, "I heard that his surname seems to be Zheng, and he was transferred from the local area to the capital." Humph!
Sun Daoning snorted coldly, looking very indignant, as if he had accumulated a lot of resentment. "This person is called Zheng Daochong, a figure similar to Jiang Tu, but more difficult to deal with than Jiang Tu. This is actually a bit insulting to Zheng Daochong. Jiang Tu is not even worthy of carrying shoes in front of him. But they are all the same villains, the same meanness, the same greed. The one with the surname Zheng is even worse." Ah? Is the resentment so great? "Old Sun, do you have a conflict with him?" Chen Guanlou was very curious. "I have no conflict with him. But I cannot bear to see such villains disrupting the government. Your Majesty is really confused. The Political Affairs Hall has repeatedly opposed it, but Your Majesty insisted on his own way and promoted Zheng Daochong to be the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Ridiculous!" Sun Daoning was so angry that he punched the table. The desk of the Minister of Justice was made of high-quality wood, with solid workmanship, and could even be passed down. However, under the angry punch of the warrior Sun Daoning, a shallow mark was left on the table. Chen Guanlou clicked his tongue twice. How powerful is Zheng to make Old Sun so angry that he became deformed. Back then, Jiang Tu didn't have this ability.
