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墨書 Inktalez
Murong Hanzhu was indeed a cunning person. He quickly realized the situation and silently gritted his teeth. On the surface, Li Jue had indeed pushed Cui Dunli into a position where he became a minister, achieving the highest official rank available to a subject.
However, there was not just one prime minister in this dynasty. Zhu Suiliang was also a prime minister, and even the acting Central Secretariat Vice Minister, who rose to power through a single piece of advice, was granted the same rank as the Third Division of the Secretariat, equivalent to that of a prime minister. But how did these people compare to Changsun Wuji?
Among the prime ministers, there were distinctions in rank. Currently, Changsun Wuji monopolized policy-making; who could possibly challenge him?
Cui Dunli felt an urge he could hardly suppress, but he did not have the foresight of Murong Hanzhu. If he remained in the position of Minister of War, he would at least be a leader with real power in his hands. However, once he became a prime minister, he would be subject to the control of Changsun Wuji and other senior officials, leaving no room for Cui Dunli to voice his opinions.
This was a case of nominal elevation but actual demotion!
"Li Jue is truly an old fox; when he acts, he calculates so well!" Murong Hanzhu thought fiercely.
At the same time, Changsun Wuji was somewhat taken aback. He had never been on good terms with Li Jue and Li Daozong because Li Daozong was related to the Li family, while Li Jue had been personally granted his surname by Emperor Taizong and had always been loyal to the Li family. As the uncle of the emperor, he naturally harbored some resentment towards those close to the Li family.
However, he did not expect that Li Jue would actually kick Cui Dunli down to Changsun Wuji's feet, allowing him to trample on him. Changsun Wuji harbored deep hatred for the Cui clan; with Cui Dunli entering the Council of State, his career had reached its peak. Changsun Wuji would never allow him any opportunity to shine!
This court meeting was full of twists and turns; everyone was still trying to comprehend what had happened when Zhu Suiliang spoke up.
"Your Majesty is wise. As your Chief Officer, I believe that it is my duty to exhaust all efforts in selecting talented individuals for Your Majesty. Now that there is a vacancy in the Ministry of War, I propose appointing General of the Guard Xu Zhen to fill this position. Xu Jun Gong has repeatedly achieved military successes and can be considered a general who has won every battle without defeat. His outstanding contributions warrant him being conferred as Grand Minister. Such a person would greatly benefit our military arrangements and the Imperial Guards across various provinces; I earnestly request Your Majesty's approval!"
As soon as Zhu Suiliang finished speaking, there was an uproar in the court. Murong Hanzhu's eyes suddenly lit up; he finally understood why Li Jue had pushed Cui Dunli into the position of prime minister—it was to make way for Xu Zhen!
Li Jue had kept quiet until now but had chosen this moment to offend both Changsun Wuji and Murong Hanzhu while elevating Xu Zhen!
He had seized the opportunity, believing that Li Zhi's time to independently govern had come. Neither Changsun Wuji nor Murong Hanzhu could provide as stable support as Li Zhi could. Therefore, he did not care about opposing Changsun Wuji or Murong Hanzhu because he chose his own side—aligning himself with Xu Zhen and Qibi Helix—remaining loyal only to Your Majesty amidst court faction disputes!
Cui Dunli could become Minister of War; how could he be foolish? At this moment, he regretted deeply that after Xu Zhen took over his position, Yan Lide's control over the Ministry of War would naturally be transferred into her hands.
Li Jue's nomination was indeed a multi-faceted gain that simultaneously resolved several challenges for Xu Zhen!
Li Zhi had long intended to bring Xu Zhen back into the core; how could he refuse? He immediately instructed Zhu Suiliang to arrange for her appointment and have it reviewed by his subordinates.
After dismissing court, Li Zhi first returned to the palace before instructing his eunuchs to keep Xu Zhen along with Li Jue behind. The two exchanged glances and simultaneously revealed cunning smiles.
Wu Mei was the most favored, and Li Zhi had her accompany him to summon Xu Zhen. After all, to withstand the civil officials led by Changsun Wuji and ensure Wu Mei successfully received the title of Second-Rank Imperial Concubine, he needed the strong support of Xu Zhen and others.
Chen Shuo Zhen had always been inseparable from Wu Mei, and this time she also entered Yichun Palace with her. When she first laid eyes on Xu Zhen, she couldn't help but gasp softly.
Wu Mei was quite surprised because Chen Shuo Zhen was usually reserved and maintained a dignified Immortal Mistress demeanor in public. It was indeed strange for her to lose composure in front of a Sage. Wu Mei's keen perception quickly revealed that Chen Shuo Zhen was looking at Xu Zhen.
Chen Shuo Zhen suppressed her astonishment in an instant, but unexpectedly, Wu Mei caught a glimpse of it. She had heard of Xu Zhenzhi's name before but did not expect to have such a connection with Xu Zhen, encountering her in Taiyi Mountain.
Xu Zhen clearly recognized Chen Shuo Zhen but had not heard of this Immortal Mistress by Wu Mei's side, so she showed no unusual reaction and even smiled at Chen Shuo Zhen.
"Sister, do you have an old acquaintance with Xu Zhen?" Wu Mei's tone was somewhat displeased because she had long regarded Chen Shuo Zhen as the only person she could confide in. Not only did she want to monopolize Li Zhi's affection, but she also could not tolerate anyone else encroaching on those she cared about.
Chen Shuo Zhen lowered her voice and replied, "Sister, do you remember that I once told you about being attacked in the mountains? The one who saved me was none other than Xu Zhen. I just didn't recognize her at that time."
She and Wu Mei referred to each other as sisters, sharing no secrets between them and needing no pretense in front of Wu Mei. After the assassination attempt, when she returned to the palace shaken, Wu Mei was both alarmed and worried but also furious. She quickly investigated the true culprit through a portrait, although at that moment she was still gathering strength for revenge.
Hearing Chen Shuo Zhen's explanation, Wu Mei's frown relaxed. She had seen Xu Zhen during the competition between Li Zhi and Li Chengqian and was well aware of Xu Zhen's role in that struggle.
Moreover, since Li Zhi wanted to recruit Xu Zhen as their assistant, Wu Mei naturally had no reason to resent her. Thus, she quickly immersed herself in her role, displaying the demeanor of a gentle hostess.
Before long, Li Mingda entered the banquet hall surrounded by Court Ladies. According to etiquette, it was not appropriate for Xu Zhen and Li Mingda to meet before their marriage; however, Li Zhi disregarded these customs to personally show concern for their wedding.
Li Mingda hadn't seen Xu Zhen for several days and felt shy discussing their marriage in front of everyone. He kept his head down and occasionally stole glances at Xu Zhen.
Li Zhi encouraged Xu Zhen frequently and praised Li Jue highly. The atmosphere of the banquet was harmonious until dusk when it finally dispersed, and everyone left.
Li Mingda felt reluctant to part but couldn't find an appropriate opportunity to share a few private words with Xu Zhen. Once the banquet ended, he was escorted back to Shuyi Hall by the Court Ladies.
On the other hand, Chen Shuo Zhen felt unrestrained and whispered a few words with Wu Mei before quickly chasing after them.
Xu Zhen was walking and talking with Li Jue and Zhu Suiliang when suddenly Chen Shuo Zhen called out to her. Li Jue understood well who Chen Shuo Zhen was.
For Zhu Suiliang, he strongly opposed Wu Mei's infatuation with Li Zhi. In this regard, he shared common ground with Changsun Wuji; both did not trust Wu Mei and were even more wary of Chen Shuo Zhen, who made Wu Mei more sinister.
However, the Xu Zhen had just returned to court and could not afford to be too arrogant. Naturally, she did not dare to be dismissive. Li Jue and Zhu Suiliang offered a few comforting words before leaving, leaving the Xu Zhen and Chen Shuo Zhen behind.
"Do you have something to discuss, Miss?"
The Xu Zhen was somewhat surprised, and this surprise was genuine rather than feigned. She was unaware of the relationship between Chen Shuo Zhen and Wu Mei. Although she suspected that Chen Shuo Zhen might want to express gratitude, the usually sharp-tongued Xu Zhen found it rare to feel bashful and used such a clumsy opening line.
Chen Shuo Zhen, in her thirties, was voluptuous and graceful, her full figure resembling a ripe gourd. The thin Dao Robe clung tightly to her curvaceous body, and her casually pinned hair added a fresh touch of enchanting charm and purity. What man would not be moved upon seeing her?
When Chen Shuo Zhen heard the Xu Zhen address her as "Miss," her heart fluttered. Since she was clearly dressed as a Daoist Nun, the Xu Zhen calling her "Miss" could imply something else.
Thinking of this, scenes of the Xu Zhen rescuing her flashed in her mind. Remembering the heroic figure of the Xu Zhen wielding a long sword made even this Immortal Mistress unable to suppress the slight rise and fall of her chest.
"I... I was saved by the great general that day but did not learn your name, so I had no way to repay you. Today, seeing your true form is a blessing of three lifetimes. I wonder when you might have some free time; I would like to... invite you to a banquet to express my gratitude..."
Even though Chen Shuo Zhen was accustomed to dealing with important figures and had experienced hardships that matured her mind, she suddenly felt shy like a young girl in front of the Xu Zhen. As she spoke, she lowered her head, her face flushing.
The Xu Zhen initially wanted to refuse but found herself inexplicably agreeing upon seeing Chen Shuo Zhen's charm!
Chen Shuo Zhen suddenly raised her head, her eyes glimmering with joy as she said to the Xu Zhen, "If that's the case, three days from now, I will be waiting for you at Taiyi Mountain..."
"Alright."
The Xu Zhen felt his heart racing wildly; this feeling only occurred when he achieved something good with Caesar or encountered Li Wushuang in a foreign land. He did not understand why he felt so restless upon seeing Chen Shuo Zhen and began thinking about matters between men and women.
Moreover, Chen Shuo Zhen chose Taiyi Mountain as their meeting place—the site of their initial encounter—seemingly carrying deeper meaning. This hint was already quite obvious, yet the Xu Zhen still agreed!
"Am I really that unable to control myself?" The Xu Zhen self-deprecatingly thought. He had to admit that Chen Shuo Zhen posed a tremendous temptation for him; this mature beauty was precisely the type Xu Zhenxin yearned for.
However, he also knew very well that this woman was very close to Wu Mei. By agreeing to meet with her, he might have intentions of gathering information from her. Yet, facing such an inherently alluring beauty like Chen Shuo Zhen made the Xu Zhen somewhat afraid that he would lose control at that moment.
After the two made their agreement, an inexplicable silence fell between them. This silence was not awkward; it was as if they shared a deep connection, and they simply remained quiet.
The Xu Zhen moved her lips, about to say something, but Chen Shuo Zhen was making the same gesture, so they both fell silent again.
"Then... see you then..."
"Then let's meet in three days..."
They spoke almost simultaneously, then looked at each other in surprise before lowering their heads and smiling. Both blushed slightly and bid farewell somewhat awkwardly before parting ways.
As Chen Shuo Zhen turned around, his heart raced wildly. The Xu Zhen felt the same way.
This kind of behavior, reminiscent of young students experiencing a crush, surprisingly occurred between two adults in their thirties, especially considering that the Xu Zhen was well-versed in matters of the heart... which made it all the more astonishing.
News of the Xu Zhen taking on the role of Minister of War quickly spread. Yan Lide and others were astonished upon hearing it. When the Xu Zhen had promised to resolve the copper mine issue, he had secretly worried about her efficiency, but he never expected her to act so swiftly!
Three days later, the guards of Taiyi Mountain returned with reports that they had discovered traces of the Xu Zhen within Taiyi Mountain. However, General Xu did not seem to be visiting the secret realm; he was accompanied by a woman—specifically a woman, not a Daoist Nun!
To avoid suspicion, Chen Shuo Zhen brought along several servants and changed out of her Dao Robe into ordinary women's clothing to accompany the Xu Zhen on a trip to Taiyi Palace. She was not a genuine Daoist Nun, and after meeting Xu Zhenzhi, she had even less desire to interact with him under that identity.
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