PFC Chapter 1317
Chapter 1317
Moreover, Zhan Hui knew all too well what kind of upright character Liu Sanwu, this great Confucian scholar of the time, possessed: this man with whom he had once shared revolutionary friendship would never stand on his side—he didn't even need to think about it.
Now that their positions were different, Zhan Hui's expression was naturally not good.
This puzzled Fu Youwen greatly, and he frowned, saying, "Hiss... Lord Zhan, what is the reason for your appearance?"
He had no idea what had happened between Zhan Hui and Fu Youwen during the time he was suspended, nor did he know why the two were like this. However, he was certain that he had never met Zhan Hui during this period, and he did not remember having any grudges with Zhan Hui.
Zhan Hui paused slightly.
I don't know how to explain this.
Fu Youwen, standing to the side, shook his head helplessly at Zhan Hui, sighed softly, then pulled Liu Sanwu aside and said in a low voice, "Old Liu, things are very different now... This Zhan Hui... sigh..."
Liu Sanwu was still somewhat confused: "Old Fu, what exactly are you talking about? I don't quite understand. As ministers of the Ming Dynasty and His Majesty, we should be working together to assist His Majesty. All three of us share this sentiment. But what happened between you and Zhan Hui?"
Fu Youwen moved his lips, as if he wanted to say something briefly.
But he soon realized that this matter was not something that could be explained in a few words. After holding back for a moment, he gave Liu Sanwu a heads-up: "It's really hard to explain in a short time. Let me remind you: His Majesty is going to do something big today! This matter is like a bolt from the blue, much bigger than anything His Majesty has ever done before! Be careful not to be too shocked when the time comes."
Liu Sanwu was still completely confused.
But his old face was already wrinkling, and he even started to worry—was this bigger than anything before? Hadn't His Majesty caused all sorts of trouble in the past? Judging from Fu Youwen's words, wasn't this going to turn the entire Ming Dynasty upside down?
Before Liu Sanwu could even sort out his thoughts and say anything, he did so.
Fu Youwen thought for a moment and then added, "By the way, Lao Liu, guess why His Majesty, after imprisoning you for so long, suddenly summoned you to court today?"
Liu Sanwu finally understood what was being said, and stroked his beard with a sense of satisfaction, replying casually, "It must be that His Majesty has already figured out the threat and harm posed by the nobles of Huaixi, and understands my painstaking efforts and considerations regarding him and the country!"
Back then, I went to advise His Majesty to be wary of the local nobles of Huaixi who suffered as a result.
At this moment, Liu Sanwu, who thought that Zhu Yunwen had come to his senses, was naturally very happy and gratified. He nodded and said, "Even though they are the toughest nut to crack, as long as His Majesty has come to his senses and has this spirit, everything else is negotiable."
Upon hearing Liu Sanwu's answer, Fu Youwen was stunned for a moment.
He clicked his tongue in surprise, then looked at Liu Sanwu seriously and said, "I almost forgot you've been locked up at home for almost half a year... If I tell you now..."
He paused, then lowered his voice even further: "If I were to tell you now that His Majesty is no longer afraid of the nobles of Huaixi, what would you think?"
Liu Sanwu remained silent for several breaths.
He exclaimed in disbelief, "How is this possible?! Old Fu, don't you know what kind of strength and character those brutes have? And His Majesty... in his current position..."
He hesitated before speaking, clearly denying Fu Youwen's statement in a very arbitrary manner.
Fu Youwen immediately explained, "His Majesty once said that if the nobles of Huaixi dare to cause trouble, he has plenty of ways to suppress them! Otherwise, His Majesty gave the nobles of Huaixi enough face before, but now he has released you. Isn't that a contradiction?"
"There are ways? What ways?" Liu Sanwu, of course, didn't believe it.
"I don't know either," Fu Youwen said frankly and sincerely, but having gone through several "version updates," he was quite convinced.
Liu Sanwu was utterly perplexed by Fu Youwen's behavior of "knowing nothing but believing everything His Majesty said."
Looking completely bewildered, he retorted, "You don't even know this so-called 'method,' yet you believe everything His Majesty says??? Isn't that... a bit too hasty?"
Fu Youwen shrugged.
He said with an air of self-righteousness, "Oh, what else?"
Liu Sanwu was on the verge of a complete breakdown, utterly speechless, or rather, utterly unable to communicate with this old geezer, Fu Youwen! "How come I remember when I was suspended from duty, this old geezer was still criticizing His Majesty's many faults with me? And the three of us were still racking our brains over the threats from the Huaixi nobles?"
He glanced at the almost incomprehensible Fu Youwen before him, then at the somber and cold-faced Zhan Hui not far away, and felt utterly bewildered in the wind outside the Meridian Gate…
He felt like the world had suddenly gone a little crazy...
It even gives one the feeling that "a day in the cave is a thousand years in the world".
Damn it! I've indeed been locked up at home for a few months, but it's "a few months"! Not "a few years" or "a few decades"! In such a short time, what version of what have they done to me?
Seeing Liu Sanwu's brain completely shut down.
Fu Youwen was also somewhat helpless; otherwise, how could he not explain the events of this period of time in one go?
He thought for a moment, deciding not to dwell on that matter for now, and tried to approach it from another angle, saying, "Let's not talk about this anymore, let's talk about something else..."
However, before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a solemn drumbeat.