Gu Yun was still immersed in the Northern Barbarian Envoy and Li Feng's broken leg. He didn't come back to his senses for a moment and continued inexplicably: "Miss Chen? I can't say I'm too familiar with her - she doesn't like to talk to people, why?"

Shen Yi was dissatisfied when he heard this: "He worked tirelessly as your military doctor in that damn place in the northwest for so long, and you can't even say that he's not very familiar with you?"

The words "unfaithful and ungrateful" were already visible between Admiral Shen's brows.

Gu Yun: "...Ah?"

Shen Yi looked at him with anger.

One of them was not in the right state, and the other was very angry. They stared at each other for a long time without saying anything. Gu Yun finally reacted a little and exclaimed, "Ah!" He looked at Shen Yi with a weird look: "What do you mean?"

Shen Yi, who used to be chatterbox, suddenly shut up. His cheeks were tense, and he looked like a martyr who would never speak. He heroically greeted Gu Yun's malicious gaze, like a gourd without a mouth.

Gu Yun raised his eyebrows innocently, stretched out a finger and poked Shen Yi in the chest: "Master Shen, didn't the saint tell you 'Don't ask questions without permission'? In broad daylight, two bachelors like you and I are asking about other girls' affairs. Is that right?"

He remembered Shen Yi's blunt criticism just now, and immediately took advantage of the opportunity to stab the knife back: "Dirty."

Shen Yi: “…”

Gu Yun had picked up such a huge handle on Shen Yi for no reason, and he felt extremely happy. His waist and back no longer ached, and he walked out leisurely, whistling in a way that was quite similar to his flute art.

"Gu Zixi!" Shen Yi chased after him with gnashing teeth, "You...you..."

You bastard!

In order to avoid insulting his boss in broad daylight, Shen Yi used all his strength to hide the rest of the sentence.

Gu Yun entertained him enough, and the two of them had already shaken off the guards and walked towards the imperial city together. Then he said seriously: "Miss Chen has excellent character and is very capable - for someone like you, I think she should have no problem beating up three or five at a time."

Although this was a very provocative statement, Shen Yi did not feel offended. Instead, he listened with great interest - especially when Gu Yun talked about the first time he met Chen Qingxu on the Jiangnan pirate ship many years ago. Shen Yi sighed and wished he could be there in person.

"As for her personality, likes and dislikes, etc... I don't know too much. Maybe Chang Geng is more familiar with her." Gu Yun paused, "But I want to tell you about her family background."

"I know the Chen family in Shanxi," Shen Yi continued. "They have produced miraculous doctors for generations, and their family tradition is very upright."

Gu Yun sneered: "You have found out a lot, are you planning to come and propose marriage?"

Shen Yi said seriously: "Three matchmakers and six betrothal gifts are indispensable."

Gu Yun: “…”

His brother is a weirdo. He read a lot of books in his early years and was deeply poisoned by the traditions of his aristocratic family. However, he only talks about "etiquette" to outsiders and treats others strictly. Behind closed doors, he just does his own dirty work and it doesn't affect anything. He is a bunch of hypocritical people who tacitly agree to be so.

Only the one from the Shen family is different. To outsiders, he gave up the Hanlin Academy to join the Lingshu Academy, and later degenerated into a soldier. He was known for his "heresy" - but inwardly he was a real man who believed in "don't look at or listen to anything indecent". He was so serious that he hung out with a bunch of old soldiers and ruffians all day long, and he stayed clean for more than ten years.

During this period of time, Chen Qingxu stayed in the capital and experienced many ups and downs. This Chen family member from Linyuan Pavilion probably had a lot of contact with Shen Yi, but despite these many contacts, the man named Shen didn't dare to say anything to her in person, and only dared to come to Gu Yun to inquire behind her back.

From the sound of it, he might not even have figured out the connection between the Chen family and Linyuan Pavilion, and still thinks that Chen Qingxu is simply wholeheartedly devoted to serving the country!

Gu Yun sighed secretly. A wooden man like Shen Yi didn't look like someone he could produce.

"Then I'll tell you something you don't know, don't spread it - the Chen family of Shanxi Prefecture is not an ordinary medical family, they are the backbone of Linyuan Pavilion," Gu Yun whispered, "I heard Elder Zhong mention that Miss Chen seems to be the head of the Chen family this generation. If that's the case, she is unlikely to marry you as the admiral's wife."

Shen Yi was stunned for a moment.

Gu Yun thought for a moment and said, "How about this, I'll go find someone to talk to you and see what she thinks..."

"No, don't do that yet," Shen Yi said hurriedly, "It's too abrupt."

Gu Yun: “…”

He felt like the eunuch was anxious while the emperor was not. However, according to Shen Yi's personality, he might never get a wife in his life, so he advised with experience: "You can't be careless about this matter, Brother Ji Ping. If you are not careful, others will get there first, and then you will have nowhere to complain."

Shen Yi thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Don't do that for now. Let me think about it."

Gu Yun shook his head after hearing this. He knew too well that if a man was hesitant after hearing about a woman's identity and background, then he was probably just "a little interested" and not that she was a must-have. However, he was not in a position to comment on the feelings of the person involved in this matter. He just said casually, "Okay, think about it first, and tell me whenever you need me."

Shen Yi didn't listen to this. He was still immersed in his own thoughts and analyzed it seriously with Gu Yun: "I really didn't understand this situation before, but now that you put it this way, I also feel that it's not appropriate."

Gu Yun: "Hmm."

Shen Yi: "Then there is nothing I can do. I will have to wait until this war is over, then I will resign and stop being a general."

Gu Yun: “…”

He nearly fell off his horse.

Shen Yi looked a little sad and said to himself, "It's just that it feels unlucky to propose marriage before the war. If people like us are too concerned, we will be restricted on the battlefield, which is dangerous. If something happens, won't it delay others? Alas... I'm afraid to go after the war, time and people are not waiting for me... It's really hard to have both - Zixi, what do you think of a way to make those outsiders stay away?"

"...You don't have to worry about this. As far as I know, Miss Chen has this ability." Gu Yun paused, narrowed his eyes slightly, and suddenly smiled.

Shen Yi was puzzled: "What are you laughing at?"

Gu Yun: "I laughed at you. You passed the imperial examination with great talent, but the next day you went against the Hanlin scholars and entered the Lingshu Academy. You just made some achievements in the Lingshu Academy. Just when people were speculating that you would become the successor of Lord Fenghan, you said goodbye to the Lingshu Academy and joined the Black Iron Camp as an armorer. Step by step, you have come to where you are today. You have made outstanding military achievements and finally walked out a path that others think is a step to heaven... You lifted the siege of the capital and saved the emperor. You might be able to be made a marquis and a prime minister right away. Others think you have planned well, but you want to resign to get married."

Shen Yi continued to smile with a sad face - he had no ambitions to begin with, and he had been acting like a nanny all these years, taking care of this and that, and just hanging out with Gu Yun. Unfortunately, there were too many bloody things around Marquis Anding, and he accidentally led him to become famous, but what he gained was not what he wanted, so there was nothing he couldn't let go of.

Some people have a sudden change of heart and become completely different in just three to five years, while others are like still water and can travel tens of thousands of miles without changing their original intention.

Gu Yun looked at him, and suddenly felt a little emotional. The slight depression that had arisen from hearing about the palace affairs just now disappeared without a trace. He hooked his arm around Shen Yi's shoulder affectionately and patted him.

"If you need anything from Miss Chen in the future, just let me run errands for you," Shen Yi was completely unaware of the ups and downs of Marquis Anding's mood. He was still worried and thoughtful, and unconsciously started to chatter endlessly, "It's just... Well, you said that I have no status and no position. Wouldn't it be bad if I kept looking for her? Wouldn't she think I'm not very decent in the future? Hey Zixi, why don't you say something - forget it, you are not very decent anyway, I think..."

General Shen entered into a process of repeated self-justification and self-doubt.

Gu Yun: “…”

Although the original intention does not need to be changed, it would be good if the endless nagging could be changed.

Gu Yun was filled with Shen Yi's incessant chatter, which made his head ache. Finally, he couldn't bear it anymore and whipped Shen Yi's horse's butt, and took the opportunity to escape.

At the same time, the news that "Prince Yan was invited to the palace even though he was still in the suburbs" spread like wings and soon reached the ears of those who were perking up in the capital. Fang Qin was at home, with several aides and cronies sitting around him - this time in Jiangbei, Fang Qin felt like he was being used as a scapegoat.

Lu Yang's party was a bit like a bad tooth to Fang Qin - although it was in his mouth, it was always inflamed and painful, not only making it difficult to chew, but also often hindering his chewing. It was not a bad thing to pull it out. But he did not expect that the King of Yan had so many tricks up his sleeve. The bad tooth he had pulled out had too many implications. The King of Yan was not in the capital, but he had already taken the initiative while he was still not aware of the situation and took the canal into his possession.

Now that the Canal Office has been established, factories have sprung up everywhere, which is an irreversible fact. With the sense of Fang Qin, an old fox who has experienced many years of ups and downs in the political world, the next step, a series of reforms such as land tax, civil and commercial affairs, will be irreversible. He wanted to "the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind", but he didn't expect that King Yan had already "openly repaired the plank road and secretly crossed Chencang" when dealing with him. He took one step and calculated ten steps, but in the end he was still one step behind.

Previously, when Fang Qinchu was in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, which was plagued by problems, he had a honeymoon period with Prince Yan's Grand Council. At that time, the country had fallen, and it was difficult to move forward. No one had fought with each other, and the whole court was full of friends in need. They had worked together to find a glimmer of hope for the country to turn around. They respected and admired each other's talents. Who would have thought that they would part ways so quickly?

Sometimes Fang Qin could not help but envy Jiang Hanshi. If the two of them were in each other's shoes, he thought he would be much more powerful than Jiang Chong and Xu Ling. If his last name was not Fang, even if he was just a seventh-rank official who had studied hard for ten years...

But things are unpredictable - it's no use thinking about these things now, King Yan is determined to cleanse the old forces, and after the turmoil in Jiangbei, the butcher's knife has been revealed, and now, they are as hostile as water and fire.

An aide spoke cautiously, "Sir, I heard that when the foreigners invaded, the emperor mentioned passing the throne to Prince Yan. This time he is in such a hurry to summon him to the palace... Even if the emperor doesn't have that intention after peace, the minister who was entrusted by the prince when he was young can't escape. Shouldn't we make plans early?"

Fang Qin came back to his senses and narrowed his eyes.

Another person said, "Originally, when Yang Ronggui rebelled in the name of Prince Yan, the emperor might have had some grudges in his heart, but he used this self-torture trick and took advantage of his injury to temporarily avoid the limelight and remained silent for such a long time... Now the emperor seems to have dispelled his doubts. He took this opportunity to return to Beijing to take up his post. I'm afraid he will start to make big moves."

Fang Qin was actually a little hesitant. He gently stroked his beard and said, "The Northern Barbarians have sent an envoy. Jiangnan is still preparing for war. There will probably be another war in the next two or three years. The situation along the canal is just beginning, and the refugees in the whole territory have just been settled. If we touch King Yan at this time, will it harm the country? If so, I'm afraid I will be branded as a sinner for all eternity."

The staff laughed and said, "Your Excellency's loyalty to the court is admirable, but the court may not be able to function without Prince Yan. Merchants are despicable, and the so-called "righteous merchants" are also profit-seeking in nature. As long as their interests are not harmed, what does it matter to them who has the final say in the court? With Lord Fang's concern for the country and the people, even without Prince Yan, we can still settle the refugees and fight the war - but you have to think clearly, Prince Yan is ambitious and in a high position. Sooner or later, he will find ways to place his own followers to suppress us. If he continues to encroach on us lawlessly, one day you and I will lose our lives."

Everyone immediately agreed.

"Although Prince Yan is talented, he is too radical in his actions. If we let him continue like this, it will probably bring disaster to the country and the people."

"Master Fang, you must not give in any more. If you allow him to take the throne, I'm afraid he will not be able to accommodate us..."

Fang Qin sighed, stretched out his hand and pressed down to suppress the noise in the room, then turned to his confidant beside him and said, "Go and get 'that person'."

A brewing storm is gathering again.

Chang Geng, unaware of what was happening, left the palace and returned to the Marquis' Mansion. He didn't know what Li Feng had said to him, but he seemed to be in a good mood. As soon as he got home, he went to Gu Yun to pester him and even ate his meal in a distracted manner.

Gu Yun didn't ask him what Li Feng said when he invited him to the palace. He could guess the general idea by observing his words and expressions. He knocked away the hand of Prince Yan who was not holding the bowl and chopsticks properly and climbed on his legs, and casually asked: "When do you plan to return to the court to take up your post?"

Chang Geng rubbed the back of his hand, picked up some food for Gu Yun in a flattering manner, looked at him absentmindedly and said, "I'll go back after taking a rest for two days. The emperor said that he is not energetic now and wants me to return to the throne as soon as possible - Zixi, eat more."

Gu Yun waved his hand: "It's too late, just eat something to fill your stomach. You will feel uncomfortable if you eat too much. Have you heard about the people sent by Calais Yinghuo?"

"Yes," Chang Geng nodded, holding down his hand that was about to take the teacup, and served him a bowl of soup, "How to discuss this matter, it's up to General Gu to decide."

"When wild beasts are seriously injured, they often pretend to be dying to lure the enemy down and then suddenly attack. Be careful." Gu Yun said this, glanced at Chang Geng, blew away the vegetable leaves in the soup, and drank it all in one gulp.

Chang Geng was stunned, and suddenly felt that Gu Yun was not only talking about the barbarians, but also seemed to be reminding him of something.