Chapter 26: The Emperor's Mind is Hard to Fathom (Middle)

  Yu Shinnan was really scared, this poem he also knew, Xiao Shouren read it out in Tianranju, not long after it spread, the nickname of Yu Xiao Gongzi Li Yu was also taken away by Xiao Shouren, now in the literary circle everyone calls him Yu Xiao Gongzi, all thanks to Chen Chuan's fake publicizing, making it known to all, this commercial city, saying big is not big, saying small is not small, saying big then again not big, from morning till night a fart hasn't dissipated, something happens in the morning and immediately spreads everywhere, saying small then also not small, how can you say it's small when it's hundreds of miles around?

  So, Yu Shinnan knew the poem on that day, especially the two sentences that made people feel like applauding, "The world's wind and cloud is in this sky" and "The jade flute blows through the dragon's sleep". As soon as Yu Shinnan heard it, he knew that Xiao Shouren's good days were not far away. A few days ago, he was going to remind him, but unexpectedly, due to being busy with hesitation and discussion, he forgot all at once. Now it's done, this poem really caused trouble.

  Xiao Shouren was shocked and puzzled at the same time, how did Yang Guang know about the poem he wrote on the broken wine building? But thinking about it also made him feel relieved, Yang Guang must have had many ears and eyes in the imperial court, and it was inevitable that those ears and eyes would hear it by chance. Now that he was a fourth-grade official, it was normal for his words and deeds to be noticed by others, and it was also normal for the ears and eyes to tell Yang Guang about this poem.

  From Yang Guang's tone and those eyes, Xiao Shouren felt something different. He estimated that this time his own answer was not to his liking, and his head would really come off.

  Nor did he know what was going on, but Xiao Shouren had a hunch that Yang Guang couldn't find out that the poem was written by himself, or something unexpected would happen. So, at this moment, he chose to conceal it.

  "Your Majesty, this poem actually came from my mouth, but it wasn't written by me. I was just stealing someone else's wisdom." Xiao Shouren hastily replied, his mind racing to find someone to take the blame.

  "Oh? Then you'd better tell me who did it. And how did you know?" Yang Guang pressed on step by step.

  "It was like this, when I was young and fell into difficulties at the Golden Mountain Temple, I was rescued by an old beggar. At that time, I heard her recite a poem: 'The Golden Mountain is as big as a fist, breaking through the bottom of the sky; The moon depends on the wonderful high platform, the jade flute blows through the dragon's sleep.' I secretly memorized it at the time. That day, when we were having dinner in the wine tower, because we would be meeting the emperor in the afternoon, for a moment, I involuntarily thought of this poem and made some slight modifications before reciting it." Xiao Shouren hastily replied with his head bowed, shifting the ownership of the poem to an old beggar.

  "Oh? So that's how it is. It seems that Xiao Ai, you also have a lot of twists and turns in your fate. I wonder what connection you had with this poem when you thought of meeting me at the wine tower this afternoon?" Yang Guang was now 50% convinced, and all that was needed to dispel his doubts was a reasonable explanation.

  "It's like this, I was thinking about the events of the past few days on the upper floor and couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy. The Emperor is planning to conquer Goguryeo, and the winds of heaven are gathering in Shangjing. A good man should be willing to die for his country, wrapped in horsehide, but I was thinking that if this afternoon's audience with the Emperor could gain His Majesty's favor, it would be more beneficial for me to serve the great Sui dynasty in the future. So, I was racking my brains on how to make His Majesty notice me slightly, so that I could leave an impression on him." Xiang Shouren took out the speech he had prepared earlier and spoke with a sincere and fearful expression.

  Yang Guang saw that Xiao Shouren's expression did not seem to be fake, and the meaning in his words was also reasonable, every sentence was reasonable, it was human nature, there was nothing to pick on, these words were very believable.

  Xiao Shouren's intention was obvious, he wanted to attract Yang Guang's attention in the afternoon of that day's face saint, as a paving stone for future promotion, which is the sentence "Yu Xiao blows through the dragon sleep", the dragon here undoubtedly refers to Yang Guang. Xiao Shouren wants to wake up this sleeping dragon and take a look at himself, discover himself, use himself.

  Yang Guang was used to such things and didn't feel strange at all. Since he ascended the throne, how many people had come to ask for official positions directly or indirectly? Not a few.

  Besides, that day Xiao Shouren was just reciting a poem in the tavern to vent his anger, and there was no intention of plotting anything. Yang Guang is not a petty person, if it wasn't for someone intentionally bringing up this poem and saying that Xiao Shouren's poem was a rebellious one, saying that Xiao Shouren had great ambitions and aspirations for the world, Yang Guang would not have bothered with such a trivial matter.

  Everything has been laid out and explained, so Yang Guang will no longer pursue the matter. Next, he called for Xiao Shouren to handle the negotiations well, then turned to the back hall himself, not caring about Xiao Shouren and Yu Shen Nan.

  Xiao Shouren and Yu Shinan came out to find their backs were all wet, it can be seen how tense they were just now. This time, Huang Gonggong was waiting for them outside the door, and after they came out, he sent them all the way to the gate.

  When Huang Gong sent them out, Xiao Shouren took advantage of Yu Shannan's inattention and secretly handed five taels of snowflake silver to Huang Gong. Huang Gong also discreetly accepted it, while Yu Shannan didn't notice anything and was unaware of the small movements between the two men beside him.

  It's not that Xiao Shouren is biased against Yu Shi'nan, but after these days of getting along, Xiao Shouren has also figured out what kind of person Yu Shi'nan is. To put it in a less pleasant way, this Yu Shi'nan is like a stone in a latrine - hard and smelly. His temper looks good, but actually, he can't stand being bribed. If he saw Xiao Shouren giving silver to Huang Gonggong, I'm afraid they would have fallen out by now.

  Having money makes things easier, after Xiao Shouren handed over the opening fee, he started asking questions.

  "Huang Gonggong, I don't know why Your Majesty is suddenly so interested in that poem I wrote?" Xiao Shouren asked casually, pretending nothing was wrong.

  "This matter, it all started with Pei Shilang. Just yesterday, Pei Shilang suddenly told Your Majesty that the poem by Xiao Gong contains hints of his ambitious and grand aspirations, and that he should be dealt with as soon as possible." Huang Gonggong was indeed honest, having received the bribe, he naturally spilled the beans.

  "Oh my, my Lord's, how dare I take credit for your one sentence, Master Xiao? Without your meticulous care, how could my master's daily life be so good? If my master didn't rest well, how could he handle state affairs and bring happiness to the people? It can't be, it absolutely can't be!" Xiang Shouren said in an extremely exaggerated manner. Yu Shi'nan on the side was truly stunned."

  Yu Shinnan had always been neither fawning nor giving face to the eunuchs in the palace, and he had never seen anyone praise a eunuch like Xiao Shouren with such profound meaning, making the praise so refreshing and unconventional. His admiration for Xiao Shouren increased by several points in his heart.

  "Where, where, Elder Xiao is too humble. If Elder Xiao doesn't mind, then I won't address you as Lord Xiao anymore. Our family should be a bit older than yours, so let's just call you Younger Brother Xiao." The eunuch Huang smiled and hastily replied.

  "My younger brother had this idea a long time ago, but was afraid of being too ambitious. Since Brother Huang doesn't mind my low official position and is willing to call me brother, I am more than happy to oblige, Brother Huang." Xiao Shouren was also someone who took advantage of the situation, and as soon as he heard Huang Gonggong's words, he knew that Huang Gonggong had been confused by his previous words.

  Huang Gonggong's heart was as sweet as honey at this moment. To say that in the past, he had indeed approached Xiao Shouren because of the silver in his hands. In this imperial court, there were hardly a few people who truly respected eunuchs from the bottom of their hearts. Now, suddenly hearing Xiao Shouren praise himself so highly, saying that without him, the common people would suffer and have to sell their children, Huang Gonggong felt like he was listening to the most pleasant words ever. He felt like a great loyal minister.

  At the moment when Huang Gong was overjoyed, Xiao Shouren knew that his opportunity had come. From a young age, he had watched TV and knew about the horror of rumors and gossip, and even more so, he knew the importance of what those people who served the emperor every day said. As the saying goes, "Even Zhou Gong feared rumors", even Zhou Gong was afraid of rumors! Only by getting along well with Huang Gong would his impression in Yang Guang's heart not be bad.

  Xiao Shouren never thought that this poem was actually told by Pei Wu to Yang Guang, and he had never met him before, nor did they have any conflicts. Why did he want to put himself to death?

  Yu Shinnan was also puzzled, why Pei Kou, who was usually a good old man, would look at Xiao Shouren with such disdain? Without any grudges or enemies on ordinary days, why did he suddenly want to behead Xiao Shouren?

  Although the city master's mansion was very large and winding, it only took a moment for Xiao Shouren and Yu Shenan to reach the gate. Huang Gonggong couldn't see them off at the door, so he had no choice but to return.

  Xiao Shouren and Yu Shinan did not return to the main hall of the city lord's mansion, but instead went together to the military camp in the outer city. This was because two days ago, Xiao Shouren had casually mentioned to Yu Shinan that he wanted to have his brothers who had gone through thick and thin with him transferred to serve as his personal guards. Yu Shinan agreed without hesitation, saying that he would help obtain the transfer orders and also add some extra quotas.

  Xiao Shouren couldn't decline either, and besides, he didn't want to ask Yuwen Shu for a favor over such a small matter. If he did, he would owe Yuwen Shu a favor without knowing how to repay him later. However, owing Yu Shengnan a favor was no big deal, because Yu Shengnan was a good person.

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