Volume 1, Chapter 28: Extreme Disappointment (1/2)

Voluand causing fresh blood to cover his hand From youth, he was the center of everyone’s attention Even during these years ofwith the army as a leader, he was always the aloof and remote¹ prince of the state—loyally served by the soldiers, beloved and respected by the common people, revered by the ministers, and admired by the imperial clan On numerous occasions, he only needed to show respectful etiquette towards a talented person, and would receive that person’s tearful gratitude On nu these s persona of his Gradually, he becalamor to pacify others, and his modesty and moderation to obtain their loyalty Today, he had truly experienced a bitter and painful setback Regardless of his conduct, that person would only smile and remain at a distance It was true that he could forcibly keep this person beside him as an official But what use was that? He had not been able to pacify this person He had not been able to gain this person’s loyalty At this moment, Li Zhi tasted the painful consequences of failure He had suffered many defeats on the battlefield and he had been deeply embarrassed in court, but he had never experienced such disappoint it extremely difficult to extricate hiraceful happiness reached his ears He could faintly discern that the sound was noble and lofty, gentle and honest Li Zhi’s heart could not help but be lanced at the worried expressions on the faces of his advisers He glanced at frightened look on Li Jun’s face He spoke in a helpless tone, “This Prince is tired and will go rest” So saying, he stood and departed

shi+ Yu and coure, keenly feeling his loneliness and sorrow Their own h they could not understand Li Zhi’s fraical shock that Li Zhi had just received Seeing that the gathering had ended, Dong Zhi declared in an enraged tone, “Jiang Suiyun went too overboard His Ihness treats him so well, and yet he unexpectedly is still so heartless”

“Regardless of how overboard he goes, we cannot blame him,” replied Guan Xiu with a smile “It is said that ‘a loyal official does not serve a second ness to loyally serve His Ihness”

“It would be fine if he were really a so-called loyal official, and would rather die than subrily, “But he clearly isn’t that kind of person And yet, he continues to refuse to serve His I to serve this kind of wise liege, then does he want to serve sohtfully replied, “I a intent has been stirred If this person is killed, then not only would the world lose a gifted scholar, but His Ihness’s reputation would also be harhness is correct to be worried … How can this kind of talent be allowed to be used by someone else? These last few days, he has learned so hness’s affairs Even if His Ihness isn’t worried, we should be worried”

Gou Lian seemed to refute these words “I feel like this person actually has thoughts about serving His Ihness It is only that he has a difficulty that we cannot understand”

Three pairs of eyes immediately turned to look at Gou Lian For Gou Lian to be able to serve as an envoy, he not only relied upon his formidable mouth, he also relied heavily upon his ability to discern how soe² For him to speak thus, he definitely had some certainty Gou Lian suddenly smiled, as he saw a servant walk over In front of the four advisers, the servant respectfully reported in, “Sir Gou, this lowly one asked the servant who escorted Sir Jiang to his roo suddenly stopped to pick a bamboo leaf and played a tune”

Gou Lian waved his hand to dis to look at the other three Dong Zhi thoughtfully inquired, “Are you saying that theZhe?”

Gou Lian faintly replied, “I listened to that tune a o and realized that the skill wasn’t particularly brilliant However, the tune was gentle and honest, seely from the heart In addition, it did not seem to be the sound of traditional instruments Therefore, I dispatched so Zhe That this person was able to discern His Ination only speaks to his talent and wisdohness’s mood This shows that he was not cohness That is why I stated that he definitely is facing an enor His Ihness”

shi+ Yu retorted, “But that is exactly the problehness is hu the heavens If he were interested in position and wealth, His Ihness need only speak a word If he really had sohness would definitely be able to help hihness’s behavior towards him be inferior in any way to hoas treated by the Prince of De, Zhao Jue?”

Serenely, Dong Zhi wondered, “If we aren’t able to help deal with His Ihness’s problems, what face do we have to rehness attaches such importance to this man Does this mean that we are inferior to hi, “Our specialties are governance and the art of war Although our talents can assist a liege, His Ihness’s current foe is not someone e can take care of To speak clearly, His Ih this person appears to be loyal and filial, he is in actuality fiercely sinister Unfortunately, he stands in the position of righteousness Even if there are vile characters coes under his banner, there are also persons of noble character who strongly support the legitimate succession to the throne This kind of enemy is extremely difficult to deal with In addition, the Junior Mentor of the Crown Prince, Lu Jingzhong, is a sly and crafty sche people’s intent As a result, His Ihness has never been unable to shake the Crown Prince’s position

“On top of all this is the Prince of Qi … although he appears to be debauched and reckless, he has never gone overboard We can clearly see that he is talented and capable He is also a capable coe With the Prince of Qi’s support, the Crown Prince can concentrate on dealing with His I does not have any capable generals to command its armies in the future

“As for the E the Ehness’s talent Therecent At criticalhand, but under normal circumstances, he is more than happy to see the Crown Prince suppress His Ih these enehness’s dehness still has a fifty percent chance of success

“However, the yi Sect I once had the chance to meet their sect , and is also fas of the Hundred Schools of Thought³ There is nothing that she does not understand about scheh she is a wo peace and stability to the world Evenis that she is aware of her limitations She knows that she cannot overtly seize the world As a result, she uses any and allcourt noble Consort Ji who is beside the Emperor, the Crown Prince’s second wife, Consort Xiao, and the Prince of Qi’s consort, Qin Zheng, are all disciples of the Fengyi Sect Beyond that, no one kno many people they have next to us They all pretend to wholeheartedly assist the state, causing everyone to respect theth Now, they have clearly shown their support for the Crown Prince With their existence, the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and the Prince of Qi forhness oppose the shi+ Yu’s words, the three advisers all noticeably shi+vered They originally did not kno challenging the situation was for the Prince of Yong, only knowing that the prince had rejected the offer ofwith the Fengyi Sect, although all three of the so They did not expect that the current situation was practically irreconcilable Dong Zhi took a deep breath and asked, “If that is the case, then how does this relate to Jiang Zhe?”

shi+ Yu sighed again before replying, “Although the Fengyi Sect Master is a frightening, generational talent, she has one weakness She is ulti She is so this person requires someone extraordinary who can operate independently This is the so-called ‘irregular troops are victorious against standard troops’ Although Jiang Zhe, that person, has an outward appearance of soood will, he is so out with his peculiarity Considering his behavior, he is someone who has no qualems that he employs, all of the, happening outside of everyone’s expectations Moreover, his arrangeht processes meticulous and careful His execution is sinister and fierce to the extreerous of circuhness has spoken of the several tile tihness has suffered What is even hness did not have any way of resisting That year, he offered His Ih it ensured His Ihness’s safety, it also successfully sowed discord between His Ihness could clearly understand the intentions of this advice, but had no way of stopping its effects Only Jiang Zhe, this person, is capable of attaining victory over the Fengyi Sect Master If we cannot annihilate the Fengyi Sect, our Great Yong will one day fall into the hands of these wohness would lose his self-control Everyone please understand the painstaking efforts of His Ihness’s preferential treat Zhe”

“Many thanks to Ziyou for your instruction,” recognized Dong Zhi ashahness and yet is jealous I am extremely ashamed”

shi+ Yu rose fro is too serious We are close advisers to His Ihness We naturally should be wholeheartedly showing our devotion and loyalty to His Ihness”

At the sa the disturbance, I was half sitting in bed, half drinking a fragrant tea that could dissipate the effects of alcohol I was co today’s events Ever since Piaoxiang had died, loo had iht If I had then made my decision, I fear that I would have already acquiesced I re in Sichuan in his encampments Now, I did not have any restraints uponany fear I had of the Prince of Yong However, I could not but ad was unusually tolerant If it was me, I probably would have killed such a discourteous fellow

Ah, it was unfortunate that I could not changeSuiyun, could randomly participate in the exaht now, I cherishedain be loyal to anyone I sh I had never before been genuinely loyal and devoted to anyone

Before I went to bed, I once again thought of the heir to the Prince of Yong, Li Jun What a cute and innocent child It was a pity … from what I could see froent but would likely die pre to the throne Thinking it over, I snoood-natured te’s fortune providing shade for hi of the fact that he was a precious irets could he have? There was no reason for h already half asleep, I had suspicions In ly harass someone Why would he respond so abnormally? It was almost as if he absolutelywith conventional wisdom

Li Zhi, immediately after he had cal He was not happy Before him, Li Xian flattered and threatened, “Second brother, just let daren At that time, I became acquainted with him while in Southern Chu Imperial Father has even said that he will appoint him to an official position Did you place him under house arrest?” Without any other options, Li Zhi could only agree to allow Li Xian toZhe

When he entered the courtyard I lived in, Li Xian shouted out, “Suiyun! Suiyun! It looks like second brother treats you quite well This Perched Phoenix Courtyard is much loved by second brother, and yet unexpectedly he is willing to allow you to live here”

At thatweiqi with Xiaoshunzi My skill wasto hi weiqi helped hiood strategic and e moves, I fear that I would lose badly When Li Xian was shouting out and walking in, I was thinking aboutLi Xian enter, Xiaoshunzi stood Bowing respectfully, he greeted Li Xian, “This servant greets Your Iedthat I was still rackingI’ve the opportunity to experience your skill at weiqi</ehts, I looked at Li Xian seated opposite hness, the Prince of Qi, co a look of deep hurt and disappoint daren only just no my seven htly, pushi+ng away the board and ordered, “Xiaoshunzi, prepare a cup of tea for His Iht over a cup of hot tea which Li Xian accepted He sized up Xiaoshunzi for a while before asking in quick succession, “Are you a eunuch in service here in the prince’s household? How come I’ve never seen you before? Are you new? Why are you wearing those clothes?”

In an neutral voice, Xiaoshunzi answered, “This servant is frohness within the Southern Chu royal palace Naturally, your Ihness does not reme atdaren have someone from the Southern Chu palace?”

With a smile, I replied, “He is an old friend ofJianye to run away froo back”