After exhausting myself to death

Shen Duo literally didn't sleep all night. He was under house arrest and could do nothing except send a letter.

There are no sources or even a clue as to where things are going.

The unknown was more torturous than the bad news. He paced the room all night, and his anxiety reached its peak when he caught a glimpse of the fire in the distance and heard the uniform footsteps.

He didn't know who he was more worried about, the royal family or the rebellious ministers.

Yesterday's snow started to melt, it was extremely cold time.

After hearing the report from his servant that Shen Changqing wanted to see him, Shen Duo strode out without even putting on his coat.

The servant held his cloak and ran after him.

"Father!" There were slender red bloodshot eyes in Shen Changqing's eyes, and his eyes were also green and black, and panic was written on his face.

Shen Changqing retracted his gaze from the sky. He looked at the haggard Shen Duo and sighed lightly.

"Si Ming, you are not young anymore, why are you still so reckless?" Shen Changqing's tone was very calm, and it was a reproach without any anger.

"Father?" Shen Duo was stunned for a moment. After he came back, except for the first time when the old man expressed his longing with heartache, this was the first time he spoke to him so kindly.

Shen Changqing said "hmm" and said, "Si Ming, from now on, you are the new head of the Shen family."

"Father?!" Shen Duo exclaimed in disbelief.

Shen Changqing said amusedly: "What happened to you today? Can you only say these two words?"

There was bottomless sadness in Shen Changqing's eyes, but he was indeed smiling when he spoke.

Shen Duo clenched his fists, "What about Ming Huan? Father, have you given up on him?"

Shen Duo thought that the dust had settled outside, and Shen Minghuan was detained on charges of treason. In order to save the Shen family, Shen Changqing severed ties with Shen Minghuan.

"I don't agree." Shen Duo's face turned pale for a moment, "I'm going to see the Spirit King. I reported the message to him, which is a meritorious service! I asked him to spare Ming Huan's life. Ming Huan will be fine."

He put the world and the country before Shen Minghuan, and he put Shen Minghuan before himself.

Now that the world is safe and peaceful, he can't help but start to worry about Shen Minghuan's arrival. Even if this person is rebellious, treacherous, and causes great disaster, he is still his beloved child.

No matter what, he still wanted to save Shen Minghuan's life.

Shen Changqing was slightly startled.

Spiritual King, Crown Prince... Your Majesty.

No wonder.

No wonder Shen Minghuan refused to reveal even a word to Shen Duo. No wonder Shen Minghuan deliberately misunderstood him. No wonder Shen Minghuan allowed him to surrender to the prince.

It turns out there is another reason.

This man wanted to fall into the quagmire and be stained with infamy, but he held the Shen family up high with both hands to prevent him from being splashed by the mud on his body.

Shen Minghuan will die amidst the scoldings, but the Shen family's "righteousness will destroy relatives" and their reputation will live forever.

"What are you doing?" Shen Changqing came to his senses and saw Shen Duo walking out, "Si Ming, stop."

He sighed, tired, sad, and full of relief, "This is what Ming Huan meant."

God favored him so much and gave him such an excellent son and grandson.

But God was so cruel to him.

"What?" Shen Duo took back his steps and suddenly realized that this matter might be completely different from what he imagined. He took a deep breath and said, "Father, are you hiding something from me?"

Shen Changqing was silent, "His Royal Highness King Ling is already the emperor."

After he said this sentence, there was no follow-up.

"What about Ming Huan?" Shen Duo couldn't help but ask.

"Ming Huan...is the regent."

Shen Duo took two steps back as if he was unsteady. He tried to think about the meaning behind it, but he didn't have a good rest for so long that he only felt a splitting headache.

Shen Duo bit the tip of his tongue hard until there was blood in his mouth, then he asked calmly: "What else? Father, is there anything else you haven't told me?"

The sadness in Shen Changqing's eyes gradually became more intense, and he shook his head, "No... Ming Huan only told me this... He has always... liked to hold on."

Although the rest of the content is my own speculation, it must be close to ten.

Obviously, Shen Duo also thought of what Shen Changqing could "guess".

Shen Duo felt like his brain was being stirred by a thousand needles. He rubbed the center of his eyebrows vigorously and let out a cry of pain like a whimper.

How could someone who could voluntarily give up his position as the head of the Shen family and give up the easily obtained position of emperor be the ambitious person he thought he was at the beginning?

As for Shen Minghuan's initiative to step down as the head of the Shen family, if you think about it carefully, you can't help but feel that it has the meaning of entrusting an orphan.

"Father." Shen Duo suppressed his headache, "Where is Ming Huan now?"

"The Royal Palace."

"Can we see him?"

Shen Changqing turned around and sighed, "No. He doesn't want to see us."

"Si Ming, Ming Huan doesn't want you to know, and I didn't intend to tell you."

Just let him follow Shen Minghuan's plan without knowing anything, and become the escape route prepared by this person for the Shen family. If he doesn't know the truth of the matter, he may be less troubled.

However, this is too unfair to Shen Minghuan and Shen Siming.

Shen Changqing thought that if he hadn't noticed it at first, and if he hadn't asked him repeatedly, Shen Minghuan would probably have hidden it from him.

Fortunately he found it.

Shen Duo closed his eyes hard. When he opened his eyes, he was still dizzy and blurred. His throat seemed to be on fire, and his breathing was burning.

"Si Ming?"

Shen Duo finally couldn't hold on any longer, swayed and fell to the ground, and soon lost consciousness.

*

In the huge private room of Yingzui Building, Qu Zhengcheng's face was solemn, "Everyone, have you heard about it?"

Those who can survive to this day in Da Qi's court are not simple figures. Even those who are low-key and depressed like Chen Xin also have their own means of survival.

A group of people with eight minds each came together, and Qu Zhengcheng didn't need to speak too clearly about many things.

For example, now, as soon as Qu Zhengcheng stood up, everyone knew that he was referring to Shen Minghuan's behavior outside the Xue Mansion. Qu Zhengcheng's question automatically turned into in their ears: What do you think Shen Minghuan's purpose is?

Everyone looked at each other.

Someone said tentatively: "Could it be that you want to use this pretense to bribe us?" His voice became smaller and smaller, and it was obvious that he did not have the confidence.

Other conspirators may use this method to show favor to loyal ministers in order to win people's hearts and deceive their trust.

But this reason is given to Shen Minghuan...

Everyone seemed to be able to see Shen Minghuan's disdainful glances at them, and the meaning should be: self-indulgent, idiots.

This person would definitely say that!

Lin Zhihang frowned and thought hard, "This matter, thinking this way will benefit the court and your Majesty the most."

Breaking up with the aristocratic family now would do only good to the detriment.

In front of everyone, Shen Minghuan called this matter a decision made by the court for the people, which was tantamount to giving up the only good thing - the people's support - to Luo Xiuyuan.

He also deliberately mentioned Luo Xiuyuan's various good deeds when he was the prince, which seemed to be a way of building momentum for the new emperor.

Wang Jin snorted coldly, "How can Shen Minghuan be so kind? You can't just take everything at face value. He must have other intentions."

Lin Zhihang frowned, "But in the long run, my government will be the beneficiary."

He murmured to himself: "Are my old eyesight? Or am I really a fool?"

Lu Zhi couldn't laugh or cry, "Brother Lin is talking nonsense again."

Numerous speculations flashed through Lu Suiping's mind, but they were all unfounded and he ruled them out one by one.

Lu Suiping frowned and looked at Qu Zhengcheng: "Brother Qu, do you have any ideas?"

"No." Qu Zhengcheng answered frankly and smiled bitterly: "I don't know what Shen Minghuan's purpose is. No matter what I think, he can't get any benefit from this matter."

No, there is a reason for the new emperor and the Qi Dynasty to regain the lost people's hearts.

——This can’t be Shen Minghuan’s reason.

Lin Zhihang tugged at his long beard irritably, "Just ask him directly."

"Don't talk nonsense." Lu Zhi glared at him, obviously knowing that this was really something Lin Zhihang could do.

There was a knock on the private room door.

Chen Xiaoyu's emotionless voice came in: "Several adults, the Regent has invited me."

With such a tone, it was as if he didn't say "please" but "get on your way".

"What does Shen Minghuan want to do again?" Lu Suiping was half wary and half bored.

Lu Zhi looked at Qu Zhengcheng.

Although it is not stated explicitly, Qu Zhengcheng is their well-deserved leader in terms of intelligence, determination, and even status.

There were many looks like this, and Qu Zhengcheng didn't have the confidence in his heart, so he said calmly: "Let's go and have a look."

*

The meeting place was in the Imperial Study Room, which was supposed to be an honor that belonged exclusively to the emperor.

Shen Minghuan didn't mean to anger those veterans, he wasn't that naive yet. I simply feel that the imperial study room is the most suitable for discussing national affairs. After all, all the furnishings there are designed for the "small court meeting".

The reason is valid, but the system doubts it.

There were many documents scattered in front of Shen Minghuan's desk. Papers were densely covered on the table, and some even fell to the ground.

The adults, all orthodox scholars, sighed inwardly when they saw this messy scene. They have always been rigorous and serious about pen, ink, paper and inkstone. Compared with their meticulousness, Shen Minghuan is a little unconventional and undisciplined.

A leader among the younger generation is still like this, which makes people worry about the future of Qi Dynasty's academics.

Shen Minghuan didn't know that a random scene made this group of people worried again. He looked at all the ministers present thoughtfully.

"This is Nie Xingyu? Minister of the Ministry of Personnel?" He stretched out his hand and nodded at one of them.

Nie Xingyu responded in a deep voice: "Exactly."

He made up his mind, whether Shen Minghuan wanted to force him to do something, or wanted to bribe him with benefits, he would rather die than give in!

The responsibility of enduring the humiliation and supporting the Qi Dynasty was left to Qu Zhengcheng and the others, and he, Nie Xingyu, took the lead!

"You go first." Shen Minghuan said.

Nie Xingyu's hands shook. He had not expected that Shen Minghuan would simply ask him to go on his way without even stating the conditions.

Nie Xingyu said in a trembling voice: "I am not alone. Without Nie Xingyu, there are still thousands of people with lofty ideals in Qi Dynasty. Shen Minghuan, your conspiracy will not succeed."

"Brother Xingyu!"

This is a minister with the same brain circuit as Nie Xingyu.

Doubted see tears in their eyes, even Yuning choke.

The thought goes away, thousands of miles of smoke waves, the dusk is heavy and the sky is vast.

Shen Minghuan was very curious: "Is your relationship so good? Can't you accept being separated for half a day?"

The ministers who reacted: "..."

"You have to accept it even if you can't accept it." Shen Minghuan said ruthlessly, "Nie Shangshu, you are not on my invitation list. Chen Xiaoyu, see you off."