Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Storytelling

Chapter 176: Chapter 176: StorytellingWei Yuan's operation is a bit shabby....It's too much for the middleman to make a profit from the price difference....However, this also shows that as long as chicken essence is produced in large quantities, it will definitely make a lot of money.

Did I accidentally open a road to a rich man with many wives and concubines and a simple and unpretentious life?

"It's true that everyone has his own specialty. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have tinkered with it myself and guided the sorcerers of the Sitianjian. I would have sat behind the scenes and enjoyed the commission...It's a pity that it's too late..." Xu Qian'an sighed silently.

From the tax silver case to the Sangpo case, and now, he has offended too many bigwigs in the court and has been tied to Wei Yuan.

In this situation, all he has to do is practice and assist Wei Yuan. The more stable Wei Yuan's position and the greater his power, the more benefits Xu Qian'an will reap. He really doesn't have much energy to tinker with alchemy.

....Well, it's not that I don't have time at all. I'll talk about it when I have free time in the future. For now, I will first enter the realm of refining the spirit.

Huaiqing drank a sip of tea to moisten his lips, and said in a very calm tone: "Recently, the fighting between the various parties in the court has suddenly died down. The reason is that Duke Wei and Prime Minister Wang have joined forces to try to clean up all the big and small parties in the court."

"This is a good thing." Xu Qian'an's eyes lit up.

Huaiqing shook his head: "My father blocked it. The chaotic situation in the court is beneficial to him. The more intense the fight between the parties, the more he can concentrate on practicing Taoism. If one or two parties dominate, the court will be out of my father's control."

Huaiqing treats me as her own person to tell me this... Why do I feel that she trusts me too much... Although I lick you well, I haven't licked you many times in total... Xu Qian'an nodded and echoed:

"Party struggle is a double-edged sword. It can maintain your majesty's status and disrupt the court. The more parties there are, the more intense the fight is. In the long run, no one will take care of government affairs, and their minds will be full of how to plot and destroy opponents."

While talking, Xu Qian'an has been observing Princess Huaiqing's expression. If she shows displeasure or disgust, Xu Qian'an will stop.

On the contrary, Xu Qian'an will use his knowledge as a pseudo-historian to have a good chat with the princess, enhance their relationship, and win her more attention.

Princess Huaiqing, who was well-versed in history books, narrowed her eyes and deliberately set a trap: "Wouldn't it be better to put an end to party disputes?"

Xu Qi'an shook his head: "There are no parties in the court, and there are all kinds of strange things." Searᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

There are no parties in the court, and there are all kinds of strange things... Princess Huaiqing repeatedly pondered this sentence in her heart, her eyes lit up, and a smile unconsciously appeared on the corners of her mouth.

Seeing this, Xu Qi'an immediately said: "I have some superficial opinions, I wonder if the princess is interested in listening."

Hearing this, Princess Huaiqing quietly straightened her sitting posture and nodded: "You can say it."

Xu Qi'an considered: "In fact, your majesty's way of checking and balancing the court is not appropriate..."

He saw Princess Huaiqing narrow her eyes, but did not call for a stop, just staring at him straight. Then he continued:

"If you want to check and balance the court, you don't need so many parties, just three equally powerful parties. Because no matter what field, the triangle is the most stable...well, except for marriage."

"Triangle?" Huaiqing heard an unfamiliar word.

Xu Qi'an made a triangle with her hands, and she suddenly realized: "This structure often appears in the construction of palaces."

The princess is indeed very smart... Xu Qi'an said "hmm", and said: "If there are only two parties, they may form an alliance privately, appearing incompatible on the surface, but colluding with each other behind the scenes. But if there are three parties, it is difficult for them to reach a consensus on interests, and the court will be relatively stable, which is convenient for checks and balances."

Princess Huaiqing pondered for a long time, and seemed to have figured something out. She chuckled, then quickly restrained herself and returned to her high and cold attitude:

"The great scholar of Yunlu Academy said that you are a seed of learning. I thought you were just good at writing poems, but I didn't expect you to have such a high opinion. There are only a handful of students in the world who can be like you. The great scholar of Yunlu Academy has a sharp eye, and I underestimated you."

No, they just think that I write poems well, and you don't underestimate me... I am a keyboard warrior, pointing out the world and inspiring words, and I am invincible with a single key.

Xu Qian'an smiled reservedly.

"In fact, in addition to the numerous political parties, the court has another very fatal problem... Your Highness, please forgive me for using inappropriate words."

Princess Huaiqing smiled and said, "When family members talk behind closed doors, there is no need to worry too much."

Her eyes, as clear and bright as a cold pond, stared at him, expressing an urgent desire to listen, but she did not say it out loud.

Xu Qi'an was relieved immediately and said, "Your Majesty can easily manipulate the officials in the court, such as promotion, demotion, and dismissal, but he cannot manipulate the officials and clerks at the bottom, especially the latter, who are the culprits of the decline of people's livelihood."

This question seemed to touch Princess Huaiqing's soft spot, making her serious all of a sudden, and she interrupted, "This palace is also troubled by this problem."

"In fact, there are two reasons why the malpractices of clerks in Dafeng have accumulated to this day: First, the court is in fierce party struggles and neglects management. To put it bluntly, it is just fighting but not doing things. Second, Your Majesty has been practicing Taoism for 21 years, and the court's control over the bottom has seriously declined, which has led to the lawlessness of clerks."

Princess Huaiqing nodded: "You agree with me. I have thought about this problem more than once, but there is no solution."

You are a princess, why think about this kind of thing... Xu Qi'an said: "For the affairs of clerks, my humble suggestion is centralization."

"Centralization" Princess Huaiqing unconsciously asked for advice, because this is another unfamiliar word.

"Although His Majesty now has a firm grasp of the government, he has to give corresponding power to maintain the situation of chaos among the various parties. His Majesty's power is too dispersed..." Xu Qi'an did not continue. He believed that with the wisdom of the eldest princess, he could understand the meaning.

Similarly, how to change the status quo? The person who tied the bell must untie it. Either Emperor Yuan Jing returns to his rightful position and works hard on government affairs. Or

he abdicates.

This is why Xu Qi'an interrupted the topic. If he continued to talk, he would inevitably talk

about this taboo topic.

The two chatted for a long time. Princess Huaiqing looked at this Tongluo with new eyes, and Xu Qi'an was the same. This princess was not only smart, but also knowledgeable. She quoted classic sentences. It was both pleasant and laborious to talk to her.

Seeing that it was almost time, Xu Qi'an said goodbye. I can't talk anymore. There is really nothing left. If I continue to talk, I will have to talk to you about socialism.

Princess Huaiqing nodded, with a look of unsatisfaction in her eyes.

After leaving Princess Huaiqing's palace, Xu Qi'an turned around and went to find Lin'an. He

was soon informed and led into the palace by the guards.

It was 2:30 pm (9:30 am), and Lin'an, wearing a bright red skirt, was playing shuttlecock with

the palace maids.

If Xu Lingyin was talented in eating, then Bian Bian was gifted in playing. She was now better at playing shuttlecock than Xu Qi'an, who practiced martial arts.

Her bright red skirt fluttered, her small waist twisted, and her slender legs seemed to have their own GPS, always catching the shuttlecock and kicking it back into the air.

So if this girl was born in his era, she would be a nightclub queen who traveled and went to

bars every day.

Skirts in this era are too conservative, and people wear pants underneath... Xu Qi'an, who didn't see anything, complained in his heart and clasped his fists and said, "Your Highness." Seeing Xu Qi'an coming to visit, she kicked the shuttlecock to the palace maid and pinched her waist: "Didn't you say that after the case is over, you will come to pay respects every day?" "This palace is not something I can enter as I please..." Xu Qi'an walked towards the pavilion, and Princess Lin'an followed.

She took the sweat towel handed by the maid, wiped her little face, and ruffled her originally

delicate eyebrows.

"I want to go out of the palace to play recently, you accompany me." Lin'an returned the

sweat towel to the maid and washed her hands again.

Xu Qi'an glanced at her: "No."

Lin'an immediately glared: "Dog slave."

The two began to play the game of keeping the eagle awake again. Bian Bian tried to

overwhelm Xu Qi'an with her charming and affectionate peach blossom eyes, and Xu Qi'an used dead fish eyes to compete.

As expected, she was the first to admit defeat. Her round goose face was slightly shy. She turned away and said angrily: "If you were Huaiqing, would you obey me?" Huaiqing would not let me do such a suicidal thing. Abducting the princess out of the palace will be beheaded... Xu Qian'an took out a porcelain bottle from his arms:

"I recently got a little thing. Adding some to the dishes can enhance the flavor. It's called

chicken essence."

In front of Biao Biao, he was more casual and never called himself a lowly person. The second

princess never cared about these things.

"Chicken essence...what a strange name." Lin'an said with a smile: "You don't have money to spend, right? I will give you another painting. Well, Curry sent me an ivory pen, which is said to be quite valuable. I don't like writing, so I'll give it to you."

Xu Qian'an immediately said: "Your Highness has misunderstood. I am not here for the reward. I am willing to work hard for the princess."

Lin'an likes to hear sweet words, and he was very happy immediately: "Then what do you

want?"

"Please convert it into silver, Your Highness."

"Silver is fine..." Bian Bian held her cheek with her hand and stared at him with a smile. Her misty peach blossom eyes seemed to be looking at her lover.

"I'm bored and tired of playing shuttlecock. Tell me a story. Let's talk about the Journey to

the West last time."

"Okay, Your Highness. This time I'll tell you about the third borrowing of the banana fan." Xu Qiyan drank the tea served by the palace maid and moistened his throat:

"One day, Tang Monk and his disciples came to the Flaming Mountain. The fire was blazing

and they couldn't fly over it. The Earth God told Sun Dasheng that if he wanted to extinguish the flames of the Flaming Mountain, he had to ask Princess Iron Fan for the banana fan. Speaking of Princess Iron Fan, she was the wife of Bull Demon King."

"Bull Demon King? He is Sun Dasheng's sworn brother." Bian Bian has a good memory and

shouted out in a delicate voice.

"Yes, so Sun Dasheng and Mrs. Niu have an unknown origin."

"What origin?" "Princess, let me continue..." Xu Qiyan glanced at the palace maid, "You wait outside the

pavilion."

The palace maid left obediently.

Xu Qian'an was relieved and continued: "Sun Dasheng came to the Banana Cave, and Princess

Iron Fan welcomed him in warmly, but was unwilling to lend the banana fan. So the two

started fighting.

"Sun Dasheng said: Sister-in-law, I'm already inside you. "Princess Iron Fan said: Ah, it hurts, I can't stand it, you hurry up.

"Sun Dasheng said: Sister-in-law, open your mouth, I'm coming out.

"At this time, the Bull Demon King was outside the door and witnessed it all."

"Who did he help?" Lin'an said distressedly: "One is his sworn brother, and the other is his

first wife. It's a dilemma."

"No, the Bull Demon King and Princess Iron Fan are divorced."

ps: There is a problem with the number display of the chapter title, which has been modified