After the rebirth, I became the darling of the tyrant

However, Xiao Tingshen did not take the opportunity to attack.He put the letter in his hand on the desk, and changed the topic: "General Yan Shengyan took the lead in this great victory in Xiangping. I have drawn up an order to promote Yan to be a general of chariots and riders, lead the southern Hubei army, and succeed Wang Yongke Take the position of guarding southern Hubei for me."

"The soldiers who participated in the suppression of the rebellion this time will be rewarded according to their merits, and the victims will be compensated for their families."

After he finished speaking, he paused and his eyes fell on Gu Chen.Even though the two were separated by a long distance, his eyes softened like ice and snow melting in an instant: "Gu Qing is so smart that he caught the traitor in the sixth part. Gu Qing is the Minister of the Ministry of War of the second rank, replacing Wang Yongke's position. For my commander-in-chief."

Gu Chen knelt down to thank him, Xiao Ting waved his hand deeply: "No need, get up."

Gu Chen stood up, and Cai Min beside him trembled even more.Xiao Tingshen didn't say a word about surrendering his letter to Wang Yongke. To him, it was like a sharp knife hanging over his head, which would fall down at any time.Every time Xiao Ting paused deeply, he couldn't help but bury his head deeper, his legs had long since lost the strength to support himself, and he could only lie there like a fish on a chopping board.

After Xiao Tingshen finished his commendation to the meritorious ministers, all the ministers thought that he was going to start to settle the matter of the letter, but unexpectedly he just paused for a moment and waved to Wei Dequan who was beside him.

Wei Dequan took a step forward: "Your ministers have something to announce, and nothing to do—"

It's so early in the morning.

Several frightened ministers wiped the cold sweat off their brows and staggered out of the hall.Cai Min barely stood still by holding on to the palace door, and wobbled every step when going down the steps.

Immediately afterwards, they saw Gu Chen walking in front.Several people looked at each other, quickened their pace, and rushed up from behind: "Master Gu, Master Gu!"

Gu Chen stopped and turned around, with a look of surprise on his face.He watched Cai Min and the others trot up after him, and after standing in front of him, he gave a deep bow. He was puzzled and reached out to help: "Master Cai, Master Yuan, what are you..."

"Congratulations, Mr. Gu, congratulations, Mr. Gu." Cai Min's previous doubts and questions about Gu Chen had long since disappeared, replaced by a smile that looked particularly sincere, "Mr. The position is really young and promising, young and promising!"

"Yes, yes, congratulations, Master Gu!"

"Congratulations!"

"Master Gu has a bright future, the future is limitless!"

Several ministers gathered around, each with sincerity and joy on their faces, as if they were the ones who were promoted.Surrounded by them, Gu Chen smiled a little forcedly: "My lords, please be polite, all thanks to your majesty's virtue..."

"That's right, His Majesty treats Lord Gu very favorably." Cai Min smiled all over his face, "In the future, we will still rely on Lord Gu to take care of us, and I hope that Lord Gu can speak well in front of His Majesty... "

Gu Chenxin said that according to Xiao Tingshen's temper, he might not let go of those who wrote surrender letters to Wang Yongke during the counter-insurgency period.Before he could answer, a shrill voice came from not far away: "Master Gu."

Wei Dequan walked up to Gu Chen and bowed to Gu Chen with a smile: "Master Gu, Your Majesty invites you to the study."

His appearance was timely, and he rescued Gu Chen from being surrounded by a group of people.Gu Chen immediately bid farewell to Cai Min and the others, and followed Wei Dequan out of the crowd, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Xiao Tingshen did not wait for him in the study, but waited for him at the gate of Ganquan Palace.Seeing him coming, Xiao Tingshen showed a smile in his eyes: "My lord Shangshu is here."

His tone was so intimate that Gu Chen couldn't help but blush a little: "What did Your Majesty say..."

"Is what I said wrong?" Xiao Ting smiled deeply, "From today on, you are my minister." After speaking, he glanced at Gu Chen: "Blocked by someone?"

"……Um."

"They want you to intercede with me."

"Um……"

"Are you going to intercede?"

Gu Chen didn't speak, but looked up at Xiao Tingshen: "How does His Majesty plan to deal with those people?"

The two walked along the palace road towards the imperial garden. Gu Chen originally took the last step by mistake, but Xiao Tingshen insisted on pulling him and let him walk side by side with him.The two walked for a while before Xiao Tingshen said: "Kill."

It was within Gu Chen's expectation that he would say that.Gu Chen was silent for a while before he said: "But there are too many people. In this way, Your Majesty will be like sweeping out half of the court."

"It's not a pity for them to die." Xiao Ting sneered deeply, and glanced at Gu Chen: "You won't be really moved by them, do you want to ask for love?"

Gu Chen laughed: "The minister was not persuaded by them." He paused: "But the minister did not want His Majesty to kill them all."

He paused for a moment and sighed softly: "It is true that some people are attached to Wang's faction, but there are also some people who are bewitched, and some people are forced to fall into Wang's faction because of power or threats. ...Does His Majesty want to kill all these people?"

"Are you asking me to let them go?" Xiao Ting frowned deeply, "Wang's faction is nothing but moths, I can't be lenient."

"It's not all let go, the culprit will naturally be liquidated." Gu Chen raised his eyes and said softly, "However, some ministers who were bewitched, coerced, and joined Wang's faction for reasons of last resort, I thought maybe they could Give them a chance."

When he said this, he thought of Zhao Zhongqi.Back then, Zhao Zhongqi was unwilling to poison Xiao Tingshen, but he was coerced by others and he did it as a last resort in order to save his brother's life... These people may be guilty, but the crime does not entail death.

Always give a chance to live.

While talking, the two had already stepped into the imperial garden, and after bypassing a small bluestone bridge, the eyes suddenly opened up, revealing a piece of gurgling water.The wind lotus swaying in the pond, the weeping willows on the bank are shaded, and the breeze is gentle, which is a good place to cool off.

The palace servants behind Xiao Tingshen came forward and spread a huge bamboo mat by the pond.Xiao Ting pulled Gu Chen to sit down, and then someone served wine, the wine smelled leisurely, it was the "floating celadon" that the two of them often drank.

Xiao Tingshen took a sip first, although his brows stretched, he still didn't speak.Gu Chen also took a sip, pondered for a while before saying: "I am willing to investigate for His Majesty..."

Xiao Ting looked at him deeply.

"...Screen these people out." Gu Chen put it another way, raised his eyes to look at Xiao Tingshen, and smiled slightly: "What do you think, Your Majesty?"

Xiao Ting looked at him deeply, and after a long time, he hooked his lips: "I thought you didn't want to be said to be my 'favorite'."

Gu Chen was startled: "..."

"Have you ever thought about what it means for you to come forward to screen for me?" Xiao Tingshen's voice softened a little, his eyes didn't blink, and he carefully observed Gu Chen's expression: "Think about it... Tell me if you really want to screen for me."

If he didn't mention Gu Chen, he wouldn't have thought of it. However, when he said this, Gu Chen suddenly realized that the only person who could do this for the emperor was probably only a courtier from the previous dynasty.It is said that the courtier surnamed Chen was born with a beautiful appearance and was quite favored by a former emperor. He acted for the emperor many times, and some people even called him "little emperor" in private.

If this title were placed on an ordinary courtier, he would have been sent to prison by the emperor to die.Unexpectedly, the emperor from the previous dynasty just smiled when he heard about this incident, and still loved him very much.Therefore, there is a barnyard official and unofficial history that wrote that the courtier surnamed Chen was actually the favorite of the previous emperor.

Since the arrest of the traitor, Xiao Tingshen's favor and trust in Gu Chen has been known throughout the court. Of course, there are reasons why Xiao Tingshen doesn't want to restrain himself at all, and there are also reasons why Cai Min and others are fueling the flames, but the most fundamental thing is... Xiao Tingshen For him, it is indeed more than the relationship between the monarch and his ministers.

Gu Chen was already thin-skinned, but when he thought of this question, his whole face turned red.He coughed twice and lowered his head to cover up a sip of wine, but he was still thinking about it.

He remembered Jiang Chong asking him before: Do you like Your Majesty?

He tried to think: I like...

Then there was a bang in my mind, countless fireworks exploded, and it stopped.

He resisted thinking about it.

He was lost in thought when he suddenly felt something icy and cool on his cheek.He was taken aback, only to realize that it was Xiao Tingshen's finger when he came back to his senses.

"Your Majesty!?" Gu Chen hurriedly shrank back, "You, you are..."

"Your face is so red." Xiao Tingshen withdrew his hand, and looked him up and down with a pair of dark and bright eyes, "Are you all right?"

"It's okay..." Gu Chen said in a low voice, "It's just that... this wine... is a bit sweet."

After he finished speaking, he wished he could find a crack in the ground to sneak in—he had drank Fu Qingci wine with Xiao Tingshen many times before, and it didn't make any difference at all, and it didn't have much stamina. Wasn't he just making excuses blatantly?

However, after Xiao Ting listened deeply, he just smiled, showing a thoughtful look, and reached out to take the wine glass in his hand: "Then don't drink, don't force yourself."

When he said the last sentence, his eyes darkened slightly - he understood that Gu Chen still didn't want to admit the relationship between them... even if he was a "favorite", he was not willing.

Gu Chen was taken aback for a moment, feeling that what Xiao Tingshen said "don't force yourself" was not referring to drinking, but as referring to the matter of screening officials and convicting him just now.Seeing Xiao Tingshen's eyes darken again, he suddenly felt as if he was bumped lightly by something, a little sore and a little weak.

Therefore, he exerted a little force and did not let go of the wine glass in his hand.

"I am willing." Gu Chen said in a low voice, "I am willing to screen these people for Your Majesty, please allow your Majesty to go."

The light in Xiao Tingshen's eyes suddenly lit up again: "...Have you made up your mind?"

If Gu Chen really acted for the emperor and screened these people for Xiao Tingshen, I am afraid that the entire court would know Xiao Tingshen's "favor" for Gu Chen.Reminiscent of the courtier surnamed Chen from the previous dynasty... Gu Chen will definitely be rumored to be Xiao Tingshen's favorite in some rumors.

This is something Gu Chen can't usually avoid.

Now, however, he nodded.

He said: "I have thought about it, and I am willing."