Chapter 467 Cui’s Disease

In Chang'an, a drizzle of drizzle has been falling for seven days, and the heat has completely disappeared. The entire Chang'an City is immersed in a hint of early autumn. At night, there are few pedestrians on the streets, and people who can be seen by chance are walking in a hurry. In this cold night, home is the warmest place.

In the northwest corner of Yongningfang, Wannian County, there is a large mansion covering an area of ​​dozens of acres. This is the mansion of the deposed prime minister Cui Huan. A carriage drove quickly and stopped in front of Cui Huan's mansion. A guard got off the carriage, walked up the steps quickly, and said a few words to the gatekeeper. The gatekeeper immediately went back to report. Wang Gong got off the carriage and waited under the steps with his hands behind his back. A guard held an umbrella behind him.

After a moment, the side door of Cui’s mansion opened. Cui Huan’s eldest son Cui Jun quickly came out and bowed from a distance, saying, “The King of Kings is here to visit the humble house. If you miss it, please forgive me for your crimes!”

Cui Jun is about 30 years old and is currently the chief minister of Jinzhou, Hedong Road. He is smart and capable, and has a good governance of Jinzhou. He is quite famous among the people. When he heard that his father had an accident, he hurried back and arrived in Chang'an this morning.

Wang Gong replied with a greeting and said with a smile: "I didn't say hello in advance, sorry, it should be me?"

He stepped forward and asked in a low voice: "Nephew, is your father feeling better?"

After both parties compromised, Cui Huan had been released from Dali Temple Prison. Wei Jiansu also returned home, but Cui Huan fell ill after becoming a monk. His illness was very serious. Wang Gong was entrusted by Li Heng to visit the Cui family.

Cui Jun sighed and said, "The conditions in the prison are bad. My father was hit hard again this time. After a chronic disease attack, he fell ill. This time the illness is very serious. The doctor said that my father will have to be raised for at least half a year to a year before his health will gradually improve."

"Hey! This time I have implicated your father. Your Highness the Superintendent ordered me to visit your father and check your illness first!"

Cui Jun nodded and said, "Please come with me, Wang Xiangguo."

Cui Jun took Wang Gong to a small courtyard in the inner house. Wang Gong's ward was here. Before he could see the ward, Wang Gong smelled a strong smell of medicine. He frowned. Cui Huan's health has always been very good, but why did he get so seriously ill?

When he walked to the door, Cui Jun whispered: "Father, Wang Xiangguo is here to see you."

A fierce cough came from the room, and the cough was so loud that Cui Huan panted and said, "Please... Please come in!"

"Prime Minister Wang, my father invites you in."

Wang Gong sighed and walked into the ward. The smell of medicine in the ward became stronger, and there was a slight odor that made people vomit when they smelled it. Wang Gong restrained his nausea and walked forward. Cui Huan was lying on the sickbed, with a pale complexion, his hair was messy, and he kept coughing. The odor was coming from him, and it became even more unbearable when approaching. However, the two concubines might have gotten used to it, one on the left and the other on the right, serving Cui Huan to drink medicine.

Wang Gong was really unable to get close to him, so he bowed from afar and said, "Does Brother Cui feel better?"

Cui Huan just passed his fifties this year, which was the golden moment in a man's career. During the Tianbao period, he had been an official in Shuzhong and became the prefect of Zizhou. Last year, Yang Shenjin, the Minister of Works, resigned with Zhang Yun, and was transferred back to Chang'an to serve as the Minister of Works. Since he was the core figure of the Cui family, Li Heng was promoted to him to the Political Affairs Hall. Unfortunately, he became a victim of the power struggle less than a month after he became the prime minister.

He took a sip of the medicine and took strength: "Chest tightness, breathless..."

Speaking of this, he coughed violently again, and after a while he said, "I can't do it anymore, I'm disappointed the Prime Minister and the Superintendent."

"You can't say that. Brother Cui is in his prime and has a chance to become an official after he recovers from his illness. His Highness the Superintendent asked Brother Cui to raise him well. He would like to raise any needs."

"Thank you, Your Highness, I...I don't... what's needed."

Seeing that Cui Huan was having difficulty speaking and could not bear the stench on his body, Wang Gong nodded, put a good hundred-year-old ginseng on the table, bowed and said, "Then I won't disturb Brother Cui's rest, come and visit him next time."

"Jun'er, I'll send you the Prime Minister to your father."

Wang Gong left, Cui Huan kept listening to Wang Gong's footsteps and walked away. His eyes suddenly opened, and the turbid and dizzy gaze that had just passed was no longer visible, and he became bright. He turned over and sat up and said to the two concubines: "Get me water!"

A concubine hurried out to fetch water, and Cui Huan said to another person: "When Jun'er comes back, let him come to the study to see me."

He pinched his nose, and seemed to be unable to bear the stench of the house.

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In the rain and fog, Cui Jun sent Wang Gong out, "Thank you, Prime Minister Wang, for visiting his father, please ask Prime Minister Wang to go slowly."

"Take good care of your father, I will allow you to leave for a month. I will go and say hello to the Ministry of Personnel. If you have any difficulties, come to me!"

Wang Gong gave a few words, then got on the carriage and left. Cui Jun kept looking at him and walked away. Then he turned around and ordered his subordinates: "Close the door, and if someone comes to visit, he will say that the master has rested and report to me."

He walked into the mansion, a family member stepped forward, whispered to him, Cui Jun nodded, and then quickly walked towards the study in the inner house.

At this moment, the light in Cui Huan's study was bright, and there was a faint smell of sandalwood.

Cui Huan had washed off the sallow color on his face, changed into a wide Zen suit, and sat in the study and was writing something. At this time, the voice of his son Cui Jun came from outside the door.

"Father, the baby is here."

"Come in!"

The door opened, Cui Jun walked in, Cui Huan put down his pen, pointed to the cushion next to him and said, "Sit down!"

Cui Jun sat down and said, "Father, the Prime Minister Wang has left."

"I know he's gone. If he doesn't leave, I won't sit here. Oh! I'm not feeling good about pretending to be sick!"

After a moment of silence, Cui Jun said, "The child doesn't understand why his father pretended to be sick to the Prime Minister Wang and the Superintendent of the State?"

Cui Huan did not answer him directly, but smiled slightly and said, "It has been a day since you came back. You should also know why I was dismissed. Tell me what you think? I really want to know for my father."

Cui Jun pondered for a moment and said, "Father, the more I think about this, the more I think about it, the more I am. My father obviously didn't write any letter to Li Longji, how could he reply to his father like that? And it fell into Li Qing'an's hands. There is a problem here!"

Cui Jun already knew the cause and effect of the matter. Based on his intuition, he thought his father was framed. For this reason, he said indignantly: "Father, I think this is a conspiracy planned by Li Qing'an. It is impossible for the matter to be so coincidental. When he needs evidence, the evidence will come. How is this possible?"

Cui Huan looked at his son with praise. It was already very good that his son could see this, which really made Cui Huan feel relieved. He nodded and smiled: "Others think that I had an affair with Chengdu, only I know it. Of course, this is Li Qing'an's skill. As for how he did it, I don't think it's important. What's important now is that we need to understand one thing, why did he choose my Cui family to start?"

Cui Jun did not understand his father's words, and he hurriedly said, "How can you just let it go? It's better to write a letter to Chengdu and ask the second uncle to investigate the whole story. This matter will definitely be revealed."

Cui Jun pointed to the second uncle Cui Yuan, the prime minister of the Southern Tang Dynasty. Seeing that his son was still a little confused on the most critical issue, Cui Huan couldn't help but shook his head and said, "You don't understand what I mean. My crime is not important. I used to be loyal to the old emperor. Even if I am loyal to him now, what's the crime? The question is not here. The question is why Li Qing'an chose my Cui family to attack? Don't you understand?"

In fact, Cui Huan can explain the problem thoroughly in one sentence, but that is not good for his son. He wants his son to understand the key points by himself, so that his son can gradually mature, truly understand the mystery of power struggle, and take over his position in the future.

After all, Cui Jun has been in power for many years and has certain experience in political struggles. After his father gave a quick explanation, he immediately understood and said, "My father means that Li Qing'an wants to step on our Cui family and use the fall of our Cui family to win over other aristocratic families. Is that true?"

Seeing that his son finally understood, Cui Huan couldn't help but smile and said, "You can see this, which means that you have made great progress. Then I'll ask you again, who will be the most beneficial to the Cui family's frustration?"

‘Who is the most beneficial to him?’ If my father didn’t deliberately ask this, Cui Jun would certainly think that it was Li Qing'an. This matter is of course the most beneficial to Li Qing'an. All major families look at him with admiration, followed by the Wei family. Wei Tao actually entered the court, indicating that the Wei family will regain their lead.

But when his father asked this deliberately, Cui Jun realized that the answer might not be that simple. He pondered for a moment, then hesitated and said, "Did my father refer to the Pei family?"

Cui Huan smiled, "Not bad! My son can see this. He is worthy of being my son, and I have someone to follow."

Cui Jun blushed and hurriedly said, "Father, I just feel that I asked me to give a specific reason, but I can't say it."

"Okay, let me tell you."

Cui Huan looked into his son's eyes and said word by word: "Because Li Qing'an has the possibility of ascending the throne!"

"Father, will this be true?" Cui Jun asked incredible.

"Don't you know this?"

"I know something, and everyone has said it usually, but I don't know much about it in Hedong, so I can't believe it will be true."

"This is true, and the possibility is getting greater and greater."

Cui Huan's eyes showed a hint of worry, "This time he suppressed our Cui family, in fact, in order to completely win over the Pei family and the Wei family. He was showing his strength to the Pei family to make the Pei family devoted themselves to him, and at the same time, the Wei family was grateful to him and willing to be his pawn. In fact, he succeeded. I have heard that the Pei family decided to be betrothed Pei Zunqing's granddaughter Wan'er to him as a symbol of their formal alliance. Wei Tao also sent his son Wei Jingyuan and his nephew Wei Yingwu to Anxi to join the army. This is also a symbol of the Wei family's allegiance to him. I heard that Wang Wei was the right prime minister of the Shangshu and was also the face of the Lu family. Now among the major families in Chang'an, Dugu, Changsun, Pei, Wei, Lu, Zhang and other major families are supporting him, and his situation is getting better and better."

After listening to his father's analysis, Cui Jun realized that his father was pretending to be sick, just to keep a certain distance from the General Party and let the Cui family break away from the General Party. So that's it!

Thinking of this, he was excited and said, "Father, according to your wishes, do we have room for reconciliation between our Cui family and Li Qing'an?"

Cui Huan narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Our Cui family is the first family in the world. If we support him, do you think he is willing to reconcile with us?"

"Father, I think he must be willing, otherwise he would not win over the Pei family. He also knows that he cannot rely solely on the Dugu family. Pei Wan'er is the legitimate daughter of the Pei family. He wants to marry Pei Wan'er, but he doesn't want the Dugu family to become a big shot. Since he has the ambition to ascend the throne, the child thinks he must also accept our Cui family."

"My son said it very well, but you can't be anxious. You have to take it slowly. If you are too anxious, you will offend Li Heng. This is even more unfavorable to our Cui family. I plan to be sick for the first half of the year and be in the wild for the time being. When the time comes, our Cui family is changing the family."

Cui Jun was a little worried again: "But if the time delayed too long, will Li Qing'an continue to clean up other children of the Cui family?"

"This will never be possible!"
Chapter completed!