Chapter 500 Xu Zhongyuan-Zhihan!
"Brother, I understand your difficulties."

"But you also said that a wise man should not evade responsibility, but face it courageously."

"The current Daqian is in turmoil. The Emperor Qian has just passed away, and the new emperor has just ascended the throne. We need wise men like you to guide us."

Gu Changqing stepped forward and held Xu Zhongyuan's hand tightly.

Xu Zhongyuan was silent for a moment, staring at Gu Changqing's expectant eyes, with a complex emotion surging in his heart.

He knew that what Gu Changqing said was true. Now that Daqian, which was on the verge of collapse, really needed the support of old ministers like them.

However, the boredom and powerlessness in his heart were like shackles that bound him tightly.

"Changqing, please let me think about it again."

Xu Zhongyuan finally spoke, his voice filled with helplessness and struggle.

"Brother, I understand how you feel. Just think about it. No matter what the result is, I will respect your choice."

"But I hope you can remember that Daqian's country will always be our responsibility."

Upon hearing this, Gu Changqing felt a little anxious, but he also understood Xu Zhongyuan's difficulties. He nodded slightly and said.

The two looked at each other in silence for a moment, and then Gu Changqing suggested, "Brother, in this case, why don't we reminisce about the past first."

"Over the years, you and I have never had a chance to have a good chat. Tonight, I will stay in this Yinlongzhai and wait for your answer tomorrow."

Hearing this, Xu Zhongyuan felt a warm current in his heart, nodded, and said: "Okay, let's talk first. Over the years, I also have a lot to say to you."

As night falls, the lights in Yinlongzhai are brightly lit.

Gu Changqing and Xu Zhongyuan sat around the stone table, sipping tea and chatting about the past.

Finally, when the first ray of morning light penetrated the mist and shone into Yinlongzhai, the conversation between Gu Changqing and Xu Zhongyuan came to an end.

"Brother, what have you thought about?"

Gu Changqing asked softly, his tone revealing a hint of nervousness and anticipation.

Xu Zhongyuan pondered for a moment, his eyes deep, as if he was weighing the two ends of the scale in his heart.

In the morning light, his face looked particularly solemn, yet he also revealed a barely perceptible determination.

"Changqing, I have made up my mind. When Daqian is in turmoil, how can I stay out of it?"

"However, I am old and physically weak, and I am exhausted. I am afraid that I am no longer qualified for the position I held in the past."

"I am willing to offer advice and suggestions to the new emperor as a commoner, but I will not hold any real position. This way, I can do my best and it is also a wise move."

Finally, he spoke slowly, with a hint of vicissitudes and relief in his voice.

"Brother, this is a brilliant move. With your wisdom and experience, you can guide the new emperor and help Daqian overcome difficulties."

"This way, you can achieve the best of both worlds while still serving your country."

When Gu Changqing heard this, a hint of relief and understanding flashed in his eyes. He knew very well the struggle and difficulty in Xu Zhongyuan's heart, so he smiled softly.

The two smiled at each other. At this moment, there was no need for any words to describe their tacit understanding and friendship over the years.

Then they stood up and walked out of Yinlongzhai, and saw the morning mist lingering in the valley outside, like a fairyland.

Outside this fairyland, the sound of carriages and horses could be heard faintly, breaking the tranquility of the valley.

Walking out of the valley, the view suddenly opened up, and I saw the new emperor Si Yinqi, dressed in gorgeous clothes, standing in front of the carriage, with a solemn and magnificent guard of honor. The morning light sprinkled on the magnificent guard of honor, adding a bit of solemnity and awe.

"Teacher, you are finally willing to come out of seclusion! I, and even the entire Daqian, are looking forward to listening to your teachings again."

Si Yinqi's young face was full of sincerity and expectation. When he saw Xu Zhongyuan and Gu Changqing coming out, he hurriedly stepped forward, bowed, and his voice was filled with excitement that was hard to conceal.

Apparently, when he was a prince of the Daqian Dynasty, Si Yinqi also studied under Xu Zhongyuan.

Xu Zhongyuan looked at the young new emperor in front of him, his former disciple, and a complex emotion surged in his heart.

"Your Majesty, although I am old, I am willing to use my remaining strength to offer suggestions to the new dynasty. I only hope that Your Majesty can adopt one or two of them."

He spoke slowly, and although his voice was not loud, every word was sonorous and powerful.

"Teacher, I will remember every word you say."

When Si Yinqi heard this, tears flashed in his eyes. He held Xu Zhongyuan's hand tightly and spoke in a firm voice.

Afterwards, the group slowly walked towards the carriage.

"Brother, you see, this country still needs old bones like you and me to support it."

Gu Changqing followed Xu Zhongyuan and laughed softly.

"Ding! Xu Zhongyuan's skill Zhihan is activated!
Zhihan: With wisdom as vast as the sea and boundless strategies, he assists the wise ruler and plans for the world together. Xu Zhongyuan is extremely talented and has a deep understanding of the ways of heaven and earth. This is his unique skill.

Effect 2: The stars and the sea shine together. When assisting a wise leader, it is like the stars and the moon shining together. If you truly assist the wise leader, this can increase the wise leader's military power, intelligence, politics, and command by 1 points in one of the four dimensions, and 1 point in the other four dimensions, depending on the situation, and increase his charm by point.

Effect 1: Undercurrents surge. If the lord becomes alienated from his assistants, each of his four dimensions will be reduced by 2 point, and his charm will be reduced by points.

Effect three: The commander's tent will be wise and strategic. When assisting the commander in battle, the commander's command value can be increased by 1-2 points depending on the situation.

Effect 2: Command with confidence and be invincible. If Xu Zhongyuan personally leads the battle as the commander-in-chief, he will be in the lead and his command value will increase by points.

Effect 1: Unparalleled wisdom and strategy. Whenever he arrives at a place, Xu Zhongyuan can quickly understand the situation and make suggestions for the commander-in-chief (including himself), temporarily increasing the commander-in-chief's intelligence by 1 point and additionally increasing the military strength of the entire army by point.
When Xu Zhongyuan's skill Zhihan is activated, it increases Si Yinqi's politics by 2 points, his other military strength, intelligence, and command by 1 point, and increases his charm by an additional 1 point.

At this time, Si Yinqi and Xu Zhongyuan were chatting as they walked. In a short period of time, they felt that they had gained a lot and their minds felt clear.

Some things that I didn't understand before suddenly became clear to me, and I understood them instantly.

This made Si Yinqi look at Xu Zhongyuan more eagerly. He didn't know that it was Xu Zhongyuan's skills that were at work, and that they were only aimed at him.

In Si Yinqi's heart now, he thinks his teacher's talent is probably even greater than the world's perception of him!

"Teacher's words are like a bright light that illuminates the way for me, and they have opened my eyes to the world."

"Everyone says that the teacher is extremely intelligent. After listening to me today, I know that what they say is true. The teacher's talent is really a blessing to Daqian!"

Si Yinqi's mind suddenly became clear, as if the clouds had cleared and the sun appeared. All the problems that had been bothering him seemed to have solutions at this moment. He looked at Xu Zhongyuan with more eager eyes.

"Your Majesty, you are too kind. I am only trying my best to help you stabilize your country and restore the glory of Daqian."

Xu Zhongyuan shook his head slightly, with a hint of humility in his smile.

The two men talked as they walked. Si Yinqi nodded from time to time, sometimes pondered, and sometimes asked questions. Every time Xu Zhongyuan answered, he felt as if the fog had been cleared, and the blueprint for governing the country in his mind became clearer and clearer.

For Si Yinqi, this short journey was like a baptism of the soul, which made him deeply realize the truth of "listening to your words is better than reading for ten years."

(End of this chapter)