Just when Xin Ran, Gao Yifei, and Chen Ming were talking happily, Chen Wenduan returned to the mansion after finishing the morning morning, and saw the three of them chatting, so he came to the middle of the three and asked, "What are you discussing, can you let me participate too?"

Chen Ming said: "Brother, we are talking about the heir of the saint today, and we all think that Zhao Yun, the king of Yi, is good, but the current prince is not necessarily the choice of the future king." Pen Fun Pavilion www.biquge.info"

Chen Wenduan said: "This matter, the DPRK and China are currently divided into two factions, one faction is to support the prince, and the other faction is to support the king of Yi Zhao Yun, in my opinion, you should not rush to conclusions, you can all understand, in this way, today is the prince's birthday, at noon the prince will hold a grand celebration banquet in the East Palace, today's saint, civil and military officials, Yi Wang Zhao Yun and so on will go to participate in the congratulations, you may as well go with me to participate, to meet the forces of the court, for the future to make a preparation." “

Xin Ran said: "This is the best, we will all go to this banquet with my brother in a while." “

Gao Yifei continued: "Three brothers, I am now the staff of Zhao Yun, the king of Yi, and I must accompany Zhao Yun, the king of Yi, to participate at noon, it is inconvenient to be with you, so let's say goodbye first, when the time comes, we will meet again in the banquet, if there is any problem, we can secretly help each other, as for the acquaintance between me and Brother Xin, we still pretend to meet for the first time at the banquet, so as not to arouse the vigilance of the traitorous party in the DPRK and China, you see, this is good?"

After Xin Ran heard it, he hurriedly said: "Brother Gao Shi is still thoughtful, so be it." ”

After the three of them discussed this, Gao Yifei got up to say goodbye, left Chen's mansion, and went back to accompany Zhao Yun, the king of Yi, to attend the banquet.

After Chen Wenduan sent Gao Yifei away, he asked the housekeeper in the house to prepare all the gifts to congratulate the prince on his birthday, and then said to Chen Ming: "There are rules for going to the prince's banquet, and each invitee can only bring one person he invites to celebrate the prince's birthday, so after I bring Brother Xin, you can't participate in the name of a guest, you pretend to be my scholar and follow me and Brother Xin." ”

After Chen Ming heard it, he said: "Brother, you are so partial, let Brother Xin Shi be a guest, and I will be a scholar." ”

Xin Ran hurriedly said: "Why don't I pretend to be a scholar, don't let Brother Chen Xian be wronged." ”

Chen Ming saw Xin Ran say this, and said with a smile: "I'm joking with you, don't take it seriously, it's good to be a scholar." ”

At this time, the housekeeper came to Chen Wenduan, saying that the gift was ready, Chen Wenduan took the two to the gate of the mansion, Chen Wenduan was a civil official, sitting in a sedan chair, Xin Ran and Chen Ming rode horses, and the housekeeper followed closely with a few relatives, and went straight to the prince's east palace.

Chen Wenduan's mansion was not far from the Prince's East Palace, and in about half an hour, several of them came to the gate of the East Palace.

And said that although Chen Wenduan is only the head of the Ministry of Rites, it is nothing in Lin'an City, where there is a surplus of cattle hair in the first and second grades, but because his father Chen Liang had a high reputation inside and outside the court and the opposition during his lifetime, although he has passed away, there are still many protégés and former officials, many of whom are in Lin'an to be a first-class and second-class official, so the welcome at the door saw that Chen Wenduan's sedan chair had arrived, and he did not dare to slack off, and hurriedly stepped forward to welcome him to the main hall of the East Palace.

Entering the main hall, I saw a person wearing a crown and a yellow robe sitting in the middle, it is estimated that it is the current prince, the two did not dare to slack off, hurriedly stepped forward, knelt on the ground, and congratulated the prince on his birthday.

Chen Wen bowed and replied: "His Royal Highness the Prince, the humble position brought the son of the former Lord Xin Qiji, Xin Ran is also, Xin Gongzi has been taught by his father since he was a child, and he is an all-round talent in civil and military affairs. ”

Prince Zhao Hong seemed to be very arrogant, snorted in his nose, and said, "Since you are the son of Mr. Xin, please ask Lord Chen to entertain you properly on behalf of the palace and sit down." ”

The two of them said, "Yes." ”

Under the guidance of the people in the East Palace, he sat down on the side.

As soon as the two of them sat down, they saw a shout from outside: "The emperor has arrived." ”

Everyone hurriedly got up from their chairs and fell to their knees, waiting for His Majesty the Emperor's arrival.

Soon, the emperor walked into the main hall of the East Palace, and Prince Zhao Hong hurriedly stepped forward to welcome His Majesty Emperor Ningzong into the main seat of the main hall and respectfully invited the emperor to take a seat.

Xin Ran took a sneak look, and saw that Shi Miyuan was following the emperor to the left, followed by the sect master of the Tianxia Sect and Xia Zhen, and there was also a person dressed as a prince on the right side of the emperor, so he asked Chen Wenduan quietly: "Who is this prince dressed up?"

Chen Wenduan whispered: "This is Zhao Yun, the king of Yi, who often serves the emperor now. ”

After the emperor took his seat, he said: Today is the birthday of the prince, and I will also join in the fun. The crowd hurriedly shouted long live and got up and took their seats.

At this time, Xin Ran took a closer look, and saw that Prince Zhao Hong accompanied the emperor to sit on the main seat of the main hall, there was a table on the right side of the emperor, which was Zhao Yun, the king of Yi that Chen Wenduan said just now, and the table on the left was Shi Miyuan, and behind him stood the sect master of the Tianxia Sect and Xia Zhen.

Emperor Ningzong's throne was at the height of the main hall, so the whole hall could see it clearly, when he glanced at it, he saw Xin Ran, quite surprised, and hurriedly asked the chamberlain to announce it to his seat, and said: "It turns out that Xin Aiqing also came to celebrate the prince's birthday today, but the prince didn't tell me. “

Then he said to the prince: "This Xin Aiqing is the son of Xin Qiji, and he has a lot of insights into the country's plans, and he has communicated with me, and he came to pay tribute to your birthday today, why don't you tell me." “

The crown prince was very surprised when he heard that Emperor Ningzong also knew Xin Ran, and he didn't know what to say for a while, and his face turned slightly red.

Seeing that the prince was silent, Emperor Ningzong said again: "Xin Aiqing is a distinguished guest today, so I think I will sit at the same table with Zhao Yun, the king of Yi." ”

When the prince heard the emperor's arrangement, he hurriedly brought Xin Ran to the table of Zhao Yun, the king of Yi.

When Zhao Yun, the king of Yi, saw Xin Ran walking to his table, he hurriedly got up, bowed and bowed, and said: "Xiao Wang is Zhao Yun, Ling Zun's knowledge and character are very admired by this king, but it is a pity that this king has no chance to listen to Ling Zun's teachings, and today he can sit at the same table with Mr. Xin, just ask for advice, Xiao Wang is really honored." ”

Xin Ran also replied: "The prince is too polite, it is a cloth cloth below, the prince is so polite, the grass people really dare not be, the prince please take a seat." ”

Zhao Yun, the king of Yi, said: "Mr. is polite. ”

Saying that, he took Xin Ran's hand, and the two sat down together.