Jiang Buqi inherited Xiangguo at the age of sixteen, and with the assistance of a generation of famous ministers Gongxing, he worked hard internally, worked hard, stabilized the country, expanded production, reorganized the army, responded to the Xuanyuan Dynasty externally, led troops to pacify several small rebellious countries nearby, and included his land in his bag, completing the unfinished achievements of his father Xiang Linghou.

Xiangguo, that's how it has become stronger step by step.

Jiang Buqi specially set up a banquet for the prince to catch the wind and wash the dust, and on the list of banquets, several accompanying officers were on the list, Sun Yun, Li Qing, etc., and Ting Yan was also invited.

"Look, this is Xiang Guo, this is Xiang Gong, this is domineering. This is the attitude that a vassal state should have, and the monarchs who let us eat white rice on the road should all be ashamed to jump into the Qingjiang. Li Qing carried the long sword and said with a big grin.

"Today is the time to eat rivetingly, otherwise after eating this meal, I don't know if there will be a next meal. Shang Zhu smiled mysteriously at Li Qing.

Jiang Buqi is the same year as Ji Zheng, but he looks much more stable than Ji Zheng. With black hair tied up, a golden nine-sword crown on his head, a picturesque face, sword eyebrows like peaks, eyes like electricity, wearing a purple and cyan python pattern robe, a white jade belt around his waist, and a group of cyan jade pendant groups, like a beautiful young man who came out of a painting.

This is the first time Ji Zheng has met Jiang Buqi, but seeing that although he is young, the civil and military officials in the palace are all obedient to him, and he admires him in his heart.

"The prince went all the way south, and it was hard. The widow is here to give the prince a drink. Jiang Buqi sat on the main seat, raised the wine vessel, and saluted the prince.

The Xuanyuan Dynasty stipulated that when the prince visited other vassal states, he should sit on the main seat during the meal, and the princes should avoid it, but this way south, the prince suffered much more than he had in more than 20 years combined, which made him grow a lot and be much more cautious in his actions and words than before.

Considering the strong strength of Xiang Guo, and now that he is in Jiang Buqi's territory, and he has to borrow a boat from him to cross the Qingjiang River, Ji Zheng did not dare to sit in the main position due north, so he repeatedly pushed it away.

Walking on thin ice and trembling is his mood at this time.

Ji Zheng sat on the lower left, opposite him was Xiang Gongxing, Shang Zhu sat next to him, and then Sun Yun and Li Qing.

Each banquet table is placed with high and low tripod vessels, which are full of a variety of satisfying food, such as the fat and the belly, the ox roast, the pork belly, the sheep gizzard, the fish belly, the bacon, the stomach, the mustard sauce, the leek, the changben, the jing, the mao, the grits, this is called the seven tripods and the six gui, it is the highest standard banquet that the princes can enjoy.

"Don't dare, don't dare. Ji Zheng hurriedly raised the three-legged wine vessel and saluted Jiang Buqi in return.

Jiang Buqi drank it all, and after the maid poured it full, she raised the wine vessel and said to Shang Zhu and the other two ministers: "You have come from afar, you have worked hard all the way, please enjoy it slowly." ”

Several courtiers of Xuanyuan Kingdom picked up the wine vessel one after another, and saluted Jiang Buqi: "Thank you Xiang Gong for your hospitality." ”

"My father specially invited our most famous musician to pick up the wind and wash the dust for the prince. Jiang Buqi clapped his hands, and walked out of a group of singers in pale cyan clothes, lined up in the center of the banquet pool, facing Xiang.

Li Qing counted, these singers lined up in nine rows, nine people in each row, exactly eighty-one people, standing with so many people, the huge palace of governance was still a little empty.

"Ouch, Xiang ......" Li Qinggang wanted to say that the number of singers did not meet the specifications and had already exceeded the specifications of the Son of Heaven, but was interrupted by the Shang Zhu next to him with a smile: "Xiang Gong treats us so warmly, Shang Zhu is very grateful, respect Jiang Gong." And Sun Yun on the side reached out and pressed Li Qing and told him not to talk nonsense.

Jiang Buqi just raised the wine vessel, didn't drink, and looked at Ji Zheng with a smile.

Ji Zheng lowered his head, his face was pale, and his hands were clutching his clothes tightly. Waiting for the system of etiquette and music, this is what Ji Zheng can't accept no matter what, he has been educated since he was a child and can't follow the rules, not to mention simple etiquette, and other aspects can't be overstepped.

The national ritual law stipulates that the Son of Heaven has nine 䭭乣, the princes have six 䰈, the secretary of the Qing Dynasty has four 䰈, and Jiang Buqi is the lord of the country, and he should implement the six 䰈, and at this time, the nine 丫 dance in the palace is a challenge to the ritual system of the Xuanyuan Dynasty.

Shang Zhu also looked at Ji Zheng, he also wanted to see how Ji Zheng would respond, and there were many ministers of Xiang Guo who had the same idea as Shang Zhu, and for a while, Ji Zheng became the focus of the Gong Palace.

Jiang Buqi transgressed the etiquette system, there is no doubt about it, and he must be punished, but now under his protection, people are under the eaves, how can they not bow their heads, not to mention that if they want to cross the Qingjiang River, they must get Jiang Buqi's help, Ji Zheng is struggling in his heart, on the one hand, he has been taught for many years that he must respect etiquette, and this kind of etiquette must be stopped, but on the other hand, he must not offend Jiang Buqi.

After thinking about it, Ji Zheng stood up, saluted Jiang Buqi, and said: "Xiang Gong, Jiu Yan is the dance of the Son of Heaven to worship the sky, and you dance in the hall today, this is a move of etiquette, and it must not be." ”

"What about Ben Gong's insistence on singing and dancing with nine hundreds?" Jiang Buqi looked at his peers in front of him, seeing that he looked nervous and cramped, but his expression had a righteous spirit, so he laughed, "Since the prince doesn't like it, let's change it back to six hundred." ”

When Xue Xue, the big musician on the side, heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief, and hurriedly gestured to let the three dancers who were at the end of the line retreat quickly.

The other ministers were originally glaring at the prince angrily, but when they heard Jiang Buqi's words, they muttered a few words, and their faces were much kinder.

"Xiang Gong Ren is noble, and he is a model for Xiao Wang to learn. Ji Zheng raised the three-legged wine bottle in his hand and drank it all, "Thank you for your hospitality." ”

"How does this wine taste?"

"Sweet and delicious, sweet and spicy, it can be described as unique. ”

"This is a wine unique to Xiangguo, called Wanggong wine, and it cannot be drunk in other places. Jiang Buqi smiled slightly and said, "If the prince likes it, my father can send someone to send it to Mijing in the future." ”

"Thank you, Xianggong. ”

"One more drink. ”

"Good. ”

"The prince may wish to enjoy our dancing music. Jiang Buqi clapped his hands lightly, and Shi Xue began to conduct the orchestra.

As soon as the chimes come out, the women dance with long sleeves, like a light butterfly flying up and down in the banquet pool, these dancers are choreographed in an orderly manner, flexible in position, and the dance posture is exquisite and picturesque, although it is sixty-four people dancing together, it looks like one person is dancing, which is really pleasing to the eye.

At the end of the dance, the kataka stand on the dance floor, and the chimes just make the last long, clear syllable, and the two work together perfectly, and the crowd cheers loudly.

Jiang Buqi waved his sleeves to let the group of singers disperse, he saw that Ting Yan had always stood behind Ji Zheng as a maid, pouring wine for him, so he smiled and said: "Prince, I heard that Ting Yan is a big celebrity in Fenggong, fine music rhythm, good at dancing music, can you ask her to dance solo, let us open our eyes?"

Ji Zheng glanced at Shang Zhu, saw that he nodded, and then glanced at Ting Yan, and saw that he was also smiling, so he replied: "Then I made a wish to the public." Just now he mustered up the courage to oppose Jiang Buqi, at this time, if he wants to say no again, he will lose face three or four times, I am afraid that he will not even be able to get out of the gate of the Gonggong Palace.

When he was still in Sanyang City, Ji Zheng felt that Ting Yan was wearing Song Ji clothes all day long, which was too eye-catching, and he didn't want to attract too much attention from others, so he asked her to wear back to her ordinary clothes, and Ting Yan did so, but she was still charming and moving, and her smile and cheeks all attracted people's imagination.

"Xiang Gong, the little woman has a reluctant request. Ting Yan walked out to the center of the venue and saluted Jiang Buqi.

"Speak. Jiang Buqi looked at Tingyan standing under the table with great interest, even though he loved Jiangshan more than beauty, but such a beautiful woman who was amazed by the world was standing in front of him, and no one could resist her temptation.

Jiang Buqi thought to himself: Such a beautiful woman fell into the hands of Ji Zheng, a waste of firewood, it is really a tyrannical thing.

"Please allow the little girl to dress like this. Ting Yan lowered his head, his voice was as soft as a filament, but it could clearly turn into everyone's ears, and everyone felt that this voice was gentle and beautiful.

"Exactly. Jiang Buqi laughed and motioned for Ting Yan to raise his head, "My father hasn't seen a kabuki dancing without a dance costume, so let my father enjoy it." ”

"Then please look at it from the public. Ting Yan didn't care, and the faint smile on his face never changed.

"Wait a minute, Miss Tingyan. Jiang Buqi suddenly thought of a good idea, and hurriedly called out to Ting Yan.

"What else is going on with Xiang Gong?"

"As the so-called husband follows the husband, since the girl Tingyan has come out to dance, Prince Ji Zheng should not hide from the side to watch, why don't the two of them play the piano and dance together, let us see and see. ”

As soon as Jiang Buqi's words came out, he immediately aroused the applause of the whole hall, and all the ministers coaxed one after another, asking Ji Zheng to get up and stroke the qin.

"Well, as Xiang Gong wishes. Ji Zheng saw that there was no way to shirk and stood up.

Li Qing wanted to hold Ji Zheng, but was stopped by Sun Yun reaching out.

"Then, let's stroke the song "Phoenix Seeking Phoenix". Ji Zheng walked straight to the guqin, and saw that this guqin was made of paulownia wood, with a bright appearance, narrow on the left and wide on the right, shaped like banana leaves, it should be a newly made long qin, and he was stunned for a moment.

Jiang Buqi saw him standing in front of the qin in a daze, staring at this guqin, but he didn't speak, it was extremely strange, so he asked: "But there is something wrong with this guqin." ”

"No, this piano is exquisitely shaped, the selected materials are of the highest quality, but unfortunately the shape of the shape is a bit according to the meaning of the map, the ancients said that the shape of the object, according to the shape of the paulownia wood to make the appropriate guqin, which will make the guqin emit the corresponding elegant sound. In addition, I see that the surface of this piano is smooth and flat, it should be a new gray fall, this is a new system, although the timbre of the new piano is clear, but the lack of years of accumulation, resulting in the timbre is not mellow enough......."

"His Royal Highness the Prince, my father just asked you to play a song, where is there so much nonsense. Jiang Buqi was still elated just now, after hearing Ji Zheng's words, his face immediately sank, Ji Zheng's words were so obvious, wasn't he referring to Sang scolding Huai, saying that he was not as good as Xuanyuan Guo, Jiang Buqi couldn't hear the reason.

Ji Zheng saw that Jiang Buqi suddenly showed a fierce face, he just said it according to the truth, he didn't know where he said it wrong, he was immediately stunned, standing in front of the guqin, and didn't know what to do for a while.

Shang Zhu saw that Ji Zheng was helpless like a child, and sighed slightly in his heart, this mess still has to be cleaned up by himself.

He coughed, drawing the attention of everyone in the hall.

"The prince is straightforward and stupid, and he will say whatever he thinks, and beg forgiveness from the public. He just wants to show off himself, it is by no means what Xiang Gong thinks, he has always admired Xiang Gong's talent and broad-mindedness, and every time he mentions it to the ministers, he will say with admiration that he wants to learn from Xiang Gong and be a magnanimous person. ”

"Hehe, everyone is a businessman, Taibu can speak well, and his tongue is like a spring, and he will meet today, and it will be so. "Jiang Buqi is stupid.

"It's all other people's words, it can't be true, the so-called five colors make people blind, the five tones make people deaf, the joy of the silk bamboo, the joy of dancing, there are very good-looking, they are all some tricks that make people sink into it, rather than wasting time in the wind and snow, it is better to talk about some national affairs to be practical. ”

"Oh, if it's not that Shang Zhu Taibu is also interested. Shang Zhu's words aroused Jiang Buqi's desire, he changed his black face just now, laughed, and let Ji Zheng and Ting Yan return to their original positions.

"Xiang Gong, don't say whether you are interested or not, you are all working for the Xuanyuan Kingdom, doing your best to do your best, and being worthy of the Holy Lord's trust. Shang Zhu smiled like an old fox.

"Really?"

Shang Zhu stood up and took out a brocade wooden box from his arms: "This is a little bit of His Royal Highness the Prince's heart. ”

"Is this also the Shark King's teardrop?" Jiang Buqi looked at it, with a look of disdain on his face.

"Of course not. Shang Zhu smiled slightly, "This is a great gift that the prince has worked hard to obtain for Xiang Gong, and it should be handed over to Xiang Gong by the prince himself." ”

What gift to give to which princes, usually Shang Zhu and Li Qing negotiated in advance, Li Qing provided several options, Shang Zhu chose one of them, and sometimes Shang Zhu would also make his own decisions. For example, the teardrops of the shark king given to Feng Mu Gong are the meaning of Shang Zhu, and the others are completely kept in the dark. But I have to say that the gift given by Shang Zhu is very targeted, and Feng Mugong is old and suffering from a serious disease, and the tears of the shark king, who has the effect of reviving the dead, can naturally win his favor. As for the other monarchs, most of the gifts sent by Shang Zhu were very appealing to their appetite and could win their favor, which was one of the reasons why the prince and his party were able to go south relatively smoothly.

This time the object to be sent is the young and eloquent Xiang Gong, everyone is still having a headache over what gift to give, and even quarreling, Shang Zhu is laughing and silent, Li Qing saw that he was so confident, so he asked him if he already had a plan.

"Jiang Buqi is not small, trying to dominate the world and replace the Xuanyuan Dynasty, and he doesn't care about ordinary small gifts at all. Shang Zhu said.

"You're right, but we don't have much of a small gift left, let alone a generous gift. Li Qing felt that Shang Zhu was talking nonsense.

"Does Taibu still have the tears of the shark king?" Ji Zheng asked, and everyone showed expectant eyes.

So far, only the Shark King Teardrop is the most noble gift, and this priceless Shark Teardrop was taken out by Taibu himself.

"No, can this precious gift still be mass-produced? What a fool, I can't even think of it. Shang Zhu looked at their expectant expressions more and more eagerly, but one was more lazy than the other, and despised them fiercely in his heart, "And even if there is, it can't deal with Jiang Buqi's wolf ambition." ”

"Then what is in line with Xiang Gong's desires?" Ji Zheng then asked.

"Power. Shang Zhu said.

"How can this be a gift? unless it is a Nine Dragons Jade Seal that can command the princes of the world. Li Qing waved his hand, and sure enough, what this guy said was nonsense.

"Hehe, isn't the Nine Dragons Jade Seal the heirloom of the Xuanyuan royal family, don't we have a descendant of the Xuanyuan royal family here?" Shang Zhu sneered.

The person mentioned smiled awkwardly.

"Your Highness definitely won't be able to bring out the Nine Dragons Jade Seal, so what should I do?" Li Qing asked.

"Whatever, there is Taibu, why bother with these hearts that shouldn't be. Sun Yun yawned and left first, and Li Qing was unwilling to let go and slipped out.

Ji Zheng shrugged his shoulders and saluted Shang Zhu: "There is Lao Taibu." After speaking, he slowly walked out of the lobby with Ting Yan's hand.

Now Ji is holding the box that Shang Zhu took out of his arms, but he doesn't know what is hidden inside, and he always has a feeling of uneasiness, and he is worried.

When the temple people presented this brocade box, Jiang Buqi glanced at Shang Zhu, saw him smiling and lightly pulling his long beard, looking confident, and then looked at Ji Zheng, his eyes were very firm.

Jiang Buqi took his gaze back, looking at this ordinary little box, he was very puzzled, he didn't know what was hidden in this small brocade box, which made them so confident.

"Please. Shang Zhu made a gesture to Jiang Buqi.

Jiang Buqi opened it as he said, and there was nothing in the brocade box except for a letter.

The envelope was small and could be completely opened in the brocade box, and Jiang Buqi read it carefully.

Everyone saw Jiang Buqi staring at the box for a while, his face was very serious at first, but after seeing it, he gradually smiled, looking at each other, and they didn't know what magical treasures were hidden in this small wooden box that made Xiang Gong so surprised.

Jiang Buqi quickly closed the small box, and then asked Ji Zheng with a smile: "I wonder how many days His Royal Highness the Crown Prince plans to stay in Xiangtian City?"

Ji Zheng saw that Jiang Buqi's attitude suddenly changed dramatically, as if he had changed a person, and smiled slightly.

It is unknown what is hidden in this brocade box, but what is known is that the miraculous merchant Taibu once again turned the tide with his gift.