In the fifth year of Taihe, October has been in October, and it is a moment.

Chang'an, Wannian County, Sixteen Princes' Mansions.

Since the reign of Emperor Xianzong Yuanhe, for more than ten years, Wang Shoucheng has passed on not a thousand, but hundreds. And it was indeed the first time that so many kings of the clan had been given an oracle at the same time.

Wang Shoucheng saw everyone prostrate in front of him, for a moment, the corners of his mouth hooked up a cold sneer, and he put on a kind look in the past, and his speech was clear.

“…… The sage said: 'On the auspicious day of the tenth holiday, I should have been fortunate in the sixteenth house, and I recounted the old relationship between my uncle and nephew. However, due to events, it may be difficult to go to the banquet. You can allow this banquet to be held, and you will be given a special wine, so you must have fun! ’”

The kings kowtowed to the mountain and shouted: "Minister, thank the saints!" ”

After everyone present got up, Wang Shoucheng instructed the green-robed eunuchs and forbidden soldiers standing at the door to hurry up and present the gifts of the banquet to the banquet.

Subsequently, dozens of pots of imperial wine filled with delicately decorated gold-carved jade neck bottles were carefully placed on the table in front of each prince one by one, enough for two per person.

Seeing that all this was ready to stop, Wang Shoucheng glanced at the banquet, his eyes stayed on the three brothers of King Yingwang for a moment, and he looked around with a smile: "The saint still has important matters, and it is inconvenient for the old slave to stay for a long time, so he retired first." ”

Everyone present saluted Wang Shoucheng with crossed hands: "Congratulations to General Wang!" ”

Then, with a few snaps of his fingers, the hussar general took the palace retinue and retreated like a tide from the soon-to-be-bustling Sixteen Princes' Mansion.

I don't know what others think, Yingwang Fang's frowning brows have only stretched slightly, and his stiff waist has relaxed a lot since Wang Shoucheng entered the mansion.

As Zong Zhengqing, who was originally in charge of presiding over the banquet, shouted, "Open the banquet!" "The eunuchs and maidservants took up the imperial wine jug and poured wine for each prince like a rehearsal, and the narrow spout flowed out of the sake without a single dross, like clear water, but the smell was mellow and rich, and people were greedy for cups.

The maids of the sixteen houses who walked in one after another from outside the door, each holding a fruit bowl steadily: lychees from Lingnan, oranges from Huaibei, and even grapes from the Western Regions.

Although the banquet was delayed, the dishes presented by the eunuchs who followed the maidservants, regardless of the noodles and fresh dishes, were as if they had just been cooked, and the sauce was fragrant, and the end was full of salivation.

It is said that this is the special treatment of dishes at the banquet of the Son of Heaven, "take several bundles of firewood, put them under the copper tripod, there is a wooden cage inside, you can put dozens of dishes on it, and then pour several buckets of spring water inside, cover the copper cover, burn until the water will not boil, and the water will continue to ......" through the exquisite copper tripod design and burning skills, you can ensure that the dishes are always steaming, but not too cooked.

Because the banquet is set in the time of the feast, according to the usual most of the kings have only used some lunch, so far there has been a small half a day to fill the stomach, so the dishes of this banquet are from rice, porridge, dim sum, to preserved, sauce, vegetables, soup...... The ingredients range from home-cooked chickens, ducks, geese and sheep to game such as bulls, bears, storks and rabbits.

In the center of the feast, a melodious pipa string sound, played by the court musician, was played by the court musician as the opening song of the feast. The dancers also danced lightly with the music of Yanju, graceful and soft.

The feast grew loud and loud as the music sounded.

Some of the princes have already begun to get up and toast each other, after all, this is the Son of Heaven's dictation to make the banquet enjoyable.

King Li of Zhang, made do with the sound of the pipa and sang along with it: "...... Bianshui flows, Surabaya flows, flows to Guazhou Gudutou, Wushan is a little sad......"

Yingwang Li Han listened, knowing that this is Bai Juyi's new work this spring, as early as April this year, it was sung all over the eastern capital of Luocheng Zimo, and when it was sung to the prosperous and lively Pingkangli in Beijing, a certain Qing Qi changed the tune, and suddenly changed from sad and sad spring to cheerful and bright, and it was popular in Chang'an in an instant.

King An was already busy toasting and chatting with his uncles one by one. Li Miao, the king of Zhang, held a honeysuckle-patterned silver cup filled with sake, leaned to Li Han's side, and whispered: "'Great King', I don't know if the ninth brother listened carefully, the sage is very kind to General Wang, and General Wang must accompany him for any important matter." ”

Li Han didn't look at King Zhang, but his eyes looked slightly to the right, and in the direction of his eyes sat Li Yi, the king of light, who still had a wooden expression and didn't talk to anyone.

"When the first emperor was killed by the eunuch Liu Keming and others, Liu Keming wanted to establish Li Wu, the king of Jiang, and the saint was still the king of Jiang," Li Han's eyes quickly drooped, looking at the lychee that the maid had just peeled, as if he looked at the four eyes of the king of light with disdain: "General Wang was only a privy envoy at that time, and he killed Liu Keming in the chaos and supported the saint with merit, and General Wang has gone through four dynasties and worked hard, so it is natural that he can be favored by the saint." ”

King Zhang stared at Li Xiao, as if he wanted to know if this was what King Ying said sincerely, but King Ying devoted himself to cultivating the Tao, and he had been cultivating for a long time, and he had never cared much about the political affairs of the imperial court, and everyone knew about it.

Besides, King Zhang grew up with Li Xiao and Li Rong, King An, and King Zhang's confidence is still clear about his temperament as the ninth brother. The words that come out of his mouth, if they are not sincere, can be seen at a glance.

At the same time, in the Daming Palace, inside the Hanlin Academy.

Under the order of the Son of Heaven, the Jinwu guard walked quickly to the gate of the academy, and after a short time, he saw a person wearing a dark crimson robe of the fourth grade, and he was walking towards the main hall.

Ma Cunliang recalled that this Mu Qingchen seemed to be the newly promoted Shangshu Zuocheng, and he did also serve as a bachelor of Hanlin at the same time.

Ma Cunliang is close to the age of sixties, low-key, since the first year of Dezong Zhen into the palace, and now has served De, Shun, Xian, Mu, Jinghe and today's six dynasties, I have seen many high-ranking officials like cow hair, but I have never seen a four-grade official visit the Hanlin Academy late at night on the day of the holiday to meet the emperor, and the eager attitude of the Son of Heaven made Ma Cunliang's heart flutter, so that he couldn't help but sigh that the holy will is unpredictable.

However, after being committed to the inner palace for so many years, Ma Cunliang is also familiar with the code of conduct that more things are better than less. Even if he is full of clothes and fragrant clothes, he never gets involved in the battle between the North Division and the South Ya, and he does not interfere with the party struggle in the court, and he does nothing more than do his duty and is loyal to the Son of Heaven.

It is precisely for this reason that even in the past 20 years, even in the past 20 years, the court and the North Division have fought in the dark, and the infighting in the palace has been endless, Ma Cunliang can be as safe as Mount Tai, and he is relied on by the sons of heaven in the past dynasties, respected by the ministers of the court, and even more feared by the powerful Wang Shoucheng.

Mu Qingchen walked steadily, his heroic eyes under his thick eyebrows did not squint, and from the position where Ma Cunliang was standing, those bright eyes were just against the light of the silver candles around him, shining brightly; Pursed lips stretched horizontally under the high bridge of the nose.

After Mu Qingchen walked a little closer, Ma Cunliang noticed that this senior member of the fourth rank was only wearing an official silk robe without any decoration, which was already a little old due to washing, and his waist was tied with a seven-ring gold belt, and there was only a pen bag tied to it, and there was nothing else to decorate.

This made Ma Cunliang can't help but have more respect and curiosity for this rookie in Nanya, who is only in his early forties.

Mu Qingchen's pace slowed down after entering the main hall, and then stopped ten steps away from the throne of the Son of Heaven, and was about to kneel.

"Mu Qing doesn't have to be polite!" Seeing this, the Son of Heaven hurriedly got up and stretched out his hand to stop it, "It's me who came late at night, and it's me who has a lot of trouble, please take a seat." After speaking, the Son of Heaven turned his forearm and pointed to the seat on the left side of the throne next to the Son of Heaven.

Datang respects the left, and the position where the Son of Heaven lets Mu Qingchen sit can be described as a great honor.

"Minister...... Thank you, Your Majesty! ”

As expected, Mu Qingchen also had a look of sincere fear on his face, and after repeatedly thanking the Son of Heaven, he sat upright on the mat, bowed his hand respectfully, and looked at the Son of Heaven facing the north.

"Drink!"

Under the signal of the eyes of the Son of Heaven, Ma Cunliang ordered aloud to the little eunuch standing not far behind Mu Qingchen, and after a while, a newly mixed white cheese syrup was presented to Mu Qingchen on the table.

This buttermilk is a specialty of Chang'an, with sour cheese mixed with sugar water, and can also be replaced with honey water, which is a good product to quench thirst all year round.

Without too many greetings, the Son of Heaven cut straight to the point: "A few days ago, Mu Qing's "Spring and Autumn Note", I read it carefully, but I never thought that after reading it that day, my heart would be difficult to calm down for a long time, and I couldn't wait for the Hanlin servant to speak tomorrow. ”

When Mu Qingchen heard this, he immediately solemnly bowed his hand and said, "The minister respectfully obeys the holy order. ”

Although Ma Cunliang always looked straight ahead, he didn't cast a glance at Mu Qingchen, but he didn't know if it was an illusion, and after Mu Qingchen finished speaking, he obviously felt that the Son of Heaven glanced in his direction.

And what happened after confirmed that Ma Cunliang's feeling was correct......

"Cunliang ......" The Son of Heaven called softly: "I want you to help prepare the Sixteen Mansion Banquet last night, and I haven't closed my eyes all night, I and Mu Zuocheng are just chatting about "Spring and Autumn", it is enough to leave a few Jinwuwei guards here, and you can also go back to the inner palace to rest." ”

When Ma Cunliang heard this, he did not hesitate like Wang Shoucheng at that time, but inserted his hands into his sleeves, leaned over, and replied to the Son of Heaven: "The old slave will retire first, if everyone has something, just send someone to call the old slave!" ”

The Son of Heaven gave a noncommittal "um".

After Ma Cunliang left with the eunuchs, the Son of Heaven immediately got up from the throne, his waist was straight, his hands were clenched into fists, and Mu Qingchen hurriedly got up and wanted to salute with his hands crossed.

What Mu Qingchen didn't expect was that before he raised his arm, the Son of Heaven directly grabbed Mu Qingchen's wrist the next moment, and for some reason, the palm of the Son of Heaven was a little wet, and his expression became serious in an instant, a pair of dragon eyes were like fire, and his words were categorical: "Without further ado!" Hurry up and enter the inner room with me to discuss secretly! ”

Qinghui Pavilion, Ma Cunliang was on the way to the Inner Servant Province, thinking about what the Son of Heaven and Mu Qingchen were discussing late at night?

The Son of Heaven has always been fond of books, and since he succeeded to the throne, he has loved "Zhenguan Political Leaders", and often reads until the copper leaks out late at night and the silver candle burns out without stopping. Could it be that looking for Mu Qingchen is really to make it clear that "Spring and Autumn" is a small statement?

A thought suddenly flashed in Ma Cunliang's mind, and then he suddenly had an epiphany: This time is ...... This short two moments of work is the time to send Wang Shoucheng to the Sixteenth Mansion to deliver the message!

At this moment, Ma Cunliang saw a team of attendants walking out of the Zichen Hall from a distance, all holding paper lanterns, followed by several Divine Strategies forbidden soldiers, heading straight for the Penglai Palace. Ma Cunliang couldn't help but swallow when he saw it.

Just because he saw that the leader was the hussar general Wang Shoucheng......