Chapter 16: The Feast Begins
The wind outside the window was agitated, mixed with gravel and slapped the edge of the window, and the master in the house swept the case file in front of him, reached out and patted Jing Rong on the shoulder, and whispered in his ear: "Well done" Jing Rong took a step back slightly, bowed his head and replied in a clear voice: "The master is responsible for the important task of supervising the country and the auxiliary monarch, and the ministers should share your worries."
The room seemed to be still, except for the candle flame reflected on the wall. "Is it" Taishi paced back to the desk and put down the case file: "It's just that there is too much to clean up, and I will inevitably be suspected" "Uncle is serious" Hearing those two words, his tone was slightly relaxed: "It's hard for you to go on this trip, the weather has changed recently, and you have to pay attention to your body from time to time" "Yes, Huai'er, thank you uncle for your concern"
At noon, after many days of haze, the sun finally appeared, and outside the gate of the Shen Mansion, the heavy blades flashed in this faint light.
"In Xia Zongying, please also ask Lord Shen to come with me" Shen Zuolong looked at the man in armor outside the door and said in a loud voice: "I know that Lord Zong's business is official, but I can allow some things to be explained below." ”
"There's no need to be so troublesome, Lord Lao is going this time today, just to ask questions, when things are settled, adults have their own time to take care of the affairs in the house" Shen Zuolong listened to the merciless answer of the person in front of him, and his expression was cold: "What a pomp and circumstance for questioning." Zong Ying looked directly at Shen Zuolong's cold expression, and took a step back without changing his face: "Lord Shen, please"
In the hall, Jing Lu clenched the porcelain in his hand and gritted his teeth, and said word by word: "First Liu and then Shen Zuolong, the national teacher is really unbearable" "Your Majesty, it's better to avoid its edge now" Even though Lin Chen lowered his head, he also felt Jing Lu's anger and burning gaze, and there was a chuckle from above, and the sound of the fabric rubbing against the ground was like a poisonous snake.
"What do you mean, let me beg for mercy" Lin Chen listened to the soft voice in his ear and whispered back: "The minister didn't mean this, but the green mountains were left behind" Before Lin Chen finished speaking, he heard the sound of the sword unsheathed in his ear, and his neck was cold, "Please also ask Your Majesty to calm his anger"
Jinglu lowered his eyes and looked at Lin Chen, who was kneeling on the ground, the sword body was against his chest, and he whispered: "National teacher, never take the useless road, what about me, I can't see this white blade out of the sheath, do you understand" "Yes, subordinates remember" "The arrow is on the string, it has to be sent, isn't it" "Yes".
The voice of the answer became more and more forbearing, Jinglu withdrew the sword body and pressed it heavily on Lin Chen's shoulder: "You don't want it, next time, it will still be stained with the same blood, Aiqing said?" "The minister understands"
The hall was silent again, and only the blood on the ground spread layer by layer.
In the National Teacher's Mansion, the Taishi pinched the banquet sticker, and his eyes were unpredictable: "He is calmer than I thought, but after all, it is a child's heart, and it is not a big deal" The people on the side responded when they heard it: "Lord, do you need to arrange people to enter the palace with you" "No need, give the third prince a rumor, someone sets up the stage, and some people can't wait to start the play." "Yes"
"Sister Su'er, Sister Su'er" Su Qinghui turned around and saw Nian Rong's cheeks flushed, and she trotted all the way to her eyes. She brushed aside Nian Rong's scattered hair and asked with a smile: "Why are you in such a hurry" Nian Rong was smooth, and her spirit was bright: "Great happy event, I just heard that the palace is going to hold a banquet to welcome the new year in a few days, and I heard that this time is more grand than ever, don't you want to go and see it?"
Su Qinghui handed the stove in his hand to Nian Rong, gathered his sleeves and said as he walked: "Whether to go or not, I have His Royal Highness's decision, what do I want to do or not" "Everyone knows, my sister is the person next to His Highness, sister, my sister will definitely be able to go"
The voice in her ears became smaller and smaller, and she glanced at Nian Rong's drooping head, the corners of her mouth curved, and the words she said were worried: "If this is the case, there will be many people at the banquet, I'm afraid it is" "I, I can help my sister" Saying that, she looked up and saw Su Qinghui's face with a look of play, and was embarrassed: "Sister is making fun of me again"
"Why, you don't want to go" "No, why is my sister still beating up" Su Qinghui's eyes flashed, lowered his eyes, covered the emotions in his eyes, and his voice fluttered: "You are very much like an old friend of mine" Nian Rong probed the probe and asked tentatively: "Did I remind my sister of something unpleasant" No, it was just a moment of emotion. Saying that, he smiled with relief and stomped his feet, "It's cold, let's go quickly"
The banquet was opened, the guests from all over the world, Su Qinghui listened to the sound of Nian Rong in his ears and was amazed, and he was secretly surprised in his heart, for such a magnificent scene, he thought it took a lot of manpower and material resources.
Jing Rong looked down at Su Qinghui's stunned expression, frowned slightly, as if remembering what happened by the lake last time, and reached out to untie a thin rope.
Su Qinghui was looking at the drawing on the lantern, and suddenly his wrist was cold. Before he could look down, he was pulled by a force and hurried a few steps, and hit Jing Rong's side: "Follow me, the palace is not as good as the outside, there are more rules" This tone is exactly the same as the disobedient little yellow dog she taught her in the Sufu Courtyard a few years ago.
This person is really, although she is a little stubborn on weekdays, when she should behave, she still understands proportion. Although he was dissatisfied in his heart, he didn't dare to reveal half of it.
With the sound of music and salutes, the atmosphere on the field suddenly seemed to fall into subtlety, and the excitement just now seemed to be a cutscene.
Su Qinghui looked at the people at this banquet or drinking, or appreciating the music, but he couldn't say two sentences, and when he was struggling, he suddenly heard an inquiry from above: "What does the national teacher think of this dance music today" He propped himself up, bowed down and said: "The vision of the saint is excellent."
Jinglu smiled heartily: "The national teacher doesn't have to be so restrained, I know that those vulgar and mediocre songs can't enter the eyes of the national teacher, so I specially found this heavenly and earthly unique song to invite the national teacher to enjoy" "The saint has tormented the old minister" Jinglu took the wine glass and drank it all, gently rubbed his back and neck, stared at the figure on the ground and slowly said: "How come? The national teacher is the pillar of the country, and recently he has been sharing his worries for me, and I am very happy."
As he spoke, his tone changed, and his eyebrows twisted slightly: "It's just that I'm afraid that there are too many things in this world, and the national teacher's body can't bear it" Hearing this, the national teacher knelt on the ground, "The minister is sympathetic, the minister is the minister, he should be loyal to the king and fulfill his duty, and he will never live up to the grace of the saint"
Jinglu stood up and picked up the wine glass a little far away: "Winning the national teacher, it is my great blessing, the great luck of the country, coming people, serving wine" The national teacher's eyes condensed, stretched out his hand to take it, and his face was as usual: "Xie Sheng Shanglongen" drank and sat down. After a song, the national teacher got up and asked: "Holy Lord, the old minister is not strong enough to drink, please tidy up a little and then come to enjoy the banquet" "It's my negligence, come here, send the national teacher back to the inner hall, and ask the two imperial doctors to take a look." "Yes"
It wasn't until the guards escorted the national teacher away that Jinglu's eyebrows relaxed slightly, and he sighed in a tone, "It's really difficult to be a national teacher, I should be enjoying my life but I still work hard about national affairs"
As he spoke, he turned to Jing Rong's expression and relieved: "However, the fourth brother has grown a lot in recent years, and I think I can help my brother" The words did not land, and the eyes of the three princes on the table swept over Jing Rong slightly, and his face was unknown.
"Weichen is stupid, he can be recognized by the saint, and it is the luck of his subordinates to be loyal to the king" Listening to this serious official tone on the side, Jingsheng took a sip of the wine glass and covered the smile on his lips.
Jing Lu looked at the person in front of him, full of Zhongjun, but he looked proud in his bones, suddenly a little angry, and laughed loudly: "Okay, tonight's song is my favor, reward, reward" As he spoke, a silver light flashed, and the woman leading the dance suddenly pulled out a short knife and shot straight at Jing Lu's heart.
The scene immediately fell into chaos, Su Qinghui watched more and more assassins pouring into the banquet, and in the blink of an eye, it was already a corpse, holding Nian Rong's hand and began to tremble slightly, staggering a few steps, looking for Shang Jingrong's looking gaze, suddenly his heart was certain.
Dodge the guards and assassins around him and run towards Jingrong.
"Jing Sheng, take them out of here, they are not allowed to come out without my order" said Su Qinghui to Jing Sheng's side and turned to leave.
Jing Sheng frowned, pulled out his sword and instructed sideways: "Be smart, follow me" Out of the banquet, the three of them turned into a palace road, and finally temporarily left the crisis in front of them, "What's going on" "As you think" Su Qinghui stopped, breathing sluggishly, "It's not him"
Jing Sheng hurriedly retreated, turned around and pulled up her sleeves, and motioned for Nian Rong to follow: "After following him for so long, how can I still have countless hearts in my heart" "I just don't dare, I just speculate on people's hearts in front of power" The wind in my ears crossed "What are you talking about" "I said" Su Qinghui sighed and replied loudly: "Where are we going" "Be quiet, don't worry, I will always keep you safe" Su Qinghui nodded in response, ignoring the fleeting look of the person next to him.
The national teacher listened to the sound of fighting in the distance, and frowned: "What's the matter" The guard pushed open the door and replied in a bloody voice: "Lord Hui, someone has done it" "It's the third prince" "It's not"
There was a sudden silence in the room, and the national teacher was dumbfounded, and asked a white voice in the corner of the room: "How long is it", "A quarter of an hour", "Is there no solution", "The medicine is non-toxic, and there is no reason for detoxification" The national teacher listened to the answer of the person in front of him, and slowly leaned down on his more and more sour body, and his eyebrows were lightly closed: "Tell the three princes, arrange in advance, don't startle the snake" "Yes"
Across the palace wall, as soon as he turned the corner, he met the searching guards, Su Qinghui paused, and asked with difficulty: "You are not the person on this list, right?" "What do you think?"
Before Jing Sheng could react, the people around him were like frightened rabbits, pulling Nian Rong and running away. Jing Sheng looked at the guards who were getting closer and closer, and caught up with Su Qinghui in a few steps
"It seems that my brother is worried in vain, you are sorry for your life" Su Qinghui gasped, and his tone was calm, "Don't say something useless, think of a way" As he was talking, a few more guards appeared in front of him, there was a tiger in front and a wolf in the back, Su Qinghui raised his tone and said to Jingsheng: "You can't protect us alone, run separately"
Turning to a fork in the road, Jing Sheng wanted to catch up, but was stopped by the guards who were getting closer and closer, anyway, their target was him, and it was not too late to deal with this and go to her.
Su Qinghui sprinted along the palace road, dodged and hid in a rockery, under the moonlight, the two figures lingered, she slowly pulled out the hairpin, lowered her body and put away the gasp and clinged to the stone wall.
Xu was delayed for a long time, and one of the guards couldn't bear to say, "It's just a little maid, we still have to do business" The other guard swept around the interface, "That's it, withdraw first"
The two of them had just walked a few steps, and a hurried footstep came, "Guard Li," the guard at the beginning took his sword and frowned, "You have seen the figure of the four princes here" "My lord, no, the two of us are looking for a maid next to the six princes here" "Since they are the people around the six princes, they will search carefully, at this node, they can't let go of any of them, so call the two small ones to go inside and look for them"
Su Qinghui's breath of relief instantly lifted it again, and his heart turned a thousand times, if the guards chased him, maybe he might be here now, and he would stay here for a long time, so it would be better to give it a go.
She looked down at the outside, slowly moved her body to the back of the rockery, the cat bent out of the hole and just wanted to run, suddenly the tip of her nose burst of familiar condensation incense, and suddenly looked up and saw the familiar figure wanting to go, but suddenly frowned and looked at her.
Su Qinghui's eyes were hot, and for the first time, he was grateful for her amazing sense of smell, for fear that he would not be able to see himself in the slightly dark moonlight, so he beckoned again and again, but when he saw Jing Rong's eyebrows suddenly, Su Qinghui's heart was cold, he would not see death and not save him.
Before she could think about it, Jing Rong flew in front of her to block a sword, snatched it with her backhand, picked up Su Qinghui and put her on the branch with a turn of eyebrows, and said in a low voice: "Stay honest" said and turned over to meet the enemy.
Su Qinghui sat on the tree at a loss, under the tree, Jing Rong was cold, and the last time she saw him dancing in the garden, the sword was sharp, and the knife was deadly.
After solving the last one, he threw down the sword in his hand, turned around and saw Su Qinghui's petite figure hugging the trunk of the tree, like a kitten who couldn't get off the tree, and the cold in her eyes suddenly dissipated, it was the first time she was so docile and obedient.
"Come down" Su Qinghui glanced at the distance, and her heart trembled, the ones she climbed in the past were just some small trees that were not eye-catching, and these hundred-year-old trees in the upper palace were more than these, thinking of this, she tentatively moved her position, and stammered: "Down, I can't come down" "Come down, I'll follow you" "Don't lie to me" "En" Xu was that she was too nervous, and even ignored the helplessness, but with a gentle tone.
As soon as Su Qinghui's eyes were closed, she jumped up, and all the bloody qi around her was instantly submerged, Su Qinghui slowly opened her eyes, facing Shang Jing's deep eyes, she let go of her hand and coughed at a loss, and jumped down gently, "Xie, Your Highness Xie"
Jing Rong reached out and took the hairpin she was pinching in her hand, took a closer look, stepped forward and gently inserted it on her head. lowered her head and whispered: "Let's go" The successive intimacy made her ears blush slightly, and she fanned her hot cheeks while Jing Rong turned around, and followed closely.
On the other side, the sound of footsteps in the distance gradually approached, the firelight reflected the entire courtyard, and the door was vigorously pushed open by several guards, and the bloody gas that melted into the wind in an instant filled the entire room.
The sword drawn on the ground was accompanied by a blood mark, making a piercing sound, Jinglu stopped, looked at the old figure in the room who was silent and said slowly: "Sure enough, to this point, the national teacher has no scruples about these fake etiquette" The person in the chair seemed to be asleep, motionless. Jinglu's eyes suddenly became fierce: "From the very beginning, you coveted this throne and helped me to ascend the throne, but it was just to inherit the legacy of the emperor, and it was just an excuse for you to get the right, what, but in just a few months, you got tired of this puppet show and wanted to seek power and usurp the throne"
After saying that, Jing Lu's heart flashed and shrank when he looked at the pair of slowly opened, old eyes. "The prince is young and bewitched, so that the ministers are in charge and cannot be trusted"
Jinglu's expression changed and he lifted the sword and pointed directly at the national teacher: "It's ridiculous, you play with power, seek power and usurp the throne, and you are still making a lot of nonsense here, come here, take it for me" Anyway, archers, soldiers surrounded this side of the temple layer by layer.
"Take it" The voice was drowned in the sound of arrows coming from the sky, Jinglu watched the guards around him fall unguarded, blocking the sharp sword whistling in front of him, the shock in his eyes had long since faded, and he was full of anger, unwillingness and hatred. As if it was a broken cauldron and a shipwreck, the fighting figure in the courtyard gradually became crazy.
The arrow burst through the wind, everything seemed to stand still, and a dull sound slammed into the ground. Jinglu watched the familiar figure pass through him, and did not stop: "Uncle" Guoshi got up from the chair, walked in front of Jinglu step by step, and looked straight at him, his eyes were not shocked
"Today, abolition, detention of Ling Miao Mountain" Jing Lu's eyes swept between Jing Yu and the national teacher, and his laughter was poignant: "People say that Chu people are crowned by monkeys, sure enough, sure enough" Su Qinghui hid in the dark, listening to the poignant laughter in his ears, and looked at Jing Rong worriedly, he seemed to be a spectator who was out of the way, with an indifferent expression.
The royal family is ruthless, not to mention that the national teacher is powerful, thinking that he is in a more difficult situation as a prince, he is afraid that he is walking on thin ice, strong is like wind, weak is like fish and meat, obedience will lose himself, on the contrary, he has no strength.
Tao Guang is obscure, somehow, as soon as this idea came out, she was a little scared, he was so smart and insightful, everything that happened here, and even what will happen in the future, has already been played thousands of times in his eyes.