The early dynasty of Hanyuan Hall was five watches every day, and the ministers often had to gather at the entrance of the palace one moment earlier. The capital of Emperor Wanhua is mountainous, and officials who live close to the palace are not enough, and those who live in remote areas or on lower ground have to climb a mountain road every morning. Even though they drove by car, when they arrived at the gate of the city, most of them were sleepy and tired, and they had to take a breath.

The time of the early dynasty was ancestral and could not be changed. Emperor Wen knew that the ministers were working hard, and pretended that his thoughts were dazed in the morning, and he had to sit quietly for a while before going to court every day to wake up. So he sat on the throne on the fifth watch, but asked the ministers to enter the palace half an hour later, which was not a violation of the ancestral system.

In this way, even if someone is late for a while, he can also cover up the past. The courtiers knew this, and they were very happy in their hearts. Only Mu Yunzuo was quite displeased, and he played several times, but was stopped by his brother.

"You and my Taishi's Mansion are close to the palace, no harder than those ministers, if this matter is too harsh, it will attract criticism."

The elder brother spoke, and Mu Yunzuo could only remain silent.

Now that Mu Yunyou has passed away, Mu Yunzuo is sick and recuperating in the Taishi Mansion, Emperor Wen is peaceful in nature, and the courtiers are becoming more and more scattered. In the past, when they arrived at the front of the hall, they all stood with bated breath and were lined up on both sides. Now they are gathered in groups of threes and threes, and they are constantly gossiping. What's more, he secretly took out a snack from his sleeve and ate it, which didn't look like a court, but like a garden.

But there was one exception to this, who neither gossiped nor was he late. For decades, it is like a day, and every day on the fifth watch day is waiting outside the palace, standing quietly like a pine.

Some people will also come forward to talk: "Lord Ye lives in a place as far away as Yanbo Street, why has he never been late once, and he is still in good spirits every time he sees him?" ”

"It's boring on weekdays, go to bed early, that's all." It's boring on weekdays, it's boring to talk, and the person who talks to you is bored again, and after a long time, you won't talk to it.

It doesn't matter, this is what Ye Zhiqiu wants.

More than half of the fifth watch, the ministers went to the palace.

Worship, rise, column.

Since the two masters of Mu Yun were not in the court, the atmosphere in the hall was much more peaceful. However, Cangwu is indeed a peaceful and prosperous era, with abundant grain and grass every year, and the wind and rain are smooth. If it weren't for the earthquake in the northwest a few days ago, the palace would almost have nothing to play.

Just when this group of ministers thought it was another dull day, Emperor Wen suddenly spoke:

Recently, there was a letter from Bihai Kingdom, talking about the marriage between the two countries, although it was not conclusive, but it was quite gratifying. This matter was originally caused by the prince's abruptness, and he suddenly mentioned it in front of Emperor Bihai Ming, and I was also shocked when I first heard it. It's just that the marriage between the two countries is very important, I don't know what you Aiqing thinks? ”

The ministers listened and thought to themselves. The marriage between the two countries is a good thing, but I don't know what the Holy God wills. At this time, it is most necessary to see the wind and steer, and first to figure out the meaning of the saint before postscription.

For example, the saint said that the six characters "the original prince is abrupt" can be scrutinized. It sounded like a sense of responsibility, and the word "original" turned the situation around. For example, if the word "happy news" is not allowed in the heart of the saint, why would it be described with the word "happy". Therefore, it sounds like the Holy Lord asked us a group of Aiqing's opinions, but in fact, we should have had an idea a long time ago. It's just that the words are too direct, so Qu Wan is a little more gentle.

The ministers are all well-established people, and Emperor Wen's words are not hidden, and they know their meaning after a little thought, so their faces are covered with joy, and all kinds of words of praise under their tongues are beginning to move.

Among them, Pei Ran, the head of the household, was the most energetic, he was already loud, and as soon as he opened his mouth, he overshadowed everyone:

"Qi Qi Sheng, the minister thinks that the marriage between the two countries is not the same civil marriage, it is related to the national fortune, and it affects the whole body. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is a young man and an old man, and he is a wise lord. When he went to the blue sea, he was not afraid of the catastrophe of Luoying Lake, and he was not afraid when he first entered a foreign country, showing the royal style of my Cangwu country. Although His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's sudden proposal to marry this time seems unexpected, the minister is sure that this matter must be the result of His Royal Highness's careful consideration after focusing on the overall situation of the two countries, and it is definitely not just out of the personal feelings of his children. The vastness of such a mind, the bearing of a king, and the same vein as the saint, are really the great fortune of my Cangwu country. ”

"Yes, yes, yes! Yeah! There was a echo of echo on the Hanyuan Palace.

Pei Ran saw that the ministers around him were building momentum, Emperor Wen smiled silently, he was quite proud in his heart, and took advantage of the situation to continue: "The blue sea has been rich and golden since ancient times, the country is rich and the people are sufficient, and the marriage between the two countries is a match made in heaven. I also heard that the daughter of the Emperor Ming is gentle and gentle, and she is a perfect match with His Royal Highness the Prince, which is really a good couple. The minister believes that such a good thing is a blessing for the cangwu and a blessing for all the people! When you send a marriage envoy into the blue sea, you will not miss this opportunity. ”

"Yes, yes, yes! Yeah! "The echoes come and go, like a tidal wave, one after another, and endure for a long time.

Long Yan is naturally very good, without the Taishi in the hall, the atmosphere is really different. Emperor Wen rarely let the spring breeze blow for a while, and then asked: "So, all Aiqing think that marriage is the best?" ”

"Exactly, yes, yes, great, great." A meaning can be used in an endless stream of words to change the way to whitewash a hundred schools of thought is the highest level of sycophancy, but for these lovers is just the skill of carving insects.

There was only one person in the crowd who bowed his head in contemplation and was silent, and Emperor Wen did not fail to see it, he turned his head and asked:

"Ye Aiqing, since the marriage of the two countries, this matter should be attributed to the Ministry of Rites, why didn't you say a word? But do you think there's something wrong? ”

When the ministers heard this, they suddenly felt that they were patronizing and figuring out the holy will, but they forgot that this matter was a matter of walking in the Ministry of Rites. The Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites did not speak, and he was suspected of overstepping his bounds, so he immediately stopped talking, and did not squeak again, which can be said to be freely retracted.

Ye Zhiqiu stepped forward, first bowed steadily, and said loudly: "The marriage between the two countries is not the first case in the blue sea. When Princess Bihai Yinquan married into the Muyun family, it was a precedent. However, this time I heard that the catastrophe of Luoying Lake shook the whole country, so that the Ming Emperor left Princess Yinquan in the capital of Taiye Kingdom, which shows that the Ming Emperor has a grudge against this matter. Fang Caisheng said that Bihai had a happy news about the marriage, and the minister dared to speculate that Bihai was really hesitant and inconclusive. In this way, he rashly accepted to propose marriage for His Royal Highness the Prince, if Bihai was repeated, and good things could not be done, wouldn't my Cangwu Kingdom be disgraced. ”

As soon as he said this, the ministers looked at each other, and suddenly found that it was really interlaced like a mountain, and it seemed to him that it was a matter of getting married and marrying, but he was said so much by this Ye Zhiqiu. It's also about the face of a country, and this head can't be provoked. Pei Ran, the previous head of the household, had already closed his lips and looked at the sky with his eyes closed, as if he had nothing to do with himself.

Emperor Wen listened, hesitated slightly, and asked, "Then Aiqing thinks that the marriage is inappropriate?" ”

Ye Zhiqiu shook his head and replied: "No, if you are three points today, I have been dependent on the blue sea for nearly a hundred years, and this friendship is really commendable." Moreover, with Imulan looking down on the Northlands, the marriage between the two royal families is far more than a paper covenant. The minister thinks that this marriage should be concluded! ”

"What are Aiqing's doubts?"

Ye Zhiqiu smiled slightly: "The minister's doubts are not enough to worry about, how to dispel the doubts of the Ming Emperor is the key to this matter." The minister speculated that the Ming Emperor was worried about whether Imuran's ambush soldiers would appear on the way to the wedding, repeating the old rut of Luoying Lake. It is not difficult to solve this matter, but the difficult thing is that it takes a person who can speak to personally persuade the Ming Emperor to be in front of the steps before he can talk about marriage again. Therefore, the minister thought that he should not appoint a marriage envoy in a big way at the moment, but only in the name of an ordinary envoy, he visited the capital of Taiye and negotiated with the Ming Emperor in person. After everything has been settled, the letters and bride price of the Holy Lords should be taken out, and the marriage envoy will be performed in the name of marriage. ”

When Emperor Wen heard this, he felt that what Ye Zhiqiu said was indeed thoughtful, and nodded and said: "What Aiqing said is extremely true, in this way, this envoy should be cautious." After finishing speaking, his eyes swept over the ministers below and said: "Ladies and gentlemen, who is willing to take on this great responsibility and be a big matchmaker for the prince?" ”

Silent.

Of course. It sounds like a big matchmaker, and in the future, when the prince ascends the throne, just talking about the old relationship of being a matchmaker, it can also be a talisman for himself. can be heard to show that the emperor's old woman has a strange personality, if she turns her face and refuses to admit it, she will not be a big matchmaker at that time, but she will be unlucky.

Ye Zhiqiu replied lightly: "The minister is not talented, and he is willing to recommend himself to go to the blue sea." ”

Emperor Wen was worried that he couldn't get off the stage, and when he saw Ye Zhiqiu speak, he felt relieved in his heart, and said happily: "Aiqing is willing to go to the blue sea in person?" ”

"Twenty-five years ago, the minister went to Bihai as a marriage envoy, and became the matchmaker between Princess Yinquan and the right princess, and he also had a face-to-face acquaintance with Emperor Ming. Now that this matter is under the Ministry of Rites, the minister is the position of the scholar, and it is the duty to take on this important responsibility, presumably you will not want to compete with the minister, right? ”

"How can it be, yes, yes, excellent, excellent." The silent Hanyuan Hall suddenly came like a spring breeze overnight, and it was already full of laughter. When the ministers heard Ye Zhiqiu's self-recommendation, they secretly breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts, and praised Ye Shangshu for his profound qualifications, steady behavior, and reasonableness as the best candidate for marriage.

Pei Ran, the head of the household, said loudly again: "Holy Lord, the minister has the courage to ask for the deputy marriage envoy of this marriage. The marriage of the people still has to be done with all their money, let alone the prince of a country. Presumably, this marriage needs to cost a lot, Lord Ye sent Bihai to concentrate on the outside world, and the minister will only do some things that are divided into two pounds, and he is willing to echo with Lord Ye in the country and deal with the beginning and the end. After that, without waiting for Emperor Wen to speak, he said to Ye Zhiqiu with a sincere face: "Lord Ye just concentrate on dealing with Emperor Ming, and the household department is willing to help you with the expenses required for marriage!" ”

When the ministers heard this, they secretly scolded Pei Ran for being shameless, what kind of deputy marriage envoy, it was clear that the sky was falling and Ye Zhiqiu dared to say this, and he also had the face to say that he was empathetic.

But that's not what it says.

"Oh, if the Ministry of Household and the Ministry of Rites jointly handle the marriage, it must be foolproof. This kind of sincerity should be a role model for us. "There is no end to the praise on the tongue.

Emperor Wen nodded with great satisfaction and said, "In this way, there will be two Aiqing." Now that the left and right masters are no longer in the court, the ministers can still perform their duties so conscientiously, and I am very relieved! ”

Ye Zhiqiu suddenly said loudly again: "The minister still has one more matter. ”

The ministers who were free to retract immediately shut up again, and looked at Ye Zhiqiu in horror, lest he was going to make some kind of moth.

"Aiqing, please speak."

"The stakes are very high this time, and the minister would like to ask a military attache to accompany him."

"This is nature, where is the book of the military department......

"The minister has already chosen a candidate in his heart, and I hope that the saint will agree."

Emperor Wen was stunned, and even thought about the candidate?

"Let's talk about it."

"It is General Cao, the commander of the escort army when he accompanied His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to the blue sea."

There was a sudden whisper in the hall.

Is it the general Cao who robbed the princess by the poor guard on the shore of Luoying Lake? How can this kind of person be used again? If he didn't cure his crime, it would be considered the emperor's grace. Ye Zhiqiu actually made himself ashamed before going to Bihai? What the hell?

Emperor Wen also frowned, how could it be him?

Ye Zhiqiu didn't pay attention to the exchanges in the palace at all, and continued: "The minister knows that General Cao is responsible for the robbery of Luoying Lake. But this matter is in the open, and the Imurans have been deployed in the shadows, and it is difficult to predict that the incident will not be in our territory. Moreover, behind closed doors, General Cao's first duty was to protect His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, not Princess Yinquan. With just a dozen people able to protect His Highness unharmed, it is really a rare general to know the severity so much in an emergency. In terms of qualifications, although General Cao is a little shallow, he has been to Bihai and is very clear about the situation there, so it should be more convenient for ministers to use people. ”

The ministers couldn't help but sigh secretly: It is worthy of being a book, and it can turn the clouds and rain like a spring, and it is hard to say that a sloppy person has become a material that can be made, and today it is really teachable.

Wen Di laughed out loud, laughing a little incomprehensibly. He naturally knew what was going on in Luoying Lake, but Ye Zhiqiu's eloquence was so good, this time when he arrived in the Blue Sea Country, he would definitely be able to succeed in the future, and he couldn't help but feel relieved.

"Okay, then I will assign General Cao to you according to your wishes. For the rest, you can hand over the rest to the military department yourself. ”

"Obey."

When the dust settled, everyone rejoiced.

After the early dynasty, the ministers were about to slowly withdraw from the Hanyuan Palace, and Emperor Wen suddenly said: "Ye Aiqing, you stay." Ye Zhiqiu bowed down and stood in front of the steps, and when there was no one else in the hall, he answered: "The minister is here." ”

Emperor Wen stared at him and asked casually: "I don't know anything, you haven't seen the robbery of Luoying Lake, how can you know that General Cao has protected the prince with more than a dozen people, and he knows so much?" ”

Ye Zhiqiu was shocked, and secretly screamed that it was not good. The specific situation of Luoying Lake was actually described by Yinhua, and Fang Cai made a statement, but he accidentally slipped his mouth.

Emperor Wen saw that his expression was different, and suddenly his eyes became as sharp as lightning, and he shot straight over.

Seeing this, Ye Zhiqiu hurriedly knelt on the ground and said loudly: "The minister is guilty!" ”

"What are your sins?"

"The robber of Luoying Lake did not see it in person, but it was the nephew of the minister who brought a letter from the blue sea to talk about it. The minister knew that the family letter should not be mixed with public and private, and wrote about these things in the court. It's just that the nephew of the minister is still young, and he is a fledgling, and he acts confused for a while, which is the responsibility of the minister to discipline him on weekdays, and he hopes that the saint will forgive his sins. ”

When Emperor Wen heard this, his face softened a lot, he groaned slightly, and nodded: "Speaking of which, your nephew is indeed close to the prince...... He is the prince's companion, he is in public office, and what he said is an envoy's business, you are the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and it doesn't hurt to read it. It's just written in a letter to the family, and it's a little inappropriate, so be careful in the future. ”

After finishing speaking, he returned to his usual smile and said: "The letter sent by Bihai Country also said that he is clever and talented. With him in the blue sea, your mission must be more convenient. I remember that he was already a jade crown in an ink leaf shirt...... This time, I will give him a silver leaf shirt and a silver crown as a reward, and you will bring it to Bihai to encourage him on behalf of my good life. ”

"Thank you!"

Ye Zhiqiu suppressed the wild beat in his heart and steadily stepped out of the Hanyuan Palace.

Looking at the dark clouds outside the hall, he remembered that since the moment the mighty envoy team left here a year ago, the plan of revenge began to turn like a millstone, crushing the image of hatred in his heart little by little.

What a wise lord, don't be careless. Li Houcong, you are for your country. And I'm going to do it!