Although Liu Rong's performance last time impressed many people, the birthday banquet gift was not compared to anything else, but a large amount of real money.

How much money can he, a prince without a fief, come up with?

Therefore, what everyone is looking forward to most is the performance of Liu Wu, the king of Liang, and the envoys of Wu and Chu.

The former must be able to open everyone's eyes, but the latter represents the attitude of the lords of Wu and Chu.

As an ancient bell rang thirty-three times in a row, it represented the end of the ritual of congratulating the emperor on his birthday.

It's about to be the birthday party.

Many people have not been dripping since the morning, and their hearts are already hungry at this time.

I am looking forward to the next birthday banquet.

Subsequently, many ministers and princes and kings moved to Qingliang Hall although the emperor.

There are already prepared tables and delicious food and wine.

Since the last family banquet, this is the first time that Empress Dowager Dou has walked out of Changle Palace.

Liu Qi led everyone to salute the Empress Dowager Dou before they entered their respective seats.

Liu Wu, the king of Liang, was supposed to sit with a foreign vassal king, but he was summoned by the Empress Dowager Dou and added a table nearby to show his closeness.

The old lady is famous for loving her young son, and the others don't care about it.

Only the envoys of Wu and Chu secretly glanced at each other, and a strange smile appeared on their faces.

Xu was hungry, after Emperor Liu Qi announced the start of the birthday banquet.

There was a chewing sound from the entire hall.

It wasn't until the wine was over seventy years old and the food had three flavors that a cadre in the hall put down his chopsticks.

The long-awaited dedication is about to begin.

According to the customary rules, the order of gifts for the emperor's birthday is from far to near.

First the officials of the court, then the princes and kings of various places, and finally the turn of the princes and princesses.

The gifts of the officials actually looked quite boring.

Because they have already discussed each other, they come and go.

Many people who watched dozed off.

Fortunately, these people were also more interesting, and just put down the gifts and returned to their seats.

Then it was the turn of the princes and kings of various places.

In terms of age and generation, among the countries, King Wu has the highest seniority and the most respected status.

Therefore, the envoy of Wu was the first to come out and let people carry his birthday gift.

It was a bamboo basket covered with a black cloth, the size of a person's arms.

Judging from the faint shaking of the bamboo basket, it should contain a living thing.

Many people at the scene were secretly curious, what kind of rare birds and beasts did this King Wu give as a birthday gift?

If this is the case, then is there any other meaning behind Wu Guo's sudden overture to the emperor?

Nei Shi Chao sat on the seat with a contemplative expression.

The envoy of Wu did not let everyone wait too long, he walked to the side of the bamboo basket and said loudly: "My king wishes Your Majesty a permanent youth and a long life. ”

As he spoke, he raised his hand and uncovered the black cloth on the bamboo basket.

The scene suddenly sounded a gasp.

If you just listen to the birthday message of King Wu's envoy, there is absolutely no problem.

And what the messenger offered was indeed a rare beast - a tortoise.

A turtle bigger than a basin and I don't know how many years it has lived.

At this time, although there is also a saying about Guitongshou, at the emperor's birthday banquet, giving such a birthday gift is undoubtedly a very disrespectful performance.

Thinking deeper, this may not be understood as a provocative move by King Wu.

Everyone couldn't help but turn their eyes to tonight's protagonist, this matter is not trivial, no one dares to intervene before Emperor Jing Liu Qi has no conclusion.

"Okay, King Wu's birthday gift, I have received it."

Liu Qi's face flushed slightly, and he didn't know if it was because of the drinking, or because he was angry with this gift.

He took a long breath and forced himself to calm down, now was not the time to completely turn his face with King Wu.

The envoy of the State of Wu returned to the table proudly, and showed a smug look to the envoy of the State of Chu next to him.

As if to say, what about the imperial court, it's not that there is no way to take them Wu Fan.

The envoy of the State of Chu was encouraged, and the arrogance on his face became more obvious.

The congratulatory gifts sent by the subsequent vassal kings were all decent, not too valuable, and no one else could find fault with them.

At first glance, these people are the legendary neutral party, the wall-riding faction, and they obviously have an attitude of not being offended.

Next, it will be the turn of the envoy of the Chu State.

Although Chu is also a big country, Liu Wu, the king of Chu, is about the same age as Liu Rong, and he has always followed closely behind Wu, and the relationship between the two countries is very close? Dense.

Judging from the performance of the envoy of the State of Wu, most of them did not have any good intentions.

Liu Rong frowned slightly, anyway, Liu Qi is also his father, and he was bullied by an outsider like this, his son really can't look at it.

Thinking of this, he summoned a little eunuch and whispered a few words in the other party's ear.

Then, the little eunuch walked to Nei Shi Chao's side, pointed to Liu Rong's direction and whispered a few words.

Looking at Chao Cuo's suspicious gaze, Liu Rong just nodded and stopped looking over there.

He has already been recruited, so it depends on whether Chao is willing to do it.

Time is running out for Chao Cuo.

The envoy of the State of Chu walked to the middle of the hall with a proud face, and saluted the emperor, behaving lightly and quite disrespectfully.

"My King Wishes ......"

Before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by a court official.

"Your Majesty, the minister has something important to report!"

Seeing the crown and hat on this person's head, Liu Rong smiled.

Knowing that Chao was wrong, he still did it, and this person was the imperial history Zhongcheng in the imperial history doctor's yamen.

And no one in the government and the opposition knows that the entire Imperial History Doctor Yamen is all wrong people.

"Quasi-play."

Emperor Jing's face Liu Qi showed a little displeasure, this is his birthday banquet, and it is a little inappropriate to report it here.

"The minister received a secret report that Liu Wu, the king of Chu, committed a crime during the mourning for the Empress Dowager Bo. Whoever commits adultery shall be removed from his kingdom according to the law. ”

There was a thick murderous aura in the words of Yu Shi Zhongcheng, which made the entire hall instantly quiet.

The envoy of Chu immediately changed his face, and cold sweat continued to slide down his forehead.

He knew about this matter, but he didn't understand why this matter would spread to Chang'an so quickly.

"Your Majesty, you have been wronged!"

After weighing left and right, the envoy of Chu decided to deny it.

He still had the idea of what happened in his heart, if the court was just hearsay...... When he leaves Chang'an, it won't have much to do with him.

"Chen Yushi, what you said is true?"

Liu Qi said with a gloomy face.

But only those who know him well can see the excitement and joy in those calm eyes.

Quietly looked at the mistake of sitting upright and indifferent.

Secretly: Wealth is sought in danger.

With his neck raised, he said loudly: "The minister is willing to use the head of the person on the item as a guarantee, and what he said is true!" ”

As soon as these words came out, the eyes of everyone at the scene who looked at the envoy of Chu State were full of disgust.

The Han family has always ruled the world with filial piety.

Unfilial people, even peddlers and pawns, look down on them.

And Liu Wu, as the head of a country, actually committed a pass during the national funeral? Adultery is a great unfilial piety.

According to the Han law, it is necessary to abolish its feudal state.

"Your Majesty, forgive the sin, the minister really doesn't know."

Like everyone else present, the envoy of the State of Chu heard Chen? F's words, it is natural to think that the other party has conclusive evidence.

The whole person immediately turned his face like a withered tree, and he knelt on the ground.

According to the current secular view and Han law, it is equally sinful for the king to commit a great sin and his subordinates fail to dissuade him.

That's why he was so desperate.

"Take him down and torture him."

Emperor Jing Liu Qi did not hide the disgust in his eyes and waved his hand.

A team of heavily armed janissaries came over and forcibly carried out the envoy of the Chu State who had turned into a mess of mud.

When passing by the table of the envoy of the State of Wu, the envoy of the State of Chu seemed to see a straw that saved his life.

hugged the thigh of the envoy of Wu State tightly, and wailed loudly: "Brother Guanyu, for the sake of the friendship between you and me, you must save me!" ”

"Let go, what do you say like this!"

The envoy of Wu pulled it twice, but he didn't pull out his legs, and his face couldn't help twitching.

Although Wu and Chu are in the same spirit, he also wants to help the other party exonerate.

But on such a major issue of right and wrong, he did not dare to speak casually.

At present, Wu's biggest reliance is the support of the people in the country, and the soldiers dare to serve to the death.

This was obtained by Liu Bi, the king of Wu, in exchange for decades of not collecting taxes.

But once it is associated with unfilial piety, the character of the virtuous king that Liu Bi has created for decades is very likely to collapse.

For Wu Guo, this is a disastrous result.

However, the state of Chu is also the hardcore ally and younger brother of the state of Wu.

If you completely sit idly by, the envoy of Chu will definitely have no good fruit to eat after he goes back.

He thought for a while and said, "Your Majesty, this matter is strange, and there may be other hidden secrets, and I hope Your Majesty will consider it carefully." ”

The envoy of Wu did not plead or excuse him, but stated a fact in a not very calm voice.

At this time, his face also lost his previous confidence and arrogance, and he lowered his figure very low, faintly with a sense of softness.

However, judging from his actions now standing up, it is clear that Wu Guo will not stand idly by in this matter.

If the imperial court insists on abolishing the state of Chu, then a long-planned war between the two sides may be imminent.

I have to say that this envoy of Wu is indeed a talent.

Whether it is speaking or doing, it seems to be extremely measured.

The previous arrogant performance was probably more of a test of the bottom line of the court and the emperor himself.

"Well, I will send someone to investigate strictly, and I will never wronged a good person."

The performance of the envoy of the State of Wu shocked Liu Qi's heart, knowing that he could not take the opportunity to abolish the State of Chu.

Unless he is ready to face Wu Chu and other coalition forces now.

Liu Qi has been on the throne for less than two years, and he has just straightened out the relationship with the imperial court.

Preparations for war materials have only just begun, and the ordnance has not yet been fully replenished.

The soldiers also need more time to train.

At this time, it is not the time to completely turn against Wu and Chu.

Thinking of this, he sneered in his heart, even if he couldn't get rid of his country this time, he would cut off one of his arms.

"Chen Qing's report is meritorious, once it is found to be true, I will be rewarded."

"Thank you, Lord Long."

Old? F knelt on the ground, his face pressed against the cold ground, but he couldn't extinguish the fire in his heart.

He knew that he had made the right bet today.

If nothing else, his future career will be smooth sailing.

Seeing the performance of this imperial historian, Liu Rong shook his head secretly.

It seems that no matter what dynasty it is, this kind of politician-type bureaucracy is indispensable.

A glance out of the corner of his eye, he happened to see Chao Cuo nodding slightly at his side.

Liu Rong knew that with Chao's wrong character, he would definitely inform Yu Cheap Dad of the whole story after the birthday banquet.

At that time, he should also be able to share in some of the rewards.

Well, his requirements are not high, and he will be rewarded with a few hundred or thousands of gold in a so-so way.

Just as Liu Rong began to think crankily, the birthday banquet continued.

It's just that under the influence of the Chu State incident just now, the atmosphere in the hall has always been a little weird.

Until, Liu Wu, the king of Liang, walked out.

The faces of everyone at the scene cheered up and put on a posture of watching a good show.

Everyone knows that King Liang has a big move tonight.

Liu Wu is the younger brother of Emperor Jing Liu Qi and the youngest son of Empress Dowager Dou.

The status is noble, and he has been loved by thousands of people since he was a child.

It can be said that in this world, there are few things he wants but can't get.

Perhaps it was precisely because he didn't have much pursuit that he set his sights on the supreme throne.

"Brother Wu wishes His Majesty a long life!"

When he had finished speaking, he ordered the gifts that had been prepared to be brought up.

The movement of this gift was a bit large, and dozens of large boxes were carried up.

Everyone who watched was dumbfounded, even if these boxes were filled with copper coins, they were worth a lot of money!

What's more, as the king of Liang, Liu Wu, it is impossible to offer copper coins.

Liu Rong looked at the scene in front of him and couldn't help but think evilly:

"With such a large box, it's not too crowded to stuff two adult men in each box, and it would be fun if hundreds of assassins popped up all of a sudden."

Of course, such a thing cannot happen.

Each box is subjected to a rigorous search before being moved in.

Not to mention people, even weapons and other things are not allowed in the main hall.

Syllable!

King Liang opened the first box and said eloquently:

"This is a red coral tree that my brother bought back from the South China Sea for a lot of money."

When everyone at the scene saw the treasures in the box, their faces all showed amazement.

Red coral is a pleasing color and a lushy texture, and it grows in the inaccessible hundreds of meters of the deep sea, which is extremely precious.

And this one is even more rare, it can't help but be brightly colored, and it is nearly half a meter high, which can be called a peerless treasure.

Then King Liang opened the second box, and he took out a pearl the size of a dragon's eye.

"Although these pearls are not a rare thing, they must also make His Majesty Pomeranian's smile."

Although a single pearl is worth a lot, you can find some in the homes of every prince and magnate here.

However, if a whole box contains all pearls of the same size, it is absolutely priceless.

From these two gifts alone, everyone at the scene had to reassess the wealth of Liang Guo.

"The dragon and phoenix are loaded here, and the jade is the top Hetian jade, and it took three years to complete it."

Liu Wu, the king of Liang, took out a palm-sized jade pendant from the third box, and a look of distress flashed in his eyes.

(End of chapter)