On the morning of the day, Zhou Xuanzheng discussed with Gu Liuquan, the three idiots, and the four idiots about the gains and losses of the country last night. Lian Po is old! ”

The four idiots hurriedly said: "Mr. Gu, you will definitely not be able to bear the continuous battle, so I will play for you tonight." ”

Gu Liuquan twisted his white hair in his hand, smiled hehe, and said, "If the old man loses again tonight, I will let you fight on behalf of the old man in the next game, how about it?" ”

The four idiots rejoiced: "That's great! ”

Gu Liuquan said with a smile: "It seems that Mr. Fourth sincerely hopes that the old man will lose again." ”

The government servant suddenly reported that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had arrived, and Zhou Xuan thought to himself: "Didn't you say that you would swim in the Qinhuai River after playing chess tonight, why did you come here in the morning?" ”

Li Jian's first words when he met was: "Brother Xuan, Li Kun asked for his life to go to Chengdu as an envoy of the Tang Kingdom, what kind of intentions did he have!" ”

Zhou Xuan was also stunned, Li Kun was a bit abnormal to serve as an envoy with the respect of King Jing, and asked, "His Majesty the Emperor agreed?" ”

Li Jian said: "Li Kun said that he can win the trust of Zhao Defang more by going to Chengdu as his identity, and his father has given permission, and he will leave tomorrow." ”

Zhou Xuan thought for a while and said: "This trick is very clever, if this matter is successful, it can be said that King Jing has made great contributions to Sheji in the Tang Kingdom, and in Chengdu, he can take the opportunity to make friends with Zhao Defang, if my expectations are good, Li Kun will publicize this matter, so as to show how brave he is, how he risked himself alone for the safety of the Tang Kingdom, and won the hearts of the people." ”

Li Jian nodded and said, "Brother Xuan is right, no wonder Li Kun is still rushing to go to the Southern Han Kingdom!" ”

Zhou Xuan asked: "What did he do when he went to the Southern Han Kingdom?" ”

Li Jian said: "As a wedding envoy, I escorted Princess Qingle to marry Liu Shousu, the son of Liu Jixing, the monarch of the Southern Han Dynasty. ”

"Princess Qingle is engaged?" Zhou Xuan's slender eyes widened suddenly, and his heart was extremely melancholy. Last night, the shadow of the country in front of the Zichen Palace quickly disappeared, and the mirror flowers and water and moon were generally out of reach, this beautiful and sad feeling was too sad, Zhou Xuan hadn't been so sad for a long time, it was a little painful, why did such a beautiful princess want to get married?

I only heard Li Jian sigh and said: "Liu Jixing of the Southern Han Dynasty is absurd and tyrannical, and Liu Shousu of the East Palace is also a person who does not read poetry and books and does not know etiquette. I really wronged her. But it's also a matter of helplessness. In order to prevent the alliance between the Southern Han and Wu Yue to deal with our Tang State. ”

"Wait a minute." Zhou Xuan remembered a strange thing about the father and son of the Liu family of the Southern Han Dynasty in his memory: "Brother Jian, is this Liu Jixing the one who wants to castrate the civil officials of the Manchu Dynasty into eunuchs?" ”

Li Jian said: "Yes, it's ridiculous, there are talented people among the courtiers, as well as new champions and jinshi, they must be castrated first, and then entrusted with important tasks." said that in this way, there will be no selfishness, and only then will they be loyal to the monarch and patriotism. ”

Zhou Xuan was dumbfounded, when he was in college before, he saw in a book that there was such a Manchu eunuch emperor in ancient times, he laughed heartily, laughed out of tears, and thought: "To be an official is to cut off the root of your life, this trick is very suitable for contemporary China!" ”

According to the official history, the Southern Han Kingdom at this time had already been destroyed by Zhao Guangyi. But since the Tang State has violated history and survived to the present. The fate of Liu Jixing of the Southern Han Dynasty has also changed, and he is still continuing to castrate his ministers, and it is said that not only the ministers will be castrated. Even the monks and Taoist priests who are summoned to the palace to talk about Buddhism and Taoism must be castrated first and then visited, so that they can be favored and rewarded.

Li Jian looked at Zhou Xuan's more and more smiling appearance, and reminded: "It is still early for Li Kun to go to the Southern Han Dynasty, the wedding date is in October after the autumn, and then Liu Shousu will come to Jinling to greet his relatives, and then Li Kun will accompany him to Guangzhou, the capital of the Southern Han Dynasty, as a wedding envoy, this is not in a hurry, then I will ask my father to ask my father to accompany Huzhu's sister to go, and I can't let Li Kun contact the surrounding countries of the Tang Kingdom everywhere, so that the Northern Song Dynasty, the Southern Han Dynasty, and the Wuyue Kingdoms only know that the Tang Kingdom has King Jing Li Kun and do not know my prince Li Jian!" ”

Zhou Xuan's heart moved, remembering that in "The Legend of Deer and Ding", Wei Xiaobao sent Princess Jianning to Yunnan to marry Wu Yingxiong, the son of Wu Sangui, that trip was really fragrant, and immediately said: "You must not let Li Kun go to the Southern Han Dynasty, but you can't go to Brother Jian, Your Majesty will definitely not allow it." ”

Li Jian asked, "Why is this?" ”

Zhou Xuan said: "Princess Qingle married the Southern Han Dynasty, in order to make peace between the two countries, this kind of marriage is originally a relationship of interests, Brother Jian is the prince of a country, if you easily go abroad, this Liu father and son are absurd and tyrannical, in case you are detained in Guangzhou to blackmail your father, think about it, the only prince and the only princess of the Tang Kingdom have fallen into the hands of Liu Jixing, isn't this bad!" ”

Li Jian nodded again and again: "Brother Xuan is still thoughtful, but isn't this the most suitable for Li Kun to go?" ”

Zhou Xuan said: "You can't let Li Kun go, it's not good for you if he goes, for the sake of life and death for you and my brother, the foolish brother can be the marriage envoy on your behalf, but the foolish brother is now unofficial and unpositioned, which is a bit inappropriate." ”

Li Jian was overjoyed: "Brother Xuan went on behalf of his brother, what worries about my brother!" There is no official or position, and there should be no problem for my brother to ask my father to give you a noble dismissal, such as the bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, with the talent of the brother, it is really the honor of the Hanlin Academy to be the bachelor of the Hanlin Academy. ”

Zhou Xuan said modestly: "Since the princess's marriage is still early, then Brother Jian doesn't have to rush to ask for an official position for the foolish brother, after all, the foolish brother has only been in Jinling for three days, to be honest, if it is not for the sake of the strong brother, the foolish brother is Ya does not want to be an official, the foolish brother would rather be a rich man, not a courtier, and it is the ambition of the foolish brother to be free in the forest, poetry, wine and chess." ”

Li Jian said emotionally: "Brother Xuan's affection, my brother Ming's sense of guilt, I don't have to say much, my brother will definitely have something to repay Brother Xuan in the future." ”

Zhou Xuanzheng said: "You and my brother, it's vulgar to talk about repayment, the Southern Han Dynasty didn't mention it in advance, let's talk about Chengdu first, I thought it would be okay for Chengdu to let Li Kun go, Li Kun couldn't get any promise from Zhao Defang, could Zhao Defang still help him seek the position of the monarch of the Tang State, even if Zhao Defang has that heart, he doesn't have that power, whoever is in charge of the Tang State and Zhao Defang will be inclined to whom, so as long as Brother Jian thwarts Li Kun's ambitions in the country, Li Kun can't do anything. ”

Li Jian said: "Brother Xuan said this, my brother will rest assured, and my brother will send my evil brother on the road with a smile tomorrow." ”

The government servant came to report again, and Lord Shi Yin, the head of King Jing's mansion, asked to see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prince Zhou Xuan.

Li Jian frowned and said, "How did Yin Jin find here!"

Yin Changshi came quickly and saluted Li Jian first. Then he bowed to Zhou Xuan and said: "His Royal Highness the Prince, the minister went to the East Palace first, and heard the deacon say that His Highness had come to Mochou Lake, so the minister rushed here." ”

Li Jian asked lightly: "What's the matter with Yin Changshi?" ”

Yin Changshi changed the day before yesterday to report to the emperor in the Zichen Palace that King Jing was cunning when he was sick, and said humbly: "His Royal Highness King Jing will go to Chengdu tomorrow, so a banquet will be held in the mansion and His Royal Highness the Prince and the princes of the court will be invited to the banquet." Zhou Gongzi is also invited to participate. ”

Li Jian looked at Zhou Xuan. Indicate inquiry. Zhou Xuan smiled and said: "In the next Bai Ding, how dare you go to the prince's banquet, don't dare to go." ”

Yin Changshi hurriedly said: "The prince has instructed that Zhou Gongzi must be invited, and he also has the intention of taking this opportunity to apologize to Zhou Gongzi." ”

Zhou Xuan said with a smile: "It's rare for the prince to be so magnanimous, it's better to be respectful than to obey his fate." ”

Yin Changshi said: "His Royal Highness the Prince, Prince Zhou, then please." ”

Li Jian took his East Palace Janissaries and attendants. Zhou Xuan took the three idiots and the four idiot brothers to King Jing's Mansion together.

King Jing Li Kun personally greeted him in front of the palace, with a graceful bearing, full of spring breeze, without the obedient pretentiousness of that night, holding Li Jian's hand and smiling: "Brother Jian, for the safety of my Tang Kingdom, my brother will go west to Shu tomorrow." Hanging in the balance. It is dangerous and unpredictable, and it is to set up a banquet to say goodbye to his brother and the central government, which can be regarded as a strong trip for himself. ”

Li Kun was surrounded by a few old men with wide robes and gentle belts and extraordinary bearing. At first glance, it was a high-ranking official in the court, and at this time, they all exclaimed: "His Royal Highness King Jing is afraid of hardships and dangers, and he is worried about the country, which is really respectable." ”

Li Kun politely bowed his hand to Zhou Xuan and said: "Zhou Gongzi, Xiao Wang had a misunderstanding the day before yesterday, which caused Zhou Gongzi to be wronged. ”

The old men who didn't know what the big officials were about to "buzz" again, Zhou Xuan preemptively said: "King Jing Yaliang, I know that Zhou came to the door for the second time, the last time Zhou was escorted by Jin Wuwei, but today he has become a guest of honor on the throne of the prince, how big the changes are before and after, haha!" As he spoke, the embroidery staff in his hand was still gently tapping on the hard ground.

Zhou Xuan's words obviously ridiculed King Jing's shame that night, he just wanted to deliberately provoke King Jing, and he didn't want to see this arrogant guy show weakness and pretend to be a pig.

Li Kun's face changed slightly, and then he was relieved, and said with a smile: "That's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding - Xiao Wang came to see Your Majesty today, and His Majesty told Xiao Wang about Zhou Gongzi's talent, which really made Xiao Wang admire, and His Majesty also said that Zhou Qing is worth handing over." ”

Zhou Xuan secretly wondered, how could this King Jing seem to have changed as a person, how arrogant he was at the Bailuzhou Wharf that day, why did he really have a bit of a humble corporal taste now?

What Zhou Xuan didn't know was that Li Kun didn't take him in his eyes at all before, why should he be humble to a person who didn't take it seriously, and this person is still robbing women, so he naturally wants to be arrogant, but now it's different, after the previous setback, and seeing that Li is quite serious about Zhou Xuan, Li Kun naturally wants to change his strategy, and the head-on conflict is not good for him, so he will turn it in, this is what the thinker Gan Simou said, "Those who become big things are not informal", first make friends with Zhou Xuan, it is best to be able to rein in Zhou Xuan, use him, once he is on the throne, it is not too late to report the grievances of the day, Gan Simou also hated Zhou Xuan, although the twenty spines were not injured by the flesh and skin, the old face was lost.

King Jing's Mansion feast, fine wine and delicacies, singing and playing orchestra, a group of harmony at the banquet, Li Kun looked affectionate to Li Jian, looking like a generous brother, which made several veteran and important ministers present sigh deeply, only the squire Chen of the military department only cared about drinking.

Li Kun said to Zhou Xuan: "Xiao Wang heard that Zhou Gongzi not only has the talent of the world, but also is proficient in Yidao, tea ceremony, insect fighting, and flower arrangement. ”

Yin Changshi on the side said with a smile: "His Royal Highness King Jing is a master of juju. ”

Zhou Xuan replied: "I want to organize a round society in Jiangzhou, but unfortunately Jiangzhou Keju is not very popular, this time I came to Beijing, and I intend to set up a round society in Jinling, and in a few days, there will be several Keju friends from Hongzhou to join." ”

Li Kun said with a smile: "This is very good, when the Circle Society of King Jing's Mansion will have a good match with the Circle Society of Zhou Gongzi, Xiao Wang will try to rush back to the land before the Qingming Circle Society wins the championship." ”

Staggered, guests and hosts enjoy.

When he said goodbye to King Jing, Li Jian frowned slightly, and whispered to Zhou Xuan: "Brother Xuan, don't be fooled by my cousin's hypocrisy. ”

Zhou Xuan said with a smile: "Brother Jian, don't worry, how can I not know his face, that is a smiling tiger!" ”

Li Jian turned his worries into joy: "It's good that Brother Xuan understands." ”

Zhou Xuan said: "Brother Jian, no matter whether you are the prince or not, no matter whether you gain or lose power, the foolish brother will stand on your side, and King Jing will not be able to entrap me no matter what." ”

Li Jian is worried about this, his cousin really wants to make friends with someone, it is really exquisite and understanding, few people can refuse his so-called corporal Shixian, so Zhou Xuan's words just now completely dispelled Li Jian's concerns, and he felt Brother Xuan's deep friendship with him in his heart.

Zhou Xuan, the three idiots, and the four idiots returned to Mochou Lake, and after a short rest, they were going to Guozijian to play the second round of the chess battle, which was really busy!

In this second round of matchups, Zhou Xuan met a strong opponent - Shi Jiezhi, who ranked tenth among the eighteen great chess players.

Shi Jiezhi is about forty years old, with a white face and black beard, and his eyes are bright, and he also holds a folding fan in his hand on this cold day, tapping on the tiger's mouth, looking like he is holding the chance to win, because he guessed the white chess.

In the first round, Shi Jiezhi defeated Bu Kunyu, who ranked 14th among the 18th largest chess players, showing that the top 10 chess players were more than 1 step higher than the last eight chess players, so although Shi Jiezhi knew that this unknown Zhou Xuan defeated the sixteenth-ranked Sun Xuelu in the first round, he didn't feel any pressure, because his Shi Jiezhi's chess strength was not comparable to Sun Xuelu, not to mention that he now guessed the first white chess, and there will be no more than five chess players in this world who can hold black and win him Shi Jiezhi. The fourth-ranked Huang Xing who was present counted one.