Wang Chu plucked the strings casually, and the poignant melody of the guqin song "Liang Zhu" adapted by her lingered in the small building, and a few books were resting on the side of the piano case, and the corners had been ground to some rolls, but they were still neatly placed and spotless.

"Ah Chu, if you played this song that day, you wouldn't have lost the election." Wang Bin opened the bead curtain and walked in, shaking his head helplessly. They all know the real reason for Wang Chu's defeat now, but they don't have too much anger, firstly, the defeat is a foregone conclusion, and secondly, marrying Liu Xiu does not seem to be too bad, especially after Song Feng became Situ and Cao Song became the great Si Nong again, they were all a little excited, and the old and spicy Wang Bao saw at a glance that there was Liu Xiu's shadow behind the Song and Cao families.

Since he can come up with a way to bring a fallen family like the Song family back to life, why is it difficult to help the Wang family?

Wang Chu pursed his lips and smiled, his slender fingers left the strings, hid under his sleeves, and gently stroked the ring on his ring finger, which was a token that Liu Xiu came to put on him before leaving, saying that wearing this ring means that she is now famous.

Famous flowers, am I just a flower? Is it a peony or a moon season? Wang Chu asked him so at the time.

You are the clear lotus under the moonlit night. Liu Xiu said that in the future, I can only appreciate it alone, and I can't open it up in front of others.

Recalling Liu Xiu's arrogance at that time, and recalling the strength and warmth between the palms of his hands, Wang Chu showed an obsessive smile, and didn't even pay attention to what Wang Bin said. Wang Bin sighed and said in frustration: "No wonder Ah Weng is so disgusted with Liu Xiu, now even I am a little unhappy." The girl who has been hurting for so many years, once she has an outer heart, there is no longer me in her eyes, which is really annoying. ”

"What do you say?" Wang Chu was embarrassed, gently pushed Wang Bin, and blinked: "Brother, do you want to be from Wen or Wu in the future?" ”

Wang Bin squinted his eyes and deliberately said disapprerovingly: "What, no matter what I want to do from Wen Congwu, my future sister-in-law can do it?" ”

Wang Chu snickered and shook his arm unrelentingly: "My sister is just discussing with you, why are you talking so much?" Without waiting for Wang Bin to answer, she said happily: "If you want to follow the text, his husband is Mr. Lu Zigan, the great Confucian, and Mr. Cai Bojiao is also his old friend. If you want to practice martial arts, he can teach you martial arts himself, and even the first warrior of the Huiren family is now his attendant, isn't it more than enough to teach you? ”

"More than enough?" Wang Bin was so angry and funny, he couldn't help but jokingly said: "Okay, I worship him as a teacher, and when I see my sister in the future, do you want to call my wife?" ”

"Phew!" Wang Chu pinched him and said angrily: "My sister is trying to find a way for you, but you are talking nonsense." ”

Wang Bin felt pained, thinking of a good future in the future, the brother and sister couldn't help laughing, joking happily with each other, until there was a sound of footsteps downstairs, the two put away their smiles and stood respectfully at the staircase.

Wang Bao walked up slowly with the help of Wang Yu on crutches, and Wang Chu hurriedly took a thick brocade cushion and asked him to sit down. Wang Bao nodded with satisfaction, took the hot wine brought by Wang Bin and put it in the palm of his hand, and said lightly after a while: "Cai Yong has an accident." ”

Wang Chu and Wang Bin glanced at each other and were taken aback. Cai Yong is a good old man, how could something happen to him?

Wang Yu had expected their reactions, so he told them what he had just heard.

Although Song Feng was appointed as Situ, although he received providential and material support because of the long-awaited Gan Lin and Song Qi's rice sold back from Jiaozhou, the opposition of the scholars did not disappear, on the contrary, after the enthusiasm and excitement after the examination and admission passed, the expectations of the admitted people became urgent. The Son of Heaven promised that the people admitted to this examination would give priority to the actual appointment, but now that the dust has settled on the exam, the next thing is to be awarded, Situ Fu has not been able to come up with a plan for a long time, which makes the long-awaited scholars very dissatisfied, and gradually become a little anxious, and the unfavorable evaluation of Song Feng has quietly begun to spread.

At this time, Zhang Huan wrote to the Son of Heaven, requesting the establishment of a military school in Taixue, selecting some people from among the scholars to learn the art of war and tactics, and later enriching the border counties as border generals.

These two things caused a big storm all of a sudden, the first thing was okay, at most, it was just that Zhang Huan was messing around, and he actually wanted to get a scholar to be a soldier, which was simply insulting, but there were many people who were in favor, after all, there were still people who liked to expand their territory and make contributions, so it didn't take long for Zhang Huan to recruit thirty disciples.

But his next move made the scholars very dissatisfied: he recommended Yingchuan Taishou Duan Cheng as a doctor of military science, responsible for teaching these thirty doctoral disciples. In this way, not only did other people express their disdain, but even the thirty doctoral disciples stopped doing it, they always thought that Zhang Huan himself taught as a doctor of military science, how glorious it was to be a disciple of Taiwei, and although Zhang Huan was a general, his knowledge was obvious, what kind of thing was Duan Cheng? He is just a villain who is attached to the eunuch Wang Fu, he goes to be a doctor of military science, who wants to be his disciple.

Thirty disciples of the Doctor of Military Science dispersed in a hurry, and in order to show their disdain for Duan Cheng, some people lashed out at Xia Tian and the two for their suggestion to crusade against Xianbei. There are many reasons for this, some say that the people's livelihood is difficult and it is not appropriate to send troops to conquer, some say that the sage rules the world with benevolence and righteousness, and cannot act arbitrarily and conquer the world by force, and there are those who attack Xia Tian and the two are the same martial artists as Duan Cheng, who only have their own merits in their eyes, but they do not care about the danger of the country, in short, there are all kinds of statements, even Duan Cheng's military exploits in conquering Dongqiang have been criticized as bullshit.

Immediately afterwards, another major event happened, someone reported that Tian Yan was eating empty salaries and risking military merit, and the Son of Heaven issued an edict to investigate thoroughly, and soon found out that there was such a thing, so he asked Tian Yan to be a court lieutenant. After Tian Yan was imprisoned, in order to re-serve the general and make meritorious atonements, he sent a letter to the court through Wang Fu and once again asked to send troops to fight Xianbei.

The crusade against Xianbei finally became the focus of the problem, and the Son of Heaven asked for advice in the court on the one hand, and asked the ministers to seal their own affairs and submit their own opinions, and Cai Yong was among them.

Cai Yong's accident was because of this book. According to the rumors, he not only thought that he could not send troops, but also criticized many people and demanded that the Son of Heaven depose them, including the Great Changqiu Cao Jie and the Zhongchang Servant Wang Fu and their families.

This time stabbed the hornet's nest, within a few days, someone Fei Zhang said that Cai Yong and his uncle would be the master craftsman Cai Qian's private affairs, and said that of course he let his subordinates go when he was appointed to Heping, which was not in line with the system, and the commander of the school was investigated and punished, and Cai Yong's uncle and nephew were soon imprisoned.

Wang Chu was shocked inexplicably, and his face was discolored.

Wang Bao's white eyebrows trembled twice, and he said with some worry: "Although I don't know what Cai Bojiao said, it's certain that he offended Wang Fu and Cao Jie." He's just too angry, don't you know if these two eunuchs can't be provoked? Wang Fu is just that, Cao Jie is now a holy family, a few months ago when there was a famine, so many people sat idly by, but he donated money and food to relieve the worries of the Son of Heaven......"

Wang Chu stomped his foot lightly and said, "Since it is a sealed matter, how can they let Cao Jie know that the Son of Heaven is dissatisfied with Mr. Cai?" Mr. Cai is a scholar, and the people he dismissed are naturally some annihilators. Even if the Son of Heaven is unhappy, he can't deal with him like this. Alas, De Ran is not in the capital, otherwise he will definitely help, just go to the Queen Mother......"

"Don't think of Liu Xiu as a big man, although he is a servant, he is just a close minister next to the Son of Heaven, even if he is favored, how can he go against the will of the Son of Heaven?" Wang Bao interrupted Wang Chu's words, and said unhappily: "He is bold and reckless, something will happen sooner or later, you have to persuade him more in the future." Otherwise, maybe one day it will affect my Wang family. ”

Wang Bao has a lot of prestige at home, and when he said this, Wang Chu also knew that he was speechless, and he didn't dare to speak up anymore.

"Moreover, last time he fell out with Cao Jie because of a Wu Bo, and he also pulled in the Taiwei Zhang Huan as a backing, it seems that he won, but how can Cao Jie be willing to give up?" Wang Bao rubbed her temples with a headache and sighed: "Seriously, I regret it now." This Liu Xiu is a rich and wealthy young man, and he doesn't know that his career is sinister, so I'm very worried. ”

Wang Chu was taken aback, and involuntarily touched the ring on his ring finger. From Wang Bao's words, she heard discordant notes. After thinking about it for a few days, Wang Chu decided to go to the Tai Chi Dao Hall, and she wanted Mao Zong to pass on the news that Wang Bao might change his hexagram to Liu Xiu as soon as possible, so that he could rush back to Luoyang as soon as possible.

Mao Zong was also taken aback when he heard Wang Chu's words, it just so happened that Lu Zhi was also in trouble now, and he needed Liu Xiu to rush back to deal with it as soon as possible, so he agreed to Wang Chu's request. After getting Mao Zong's promise, Wang Chu breathed a sigh of relief, ate a meal in the Taiji Daoist Hall, and admired the ten landscapes painted by Liu Xiu and Cai Yong before leaving the Taiji Daoist Hall satisfied.

Cao Poshi has been in a very good mood recently, although his wife Luo, who wanted to seize the right to security, did not succeed, but lost a lot, but under Cao Jie's strategy, he is now reinstated as an official, not only all the losses have been made up, but also received a reward from the Son of Heaven, which can be described as a blessing in disguise. He never forgot Luo's thoughts, although Cao Jie warned him, Liu Xiu is now deeply favored by the Son of Heaven, don't mess with him, he doesn't dare to rob Luo's again, but when Liu Xiu is not in Luoyang, he still often comes to the Taiji Taoist Hall to eat, and by the way, he has a good time.

Wang Chuyinling's crisp laughter suddenly attracted his attention, he glanced up, his eyes suddenly straightened, and he secretly exclaimed in his heart, this is a beauty, although Luo is beautiful, but compared with the woman in front of him, it is not worth mentioning.

Seeing that Wang Chu was not dressed badly, Cao Poshi did not dare to make trouble in person, he immediately sent someone to inquire whose woman this was, and after a short time, the news came back, this young woman who made him excited was the granddaughter of Wang Bao, the general of the late Tiger Benzhonglang, and the daughter of Sima Wang Yu.

Cao Poshi suddenly remembered the laughter he heard outside the Hongdu Gate that day, and his heart was suddenly shaken, and the evil fire in his heart was like a weed in spring, he couldn't stop it, and he didn't eat anymore, so he immediately rushed to Wang's house and said to Wang Yu bluntly, I have a crush on your daughter, marry her to me as a concubine, I promise to make you, Sima, a lieutenant immediately.

Although Wang Yu was moved, he had not messed up yet, and he said to Cao Poshi very politely, I'm sorry, my daughter is not blessed, and she has been promised to Lu Zhi's disciple Liu Xiu as his wife.

If it was someone else, Cao Poshi wouldn't take it seriously, and he would run away if he grabbed it. But as soon as he heard Liu Xiu's name, Cao Poshi remembered the last time Zhang Huan blocked the door, and he didn't dare to make a mistake, so he could only complain that he was not lucky and walked away. The more he thought about it, the more unwilling he became, so he turned around and went to Cao Jie's mansion, wanting to discuss with Cao Jie, if Cao Jie supported it, he still had the capital to fight.

Cao Jie became angry when he heard it, why did you provoke Liu Xiu again? There are so many good women in Luoyang, do you have to marry the woman Liu Xiu fancies? Besides, how good can a woman who is not selected be.

It's good that he doesn't say that, but when he talks about the draft, Cao Poshi also feels that something is wrong. Whether it is Wang Chu's appearance or Wang Chu's voice, they are all first-class, and I heard that her talent is also very good, how could such a woman be defeated?

He said his question to Cao Jie, and Cao Jie's eyes suddenly lit up, like a treasure. He got up and walked back and forth in the house a few times, and finally stopped in front of Cao Poshi: "Do you really want to take Wang Chu as a concubine?" ”

Cao Poshi saw hope and nodded again and again.

"Don't worry, wait for me to check and see why Wang Chu was defeated. This time, maybe you can find a lot of people. Cao Jie smiled softly and immediately entered the palace to check the records at that time. That night, he called Cao Poshi to his house again and said to him: "You go and tell Wang Bao that the Wang family is guilty of bullying the king, and if he refuses to marry his granddaughter to you, then don't blame us for being polite." ”

Cao Poshi suddenly realized and was ecstatic. He didn't think much about it, turned around and went to Wang's house again, and said to Wang Bao according to what Cao Jie said, Wang Bao was shocked. Cao Pojie laughed, walked away, and said when he went out, I will send someone to hire in two days, and your family is also ready to prepare, we will hurry up and get things done.

The Wang family suddenly fell into a panic.

Wang Bao and Wang Yu sat opposite each other, looking at each other, and the dense cold sweat on Wang Yu's forehead couldn't be wiped clean. Cao Jie is very favored now, and he is an internal court official, so it is easy to sue in front of the Son of Heaven. The Wang family doesn't dare to appeal, even if they dare to appeal, they may not be able to find an opportunity.

What's more, they feel that this matter is indeed unclear, as long as the Son of Heaven sees Wang Chu himself, I believe he can see the trickiness in it, as for the eunuchs who presided over the re-election, I am afraid that none of them can stand up and make decisions for them.

It is disrespectful to bully the king, killing people is light, and it is possible to exterminate the clan, who will stand up for the Wang family at this time?

The more Wang Bao thought about it, the more angry he became, and scolded Liu Xiu for harming people, which made the Wang family miserable. Wang Yu was so frightened by Wang Bao's fury that he trembled, and wanted to speak several times, but he didn't dare to say the words when he came to his mouth, and finally when Wang Bao scolded him so much that he had no strength, he cautiously asked, "Father, what should we do?" ”

"What to do? What else do you say? Wang Bao glared at Wang Yu with hatred: "Marry Ah Chu to him, otherwise my Wang family will wait to abandon the market." ”

Wang Yu shuddered involuntarily, didn't dare to say anything more, but only responded with a whisper, and after serving Wang Bao to rest, he turned around and went to the backyard.

Wang Chu cried to death, as soon as she saw Wang Yu's face, she knew the result, and without waiting for Wang Yu to speak, she knelt in front of Wang Yu with a "plop" and kowtowed again and again: "Ah Weng, I don't dare to ask Ah Weng to refuse the Cao family, I just want to ask Ah Weng to delay for a few days." ”

Wang Yu sighed, gently wiped away the tears on Wang Chu's face, and shook his head helplessly: "What's the use of delaying for a few days?" I know, you want to wait for Liu Xiu to come back, but ...... This matter is so big, what if he comes? You guys......" He pushed Wang Chu away with remorse, sat aside, and said with self-reproach: "I'm so stupid, I should have thought that this was his idea a long time ago." Ah Chu, you tell Ah Weng, isn't that so, isn't it? ”

Wang Chu couldn't cry, Wang Bin couldn't bear it, and persuaded softly: "Ah Weng, no matter what, I have promised Liu Xiu at the beginning, even if I want to change the hexagram, I have to let him know, otherwise there will be trouble in the future, how will we face the world if we marry one daughter and two people?" Not to mention...... What's more, Cao Jie is a thief, how can my Wang family marry them. ”

"You think I don't know?" Wang Yu suddenly raised his head and glared at Wang Bin angrily. He had enough of being angry in front of Wang Bao, and now he was still being blamed in front of his children, he was really a little angry, he pointed at Wang Chu and reprimanded: "If you hadn't been careless and were taken captive by the Xianbei people, we would have been coerced by Liu Xiu's little erector?" If you hadn't dizzy yourself and were at his mercy, as for us to make such a fuss, it would be normal for you to be selected into the palace with your talents, and where would you be threatened by Cao Poshi? You thought it would be easy for me to raise you, and I was expecting you to contribute something to the family, but I never thought that you would bring all the trouble. ”

Wang Yu was heartbroken, and the anger that had been suppressed for a long time erupted, and scolded Wang Chu's brothers and sisters with a scolding face, and finally shook his hand: "You give me a good look at her, don't let her go out a step, and don't let her have any accidents, otherwise I will only ask you." ”

Wang Bin was dumbfounded.

Wang Chu gradually stopped crying, wiped away his tears, and looked at Wang Bin with red and swollen eyes: "Brother, you have to help me." ”

Wang Bin was very embarrassed: "Ah Chu, you also heard it, Ah Weng doesn't allow you to go out." ”

"I don't have to go out, but I want you to go to the Tai Chi Dao Pavilion and tell Mao Zong about this, so that he can rush back to Zhuo County no matter what, and tell Deran the news."

Wang Bin smacked his lips again and again, not daring to agree.

Wang Chu said again: "If you don't want to, I will never agree to this marriage, can you look at me for a while, can you see me for a lifetime, even if I enter the door of the Cao family, I will find an opportunity to kill Cao Poshi, and then commit suicide." Will the Wang family be able to settle down then? ”

Wang Bin was shocked and hurriedly said, "Achu, are you crazy?" ”

"I'm not crazy." Wang Chu couldn't help but shed tears again: "De Ran said that he wants to do a big thing and needs my help." For me, he came all the way from northern Xinjiang to Luoyang and worked hard. I already have a marriage contract with him, and I can't just break the marriage so quietly. I was willing to give up the opportunity to enter the palace for him, and now I am willing to fight for him. ”

Wang Bin's forehead dripped beads of sweat the size of beans, and he opened his mouth to stammer.

"I know, there is no way for Father and Ah Weng to do these things, and there is no way for you, so I can only pin my hope on Deran." Wang Chu slowed down, and then persuaded softly: "Brother, De Ran can create such a name in Luoyang in just a few months with a white body, you know his talent, not to mention that Cao Poshi wanted to rob Luo's shopkeeper before, and De Ran stopped him single-handedly." If he can contribute to Shopkeeper Luo, can't he contribute to me? ”

Wang Bin stammered: "This is the crime of bullying the king, what can he do?" ”

"That's not something you can guess." Wang Chu said in a deep voice: "If he can't do it, that's my life, I can only marry into the Cao family, and devote myself to others for your glory and wealth." ”

"Really?" Wang Bin heard Wang Chu's resoluteness and had to agree.

"It's a deal." Wang Chu raised his hand and said word by word: "I am willing to swear by my future child." ”

Wang Bin hesitated for a long time, and finally nodded vigorously: "Okay, I'll go to the Tai Chi Taoist Hall, whether it succeeds or not, it depends on Liu Deran's ability." ”

"Don't worry, as long as he rushes to Luoyang, he will definitely be able to save the day." Wang Chu walked quickly to the bookcase, picked up the pen and wrote a book, and before he could write a few words, tears fell on the paper and melted. She endured her grief and quickly wrote a letter, which she handed to Wang Bin. Wang Bin was about to reach out to pick it up, but she took it back: "Brother, you must not be careless." Deran and I have a deep affection, if you don't send the letter to him, he will be angry with the Wang family in the future, even if he has the help of the Cao family, I am afraid that the Wang family will inevitably have disasters. ”

Wang Bin had a cold war, he originally wanted to deceive Wang Chu, but when he heard this, thinking of Liu Xiu's unscrupulous temper and possible revenge in the future, he didn't dare to play tricks anymore, and responded honestly. Only then did Wang Chu hand over the letter to him and asked him to rush to the Taiji Daoist Hall immediately.

When Mao Zong heard the news, he was so frightened that he didn't dare to slack off, so he immediately rode on the famous black horse and galloped away.

After Wang Chu got Wang Bin's reply, another day passed, and he said to Wang Yu very calmly, I have already sent the news out, if you don't want to have an accident, just wait for a month, if Liu Xiu can't do it within a month, then I won't say anything, listen to you, marry into the Cao family, if you want to force me, then don't blame me for not being filial. Based on what I know about Liu Xiu, if he starts a fire, it will be no easier to deal with than Cao Jie.

Wang Bao was furious and immediately sent someone to chase after him, but unfortunately he couldn't catch up. He had no choice but to agree to Wang Chu's request, and asked Wang Yu to go and say to Cao Poshi, we need a little time to prepare, please be lenient. Cao Poshi didn't agree, but Cao Jie agreed, and he said to Cao Poshi that the Wang family had sent the news out, and they had to wait for Liu Xiu to come back.

"Wait for Liu Xiu to come back." Cao Jie sneered, "I want to see what tricks he has in front of the charge of bullying the king." ”

Only then did Cao Poshi understand Cao Jie's true intentions.

(To be continued)