Zhong Likuang's nose was sour by Zheng Rong's words, and tears immediately flowed from his eyes, and he said: "The minister was originally just a down-and-out scholar, and he was appreciated by the saints, so he was in a bad position, and he really didn't dare to relax at all. If he lives up to the emperor's high expectations, then even if the emperor can spare the ministers, Weichen will be shameless. ”

"I'm afraid you'll say that. You are the same age as me, and I still want to be able to use you for the rest of my life, and when I am old and weak, I will give the Zen position to those who come after me, and you will retire to the official and swim with me in the mountains and rivers. ”

This is another extremely important piece of news - it turns out that Zheng Rong did not want to be the emperor until he died, but gave the throne to the successors after a few years.

When Zheng Xin heard the news, his heart was hot, thinking that he might be able to inherit the unification as soon as possible, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but smile, but he hurriedly put it away, got up and knelt on the ground, and said: "Father and Emperor Spring and Autumn are prosperous, don't say such a thing, how can you afford it?" ”

Zheng Rong nodded and praised him: "What you said is the way of loyalty and filial piety of a saint, and it does not live up to your Mr. Zhongli's careful teaching for so many years." ”

He changed his words and said: "Mr. Zhongli is loyal to state affairs, and he has taught and raised future generations for me, this credit is unique among the ministers of the DPRK and China. ”

With the Han official system, the civil officials are headed by the prime minister, and the military generals are respected by the marshal. Above the prime minister and marshal, there are also three major titles: Taishi, Taifu, and Taibao, collectively known as the "Three Divisions". The official position of the "Three Divisions", although it has no actual power, is an honor coveted by the military generals, even if it is posthumously sealed, it is also a major event to honor the ancestors; And those who can be sealed before their death are even rarer.

It's no wonder that Zhong Likuang listened to this, bowed his head twice, and said: "The minister is just loyal to his duty, and he has no size merit, how dare he be commended like this?" ”

Zheng Rong said: "Gently and skillfully 'loyal to duty', how many officials in the world can do it?" I named Mr. Zhongli as the Taifu, so that the officials and ministers knew that as long as they were loyal to the country, I would not hesitate to reward them. As for those officials who are vegetarian or bend the law for personal gain, I will deal with a batch of them with heavy hands, so that the ministers can have a warning. ”

As soon as Zheng Rong's words came out, Qiu Yizhi could no longer sit upright, so he quickly got up and knelt down and kowtowed: "The emperor's deep meaning, Yizhi understands, and when he goes back, he will fulfill his duties and govern a paradise for the emperor that 'does not leave no stone unturned, and does not close the door at night'." ”

Zheng Rong nodded very gratifyingly and said, "You can have this kind of knowledge, and I didn't say a few words in vain. Okay, you and your eldest brother should go down, I still have a few important words to tell your master, just remember to come and dine with me then. If I'm late, I'm going to be punished for drinking. ”

Qiu Yizhi heard Zheng Rong make a joke, and his heart relaxed slightly, so he kowtowed again and said: "I haven't seen the queen for a long time, and I miss it tightly, can I be accompanied by His Royal Highness, let me kowtow and ask for peace?" ”

Zheng Rong nodded again and said: "This is also as it should be, the queen often mentions you in front of me, and always complains about why I let you out to be a seventh-rank official." Speaking of this, Zheng Rong couldn't help but laugh "poof", "If you want to say how can you be a woman, after all, you have a little shallow knowledge." You can go and talk more with her, if the queen is interested, you can also come over for dinner. ”

The rules of the Heavenly Family are strict, except for several festivals such as the Lantern Festival, the Middle Yuan, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Chinese New Year's Eve, the relatives in the palace are not allowed to see outsiders, even Zheng Xin has not seen his mother for a long time. Therefore, although he usually gets along with Qiu Yizhi, the righteous brother, he is not warm, but being able to see his mother in his face today is enough to make him grateful.

So Zheng Xin also thanked him, dragged Qiu Yizhi and ran in the direction of the harem.

Today's queen is Zheng Rong's wife when she was still the king of Youyan, born in a family of eunuchs, and her personality is the most tranquil and demure. Since Zheng Rong became the emperor, her worth has also risen, and she was crowned the queen of the harem leader for the first time.

And because Zheng Rong's eldest son Zheng Xin and third son Zheng Miao are her biological sons, and the mother of the second son Zheng Sen is a Hu person, so after Zheng Rong's death, her position as a queen mother is indispensable, so she is also jealous from other concubines, and she can make a motherly appearance of the world and tolerant of all things.

However, the joy of family is human nature after all, when she heard that her eldest son Zheng Xin came to visit, she was immediately excited, and ordered someone to tidy up the room and lure Zheng Xin in.

As for Qiu Yizhi, she is not close, and sometimes she thinks that this child is wild and untamed, and always causes trouble; However, her husband was so happy that she had nothing to say, but she never lost money on gifts.

The three of them talked with great interest, and when they saw the sun set, it was time for dinner.

Zheng Xin saw that the hour was not early, so he said to his mother: "My father is holding a banquet in the 'Shuli Palace', and in addition to Mr. Zhongli, there are only four of us brothers. The father said that the queen mother should be interested, and she can also go to dinner together. ”

The queen really wanted to go, but after thinking about it again, she said: "Since we are dining in the Shuli Palace, the discussion at the banquet is about state affairs. What do I know as a woman? I'm afraid that a few of your brothers will talk to the teacher by mistake! I don't think I need to go this time. ”

Zheng Xin and Qiu Yizhi invited a few more words, but the queen still didn't let go, so the two of them couldn't force it, so they kowtowed a few times on the spot and retreated.

A table of eight immortals had already been placed under the shed behind the Shuli Hall according to Zheng Rong's arrangement, and lamps and candles were lit all around, illuminating the entire table as if it were day.

Zheng Rong's second prince, Zheng Sen, is in charge of the affairs of the military department and is organizing military drills outside the city; The third prince, Zheng Miao, was in charge of the affairs of the Ministry of Rites and was in the city to meet with the envoys of the foreign domain. When the two of them heard that the emperor was going to invite them to dinner, they immediately put down their affairs and came to the palace as soon as possible.

Zheng Sen was originally born to Zheng Rong and the same Hu Ren County Lord, born with a beard, very strange appearance, and a rough and straight character, who loves to lead soldiers to fight the most. He is the same age as his eldest brother Zheng Xin, and he gets along well on weekdays. And last year, he experienced two major battles, the crusade against the Tianzun Sect and the battle against rebellion, and in the process, he deeply appreciated the strange style of Qiu Yi, so his relationship with him gradually improved.

Zheng Miao is the second son born to Zheng Rong and the queen, and he is the most elegant and dignified, and he is not inconspicuous on weekdays, but none of the things that Zheng Rong gave him to do were not seamless. In front of Qiu Yizhi, Zheng Rong also confided more than once that he wanted to make his third son the emperor.

Zheng Miao and Qiu Yizhi are close in age, they have grown up playing together since they were children, so their feelings are the most harmonious, as soon as he saw Qiu Yizhi coming, he hurriedly stepped forward, grabbed Qiu Yizhi's hands, and said: "Brother hasn't seen me for a long time, I haven't seen you for a day, like every three autumns, the foolish brother has only realized." ”

Qiu Yizhi was also very emotional, and said: "I am ashamed that my brother is worried, the younger brother is all right, and he misses his father and brother very much in the distance south of the Yangtze River." After that, I couldn't help but reach out and wipe my tears secretly.

Zheng Rong was very relieved to see the scene of the family's brothers, friends and brothers, so he beckoned everyone to sit down for dinner, and instructed everyone: "Today is an ordinary family banquet, only father and son, no emperor's subordinates, everything is not formal, you can be casual, just like in Youyan Road back then." ”

With Zheng Rong's words, the atmosphere on the table immediately became lively.

When I heard that the restaurant in the capital was the banquet set by the emperor, he selected the well-known chefs in the building, made good dishes, and sent them to the palace - a table of more than 20 dishes of all sizes and dishes, all of which were ingenious and delicious - and the icing on the cake effect.

Zheng Rong also ordered someone to take out the aged wine that was paid tribute on Yungui Road, and personally poured the cup full of wine for everyone.

Everyone at the banquet felt extremely honored, and they all got up and congratulated the emperor on his birthday with a cup of wine.

Zheng Rong was happy to see this, and took the lead in drinking it all. The other four people also raised their heads and drank the wine in the glass, and then looked at each other and smiled.

After three rounds of drinking, Zheng Rong saw that a few people were just drinking and eating, which was a little boring, so he got up and said: "Drinking like this is no different from a stupid man in the countryside." It's better to drink alcohol while enforcing a drinking order, which can be regarded as beneficial. Mr. Zhongli, please start up! ”

Zhong Likuang still looked like he was not smiling, but his voice was full of joy, and he replied, "Okay! I'll come up with a topic, and it's not very difficult, that is, first say a word, add a side to become another word, and then change the side to form another word, and finally say a common saying or poem, and I can't give an example. It's like—"

Zhongli Kuang paused for a moment, and said: "The word green is blue, and the sun is sunny; In addition to the Japanese word water, careful will become love - the sun rises in the east and rains in the west, and the road is sunny but sunny. ”

Zheng Xin's brothers were eating and drinking heartily, and they couldn't help frowning when they heard that Zhong Li Kuang's topic was so difficult.

Zheng Rong listened, but he was aroused, and said with a smile: "Mr. Zhongli's good topic!" My sons have been evacuated from their homework for the past few days, and I just took this opportunity to test them for the school. He glanced at the sons in the seat, and said, "You must also do as you say, and I will be rewarded; If you don't say it well, you will be punished! ”

Zheng Xin is the eldest son, and he is the first to bear the brunt, but he heard him say: "The word good is good, and rice is also grain." In addition to the grain and rice, the girl will become a mother - buy land without buying grain, and marry a woman without marrying a mother. ”

Zheng Rong listened and commented: "Okay, although you are not elegant, it is also on topic, it is difficult for you to have such a quick wit." Aren't you short of food? I will reward you with a hundred stone of rice that Annan has paid tribute, so that your whole family can have a full meal. With that, he laughed.

Zheng Sen is the second son, and he should be the next to take the order, but he doesn't know how to write and ink, and he scratches his ears and scratches his cheeks and can't say half a word for a long time.

Seeing his embarrassment, Zhong Li Kuang was angry and funny, so he put on a posture and said, "Zheng Sen, if you can't think of a wine order, just say it!" ”

Zheng Sen was taken aback when he heard this, and he was afraid of being punished, so he hurriedly said: "What I can think of is that I can't say it now, please say it first with the two brothers, okay?" ”

Zheng Sen actually liked Zheng Sen's rude personality very much, and when he heard him beg for mercy, he said: "It's okay, you listen to Zheng Miao and Yizhi first, if they say it, and you still can't say it, then you will inevitably be punished!" ”

Zheng Miao had already thought of the wine order, and when he heard his father call his name, he said: "The word is also the phase, and adding water becomes Xiang; In addition to the water on the Hunan side, the rain will become frost - the autumn wind is bleak and the weather is cold, and the grass and trees are shaken and the dew is frost. ”

Before he finished speaking, he heard Zheng Rong exclaim: "Okay, that's right!" The scenes are blended, and they are neat. I have a reward, reward you with a cart of spring water that will be brought down from Jun Mountain tomorrow, whether you go back to drink water or make it into frost, it is all up to your heart. With that, he laughed again.