After instructing the attendants, the man in the dark clothes hurriedly walked up to He Xuan, and bowed: "This son was just frightened, are you okay?" ”

Cai Wenxuan, who was standing beside Hexuan, looked at the tall and burly middle-aged man in front of him, clasped his fists and arched his hands: "Thank you Mr. for sacrificing your life to save me, and dare to ask Mr. for his honorable name, Wenxuan is very grateful!" With that, he solemnly bowed and saluted.

The man in the dark clothes didn't care, but the dark and deep ice needles under his eyes melted a little, stretched out his hand to help Cai Wenxuan, and said with a laugh: "Haha, don't worry about it." It's just that this little boy was frightened, and I'm afraid he has to go and see the doctor. ”

This little boy? is talking about the short Cai Wenxuan, a woman dressed as a man.

He Xuan stabilized his mind at this moment, stared at this heroic man he had never met, and said in a thick voice: "Let Mr. see and smile." The grace of saving lives should be repaid by a spring. Why don't you tell me about your mansion, and I'll send someone to give me a small thank you gift later. ”

The angular face of the man in the dark robe was vaguely wild and uninhibited, he only glanced at the two richly dressed rich men in front of him, waved his hand heroically, said, "No need", and then quickly disappeared into the flow of people on Suzaku Street.

Cai Wenxuan is a son of a family with an excellent family education, and seeing that his life-saving benefactor disappeared like this, he couldn't help but say to He Xuan a little anxiously: "Why do you think this person left like this?" My grandfather taught me to be knowledgeable and reasonable, how can we receive favors in vain without thanking us. ”

"Cousin, don't you see that this man doesn't seem to want us to know who he is? That's fine. He Xuan said lightly, although he also felt that this man in black clothes was quite mysterious, but he was thinking about the scene that had just happened.

How could there be a wild horse that had escaped its reins and ran wild on the bustling Suzaku Street, like no one?

But at the moment when she stepped out of Qingping Alley with one foot and just stepped onto Suzaku Street, the wild horse pounced on her in a daze.

Is there such a coincidence in this world?

Who is that man in a black robe? Why did you happen to be here to save me?

He Xuan only felt a buzz in her head, and she didn't hear a word of the concerned words of concern that the few people around her said to her, she just felt that her current situation was very dangerous, and there was no secret guard around to protect her.

Unconsciously, she walked back to the Le Bin Building on Suzaku Street, which had not yet opened, and then said to the confused Cai Wenxuan: "Let's sit in the Le Bin Building now, you call the coachman to pick us up, I should go back to the palace." ”

Cai Wenxuan nodded approvingly, if something happened to He Xuan outside the palace, he couldn't afford it. So he immediately ordered Yan Xiaoliu, who came forward with a smile on his face, and then took He Xuan to the private room upstairs to sit for a while.

By the time he returned to the palace, He Xuan felt exhausted, and hastily rested after dinner, ready for tomorrow's complicated celebration ceremony.

Back then, in the first 50 years of King Zhou Jue's establishment of the Great Zhou Dynasty, there were countless vassal states, large and small, paying tribute every year, and being called ministers every year. Zhou Tianzi raised his arms and shouted, and the princes did not dare to disobey.

On the birthday of the co-lord of the world, the kings of the eight hundred vassal states went to the feast of Hojing, and the Son of Heaven feasted the kings and courtiers on the bronze platform at the other end of the beacon tower, drinking and having fun, singing and dancing, and held for three days and three nights.

However, when the throne was passed to the four generations of Emperor Zhou, Emperor Zhou personally led a large army to crusade against the land of Chujing, and unfortunately drowned when crossing the Han River, and the whole army was annihilated. [1] And his son, Emperor Mu of Zhou, who was so happy about his achievements, was bent on expanding his territory and marched around, and was almost destroyed by the Xu State and the Nine Empires of Zhou. 【2】

Since then, the Zhou dynasty has been greatly weakened, and the only land directly under the control of Zhou Tianzi is a piece of land east of Qishan and west of Luoshui.

On the contrary, the vassal states grew in strength, the large countries annexed the smaller states, the territory continued to expand, and even the Rongdi tribes in the northwest gradually prospered.

Now, the birthday of the co-lord of the world has been shortened from three days of feasting to one day. And the so-called world court, for the powerful vassal states, has also changed from the princes coming to the Hokyo feast to only sending the royal family to attend on their behalf.

Of course, if it weren't for the tragedy of the fall of the Great Zhou Dynasty in his previous life, who had been in the deep palace with fine clothes and food, who would have cared about this!

He Xuan followed the footsteps of his mother, Mrs. Cai, and walked in the direction of Tongyaotai with his younger brother Ji Tai, while looking at the raging fire burning in the distance.

The princes of small countries, the envoys of large countries, the concubines and princes of the harem, the officials of the Zhou Dynasty, and thousands of people gathered on the tower of Tongyaotai, stretching for dozens of miles. From a distance, it looks like a small black ant belt.

He Xuan sat down under the guidance of the palace people and quietly looked at the noisy sea of people.

After a while, the eunuch shouted the news that Emperor Zhou Ming had arrived with Empress Zhao, and everyone who was shouting about the cold and warm returned to their seats and bowed down.

The sun is shining in the spring, the breeze is blowing, and a few leaves are blowing down with the spring breeze in the center of the spotless Tongyao Terrace.

Emperor Zhou Ming walked to the dragon chair in the center of the north end of Tongyao with a steady pace, facing the sea of people, looked at it for a moment, coughed lightly, and said, "Zhongqing is flat." ”

Among the representatives of the vassal states, seated close to the Son of Heaven, were fourteen great states: Chu, Qin, Wu, Qi, Lu, Jin, Yan, Cai, Cao, Chen, Wei, Yue, and Zheng. 【3】

Among them, Qi, Qin, Chu, Wu, Lu, Jin, the kings of the six countries entrusted the great, and only sent the relatives and nobles of the clan to the court. Emperor Zhou Ming didn't care about this, smiled and joked with the envoys of various countries, and beckoned the palace people to drink.

The list of relatively small vassal states was numerous, and the princes sat in order on both sides of the tower connected to the beacon tower.

In the east, there are Zhu State, Nie State, Ji State, Yan State, Xiang State, Xue State, Yun State, Gao State, Pi State, Mu State... 【4】

In the south, there are Yin State, Wen State, Liu State, Xiao State, Shu Jiu State, Chao State, Zhou Lai State, Ying State, Yan State, Hu State, Jiao State... 【5】

In the west, there are Wei, Yu, Huo, Yang, Qiuyou, Ji, Zhao, Fan, Xu, and Bi. . . 【6】

In the north, there are Xing countries, drum countries, fat countries, and lonely bamboo countries. . . 【7】

Although Zhou Tianzi's power was not as powerful as before, on such an occasion, the vassal states still offered a rich birthday gift, and they also presented songs and dances with the characteristics of various countries at this banquet. Zhou Tianzi, as the symbol of the co-lord of the world, lazily leaned on the gold silk soft pillow, while ordering the palace people to keep adding wine to the gold and bronze Fangzun in their hands, while teasing the beauty in his arms.

He Xuan looked at it, she had never seen that beauty, but she was born with vermilion and white teeth, charming and charming, and between her eyebrows and eyes, she looked a little like the late Concubine Lian.

"Imperial sister, do you know who that is?" He Xuan nodded at Princess Yunjing beside him, and carefully pointed in the direction of the beauty.

Princess Yunjing frowned slightly, and whispered to He Xuan: "That is a beauty sent by Bi Guo, her name is Bi Yue, and it is said that she is a stunning beauty selected by King Bi. ”

He Xuan looked at the woman who was leaning on the willow waist beside his father, and muttered, "Oh? I heard that many beauties were presented by the kingdoms this time, but I didn't expect that Bi Yue would be able to sit with his father this month. The surname is Bi.,It seems to be.。。。 ”

Princess Yunjing shook her head, decisively interrupted He Xuan's words, and said, "She is not the daughter of the clan. It is said that she came from a humble background, but because she was born with a charming appearance, she was famous in Bi Guoyan. King Bi accepted her as a righteous daughter and gave her the surname of the country. ”

Princess Tianwei, who was sitting nearby, heard this and sneered: "Sure enough, it's a lowly billet, no wonder she looks flattering, and she sits beside her father without shame, completely ignoring etiquette, righteousness and shame." ”

When such words came out, Princess Yunjing immediately turned away with annoyance, and He Xuan didn't talk anymore, only Princess Tianwei clenched her fists, and her whole body seemed to exude anger.

The singing and dancing on the Tongyao platform leveled down, and the princes and officials seated down were full of laughter.

The performance lasted for about an hour, and the crowd on the Tongyao stage gradually quieted down. Under the guidance of the eunuchs, the princes bowed down to Zhou Tianzi in accordance with the order of rank, and presented the gift list and treasures.

Although the gift list had been delivered to Emperor Zhou Ming a few days ago, it was still necessary to go through the motions at this moment. First, it shows that the Son of Heaven treats each other with sincerity, which can bring the relationship between the princes and the Son of Zhou closer together; Second, to rub the sharp spirit of the princes, so that they can contain each other.

"Prince Zhao, the son of King Chu Nan!" Eunuch Zhang shouted, and a slender man about twenty years old and slender man sitting at the table of the princes immediately got up and strode in front of Emperor Zhou Ming.

He knelt down and bowed respectfully, and said respectfully: "The prince of Chu, Mi Zhao, meet the Son of Heaven." ”

After a shush and a warm greeting, the handsome prince of Chu was humble and polite, responded fluently, and offered a rich gift. Emperor Zhou Ming was very satisfied, with a smile on his face, and he couldn't stop praising the young talent of Mi Zhao.

"Gongzi Kai, the second son of Qin Zhuang!" As Mi Zhao sat down, Eunuch Zhang shouted again.

"Qin Guo Yingkai, meet the emperor of the Great Zhou." A burly man with a steady pace got up, calmly knelt down to Emperor Zhou Ming, and said loudly.

"I haven't seen you for half a year, Gongzi Kai is fine!" Emperor Zhou Ming laughed and said to Ying Kai.

The moment He Xuan saw Ying Kai raise his head, his heart pounded.

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Author's Note:

[1] Emperor Zhou, the prototype is King Zhao of Zhou, the fourth generation of Zhou Tianzi. "In the sixteenth year of King Zhao, he personally led a large army to the south to conquer Chujing and reached the Jianghan region. After a total of 3 years of southern expedition, King Zhao drowned when he crossed the Han River, and the army was also destroyed. --Wikipedia

[2] Emperor Mu of Zhou, the prototype of King Mu of Zhou, succeeded King Zhao and reigned for 55 years. "He is so happy that he still wants to develop in all directions. King Mu was good at parading, which caused the government to relax. The state of Xu in the east led Jiuyi to invade Zhou. King Mu's southern expedition was pacified by uniting the forces of the Chu State. --Wikipedia

[3] As mentioned in the text, the above were important vassal states of the Western Zhou Dynasty.

[4] In the vicinity of present-day Shandong Province.

[5] In the vicinity of present-day Henan Province and Anhui Province.

[6] In the vicinity of present-day Shanxi Province and Shaanxi Province.

[7] In the vicinity of Hebei Province and Liaoning Province.