In the house of Zhang Xi, the waiter of the Yellow Gate, today's guests are full, staggered and happy.

Zhang Xi has long lost the depression when he lived in the temple before, his face is full of pride, holding a cup in one hand and a chopstick in the other, while laughing and talking with the guests, he does not forget to greet Li Chu attentively.

is different from his cousin Li Tai, who was born to be a child of the down-and-out family, Li Lian was also a noble son of Luoxia for several years when he was a teenager, and he is certainly no stranger to such occasions.

The banquet has been going on for nearly a month, and he has gradually become familiar with these times in Gangneung, no matter what kind of identity and interest the other party has, they can talk to each other with relish and fascination.

Of course, in addition to Li Lian's own good at communicating, it is also because the masses are cheering on the audience, intentionally or unintentionally. It's not that they have soft bones, but that the rice in the north is too fragrant.

The people present either had received money and goods from Chubei, or had profound interests with Chubei, and even many Jiangling people simply invested in Chubei, so of course they had to be respectful and respectful to Li Lian, and they did not dare to be rude.

However, with the arrival of Zhu Maichen, the atmosphere of the banquet has dropped back and is no longer as lively as before.

Zhu Maichen was originally a eunuch, and because he was appreciated and promoted by the monarch, he mixed into the ranks of scholars, but he was still regarded as an alien in his heart and despised him, and refused to communicate on an equal footing. And this guy's other identity is the emperor's henchmen, which makes people stay away, worried that he may be beaten up one day and be unlucky.

Zhu Maichen was also accustomed to being snubbed in such a social occasion, and did not pay much attention to it, and after sitting down, he first toasted the host Zhang Xi and the guest of honor, Li Lian, respectively, and then casually talked about a few interesting things and integrated them into the conversation.

After a while, seeing that the masses were just keen to discuss current affairs with Li Quan, but they didn't pay attention to the topics they threw out, Zhu Maichen couldn't help but sneer in his heart.

He picked up his wine glass and got up to toast Li Tuo, first interrupting the interactive conversation in the hall, and then when Li Tuo responded to him, he said with a smile: "Yes, not long ago, the new upstream message, the Tao is that the Wei Guoshi Brigade has settled in Xinzhou, so I borrowed the wine in the Zhang Huang portal to congratulate Li Hou, congratulations to your country on the next city." ”

"What? The Wei army actually invaded Shinshu? ”

"When?"

"Does Li Hou know about this? Why haven't you heard of this before? ”

After hearing this, the faces of the guests present changed greatly, and they each exclaimed, and the sense of crisis in their hearts suddenly increased, and they looked at Li Lian and asked again and again.

Li Lian was also stunned when he heard this, although He Ruodun and Li Qianzhe, who entered the Bashu battle, were still generals belonging to the Jingzhou Governor's Office, but due to the restrictions of transportation and geography, the voice communication between them was not very smooth. They were only ordered to carry out the orders arranged by General Li to attack the eastern part of Bashu, and the pace of action and the speed of the advance were determined by themselves.

"Truth be told, I really don't know. Because I had just been promoted by a general to enter the palace a few days ago, and then came to visit the south, I did not know much about the military and political affairs in the palace. ”

Soon Li Lian reacted, then explained, and then said with a smile: "If things are really as General Zhu said, then it is indeed worth a drink." The two countries have been martial arts for a long time, and the affection is deep, and now our division can enter Xinzhou, and from then on, the people of Jiangling no longer have to worry about the Yu Kou in Shuzhong knocking on the realm to disturb again! ”

When everyone heard this, although they all laughed dryly and raised their glasses, they naturally didn't believe this nonsense in their hearts. Yu Kou in Shu may really not have to worry, but since then, he has to live under the blade of the Wei people every day, and this feeling is also uncomfortable!

Then the atmosphere of the banquet took a sharp turn for the worse, becoming cold and awkward. Although the masses were still eager to talk to Li Quan, they were all trying to ask whether the Jingzhou Governor's Office had any idea of using troops to Jiangling, and they were completely uninterested in the singing, dancing and music in the hall.

Zhu Maichen saw that Li Lian was a little tired of dealing with the tentative questions of the masses, and a few smiles appeared on the corners of his mouth.

He didn't give Li Lian time to react and buffer, and then sighed: "I heard that Cui, the envoy of Qi in prison in the state capital, is Li Houzhi's relatives and friends, and he doesn't mean that the world is evil, and he actually meets each other in arms. ”

When Li Wei heard this, his brows suddenly furrowed, and he understood that Zhu Maichen had come to trouble him today.

The relationship between him and Cui Zhan is not difficult to inquire, they are relatives and friends who have been friends for generations, but they meet each other in the capital of another country, which is indeed embarrassing. During this time, Jiangling was in contact with it, so as not to be embarrassed, he deliberately omitted to mention this section, but he didn't want to be asked directly by this Zhu Maichen today.

After a little muttering, Li Lian also sighed and said: "The Gao family's giant has brought disaster to the world, dividing our country, making the world uneasy, separating flesh and blood, and making relatives and friends enemies, which is indeed heart-wrenching. Everyone present must also have deep feelings about the depth of Gao's calamity, just the poisonous Hou Jing of his country has stirred up trouble in the south of the Yangtze River, not to mention the human tragedy of life and death, as well as the human tragedy of room manipulation and fratricide. The past is enough to be respected, and this giant of the world should be punished by real people! ”

After everyone present heard this, their faces suddenly became embarrassed, and they couldn't help but stare at Zhu Maichen and complain, even if you want to ridicule and ridicule others, you have to think clearly. Our lord is already covered in hair when he does that little, how can he still have the face to laugh at others for being monkeys?

Zhu Maichen's expression was also stunned after hearing this answer, and he didn't dare to extend this topic further, but thinking of the task of this trip, he continued to ask: "Jun is a guest, and your friend is a prisoner, and you may be able to live if you say something, but after many days, Li Hou has not heard anything to speak out here, so is he still resentful of his relatives and friends for the revenge of the attempted murder before?" Or is it because he is afraid of returning to the country and being responsible, so he sits back and waits for his relatives and friends to suffer and does not say anything? ”

Li Lian frowned immediately when he heard this question, and everyone present also stopped one after another, all looking at Li Quan, waiting for him to respond.

Regarding Cui Zhan's problem, Li Huan also sent someone to report to Chubei, and the explanation given by Li Tai was to let Li Zhan handle it himself, and if possible, he should try to protect Cui Zhan.

Although it is said that Cui Zhan attempted murder of Li Quan, he did not know in advance that it was Li Tuan who stabbed him. Of course, whether it is Li Tuan or not, the apostles he sent are inevitably seriously investigated if they are attacked and killed by hostile forces, but it is precisely because it is Li Tuan who is the envoy that this matter has some room for turnaround.

Not to mention anything else, just after the Heyin Change, Cui took in their family and let them gain a foothold in Qinghe County for more than ten years, and this favor cannot be abandoned.

Li Lian has been reluctant to take the initiative to talk about this issue during this time, and he also hopes to blame the problem on the Nanliang side. If Nan Liang's handling is too serious, he will intercede for Cui Zhan out of reason, and if Nan Liang only gently reveals the matter, then he must also retain the right to pursue it.

At this time, hearing Zhu Maichen say this, Li Lian said with a straight face: "The country has national laws, and the family has family rules. But now I made a mistake in Jiangling, His Majesty the Emperor of Liang is fair and wise, and he will definitely make a decision that is public and private, and I don't have to worry about it, so I don't say anything. Could it be that General Zhu has other plans for this, thinking that the result may be contrary to people's wishes? ”

"How so?"

Zhu Maichen laughed dryly twice, but he still continued without giving up: "The law is nothing more than human feelings, of course, my lord will deal with it thoroughly, but this is my lord's nature. Li Hou is stingy in speaking out here, and I am afraid that he will be ridiculed and ridiculed by public opinion. This is Li Hou's plan, and I hope to hear Li Hou's voice of righteousness in this matter. ”

After thinking about it, Li Yan said: "General Zhu's words are indeed a wake-up call, Cui Yantong and I are close friends and have a deep relationship, so we don't need to put words into words to know our hearts." But the world is not full of people who are so affectionate, especially there are many shameless scum who are good at playing tricks and are accustomed to inciting right and wrong, clamoring for favors, spreading rumors and causing trouble, so although they know their feelings, sometimes they have to make a gesture to give those who are right and wrong. Tomorrow I really need to knock on the que, please see, and plead for me. ”

Zhu Maichen was scolded by Li Tuo's nose, and he was indignant in his heart, but when he heard Li Tuo say that he would take the initiative to ask to see him tomorrow, he couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief in his heart.

Without Zhu Maichen fanning the flames and taking the initiative to make trouble, the atmosphere of the next banquet was quite good, especially Li Lian became quite interested, and everyone who had a toast did not refuse, and it was not until late at night that they returned happy.

After Zhu Maichen returned, he made a brief statement to Emperor Xiao Yi, who was also quite satisfied with this, so the next day he put aside some unimportant official business, and prepared to concentrate on dealing with the Wei envoy.

However, this wait waited until nearly evening, but there was still no trace of Li Lian, and Xiao Yi, who had been released for a day, was annoyed, and summoned Zhu Maichen to reprimand him.

Zhu Maichen was also full of grievances, and after quitting again and again, he went straight to Li Huan's residence, but saw Li Lian wearing a Yanju dress, entertaining guests and making sencha in the hall, and even more annoyed: "Li Hou plays me? At yesterday's banquet, I was told that I was going to worship my lord today, but I missed the appointment? ”

"Did I say that?"

Li Wei was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and summoned the servants to ask about it, and then said with a look of shame and remorse: "I was greedy for a hangover last night, and I woke up in the afternoon, and I forgot all the prefaces, which is really rude!" Please rest assured General Zhu, tomorrow, tomorrow will be certain! ”

Zhu Maichen saw Li Quan's ashamed apology, and the anger in his heart was slightly subsided, and then he was graciously invited by Li Tuan to eat tea, and he couldn't wipe his face, so he sat down.

Just drinking tea, I don't know what's going on, the topic turned to drinking again, Zhu Maichen shirked the amount, but Li Lian asked someone to take a wooden flail and lock it with the table, so he continued to drink.

When Zhu Maichen woke up the next day, it was already three poles in the sun, but he didn't see Li Quan's figure, and he hurriedly asked his entourage, but was told that Li Tuan went to Tianju Temple with people early in the morning.

"Qiang slaves really have no faith!"

Zhu Maichen covered his painful hangover braincase, and scolded angrily in his mouth, when he saw that the sky was at this time, he knew that this day was in vain, and for fear of being reprimanded by the emperor, he simply let the house slave take sick leave, and led his entourage to run outside the city to other jobs.