Luoyang North Palace, in the west side of the Dragon Garden.

At this time, it is a good season, the forests are abundant, and the flowers are vibrant.

Spirit Emperor Liu Hongzheng was holding a wine glass in his hand, and the glass was filled with amber wine.

The glass is full of amber light.

Looking down, his eyes could be reflected in the wine.

The wine is a wine that is paid tribute from the Western Regions, and the glass is a priceless glass cup. Now that he is accustomed to drinking this foreign wine, his own wine is a little undrinkable.

It is easy to get rich and rich, but it is difficult to get rich. Some people are stable and normal after they are rich, and some people are poor and luxurious after they are rich.

And Spirit Emperor Liu Hong is naturally the latter.

When they were in the river, their mother and son also had a hard life.

At that time, he was just a small Han clan member, and the whole country, like him, there were not 1,000 but 800.

He was also young at the time, although he would not lack food and clothing, and he had to live a little poorly.

Now that he is the Son of Heaven, he naturally will not let his family live such a hard life of thrift and food again.

At this time, opposite Liu Hong, there was a beautiful woman with outstanding appearance. He is not very old, his temples are high, the indescribable style between his eyebrows and eyes, and his posture is weak, I feel sorry for him.

Mo said that it was a man, even if the woman saw it, she couldn't help but want to step forward to protect her.

"It's your turn." Liu Hong first glanced at the chessboard on the table, then at the beauty opposite, smiled, and drank the wine in the cup in his hand.

Beauty and wine go hand in hand.

He, the emperor, likes such a gentle township the most.

He Guiren on the opposite side was holding a chess piece in her hand and couldn't drop it for a long time, and after a while, she sighed lightly and dropped the chess piece in her hand back into the chess box.

"Your Majesty, the concubine has lost." Between bowing his head and frowning, he is still tactful.

"If you lose, you lose, and it's not a shame to lose to me, the first person in the world. Jian Shuo, don't you say?" Liu Hong turned his head and smiled.

"What Your Majesty said is that Your Majesty is wise and powerful, and he is a genius. If Your Majesty is serious, naturally no one will be able to go down to Your Majesty. Although He Guiren is also smart and beautiful, he is naturally inferior to His Majesty." Jian Shuo said flatteringly.

Liu Hong twisted a chess piece on the chessboard in his hand and looked at it carefully, "Such a small thing, it has only appeared for a short time, and it has already directly replaced the Liubo tool in Luoyang City and become the most sought-after thing in the city. Why do you say that?"

Jian Shuo lowered his head and frowned, thinking about it carefully, only those who have followed Liu Hong for a long time will know the gloom of Liu Hong's thoughts.

Although he has always valued eunuchs, there are not a few eunuchs who die in his hands because of a disagreement.

After a while, Jian Shuo spoke, "I think it's because the six Bo have been circulating for a long time, and most of the people in Luoyang are a little bored. Secondly, the city of Luoyang is full of solid people, so they naturally have more time to have fun, and they have to make this little chess at home, or they want to buy it outside, and it doesn't take any effort at all. The wealth of the family is enough to support it."

"This is also Your Majesty's hard work to make the people in Luoyang City so rich. Otherwise, if there is no food to eat, how can they have the money to buy such a plaything?"

"That makes sense, it's still Jian Shuo who can speak." Liu Hong said with a smile, "I have such a contribution, now it's just a matter of repairing a few more gardens, and those ministers above the court will have to quarrel all day long. I don't need them to pay for it. Talking to me all day about the people's livelihood, if I have to worry about everything, what use do you want them?"

"Your Majesty, don't be annoyed, hurt yourself." He Guiren peeled a grape and handed it to Liu Hong's mouth.

Liu Hong swallowed the grapes in one gulp, "And that Queen Song, who has been with me all day long, doesn't she think that there is the Song family behind her, and I can't do anything about her?"

He Guiren didn't dare to answer again, but kept peeling grapes for Liu Hong.

"Your Majesty, don't be annoyed. None of this can be solved overnight."

Only then did Liu Hong put away his anger, he put down the chess pieces in his hand and looked at Jian Shuo, "Jian Shuo, you did not do a bad job this time, it seems that I asked that day."

You've figured out that question by now."

Jian Shuo suddenly knelt on the ground, stretched out his hand and grabbed the corner of Liu Hong's clothes, "The slave and maid have figured it out, and the slave and maid are willing to be your majesty's lackeys."

"Get up." Liu Hong nodded with satisfaction, "Then let's talk about this person who makes chess."

Jian Shuo didn't dare to delay, and told Liu Bei's identity and the contributions he made in the southeast.

Liu Hong nodded, "Liu Family Tiger? It turned out to be him, and it was interesting. I heard that this person is still my Han clan relative? My Liu family, it's really not bad."

Liu Hong sighed, as if he had forgotten that it was he who ordered Jian Shuo to press Liu Bei's credit.

"I have always been fair, and I have always been rewarded for merit and punished for guilt. This chess is a good thing that can be passed on to future generations, and I naturally want to reward him well. Otherwise, wouldn't it be said that I have no eyes and no talents?" Liu Hong picked up a grape and put it in Jian Shuo's hand, "Do you say that's the truth?"

Jian Shuo immediately nodded and said, "Your Majesty said yes."

"Then Your Majesty thinks it is appropriate to reward you?" Jian Shuo asked cautiously, although Liu Hong said this, he must have a measure in his heart. If he rashly exported, he would not be able to match Liu Hong's thoughts, and it would not be impossible to lose his life.

"Since this person is a relative of my Han family, and he has done such a big thing, how can I not see him. You will go to the mountains of the Wu clan and pass him into the palace, and I want to see what kind of person this Han clan member is."

Jian Shuo leaned over and obeyed.

Only then did Liu Hong turn his head to look at He Guiren, and said with a smile, "Did you hear what Fang Cai Zhengzhen said? I have always been rewarded for meritorious service, and I tell you that those two brothers, even if they are not from famous and wealthy families, as long as they can make contributions to me, I will naturally be able to make their official fortunes smooth and rise to the top step by step."

He Guiren peeled a grape with her slender hand, she handed the grape to Liu Hong's mouth, and smiled, smiling like a flower, "Then the concubine will thank Your Majesty for my two elder brothers."

"There is no need for this, the Queen Mother's Dong family has Dong Zhong, and your He family should also have a supporter. I think your eldest brother He Jin is a character, so I want him not to hide his clumsiness, but to come out and do something."

He Guiren responded repeatedly, with a happy face.

Liu Hong smiled, raised his head, and looked at the courtyard.

The dragon garden is a royal garden, and the scenery is naturally not bad, but Liu Hong still feels that there are all kinds of deficiencies in his eyes.

[In view of the general environment,

He is the Son of Heaven, and this Han family is his world.

Under the whole world, it is not the king's land, and the shore of the land is not the king's minister.

Now he just wants something from them, not their lives.

Why are they reluctant?

…………

On the Wushi Mountain outside Luoyang City, Liu Bei is still fishing with a rod today.

Thinking about the days, it is time for the people in the court to come to the door.

It's not that he can pinch it.

It's a matter of people's hearts, as long as you dive into it, you will naturally find that it is not difficult to guess.

Calculating people's hearts is actually the most boring thing.

In his previous life, he was accustomed to seeing people's calculations, and the superiors pressed the subordinates, and the lower extremes pressed the subordinates. It's just seven or eight people, but they have evolved a thousand kinds of thoughts. Now that you can see that those people are also some powerful people.

"Xuande, someone from the palace has arrived." Jian Yong rushed over, panting heavily.

"Xianhe doesn't need to worry, which one is in the palace?" He asked with a smile.

Jian Yong's face was strange, "It's Jian Shuo."

With his relationship with Liu Bei, Liu Bei naturally would not hide the killing of Jian Qiu that day.

Now, even if Jian Shuo didn't know the whole truth of that day, he should have more or less known that it was related to Liu Bei.

The reason why he didn't do it before was because he was afraid that Liu Bei was Lu Zhi's disciple, so he acted rashly, for fear of offending Lu Zhi.

It's just that when he returned from the southeast, his reputation was outstanding, and Jian Shuo didn't dare to make a move.

"Since it's a big deal, there's no need to worry. Just let him wait. Anyway, I've already offended this person, so it doesn't hurt to offend more." Liu Bei unhurriedly packed up the fishing basket and fishing rod at hand.

Jian Yong laughed angrily, but he also knew that what Liu Bei said made sense. Now that their relationship with Jian Shuo is already like this, if they have the opportunity to put each other to death, they will naturally not keep their hands.

…………

In the small courtyard on the mountain, Jian Shuo was pacing back and forth in the courtyard, and at this time there were only feathers in the courtyard. He was sitting at the stone table in the courtyard, sitting quietly reading the Spring and Autumn Period, occasionally looking up and glancing at the great eunuch who was now famous.

Jian Shuo occasionally met this person's gaze, even if he had already seen the wind and waves, it still made him feel a chill in his heart.

At this time, Liu Bei finally rushed back with Jian Yong, and before anyone arrived in the courtyard, the laughter had arrived.

"It's too late to prepare, but it's all Bei's fault for letting the Huangmen marquis be for a long time."

Jian Shuo looked at this young man who had entered from outside, although the two had a deep grudge, but it was the first time they had met.

"Liu Jun really made a certain good wait. But waiting for a certain family is nothing. Now that Your Majesty wants to see Liu Jun, if Liu Jun makes Your Majesty wait for a long time, I am afraid that this head on the neck may not be able to be saved."

"I have been in the palace for many years, and I have seen many talented young people like Liu Jun, but few of these people may not have a good ending. Liu Jun, don't make mistakes." Jian Shuopi doesn't smile at the flesh.

Liu Bei put down the fish basket in his hand and said with a smile: "Be stupid, I don't know what it means to be in the yellow gate."

Jian Shuo smiled, "Okay, I don't know, then let's see."

Now that Liu Bei had returned, Jian Shuo naturally didn't dare to delay, and hurriedly took him towards the palace.

If Liu Hong is really made to wait for a long time, it is of course Liu Bei's guilt, but he may not have good fruit to eat.

……

Entering from the south gate of the South Palace, the two went straight into the small garden.

Nangong is the place where the emperor handles political affairs, magnificent and amazing.

Looking inward from the palace gate, the palace road is long and there is no end in sight. At the farthest point, the steps rise as if into the clouds.

At this time, Jian Shuo took Liu Bei to walk on the central avenue, and there were countless armor soldiers along the way, holding a halberd, standing on both sides of the road.

Although he is a real person, he is silent, like a wood carving.

Those who can be on duty in the palace must first be innocent, and secondly, they must be skilled in martial arts.

"Liu Jun has never entered the palace before, looking at the spirit in this palace, it is quite magnificent?" Jian Shuo squinted at Liu Bei.

In his opinion, this side plug from Youzhou is just because of his fellow villagers to worship Lu Zhi as a teacher.

As for the merits made in the southeast, it's just that a blind cat meets a dead mouse, and who knows if this person has made a contribution? Lu Zhi is the man's husband in the end. It is said that Lu Zhi is fair and upright, but is it possible that a fair and upright person will not cheat.

Such a country man doesn't even need to do anything about it, just scare this person, and most of them will lose their courage.

How many people who claim to be heroes have entered the palace, and they don't have to bow their heads, even they are not as good as eunuchs.

Liu Bei smiled, "The spirit in the palace is naturally magnificent, but what does it have to do with the Yellow Gate? The forbidden land of the imperial city, where the Son of Heaven is, if it is not mighty, how can it be a powerful country."

Jian Shuo glanced at him, walked forward with a dull head, and said no more.

Liu Bei followed behind him, but he was also happy to be at ease.

I didn't want to be at this time, but a person walked over to meet the two.

This person is quite obese, and the straps on his robe are even a little tight.

Seeing this person, Jian Shuo took the initiative to avoid the side, lowered his head and lowered his eyebrows, waiting for this person to go first.

Liu Bei is naturally a follower.

The man walked up to the two of them, but he stopped and said with a smile, "Jian Huangmen, who is this?"

"Gong Liu, this person is a disciple of Duke Lu, Liu Bei of Zhuo County. Therefore man made a chess thing, so His Majesty wanted to see him, and he was ordered to be found by a slave and maid." Jian Shuo was very respectful in front of this person.

Liu Bei secretly raised his eyes and glanced at the person in front of him, he could be treated like this by Jian Shuo, and he was also called Liu Gong. Thinking about it, the person in front of me is today's Guangluxun, Liu Kuan and Liu Wenrao.

Liu Kuan's eyebrows softened, he rubbed his hands on his clothes, and said with a smile: "It turns out that you are Liu Bei Liu Xuande, but Bo Gui often mentions you in front of me, saying that you are a rare character. I've heard about what you've done in the southeast, and it's not bad. I heard that you are still a member of the Han family, but our Liu family has produced you, the young tiger of the Liu family."

"Gong Liu has an overreputation." Liu Bei hurriedly bowed his head and thanked, "It's just that I have some credit by mistake, and I don't deserve the praise of Duke Liu."

Liu Kuanhai is a famous person, not only a relative of the Han family, but also holds an important position in the court, and has always been benevolent, so he is very popular. As soon as he said this, he naturally gave Liu Bei a talisman.

Although Liu Bei didn't know why he was like this, he still had to keep this favor in his heart in the end.

The favors that one's own family has inflicted on others can be forgotten, but the favors of others to one's own family must always be remembered.

Never forget.

Jian Shuo frowned on the side, although this trip was originally Liu Hong's desire to see this person, and most of them would be rewarded for him, but now that Liu Kuan came up to intervene again, I am afraid that it will be even more difficult to deal with this person in the future.

"Since it is Your Majesty's call, I will not delay you too much." Liu Kuan walked forward, and when he walked to Liu Bei's side, he reached out and patted Liu Bei's shoulder, and said with a smile: "In the past, Lao Tzu said that there is nothing softer in the world than water."

Liu Kuan smiled and left.

Liu Bei sighed in his heart, these people who have been in the court for many years, and none of them are simple people.

The two of them walked forward again, just as someone slowly descended from the top of the high staircase.

The old dragon clock of the comer, at a glance, is like a candle in the wind, swaying.

When Jian Shuo saw this person, he also immediately stood aside and bowed, "Cao Changqiu."

The man smiled and nodded, "Jian Huangmen's dedication to the country is worthy of praise."

He turned his head to look at Liu Bei again, but there was no hostility in his eyes, "You are Liu Bei?" You have the ability to do this at a young age. It was a surprise. It seems that my Han family boy will succeed him."

"Cao Changqiu is too famous." Liu Bei said with a smile.

Now the most hated thing by the people of the world is not Zhang Rang, nor Jian Shuo, but the person in front of him who is about to die at a glance.

"Your Majesty is wise, Liu Jun will definitely have a good future here, and the old man wishes Liu Jun a bright future here." Cao Jie said with a smile.

"Thank you Cao Changqiu." Liu Bei is neither humble nor arrogant.

Cao Jie sighed with emotion, "When I see Liu Jun, I seem to have seen an old man again."

Liu Bei was silent, but he didn't ask who Cao Jie was talking about.

"Why don't you ask me who I am?" Cao Jie said with a smile.

"Cao Changqiu's deceased is definitely not an ordinary person, how can he compare with it." Liu Bei smiled.

"How can't you compare." Cao Jie shook his head, "You do have a lot of similarities with this person, this person is Chen Fan and Chen Zhongju back then."

As soon as he said this, Liu Bei narrowed his eyes.

Didn't Chen Fan die at the hands of his Cao Jie.

Cao Jie smiled, "Liu Jun is so self-cherishing."

Cao Jie staggered away, and Liu Bei turned his head to stare at his back.

No one knows how many sinister thoughts are hidden in this seemingly weak body.

Although Cao Jie stared at him with a peaceful smile on his face, in his opinion, he was secretly thinking like a snake and scorpion.

"Liu Jun, it seems that your life in Luoyang will not be easy in the future."

Jian Shuo on the side was gloating, it was not good to provoke anyone, but he provoked Cao Jie, who was a notoriously treacherous person.

Liu Bei smiled and said, "My life is not good, is it better to live in the Yellow Gate? If the eunuchs are monolithic now, why is Cao Changqiu here? Now that Jian Huangmen has the heart to be sarcastic, it is better to think about the way back at home, otherwise I am afraid that I will see the end of Jian Huangmen first."

Jian Shuo was stunned for a moment, stopped speaking, and walked straight with Liu Bei.

The road is long and far, and after passing through the south gate of the palace, you have to walk through a long compound road.

The so-called reverter is a long staircase above the ground, connecting the two buildings, like a staircase in the sky of the Hereafter.

"Liu Jun is not afraid?" Walking on the compound road, Jian Shuo turned his head and smiled.

Liu Bei raised his foot and stepped on it, and he had to admire the ingenuity of the ancients.

"Prepare for death and be not afraid, how can you be afraid of these." Liu Bei said with a smile.

Jian Shuo didn't say anything more, and took Liu Bei straight to Xiaoyuan.

At this time, in Xiaoyuan, Liu Hong was drinking alone.

As an emperor, he is above tens of thousands of people, but he also has unspeakable difficulties.

He is above ten thousand, but ten thousand people below the high ranks are staring at the authority in his hands.

Everybody wants a piece of it.

The so-called lonely family is nothing more than this.

At this time, Jian Shuo had already led Liu Bei into the garden.

Liu Hong put down the wine glass in his hand and smiled at Liu Bei.

"Xuande, why is it too late?"

…………

In the small garden, Jian Shuo hurriedly ran behind the Emperor Ling, snatched the bamboo fan of the little eunuch on the side, and carefully fanned the Emperor Ling.

Liu Bei finished saluting, stood at the foot of the steps, and stood with his eyebrows lowered and his head lowered.

Liu Hong looked at Liu Bei for a moment, and then suddenly spoke, "Xuande, are you guilty?"

Although Liu Bei didn't know what he meant, he had no choice but to admit: "Be convicted."

"What's the crime?"

Although Liu Bei never looked up, he could hear a smile in Liu Hong's voice.

"Your Majesty says that whatever sin is what sin it is, and the only way to confess it is to confess." Liu Bei said in a low voice.

"A good one can only confess his sins." Liu Hong laughed and got up, "The sin of Xuande is too late. Keep your head up."

Liu Bei raised his head, and only then did he see the emperor on this level clearly.

The body was emaciated, so that the robe appeared to be extremely fat, and the face was a little pale, and the steps were vain, as if caused by the addiction to alcohol.

"I heard that Xuande is a relative of the Han family, and he is from Zhuo County, Youzhou, have you ever seen Liu Youzhou?" Liu Hong said with a smile.

"I did see Liu Youzhou before I came to Luoyang." Liu Bei responded.

Liu Hong beckoned, "Xuande doesn't need to be restrained, since we are relatives of the Han family, you and I are members of the family, but you can come forward, you and I will play a game."

Liu Bei took a few steps forward, and the guards on his side were already holding down the hilt of the knife.

He glanced left and right, and although he was defenseless at this time, his expression was not flustered.

Liu Hong saw his expression and said with a smile: "There is no need to be like this, Xuande is my clan, how can he have other thoughts."

Only then did the surrounding guards put down their swordsman's hand.

Liu Bei took a few steps forward and came to the opposite side of Liu Hong.

There is a chess set on the table.

"Xuande, your chess game is really interesting." He twisted a cannon, "not only for gambling and fun, but also for military drills."

"What you did in the southeast is not bad, I heard that on the Wushi Mountain, you also have the name of the splendid Liu Xuande. It's always a pleasure to have a character like you in my Liu family's clan."

Liu Bei, who was already holding chess in his hand and was about to fall, hung the chess pieces in his hand but did not fall, "Your Majesty has an overreputation, and you are just a martial artist in the border land, so you don't deserve Your Majesty's praise, as for the preparation of this Han clan, please also ask Your Majesty to check the family tree, so as not to say something cool outside in the future."

Liu Hong waved his hand, shook his head and smiled, "There is no need to be like this, I say that you are, you are." Now there are many clan branches, don't say that Xuande is in Zhuo County, a place where the clan gathers, even if it is scattered, as long as you have the ability, it is not difficult to recognize your ancestors and return to your ancestors."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Liu Bei was about to get up and salute.

Liu Hong's words have saved Liu Bei a lot of trouble, you must know that although he has always claimed to be a member of the Han family, but in the end he was born in a poor family, and some people may not recognize the identity of this Han family, as he becomes more and more popular

The higher, the more so.

Now that Liu Hong has spoken, those people will naturally have no reason to question it in the future.

"It's just a small thing." Hundreds of steps later, Liu Hong lifted the piece in his hand and fell gently, and the chessboard had already become a lore game.

Among them, of course, Liu Bei deliberately gave in, but Liu Hong is indeed talented, and he has only been in contact with chess for a short time, and he is already a good player.

Liu Hong put the chess pieces into the chess box, and smiled at Liu Bei: "Xuande, whether it is the ministers of the court or the eunuchs, they are all like the chess pieces on this chessboard, and I am the chess player outside this chessboard. It doesn't matter if it's a look, or if it's a taxi. If I want them to die, they will die."

Liu Bei nodded, "The world is Your Majesty's world, the king wants his ministers to die, and the ministers have to die, ancient common sense."

"But you're different. You are my Liu family." Liu Hong smiled and said, "If the world can be divided into three classes. I am at the top, and below me are you Han clan relatives, and below me are those with foreign surnames. No matter what kind of famous minister or famous general he is, if he is not from my Liu clan, he is not a credible person."

"Xuande, now that you are a disciple of my Han family, you must also contribute more to my Han family."

He looked at Liu Bei with a smile, "So whatever reward you want, whether you want an official position or wealth, I will promise it to you."

Liu Bei shook his head and said bluntly: "Your Majesty Xie appreciates it, but his qualifications are still shallow, so he doesn't want an official position or wealth. I just want fame."

Liu Hong laughed, "Good! Then I will obey you. I am also waiting for the day when you, the young tiger of the Liu family, will be used by me."

…………

At sunset, a eunuch took Liu Bei on the way out of the palace.

He turned his head to look back, and the road was long, with no end in sight.

The red glow of the setting sun stained the entire palace in a blood-red color.

Liu Bei sighed.

So that the people of the world dare not speak and dare to be angry, and the heart of the only husband is becoming more and more arrogant.