Chapter VI: Succession

The next day is the Qixi Festival, the streets of Jinyang (now Taiyuan, Shanxi) city are full of stalls, all kinds of dazzling needlework, jewelry, toys, handkerchiefs, fans and other small goods, as well as shoes, hats, clothes, provoke girls, women to shop happily. Xue Yumei, Lan Er, Hongxia and a few little girls walked in front of them holding hands, Li Cunmiao and a few servants followed closely behind, the girls picked up the things, and Li Cunmiao asked the servants to go up and pay. This arouses the girls' desire to buy more and more, and they don't have to worry about the problem of more money and less money, just choose what they like. In a short time, a few servants took a large number of small bags.

Xue Yumei bought two men's headscarves, one for Li Cunqiao to tie in a bun, and the other said that she bought it for her father. Although the headscarf is not expensive, Li Cunmiao is still beautiful in his heart. Lan Er quietly picked out a pair of men's shoes, and without waiting for the servant to pay, she paid the money first, hid the shoes in her sleeve, and put them in the package that the servant was carrying, for fear of being seen. Hongxia smiled: "Lan'er, who bought the shoes for?" Lan Er blushed and said, "I bought it for myself." Hongxia pointed her finger at Lan'er and teased: "You don't know to me, you obviously bought men's shoes." Lan Er said angrily: "It's what I wore myself, what kind of man is that." Yumei smiled and relieved the siege: "Yes, yes, Lan'er bought it for herself." As he spoke, he squeezed his eyes at Hongxia. Lan Er saw that the two were making fun of herself, so she ran away, Yumei and Hongxia looked at each other and smiled, both of them knew that Lan Er was in love with Guo Congqian. Yumei took Hongxia's hand and asked, "Why didn't my sister buy some gifts for Brother Jing?" Hongxia said: "It's angry when I say it, that wood, I still don't understand my mind, and I only know how to practice and sing and fool around with my brothers and sisters every day." He refused to let him come to accompany me today, saying that shopping was a girl's business, and he was ashamed. People don't care about the king of Jin, what does he care about. When Yumei heard Hongxia say this, she couldn't help but look back at Li Cunmiao behind her, Li Cunmiao was looking at Yumei and waved at her, Yumei smiled sweetly, and Li Cunmiao remembered the poem "Looking back and smiling".

When he was stunned, he heard a chaotic noise in front of him, and Li Cunqiao saw that it was a few ruffians flirting around a few girls, and those girls seemed to be Lan'er and the little girls. Li Cunmiao hurriedly stepped forward, Xue Yumei took Li Cunmiao's hand and said, "Lan'er, they have touched the ruffian, you go and help them." Li Cunqiao patted Xue Yumei's hand and nodded. Quickly walked to the crowd, pushed aside a ruffian in front of him, stood beside Lan'er, and asked, "What's wrong?" Lan Er's eyes were red and she said, "These scoundrels said that we didn't buy anything after asking the price, and forced us to buy it, and our mouths were not clean." The leading ruffian shouted: "Who forced you, you broke my things, of course you want you to buy them, otherwise if they are broken, who will we sell them to?" A little girl said, "We don't buy it, you deliberately threw it on the ground and broke it, and it depends on us." The ruffian said fiercely: "Good girl, believe it or not, Lao Tzu smashed your mouth!" Li Cunqiao sneered: "You give it a try." The ruffian stepped forward and wanted to make a move, but Li Cunqiao flew up and kicked it on his chest, and the ruffian took a few steps back and sat on the ground. Seeing this, the rest of the ruffians rushed up together, Li Cunmiao knocked down one with one punch, kicked one away, and then chopped down one with one palm, and the remaining one was grabbed by Li Cunmiao's neck and slapped several times, and the ruffian's face suddenly swollen. A few ruffians got up and wanted to fight with Li Cunmiao, but Li Cunmiao's servants came to the front and shouted: "Dogs, you don't have long eyes, this is the prince of Jin!" Dare to go wild here! After being beaten to the point that a few ruffians turned around and wanted to run, Li Cunqiao shouted: "Stop! Want to run like this? Apologies to the girls! The ruffians had no choice but to give Lan'er a few excuses: "Girl, forgive me, the little one has eyes and doesn't know Mount Tai, so I beg the girl to let the little one go." The onlookers said: "These few people who oppress the people on weekdays and force them to buy and sell, they should clean up well." When Li Cunmiao heard this, he said with a gloomy face: "From today on, you are not allowed to bully the market, force you to buy and sell, otherwise I will not only see you beaten once, but also cut off your head." The ruffians knelt on the ground and kowtowed: "The son of the world spares his life, and the little ones don't dare anymore." Li Cunmiao said in disgust: "Get out! The ruffians ran off the ground, and the crowd erupted in applause and applause.

Xue Yumei looked at Lang Jun's mighty and praised appearance by the people, her heart gushed with infinite happiness, and she took Li Cunmiao's hand with a smile, Lan'er and a few little girls came over to thank her, Li Cunmiao was humble, and when the little girls turned to leave, they sighed with emotion: "Brother-in-law is really mighty, he looks so handsome, alas, when can I find such a wishful Langjun." Xue Yumei smiled when she heard it: "Yo, the prince has now become a public lover, I have to be strict, so as not to be robbed by a girl from any family." Li Cunqiao laughed: "Then you just hold on to me tightly and don't let go." As he spoke, he clenched Xue Yumei's hand. Yumei's other hand gently slapped Li Cunmiao: "Stinky beauty, say you're fat, you're still panting!" Li Cunmiao felt that being with Yumei was indescribably happy.

That night, Li Cunmiao accompanied Xue Yumei to the Fen River, looking at the starry night sky, Xue Yumei said: "Tonight is the day when the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl meet at the bridge, you see that the stars in the sky are particularly bright tonight, and they are shining the way." Li Cunmiao lovingly hugged Yumei's waist, in the night, Yumei's cheeks became more and more white and delicate, Li Cunmiao gently kissed Yumei's little face, Yumei turned her face to face Li Cunmiao, and looked at Li Cunmiao with tender eyes. The four eyes met for a moment, the lips of the two were tightly pressed together, Li Cunqiao hugged Yumei's soft body, with warm lips, without having to have a rapid heartbeat and blood gushing, one hand hugged Yumei's waist, and the other hand caressed Yumei's plump chest. Yumei groaned a few times, Li Cunmiao couldn't help it, picked up Yumei, and boarded the carriage.

Li Cunmiao told Li Keyong that he was ready to marry Xue Yumei, but Li Keyong disagreed, he said: "Your concubine should be a famous family, this Xue girl is a drama, at most she can only be a side concubine." Li Cunmiao insisted: "I just want her to be the main room, and other famous families can't compare with her." Li Keyong persuaded: "You soak in the opera garden all day long, I have repeatedly advised you not to lose your mind with playthings, but you just don't listen." Now he still wants to marry a drama as his wife, wouldn't it humiliate the royal court. Li Cunmiao was a little annoyed: "Why did you insult the royal court, Yumei, she is ice clear and jade, beautiful as a flower, and I are in love, father, please fulfill the child!" Li Keyong said helplessly: "Since ancient times, there have been many unrighteous dramas, since you are bent on going your own way, you can do it yourself." ”

Li Cunmiao couldn't care about his father's displeasure at this time, so he asked the palace housekeeper to ask him to find a good matchmaker and prepare a dowry to propose marriage. Xue Ziang happily accepted the dowry and officially decided on this family affair, and on the same day, Li Cunmiao invited everyone in the opera garden, and several Taibao and generals who were good with Li Cunmiao were also invited to congratulate, which was lively for a day.

In the next few days, Li Cunqiao ran errands in the palace during the day and came to accompany Yumei at night, Xue Ziang thought that he had already made a marriage, so he acquiesced to the two of them living together at night.

In the past few days, Li Cunqiao asked the servants to buy a large amount of grain and send it to the courtyard where the troupe lived, and the grain occupied a utility room. Guo Congqian asked Li Cunqiao: "If you save so much food, enough to eat for a year, are you going to fight?" Li Cunqiao smiled: "The secret of heaven must not be revealed." Guo Congqian nodded and walked away, Li Cunqiao looked at Guo Congqian's back, and said to himself: "This kid is quite smart." ”

A month later, Li Keyong decided to start a war with Zhu Wen, and Li Cunqiao asked his father to fight, and Li Keyong said: "This time, I will fight in person for my father." You and I, father and son, must not fight at the same time, but must leave one person to guard it, and if the battle is defeated or the war is unfavorable, it is better to have a solid rear in case of accidents. Therefore, you must stay in Jinyang. When this battle is over, you will be married. Li Cunqiao was very happy to see that his father agreed to his family affairs. Three days later, Li Cunqiao sent his father on the expedition, and Li Keyong took Li Siyuan and several other Taibao and generals, a total of 200,000 troops, to Bianzhou.

In this campaign, Li Keyong contacted Yelu Abaoji, the leader of the Khitan and Liu Rengong, the envoy of Youzhou Jiedu, and agreed to lead their subordinates to attack Zhu Wen of Liang in three ways. Less than a month into the battle, Zhu Wen of Liang attacked the Jin army from the front, but the Youzhou military horse that was originally scheduled to attack Liang received Zhu Wen's heavy gift, and cooperated with Zhu Wen to attack the flank of the Jin army, and the Khitan was also bought by Zhu Wen, cutting off the back road of the Jin army. Li Keyong hurriedly retreated, the Liang army pursued closely, Li Ke was shot by a poisoned arrow, and when he returned to Jinyang, he was already seriously injured. Before he died, Li Keyong called Li Cunqiao to the bed, handed him the seal of the King of Jin, and handed him three arrows, and said: "The three biggest enemies in my life, one is Liu Rengong, the envoy of Youzhou Jiedu, I have repeatedly rescued this person, but he has repeatedly betrayed me, you have to destroy him for me." The second enemy is Yelu Abaoji, who is a brother to me, but betrayed me at this critical moment, and you have to avenge me. The third enemy, as you know, is Zhu Wen of Liang State, he has been fighting with me for twenty years, and you want to destroy Liang State and avenge me. And when these three hatreds have been avenged, thou shalt break these three arrows at my grave to comfort my soul. After saying that, he died of anger.

Li Cunmiao succeeded as the envoy of Hedong Jiedu and was crowned the king of Jin at the age of 24. The Jin Kingdom held a state funeral for Li Keyong, and the marriage between Li Cunqiao and Xue Yumei had to be postponed because of Li Keyong's death.

After the burial of Li Keyong, the Jin State held the coronation ceremony of Li Cunmiao's official succession as King of Jin. The adopted sons Li Cunhao and Li Cunshi, who were older than Li Cunmiao, were self-sufficient and dissatisfied, so they said that they were sick and could not come. The Thirteen Taibao are not ranked in order of age, if Li Cunqiao can only be ranked tenth at most by age, Li Keyong deliberately ranked his own son Li Cunqiao in the second position. During the period of the Five Dynasties, in order to consolidate their territory, the subordinates with military merits were used to recognize them as adopted sons, and there were many Jiedu envoys who passed on the throne to capable adopted sons. Therefore, after Li Keyong died, his adopted sons Li Cunhao and Li Cunshi naturally had different intentions. They secretly instigated Li Keyong's younger brother Li Kening to launch a coup d'état, intending to murder Li Cunxuan, usurp the throne, and take refuge in the Liang State.

After receiving the secret report, Li Cunqiao summoned his cronies Zhang Chengye, the Fourth Taibao Li Cunxin, the Sixth Taibao Li Siben, the Eighth Taibao Li Cunzhang, the Tenth Taibao Li Cunxian, and the subordinate general Guo Chongtao to discuss. Final decision: the first strike is the strongest. Li Cunmiao asked everyone to lead the warriors to ambush in the palace, and summoned Li Kening, Li Cunhao, and Li Cunshi. When the three entered the mansion, the samurai in ambush captured them and killed them on the spot. On the second day, his crimes of plotting rebellion, usurping the throne, and defecting to the enemy were announced, and the military and political circles saw Li Cunqing's thunderous methods, and the disgruntled people in the center of the DPRK were slightly restrained, and the domestic political situation was initially stabilized.

Xue Yumei hasn't seen her lover for more than ten days, although Li Cunmiao asked her personal servant Li Kang to send a letter to Yumei, but Yumei still can't stop worrying in her heart. On this day, Li Cunmiao waited for the affairs of the DPRK and China to be dealt with, and the theater was over, so he took a few personal guards to the residence of the theater troupe. found Yumei, pulled Yumei into the room, Xiao Biesheng was newly married, and the two were intimate for a while. Li Cunmiao hugged Yumei and spoke on the bed: "Lady, now that my father has just passed away, it is customary to keep filial piety for three years before I can marry, which is too long." I want you to move into the palace first, and as soon as the filial piety period is over, I will officially marry you, okay? Yumei stroked Li Cunmiao's chest: "This is not appropriate, you and I have not officially visited the church, I will move into the palace and let people gossip, how can I gain a foothold in the palace." Li Cunmiao thought for a while: "You are right, your name is not right, although others dare not say anything, it is inevitable that they will still wronged you." Otherwise, I will open up a courtyard on the edge of the palace, you and your father will move over, and then find a few maids and servants to wait, a few guards to protect, and a small door in the courtyard will lead directly to the palace, so that it will be convenient for us to meet. Yumei buried her head deep in Li Cunmiao's arms, and said softly: "It's all up to Lang Jun's arrangement, but you have to discuss it with your father." ”

The two lingered on the bed for a while before getting dressed. Li Cunmiao dragged Yumei to the next door to find Xue Ziang, and said: "Uncle Yue, now that I have inherited the throne, there are many things in the country, and it is inconvenient to go out of the mansion to see you." In addition, Yumei and I have already made a marriage, and as soon as the filial piety period is over, I will officially marry Yumei. Now is a time of war, you are the future prince and princess of the Jin Kingdom, and this security also needs to be considered, so I want to set aside a separate courtyard on the edge of the palace for you to live temporarily, and arrange maids and servants and guards to take care of and protect you. Xue Ziang said: "King Jin is right, it's just that we still have to act every day, so will it be inconvenient to go in and out." "No, the courtyard where you live has a separate door to enter and exit, and there is a small door that leads directly to my palace, which is very convenient." "That's very good."