1067, Northern Song Dynasty, Bianliang, Baoci Palace

☆☆☆

One day a few days later, Chris finished his morning archery practice and was taking a break in the West Pavilion, looking at "A Hundred Officials' Travels", Liang Weijian came to report, saying that the official family had sent someone to summon Lan Yuanxiao. Pen Fun Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 Info Chris wondered and asked, "Who's coming?"

Liang Wei replied simply: "It's Zhang Xianju, the female history of the Shanggong Bureau." ”

Chris said happily: "It's her here, please!" When sending the incense, Chris was deeply impressed by Zhang Ruixuan, she was one year older than Xing Yun, seventeen this year, although her appearance is not as beautiful as Xing Yun, but she is also a beauty, with a good appearance and a graceful figure, especially the taste of dressing up is very elegant.

"Boom. ”

"The slave has seen Lord Lan. ”

"Hurry up. If you call me Lord Lan, don't you know who you're calling when both of my brothers are present?"

"It's a misthought thing. Zhang Rui smiled and bowed slightly.

"I'm older than you, so you can call me Brother Yuanxiao. Seeing that Zhang Ruixuan frowned slightly, she said again, "It's not good?

The corners of Liang Weijian's mouth on the side twitched, and the master of the heart pretended to be a man and really entered the play, and he was so "flamboyant" and flirted with the palace maid (1).

Zhang Rui smiled skillfully, made a deep blessing, and said softly: "Lord Xiaolan." ”

When Liang Weijian heard this answer, it was really decent, and he secretly praised the female official's quick wit.

"By the way, why do you say that the official family sent you?"

"Because the slave is good at flying white (2), and has been promoted to the palm of the word, from today the Lord of the Shanggong Order (3) let me serve in front of the palace and take charge of the documents. ”

Liang Weijian was speechless, "Zhangyan" was responsible for the propaganda and initiation, and he was already the eighth grade, the same level as himself, and one level older than "Little Blue Adult". Although there is a difference between a eunuch and a palace official, the official rank is not the same, but how good is this woman, how long has it been since she entered the palace to be promoted to the eighth grade, even if she is shrewd and capable, no one is behind to help, it is impossible to have such a status, I don't know what background she has?

"I see, then I don't know what the official family is looking for me?"

"Your Majesty said that the stakes are very high, and he wants to meet you face to face. ”

"What's at stake?" Chris was surprised in his heart, I am such a small person, it is basically impossible for the emperor to discuss something important with him.

"Although I don't know what's going on, I heard Your Majesty praise you for asking for incense for the Queen Mother and doing things well. It must be that the official family thinks that Lord Xiaolan can do something that others can't do. ”

"'Master Zhangyan' led the way for the villain, I really don't dare to be it, Xiaolan is here to thank you. Lan Yuanxiao gave a cherished smile.

The corners of Zhang Ruixuan's mouth seemed to have a weak smile, and said, "Lord Xiaolan, don't play tricks on the ignorant little girl. ”

Maybe it's Chris's witty words, and her smile seems to be less reserved and more angry than just now.

The two entered the Funing Hall one after the other, and when they arrived at the Qinming Palace, Zhang Ruixuan retreated.

A door in the side hall was gently pushed open a crack, looking at the back of the person who entered the hall alone, Li Xian grinned, he imagined in his mind that Lan Yuanxiao was lying on the ground, a dignified face distorted and ugly due to pain, or when he was defenseless, someone wiped his neck from behind, and blood spurted out...... Either way, it was enough to make Li Xian gloat.

The first time Chris came to the Qinming Palace, her eyes drifted, and she was the only one left in the palace with the emperor. The Emperor's invariant critique of the recitals was a novelty for Chris.

It's a study that's surprisingly simple. On a desk made of thick wooden boards, there is no bright yellow tablecloth, no decorative ornaments, only the four treasures of the study, except for the azure glazed string pattern tea bottle on the table, you can't tell that this is the emperor's desk of the Ninety-Five. Behind the desk is a large bookshelf, all of which are filled with books, and the four calligraphy and paintings on the left side of the bookshelf are all from the handwriting of the previous emperor Renzong. There is no carpet on the floor of the study, and the blue bricks and tiles are cold. The dark brown gauze tents hanging from the beams and pillars and touching the ceiling were the same color as all the furniture ornaments in the room, deep and solemn, but a little gloomy. Chris said in his heart that this interior decoration, the emperor's son is exactly the same as his wife's taste.

In the last few days, the sun has been shining, the air is dry, and the cicadas are singing from the trees in the courtyard, which is not too loud, but it is already a precursor to the height of summer. Except for the occasional chirping of cicadas, the house is silent. Chris looked up and saw that the emperor was concentrating, waving the red pen and imperial approval, as if immersed in his own world.

Now she observed it more unscrupulously, Zhao Ji was wearing a dragon-patterned moonlight regular dress, black gauze and soft feet, his cheeks were slender and long, but his jaw was round, only the child-like small red lips were a little incongruous with the dragon, and a thin layer of stubble was on his chin.

As the emperor put the pen on the pen mountain, he slowly raised his head, and his tone was slightly subdued by Long Wei: "Lan Yuanxiao." ”

"Wechen is here. ”

Feeling that the emperor was staring at him for a long time, Chris didn't dare to relax, and bowed his head and waited for the emperor to speak.

Zhao Ji picked up one from the dense piece on the table, "You take it and take a look." ”

She didn't answer, but took a few steps forward to pick it up.

She opened the piece, and was greeted by a faint scent of ink.

Chris sighed with a good hand in front of him, this person's pen is old and beautiful, elegant and smart. Chris has also practiced calligraphy since childhood, and her calligraphy teacher once said that "the right army is like a dragon, and the North Sea is like an elephant", but at this moment she feels that this person's words seem to carry the wind and waves blowing from the sea, which is pleasing to the eye.

His eyes swept over the text. The Chinese in North America still practice traditional Chinese characters, and Chris can understand them, but the ancient Chinese of "Zhihu Zhiye" are more obscure when put together, but she can guess the general meaning.

Her heart sank: What is the emperor going to do, don't you really want to know my opinion?

Zhao Ji saw that Lan Yuanxiao was speechless and asked, "What?"

Chris always felt that something was wrong and couldn't explain clearly, so now he chose to pretend to be confused and replied: "Weichen can't recognize all the words on it." ”

I didn't expect Lan Yuanxiao to be a straw bag who couldn't read big characters! Zhao Wei frowned slightly and said, "Forget it, look at the middle paragraph, 'Jingshi, the foundation of Zhuxia.'" Nowadays, the gentry do not encourage fame and snobbery, the utensils and clothes are poor in luxury, the carriage and horse palace are too rail, and the adulterous voice is chaotic and overflowing, and in the alleys, fathers and sons and brothers dare not follow them, which is the capital of the king and the customs are so far?' It means that there are no famous people in Gyeonggi, there are many people who chase fame and fortune, luxury and enjoyment transcend the ancestral system, the streets and alleys are full of gossip, and the voice of treachery is misleading, the royal capital should be the foundation of a country, but the customs are corrupted to this point, how can the people follow. ”

Hearing Zhao Ji explain to himself in the vernacular, Chris had to reply, "I probably understood, but I didn't seem to understand." ”

Zhao Ji cursed in his heart: It's really stupid to die.

"At the beginning of my reign, I issued an edict to let the hundred officials talk about the shortcomings of the court, and I also hope to open up the way of speech. The person who wrote this memo was the commander of Qushui County, Wenzhou, and he was known as a famous scholar and a high rank. He said that the customs in the capital were corrupt, and the treacherous people were misleading, and I wanted to know if this was really the case. ”

Although Zhao Ji praised the Qushui County Order on the surface, he was quite disgusted in his heart, and he was escorted down by him for a long time without approval. A small county magistrate came to talk to me about how to govern the country. Now that the treasury is empty, and the imperial court is in dire need of money, he told me that if it were not for the sale of monks, where would the money come from for the state funeral?

As long as he encounters political affairs, Zhao Ji's mind will keep turning.

The ministers who have recently written to me are all in the same tone, asking me to "distinguish between loyalty and treachery, and guard against villains". Wang Guangyuan said that my father's emperor was in charge of the autocratic power, and I must establish the authority of the Son of Heaven after I ascended the throne, but these old ministers treated me like a child one by one, and I saw that they couldn't distinguish between loyalty and treachery, good and evil.

Zhao Ji cleared his throat and said, "Do you understand now?"

Chris had an expression on his face, as if to say, "What does this have to do with me?"

"You can keep this piece, I will send you out of the palace. Today, you first go to the bustling street market, and then go to the suburbs of the capital to help me find out the people's opinions, probe the public opinion, and see if the atmosphere in the capital is corrupt, and whether what is said in the song is true. ”

Chris said softly: "Weichen still has an errand on the Queen Mother's side, this is ......"

"On the queen mother's side, I will send someone to spread the word. Before Chris could say something, Zhao Ji said, "A few days ago, the matter of asking for incense was done well, and I saw that you were clever and let you do your best for the court, and the queen mother would be happy." ”

When it came to this, Chris had no choice but to respond: "Wechen understands." ”

"Very well, I will send another person with you. He turned his head to look at the screen in the corner of the room and said, "Tang Ping came out to see Lan Yuanxiao." ”

After Zhao Ji finished speaking, a young man walked out from behind the screen, dressed in a black eunuch uniform with no grade, about twenty years old, very thin, not as tall as Chris, and his expression was gloomy.

Chris's first impression was that Tang Ping was a bit like some kind of creature crawling out of a black hole underground. Especially behind his flattened head, there was a thick, black bun that grew more than necessary. I don't know if it was oiled or something, it was slippery, like his tail.

After Tang met in parallel, he didn't say a word.

"You go out this time to listen to Lan Yuanxiao's dispatch, the two of you should leave immediately. Zhao Ji stood up with his back and said, "Go ahead." ”

Of course, His Royal Highness's people didn't know that the emperor's silent back hid the murderous intent in his heart.

The errand given by the emperor, who can say a word. Originally, it was a very happy thing to be ordered to leave the palace, but he still had to bring a tail, showing that he was sending someone to keep an eye on him, and this interest was suddenly cut in half. Chris reluctantly retreated.

She didn't look back to lead the way in front, and Tang Ping followed, pacing through the long corridor. In the dark corner of Funing Palace, Shi Quanbin's eyes flashed, and he said in a deep voice: "Go, follow them!"

As his words fell, a few gray shadows flashed away.

Shi Quanbin bared his teeth and smiled. But if you look closely, there is not the slightest smile in his eyes, and the light from the depths of his pupils is always cold.

☆☆☆

Chris and Tang Ping were coming out of the bustling Royal Street, wanting to go out of the city. Suddenly, a group of noisy young men beat their horses past, and the fresh clothes and angry horses and brocade clothes pierced people's eyes, and the pedestrians on the street avoided them one after another. When they passed, the chaotic crowd pointed and discussed, some people couldn't help but loudly denounce the royal street for not allowing cars and horses to pass, and others stopped and persuaded the young man who was the current queen's own brother, and everyone shook their heads and dispersed. Chris knew in his heart that this was the gentleman in Beijing.

Although he received the will to check the people's feelings, Chris did not know the emperor's thoughts, as soon as he went out, he encountered someone who ignored the state regulations and swaggered on the royal street, this person is still the emperor's brother-in-law, how to report the results of the investigation? Chris sighed, left the crowd, and continued to walk.

After walking a short distance, you will see a three-story octagonal building facing due south. The gray tile-covered summit of the mountain, with gentle curves and towering wing angles, is like a graceful fairy, fluttering and ready to fly. In the middle of the restaurant hangs the plaque of "Yuxian Building".

Yuxian Building, ranked among the most prestigious hotels in Bianliang City, is located in the south of Quyuan Street outside the Vermilion Bird Gate. Although there is no famous wine brewed by the top restaurants of Fanlou and Panlou, it is blessed because it is located on the bank of the Bianhe River that passes through the city. There is a pavilion in front, there is a viewing platform in the back, although the area on the platform is not large, but the layout is extremely elegant and distant. In the summer, the thorny fence near the river is covered with vines that haunt the hedge, and the green leaves are covered with pink morning glories. Standing on the high platform dotted with green leaves and flowers, you can overlook the rippling green waves on the river, which not only takes away the scorching heat, but also has a special taste. It is not far from Taixue and Guozijian, and students and celebrities love the elegance of this building, and naturally linger.

At this moment, it is the time of lunch, and the song platform in the building is warm, and the aroma of wine is overflowing.

In the lobby, the guys sang the names of the dishes in a low voice, and the little brother of the dishes was as agile as a shuttle, walking through the cloth banquet.

Chris saw that on the horse tether stone in front of the gate of the Immortal Tower, he was tethering the mounts of the group of gentlemen just now. I can't hide if I want to, if I don't go with me to see the behavior of these wealthy sons, it can be regarded as investigating the atmosphere of the royal city for the emperor, after all, there is still a fart behind him, so he can fool and give an explanation to the official family.

Just as she was hesitating, Tang Ping spoke on the side, "It's just the meal, why don't we go in too." ”

Chris thought to himself was right, it's not good to do things hungry, so he simply nodded.

As soon as he entered, Chris found a long oval lantern burning on the porch, and he couldn't help but wonder what kind of lamp to light in the daytime. If the two of you are willing to wait, someone on the second floor is about to run out of food, and they can clean it up immediately. ”

Chris felt that it was okay, and chatted with Xiao Er while going upstairs, and said casually: "Your business is too good, right?"

Xiao Er saw that she was a handsome and high-grade eunuch, so he hurriedly said: "CUHK people don't know, today's private rooms are fully booked, and many guests have to move to the hall for dinner. Somehow, the big names in the capital got together, and they all chose our Yuxian Tower. ”

"Big shots?"

"It's the current Uncle Xiangguo who just entered. Xiao Er lowered his voice and looked upstairs, looking nervous, as if he was facing a great enemy.

Chris suddenly remembered that he had read a detailed entry on this relative in Tiange's "Hundred Officials' Guide", Xiang Zonghui, the word was sent and he was seventeen years old. Zong Hui studied in the year of the country's son-in-law, and he was a young talent. To withstand this beloved son, he is very favored, and then he will be arrogant under the favor. This text is followed by a vermilion annotation in small print, which impresses Chris particularly deeply: If you are mad, you are afraid that the day of his full fortune and blame is not far away, and the day of his death is not far away.

Thinking of this, Chris was really born rich and arrogant. I heard that Yuge said that he was full of evil, and if he continued, he was not far from the day of destruction. It's just that he has done some evil things but he hasn't written a clear explanation, and it seems that he will have to make the relevant information more comprehensive in the future.

The other table is Zeng Gongliang and Zhang Fangping. Seeing Xiao Er's proud face, he said, "Uncle Cao Xiaoguo is in the private room, inviting friends who have come to Beijing for a banquet, I don't know who is invited? I heard that even Sima Guang and Fan Zhen and other adults are going to come to the banquet. ”

When Chris heard that Brother Cao was there.

"You said that the people who came to the Drunken Immortal Tower today are not all the most powerful people in the court. Listening to Xiao Er, he said again, "Uncle Cao Xiaoguo would be good if he could come to our Yuxian Tower often." ”

Chris heard that Xiao Er's attitude towards the two uncles was so obvious, and said in her heart that Brother Cao really won the hearts of the people and had popular popularity, she couldn't help but nod and smiled: "He is greedy, and he often goes to Fanlou, and he loves that Meishou wine." ”

"No, Meishou is famous. But you haven't tasted our white bottle wine or lamb wine, and that's the best!"

As soon as Chris walked up to the second floor, it happened that the first private door was pushed open, and a gentle male voice sounded in his ears, "Brother Yuan Xiaoxian actually said bad things about his brother behind his back, but it was not a gentleman's doing." ”

Cao Kai raised his head, opened the beaded curtain in the private room, and walked out. Today, he is dressed in a lilac robe, with a white jade crown on his head, showing his slender posture.

Chris smiled, bowed, sniffed and said, "I'm not a gentleman!"

Cao Kai was amused by her pretending to be honest, and then said, "Why do you have to leave the palace today?"

Chris immediately said: "I came out to run errands, and I happened to feel hungry, so I entered this Yuxian Building." It's just that I didn't expect Brother Cao to also feast here. ”

Xiao Er saw that Uncle Xiao Guo and this person actually called him a brother, his eyes were about to pop out, and he blamed himself for being negligent just now.

Cao Kai asked Xiao Er: "The hall should be full, right?"

Xiao Er nodded.

Cao Kai said: "Since we met, let's eat together." ”

Chris waved his hand and said, "No, I'm on an errand and can't drink with you." ”

Cao Kai turned his head to look at the person behind Chris and said, "It's okay, you just have to wait, let's all come together." ”

Tang Ping noticed Cao Kai's gaze, and couldn't help but change his complexion, he didn't expect that Lan Yuanxiao would be so close to the current Sword Immortal Uncle at all.

Without waiting for Chris to say anything more, Cao Kai pulled her to the private room, and said as he walked: "I will introduce someone to you today, if you have an errand and leave for a while." ”

This private room is spacious and bright, there is a huge pineapple wood round table in the center, dozens of exquisite cold dishes have been placed on the table, and there are several plain white bottles of three taels on the table, which is the "silver bottle wine" of Yuxian Building.

There was a porch on the side wall facing the river, which led directly to the outdoor viewing platform, and Cao Kai took the lead in walking over.

There is a pergola with a flower stand on the stage, which is equipped with a low-legged couch, there is a small table on it, a tea set on the table, a three-legged and two-eared next to it, the shape is like a wind stove of the ancient ding, the slight sound of cooking water, accompanied by a few wisps of water mist smoke rising, but I saw a person sitting cross-legged on the couch.

When Chris walked up to Cao Kai, he gave himself a light smile when he turned his head sideways, and then he said, "I'll introduce you to him." ”

Chris then turned his head to look at the man who was making tea, and the other party put down the ladle in his hand, got up and walked off the bamboo couch, and took two steps forward. Chris couldn't help but be stunned when he saw this person standing solemnly, with his imagery soaring, like a light pouring down from the sky.

"Immortals?"