Tang riddles

On May 21th of the [-]st year of Kaiyuan, Daming Palace in Chang'an.

Just after the morning court, the courtiers were slowly leaving the palace along the palace road, or went to the official office to work, or gathered in twos and threes to talk about the court council just now.Officially, Yang Bi, who served as the censor from the Qipinxia Palace, stepped out of the Xuanzheng Palace door together with the officials, looking ordinary and low-key as always.He didn't say hello to anyone, but hurried to the Yuehua Gate, the west gate of Xuanzheng Hall, looking around halfway to make sure that no one noticed him.Yuehuamen is not his usual place to go after court. This gate directly leads to the official office of Zhongshu Province, and it is not the place where he, a little censor, should go.

It's just that today is unusual, because there is a person waiting for him in the hidden place under the porch outside the Yuehua Gate.This person is Li Jinyue, the princess of the Jin Kingdom who recently returned to the capital in secret.Four years ago, Yang Bi was brought under Shen Sui's command, and since then he has become a hidden stake arranged by the Princess of Jin in Yushitai.In the past four years, his official career has not been smooth, and he has never attracted attention.But anyway, he officially entered the ranks of officials from a small official.Although the official rank of the servant censor from the palace under the seventh rank is humble, his power is quite large.As long as the demeanor, words and deeds of the officials in the palace are inappropriate, the imperial servant in the palace can impeach them on the spot.This official position is a position that offends others, so it is not suspected of forming a party for personal gain, and it is difficult to arouse suspicion from others.

He hurried to the appointed place, and finally confirmed that no one was following and eavesdropping, and then he was relieved.Right now, Princess Jin has been waiting here for a long time.He stepped forward and saluted, and Li Jinyue gave him a little support to express that there is no need to hold the ceremony.The two greeted each other after four years of acquaintance.

"How, today's saint's call, do you have any special intentions?"

"I'm afraid it is. The sage announced today that King Mingshou presided over the appointment of the fifteen interview envoys, and ordered the princess to assist you in the appointment of the governors and supervisors of the military commanders in various places."

The Fifteen Interview Envoys, the full name of the National Fifteen Interview Disposition Envoys, is a new official system agreed by the Saint and the Ministry of Education at the beginning of this year.There are fifteen Dao in the world, namely, Jingji (Lixijing City), Duji (Lidongdu), Guannei (mostly led by Jingguan), Henan (Lichenliu County), Hedong (Lihedong County), Hebei (Liwei County) ), Longyou (Li Xiping County), Shannan East (Li Xiangyang County), Shannan West (Li Hanzhong County), Jiannan (Li Shu County), Huainan (Li Guangling County), Jiangnan East (Li Wu County), Jiangnan West (Lizhang County), Qianzhong (Liqianzhong County), and Lingnan (Linanhai County) set up envoys to take charge of inspecting prisons and supervising state and county officials.

Such an important official system was handed over to a young prince who had just turned 16, and anyone could see the partiality.And at such an extraordinary moment, suddenly announcing that Li Jinyue would be allowed to participate in the military supervision system was obviously intended to tie her to King Shou.However, this move is very clever, because although Li Jinyue and King Shou are tied together on the surface, in fact, when it comes to the control of the world's soldiers and horses, King Zhong is still higher than King Shou. dominant.

It's still really a check and balance.

"I can save it."

"Besides, princess, you have to be careful of the Hongnong Yang family." Yang Bi's expression was a little gloomy.

"Oh?" Li Jinyue raised her eyebrows.

"Recently, the Hongnong Yang family has gotten very close to the King of Shou, especially Yang Xuangui, the uncle of Yang Yuhuan, who has won the favor of the King of Shou. Recently, this person recommended his niece Yang Yuhuan to the King of Shou. After hearing this, the King of Shou was very yearning. I want to meet you last time. The sage arranged for you to meet King Shou in the harem today, and I am afraid he will make this request."

Li Jinyue frowned and did not speak.

"Princess, your real position is actually that you don't rely on either side. You want to fight for your foothold between the two kings. Right now, the saint intends to push you to King Shou. You must not resist. You have to be hypocritical, and you have to reach an agreement with the loyal king in private. Dealing with the two kings, making both sides feel that you are on their side, is the only way for you to earn a place. Therefore, today, face the saint, you must You must control your emotions. Shou Wang is young and energetic, and he is favored. His words may make you unhappy, so you must be patient. Even if he really asks you for Yang Yuhuan, you have to accept it. You just need to behave If you resist a little, you will be suspected by the sage, and you will suspect that you are not on the side of King Shou, and there may be changes in the good situation that you have finally waited for." Yang Bi carefully advised.He knew Li Jinyue's temper, and he also understood Shou Wang's temper, so he was worried.

"I understand, thank you Junfu (Yang Bi) for reminding me." Li Jinyue nodded solemnly.

Yang Bi saluted again, then quickly took his leave and left.After his figure completely disappeared, Li Jinyue walked out of Yuehua Gate and headed for Yanying Hall.That was the place where the sage received her and King Shou this time, saying that a family banquet was held to clean up Li Jinyue.

She walked alone to the entrance of Yanying Hall, and saw Gao Lishi, the director of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, looking around anxiously.I haven't seen Gao Neishi for many years, but the white hair on the temples has grown a lot, and he is quite old.Li Jinyue looked at it, feeling a little sad.

Gao Lishi didn't know what was going on in her heart, seeing her coming, he rushed up to greet her, saying:

"Your Excellency, you are finally back, please hurry up, the saint is already waiting."

"Excuse me, senior officer." Li Jinyue gave him a half salute.In fact, she had met Gao Lishi before, because she came early, when the saint was about to go to court, Gao Lishi asked her to rest in the side hall, and then she went out by herself under the pretext of stretching her muscles and bones, but Gao Lishi couldn't find her. She is therefore impatient.

Gao Lishi hurriedly returned the salute, and took her to the hall.

When Li Jinyue entered the palace, the sage and the king of longevity had already sat behind the table and had a banquet for a long time.Li Jinyue saluted the saint first, and then the King of Shou, before taking her seat.King Shou is at the top, and she is at the bottom.

The sage after the dragon case, whom he hadn't seen for a few years, is actually showing his old age.It's just that the spirit is still hale and hearty, and the spirit is still majestic.Only there was a gloomy cloud hanging over his brows, perhaps because he was disturbed by Concubine Wu Hui's illness in recent days.

After exchanging pleasantries, the conversation at the banquet entered the topic.This time the family banquet was really simple. Although the food was plentiful, there was no singing and dancing to accompany it, and there were quite a few maids and servants around.The sage quickly asked Li Jinyue about the situation in Youzhou, and then briefly asked about Li Jinyue's life in Youzhou in recent years.Then said:

"Jin State, I know that you have worked hard in the frontier these years. When you come back this time, don't rush back and stay in Chang'an for a while. Concubine Hui is not in good health, and I am afraid it will not be long. If she is unfortunately inspired by heaven After that, I have to trouble your elder sister to take care of the younger brother's many complicated and trivial matters..." As he spoke, his eyes turned red.

His eyes turned red, King Shou couldn't bear it, and burst into tears.This young man who has just turned 16 years old still has a childish look on his body, and there is always an unreasonable weakness in his handsome eyebrows.His facial features are very similar to his biological mother, but his demeanor is quite different from his biological mother's strength.Crying, like a wronged child.

Li Jinyue was speechless for a moment, not knowing how to answer.If Concubine Wu Hui really went, it would not be her turn to intervene in the funeral from now on, the palace has its own set of procedures.What's more, even if she is asked to take care of it herself, Concubine Wu Hui has nothing to do with her. Li Jinyue's mother was the first empress, and Concubine Wu Hui was never a queen, nor was she ever the mistress of Li Jinyue. It stands to reason that Li Jinyue has no position and identity to preside over her funeral. .The eldest sister takes care of the younger brother, how can she answer the conversation.

In the end, Li Jinyue could only say: "Don't worry about it."

"Father..." King Shou wiped his tears, because it was a family banquet and there were no outsiders, so his address to the saint seemed very homely, "Seeing that my mother's health is getting worse, my son is anxious, But there is nothing I can do. The only thing I can think of is that my son is not yet married, and I hope to find a virtuous wife when my mother is seriously ill. Firstly, my mother’s wish can be fulfilled; secondly, I can also bring joy to my mother.”

"It's rare for Mao'er to have such a filial piety, I'm so relieved. Mao'er has someone in mind? Or do you want your sister to find someone for you?" The saint has set Li Jinyue up at this moment, and will never let her stay out of it .

King Shou became shy when he heard the words, and after a moment of stuttering, he looked at Li Jinyue first, then at the saint and said:

"Mao heard that Lady Yuhuan, the niece of Hongnong Yang's Yang Xuangui, was about the same age as Mao, with outstanding singing and dancing, and a noble appearance. I couldn't help but yearn for her. I also heard that Lady Yuhuan has been following her elder sister all these years, and she has a more feminine demeanor. Therefore, today Taking the liberty, I would like to beg my eldest sister to set up a thread, so that Mao Ke can see the beauty of this beautiful woman."

The sage laughed loudly when he heard the words, nodded to Shou Wang, and said, "Mao'er has grown up too."

King Shou became more and more embarrassed.

The sage looked at Li Jinyue, and said, "Jin Kingdom, what do you think?"

King Shou also looked at Li Jinyue expectantly.

Li Jinyue's heart sank, secretly thinking that it was true as Yang Bi said, this kid was completely bewitched by Yang Xuangui.Yang Xuangui, he really shouldn't have spared his life in the first place, and sent him to Hongnong Yang's mansion, which instead gave him a chance to get in touch with the royal family and nobles.This fellow has always been impure in his mind, ambitious, and always wants to climb up. How could he easily let go of such an excellent available resource as his niece?Sure enough, after holding it back for four or five years, I finally couldn't hold it back anymore.

Thinking of this, she sighed again.In fact, she was largely to blame for this matter. Originally, she was also impure in her mind, thinking of using Yang Yuhuan, a girl, to dedicate to the saint and seek benefits for herself.But now that things have changed, she no longer has such thoughts, but the matter happened to come to her by herself.This can be regarded as asking for trouble, repaying repayment.

Seeing that she hadn't answered for a while, Li Mao couldn't help feeling uneasy, and asked:

"What's the problem with elder sister? If Miss Yuhuan is unwilling or has a marriage partner, Mao will not force it."

Li Jinyue gritted her teeth and clenched her fists, turning and turning the promised words in her heart, but found it difficult to speak.King Shou's expression quickly weakened, and the saint's expression also looked strange.Li Jinyue pinched herself severely, forcing herself to speak:

"Regarding this matter, Jinyue is not willing to make things difficult for others. It is true that Lady Yuhuan has never been married. Let me go back and ask her. If she is willing, we will meet again."

Li Mao's expression suddenly changed from cloudy to clear, and he said happily: "So, thank you, Eldest Sister."

At the subsequent banquet, the sage showed unprecedented "love" to Li Jinyue, and King Shou also showed unprecedented friendship and humility to her.The saint and Li Jinyue had a lot of conversations, but no matter how many topics they talked about, they couldn't avoid the phrase "Eldest Sister Mo Ruomu".He tirelessly hinted to Li Jinyue that once Concubine Wu Hui passed away, then Li Jinyue, as the eldest sister, would take on the responsibility of taking care of the younger brother.

After the banquet, Li Jinyue accompanied the sage and King Shou to see Concubine Wu Hui who was lying ill on the couch. This once glamorous concubine in the harem was so thin that she was lying on the bed weak and confused, which really scared Li Jinyue. jumped.According to the imperial physician, it was excessive worry.However, there are rumors in the palace that since the crown prince, King Guang, and King E were put to death by a party, Concubine Wu Hui has hardly had a peaceful night's sleep, and she is tortured by nightmares every night, suspicious of ghosts, thinking that they are coming back to claim her life.In short, it is quite embarrassing.

After coming out of the palace, Li Jinyue felt unprecedentedly tired. She went straight back to the mansion in a chariot, covering her forehead and pinching her throbbing temples all the way.

She didn't relax until she returned to the mansion.When the manager came to report, Shen Sui's family was already waiting in the side hall, Li Jinyue showed a smile on her face, and rushed over immediately.

Entering the side hall, the first thing she noticed was not Shen Sui, Zhang Ruohan, nor Xiao Huang'er, but a young man sitting on a plinth with a cane.She froze for a moment, then exclaimed:

"Qin slave?! Your legs! Are you ready?"

The author has something to say: the next chapter should be on Friday.

Just to clarify, as mentioned before, Xuanzong's sons changed their names twice.Li Si X → the word of Li + three points of water → the word next to the word of Li + jade.I used the characters of three points of water before, but in the last volume, the names of all the princes have changed to the characters next to the characters of Li + Yu.