Tang riddles

In the huge reception flower hall of the Princess Mansion, you can hear a needle falling, and there is only the ticking of more leaks.Li Jinyue sat on the front seat, looking coldly at Shen Sui who was kneeling below her head.She gritted her teeth fiercely, as if she was enduring something.After a long time, Li Jinyue exhaled slowly, and asked:

"Shen Sizhi, I'm a soldier, and I'm not good at fighting. Let me ask you, why do you assist me? You must know that among the many descendants of saints, I am the one who is least likely to ascend to the throne. If you plan these things for me, it is tantamount to committing a crime." For making trouble, if I don’t have the heart of phoenix flying to the nine heavens you said, you should be punished today!”

Shen Sui straightened up and said calmly:

"The princess doesn't want to fight, and neither does Sui. It's just that there are some things that Sui can't tell the princess right now. It's human nature for the princess to doubt Sui's motives. Sui can only say that assisting the princess is Sui's long-cherished wish. Whether the princess has the heart to fly to the nine heavens or not, only the princess knows, and Sui can't be sure. But for many years, the princess has always insisted on serving in the army and politics. I'm afraid it's not just because of the sage's pressure, you also have the heart to make contributions, so it should be so. "

"Hmph, guessing people's hearts, Xiaodao, is this the reason for you, Shen Bozhao, to risk your life?" Li Jinyue obviously didn't believe Shen Sui's explanation.

"Well, the princess said this is the small way, so Sui will talk about the great way. Princess, you were born in the first year of Chang'an. During the period from seven to 13 years old when you were young, you should have experienced three more important political struggles. Shenlong coup , Tang Long coup, and Princess Taiping's mansion extermination event. Shenlong coup, the Zhang brothers were put to death, and a generation of empress Zetian was forced to abdicate; Needless to say.

These three power struggles can actually be regarded as the whole process of the women's rights that have risen since Emperor Wu ascended the throne, and were suppressed bit by bit.Until the Taiping Princess Mansion extermination happened, it symbolized that women's rights were completely suppressed.Women are becoming more and more unfree and unwilling. Compared with the state before Emperor Wu ascended the throne, it is even worse.This may be the iron rule that once you raise your head, you will be suppressed more fiercely.

The princess has witnessed all this since she was a child. As a woman, what do you think in your heart?If you say that you are submissive and don't feel anything about all of this, no one will believe you if you say it.The reason why the sage suspects you is because he must have seen the ambition in you, the ambition he saw in these senior women.The reason why he used Concubine Wu Hui to suppress you is because in the hearts of saints, the threat of Concubine Wu Hui is not as dreadful as you.Concubine Wu Hui is just a woman in the harem, she has little experience, except for making waves in the harem, she can't make much trouble.The Wu family behind her has long since declined, and there is no worry of her relatives interfering in politics.And you, who have been fighting abroad for years, have a high prestige in the army, have established a government and established a company, and have your own staff and advisers. In the eyes of the sage, everything you do is extremely threatening, especially to his crown prince.

The sage knows that you are a piece of fine iron, which needs to be continuously calcined and hammered before it can be refined into steel.Therefore, for many years, he has continuously sent you outside, honed you, and beat you, in order to forge you into the sharpest sword in the empire.And more importantly, in the process of forging, he will erase your own ambitions and make you an unintentional sharp sword, so that you can be handed over to his heirs and envoys, and continue to consolidate the imperial power of our Great Tang royal family.

But princess, Sui never felt that your heart could be shattered.You aim higher than your brothers can.Sui Zeng has read one of your political comments, pointing out the current disadvantages and pointing to the crux of the matter.The land was merged, the land equalization system collapsed, the prefectural military system disappeared, and the military lords in feudal towns became more centralized, and every word hit the point.None of your brothers have this kind of insight, they are only ignorant in the illusion of this prosperous age, and they have long been dazzled by the prosperity of singing and dancing.Only you, who should hold the power of the world, can solve the crisis of my Tang Dynasty.

Sui, although he is only a sixth-rank judicial officer, he can't see the decline of my Tang Dynasty, or even the division and turmoil.Now that I have seen this prosperous and dangerous situation, I cannot sit idly by.Sui Wei did not dare to forget to worry about the country [Note 1], and also thought of a meager effort.Boldly come to seek advice from the princess, even if the princess does not accept the advice, Sui will die without regret. "

"Okay, what a 'lower position but never forgetting to worry about the country', what a 'should hold the power of the world, and solve my Tang's crisis. Jinyue appreciates it." Li Jinyue stepped down from the top seat, and approached to help Shen Sui up.

Shen Sui's words just now made her extremely admired. People with such insights and courage seem to see those soldiers of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States in a trance, who can dedicate themselves to their ideals. This kind of strength of character is rare in this world.She has already made up her mind that today this person casts herself under her sect, and no matter what his purpose is, she should also win over him, and she must not miss out on good talents in vain.

But she never thought that she wanted to help Shen Sui get up, but Shen Sui sat there motionless like a stone statue, without any intention of getting up.

"What do you mean sir?"

"Today, Sui came here. In addition to offering advice to the princess, there is also a private matter that I want to report to the princess."

"Hehehehe... Sir is really interesting. You don't need to tell Yu Jinyue about your private matters. I already know that you are open and supportive, so don't worry, sir." Li Jinyue stopped supporting her, put her hands behind her and said with a leisurely smile.

"Princess, Sui dare not hide this private matter. After listening to Sui's words, it will not be too late to decide whether to take Sui under the curtain."

Li Jinyue frowned.

"Sui, after the morning court on April [-]th, I will have an audience with the sage, and ask the sage to give me the marriage of the third wife of the Zhang family of Qujiang." Shen Sui's deep, hoarse but sonorous voice suddenly burst into flames when this matter was mentioned. She became dry and weak, so that when she said this, she was surprised that she was almost speechless.

Li Jinyue didn't seem to hear clearly, she bent down and approached Shen Sui, Shen Sui smelled the unique scent of incense on her body, she smelled like jade, fresh and thorough.

"Sir, what are you talking about?" she asked.

"Sui, after the morning court on April [-]th, I will enter the palace to have an audience. I will ask you to marry the saint, Ruohan, the third wife of the Zhang family in Qujiang." Shen Sui repeated her meaning again, this time she had completely lost her voice, This sentence was almost spoken with breath.

But she knew that this time Li Jinyue heard her words clearly, because she could clearly feel that the atmosphere in the flower hall suddenly froze like ice, making it suffocating.Shen Sui lowered his head, his face was tense, and he kept his gaze down.She could only see the ring pendant tied around Li Jinyue's waist, shaking slightly, and Chui Sui patting her leg.All he could see was the pattern of the phoenix embroidered on the hem of the purple robe, spreading its wings and soaring.

Shen Sui's eye sockets were sore and gradually turned red.The hands clasped in the lap, clenched tightly.

Li Jinyue didn't make a sound or move for a long while.During this period of time, to Shen Sui, it was like a sword hanging from his neck, but he didn't know when it would fall, and the suffering was unbearable.

"Sir... Sir, please go back, I'm sorry Jinyue won't send it away." After an unknown amount of time, Li Jinyue suddenly threw out such a sentence, and walked to the flower hall first, and disappeared soon after.

Shen Sui didn't expect it, and Li Jinyue's reaction greatly exceeded her expectations.When she said that, she might have been a little emotionally unstable, but she didn't lose her composure.He didn't make a big fuss, looking for death and life to settle accounts with Shen Sui.She just asked Shen Sui to go back a little tiredly, as if she had said something very ordinary.

Shen Sui sat alone in the flower hall for a while, and then he regained his composure and slowly got up.Her legs were already numb, and it took her a while to move around freely.

She staggered a little towards the Princess Mansion, although her face was expressionless, there was worry.

When she stepped out of the gate of the Princess Mansion, her complexion was extremely serious, because she had already figured out what Li Jinyue was thinking.

Things were more difficult than she imagined.However, she still had to do what was planned to be done.All this was really too cruel to Li Jinyue, but Shen Sui had to do it with a ruthless heart, because it was not only for the future of her and the lotus maid, but also for the future of the three of them.

She looked back and looked at the family members of the princess mansion under the night, and Ai Ai sighed in her heart:

Maomao, don't get lost again.Do you know what you are obsessed with, but it is just a fog at the moment.When you clear the fog, you can see the thoroughfare of Kangzhuang.

***

When Li Jinyue walked out of the flower hall, Xu Jie, who had been hiding behind the screen, chased after her.She cupped her hands and said with a smile:

"Congratulations princess, today is a great joy."

"Yujie, why do you like it?" Li Jinyue's voice was cold, with a chilling killing intent.

Xu Jie's heart trembled, and he couldn't help asking cautiously:

"Don't you like the princess to have a good man like Shen Bozhao to assist the prime minister? Could it be that the princess...doesn't want to accept him in the curtain?"

"Yu Jie, he is not a good man, but a vicious man. I don't need this kind of people in the Princess Palace of Jin Kingdom." Li Jinyue said.

Xu Jie was taken aback, and hurriedly persuaded:

"Why did the princess say such a thing? Behind the screen, this subordinate heard everything that Shen Bozhao said. This man is a rare and good assistant. What he thinks and sees is rare in the world. Knowledge. I thought that he was only a little quick-witted to solve the case, but I didn't know that he had such great wisdom. Today, I have taken a new look at him. I hope the princess will see this kind of wise man with the world in mind. "

"Yujie, I know that he is a wise man with the world in mind. But Yujie, you are also a scholar, you should know: only virtue moves the sky, and there is no limit. [Note 2] This Shen Sui, he is wicked."

Xu Jie wondered, "What did Shen Bozhao do to get such an evaluation from the princess?"

"Actually, what he said before touched me very much, and I also had the idea of ​​taking him under my command. It's just that you may not have heard the last sentence between me and him, so you don't know his insidiousness."

Xu Jie thought about it for a moment, and said, "Could it be the private matter he mentioned?"

Li Jinyue nodded and said: "Yujie, this Shen Bozhao actually told me that he wanted to ask my father to marry the lotus maid. Tell me, is he vicious? He is using this to test whether I am tolerant. It seems that in his eyes, the matter between me and the lotus maid is probably one of the criteria for him to judge whether I am worthy of being a prime minister."

Xu Jie frowned tightly, unable to answer for a moment.

"How can this person act like this? The public is for the public, and the private is for the private, but he confuses it and makes such a clumsy temptation. You must know, how could the lotus maid agree to marry him, even if he really asked my father? Marrying a lotus maidservant is of no avail. Rather, this move exposes his dark thoughts, and I cannot use this person." Li Jinyue shook her head in disappointment.

Is it true, princess?If it is true as you said, why didn't Shen Bozhao directly say to go to Zhang's mansion to propose marriage?Why do you say to ask a saint for marriage?The saint is not an ice matchmaker, so how could he care about the marriage of a sixth-rank official.In his wisdom, he should know that it is very clumsy to use this reason as a temptation, and he would never do it.Unless, he really made up his mind to marry the third lady, and wanted the holy man to grant the marriage by decree, so that no one could obstruct the marriage.Then, this marriage proposal is not just him asking the saint alone, he is afraid that there will be more important figures helping him, such as... Zhang Gongdaoji.What's more, he can be so upright and confident, because Mrs. Zhang San has already nodded to the marriage.

Today, he was afraid that he really came to the princess to confess the matter, but he never wanted to be misunderstood by the princess.

Thinking of this, Xu Jie shook her head secretly, but she did not tell the princess about her speculation.Because she knows very well that the current princess is closed to speak, and she will not accept any advice about Mrs. Zhang San, but only from her own heart.For yourself, don't bother yourself.

If Shen Sui really married Mrs. Zhang San, it would be considered a good thing, it would cut off the princess's unrealistic thoughts, and let the princess be relieved.

It was already late today, and Li Jinyue had no intention of going to see Zhang Ruohan, so she went to the study and passed on the dinner.Xu Jie cupped his hands and said goodbye, but Li Jinyue did not leave her behind.

Li Jinyue's diet has always been simple, a habit developed in the army.For today's dinner, a bowl of corn porridge, a bowl of silver carp soup, a dish of white noodles and black beans, and a dish of five-flavored beans are all.

Li Jinyue picked up the jade chopsticks, picked up the corn porridge, and looked at the white-faced ink heart on a red-bottomed lacquer plate, with the corners of her mouth slightly turned down.The white-faced ink heart, whose name sounds mysterious, is actually a hole dug out of tofu, filled with minced pork, and steamed in a wok.It looks like a piece of white tofu on the outside, but when you poke it with the tip of a chopstick, there will be a "poof", and the fragrant gravy will flow out, which will whet your appetite.

However, Li Jinyue lost her appetite in an instant. Looking at the white face and black heart, she somehow remembered the appearance of Shen Sui sitting squatting in the flower hall today.A handsome man with a fair face, but a dark heart.And the eyes she noticed when she approached him, very familiar eyes, black and white, pupils as dark as ink, pupils like spots of paint, but she just couldn't remember where she saw them.When she told her about asking to marry the lotus maid, her eyes turned red.

Why are you red-eyed, why are you red-eyed, who are you, and what are you plotting?

"Shen Bozhao..." Li Jinyue muttered, and patted the jade chopsticks on the table with a "slap".

So the jade chopsticks broke into two pieces.

The author has something to say: Regarding this chapter, there are a few points to explain.

1. [Note [-]] From the "Book of Sickness" written by Lu You, a great patriotic poet in the Southern Song Dynasty

A Book of Sickness Author: Lu You

The sick bones are separated from the gauze and the hat is wide.

The humble did not dare to forget about the country, and the coffin must be closed.

The gods of heaven and earth support the temple, the father of Jinghua Wangheluan.

When you are a teacher, you will pass through the present and the past, and you can take a closer look at the lights in the middle of the night.

It is precisely because it is so appropriate here that I can hardly restrain myself from citing it.

2. 【Note [-]】

From "Shangshu Dayumo": "Yi praised Yu Yu and said: 'Only virtue moves the sky, and there is no far-reaching; full of damage, humility benefits, and time is the way of heaven.'" It means: only noble character can move the sky , there is no place that it (referring to noble character) cannot reach.Self-satisfaction with what has been achieved will lead to loss and disaster; humility and a constant sense of one's own inadequacy will benefit from it.This is the law of nature.

[-]. The "women's rights" mentioned in this chapter are not women's rights in the sense of modern society, but actually refer to "women in power".

[-]. This chapter is named "Mobai Tang" because this episode is a plot where public and selfish intentions are intertwined, black and white are entangled, right and wrong are intertwined.In this plot, no one will be completely positive, including Chishi and Lotus Maid, and naturally they will not be completely negative, such as Maomao.As well as Zhang Gong and many other people will get entangled, and everyone will seek something for some pursuit.

[-]. Someone asked why Chishi didn't tell Li Jinyue her real identity.Answer: Because I can't tell, because she didn't gain Li Jinyue's trust, and Li Jinyue didn't let her fully trust her.She didn't know what Li Jinyue's attitude was towards the annihilation of Princess Taiping's mansion.Regarding this point, the maidservant Lian is clear. After the destruction of Princess Taiping's mansion, Li Jinyue's attitude towards this matter has always been very strange. She is avoiding this matter. This is the key point, which will be written in detail later.

PS: Recently, I have been writing very slowly. It takes five hours to dig out each chapter before it is considered to be initially finished.This episode is very critical, and it is also one of the most essential parts of the whole book. I am still quite tired seeing that the comments are getting less and less. I hope everyone can post more comments. Seeing your comments is a great feeling encourage.