Promotion and fortune in Song Dynasty

Hearing Lu Ci's tooth-piercing declaration, Yan Shu's eyelids twitched, and he couldn't help but tease: "The three yuan and first grades are indeed different. Seeing that you have never been married, and you don't go to Huajie and Liuxiang, you are not ashamed to speak out." Get up, it's quite a bluff."

Lu Ci smiled, and leisurely did not argue: "Whether it is nonsense or not, you will naturally know in the future."

Yan Shu raised his eyebrows, and couldn't help teasing his serious friend.

However, Lu Ci was thick-skinned, let him go round and round and knock on the side, but the iron wall on his face was unscathed, and Yan Shu lost interest in the end, and changed to other topics.

"Once Wang Qinruo comes back, not to mention his official position, he will definitely be a close minister of the emperor," Yan Shu knew a little about His Majesty's frequent calls to Lin Te and others, so he could naturally guess the meaning behind it.However, even though he is also from the south, he is not happy about Wang Qinruo's comeback: "After a while of peace, there will be waves again."

Especially at the critical moment when Liu Shengren showed his desire to fight for power, once Wang Qinruo, who has always been good at catering to his superiors and unscrupulous in seeking officials, will come, the two sides may hit it off.

Regardless of whether Kou Zhun's aspect can be kept, as long as Wang Qinruo is by his side, he will definitely feel uncomfortable.

Seeing Yan Shu's worried look, Lu Ci couldn't help but smile: "If Wang Qin is so majestic, and he's still thousands of miles away, will you be so worried that you won't think about eating and drinking?"

Just as Yan Shu was about to refute, Lu Ci had already poured half a glass of fresh fruit wine into the cup in front of him: "For the sake of your lack of interest, let's make an exception."

Although Yan Shu can't be called an alcoholic, he likes to drink lightly.

However, on the table of Lu Ci's family, alcohol is basically extinct, which is not at all like the style of "combining wine and poetry" that Bianjing sergeants should have.

On the contrary, his tea art is superb and exquisite, so that those who are lucky enough to taste the tea brewed by him are full of praise, at least it makes up for the small lack of elegance.

In Yan Shu's view, if it wasn't for the royal nickname of 'Gluttony', which made him easy to go shopping in small street shops and taste food, it became widely known, and many people would doubt his friend's age. .

Hearing that Lu Ci made an 'exception' this time, Yan Shu was surprised by the snack and was about to be moved when he lowered his head and saw that there was only half a cup of wine in the cup.

"..."

The words of thanks were almost on my lips, and I was speechless.

"Did you brew this wine yourself?"

Why are you so stingy?

The corner of Yan Shu's mouth twitched, shaking the pitifully small amount of wine.

Lu Ci said complacently, "Of course not."

Yan Shu couldn't bear it anymore and said: "I asked you to use this table of dishes, and I ordered them from Fan Lou specially." He emphasized the word 'Fan Lou' before continuing to condemn: "You should fill up a glass anyway?"

"Just this little request?" Lu Ci smiled: "That's not easy."

Hearing his quick answer, Yan Shu was still skeptical.

After waiting for a while, Lu Ci really satisfied his request of 'filling up a glass'.

——He directly asked the servant to change Yan Shu to a smaller cup.

This is more than just 'full', it's overflowing a lot.

Yan Shu: "..."

After the glass of wine was finished, Lu Ci saw that it was late, so he sent Yan Shu back.

The two families were too close, so even if Yan Shu wanted to stay overnight on the grounds that it was 'inconvenient to go home', he couldn't succeed.

After Lu Ci watched Yan Shu leave, he suddenly remembered the two little Sinans who had finished the work for a while, but forgot to send them away.

I have to remember to send it out tomorrow.

Lu Ci lazily thought, if he delays for a while, no one knows whether he will still be in the capital.

After all, as soon as the news of his sudden visit to Kou Zhun got out, people like Lin Te might be watching him, saying that he would be demoted to a local official soon.

If Kou Zhun had listened to his words, then the one who had his eye on him would probably have to add the most favored minister around the official family——Zhou Huaizheng, whose good deeds had been ruined.

It was clear and clear, but he fell asleep peacefully after a while, and Lu Ci, who was not affected by the situation that might become dangerous at all, was still in good spirits when he went to the morning court the next day.

But this morning, it was different.

——Since Duxiang, Kou Zhun, who has been proud of his spring breeze and full of energy, was unable to come because of illness for the first time.

Seeing that the frontmost and most obvious seat was empty, not only were the ministers and ministers who were used to Kou Zhun's rampage like fighting cocks fighting to the end, they were extremely unaccustomed to it, even Zhao Heng, who was sitting on top, had a blank mind for a moment.

He moved his body uncomfortably, and asked Zhou Huaizheng beside him in a low voice: "What kind of tricks is Kou Lao Xier playing again?"

Zhou Huaizheng replied respectfully: "Return to Your Majesty, Kou Xiang said last night that he had a sudden illness and found it difficult to get up and down, and he may not be able to go to court within ten days."

Don't look at Zhou Huaizheng's calm face at this moment, but his heart is full of perplexed and turbulent waves.

The reason for Kou Zhun's refusal to court was indeed sent to the palace ahead of time, and the night watchman of Zhongshu Province and a group of ministers were informed.

But because the officials were so angry yesterday, they would be furious when they heard Kou Zhun's name, so no one dared to tell Zhao Heng the news.

What Zhou Huaizheng learned, there was one more thing - Kou Xiang, who he thought would definitely join Wang Qinruo's plan because of Wang Qinruo's sure return, sent someone to inform him last night, "Don't worry about it." Mention' again.

Without Kou Zhun's strong support, it would be impossible for him alone to accomplish anything!

Zhou Huaizheng thought about this, and a hint of gloom flashed in his eyes.

Kou Zhun clearly was still hesitating yesterday, but the situation was such that it was impossible for him not to be distracted.

If it is said that no one played a role in it and miraculously persuaded Kou Zhun, who has a bad temper, but that Kou Zhun just cherished the feathers and was afraid of trouble, and refused to get involved...Zhou Huaizheng would definitely not believe it.

Who is this person?

Zhao Heng didn't know the thousands of waves in Zhou Huaizheng's heart. After hearing this explanation, his first reaction was suspicion.

He frowned in dissatisfaction, and lowered his voice. Although he did not let the ministers below hear him, he could let Zhou Huaizheng and others hear him clearly: "Hmph, that old Kou Xi'er has learned to use retreat as an advance!"

Having said that, after muttering this sentence, Zhao Heng was a little guilty, and didn't take advantage of the situation to say, 'Since he is seriously ill, don't just take a break from court, but let him give up and recuperate in peace'.

Is Kou Zhun really out of anger?

Zhao Heng couldn't help thinking wildly.

He wanted to send someone to check the situation, but he was worried that the person he sent would be fooled by the increasingly cunning Kou Zhun and would not tell him the truth when he came back.

But it is obviously even more inappropriate to ask him to go to the Prime Minister's Mansion in person and say what seeing is believing, and in the eyes of others, he, the emperor, bowed his head to Kou Zhun.

Zhao Heng was so focused on wondering whether Kou Zhun's illness was true or not that he didn't care to listen to the political affairs discussed below.

Inadvertently, the hard work of Lin Te and others, who were cheered up by Kou Zhun's absence, suddenly turned into winks for the blind.

Zhao Heng was still pondering about this matter until Zhao Heng returned to the palace.

He thought about it calmly, and felt that Kou Zhuna still had to send someone to take a look.

It's just that this person is not a good choice.

Those whose status is too low, in the eyes of others, are tantamount to humiliating Kou Zhun, and Kou Zhun with a strong temper is even less likely to accept it.

If he pissed people off because of visiting a doctor, then he might be infamous forever.

If the status is too high, then either the relationship with Kou Zhun is on fire, or he will only follow his lead.

The more Zhao Heng thought about it, the more he had a headache: Not only did he have to guard against Kou Zhun's faction colluding to deceive him that Kou Zhun was sick, but he also had to guard against the faction hostile to Kou Zhun deliberately tricking him into pretending to be sick.

But the status is neither high nor low, and the relationship with Kou Zhun is neither friend nor enmity, neither far nor near, how many people are left in the court?

Zhao Heng quickly thought of Yan Shu.

He could trust Yan Shu if he sent him there, but because of Kou Zhun's bad temper, which was hostile to the southerners, he might think that Yan Shu was sent by him to watch a joke, so he would ask his servants to drive him out on the spot.

After a while, Zhao Heng really couldn't think of anyone to come.

At night, Zhao Heng went to the East Palace to test the prince's studies as usual.

He deliberately told people not to pass it on, so as not to disturb the prince's study, but when he walked in, he saw that Zhao Zhen, who had always been rigid and upright like Wang Dan back then, spread the books on the table in a mess like a real child , but not a single one.

Zhao Zhen sat on the ground in a casual posture, fascinatedly playing with a... a green wooden turtle sculpture, while fiddling with a small boat made of bamboo strips, exclaiming indiscriminately from time to time.

Zhao Heng could hardly believe his eyes.

This bluffing, Xiao Langjun who was so addicted to it that he didn't even notice his footsteps, is he really that boring little Liu?

When Zhao Heng walked behind Zhao Zhen, a shadow fell, Zhao Zhen, who was entertaining himself, realized something was wrong, and couldn't help but look back.

Seeing this, he suddenly turned pale with shock: "Daddy!"

The fear of being smashed directly made Zhao Zhen's face turn pale.

But even so, he didn't throw away the things in his hands in a panic, but hid them in his sleeves lovingly.

He doesn't go to study, but plays for fun, he will definitely be scolded by his father.

Just when Zhao Zhen was full of fear, the emperor didn't mean to blame him at all, but stretched out his hand to him curiously: "Take out the things in the sleeves, and let me have a look."

Zhao Zhen's face was pale.

He thought his father was suppressing his anger and wanted to destroy the culprit, so he was unwilling to hand it over.

But if he wants to disobey his father's will, he can't do it no matter what.

So after a lot of inner struggle, he still trembled slightly, and handed the small wooden green turtle in Zhao Heng's hands.

Zhao Heng studied for a while, and found the opening of the small mechanism.

When the turtle shell is opened, what is hidden inside is revealed.

Although it is exquisite and beautiful, it is different from the ones used in the army, but Zhao Heng has been the emperor for decades, and Zhao Heng can still recognize it at a glance: "Who sent Sinan to you?"

Zhao Zhen pursed his lower lip, and reluctantly gave Lu Ci's name.

Zhao Heng's eyes lit up.

Thanks to his deliberation for a long time, he couldn't find a candidate. Isn't there the most suitable one?

Half an hour later, Lu Ci, who had only been to the Prime Minister's Mansion last night and decided not to set foot there again for at least a few months, so as not to cause more trouble, was lying comfortably at home, and without warning When the emperor ordered him to go to the prime minister's mansion to greet Kou Zhun's illness.

Lu Ci: "..."