Gongsun Ce and Bao Zheng

Duanzhou, the residence of Zhizhou.

The golden sun shines on the ground, and the snowflakes fall, as if falling into a golden river, but they don't melt, layer by layer, as if covering the earth with a thick quilt.

Gongsun Ce walked into the mansion with the official document in his hand, and knocked on the dark-faced young man in official uniform who was sternly reprimanding the yamen servants on the main room. Gongsun Ce frowned, ah, is Lord Bao losing his temper again?

Seeing the team leader in the mansion nodding his head in awe in front of Bao Zheng, Gongsun Ce shook his head with a smile, hey, this is not good, it will only make Mr. Bao even more angry.

When Mr. Bao will severely reprimand someone, it is when this person is favored, well, the so-called love is the only responsibility.

The scene in front of me was often seen in my previous life. Speaking of it, I really miss it.

Gongsun Ce strode in, coughed, and attracted the attention of the two people in the main room. The reprimanded and timid squad leader turned his head and saw Gongsun Ce, his eyes lit up, and he looked at Gongsun Ce pleadingly.

Gongsun Ce was amused, looked at Bao Zheng, who was frowning in displeasure, and stepped forward with a smile, "My lord, here is a new official document, look—"

Bao Zheng glanced at Gongsun Ce, the official documents were handled by Ah Ce, and now he let himself see that he just wanted to rescue the team leader, this kind of thing didn't happen once or twice, Bao Zheng frowned and looked at Gongsun Ce, originally wanted to seriously let Gongsun Ce leave, but seeing Gongsun Ce winking at him innocently, the words on his lips could not help but become——

"Well, I see, Ah Ce, you and I have a look together, the team leader, you go down first."

When Gongsun Ce heard the words, he smiled and looked, he knew that Mr. Bao would definitely follow his suggestion.

As if relieved, the team leader hastily bowed his hands in salute, and then quickly retreated.

When the team leader stepped down, Bao Zheng looked at Gongsun Ce, who had a sly and proud smile, and helplessly pampered him slightly unconsciously, "Where's the official document?"

"There is one official document today, sir, you have to read it." Gongsun Ce said with a smile, and handed over the official document in his arms.

Bao Zheng took it, but didn't open it immediately, instead he pulled Gongsun Ce to sit down on a chair beside him, "No hurry, just drink some hot soup first."

Although there is a rising sun today, how can it be warm in this snowy season?

"Yeah." Gongsun Ce took the hot soup handed over by Bao Zheng, raised his head and smiled at Bao Zheng, his heart pressed, and he lowered his head and drank the hot soup slowly.

Bao Zheng watched Gongsun Ce drink slowly, and sat aside. He made this hot soup in the small kitchen early in the morning. He wanted to let Ah Ce drink it after he finished his breakfast, but he didn't want Ah Ce to drink it. After breakfast, I ran to the front hall to deal with official documents.

Bao Zheng opened the official documents and read them one by one. When he saw the last one, Bao Zheng was startled, then frowned.

Gongsun Ce had finished drinking the hot soup, seeing Bao Zheng frowned, he smiled and said, "Your Excellency, you think it's very interesting?"

Bao Zheng looked up at Gongsun Ce, frowning tightly, with a serious face, "Ace."

"Yes, my lord."

"When it's just the two of us, don't call me my lord."

Gongsun Ce was taken aback, looked at Bao Zheng, saw Bao Zheng's serious appearance, nodded slightly, "Okay."

"Call me Xiren, the dean once obtained the word for me." Bao Zheng saw Gongsun Ce nodding in agreement, the solemnity on his face faded, and he said slowly.

Gongsun Ce was surprised. He had never heard Bao Zheng's name. He was a man of two lifetimes. The people around Bao Zheng either called Mr. Bao's Qingtian Master, or they called him by their first names, while political enemies or treacherous people The older generation shouted "wrapping black charcoal and so on"...

"The dean said that my temperament is too upright, and too rigid will inevitably be harsh and ruthless, so he chose the word for me——Xi Ren," Bao Zheng said lightly, "I thought that the rule of the law should be ruthless, and that I should be ruthless in dealing with people and things. Sex as you like."

"So...you don't like the word Xiren?" Gongsun Ce asked in a low voice.

Bao Zheng looked up at Gongsun Ce, and smiled lightly, "I didn't like it before."

"Before?" Gongsun Ce raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Then you like it now?"

"Hmm..." Bao Zheng stared at Gongsun Ce quietly, "I didn't understand it before, but now I do."

Hey, got it?Gongsun Ce leaned over curiously, "What do you know?"

"Benevolence follows people from the second. The six books say, 'Heaven is the essence, and people are benevolence. The reason why people are spiritual to all things is benevolence.', the meaning of benevolence is not just benevolence and love, but the spirit of human beings is in many things. A heart." Bao Zheng explained simply.

After hearing this, Gongsun Ce felt a little clear but a little confused. He looked at Bao Zheng, thought for a while, and said with a smile, "Whether you are Xiren or not, aren't you all you?" In his last life, he never listened to Bao Zheng Speaking of his calligraphy, isn't Bao Zheng the same?

When Bao Zheng heard this, he curled his lips slightly. That's right, it was him, Bao Zheng, but... an extra heart, an extra... love.

——Compared to the past, he felt that he was a vulgar person, but this vulgarity made his heart full and enriched, and he would pay more attention to the lives of ordinary people.

"Call me Xiren." Bao Zheng asked repeatedly, with a serious face.

"Yes, Xiren." Gongsun Ce smiled.

Bao Zheng nodded in satisfaction, and handed the official document in hand to Gongsun Ce, "There may be some troublesome things happening in the capital."

Gongsun Ce took the official document and asked, "So... shall we go?"

"En." Bao Zheng responded, and said casually, "Pang Ji Pang Taishi's birthday, why don't we go and see it?"

Grand Master Pang sent a message to him and Ah Ce on his birthday. He didn't think it was a kind of repayment. The stalemate in Qinghe County was finally resolved by Grand Master Pang himself, and Pang Tong disappeared suddenly afterwards.It's not to repay favors, but to send him and Ah Ce a post from thousands of miles away, inviting them to go to the capital, there must be some other reason.

No matter what the reason was, he really wanted to go and have a look... Pang Ji, and the Eight Sage Kings... Bao Zheng's intuition told him that there was something important going on in Beijing.

And Gongsun Ce at the side suddenly remembered one thing at this moment—the civet cat for the prince!

Gongsun Ce suddenly turned his head to look at Bao Zheng, and was about to say it, but shut his mouth quickly, it can't be said!

Bao Zheng stared at Gongsun Ce, "What did you think of?"

Gongsun Ce opened his mouth, and hesitantly said two words, "Dream."

Bao Zheng immediately said sternly, "Don't mention it, don't think about it!"

Gongsun Ce nodded sullenly, could he not think about such things?

Bao Zheng looked at Gongsun Ce, feeling depressed, dream? !Then something will happen in Kyoto, right?Then... Kyoto, why not go?However, Pang Ji sent the post from thousands of miles away, and deliberately leaked the matter of offering sacrifices to heaven in the official document, and the information that was specially marked, how could he not go?

"Let's go." Seeing Bao Zheng's hesitation, Gongsun Ce quickly said softly, "This dream is not particularly dangerous, let's go, I won't say anything, I won't do anything..."

Bao Zheng stared at Gongsun Ce for a long time before slowly nodding, "Okay, let's go. But Ah Ce, you are absolutely not allowed to leave my side!"

——He stared at Ah Ce, there should be no problem, right?

Gongsun Ce nodded hurriedly, his brows curved into a smile, if it was a civet cat for the crown prince, then he really had to go, Xiao Liu is a good person, and Concubine Li is also a hard-working person.

*******

At this time in Kyoto, the residence of the Eight Sage Kings.

The Eighth Sage King looked over and over at the post on his hand, that bastard Pang Ji is going to celebrate his birthday?He remembered what someone once said back then - one of the most time-wasting things is celebrating a big birthday.

"Hehe... Your lord has been looking at the post for a long time." Prime Minister Wang said with a smile.Looking at the Eight Sage Kings, he thought to himself, how could that Pang Ji old fox keep going around after sending a post?But his trip was not in vain, thinking about the painting that was sent to his study today, the smile on Prime Minister Wang's face was even bigger.

The Eighth Sage King raised his eyelids, and looked at Prime Minister Wang indifferently, why didn't he notice it before?This old man Wang and Pang Ji have such a good personal relationship!Hmph, no matter whether it's a court meeting or a private meeting, thanks to the fact that Prime Minister Wang is always very dignified, and he doesn't get along with Pang Dang, but in private, he always comes to the palace to run errands for Pang Ji.

"I'm very curious, Prime Minister...has there been another calligraphy in the study recently?" Eight Wise Kings looked at Prime Minister Wang with a half-smile.

Prime Minister Wang rubbed his nose and knew that he couldn't hide it from the Eight Sage Kings. To be honest, he didn't intend to hide it. The secondary painting, I think it should be the real one, I plan to bring it to the prince's mansion tomorrow, and share it with the prince."

The Eighth Sage King snorted, and he knew that this old guy must have taken advantage of it!

"Ahem... To be honest, although that Pang Ji is not immune to cronyism in official business, and he is not very clean, the old man and that Pang Ji should fight for business, but in private matters, the old man admires him. .” Prime Minister Wang said with a smile, his expression was calm, not fake.

The Eighth Sage King lowered his eyes. If Pang Ji hadn't formed a party for personal gain, and if he hadn't been too domineering on some sensitive issues, he admitted that Pang Ji would still be Pang Ji from before.

——That night, he said that he hoped that Zhao Defang could know him and understand him.

But what about him?So what if you know him?

"My lord?" Wang Chengxiang couldn't help but ask in doubt when he saw the eight sage kings lowering their eyes and saying nothing.

"Just now... the prime minister said that he admired him, but this king is curious. What does the prime minister admire about him?" Eight Sage King asked lightly.

Prime Minister Wang said with a smile, "For more than ten years, Pang Ji has devoted himself to one person, suffering equals to one person, and staying with one person. I ask myself, I can't do this."

The Baxian King's heart skipped a beat when he heard this, but he smiled gently, "No one in the capital knows what the prime minister said. Prime Minister Wang has no concubine or roommate, and only guards the old lady."

Prime Minister Wang laughed, waved his hands, and sighed, "Compared with Pang Ji, this old man is far behind."

The Eighth Sage King smiled, even though his heart was beating faster, he only tried his best to maintain a gentle face. He picked up the tea and drank slowly, while laughing, "Prime Minister is humble."

"Haha... this old man doesn't understand the word of modesty!" Prime Minister Wang said, and glanced at the Eight Sage Kings indistinctly. It seems that that kid Pang Ji has finally made a move?The eyes of the Eight Sage Kings seem to be a little confused.

The Eighth Sage King put down his tea bowl, changed the subject and said with a smile, "It seems that the prime minister is going to attend this birthday."

Prime Minister Wang said with a smile, "Of course, this old man loves to join in the fun. When the time comes, will this old man invite the prince to accompany you?"

The Eighth Sage King smiled lightly, and gently moved the post over, "I'm sorry to bother the prime minister, please tell the grand master that this king has something important to do, so I won't go."

Prime Minister Wang was taken aback for a moment, hey, isn't the Eighth Sage King going?

Prime Minister Wang looked at the gentle but resolute expression of the Eight Sage Kings, he sighed and smiled when his heart moved, "In this case, the old man will convey the meaning of the prince to the Grand Master."

The Eighth Sage King stood up with a smile, "Then I will trouble the Prime Minister."

"Hey, I dare not, I dare not." Prime Minister Wang smiled and got up and bowed his hands to bid farewell, but he was thinking cheerfully, ah, after waiting for so many years, did Pang Ji finally make a move?Oops, there is a good show to watch.

Prime Minister Wang walked out of the palace with a smile on his forefoot, and then entered the Grand Master's mansion with his back foot.

Sitting in the flower hall of the Grand Master's Mansion, watching Pang Ji put the post aside with his expression unchanged, Prime Minister Wang smiled and poured himself a cup of tea. Oh, this Pang Ji is so stingy, he doesn't even have a good cup of tea.

"Thank you, Prime Minister." Grand Master Pang said calmly, paused, and said calmly, "I don't know the paintings that Quanzi sent to the mansion today..."

"Good painting! That's really good painting!" Prime Minister Wang cut off Taishi Pang's unfinished words, and said with a smile, "I mentioned it to the lord today, and I want to invite the lord to appreciate it together tomorrow."

Grand Master Pang was silent for a moment when he heard the words, then he twitched the corners of his mouth and looked at Prime Minister Wang, "Prime Minister, Ming people don't say dark words. My birthday is a big matter for the prince. Please help the prime minister. Please help the prince." You must come to my house every day."

Prime Minister Wang was taken aback, and squinted at Grand Master Pang, a major event related to the prince?

What's the big deal?

*******

ten days later

There are many shops on both sides of the bluestone-slab streets, flags flying high, cars like running water and horses like dragons, pedestrians shuttle between them, with smiles on their faces, dull or angry, and from time to time there is the sound of horses whizzing through the noisy voices of shouting, looking up. Looking at it, the golden sun is jumping on the red brick and bluestone pavilions.

——The capital is still so prosperous.

"Ah Ce, we should go." The voice next to him brought Gongsun Ce back to his senses, and he turned his head to look at the dark and straight-faced young man beside him, Gongsun Ce nodded with a smile.

Although he had been to the capital last time, he didn't take a good look around the place where he lived for more than 20 years in his previous life. Now that he's here for the second time, it's inevitable that he has some emotions.

"What a pity! Xiaobai was taken back by his brothers." Zhan Zhao said suddenly.

Gongsun Ce and Bao Zheng looked at the sound, and saw Zhan Zhao looking at the candied haws not far away with regret and nostalgia. Gongsun Ce couldn't help but smile, no matter how famous the name of Nan Xia is in later generations, Nan Xia at this moment is just A child who looks at candied haws and misses another playmate.

"Believe me, Bai Yutang will be back soon." Bao Zheng said, with a faint smile in his eyes, but a serious face.

Zhan Zhao's eyes lit up, he stared at Bao Zheng closely, and asked anxiously, "Really? Brother Bao, you said Xiaobai would be back soon?"

Bao Zheng nodded slightly, "It should be soon, just wait."

When Zhan Zhao heard this, he smirked, it's great, we can see Xiao Bai soon.

Seeing Zhan Zhao smiling so happily, Gongsun Ce couldn't help shaking his head and laughing. He didn't expect Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang to have such a good relationship, but it was a good thing.

"Let's go, we have to go to the post house to stay." Bao Zheng raised his hand and patted Gongsun Ce's shoulder, speaking in a soft voice.

"Ah."

At this time, a voice sounded, "Master Bao, Mr. Gongsun, Mr. Zhan."

Bao Zheng frowned, turned around, and saw two middle-aged men dressed as housekeepers respectfully bowing to them.

"Who are you two?" Bao Zheng asked, sizing up the two without a trace, his heart sank, people from the Pang Mansion?

"Master Bao, this villain is the steward of the Pang Mansion. I am waiting for the three of you here by the order of my lord." One of the middle-aged men said respectfully.

Gongsun Ce was taken aback, Grand Master Pang specially sent someone to wait here?

"Our master invites Mr. Bao, Mr. Gongsun and Mr. Zhan to stay in Meiyuan. Everything is ready."

Gongsun Ce couldn't help looking sideways at Bao Zheng, are you going?

Bao Zheng listened, nodded slightly, with a calm expression, "So, I will trouble you two."

All right!As soon as you come, you will be safe, Gongsun Ce sighed in his heart, it seems that this trip to Kyoto is not easy.

*****

And at this time in the royal study of the palace.

"So, Bao Zheng and others have already entered the plum garden?" The young and elegant man sitting on the dragon chair said softly, the smile on the corner of his mouth was very gentle, but it seemed to reveal sarcasm, "my father-in-law I really... can't wait."

Kneeling below, the man in inner servant whose face could not be seen clearly continued to reply in a low voice, "The Eighth Prince declined the invitation, but it seems that he heard that Grand Master Pang came to the door in person."

The gentle man paused, and his tone was very light, "Uncle Huang has always been very measured in his work, so there is no need to mention this matter again, but you need to pay careful attention to Meiyuan, especially Bao Zheng."

"Little understands."

"Well, go down." The gentle man waved his hand.

The man kneeling below quickly disappeared into the room.

And the gentle man put down the pen in his hand, and gently closed the memorial in his hand. Then, the man's eyes fell on the pen holder placed on the imperial study room, and he turned the pen holder slightly. The other side of the pen holder was blocked by the inkstone. There is a noticeable chipped paint in place.

The man stared at the place where the paint fell off for a long time, and then slowly looked away.

******

In the plum garden, Gongsun Ce looked left and right, he was quite surprised, he thought Grand Master Pang's site should be more or less luxurious, but unexpectedly, this plum garden is very quiet, simple and not luxurious.

"Wow, Brother Bao, look, there are so many books here." Zhan Zhao pointed to the bookshelf in amazement, the books on the bookshelf looked...well, so profound.

Bao Zheng went to the bookshelf, scanned the catalog, his eyes lit up slightly, and there were quite a few rare ancient books.

"Let me take a look." Gongsun Ce walked over, glanced at the books on the bookshelf, his eyes suddenly lit up, there really are a lot of ancient books!

Gongsun Ce couldn't wait to take out a book, and just about to open it, he was pulled away by a hand.

Gongsun Ce looked up.

Bao Zheng looked at him with a frown, shaking the book in his hand, "Have a good rest, and read it after dinner at night."

Seeing Bao Zheng's serious and non-negotiable face, Gongsun Ce could only nod his head, well, no matter in his previous life or in this life, Mr. Bao paid special attention to his food and clothing.He should have gotten used to it by now, shouldn't he?

******

The residence of the Eight Sage Kings at the same time.

The back garden of the eight sage king's mansion is full of plum trees, few people know that the eight sage king loves plums, and very few people can enter this back garden.

At this time, in the pavilion in the back garden, a handsome and elegant middle-aged man in a white brocade suit with a simple hair crown was slowly drinking alone.

Suddenly, a majestic middle-aged man in a dark blue brocade robe walked towards the pavilion with a basket in his hand.

"My lord, it's winter, even if you're drinking, you should enter the house." The man in the dark blue brocade robe said respectfully, his expression was very respectful, but his tone was full of resentment and displeasure.

The Eighth Sage King looked sideways at the man striding into the pavilion, frowned and snorted, "Pang Ji, you talk a lot of nonsense."

Grand Master Pang Ji paused, then strode closer, put down the basket, brought out the small stove and wine, put the small stove into the arms of the Eight Sage Kings, filled it with warm wine and handed it to the Eight Sage Kings. The eight sage kings drank the already cold wine in one gulp.

When doing this, Grand Master Pang looked very calm, and his movements were very natural, as if he had practiced it thousands of times.

And in fact, this is the first time.

But these actions have been rehearsed thousands of times in Grand Master Pang's mind.

The Eighth Sage King was a little dazed, and after a while, he came back to his senses, watching Grand Master Pang sitting on his left drinking the wine in his palace, the Eighth Sage King lowered his eyes, and touched the heat in his arms. Hot little stove.

Silence began to spread.

"My lord, drink this wine while it's hot." Grand Master Pang pushed his filled wine glass and said in a low voice, with a uniquely cold voice and a hint of gentleness.

The Eighth Wise King raised his eyes, picked up the warm wine in front of his eyes, and drank it down in one gulp.

——Good wine, it is his favorite green plum wine.