[Comprehensive] leaning on flowers and bamboo

When Gongsun Ce saw Hua Manlou at breakfast, he still felt awkward, and before he could think of a way to resolve the embarrassment, Uncle Fu hurried in, flustered, as if there was something important going on.

The few people who were eating breakfast were stunned for a moment, and they all looked at Gongsun Ce.

"Fuber, what's the matter?"

"Master, there is a noble person coming outside." Uncle Fu wiped his sweat with his sleeve, "Yes, yes—"

Gongsun Ce let out an 'Oh', a little anxious, and stood up intending to see for himself.

"Gongsun Ce, it's me."

The voice was low, with a hint of laziness.Gongsun Ce stared at the person in front of him, hesitated for a moment before remembering to salute, "Gongsun Ce, a grass-roots man, kowtow to the Eight Sage Kings!"

"Hey, there is no need to be so courteous. This king passed by Luzhou on his way back to Beijing. He remembered that his subordinates said that you had returned to Luzhou a few days ago, and thought that your father had some friendship when he was an official in Beijing, so he came here. This is Come here uninvited, you don't have to be polite, all the young people in the room are sitting, all are sitting." The Eight Worthy Kings are still the same, taking care of these young people very much, and it is difficult to put on airs.

Hearing this, Gongsun Ce nodded, invited the Eight Sage Kings to take a seat, and asked: "Your Majesty's mission to the Liao Kingdom this time, accompanied by a grand master, must have been a very exciting journey."

"Grand Master Pang is the grand master of the dynasty. I can't compare to a prince who is idle alone, but the grand master doesn't like Luzhou very much, so I'll go back to Beijing first." After the eight virtuous king finished speaking, he glanced at the people seated and raised his eyebrows. Looking at Gongsun Ce, "Bao Zheng has become the county magistrate. You have met a group of friends without him. Good thing, make more friends."

"My lord, I..."

"Hey, you don't need to tell me those things. You are young and vigorous, and everyone has them. But today I come to tell you something."

"My lord, please tell me, Gongsun Ce will definitely listen."

The Baxian King hesitated for a moment, then looked at Gongsun Ce, "It's a pity that you and Bao Zheng had the imperial examination. You are all talents, and what the court lacks most is talents. What this king wants to say is that no matter what he is in the court, As long as you remain the same, whatever you do will not go against your original wishes. Don’t you see that this king is also living a good life? You can’t say too much about this matter in the court. If everyone is jealous Avoid this, that country will not be a country, and the Great Song Dynasty is in jeopardy!"

Gongsun Ce understood, but he couldn't agree, he could only say: "My lord has always understood it, but this time, let Gongsun Ce think about it."

"Gongsun Ce, you weren't like this back then." The Eight Sage King rubbed his hands habitually, leaning on the back of his chair and looking at Gongsun Ce, "You and Bao Zheng are the same kind of people. This king was able to protect you back then, because For your newborn calves who are not afraid of tigers, but this king is not here to force you, you are a smart person and know how to choose."

These words made Gongsun Ce feel too heavy, "Thank you for your kindness, the prince is the pillar of the country, Gongsun Ce..."

"Okay, this king has to go back to Beijing to return his orders, so I'm going back."

"Gongsun Ce sends the lord off respectfully."

The haste of coming and going made Gongsun Ce feel ominous.

Grand Master Pang and the Eight Sage Kings who were sent to the Liao Kingdom returned to Beijing. If there were major events in the court or there was trouble in the Liao Kingdom, they had to return to Beijing.What is it that makes the Eight Sage Kings come to be a lobbyist?

The person in the seat, Bai Yutang was still biting a steamed stuffed bun, his face puffed up.When he came back to his senses, he quickly swallowed the bun, and looked at Gongsun Ce in disbelief, "Brother Gongsun, that one just now is the Eight Worthy King who can kill the emperor and punish the courtiers?"

"This Eight Sage King is so powerful, Gongsun Ce has always been eloquent and ate Coptis chinensis in front of him." Lu Xiaofeng said and looked at Huamanlou, seeing that Huamanlou's expression did not change, but his hands were holding the chopsticks tightly. After a while, he turned his head back and looked at Ximen Chuuxue, then shrugged.

Gongsun Ce stood there, as if in a daze or thinking about something.

"I've got something in the room. I'll go back and get it before I show you around the city. There are many good places in Luzhou." After finishing speaking, Gongsun Ce turned and walked away without waiting for anyone to answer.

Hua Manlou stood up and followed.

For the remaining three, Bai Yutang looked at Lu Xiaofeng, saw Lu Xiaofeng shrugged, and simply lay down on the table, "Brother Gongsun and Brother Hua seem to be in trouble...more trouble than before."

Who are the Eight Sage Kings?That is the Emperor's Eighth Prince Uncle, the younger brother of the late Emperor or a virtuous king loved by the common people, and he came to the door in person, so it can be seen...it is a big trouble.

Gongsun Ce and Hua Manlou returned to the room. Gongsun Ce sat down and looked up at Hua Manlou, "What do you think of the words of the Eight Sage Kings?"

Huaman went upstairs and sat beside Gongsun Ce, knowing that Gongsun Ce was in a mess, and comforted him, "Ah Ce, the Eight Wise Kings can say those things in front of us because they know what you will choose. Coming to be a lobbyist in person, I must understand your temper, this time, I will accompany you."

"But you asked me a few days ago, did I still..."

"I shouldn't influence your thoughts, nor should I hinder your ambitions. I asked you like that, just to let you clarify what you are thinking now." Hua Manlou rarely said these things to Gongsun Ce, because most of the time , Gongsun Ce understands what he is doing, even if he knows that the road ahead is a dead end, he will move forward.But ever since they came back from the capital, Gongsun Ce was flustered and confused, facing the affairs of the court and the royal family, he flinched.

The Eight Sage King's words are correct, Gongsun Ce is not like him before.

Gongsun Ce smiled wryly, feeling that he rarely shrinks his hands and feet like this, "Bao Zheng is braver than me, he chose to stay there."

"You can talk to Bao Zheng, and you can also talk to yourself, and it will be easier, because when Bao Zheng was confused, you were sober, and now you are also sober." After Hua Manlou finished speaking, he stretched out his hand to hold Gongsun Ce's hand Because of martial arts practice, the temperature of his hands was higher than that of Gongsun Ce, and his palms felt cold. Hua Manlou unconsciously rubbed back and forth against Gongsun Ce's palms, "Your father never wanted to keep you by his side. I know you well."

"what?"

"Otherwise, how can you and Bao Zheng solve many big cases together? If he doesn't know you, he will detain you at home and tie you up with marriage."

"Just now the Eight Sage King said that he has some friendship with father, how could I not know, it's strange..."

"Perhaps this is why he came to Luzhou."

The two sat quietly in the room, but Gongsun Ce's eyes became brighter and brighter, and his thoughts that had been like a mess were gradually sorted out, and he pulled out the thread to understand one by one.

Hua Manlou took a sip of tea, when suddenly the hand wrapped in the palm turned over to hold his, the corners of his mouth slightly curled up, and he put down the teacup, "I said before, it will be very short for you to convince yourself, the time you spend with a cup of tea, you Figured it out."

"The building is full of flowers..."

"Let's go out, otherwise Lu Xiaofeng will talk nonsense again later."

Gongsun Ce was stunned by this sentence, and it took him a while to remember Lu Xiaofeng's ability to tease people, and he stood up resentfully, "Is he usually joking with you like this?"

"Mostly."

"Then when is he not joking?"

Hua Manlou pondered for a moment, "When counting the money, there is also the time to solve the case."

Gongsun Ce was taken aback, but before answering, Hua Manlou said again: "When I was with Ximen Chuuxue."

Now Gongsun Ce understood that everything in the world has a nemesis.

Now that he wants to understand, think clearly, Gongsun Ce thought, then go to Dingyuan County to find Bao Zheng, and continue to solve the case with Bao Zheng.Bao Zheng is a parent official, so he is also doing things for the people. When it comes to the imperial examination, he will take the imperial examination again.

At night, Gongsun Ce came to Gongsun Zhen's study, "Father, it's me."

"Come in."

Pushing open the door and entering, Gongsun Ce looked at Gongsun Zhen, thought for a while and said, "I want to tell Dad——"

"Uncle Fu has already told me about the coming of the Eight Sage Kings. You boy, it's really a lot of things to come home. It's really..." Gongsun Zhen is such a son. His wife died early, and the father and son depended on each other. Looking forward to Gongsun Ce reaching the age of starting a family and starting a business, but worrying about losing his life outside, "Are you planning to return to Beijing?"

"Yes."

"Still with Bao Zheng?"

"kindness."

"Forget it, you have made a decision and you still come to ask me what to do, where do you like to go, remember to go home every year to see my old father." Gongsun Zhen waved his hand, "Remember... Luzhou And you have a home."

Hearing this, the corners of Gongsun Ce's eyes were a little red, and he knew that he had indeed ignored Gongsun Zhen all these years. He was still annoyed that Gongsun Zhen was cowardly and fearful, but now he felt a little unfilial, "Father, I didn't go very far. To Luzhou, if you hurry, it will take three days."

"You bastard!" Gongsun was so angry that he blew his beard and stared at him, "I'm going, I won't go until after the first month, remember, I will put incense on your mother before leaving."

"The boy knows."

Exited from the study, walked through the courtyard door, but saw Hua Manlou waiting for him there, and stepped forward for a moment, "If I stay inside for an hour, will you wait for me here for an hour?"

Hua Manlou didn't answer but instead asked, "Uncle is doing it for your own good."

"I know."

On the last day of the first lunar month, the sky suddenly cleared, the snow on the eaves began to melt, and the snow water fell down the corners of the house like beads.Gongsun Ce respectfully lit a stick of incense in front of Mrs. Gongsun's tablet, looked at the tablet and said, "Mother, Ceer is not filial. But... he treats me very well."

Gongsun Ce, Hua Manlou and his party rushed back to the capital from Luzhou, but there was one more Bai Yutang.

As soon as he arrived in the capital, he stayed in the restaurant of Hua's family. He had just caught his breath and before he decided how long to go to see Bao Zheng, shopkeeper Huang slammed the door like firecrackers, "Young master, Mr. Gongsun, a group of people are here!"

"what?"

"Yes Yes……"

Suddenly a voice came from downstairs, "May I ask who is Gongsun Ce, Mr. Gongsun."

Gongsun Ce was startled, and silently stuffed something into Hua Manlou's hands, "If you don't see me in an hour, go to the Eight Princes' Mansion", then opened the door and walked out: "I'm Gongsun Ce, may I ask—"

"My master is here to invite you." The visitor looked up at Gongsun Ce who appeared on the second floor, "Master Gongsun, please."

Hua Manlou squeezed the things in her hand tightly and stood at the door of the room.