bastard returns

"Not only is she not young, she is the youngest sister of the Empress Dowager Xia, Murong Yu, the youngest daughter of the noble Murong family of the Xia Kingdom. Two years ago, she was conferred the title of Princess Jinyu, and she is a first-class noble daughter in Yanjing." Xu Jingan sighed.

"It really is the emperor's family." Ning Yuan's eyes twitched, "But why did this princess suddenly come to my big week?"

"I didn't understand this until I heard Eunuch Li talk about it." Xu Jing'an said, "This Princess Jinyu probably doted on her since she was a child, and has developed a defiant and extremely savage personality. She may have heard it before. The Empress Dowager Xia was talking to the courtiers about our Great Zhou’s establishment of Confucianism and the prosperity of Chinese learning, and she seemed quite displeased, so she insisted on coming to see and see, and by the way, come to my Great Zhou for a tour of the mountains and rivers.”

"I see." Ning Yuan showed a dumbfounding expression.

Xu Jingan also shook his head, "The Empress Dowager Xia attaches great importance to her little sister, she has sent a lot of good people to follow and protect her along the way, and even sent messengers to my court in advance, so that His Majesty can take care of her a little bit more. I have to pay more attention, so I specially sent Eunuch Li to order first, let us not neglect the princess."

"Then what's going on with the three princes outside?" Ning Yuan asked again: "Could it be that your majesty is worried that Princess Jinyu will be alone and lonely, so he specially asked the three princes to come and accompany him?"

"Perhaps that's what it means, but His Majesty must have his own little thoughts in it." Xu Jing'an twisted his beard and smiled, "You may not know that this Princess Jinyu is as beautiful as a flower, and she has already reached the age of marriage, but she has always been married. Without a marriage, it is said that he looks down on the local noble children of Yanjing. The emperor asked the three princes to come here to see if one of them can win the favor of the princess. If a good marriage can be achieved, Yi Xia The Empress Dowager loves her little sister, so there is no need to worry about the two countries not being able to resume business exchanges, after all, in today's Great Xia, it is the Empress Dowager faction who strongly advocates not doing frequent business with us."

Ning Yuan nodded as he listened, it turned out to be the case, no wonder Ning Zhongkun looked happy, but Jing Yi and Meng Zhifan were not interested.Jing Yi and Zhao Mo hadn't figured out what was involved, so naturally they wouldn't be interested in Princess Jinyu. Although Meng Zhifan had been quiet for a while, he couldn't guarantee that he would never die against Huyan Yuanchen, and he wouldn't look at others more. Only Ning Zhong Kun, whenever he encounters an opportunity to improve his status, he will give it a go and never let it go.

He may have thought very well, first-class duke, and marrying the princess who is loved by thousands of people in Daxia, how honorable this status will be in Huajing from now on!

"That's how things are. Although the Confucian Academy is a sacred place for scholars, we can only treat such distinguished guests carefully. Fortunately, I heard that Princess Jinyu has a restless temper, and he will definitely not treat the classics. If you are too interested, you should leave when you are done with the fun." Just as Xu Jingan finished speaking, a servant came in and announced that the guests had arrived at the door.

Xu Jingan didn't dare to neglect, and hurriedly led Ning Yuan out.In the Confucian Hall, in addition to the two officials of Da Ti Xue and the head of the academy, there are five or six adjutants who assist in handling daily affairs. When the group reached the gate, Ning Zhongkun and others who were sitting in the living room had also received the news , Hou was there.

Outside the gate, there is an exquisite carriage slowly approaching.

Xu Jing'an also said just now that Princess Jinyu once told the officials in charge of receiving her that the Confucianism in the Confucianism Museum to "look up" at the Confucianism was a private visit to the Confucianism of the Great Zhou, and there was no need to be too ostentatious. Can't help but secretly despise it.

As far as the specifications of the carriage are concerned, it is indeed a style that ordinary nobles would ride, and its appearance is also low-key, but behind the carriage, there are two rows of guards of no less than thirty guards, all of them are tall horses, and they are all dressed in the unique silver light of Daxia. The armor was very glaring under the sun's rays, and it also caused many passing people to stop to watch and point fingers.

The driver was also a burly man with dark skin, a hulking back, and a beard all over his face. In the winter weather, he was actually shirtless, and a fur coat embroidered with gold thread was tied around his waist with a gold apron. In the middle, the exposed large tendons were covered with various scars, and the big man's calm and majestic expression was very intimidating.

"The man driving the car is Lao Chi, the captain of Yanjing's Royal Guard. This time, he was specially ordered by the Empress Dowager Xia to be Princess Jinyu's personal guard." Xu Jingan whispered next to Ning Yuan, obviously knowing this person. big man.

The big man Lao Chi held the four horses pulling the carriage with only one hand, and after the carriage stopped, he knelt down beside the carriage without saying hello to the people waiting at the Confucian Pavilion, and said in a low voice: "Princess, we're here."

Ning Yuan couldn't help looking towards the direction of the car curtain, and saw a snow-white hand wearing rings of various gems opened the car curtain, and a tall girl came out, Lao Chi immediately stretched out his arms, raised and lowered Arranged in a ladder shape, the girl stepped on Lao Chi's arm and got off the car steadily.

It was only at this time that Ning Yuan could clearly see the whole body of the Jinyu princess. I wonder if this is the general nature of the nobles of the Xia Kingdom. It is not an exaggeration to say that the princess is full of golden light. The dazzling bracelets on her neck, the gold rings on her neck, and the gold hairpins on her hair seemed to turn her into a big walking gold nugget.

Of course, a girl's appearance is also a sign of first-class, her skin is as thick as fat, and her small oval face, especially her pair of eyes with hidden glances, is very pitiful. On the contrary, she has a pair of The black and thick curved eyebrows vividly set off that beautiful face with a bit of heroism.

It has long been heard that there are many mineral veins in Daxia. The most important thing in the homes of high-ranking officials and nobles is gold and precious stones. It is very common for noble ladies to go out with a lot of jewelry to show their status. It can be regarded as a scene in Yanjing. Now looking at this Ning Yuan felt that the dress of Princess Jinyu was not a lie.

After the girl came down, the curtain of the carriage moved again, followed by a tall man wearing a mask. Ning Yuan looked up, his eyes moved, and he didn't speak.

Huyan Yuanchen naturally noticed Ning Yuan's gaze, and twitched the corners of his mouth helplessly, but now is obviously not the time to explain, as soon as he got out of the car, Princess Jinyu hugged his arm very affectionately, as if coquettishly said : "Brother Chen, you told me that the Confucian Academy is the sacred place of the Great Zhou's Guoxue. After reading it today, if the name is not worthy of the name, then you have lost the bet."

"It's natural." Huyan Yuanchen said calmly, obviously resisting the girl's closeness, but he didn't push it away because of his affection, so he glanced at Ning Yuan unnaturally, but Ning Yuan didn't care. He was talking to Ning Zhongkun in a low voice, as if he didn't pay attention to him anymore, but Meng Zhifan's eyes were obviously gloomy, showing a trace of coldness.

Xu Jing'an had already gone up to meet him, and when he talked about the scene of greeting, Ning Yuan lowered his eyes on the surface and made a calm posture, but he was actually a little laughing in his heart.

He still understood that the lack of news from Huyan Yuanchen for so many days was probably related to the Princess Jinyu, and it was also the reason why he left in a hurry after receiving the letter that day.Naturally, Ning Yuan would not believe that Huyan Yuanchen neglected him because he neglected the other. This is not like the character of the other party. Presumably this famous and unruly princess had some means to trip him up, so he couldn't tell himself.

In the final analysis, he is also the Prince Yongyi of Da Xia, and he has lived in Da Zhou for a long time. Since this princess who is completely doted on by the Xia Kingdom has come, he must be the first one to look for him.

"This is the Confucian Academy? It looks quite dilapidated. This gate is not even half the size of our Yanjing Wan Xuetang." Murong Yu, the princess of Jinyu County, looked at the gate of the Confucian Academy and curled her lips contemptuously. I don’t know where the self-confidence of your Zhou Dynasty came from, but even a holy land of Confucian scholars is so dilapidated, yet you still have the nerve to claim to build a country based on Confucianism.”

Xu Jing'an's face froze. The Princess Jinyu said such inappropriate words when he first came here, which made him feel annoyed, but considering the identity of the other party, he could only suppress his anger and continue to follow up.

Murong Yu probably also knew that the Confucian Academy was a place for scholars, so he left all the thirty guards he brought outside, and he only brought Lao Chi and a few other entourages inside, but this man like an iron tower As soon as they stepped into the courtyard, many people in the courtyard immediately cast their suspicious gazes on them and their group. Seeing Xu Jingan and other officials in the hall accompanying them, they showed curious expressions for a while. Finally, when they saw the golden light The shiny Murong Yushi's eyes were all straight, not only amazed at this girl's eyebrows, but also amazed at the dazzling precious jewelry on her body.

Murong Yu was very dismissive of those gazes, and even ignored Xu Jingan's words. Disdainful look.

Ning Yuan walked back early and took the opportunity to look around in the crowd, feeling a little strange that Yan Fei, who had been by Huyan Yuanchen's side all the time in the past, was nowhere to be seen, except when the two of them were alone, Hu Yanyuan Even if Chen is entering the palace to attend a banquet, Yan Fei, as a close servant, should stay close to him. Ning Yuan thought about it, and couldn't help but cast his eyes on the dark-skinned man Lao Chi, but Lao Chi seemed to feel his Gaze, looked back at him, just such a glance, Ning Yuan felt his heart tightened, and the inner strength of his body that he didn't use much on weekdays was rapidly stirred up in the meridian, which almost made him lose his composure, and hurriedly dropped his eyes again, but his mood Li had already begun to think quickly.

This Lao Chi is definitely a first-class insider master!Ning Yuan was horrified in his heart, no wonder he was able to be sent to be the guard of Princess Jinyu, just a look in his eyes almost made him lose his true energy. Eunuch Qi, who is known as the number one expert in the palace, next to the princess, has only encountered it before.

And Lao Chi saw that Ning Yuan avoided his eyes so quickly, and even his face turned slightly pale and then immediately returned to rosy. In addition to the surprise in his eyes, he looked at Ning Yuan more with interest. A few glances.

He, Lao Chi, was entrusted by the Empress Dowager Xia to protect the safety of the royal family. Naturally, he has some real skills. In addition to his iron shirt that can split gold and stone, there are few opponents. The skill "soul-destroying eye" is even more unique. This skill is also used from wild beasts. Many ferocious beasts will concentrate their aura on their eyes to frighten their prey or opponents weaker than themselves. Lao Chi After comprehending this skill, he relied on this hand to defeat many masters who were comparable to him in martial arts. It was called a unique skill. Just now, when he looked at Ning Yuan, although he didn't use all his strength, he also showed some momentum. If it was an ordinary scholar, he might be so frightened that his feet would limp and his buttocks would sit on the ground, but Ning Yuan returned to normal with only a sway of his body, as if he had a good internal strength.

Taking another look at Ning Yuan's thin but not weak physique, Lao Chi hooked the corners of his mouth and turned back upright.

He suddenly felt that he really couldn't underestimate Da Zhou, a place full of scholars turned out to be Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

No one around noticed the strangeness of Lao Chi and Ning Yuan, and the group of people still crowded around Murong Yu in a crowd of stars. Among them, Ning Zhongkun was the most attentive, and squeezed directly to Murong Yu's side, and began to chat casually , Murong Yu's eyes were already very disgusted, but looking at the robe on Ning Zhongkun's body, which indicated that he was a first-class prince, he knew that this person was not low in status, and he did not do anything too outrageous. Otherwise, if it was someone else, he would dare to bother him like this , Let Lao Chi cut off his hands and feet as a punishment.

"His Royal Highness, not far ahead is the Book Collection Pavilion of the Confucian Academy. This pavilion is one of the two major book pavilions of the Great Zhou Dynasty with the Book Collection Pavilion of the Hanlin Academy. It contains tens of thousands of volumes of books, all kinds of classics. It can be said that These two libraries alone contain the ways of scholars and sages accumulated over thousands of years in the Great Zhou Dynasty, would the Princess be willing to take a look inside?" Xu Jingan said this with a sense of pride, because he knew that such a place had always been They definitely did not have any servants who they regarded as barbarians. After seeing the princess Jinyu enter and see so many classics, he must feel ashamed and unable to say the insolent words before.

Unexpectedly, Murong Yu laughed lightly, his expression was full of disapproval, and even his contempt became stronger, and he said: "What's the use of just hiding a lot of classics, the more classics are hidden, no one has the ability to comprehend them, that's useless yes."

Murong Yu spoke so bluntly that Xu Jingan was stunned again, but before he could open his mouth, Murong Yu raised his eyes and continued, "My Great Xia has a vast land, vast land and abundant resources, and there are countless capable people and strange men. In terms of these innocuous collections, it is indeed inferior to Da Zhou, but when it comes to the talents of Confucian scholars, I don’t think you Zhou people are much better than our servants, and you even claim to be the best in Chinese studies. Seriously Ridiculous."

"You!" No matter how good-tempered Xu Jing'an was, as a Da Ti student, under such repeated ridicule, he finally could not bear it any longer, and said bluntly: "I didn't know that Da Xia was so talented. , What the princess means is that I feel that my Zhou people are no better than your Xia people in the way of Chinese studies?"

"That's pretty much what this princess means." Murong Yu was not polite, but his words became even more aggressive, "My lord, let me tell you the truth, I just heard Eldest Sister say that Da Zhou is better than Da Xia in Confucianism , I came to your country specifically to see how capable the Confucian scholars in your country are. Don’t look at me as a girl, but I have followed my brothers in and out of Yanjing Wan Xuetang since I was a child, and witnessed countless talented scholars. How can I let my sister grow others' ambitions and destroy her own prestige."

"In this way, what His Royal Highness the Princess means is that he thinks that the talented scholars of Great Xia are more capable than my Confucian scholars of Great Zhou, and my reputation as the number one in the country of Great Zhou is just a false name, right?" At this moment, Ning Yuan's light voice came out.

Murong Yu narrowed her eyes, landed on Ning Yuan behind, and said, "Who are you?"

Ning Yuan took a step forward, "I'm in charge of the Confucian Academy, and send greetings to His Royal Highness Princess Jinyu."

"Then you can be regarded as the head of Confucian scholars here?" Murong Yu looked at Ning Yuan again with great interest, "What you said just now is good, and you can also be regarded as the princess of this county. That's what you mean, nothing else, just look at it Look at the shabby appearance of your so-called holy land of Confucianism, tsk tsk..." She said, brushing a pillar beside her with her fingers, dusting her fingers with a disgusted expression.

"Since the princess said so, even if the official is aware of the abruptness, he still wants to argue with the princess." Ning Yuan smiled and said, "Does the princess know the name of Master Zhu Shixing?"

"This person is a great writer of my generation in Da Xia, so the princess knows it naturally." Murong Yu showed a smug expression.

"Although Master Zhu Shixing is a native of Xia, he has the reputation of a generation of literary giants. Even in my Great Zhou Dynasty, he is extremely famous. At the beginning, he assisted the Emperor Daxia to reform the old system with the way of Confucianism, eliminate the centralization of the army, pay attention to people's livelihood, and open the exam. The imperial examinations taught the emperor to govern the world with Confucian kingly ideas, and once made the country peaceful and peaceful in Daxia, and its national power reached its peak. Although it did not change the foundation of Daxia's establishment of the country by force, it was also the pioneer who created Daxia's Confucianism."

"It seems that Zhu Shixing's reputation is indeed very good." Murong Yu thought that Ning Yuan was flattering her, and laughed a few times, "You Zhou people think that they build a country with Confucianism, but you still worship our ancestors. Man, really..."

"In this way, the princess doesn't know that Zhu Shixing is actually a teacher of my Great Zhou literary figure, Mr. Su Dao?" Murong Yu was taken aback by what Ning Yuan said immediately.

"Is there such a thing?" Murong Yu was confused, "How could Master Zhu Shixing be the apprentice of you Zhou people?"

"Master Xing is low-key, and the princess seldom reads the books of sages and sages, so it's possible that he doesn't understand the details." Ning Yuan said with a smile, "At the beginning, Zhu Shi Xingshi came to my Dazhou specially to learn the king's way of thinking. At that time, under the name of Mr. Su Dao, a literary giant, he studied with Mr. Su Dao for [-] years, and even regarded Mr. Su Dao as his father. Among the several volumes of classics brought back by the master, he was the most famous and the most famous at that time. The book "On the Way of Kings" that I liked was sorted out and excerpted from several Confucian works written by Mr. Su Dao, and this matter is still a good talk among scholars in my Great Zhou Dynasty."

"Then, so what!" Murong Yu's face was a little ugly, "Even if this is true, it's because Zhu Shixing was born out of blue, and you Zhou people stand still!"

"Really, how many of the books and classics in the Wan Xuetang that the princess said were written by you Confucian scholars?" Ning Yuan continued to ask.

"This……"

"However, I know that the Four Books on Governance, "On the Way of Kings", "On National Policies", "Miscellaneous Notes of the People of the World" and "The Official History of the Scholars", which have always been put on the sidelines of the Great Xia Emperor, are all written by our Confucian scholars of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Not only that, when the two countries were still able to trade freely, the most popular commodities in my surrounding customs, apart from food and other materials, were scriptures and books written by various Confucian scholars. Dragon and Phoenix, why do you care about things written by people like me who stand on our laurels?"

Ning Yuan spoke unhurriedly, but it made Murong Yu's complexion even more ugly, "The princess only thinks that my Confucian House is simple, so I predict that my great Zhou talent will wither. It is not as good as Da Xia. It is too narrow. Scholars who know me don’t always like to make exaggerated appearances, because it goes against the way of sages and sages. As the saying goes, if the mountain is not high, there will be a name if there are immortals; if the water is not deep, there will be spirit if there are dragons. So what, as long as there is the spiritual strength of the Confucian scholars of the past dynasties here, no matter how small or broken it is, it is also a holy place for Confucian scholars like us. Zhou’s words, as the saying goes, are called…”

"Golden jade is beyond the surface." Before Ning Yuan finished speaking, Huyan Yuanchen took the conversation back naturally, and looked at Ning Yuan with a smile at the same time.

Xu Jing'an's face was full of joy, she had been ridiculed by Murong Yu so much that she could hardly get up, but she didn't want Ning Yuan to help him out, and took advantage of the opportunity to mock Murong Yu for sitting in the well, and immediately felt happy, and ignored them There happened to be a few onlookers in the distance who were filled with righteous indignation when they heard Murong Yu's words, but now that Ning Yuan blocked him back, they even began to applaud.

But Murong Yu's expression was so ugly that it couldn't be more ugly. He couldn't understand the meaning of Ning Yuan's words. When she grew up so big, she was always the one who mocked others. When no one mocked her, this person was so courageous. !