treacherous world

Those who should come will always come. After many days of careful preparation by everyone, the Jade Appreciation Conference finally came as scheduled.

The long street in front of Kaifeng Mansion is full of jade shops and stalls set up by jade dealers from all over the place. Even the shops selling snacks and herbal tea are booming. Many people buy jasper-colored dumplings and rice cakes, attracting many children. .

People who love jade from all over the place and young men and women in Kaifeng Mansion all ran out. In short, the streets were full of people.

In Kaifeng city, everyone sells jade products for play, but in the palace, there are priceless jades.

Ouyang Shaozheng brought all the officers and soldiers of the city to guard the streets and alleys of Kaifeng City, so as not to cause any trouble due to crowds and confusion.The palace is even more heavily guarded. Zhao Pu personally leads people to guard the palace to protect the safety of the palace. It is not known how much disturbance there will be today. He hopes to lure the snake out of the hole, draw the trouble out, and then solve it outside the palace.

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang took Pang Yu and Bao Yan, and the four of them walked together in the imperial garden. The Jade Appreciation Conference was held in the imperial garden. The atmosphere is worthy of Mr. Bao's style of action.

And during this process, Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang kept paying attention to that piece of jade crane feather intentionally or unconsciously, waiting to see if anyone approached it.

However, today's arrangement is quite reasonable. On the one hand, Zhao Zhen is in charge, and on the other hand, the people who come in to appreciate the jade are all veterans, and their movements are slow.The Empress Dowager came to join in the fun with Concubine Pang holding Xiangxiang in her arms, and Xiao Liang, the fourth son, walked aside with Rock Scissors, acting like a little guard.

Zhan Zhao looked at the two children with a smile, and remembered the feeling of childhood sweethearts again.Just looking at it, I saw a pink and tender peach appeared in front of my eyes.

Zhan Zhao was stunned for a moment, then turned his face, and saw Bai Yutang took out a big, plump peach from the fruit plate on the side table and put it in front of his eyes, "Eat this, biting the fourth son, Gongsun should feel sorry for him."

Zhan Zhao scratched his cheeks, took the peach, took a bite, and immediately raised his eyebrows at Bai Yutang, signaling——sweet!

Bai Yutang looked at him, leaned over, "Give me half."

Zhan Zhao looked at that there were still a lot on the plate, so he pouted at him and signaled——take it yourself!

"The other ones may not be sweet." Bai Yutang chose a nonsensical reason, Zhan Zhao wrinkled his nose, stretched out his hands to pinch the two halves of the peach, and broke it along the sunken gap...Peaches are juicy peaches. His cheeks seemed soft.As soon as you break it open, the core will come down.

Zhan Zhao indifferently handed the other half to Bai Yutang, the half he had bitten off himself, so that he could eat one more bite, while picking up the peach pit with his toes, and jolting it lightly.

The peach pit flew to the side of the fruit plate on the table and landed impartially.

Zhan Zhao bit the peach as if nothing had happened, and when Bai Yutang picked up the half peach, he put his hand with the soup behind his back, just as Prime Minister Wang came over to look at the piece of jade behind him, Zhan Zhao took the soup on his hand without any trace. Wipe the old prime minister's sleeves.

Turning around, seeing Bai Yutang gnawing on a peach helplessly while looking at himself, he gave a smirk.

What's strange is that Prime Minister Wang looked back behind him and saw that the two shared a peach, and smiled inexplicably...how should I put it, that smile was a little ambiguous, Zhan Zhao thought it was a bit weird anyway.

Looking back, I saw many ministers passing by, and they all smiled at them, seeing Zhan Zhao looking at them, they quickly lowered their heads to look at Yu.

Zhan Zhao leaned over and asked Bai Yutang in a low voice, "Could it be that these peaches are very expensive?"

Bai Yutang laughed dryly, "That's right, it's expensive."

"Then hide two more?" Zhan Zhao asked in a low voice, "One for each person when we go back."

Bai Yutang also wiped the soup on the sleeve of a passing servant, reached out and picked up the peach pit and put it in his pocket, "Go back and plant in your yard, in two years, there will be a tree full of peaches to eat gone."

Zhan Zhao nodded, and glanced aside, Zhao Zhen accompanied the empress dowager to look at the gilt crane feather not far away, while Concubine Pang carried Xiangxiang and took the fourth son out of the courtyard and went to the backyard.

"Concubine Pang is gone?" Zhan Zhao asked Bai Yutang.

"Maybe it's time for feeding." Bai Yutang said indifferently. At this moment, the Queen Mother picked up the Liu Heling and looked at it carefully, and several ministers with their daughters also walked over.

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang looked at each other - they understood why Concubine Pang left, who said this concubine was stupid?There is no one in the Pang family who is not shrewd.

At this time, the Grand Master came over and whispered, "Oh, that old man Fang and old man Chen both want to recommend their daughters to the emperor."

Both Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang wanted to laugh, thinking why did the grand master tell them this?

"Really!" Grand Master Pang's words were so unhappy.

Prime Minister Wang also leaned over behind him, "Grand Master, don't worry, the old man sees that the emperor has no intention of accepting a concubine anymore."

Grand Master Pang sighed, rubbed his belly and sat down beside him, looking up at the sun above his head.It was hot at noon, and he was fat and sweaty.

Seeing his appearance, Zhan Zhao poured him a cup of herbal tea, leaned over and asked, "Teacher, do you see anything wrong?"

Grand Master Pang took the tea, looked at Zhan Zhao with raised eyebrows, and said with a smile, "I said Guard Zhan, you are much more likable than Lao Bao, and Heizi knows how to be angry with me."

Zhan Zhao glanced at Bai Yutang at the side, but Bai Yutang was speechless and looked away with a smile.

Bao Zheng, who was explaining to the Queen Mother not far away, sneezed suddenly.

"Ahem." Grand Master Pang lowered his voice and said to Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang, "Look at that end."

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang looked at the place indicated by Taishi Pang's eyes, and saw that what Taishi pointed to was other shelves for storing jade, surrounded by a few old officials sparsely, stroking their beards and discussing there.

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang looked at it for a long time, but they didn't see anything wrong, so they asked the Grand Master, "What's the problem?"

"Hehe." The grand master shook his head, "Did you say you two are tender, and then look at Lao Bao."

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang went to see Bao Zheng again.I saw him thinking about the Queen Mother's introduction of Liu Heling's origins, and from time to time, he glanced at a group of old officials gathered around him with his peripheral vision.These veterans are not from Kaifeng, but sent jade from other places to pay homage, and it is the first time to enter the palace to face the saint.

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang looked at each other, wondering why Mr. Bao wanted to see some veterans?

Grand Master Pang smiled and shook his head, "Think about it, how many kinds of officials are there in the palace?"

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang thought about it, and answered honestly, "Corrupt officials and honest officials."

"Correct answer." The grand master was quite thick-skinned, "Would honest officials be interested in jade?"

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang thought for a while, "Hmm..."

"They may be civil servants interested in the history and origin of jade, just like that sunspot. They don't care about facial features at all. Just look at those generals who are sitting around drinking tea and chatting." Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang nodded, thinking that this was the reason, so they listened to the grand master continue.

"Corrupt officials, let me tell you, the corrupt officials in the imperial city have seen a lot of gold, silver and jade objects! Do you still care about these?" The grand master curled his lips, "Besides, what are corrupt officials most afraid of?"

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang said in unison, "Lord Bao."

"Ahem..." The grand master glared at the two of them, feeling a little helpless, "Let's not talk about that sunspot, corrupt officials are most afraid of others knowing that they are corrupt, especially the emperor!"

Both Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang squinted at Grand Master Pang.

Tai Shitian smiled, "So, they will try their best to show that they are not interested in all valuable things!"

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang nodded again, then what?

"Tsk..." Pang Ji shook his head, thinking that these two children are really not expected to be officials, and then said, "The thing that corrupt officials are most keen on is naturally flattering, so you see! Those who are more greedy in the palace are not you. I don't know, those who want to send their daughters into the palace are all surrounded by the queen mother. Everyone else is quietly watching the emperor's face!

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang were taken aback for a moment, and looked over - it really is!

"Once they see that the emperor is interested in some girl, wouldn't that chance come?" The grand master laughed, "Also, most upright officials are quite noble, and their virtues are worth two to five to eighty thousand. Like sunspots, get rid of these people... Officials who have never met in other places, who are sneaky and try not to attract attention, and those who pretend to be looking at jade at home, are neither honest nor corrupt."

"What kind of official is that?" Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang were both taken aback.

The grand master really wanted to reach out and knock the foreheads of the two of them, but he didn't dare. He sighed, "Fake officials."

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang were excited, as if enlightened, they glanced around hastily for a week, and sure enough...they saw the veterans who caught Bao Zheng's attention, which fit the grand master's description, and ah, these people became more and more weird the more they looked at each other. . =

The two of them had just glanced at each other before they were dragged back by the grand master's sleeves, "You two are so upright, look at them more, and see what others think!"

Only then did Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang understand, and they saw Prime Minister Wang stroking his beard, and not far away, the Eighth Prince was also looking this way with a jade bottle.On the other hand, Zhao Zhen was leaning on a shelf at the side, and glanced here from time to time, his movements were extremely casual, but he could notice it when he looked closely.

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang looked at each other in frustration - they were both old foxes!

The grand master smiled, "You guys, don't underestimate my Pang family."

Both Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang were taken aback for a moment, and saw that Pang Yu had dragged Bao Yan for a stroll past at some point, and asked those suspicious old ministers, "Hey, my lords, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Bao Yan looked so naive. Seeing Pang Yu greet them, he leaned over to look at the piece of jade, and said, "Ah, this is the cold jade from Xiling, it's a treasure." The sun in the sky said, "This jade is aura. The bigger the sun is, the whiter it will be. During the dog days, it will have the same color as snow, with snowflake patterns on it, and it will be very cold. Such a piece of jade puts Indoors, it is a good thing to escape the heat!"

"Yes?" Pang Yu patted the stiff-faced old minister beside him, "Is this jade from Xinlin? My lords are originally from Xinlin. I've been to that place, the mountains are clear, the water is green, the birds are singing and the flowers are fragrant."

Bao Yan frowned, wondering if Pang Yu had a big tongue?It is Xiling, not Xinlin!But before he could refute, Pang Yu stomped on his heel quietly, causing him to jump in pain.

Those ministers nodded stiffly, "Hehe... yes."

Bao Yan rubbed the back of his feet, feeling something was wrong, and saw Pang Yu looking up and down, left and right, "Oh, this is Mr. Wang? Why is his beard all white?"

The white-bearded old man laughed again, and said, "Master Hou is laughing, time flies like an arrow."

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang looked not far away, and saw the Empress Dowager put down the gilded crane feathers, tapped her back, and said to the emperor, "Oh, Ai's legs hurt after walking a few steps."

Zhao Zhen hurriedly asked Chen Banban to help the queen mother go up to the back, and all the officials continued to look at the jade, but they didn't look at those officials anymore, and they all wandered outside the imperial garden intentionally or unintentionally.

Zhan Zhao winked at Bai Yutang—there is no such place as Xinlin, and the officials at the other end of Xilin are not named Wang. He has seen the roster before, and the officials who presented Xiling Hanyu were named Chen, Shen, and Liu.It can be seen...these people were transferred hastily, maybe before entering the palace, it seems that the original three officials may be more or less ominous.

What do these people want to do by sneaking into the palace temporarily?

Seeing that Pang Yu had completed his merits, Zhao Zhen nodded slightly to him not far away, and dragged Bao Yan, who was still stupid, back.

Bao Zheng sighed, and Zhao Zhen jokingly said, "Bao Qing, your son and An Lehou really get along very well."

Bao Zheng smiled helplessly, "This child is like her mother. She was clever and has a good memory since she was a child and was very arrogant. In terms of shrewdness, she is not as good as An Lehou."

Zhao Zhen smiled and shook his head, "Does each have their own strengths? I think he is a man to be made. Uprightness is more important than smoothness. First be upright and then slowly move around. Sooner or later, he will be round... ...This autumn test, be sure to let him participate."

Bao Zheng also nodded, left Zhao Zhen, and went to Pang Ji and the others.Seeing that Pang Ji was still sitting, Bao Zheng frowned, "Fatty, it's your turn!"

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang were a little confused, where did this song come from?

Pang Ji stood up, strolled to Zhao Zhen's side, and praised Liu Heling with a calm face.

Xue Yixing also saw it, and hurried over to ask, "The Grand Master likes it? You can give it as a gift."

The grand master waved his hands, "How dare you!"

"It's okay." Xue Yixing continued politely.

Zhao Zhen seemed uninterested, he stood up and went to the back, and the old ministers who came to match his daughter hurriedly followed.

Pang Ji pulled Xue Yixing's wrist aside, and said in a low voice, "Well, General Xue, you are a junior, so I have no reason to take advantage of you, right? How about this, I will exchange Liulijue from the pre-Qin period with you!"

Xue Yixing opened his mouth wide, "Grand Master, how can I do that? Liuli Jue is a divine weapon!"

"Hey, let me tell you the truth, general." The grand master smiled, "This jade is almost exactly the same as the one in my house, except that the position is reversed. When it is connected together, it feels like a piece of jade. The old man wants to keep it for his granddaughter. I will do the dowry later."

"Oh..." Xue Yixing said "oh", but suddenly realized it from the bottom of his heart!He seemed to know why those people wanted him to send this Liu Heling to the palace - it turned out that the other party felt that this Liu Heling was incomplete and wanted to match another piece.And the person who owns another gilt crane feather must know the secret, so he must do everything possible to get it.Regardless of whether Taishi Pang really owns that piece of jade or not, it is only reasonable for him to take the blame in the entire palace!Who doesn't know that he is a big corrupt official, and a big corrupt official is such a treasure!

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang were also a little discouraged, looking at Bao Zheng at the side, when did these two make a plan?When did you guess it? It really is unfathomable!

Bao Zheng stroked his beard, as if to say - so many years, it is not in vain!

Xue Yixing pretended to hesitate for a while, and finally nodded, "Then... I'm on your side."

"Where did you say that?" Taishi Pang stretched out his hand and patted his shoulder, "You and I have a lifelong friendship with Taishan."

Bao Zheng pouted at the side, and said to himself, you fat man, don't bury Weng Guogong, he has been a soldier all his life, and if he can make friends with you, if he is looking at him, he won't beat you.

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang knew it well, now they just need to keep an eye on those people, for tonight, they will enter Pang's mansion to steal.

Nangong Ji, who has been watching secretly, also arranged shadow guards to keep an eye on the Grand Master's Mansion!