sirius

Dachen, the capital of Yuanjing.

More than 200 years ago, when the Liang Kingdom was in prosperity, several extravagant and licentious emperors emerged in a row. They not only built the palace bigger and bigger, but also expanded it when there was not enough space. After further expansion, it will become the number one city in the world that has never been seen before or since, and is known as the capital of heaven.

But because of the extravagance that has lasted for generations, Liang Yu's digging of the canal seemed to be throwing money into the Qin River, which overwhelmed the Liang State. After being burned, the magnificence and magnificence no longer exist. Even after more than 200 years, the Dachen Liguo has been unable to restore five or six out of ten of the past in the past century.

Some people lamented that it was a pity, while others said that the burning was good. Everything that year was like the rain last night, leaving only the water droplets on the eaves and the wet mud on the ground. imagine.

When Qi Xiao stood outside the Xiyang Gate for the second time, he seemed to feel that the city wall had become a little shorter. Back then, it seemed as if it towered into the sky, but now it is no more than that. It is taller and thicker than the city wall of Yongcheng, but it can no longer stop He Qi Xiao came and went.

The carriage stopped, Tang Ling didn't have to get out of the car, she just sat in the car and raised her eyes to look at the towering city tower and the guarding soldiers on the tower who looked like stone carvings and iron casts. The deterrent power of a city gate is comparable to tens of thousands The Huwei army lined up on the banks of the Taihua River.

People are like ants, life is difficult and death is easy, the country is like a summer flower, prosperity is momentary and defeat is momentary, but this city has stood for hundreds of years, experienced countless ups and downs, and the fire burned down the bustling, but the city tower remains the same, the fire seems to be only in the past. It has a layer of dust on it, just brush it away.

Tang Ling breathed a sigh of relief unconsciously, he finally arrived, the capital of Dachen Kingdom, Yuanjing City.

The exchange of protons among countries was a common event in the Eight Kingdoms era, but it has never happened since the founding of the Great Chen, and there is no precedent to follow. In the imperial edict of the Chen Kingdom, Tang Ling was named a "Suwei Lang", but Chen Guo did not have a Suwei. For an official like Lang, the adults in the Ministry of Rituals could only bite the bullet and greet Tang Ling according to the etiquette of envoys from other countries. As soon as they entered Yuanjing, they placed Tang Ling in the Tong Guild Hall, which was the former site of Langhuan Palace.

As early as two months before Tang Ling entered Chen, Zhou's envoy followed Lu Fangjin to Yuanjing to discuss peace, and after half a month of negotiations, he sent a letter back to Zhou, agreeing to enter Chen with Tang Ling as a hostage. Conditions, only now.

And these envoys are still in Yuanjing City, and they all live in the same hall.

It's just that Tang Ling never expected that Qi Xiao, who was supposed to part ways with him at the gate of the city, followed him all the way, and even followed him all the way to the guild hall, swaggeringly and staying there.

Qing Lan couldn't hold back anymore, and asked Ji Mingtang, the Minister of Rites who received them, "Master Ji, the prince of Chu is the prince and prince, why is he staying with us in the hall?"

Ji Mingtang said: "Although the King of Chu is a prince, he has conferred titles on him, and he has no estates and houses in Yuanjing. According to the laws of Chen Guo, when a vassal king enters Beijing and treats his foreign ministers together, he can temporarily live in the same guild hall.

There are east and west courtyards in the same guild hall, and Tang Gongzi and envoys are in Huaxi Bieyuan on the west side. "

In fact, not only is the crowned prince returning to Yuanjing, but every year officials from various state capitals come to Beijing. If they have nowhere to go, they will live in this hall. Much more.

Qing Lan breathed a sigh of relief silently in her heart. One thing and one thing are irrelevant, but it's okay, if she wants to live next door again, Qing Lan won't be able to sleep well at night.

From the outside, the same guild hall seems to be an ordinary courtyard with high gates and nothing special, but it is only after entering the hall that it is very large. It took a stick of incense to walk from the gate to the Huaxi courtyard. Since entering Chen Kingdom, Tang Ling has never been there again. Walking through so many roads, the pavilions, pavilions, corridors and curved bridges along the way are all the specifications of the imperial palace. The Huan Bie Palace is like a fairyland on earth, comparable to the Heavenly Palace in Yaochi, but it was a pity that it was burned down to the ruins. It took Chen Jianguo more than ten years of repairs to have the current Tong Guild Hall. Envoy, it's quite a demonstration.

"Mr. Tang is exhausted, so the subordinate officials will stop bothering you."

Ji Mingtang sent Tang Ling to the Huaxi other courtyard, and bid farewell to them at the gate of the courtyard.

"Master Ji has worked hard, please go slowly."

Entering the Huaxi Bieyuan, seeing Zhou Guo's envoy Chen's own people, Qinglan let out a long sigh: "Young master, we have counted."

Tang Ling was still not at ease, but with a smile on her face, Yu Qinglan said: "Go and clean up first, I have a discussion with Mr. Huang."

The Master Huang that Tang Ling was talking about was Huang Zexian, the envoy of Da Zhou's envoy to the Kingdom of Chen and the counselor of the Privy Council.

Huang Zexian likes delicious food, and he has raised himself to be extraordinarily rich and round. In addition, he is not tall, which makes him appear rounder.

Huang Zexian knew that Tang Ling would be here today, so he greeted him outside the guild hall early in the morning. When Ji Mingtang was there just now, he just followed by and didn't say anything except a few polite words of greeting.

Qing Lan was dismissed by Tang Ling, Huang Zexian led Tang Ling into his room, closed the door, turned around and gave Tang Ling a big gift: "My lord."

"What is Master Huang doing?" Tang Ling hurriedly reached out to help him up.

"It was me who waited for no use, that put you in danger. I'm sorry for Da Zhou, sorry for Your Majesty, and sorry for Lord Hou!"

Huang Zexian had been in the Privy Council for many years, and he was also an old man who was with Marquis Xun An. To put it mildly, he watched Tang Ling grow up.

Before he came to Chen, he knew that this trip would not be easy. Since Chen had won the Taihua River, he would not be kind.The little prince has just turned two years old, and His Majesty is still young, this poisonous plan is clearly aimed at Marquis Xun An.

The Taihua River was defeated, and Marquis Xun'an was about to be scolded by thousands of people. If he loses the dignity of the royal family and sends the prince out of Chen, His Majesty will hate Marquis Xun'an to death. However, the internal affairs of the Great Zhou were unstable, and Chen had an opportunity to take advantage of it. If the estrangement was successful, Marquis Xun An would be killed by His Majesty, or be forced to rebel, no matter what, the Great Zhou would be overthrown!

Marquis Xun An was in a dilemma. He sat in his study all night and went to court the next day. He asked himself to use his son Tang Ling as a hostage to enter Chen on behalf of the prince.

Tang Ling is the son of Marquis Xun An, pinching Tang Ling is like pinching Marquis Xun An, pinching the Great Zhou garrison by the Taihua River, it is much more useful than the prince who is still in his infancy, not to mention Tang Ling is extremely intelligent and scheming , is a serious problem for Chen Guo, and now Tang Ling can be imprisoned in Yuanjing without spending a single soldier, it couldn't be better.

"Master Huang, Uncle Huang, my father made this arrangement because he knew it well. If you don't go into the tiger's den, you won't catch the tiger's cubs. We haven't lost."

Huang Zexian understood what Tang Ling meant, but he still couldn't bear the uneasiness and guilt in his heart. He only felt that he was incompetent.

"My lord, we heard that you were in danger again and again as soon as you entered Chen, and you were going crazy. Fortunately, you are fine."

"Thanks for your help."

Tang Ling smiled, thinking of Qi Xiao's sudden appearance on the Long Street of Yongcheng that day, there was quite a dramatic effect in the picture book depicting the coming of the gods, which was extremely exaggerated and deliberate.

"Where is the King of Chu...? I have inquired that the King of Chu left the capital six years ago. His biological mother, noble lady Lin, is not favored and has no mother's family background. She is the most inconspicuous among the many princes of Emperor Chen..."

"Since King Chu is back, let's just wait and see."

Tang Ling interrupted Huang Zexian's exploration of Qi Xiao, and asked something else, "Master Huang, what is the current situation in Yuanjingzhong?"

"Young master asked us to pay attention to the west, but we didn't find that Chen Guoyou had the intention of transferring troops to the west. Lu Fang was still in Yuanjing, spending his days and nights, and had no intention of returning to Linjiang Mansion. After careful investigation, we found that Yuanzhou The prefect of the prefecture suddenly died suddenly, the cause of death is unknown, and the new prefect has not yet been determined."

Huang Zexian asked back, "Young Master, why did you ask about Yuanzhou Mansion?"

Tang Ling took a sip of tea, put the cup down slowly, tapped her little finger on the case, and said, "The person who wanted to kill me in Hukou Gorge was sent by Qi State, and should be an assassin from the Office."

Huang Zexian was taken aback for a moment, but he wasn't too surprised. Qi's assassins made sense. If Tang Ling wasn't hired by Zhanshi, it would probably not be possible to kill Tang Ling. He also couldn't take poison after the incident, without leaving any clues.

"My lord, besides the Occupation Office, the Tiance Camp is also suspected."

Since the war of the Eight Kingdoms a hundred years ago, it has been common for countries to arrange spy killers for each other. After more than a hundred years, Chen, Zhou, and Qi all had their own secrets and turned to act secretly. In the office, Zhou Guoxing, Luo Wei, and the capital are all well aware that they are fighting secretly, which is another hidden battlefield among the Three Kingdoms.

Tang Ling nodded: "The second time in Lanquan, I guess it's Tiance Camp."

Huang Zexian frowned, and said: "Qi State doesn't want me, Da Zhou, to have a truce with Chen, it's best for us to keep fighting, and we will lose both. Assassinating Young Master in Chen State's territory is the best way.

But since Emperor Chen agreed to use the young master as a hostage to threaten Lord Hou, why did he kill the young master and angered Hou Ye and Da Zhou? "

"Fall the blame on Qi."

In four simple words, Tang Ling pointed out the key point. If the Zhanshi Office can assassinate once, there will be a second time. If Tang Ling dies, it will be the work of Qi State and has nothing to do with Chen.

Huang Zexian's heart tightened, and he couldn't help sweating on his forehead: "How can the young master break it?"

Regardless of whether it is Qi or Chen, Tang Ling's conclusions may lead to war again, and will turn tens of millions of people into rivers of blood and bones into mountains.

"As you said, Chen had no reason to hurt me in the first place.

After the Hukou Gorge accident, I checked the king of Chu's mouth, and I can confirm that it was the Qi State.

When I arrived in Yongcheng, the king of Chu left me to recuperate in the palace. During this period, Su Qin only stayed on duty overnight, but did not force me to go on my way. It must have been checked in detail and confirmed. "

Tang Ling paused for a while, as if she was thinking about something, and said quietly, "The second time at the post station in Lanquan Town, the weapons used were completely different from those in Hukou Gorge.

When the king of Chu captured that man, he cut off one of his arms. Later, Qing Lan went to treat his injury. I asked Qing Lan to try it. "

There are many mountains and forests in the state of Qi. Chichigrass is a weed that can be seen everywhere. It has a pungent taste and a stench after cooking. Hanging on the beam to repel snakes and insects, everyone knows it, no one knows it.

Huang Zexian nodded. Based on what Tang Ling said, the identity of the assassin in the post station in Lanquan Town can basically be confirmed, but they can't say anything about this matter, and they can only pretend that they don't know.

The author says:

I was pigeonholed yesterday, so I need to make up, and there will be more tomorrow