Chapter 119 The Filature's Style

After the cavalry returned from Wula Hai City and re-stationed at the Yuetai camp, they unknowingly spent the spring breeze, summer months, and autumn rain of Jianyan's seventh year in daily training. Time flew by, and it was already the twelfth day of the eighth month. Although the cavalry had always been required to train daily according to Cao Jiao's standards, large-scale exercises were costly in terms of food and salaries. Therefore, Qu Duan, the cavalry commander, stipulated that collective training would only take place every five or ten days.

On this day, they first roughly practiced formation coordination, and the remaining time was used to assess individual martial arts training results. Not only would those who had only learned fancy moves be reprimanded by the captain or even expelled, but even the skillful foreign soldiers who excelled in both horsemanship and archery had to practice the methods of using knives, spears, cudgels, and the Shenbi crossbow that had been passed down from the Imperial Guard Army. This was also in consideration of real combat situations. After all, on the battlefield, no one would specifically give you the opportunity to decide the outcome solely by archery. Otherwise, Qu Jiedu would not have been so panicked after Lou Shi's charge on Mount Yao.

After all four teams had finished their exercises, thinking that this was the last full-army training session before the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, Qu Duan simply instructed his personal guards to order a feast from the best restaurant in the capital, and also prepared Blue Bridge Wind and Moon wine. He then hosted a banquet in Yuetai, inviting Liu Qi, Li Shifu, Zhang Zhongfu, Zhang Zhongyan, and other senior cavalry generals. Since Qu Jiedu was giving them such a rare honor, the generals naturally responded enthusiastically.

With pipa and Qiang flutes playing, wine was set up in the central army camp. Naturally, there were no beautiful women singing and dancing in Qu Duan's command. However, Liu Qi came from a family of generals and was meticulous in everything. The young duke was also known for his inner refinement. Even Qu Duan could quickly gather people's hearts if he said less about his literary and martial abilities.

After the wine had passed through three rounds and the dishes had been tasted five times, Qu Duan even personally left his seat to offer wine to each of the generals. As mentioned before, it was rare for Qu Da Jiedu to give face, so the generals no longer acted coy. They gradually loosened up in their words, gambling and boasting, exaggerating their achievements, and dreaming of the Northern Expedition three years later, determined to immediately establish meritorious service, be granted titles for their wives, and secure hereditary positions for their children. Some even got so excited that they directly went down to the field to compete with each other, and Qu Duan laughed and let them go.

After offering wine to Liu Qi and Li Shifu, he turned to the Zhang brothers. Qu Duan bent down and poured the wine, but did not hand it out. Instead, he looked at Zhang Zhongfu with a meaningful gaze: "Although this is not our border's strong wine, a sip of nectar can evoke a hundred feelings. Blue Bridge Wind and Moon can roughly be called Jade Gate Wine. Xinfu and Caifu, can you drink this cup?"

Zhang Zhongyan subconsciously looked at his elder brother. Amidst the clamor and the shadows of weapons, Zhang Zhongfu stared at the superior he had followed for nearly twenty years, from Zhenrong Army to the present. He smiled slightly, whether it was killing enemies or annexing colleagues, he had done everything he should and shouldn't have done. However, he still had the lofty aspirations of his youth, once promising to be the best in the army. The scene of defeating the enemy and composing poetry in the past was still vivid in his mind.

Autumn wind chills the border horses, the setting sun shines on the Han banners.

You sing the song of joining the army, I urge you to drink Jade Gate Wine.

What is always on my mind? I miss the willows of Yanyun.

Zhang Zhongfu took the initiative to snatch the wine with both hands and drank it all in one gulp, without noticing the complex expression on Xiahou Yuan's face not far away. He cupped his hands heroically: "I am willing to follow Jiedu." Zhang Zhongyan also drank his cup to the fullest beside him.

The atmosphere gradually rose, and in the end, Qu Duan, Liu Qi, and Zhang Zhongfu even used "moon" as the theme, and took the opportunity to wield their brushes and splash ink. Qu Duan composed a seven-character quatrain, Liu Qi composed a poem according to the tune of "Partridge Sky," and Zhang Zhongfu also composed a poem, namely "Mo Shan Xi." As for Li Shifu, he displayed the excellent traditions of ethnic minorities, and went down to the field to perform horsemanship and spearmanship, which was exquisite and unparalleled among the cavalry. In the end, even some people from Wang De's Imperial Guard Central Army next door gradually gathered around to cheer and applaud.

It was precisely on this evening that they drank and feasted in Yuetai, taking advantage of the year for poetry and wine; one day they would ride their horses across Yanyun Prefecture, and break the arrogance of the enemy with feathered arrows.

Bianjing City was neither small nor large. The people of this dynasty loved gossip, so two days later, even Zhang Jun heard about the incident of senior cavalry generals gambling on poetry in Yuetai. On this day, after discussing and finalizing the festival rewards for the Imperial Guard armies with Liu Ziyu of the Ministry of War in the Western Government Festival Yamen, he mentioned the matter in jest. Liu Ziyu complained somewhat: "Qu Da has always been one to stir things up. Even if there is a reason to encourage his cavalry, he shouldn't have made such a show in Yuetai. How will the other Imperial Guard armies see it?"

Zhang Jun was also trying to suppress a smile: "I heard that Wang Zihua complained to his personal guards that Qu Jiedu should not show off his skills on paper, but rather come down to the field and fight him for twenty or thirty rounds." Liu Ziyu quickly covered his face with tea and also secretly smiled. It should be known that Qu Duan could not even beat Wu Jie, let alone Wang De, who could rank in the top three in terms of martial prowess among the ten Jiedus.

"Then Qu Jiedu is willing to suffer this loss?"

"With Qu Da's temperament, how could he? He had the Little Duke of Li drink a jar of Blue Bridge Wind and Moon and then take the field on his behalf."

"...He is too mischievous."

The two unceremoniously discussed one of their own Wood Party members. Liu Ziyu suddenly became serious and said: "Qu Jiedu's actions reminded me that tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival. According to custom, the three provincial ministers and the important ministers of the six ministries must present poems praising the emperor. Although the emperor is frugal, many old customs have been discarded. But after these years of hard work, we can now be considered to have a clear and bright government, right? We must not be like Hu Mingzhong of the Eastern Government, who has outstanding private morals. We should still consider the emperor's happiness. The Prime Minister knows that I am not proficient in poetry, but I must turn back to Xun Zihui for help. Deyuan, please stay, don't see me off."

With that, Liu Ziyu directly waved his sleeves and went out, leaving Zhang Jun barely maintaining his composure. Moreover, Zhang Deyuan had always prided himself on being the emperor's closest person, and did not reject the act of seeking favor, and was even quite proficient in it. He had also thought about the Mid-Autumn Festival praising the emperor. It was just that he had been busy with court affairs and military affairs during this period, and had temporarily put it behind him. Being reminded by Liu Ziyu, he remembered that he seemed to have not prepared his Mid-Autumn Festival poems yet.

It's troublesome.

In fact, Zhang Shuxiang, as a graduate of the Taixue, was not afraid when it came to the classics of Zi, Ji, and Jing. He could even take off his official robe, put on a scholar's robe, and debate with the students. He could also write prose, and he was even more adept at studying principles and researching Yi.

However, wasn't that emperor who loved Qingci still three hundred years away? Now he still had to write poetry. For the current plan, he could only find a ghostwriter like Liu Ziyu.

However, among his own party, Lin Jingmo and Lu Zhi were not good at such trivial skills as poetry. Yu Yunwen was still in an outer province, and Liu Qi had packed his bags and went to see his brother who was still working as a helmsman on the Yellow River, also moonlighting as an ice cutter, after returning from Yuetai. Qu Duan was both literary and martial and was also in the capital, but with Qu Da's temperament - did Zhang Deyuan not want face?!

As for Lu Benzong, who was incompetent in everything but created the Jiangxi School of Poetry, just as Qu Duan was unwilling to face Li Shifu easily, Zhang Jun was also unwilling to bother this Zhongshusheren easily. After all, his father Lu Gongxiang... was still very prestigious.

Helplessly, he could only bother his brother Yuanzhen again.

At night, with three stars in the sky, Zhang Jun went to Zhao Ding's residence alone without any attendants. It was rare for a certain Dongfu Xiangong not to work overtime to handle government documents, but was pruning several pots of flowers and plants outside the study. It was the season, and the Jianlan orchids were blooming in purple, the cluster chrysanthemums were blooming in yellow, and several osmanthus trees on both sides were also spitting out jade beads, and the fragrance of heaven lingered around his body. However, the plum blossoms and wintersweet in the corner of the wall had not yet bloomed, and the strong branches slanted, reflecting on the window paper under the moonlight, creating an interesting scene.

Seeing Zhang Jun's arrival, Zhao Ding slowly put down his rolled-up sleeves and led Zhang Jun into the study with a gentle movement. The fresh air slowly, and the rich fragrance of osmanthus was also a little weaker after being sent through the doors and windows. After the two sat down, a waiter sent tea and then routinely closed the door and retreated. Seeing this, Zhang Jun took out a small sandalwood box from his sleeve and handed it to Zhao Ding with a smile.

Opening it, it was neither the newly blended incense that Zhang Deyuan had sent before, nor the Huanhua paper or the Tinggui pine smoke, but just a few lotus seeds. Zhao Ding pondered for a moment, smiled lightly and said: "The lotus seeds have become old lotus leaves, is Deyuan using the lotus seeds to imply that he wants me to be a matchmaker for Fen'er?" He was originally slender and elegant, and this smile made the dimples on his cheeks more obvious, setting off his moon-white cloth and casual clothes, a good charm of "the wind is suitable for a clear night, the dew is suitable for autumn".

Zhang Jun reached out and grabbed his sleeve in a smooth manner and asked: "Can these lotus seeds be worthy of Brother Yuanzhen's writing fee?" Zhao Ding pondered slightly, then knew that Zhang Jun was here for the festival praise poems, and was hard to hold back a smile: "A few lotus seeds may not be enough, Deyuan must also be willing to follow Li Bai's old deeds and grind ink and spread paper for me." Zhang Jun raised an eyebrow when he heard this, and went directly to the desk to take the inkstone and ink ingot, raised his eyes and smiled: "Just this matter, what's impossible."

After the ink was dissolved, Zhang Jun hurriedly urged Zhao Ding to pick up the pen, but he turned back to sit down and drink tea. Zhao Ding has always been simple in his habits, the tea at home is ordinary new tea, the cup is also ordinary plain porcelain, the candle is specially given by the official family, probably because he disliked the smell of grease and cotton wick burning polluting the osmanthus fragrance, Zhao Ding rarely matched it with a lampshade, making the candlelight more gentle, falling on Zhang Jun's hand holding the tea, revealing a handful of jade color.

While deliberating, the poem was completed in an instant, and at this time Zhang Jun had not finished drinking half of the tea in his hand. Zhang Jun hurriedly put down the teacup, looked at Zhao Ding, and said depressedly: "Brother Yuanzhen's poetry and prose are better than mine, but he can't be said to be very good at this, how could he write it so quickly?" Zhao Ding coughed, looked up at the roof beam of the study, and replied: "Since it is a ghostwriter, I must imitate Deyuan's style to a higher level, this is not difficult."

Zhang Jun took a deep breath of tea and osmanthus fragrance, forget it, forget it, he should see what Brother Yuanzhen wrote, as for this verbal advantage, he can always get it back in the court. Seeing the slender and white fingers taking the plain paper, Zhao Ding's heart moved, and he whispered and teased: "Is the eyebrow painting deep or shallow in time?" Zhang Jun understood the hidden meaning, and also returned a smile: "Brother Yuanzhen really knows himself to be bright and even more hesitant."

"Then Deyuan must remember to write the words neatly when copying, now the official family is not the Daoist Emperor of Shaolin Temple, who does not understand the 'freehand' state in your writing."

A few clangs.

It seems that a certain Xifu Shuxiang who was complained by Li Xiantai as a "vase" is doing some frivolous acts of harming "the same kind".

Since ancient times, fame and fortune have also been hard, and who will you entrust your actions to in the end?

At that time, it was still dark and misunderstood, and the last customs were even more chaotic.

Street talk is especially foolish; rumors and gossip are the most murderous.

Ten days after the Mid-Autumn Festival, a rumor gradually spread in the streets of Bianjing, saying that the two government ministers in the east and west pretended to be incompatible on the surface, but in fact they had close private exchanges, jointly excluding dissidents, blocking the court, and isolating the inside and outside. Someone even said with certainty that he had seen Zhang Shuxiang secretly meet Zhao Shuxiang on the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, and that Zhang Shuxiang even came out of Zhao's mansion with a spring breeze on his face, which added a lot of reality to this rumor.

On this day, Zhang Jun and Zhao Ding were summoned into the palace by Zhao Guanjia. After leaving the palace and returning to the mansion, Zhang Jun closed himself in the study and pondered for a moment, and after a while, he sent his confidant servants to the mansions of the Zhuge members of his Wood Party to send invitations.

When the Zhang Mansion people arrived, Qu Duan was arm in arm appreciating Xiahou Yuan lifting stone locks on the edge of the martial arts field specially opened in the mansion. He was very excited. Xiahou Yuan was born with divine power. At this moment, he was practicing with his upper body naked. Two large stone locks of about one hundred catties were actually danced by him with a fierce wind. The old soldiers who gradually gathered around also cheered loudly. An old doorkeeper led the Zhang Mansion's subordinates over. After the visitors respectfully explained the whole story, Qu Duan took the invitation, but after thinking for a while, he waved his hand casually: "Please reply to Zhang Shuxiang, this official will definitely be there." He said in his mouth but his eyes did not leave the martial arts field, and when he reached the most exciting point, he blurted out involuntarily: "Good!" The subordinates of Zhang Mansion had long been accustomed to the style of this Yu Ying cavalry commander, and did not take it seriously. He resigned neatly and retreated.

Qu Duan watched for a while, then suddenly remembered that on the evening of the Yuetai Poetry Conference, because many colleagues in the army asked Xiahou Yuan to toast, Xiahou also came to refuse, but in the end he was drunk. Qu Duan thought that he was a good old friend, and personally helped him to rest in the barracks. When he frowned and took off his armor for his little drunkard, Xiahou Yuan suddenly opened his eyes and looked directly at him, his eyes clear and bright like the moonlight in the middle of the sky, "The lonely lamp is not bright and I want to die, I roll the curtain and look at the moon and sigh in vain." These two lines of moon poems were uttered by Xiahou Yuan word by word, and his voice was like gold and iron.

"Beauty is like a flower separated by clouds," Qu Duan continued without stopping, and couldn't help reaching out and flicking Xiahou Yuan's forehead: "Which high-ranking family's little lady has been seen, so lovesickness is tormenting?" Xiahou Yuan ignored him and closed his eyes and turned over and buried himself in the quilt as if he were asleep.

Thinking of this, Qu Duan stroked his chin and pondered. Xiahou Yuan is now over thirty years old, and he still doesn't have a family, which is too outrageous. He glanced at Xiahou, who had put down the stone lock in the martial arts field and started practicing the wolf's tooth stick, and Qu Duan sighed secretly in his heart. In fact, Xiahou looks quite like the "ordinary Ding Peng Young Xia" in the storyteller's mouth. Every time he rides a horse out of the street, there are always many sachets thrown at him by the crowd. I don't know which girl Xiahou Yuan has set his sights on, and the marriage has been delayed again and again until now. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Qu Duan repeatedly asked, but Xiahou just didn't say, and when he was forced to ask, he threw down the eight headless words "Shenwu Gate, flowing water and bamboo" and slipped away. Qu Duan thought that most of the Shenwu Gate area was composed of civil officials and elegant scholars. His reputation among the scholars was not very good, so he asked the Little Minister Lin to inquire about it. The opportunity of Zhang Shuxiang's night banquet tonight was just right.

At night, everyone gathered together, and Qu Duan was surprised to find that Lin Jingmo not only brought his very close nephew Mei Li, but also brought a group of family prostitutes, saying that how could there be no singing with a night of wine, so they were all raised at home since their parents, and their lives and future were tied to the owner's family, and the tone was very strict but it did not prevent them. Zhang Jun was unwilling to disobey the face of this "Lin Jiuzhang", so he set up a screen to isolate a group of musicians in the outer hall, and let them sing the tune of the official family's new "Legend of the White Snake", and after sitting down in the main seat, he rarely took the initiative to mention the street rumors.

Lin Jingmo, Qu Duan, and even Mei Li, all had unmoved faces. Qu Duan almost laughed in his heart: Is this it? Is this it? Is this little thing also worthy of your Zhang Deyuan calling people here to engage in gang gangs? Lin Jingmo shook his head repeatedly: "The current official family is not ordinary, I'm afraid I am still happy that the two Xiangong are decisive and able to reconcile, and there is no break in the fight, so that the upper and lower levels can work together to cooperate in the Northern Expedition." But Lu Zhi suddenly became excited, stroked his beard with his hand and smiled smugly: "Otherwise, the two governments in the east and west should have a look of contention. It should be known that for thousands of years, the art of court weighing is the right thing."

Qu Duan chuckled and only felt that the words of this Minister Lu were unreasonable, and his heart was crooked, and the focus was afraid of being biased. Sure enough, then he heard Zhang Jun say in a long voice: "Just as Shen Mu said, the official family summoned me and Brother Yuanzhen into the palace today, but he greatly praised us for doing our duties and working together to cross the same boat." Lu Zhi sighed, and actually seemed quite regretful, but Liu Ziyu had been worriedly looking at Zhang Jun just now, and at this time, when he heard the words, he relaxed and applauded: "The official family is brilliant!"

Qu Duan secretly rolled his eyes and only felt that this Zhang Xiangong was worthy of being the biggest lucky villain, and he now understood the purpose of Zhang Deyuan calling people over tonight. It was nothing more than a set of generous words such as "be patient and be a country, and concentrate on the Northern Expedition", and he was too lazy to answer for a while, and slowly went to scoop up the bowl of glutinous rice wine on the table - and said that Zhang Shuxiang's family was worthy of being a famous family in Shu, and the cook in the mansion had a good skill, and at the same time he did not forget to stare at Lin Jingmo with his eyes. This publicly recognized Neixiu Hubu Shangshu's way of sending music girls to Zhang Jun was too tough and unreasonable, and there must be a reason for it. Feeling Qu Duan's probing gaze, Lin Jingmo turned his head and blinked at Qu Duan, Qu Duan was stunned, and then lost his smile, and once again lowered his head to scoop the glutinous rice wine, after all, only Zuan and food could not be disappointed. As for Xiahou's little cub's private affairs, I will talk about it later!

Nine Two, be wary, yell, don't worry about Rong in the dark night.

At this time, Liu Ziyu was talking to Zhang Jun about going into the alley: "The Lu Xiangong in the southeast has quite a wrist. With him suppressing it there, it should not allow the Jiangnan Daoxue and the officials who were dismissed between Baima to collude, and this matter should have someone behind the scenes." Then he glared at Qu Duan, and continued to share incessantly: "The two envoys are weak. If there are any military leaders of the Xijun who dare to disobey orders, I want to say that they should learn from Lu Yihao Lu Xiangong and cut them all cleanly! If the Lu Xiangong had been sent to appease Guanzhong at the beginning, according to the domineering and soaring nature of Qu Dutong, I am afraid that half a lifetime of wisdom, courage and fame would have been buried in the newly built tombs of Beiman with stone unicorns and weeds. Even if I go, it will be the same."

Hearing this, Lin Jingmo frowned and stopped, reached out and lightly pressed the Mei Li nephew who was a little panicked under the seat, and got up from the seat in an elegant and leisurely posture and turned to the outside of the screen, and seemed to tell the music girls something between the shadows. Lu Zhi narrowed his eyes, stroked his beard and watched coldly without speaking. Zhang Deyuan's heart was suddenly shocked: Because of the Yaoshan discord at that time, Liu Ziyu and Qu Duan were quite at odds, and every time they secretly targeted each other, but tonight I don't know how Yan Xiu was, his words really lost his measure, and he put the point of private discord on the Ming side, which was very inappropriate.

Qu Duan threw down the spoon, sneered, and originally wanted to open his mouth to ridicule, but he happened to hear the tactful and clear White Snake chanting words outside the screen turn into depression and desolation at some point:

"Yesterday Ju Shou died in the army, today Tian Feng died in prison."

Qu Duan was suddenly stunned, and then went to see Lin Jingmo again, and saw that he nodded slightly, but it was rare to open his mouth with a peaceful and calm voice: "The rivers and mountains have not changed, and the people have moved several times. If we wait for Guanzhong to be lost, what is the significance of our life's career, whether posterity remembers it or not?" The singing words outside the screen continued, causing Lu Zhi to also frown and listen.

"If Xu You's plan is seen and used, how can the mountains and rivers belong to Cao's family."

Zhang Jun only felt that tonight's party was a mistake, rubbed his throbbing forehead, and urgently took some other words to pull Liu Ziyu's attention. The sound of the pipa outside the screen became more and more urgent, and suddenly a string sounded like a crack in the silk -

"The pillars of Hebei are all broken, how can Benchu not lose his family and country!"

The west wind was noisy with bamboo, and autumn rain fell outside the window.

Qu Duan was already feeling impatient, and at this time he excused the autumn rain and left first. Seeing this, Lin Jingmo also apologized to Zhang Jun and left with Mei Li. After leaving the Zhang Mansion's gate, Qu Duan immediately thanked Lin Jingmo solemnly for his help in the seat. This Little Minister Lin also shook his head and smiled lightly: "Mao Xiu once mentioned to me that since he entered the dynasty, he has always felt that this Minister of War has a high intention to kill people. I have done this to only hope that Yan Xiu can change his nature a little." Qu Duan once again looked up and down at Mei Li, turned around and smiled at Lin Jingmo: "This is your family's Xunling." After saying that, he did not hold an umbrella, but rode away in the autumn rain.

Liu Ziyu lingered with Zhang Jun for a while, and when he was the last one to leave the mansion, the autumn rain was already dense, and the drizzle fell like silk and thread from the eaves on the side of the road. The streets were blurred and stretched into the distance like smoke and mist. Liu Ziyu waved his hand and dismissed his servants, and did not take a carriage, opened an oiled paper umbrella that was the same blue as the rain, lightly tucked the brick-red robe, and slowly walked on the almost empty streets, and suddenly lost his smile after a while: "That singing word is talking about me!" The paper umbrella moved lightly, the person under the umbrella looked up at the sky of rain, shook his head, and then lightly shook the sleeves of his left hand behind him. A faint fragrance of roses was integrated into the rain between the movements, which inexplicably reminded people of "powerless red makeup lying on late branches".

"The clouds are dark and gloomy, the rain is misty... How can we sit together and talk about our life?" The chanting sound became lower and lower, and finally disappeared into the end of the long street along with the straight figure like a sword.

Nine Three: Stronger than stubbornness, there is danger; the gentleman is decisive and walks alone, meets rain as if wet, there is resentment, no blame.

A few days later, the street talks that had already subsided reignited, but the content was changed, and it was about Qu Duan's status as one of the ten Jiedus, a real power Dutong of the army, who had very close private contacts with the Xifu Shuxiang Zhang Jun and the Hubu Shangshu Liu Ziyu, and there was suspicion of collusion between civil and military officials. Xiahou Yuan rarely lost his temper, walked back and forth anxiously in the study, and his right hand made a fist and smashed it on the palm of his left hand quite resentfully, "Why do these censors not let go of even the ridiculous theory in the mouths of ignorant people! Jiedu, they just can't get along with you!" Qu Duan sat upright behind his desk, chuckled, and kept wiping a precious sword in his hand. Xiahou Yuan recognized at a glance that the sword was still made in Guanzhong in the old days. "Bright pearl and Job's tears, after all, are only in the monarch's thought. Xiahou, you are concerned and confused. The current official family's tolerance is as broad as that of the ancient saints. You don't have to worry, let's see!"

Sure enough, it was sparsely sent to the imperial desk, and it was all dismissed, and the matter was settled.

Nine Five: Amaranth and land are decisive, and there is no blame in the middle.

Autumn goes and winter arrives, and spring comes, on the third day of March, the Shangsi Festival. The official family specially allowed a day off, but specially issued an edict to summon Yang Yizhong to accompany him in the inner palace.

On this day, Qu Duan did not go out, but entertained a rare guest in the study, but it was Hubu Shangshu Lin Jingmo, and the two talked for a long time, until a pot of tea was filled, Lin Jingmo got up and said goodbye. Qu Duan sent the people out in a daze, and returned to the study again, thinking of the Wang Sizong, who was "strict in controlling his subordinates, especially arrogant and cruel" in the early days of this dynasty, which the Lin Shangshu specially pointed out when he was talking, and was silent for a long time. And Lin Jingmo's last sentence when he was parting, "Qu Dutong is afraid that he has found the wrong direction, but he is afraid that the drunkard's intention is not in the wine, Qu Dutong is also literary, and he should know that Xiahou Xiaowei is using allusions." made Qu Duan tremble.

Sighing, Qu Duan heavily knocked on the stack of letters on the desk, his brows furrowed even tighter. The information in the letter was quite detailed and complete, and there were mostly civil servants and monks in the vicinity of Shenwu Gate, but there was no news of any "green bamboo flowing water family" with a woman of the right age. He turned his head and looked at Xiahou Yuan, who had been standing beside him from the beginning, pretending to be a wooden man, and sighed again.

The room was silent, and the spring willows and spring flowers covered the heavy door.

It was still the arrival of the two Zhangs that broke this pervasive embarrassment. Probably because of the festival, the two Zhangs also changed into civil officials' costumes today. Zhang Zhongfu glanced slightly at the words on the table, and had some understanding in his heart. He glanced at Xiahou Wooden Man, shook his head and smiled to relieve the siege: "Why don't Jiedu take advantage of this festival to go out with my brothers and have some fun? Don't live up to the good spring colors, and Xiahou's affairs will be discussed later!" Qu Duan was upset because of Xiahou's intentions, and originally wanted to refuse, but suddenly thought of the light willow breeze and the red apricot branches, his heart moved, and the words came to his mouth and turned into agreement. Only when he was about to go out, he gritted his teeth and let Xiahou Yuan follow: "Go to the horse stables and pick a good horse, and let your poor mule rest!"

When he spoke, it seemed that a raccoon cat jumped over from the bushes and flowers.

The four rode their horses slowly along the Bian River, and they saw the wind and dew containing the fragrance of flowers, and the spring waves rippling in the sun, and the tour girls on the left, and the songs and pipes were transmitting new sounds. The song said: "Even though the cup and plate are casual, the wine is beautiful and the plum is sour, and it is worthy of people's hearts. Don't laugh at the flowers inserted in the drunk, it's a pity that spring is like people will be old." The four couldn't help but stop their horses and listen. After a song, Qu Duan clapped his hands and praised: "Li Anjushi's excellent words, such a mind, no wonder the official's works often borrow Li Anjushi's name." When talking and laughing, Qu Duan did not forget to observe his own guard's attitude towards the beauties of the Bian River, but every time he turned his head, he always met Xiahou Yuan's sincere gaze, and the more he looked at it, the more he felt suffocated, and finally couldn't help but speak in a low voice and question: "You have wasted so much time, and you are over thirty years old and you don't have a son or half a daughter under your knees. If that person doesn't respond to you, what will you do in the future?" Xiahou rarely boldly folded a flower and handed it to Qu Duan, and smiled and said: "This flower is well-bloomed, does Jiedu want to wear it too?"

Qu Duan fixed his eyes on the lilac flower that "illuminated his eyes and still looked like a pile of brocade", his heart was stunned, and he refused Xiahou Yuan to wear flowers for himself in a panic. The two Zhangs pretended not to see, leaving Xiahou Yuan alone on the side in grievance: Obviously, I used to wear flowers for Jiedu in Guanzhong, why did Jiedu become more and more restrained when he arrived in Beijing!

At the same time, in a restaurant on the Bian River, the former Taixue three-member group was also gathering together during this holiday, and they also heard this new word from afar, and they all praised: "No wonder the official family would rather mention Li Anjushi than mention the two concubines." Zhang Jun shook his head repeatedly: "This is the official family's private affairs, we should not mention it again." Zhao Ding personally poured him a cup and asked earnestly: "The street theory turmoil in late autumn last year, although it was a false alarm, but Deyuan is really not suitable for inviting me and Hu Mingzhong to a banquet in a big way today."

Zhang Jun picked up the wine cup and sipped it lightly, and smiled with his eyes open: "A mere small skill can't be put on the table, I only hope that Brother Yuanzhen will not be unfamiliar with me from now on." Hearing this, Hu Yin put down his chopsticks, and just wanted to speak, but Zhao Ding preempted him: "We made a life and death friendship in the difficult situation of the country, and we have met a wise lord, and we have been supporting each other all the way to the present. Now I am the prime minister, and you are the hub of the phase, we should jointly trấn the temple. Even if we have wings, we can also discuss the wind and moon together. Deyuan is right, I am restrained." Hu Yin wanted to interrupt, but Zhang Jun had already held Zhao Ding's hands: "Today is the Shangsi Festival, Brother Yuanzhen, don't mention state affairs and military politics, we will only discuss private friendship." Zhao Ding looked at him for a while, and smiled slightly, feeling comfortable in his heart.

Hu Yin was blocked from speaking one after another, looked left and right, and simply flicked his sleeves and stood up: "This foolish brother still has documents at home, so I won't be here to get in the way of the two brothers' eyes, goodbye!" After saying that, he ignored Zhao Zhang's rising to retain him, and resolutely turned around and went downstairs. Hehe, I, Hu Mingzhong, shouldn't have come to today's game! It's better to return home and repay the Song Dynasty and the official family to be happy. In the elegant room, Zhao Zhang looked at each other and felt a little ashamed. A raccoon cat jumped from the railing to the window frame in a timely manner, with a leisurely posture, but its eyes flashed with the light of watching the excitement as if it was understanding people.

When night came, thousands of lights gradually lit up on the Bian River, and shone with the newly rising moonlight in the sparkling water. Such a good night, even Liu Zihui went out to play, but Liu Ziyu was drinking in the mansion. Looking around, only Lu Zhi, who had great ambitions, accompanied him. "Things go a thousand years and still hate the speed, and when sorrow comes, one day is long." When the wine reached the depths, Liu Ziyu threw the pot and sang. Lu Zhi shook his head repeatedly, but he ignored him, only slowly sipping the jade liquid in his cup, and looked blankly at the crow's nest on the Wuyi in the middle court, "The moon is bright and the stars are few, and the crows fly south, three times around the tree, which branch can they rely on?" The walnut in his hand turned more and more urgently.

A raccoon cat didn't know where it jumped onto a branch, startling a flock of crows, and then this flexible figure like electricity jumped into the deep night in the distance, going straight to the inner palace. Not long after, Yang Yizhong, who had been standing at the palace gate for a long time, gently caught the raccoon cat, and the way he hugged it carefully and joyfully seemed to be hugging a country.

Thousands of years of city walls, thousands of years of moon, a few people's history, a few barren hills.

When the moon reached the middle of the night, Qu Duan's mansion was still very lively, and the old soldiers in the mansion stirred up a barbecue stall, making a fuss to continue to have fun. Amidst the noise, Qu Duan turned back and forth to twist the full branch of red apricots that Xiahou Yuan had stubbornly stuck on Tie Xiang after being rejected from wearing flowers, and suddenly turned around and asked Xiahou Yuan: "Are you still not telling me the truth?" Xiahou Yuan's hand shook, and then he stabilized his mind, and looked directly at his own Jiedu without dodging: "Since I saw the peach blossoms, I have not doubted it until now." Qu Duan nodded with a smile, but sighed lightly to the sky again.

Beside him, several peach trees were shining brightly under the