Chapter 373 Meeting the King of Huai'an
Capital!
After entering winter, the whole city became more and more deserted day by day, and even the vegetation in the palace garden gradually withered.
The gardens that used to be colorful and colorful are now desolate at a glance.
Today, Xu Zhenguan finished handling the government affairs as usual and went to the Xiuwen Hall to inquire about the follow-up of several matters.
After Mr. Zhengyang left Beijing, the orthodox debate over her accession to the throne was replaced by the struggle between Xin Xue and Old Xue.
The arrest of a group of scholars who were secretly recorded and arrested by Zhao Duan also made this round of attacks from Yunfu Daomu Palace a failure.
In addition, what the government and the public are most concerned about is naturally the opening of Nanfang Huting.
It is clear that they are thousands of miles apart, but overtly and secretly, the eyes of all the important figures in the government and the public are fixed on the Hu Pavilion in the south.
Waiting for the final results.
"Rust, rustle..."
In the imperial garden.
While Zhao Duan was shamelessly writing love poems in the memorial, Xu Zhenguan, the empress of Yu, was standing quietly on a stone bridge over a stream in the garden.
She did not apply makeup, her face as cold as a fairy lowered her head quietly, overlooking the dead leaves falling with the water in the stream under the bridge.
Occasionally swirling, as if there are infinite mysteries in this simple scene.
“Your Majesty.”
In the distance, Mochou walked over.
After the weather got cold, although the empress was not afraid of the cold due to her strong cultivation, she still wore the same clothes, but the other female officials in the palace changed into thicker clothes.
Mo Zhaorong was wrapped in a cold-proof jacket, and his whole body was a little plumper. This may be shocking, and he said softly:
"After winter, the whole garden It’s too desolate to see, and your majesty has no place to enjoy the scenery. Why don’t you go to the Tianshi Mansion and invite a priest who majors in the ‘Spring God’ to reverse the four seasons in the palace?”
A few years before the old emperor's death, Xu Shi had a premonition that his time was running out. Whenever the midwinter came, he would be unhappy to see the palace desolate.
Every time, the priest is summoned to the palace to summon the "Spring God" to come, so that the flowers in the imperial garden bloom and the grass and trees turn green. Although it does not last long, it is indeed a rare beauty.
Xu Zhenguan shook his head gently and sighed:
"Reversing the seasons, wouldn't it be a serious injury to the vegetation? The vegetation is like the common people, and the king's thoughts can affect the fate of countless people. The sages once said that you should govern by doing nothing and recuperate. Although I don’t fully agree with it, there is truth in it.”
Mo Chou said seriously:
“Your Majesty’s kindness is a blessing to the people of the world. The opening of the market this time is a policy that benefits the people. For the Yu Dynasty, even if it is disturbed, it is good."
How could she not understand the meaning behind the empress's words just now. ?
Xu Zhenguan smiled and asked:
"Has any news been sent back from Huting?"
Mochou shook his head and said: "Not yet."
Xu Zhenguan was not surprised and said softly:
"Looking at the days, Zhao Duan should arrive. I don't know if this trip will go smoothly. My uncle Wang is not an easy person to get along with. And that one Xu Jinglong..."
When she mentioned this name, disgust appeared in her eyes, and she said:
"I wonder what kind of trouble he is going to make again"
Mo Chou. Rarely speaking for Zhao Duan, he said angrily:
"With Mr. Zhao's intelligence and skill, he will definitely not suffer a loss, but Xu Jinglong should seek happiness for himself."
As the personal maid of the third emperor's daughter, how could she not know the bad nature of Xu Jinglong, a sanctimonious hypocrite who disregarded etiquette and wanted to marry the emperor's sister?
“Let’s not mention this person anymore,” Xu Zhenguan changed the subject and asked with a smile:
“Are you here for something?”
Mo Chou nodded and continued. He took out two envelopes from his sleeve and said:
"The letter above was handed over from Xiping Road. It said that the Dharma King of the Western Regions sent a team to enter the customs. If there is no accident, they came to Shenlong Temple."
Xu Zhenguan Not surprising.
The last time Prajna Bodhisattva visited the Zhao Mansion at night, it had exposed the current anxiety and tension in Buddhism.
The conflict between the ancestral court of Buddhism in the Western Regions and the Shenlong Temple branch of the Yu Dynasty has been around for a long time.
From the court's standpoint, the Xu Dynasty was actually happy to see Buddhism split.
"The following letter contains some internal news from Shenlong Temple, about Nagarjuna Bodhisattva and Great Pure Master."
Mochou explained:
"Unlike Prajna Bodhisattva, these two people have been abbots in Buddhist temples outside the capital all year round. This time they should have been affected by the actions of the Dharma King of the Western Regions, and there were some changes. The shadow guard reported that these two people have left the temple where they are, and their whereabouts are unknown. ”
The so-called “missing place” does not really disappear out of thin air.
But the Jianghu shadow guards are not capable of tracking these two powerful men in Shenlong Temple who are only under the abbot Xuanyin of the "Heavenly Realm" and are as powerful as the Prajna female nuns.
"Have you left?" Xu Zhenguan was thoughtful, but he could not know the specific movements, so he had to say:
"Continue to keep an eye on it."
"My slave takes orders."
Xu Zhenguan raised his head, looking at the huge spire of the Shenlong Temple outside the imperial city with a slightly melancholy look, and said softly:
"I am focused on the New Deal now. As long as you don't interfere with it, Enter the secular world and fight as you wish, but if someone insists on being dishonest, don’t blame me for being biased.”
……
……
Huting. , Humble Administrator's Garden.
After Zhao Duan finished writing the letter to the empress, dusk fell. The sun sets in the west, and then the sky and the earth get dark little by little.
Zhao Duan walked out of the room, greeted Haitang and others, and went out for the appointment together.
Tonight he declined the request of Feng Ju and other officials to hold a banquet for him. Instead, he was invited by the princess to enjoy the night view of the city with the princess, the "host".
A group of people met at the gate of the Humble Administrator's Garden. Xu Junling led a group of people. They didn't even take a car, so they went shopping in plain clothes on foot.
After all, Huting is just a "county town", and the main city is not big.
Only go to the most lively and prosperous areas, just walking is enough.
"It's so lively. There are more people here than in the capital at night."
Zhao Duan walked on the street and looked at the antique buildings covered with lanterns.
The shops on the street are bustling, and people are coming and going, as if they were not inferior to those in the daytime.
Xu Junling said with a smile:
“Although the capital is the best in the world, it is too solemn after all. There are too many places with curfews at night, but this Ten Mile Lake Pavilion is the most crowded with merchants and goods. There is naturally a lot of business there
Moreover, merchant ships on the canal can dock at any time, day or night, but it was not so lively in the past, mainly because the court was about to open the market, and there were too many wealthy people coming to the city recently. "
Zhao Duan nodded.
They walked on the street. Although there were guards around them to vaguely separate the crowd, they attracted some people's attention.
But Xu There were too many big shots in the city recently, and the night was dark, so the men and women on the street were not surprised by the crowds of people like them.
I just thought they were the young masters of some big family. The lady is out for fun.
“You said you wanted to treat me to dinner, where are you? "Zhao Duan asked with a smile.
Xu Junling raised his hand and pointed to a tall building in the distance with lanterns that was very eye-catching in the night, and said with a smile:
"The scenery of the lake pavilion is in the smoke. Suo Lake, but the only place in the city that can have a panoramic view of Yansuo Lake is Dafeng Tower. ”
……
……
As the highest-standard restaurant in Huting, Dafeng Restaurant can be ranked among the top five restaurants in the entire Huai River.
The restaurant is in the shape of a tower, with a total of six floors.
Except for the top floor which is for decoration, banquets can be held on the bottom five floors.
Especially on the fifth floor, you can see the smoke locks and Hu Shengjing outside the city from the city.
In addition, the head chef of Dafeng Tower is even more famous in Huaihe River. He was once the royal chef of the palace and was particularly good at cooking fresh fish.
However, today, in the evening, a closing sign was hung up on Dafeng Building, and many strong servants were surrounding it.
The manager of Dafeng Building personally stood at the door of the building and refunded and apologized to the guests who had reserved their seats one by one.
At this moment, a group of wealthy businessmen who had booked private rooms two days in advance were standing downstairs in Dafeng, looking unhappy.
"Shopkeeper," the leader, an imposing middle-aged man, frowned and said:
"For today's battle, we can also see that there must be a big shot to book the place. That forced Dafeng Tower to break the rules and shut us out.
But the Dafeng Building has five floors. I have some status in Huaishuidao. I am the president recommended by the Chamber of Commerce. I think I have some dignity. Can you tell me who is here to treat tonight? If I know him, I can go up and visit him, or I can ask him to come down from the next floor. "
Other merchants also spoke one after another, expressing the same meaning.
The shopkeeper of Dafenglou hesitated for a moment and sighed:
"President Li, don't ask anymore, today I'm afraid you don't have enough face as the person setting up the banquet. It is the Prince of Huai'an who wants to entertain distinguished guests in person. As for which distinguished guest it is... Haha, you are all well-informed people, and you should know which god is coming to the city today. "
The face of the Huaishui Road Chamber of Commerce president suddenly changed, and his voice changed:
"Could it be that Zhao..."
"Shh, don't call me directly. Its name! ”
President Li held his breath and the other merchants behind him fell silent.
President Li was silent for a moment, bowed respectfully towards the Dafeng Tower in front of him, then turned and left .
Horrified:
The King of Huai'an wants to personally invite King Zhao of Hell?
What signal does this send out?
……
The second floor of Dafeng Building.
"Your father wants to see me?"
Zhao Duan, who was halfway up the stairs, looked at the princess next to him in surprise. He was extremely surprised.
(End of this chapter)