Chapter 286 A gift to the Empress, a "love poem" from another world (5,000 words)
The dark clouds over the capital dispersed before evening, seeming to announce the end of this fight.
Zhao Duan put on new clothes, rode a horse, and arrived at "Zhangtai Garden" covered with the glow of the western sky.
——A private garden of the royal family in the capital, specially used for banquets, with the head of the etiquette department at the top.
"Scholar Zhao!"
When Zhao Duan Fangfu arrived at the outskirts of the Villa, he heard a familiar voice running quickly from where the carriage was parked, with a smile on his face.
"Korean porridge?"
Zhao Duan, who was immersed in depression, was startled, and then he saw the other bachelors of Xiuwen Hall behind Han Zou, and their smiles spread:
"It's you."
We haven’t seen each other for many days, and there are endless words to say when we meet again.
Zhao Duan's horse was led away by a servant, and he was immediately surrounded by a group of bachelors and walked towards the gate of Zhangtai Garden.
A group of hard-working readers who had their heads buried all day in the library were very excited, and there were many compliments and exclamations on their lips.
As if, everyone learned about Zhao Duan's performance in the battle.
"Scholar Zhao, why are you here alone? I heard that after the fight, the threshold of your Zhao family was breached." Han Congee teased with a smile.
Zhao Duan blinked with a wry smile:
"That's why I'm hiding outside for peace and quiet."
In the afternoon, after bidding farewell to Zhang Yanyi, he went home and found that his home was packed with people who came to visit and congratulate him.
The aunt and sister were very anxious to welcome them, and Zhao Duan also felt very worried. Yi Rong sent a message to the servants at home and hid first.
After listening to his complaint, the bachelors of Xiuwen Museum looked at each other and smiled.
When they first "joined the cabinet", each of them had a similar experience.
"...We were like this at the beginning. We were so scared that we didn't dare to go home. It was even more exaggerated than when we were proud of the imperial examination in high school. So we simply ran out and had a drink together. It was a happy thing to think about it."
Han Zhou sighed, and then said with admiration:
"However, compared with Brother Zhao, we pale into insignificance. Officials from both the government and the public gathered together today to celebrate your victory. How grand is it?"
Another bachelor next to him shook his head:
"Brother Banshan, what you said is wrong. Not long ago, bachelor Zhao had many generals in the army congratulating him. He is already familiar with the situation."
There was a lot of praise for a while.
Zhao Duan just smiled and entered Zhangtai Garden as he spoke.
It was getting late now, and officials from various ministries and yamen gathered in the garden.
Zhao Duan chatted casually with Han Zhi and others, and the crowd of smiling people followed him around, and the crowd became larger and larger.
The onlookers couldn't help but sigh:
Two months ago, the public opinion in the official circles compared Han Zhou with Zhao Duan, believing that the former was superior.
At that time, wherever Zhao Duan went, officials would often look down upon him with cold eyebrows.
But today, status and treatment have been reversed.
Walking among a group of Xiuwenguan bachelors, he seemed to have the air of being the first among the younger generation in the capital.
In Zhangtai Garden, there were many waiters, and there were even musicians and dancers singing and dancing to add to the fun.
Zhao Duan went straight into the largest palace, where there were round tables.
In the hall, there are already senior officials above the fourth rank.
"Haha, my Wu Quxing from the Great Yu Dynasty is here."
The Minister of Rites, who had met him once before, stood up to greet him with a smile on his face.
Next to him, the old Minister of the Ministry of War, who had reviewed together on the Shenji Camp campus, also stood up and joked with a smile:
"Zhao Qian's great feat today, we and other military ministers also benefited from it. How can you, a civil servant, take away my words?"
Zhao Duan laughed and exchanged greetings with many officials in the hall. Then he looked at Master Dong who had arrived at the banquet earlier and bowed his hands:
"Master, why bother you to come here?"
Wearing a scholar's robe, his beard and hair all white, Dong Xuan, who is already an octogenarian, pretends to be displeased:
"Why, you've reached the fourth level of martial arts, and you already dislike me?"
Zhao Duan waved his hands hurriedly, and Dong Xuan smiled, patted the chair left for him, and sighed: "Since it is a celebration banquet, there should be an old minister to support the party. Yuan Li has something to do with the Procuratorate. Xue Shence looked at your Sky Opening Sword and seemed to realize something, so he declined. Li Yanfu... Hehe, I must be the only one who didn't want to come."
Is there something wrong with the Metropolitan Procuratorate?
What happened, that Yuan Lao Yin Coin was caught personally and couldn’t even spare time for a meal?
Zhao Duan was curious, but he didn't ask. He just sat down and exchanged greetings.
As a result, the buttocks were no longer hot, and another elegant and generous person came in from outside the hall, attracting many looks from acquaintances.
"The princess is here too?" Zhao Duan was surprised.
Xu Junling was dressed up tonight, matching his already good appearance. When he stepped into a dinner party filled with almost all old men, he was like a beam of light.
She has bright eyes and white teeth, and a charming smile:
"What? Master Zhao thinks that this princess has no official position and cannot enter Zhangtai Garden."
"What are you talking about, Princess?"
Zhao Duan laughed loudly, ordered someone to move the seats, and then said with a smile: "As long as the princess doesn't think the men in this room are dull and boring, and wants to sit there until dawn, I will accompany you."
Everyone laughed.
Master Dong was in a good mood today and said to him with a smile:
"You are mistaken. Today's celebration banquet is half yours, and half is probably going to the princess."
"Oh?" Zhao Duan was puzzled.
The Minister of Rites next to him explained a few words, and then he suddenly understood.
It turns out that it was also traditional for the imperial court to hold a Zhangtai banquet after a Buddhist fight. The banquet was first set by Emperor Taizu.
At that time, the style of fighting was suppressed by the masters of the imperial court.
The purpose of holding a banquet is to find a group of literary officials and scholars with good poetry and prose to come over and compose poems to praise them and show off the royal martial arts.
But later... the royal family inheritance gradually weakened.
This Taiwan banquet has become a place similar to a "literary meeting".
The courtiers still feasted and composed poems, but not for Buddhism, Taoism, or the court, but to make themselves famous.
The theme of poetry is not limited to "fighting".
Because the season is in autumn, there are more poems with the theme of "autumn", or more broadly, "encounters in life".
"So, today is both my celebration and a cultural gathering?" Zhao Duan had a strange expression.
Xin said, no wonder I didn’t see many military officials along the way.
I'm afraid that Xue Shence's claim that he understood the art of swordsmanship is false, and that it is true that he avoids comparing poems with literati.
No wonder, the empress told him before that there would be literati writing poems to praise him tonight... which was probably arranged by the empress.
The purpose is to take advantage of this to show the power of the imperial court to the world, in order to pursue the glory of the Taizu Dynasty in the past... It can be understood as a means of political propaganda.
And this Xu Junling, known as the "Jiangnan Talented Girl", is best at poetry... and she has come to the home court.
"It's true that my knowledge is shallow. After that, how about asking the princess to write some good poems for me?" Zhao Duan teased with a smile.
Xu Junling sat in a dignified posture, holding the jade cup with green jade fingers, and smiled faintly: "Master Zhao is said to have the title of bachelor, but I don't dare to show my shame."
The surrounding ministers all laughed:
"The princess is too modest."
"Haha, don't make things difficult for Mr. Zhao."
They all knew that although Zhao Duan was extremely talented and had insights into the administration of officials and the economy, he had never written any poetry or articles.
Even if he can really write, there is absolutely no reason to compare with talented women and talents such as Xu Junling or even Han Zhi.
Zhao Duan had a smile on his face, and when he saw the slightly provocative expression on Xu Junling's beautiful face, the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, and he thought:
"I'm too lazy to care about you."
…
…
Just when the capital city was immersed in the hustle and bustle.
Thousands of miles away, in the dark night.
On a towering mountain peak, inside the Forbidden Mountain Villa, which is the main altar of "Kuangfu Society".
A flaming red lantern also passed along the corridor, passed through the pillars, stepped on the steps, and arrived at the high building next to the cliff in the villa.
"Master, has there been news from Beijing again?"
The head wife of Xu Jianwen, the second prince who initiated the coup, also had the title of "Princess". She was wearing a long skirt, holding a lantern, and looked ahead with a worried look at Zhuang Xiaocheng, with her big sleeves fluttering.
Zhuang Xiaocheng, who has a very scholarly temperament and is still energetic despite his age, is distracted.
Hearing this, he turned around. In the darkness, he seemed to smile, shook his head and said: "Princess, don't worry too much, it's not a letter from Beijing."
The princess was obviously relieved and sighed: "In the past few months, bad news has been coming frequently from the capital. Many of the experts sent out have failed. A few days ago, it was even reported that Prince Jing was buried in the Privy Council. People are also exposed.
Not only that, but the firearm blueprints that were obtained with so much painstaking efforts have also been greatly reduced in use due to the new firearms... I am really afraid of the news over there. "
Zhuang Xiaocheng was disappointed when he heard this. Why wasn't he like this?
After the Qianmian Shenjun was arrested, the remaining members of the Beijing branch urgently cut off many actions and sent the news back.
Because Qianmian is one of the top masters in Tiangang and has a lot of information within the society, Zhuang Xiaocheng is extremely busy and orders people from various places to relocate.
Cut off the original contact method, change to a new one, and it took a lot of trouble before it stabilized.
However, they learned that King Jing's side had also suffered heavy losses, and the secret agent failed again.
And all of this is still related to that "Zhao Duan".
Zhuang Xiaocheng has even heard some comments in the society, blaming him for not eradicating the root cause of the problem, which caused serious trouble.
"Princess, there is no need to worry. The capital city is the foundation of the false emperor. It is easy to defend but difficult to attack. Our defeat is natural. However, compared to Da Yu's territory, the capital city is no more than a palace. Even if it is abandoned, it will delay the false emperor's stay." Energy is exchanged for overall victory, and in the art of war, victory is greater than loss."
Zhuang Xiaocheng talked eloquently:
"Besides, in the current Buddhist and Taoist fight in the capital, if I plan well and Nagarjuna Bodhisattva of Shenlong Temple has been thinking carefully for a long time, he will definitely win this time.
By then, no matter how powerful the Shenlong Temple is, it can break the balance between the three parties between the DPRK and China, and the pseudo-emperor will definitely attack it. This is the opportunity for me to use my strategy...
Haha, I have already made a plan in advance. I only need to wait for the Buddhist sect to win and let them know that the previous small victory will not affect the overall situation. "
Translated, in one sentence:
We win!
The princess looked slightly calmer:
"The Master said this, and I felt much more at ease. By the way, where did the letter come from today?"
Zhuang Xiaocheng recovered from his grand layout and said with a smile: "It's a secret message from Taicang County."
The princess was stunned for a moment and suddenly thought of something:
"Taicang Silver Mine?"
Zhuang Xiaocheng nodded slightly, stroking his beard and said: "This matter is quite interesting. If I guessed it right, someone secretly took action. Haha, the pseudo-emperor wants to implement the New Deal, so he can't get around this corner of the chess game. We just need to sit back and watch, and we may reap the benefits.”
A gust of mountain wind blew, and Zhuang Xiaocheng's long sleeves fluttered, looking like a legendary strategist.
He turned around, looked towards the capital with his hands behind his hands, and said with a smile:
"Counting the days, the battle between Buddhism and Taoism is over today. I have arranged for people to spread the word that the royal family is weakening and Buddhism is booming. Such conspiracy, look at the false emperor, and that... Zhao Duan, how to deal with it?"
…
…
Zhangtai Garden!
As the night grew darker, the entire garden was immersed in an atmosphere of joy.
Zhao Duan went to war today, which wiped out the imperial family's decline. Although the actual change was not big, it was an excellent point for "publicity".
The people do not have a strong sense of which side is strong or weak, so public opinion is very important.
Xu Zhenguan knew the subtleties of this and arranged for many literati tonight.
When the banquet began, after the singing and dancing, it entered the poetry session.
A group of literati and poets threw out prepared poems one after another, praising Zhao Duan and the Dayu royal family.
The explicitness and flattery of his words made even a villain like Zhao Duan feel ashamed.
Immediately sighed, no wonder the empress usually remained unmoved by her flattery.
These literati are really good at licking!
Zhao Duan saw with his own eyes that a scholar sitting in the courtyard came to the entrance of the hall with a volume of poetry in his hands, recited it loudly, and praised Zhao Duan in every direction.
Those that only blow are rare in the sky and hard to find on the ground.
The licking made him restless and flushed. He turned his head and looked at the other civil servants beside him. They all looked at ease, eating and drinking when they should.
He looked like he was used to being licked and his threshold was stretched to the limit.
Zhao Duan felt ashamed and thought that he still had limited knowledge.
Immediately he became very interested and listened carefully to these literati singing praises and studying silently.
Prepare to apply what you have learned in the future. If you don't believe it, you can't let Zhenbao break through the defense.
Fortunately, the literati of Dayu were not completely shameless after all. After singing hymns, they finally entered the "poetry meeting" stage.
This time, Zhao Duan truly saw the elegance of scholars of this era.
Most of the people present were officials. Which one of them was not a rich scholar?
Come out of the Poetry Mountain?
The poem is also a random one, and then highly commented by others, it won a lot of praise.
Xu Junling is indeed a talented woman. She happily waited for everyone to perform for a round before gently throwing out a song that overwhelmed the entire audience.
Master Dong could not help but praise it, commented personally and spoke highly of it.
Afterwards, a group of scholars from the capital held their breath and worked hard to compete with him.
Among them, Korean Congee lived up to its reputation, and the poems he wrote were not inferior to those of the princess, which helped the people of the capital gain some face back.
Zhao Duan laughed and laughed. He only ate wine, listened to music and danced throughout the whole process, and showed no interest in poetry fighting.
The surrounding officials were not surprised. They only regarded Mr. Zhao as a "military general". Even if he had a strategy for governing the country, it was normal for him not to be good at poetry.
However, no one knows that the real reason is that Zhao Duan, who has been influenced by too many handed down poems in his previous life, is too picky in his aesthetic taste.
I have been memorizing the pinnacle of art since I was a child, but when I look at these things in front of me, it is really difficult to be interested in appreciating them.
Mr. Zhao just wants to drink wine today.
In this way, when the alarm sounds.
At the end of a banquet, Zhao Duan, who was drinking heavily, got drunk again.
One after another, elderly ministers got up and left.
"Everyone, I have taken the first step."
Zhao Duan let out a breath of alcohol, stood up, and held his hands around.
A group of civil servants who had long been immersed in the atmosphere of poetry fighting and did not want to end, tried to persuade them to stay
——The circles of civil servants and military generals were clearly defined. On occasions like literary gatherings, the civil servants were in high spirits and extremely enthusiastic, but the military generals just yawned. .
"No, no, I'm quite tired from fighting in the ring today, so I want to go home and rest early." Zhao Duan said with a smile.
The officials then said goodbye reluctantly.
"Master Zhao is leaving now?"
Princess Xu Junling stepped forward and said with a smile, her face was flushed, and her eyebrows were full of excitement and pride.
Proud as a peacock.
During the day, the winner in the arena was Zhao Duan.
That night, at this cultural gathering, she, Xu Junling, was the winner.
"Haha, the princess wants to send me home?"
Zhao Duan smiled and said something that seemed to be teasing, but could also be understood as teasing.
Xu Junling suddenly thought of the scene when the two of them were in the teahouse and Zhao Duan spoke frivolously about him, and he couldn't help but feel a little angry.
Hearing this, he stretched his proud neck and said with a faint smile:
"Master Zhao was joking. I was just thinking about tonight's Zhangtai banquet. Master Zhao did not leave any calligraphy to commemorate it. It is a bit regretful."
"You want my calligraphy treasure?"
Zhao Duan took advantage of his drunkenness and asked with a smile in his eyes.
The corners of Xu Junling's mouth were slightly raised, with a natural expression:
"Of course. However, if Mr. Zhao is not good at poetry..."
"Here comes the pen."
Zhao Duan looked at her strangely and said suddenly.
Xu Junling was stunned.
The surrounding civil servants were also surprised, realizing that Zhao Duan wanted to write a poem, which was a rare thing.
Suddenly, someone moved a nearby table with pens, ink, paper and inkstones over, and held up the brushes with both hands.
"The princess is right, this situation and this scene should indeed be recorded."
Zhao Duan smiled, faced the princess' arrogant gaze, raised his hand, grabbed the brush randomly, and filled it with ink.
His eyes swept across Zhangtai Garden.
At this time, the remaining guests heard that Mr. Zhao was going to write a poem, and they gathered around curiously.
Zhao Duan raised his eyes and looked around the room filled with vermilion and purple nobles.
Zhao Duan lowered his eyes and saw that even the paperweight on the case was expensively carved into the shape of a golden whip.
He smiled and recalled his experiences along the way in the past six months. From being looked down upon by everyone in the civil and military circles of the dynasty, to now everyone is smiling and flattering.
Emotions suddenly surged in my heart.
Zhao Duan wrote:
"Night Notes Zhangtai"
Today I am drunk with flowers and willows in Yujing, and the five princes and seven nobles share a glass of wine.
The Qi shore is far ahead of the powerful men, but the romantic is willing to lag behind others?
The emperor’s beauty is my young man, and Zhangtai walks around with a golden whip.
The article was dedicated to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the tortoiseshell feast was flooded with singing and dancing.
Zhao Duan picked up the pen and threw it away.
He walked through the crowd, his sleeves fluttering, and walked into the night.
No one stopped.
In the hall, the lights are swaying and magnificent.
The Minister of Rites, who was standing nearest, read the poem once.
Then, the officials who were watching the excitement were stunned.
Xu Junling looked blankly, staring at the wild words on the paper.
Korean porridge is recited softly in the crowd and can't stop savoring it.
Master Dong stood up and recited silently, his hazy eyes brightened:
"This poem..."
Then, he chewed on the sentence "The emperor's beauty is my boy" again, with a strange look on his face.
The next second, the old master suddenly waved, summoned a personal attendant, pointed at the piece of poetry, and said:
"Send it to Your Majesty."
…
The update is late. Speaking of which, I wanted to change this poem when I started writing it. .
(End of chapter)