In a room of the restaurant, Jiang Ni was lying on the table counting dozens of copper coins.
Having become accustomed to living in poverty, the little clay figurine has long forgotten that she was in an emperor's house when she was young, and coins were her lifeblood. When she was in a good mood, she would count the coins to see how close she was to buying a coffin. When she was in a bad mood, she would also count them. As she kept counting, she felt better.
The two tiger cubs lay aside and licked their paws.
The tiger cub suddenly got up from the ground, wagging his tail and ran towards the door, roaring several times.
Jiang Ni turned around and saw Master Jianyi coming in from outside. He asked in a calm voice, "How is the princess?"
"You're in good spirits. I'm probably taking off Xu Fengnian's pants right now." Jingzhou picked up a tiger cub and took a look at it. It had gained a lot of weight and was about the size of a dog.
Jiang Ni said "Oh" and stopped talking.
Carrying Hu Kui's cub, Jingzhou marveled and said: "Xu Zhihu said that he can tell whether a bird is big or small, good or bad at a glance. This ability is amazing. I'm just a master. Why don't I believe it? I only use Xu Fengnian to practice. , but you can’t develop this skill.”
Jiang Ni was stunned for a while before he realized what he was saying. He suddenly thought of what Master Jianyi said, "There are clothes in the eyes, but no clothes in the heart." He blushed and spat.
It's just that the bird is big or small, is it good or bad?
Jiang Ni thought for a moment and hurriedly suppressed the question.
After throwing Hu Kui's cub on the ground, Jingzhou took a few steps forward and said, "Silly apprentice, are you counting money again?"
Jiang Ni suddenly remembered something, collected a few copper plates on the table, and hid them.
Jingzhou joked: "So stingy? You won't lose a lot of money if you show it to others. Besides, the copper plates on your table together can't buy a bottle of wine. I don't like it. Why are you hiding it?"
The little clay figurine, who had once been defrauded out of two ounces of money by a cheap master, was still worried. He raised his head and asked, "Really?"
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Jing Zhou couldn't laugh or cry: "Really, if I say I won't take your copper coins, I won't take any of them."
Jiang Ni took out the copper plates again and put them on the table. He tilted his head and counted them one by one without feeling bored.
Reading to Xu Fengnian, word by word, several boxes of books, although she didn't make much money, she still had a few thousand taels. Although there is a lot of money, each one is made of paper banknotes, which looks unreliable. I am afraid that the wind will blow it away when I take it out, or that the banknotes will be accidentally soaked while washing clothes. The banknotes are easy to carry. Not a single rusty copper plate made Jiang Ni feel at ease.
Jingzhou poured himself a cup of tea and said, "Girl, I want to discuss something with you?"
"No need to talk about borrowing money." Like Pixiu, the little clay figurine, who only ate without vomiting, covered the copper plate on the table and looked at the cheap master like he was guarding against thieves.
Money is still firmly in her own hands. It took her more than ten years to realize this truth. It is natural to pay back debts, but once you borrow money, God knows when you will be paid back. If you encounter a scoundrel like the cheap master, nine times out of ten, you will not intend to pay back.
Jing Zhou laughed angrily and said, "Master, does he seem to be short of money? Can't you be more ambitious and think about other things, such as master coming to give you money?"
Jiang Ni looked in disbelief: "You have such good intentions? The last time I blackmailed Xu Fengnian for 120 yuan, I got it by my own ability. Why should Sanqi share it with you?"
What the little clay figurine said made Jing Zhou amused. This girl said she was stingy. The dagger worth twelve cities of the Western Chu Dynasty can be borrowed at will. The magic talisman is still inserted in Li Chungang's bun. , let’s say she is generous, and like a dog guarding its food, she even sees a copper plate in her eyes.
After the little clay figurine counted the coins on the table three times, Jingzhou said, "It's just a few dozen coins. How can Master be such a stingy person? Girl, come with me to meet someone. Master doesn't want this money."
Jiang Ni frowned, her doubts deepened, and she asked, "Really?"
Jingzhou said calmly: "A gentleman has no joke."
Seeing that Master Cheap's expression didn't look like he was being fake, Jiang Ni slapped the table, his pride surged in his belly, and he shouted one word: "Let's go!"
After placing Hu Kui's cub in Yu Weina, Jingzhou took Jiang Ni to Baoguo Temple. The old sword god seemed to have guessed something. He ignored Jiang Ni's small eyes and followed shamelessly. He picked his teeth with his hand and said unclearly: "The vegetarian food in Baoguo Temple smells like birds. Why don't you go grab some later?" Game, let’s make some soup?”
Jingzhou walked in front and said, "Didn't you miss the princess in the restaurant? As the old saying goes, there is beauty to eat. If you take a few more glances, you won't be hungry anymore."
Li Chungang said regretfully: "That little girl is beautiful, but she is dull and can't let go. She doesn't know the slightest bit of style, and she is boring after just two glances. This woman is a wolf in her thirties and forties, so she needs to be more charming. , otherwise it will be a waste of capital. I think Xu Laizi’s eldest daughter is an excellent one."
Jingzhou nodded in agreement. Pei Nanwei had been abused by Zhao Heng for a long time and had long lost the aura he deserved at an age when he was jealous. He turned to Jiang Ni and said, "Girl, do you hear that? This woman must know some tricks to benefit her for the rest of her life."
The words "like a wolf and like a tiger" fall into the ears of Jiang Ni, who doesn't understand the interesting things in the boudoir. It's very harsh. In broad daylight, under the bright sky, how can you say these things with dignity?
The little clay figurine turned his head and reminded: "A gentleman has no jokes!"
Jingzhou laughed dumbly.
Along the way, the old sword god was thinking about what to eat for a while. Eating cabbage and tofu with a group of bald donkeys was obviously not to his taste, so it was fine without wine. He had just drank, and this meat was absolutely indispensable.
How about going to the merit pond in the temple to catch a few koi?
Those bald donkeys not only ate greasy faces and big heads, but the fish raised in this water were also very fat. They were as good as the fish in Xu Laizi's Tingchao Lake. One fish could catch several fish.
One braised, one grilled, and two stewed. As for wine, there are always some unruly monks in the temple.
Today there is a debate about kings and dominators in Baoguo Temple. It is still early and has not started yet. However, in the shade of the Crouching Dragon Pine trees outside the wall of Baoguo Temple, several young men with maids waiting on them are already sitting, talking about the way of kings and dominators. Comfortable.
A little further away from Wolong Pine, Chen Xiliang led Tinkerbell back and forth.
When he came to Baoguo Temple today, he was not arguing about the way of kingship, but wanted to take a chance on whether he could meet the purple-clothed young man mentioned by Tinker Bell again, so that he could thank him in person. After all, in Jiangnan Province, disciples from poor families have no chance to participate in such elegant things as debating, which can make people famous. Just look at the few novice monks guarding in front of Baoguo Temple. Without status, they are not even allowed to enter the temple. enter.
After two cups of tea, the gate of Baoguo Temple opened wide, and the scholars who were qualified to participate in the elegant event of drinking water in the winding stream entered the temple one after another. The ordinary scholars who did not have enough status and background joined in the fun and wandered outside the temple.
In this elegant place where great scholars talk and laugh and no white people come and go, poor scholars and little beggars are undoubtedly an eyesore. Several scholars who stayed outside the temple pointed at Chen Xiliang, who was wearing coarse clothes. Frankly speaking, this man would not look in the mirror. Baoguo Temple is a holy place for conversation in Jiangnan Road. They and other well-known scholars Even a child can't get in, let alone this poor dog who doesn't even have a scholar? It's just asking for humiliation.
The little beggar stood cowardly behind Chen Xiliang and whispered: "Brother Chen, can we go aside?"
The poor scholar smiled and touched the little beggar's head, then pulled the little beggar and moved him away.
After standing for a while and getting tired, Chen Xiliang pulled Tinkerbell to sit down. He ignored the comments around him and took out a yellowed book from his sleeve to read. After turning a few pages, Tinkerbell stood up. , took his hand and said happily: "Brother Chen, that's the young master."
The poor scholar stood up and looked along Tinker Bell's finger, only to see three people walking towards him. One of them was wearing purple clothes and holding a jade fan. He looked very noble. He must have been the person who cured Tinker Bell's disease.
A few hundred steps away, Li Chungang heard the noise in front of Baoguo Temple.
The old sword god curled his lips and really looked down upon the scholars in front of the temple. He sarcastically said: "The stinking problem of scholars looking down on each other will not be changed in a thousand years. Especially scholars who are more willing to kill scholars than anyone else." Strength means being ruthless.”
Jingzhou looked at the scholars coming towards him and said: "The Neo-Confucianism of the Zhu School is very harmful to people. The path of saints is not done behind closed doors. Ninety-nine percent of these scholars have distorted the principles of saints. Although the sages' books compiled by Master Zhang's disciples are full of principles, , but the bookishness will inevitably become stronger. It is difficult to cultivate oneself and benefit others by just reading!"
The old sword god grunted and was too lazy to talk about those scholars.
Due to his limited skill, Jiang Ni couldn't hear clearly. He couldn't help turning his head to look at Li Chungang and asked, "Is there something big going on in this temple?"
The old sword god pinched his ears and said disdainfully: "How can a scholar have such a big deal? He has nothing but talk. Today there is some bastard talk."
Bastard theory?
Jiang Ni was fascinated by the lake.
Jingzhou glanced at the little clay figurine who was struggling with the word "bastard" and said with a smile: "It's a debate between kingship and hegemony. Confucianism respects kings and despises hegemons, while Legalists do the opposite. The debate between kings and hegemons is better said to be Confucianism and Legalism. battle."
Jingzhou explained slowly for Jiang Ni, and Chen Xiliang had already arrived in front of the three of them with Tinkerbell.
"Thank you, Master, for helping me earlier." Chen Xiliang bowed heavily.
Jingzhou lifted it up with a gentle flick and said, "Don't be too polite. Don't think that I am a good person. I help the little beggar next to you get rid of his old illness, but I also have other thoughts."
The scholar froze, this young man spoke so honestly!
Jiang Ni sneered, seeming to dislike the "noble" quality of the cheap master.
The old sword god couldn't stand it anymore, but fortunately he turned his head away. This girl Jiang Ni is too simple-minded, and her good and bad are all written on her face. In this life, she will most likely not be able to compete with Xu Fengnian's bastard who is full of evil thoughts.
But ignoring thoughts and only looking at temperament, this silly girl really looks a bit like me. Isn't this his virtue for most of his life?
No matter what hypocrisy or coercion, Li Chungang never cares about what the world thinks about his actions and speeches.
Jingzhou looked at the scholar in front of him for a moment, then smiled and said, "Are you willing to go to the temple to debate?"
The scholar's face was expressionless, he just tightened the book in his hand and nodded.
Although the scholars who were advising Chen Xiliang in front of the Baoguo Temple were unscrupulous, they still had good eyesight. They were undoubtedly a little uneasy when they saw the noble man in purple clothes slowly coming with Chen Xiliang. Although these people do not spare any effort to criticize people from poor families, they are always begging for mercy towards people from rich families. Even if a rich family member farts, these people will take a big sniff and clap their hands to say that the farts smell good.
This young man in purple won't stand up for that humble dog, will he?
Several people were worried for a moment, and then they breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that the young man in purple clothes ignored them and walked towards the temple gate.
The two novice monks in front of the Baoguo Temple respectfully welcomed Jingzhou and his party in. Many people who were wandering in front of the Baoguo Temple saw this scene and began to guess the identity of the young man in purple.
Seeing the poor dog and the cross-eyed old man following the purple-clothed young man into the temple, the few people who had been worried before felt extremely sore in their hearts. Chen Xiliang could just go in. After all, he was still a scholar, but the one-armed old man and the groom Normally, why should I go in?
At this time, the Taiguo Temple was full of people and cheers kept coming. The pavilions and pavilions in the temple facing the lake were crowded with people.
Jiang Ni stood aside and listened for a moment, only to feel that the speaker was so mysterious that it made people confused.
The old sword god cursed and said: "Girl Jiang, it doesn't matter if you don't listen to this scholar. A white horse is not a horse. That's nonsense."
Jiang Ni said "Oh" and tilted his head, wondering what he was thinking.
After listening for a while, Jingzhou left Chen Xiliang and the little beggar behind, took Jiang Ni towards Yijiao, and said with a smile: "Since it is a debate, naturally what I want to say is more mysterious. The more obscure it sounds, the more difficult it is to understand. The more knowledgeable a person appears, otherwise wouldn't it mean that he loses his status as a scholar if he talks casually?"
Jiang Ni lowered her head and pondered what Master Xianyi said, and felt that it made some sense. She suddenly felt a vigorous sword intent emanating from Li Chungang. She raised her head and looked forward, and saw a middle-aged Confucian scholar in green clothes staggering over.
When the middle-aged Confucian scholar walked twenty steps away from Jiang Ni, he waved his sleeves together as if to dust off the dust to show his respect. Then he knelt down suddenly and said with tears: "Cao Changqing, the guilty minister of Western Chu, please see Her Royal Highness the Princess." !”
After Jiang Ni heard the words of the Confucian in Qingshan, he felt as if he heard a thunderbolt from the blue and took a few steps back in fright.
Cao Qingyi?
Cao Qingyi, an old minister of Western Chu who is an invincible official?
Growing up under the care of others in the Prince's Mansion of Beiliang, Jiang Ni's memory has long been forgotten, and the terms Xi Chu and princess are even further out of reach. Now when he saw the minister of Xi Chu again, he was at a loss and could only look at Jing Zhou. .
Jingzhou smiled at Jiang Ni: "Didn't you say that you always dreamed of reviving the country? Why are you so scared now when you see this romantic man from Western Chu? Girl, don't you want to marry Xu Fengnian? Xu Fengnian's maid is not qualified. She won the position of a princess, but this is the Princess of Chu..."
Jiang Ni suddenly gained some courage, clenched his fists, and glared at the cheap master angrily, as if blaming him for saying shameless words in broad daylight. Then he turned to look at the man in Tsing Yi who was kneeling on the ground and said softly. : "Uncle Qi Zhao?"
Cao Changqing, who had gray hair on his temples, slowly raised his head, his eyes dim with tears.
In her memory, she was still the little princess whose hand she once held.
She looks so much like her!
That year he was in high spirits, and she came slowly humming her local accent. The two met by chance in a corner of the garden, and that beautiful figure fell heavily on his heart.
Later, when she became the queen, he led his troops and left the capital, but he never thought that once he left, he would never see her again.
