The night is deep and the light is flowing.
A famous scholar got very drunk and was helped out of Pingkangfang.
Some were named on the gold medal list and saw all the flowers in Chang'an in one day; some were famous and regretful.
Zhou Zhi rode on a horse and walked slowly down the long street of Pingkangfang. In his sight, he could occasionally see one or two Jinwu guards, but most of them were familiar faces.
He was a sergeant from Zuojinwu Guard patrolling Pingkangfang, not someone who was meant to follow him.
Zhou Zhi's expression softened slightly. If what he felt was correct, then no one had been following him since he left Menxia Province today.
But is it true that no one is following him anymore?
…
Qinxiang Garden.
Standing in front of the door, Zhou Zhi's expression was complicated.
The pavilions are elegant and the lamps are warm and bright.
It's not as quiet as a brothel here.
There are no maids or servants waiting outside the door. The building is completely green and blue, clean and quiet, and it seems that guests can come and go at will.
But when everyone passing by around saw this place, they quickly moved away as if seeing a snake or scorpion.
The expenses here are so huge that even the wealthy families in Chang'an City can't afford a trip here.
Zhou Zhi only hesitated slightly, and then walked into Qinxiang Garden.
The moment he entered, he completely relaxed, because he knew that the Jinwu Guard, the Thousand Niu Guard, and even the Secret Guard would not be able to get in here easily.
Even the secret guards cannot easily offend the people behind this place.
Now no one is watching him anymore.
The entire Qinxiang Garden was still quiet. There were only a few graceful maids walking through the stairwell, and their graceful figures disappeared in the blink of an eye.
The elegant sound of the piano came from deep inside the garden. It was quiet here and didn't look like a brothel at all.
Instead, it looks like an embroidered building built by a wealthy family for their daughter.
The fragrance of books and green bamboo embroidered buildings make people feel at ease and intoxicated at the same time.
At this moment, a pretty maid wearing a light blue chest-length mattress skirt walked down the steps on one side, then bowed slightly to Zhou Zhi and said softly: "Mr. Zhou, how many of your guests are there?" Already arrived."
Zhou Zhi's expression suddenly became solemn and he said in a deep voice: "Lead the way."
"Here!" The pretty maid turned slightly and walked forward along the steps.
Zhou Zhi glanced around, then quickly followed.
The corridor is quiet, and when you walk inside, you can't hear any sounds from the rooms on both sides.
Jingfang, quiet room.
When you go out to entertain, no matter what, it is inevitable that your voice will be exposed and known to others.
No matter how much you lower your voice, you can't prevent someone from eavesdropping.
But here, no one can hear anything they shouldn't hear, it's like a secret room.
At the end of the long passage, the wooden door opened, the pretty maid stepped aside, and Zhou Zhi stepped in directly.
Within the large hall, the central hall was dimly lit and the scene was blurry, while the corners were brightly lit.
Someone was playing the piano with an elegant woman in Taoist robes, singing softly and melodiously.
Someone is painting together with the charming woman wearing a pink skirt. With a swipe of the brush, a picture of dangerous peaks and green pines has appeared in the brush.
There are people sitting behind the table, with black and white chess pieces in the middle. Opposite is a heroic woman wearing a blue high-collar robe, with fair skin and sharp eyebrows.
These three women are all the most beautiful in the world.
In every brothel in Pingkangfang, they are the top candidates for courtesans, but now they all stay here quietly, playing chess and painting with the guests, without the slightest trace of prostitution.
Perhaps, because they are not prostitutes at all.
The three women present all have top-notch attainments in the three fields of piano, painting and chess. They are far from rough places like brothels, where people can study for three or two years and produce quick products. After the accident, the good-natured woman who was forced to join the Jiaofangsi was a real lady.
They even had some unknown relationships with the three men across from them.
…
"Mr. Zhou!" A tall, gentle woman wearing a green mattress skirt came out from behind and called Zhou Zhi softly.
Zhou Zhi immediately relaxed, turned around, and called in a low voice: "Qiniang."
"Mr. Zhou seems to be quite troubled today. You might as well talk to me about it." Qiniang pulled Zhou Zhi to the study on the east side.
Zhou Zhi leaned in Qiniang's arms and felt the gentle fragrance of ink behind him. Zhou Zhi completely relaxed.
Slowly, Zhou Zhi closed his eyes and fell asleep.
A quarter of an hour later, Zhou Zhi woke up. At this time, the four corners of the hall were dimmed, and only the study where Zhou Zhi was was still lit.
Zhou Zhi calmed down, a trace of vigilance flashed in his eyes, and then he softened again.
He nodded to Qiniang, who immediately and respectfully withdrew from the small door on one side.
In the atrium directly in front, hot dishes and warm wine have been placed, and the other three people are eating food and drinking there, casually chatting about trivial matters.
Zhou Zhi stood up and walked over, then greeted the three of them: "Brother Cui, Brother Hu, Brother Zheng."
"Brother Zhou!"
Cui Fan, a member of the Zhongshu family, Hu Zai, a member of the Prince's family, and Zheng Fan, the secretary and young eunuch, all bowed their hands to Zhou Zhi in return.
Zhou Zhi sat down, raised his wine glass, and then sipped a glass of wine directly into his mouth. Then he looked at the three of them and said, "Today, the imperial list came out. The first place in the test is Cheng Xingmou, a disciple from a poor family in Shaanzhou. The second one is Xu Qie of the Anlu Xu family, and the third one is Zhuge Minghui of the Nanchang Palace."
"Two from poor families and one from aristocratic family, what a world this is." Zheng Fan couldn't help but snorted coldly.
Hu Zai on the side frowned and said, "The Zhuge family can't be said to be a poor family, right?"
"The Zhuge family has not had a governor for several generations. The last one was in the Nanchen period, so there is no problem in saying that the Zhuge family is from a poor family." Cui Fan replied calmly, but followed him and said: "But Zhuge After all, our family has family origins, and as soon as we gain momentum, countless people will immediately help us. Not to mention the king of Nanchang and those aristocratic families in Wuyue, there is only one Liu family. Everyone, no matter what you want to do, just think about it."
Liu Rengui, the left prime minister, Liu Shenli, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, and Liu Boying, the minister of Honglu Temple. Among the six ministries and nine temples in the three provinces, Liu's surname accounts for one-sixth.
Even Liu Sili, a doctor in the Ministry of Civil Affairs who was responsible for presiding over the imperial examination in Jinke, also had the same surname.
Mrs. Liu had a natural affinity for Zhuge, especially since she was a direct descendant of Zhuge Liang. Mrs. Liu wanted to hold her in her arms.
They really want to do something to Zhuge Minghui, but even if they succeed, they will be stabbed severely in the back by Liu at some point in the future.
"Zhuge Minghui just let it go." Zhou Zhi finally spoke, sighing softly and said, "The Qianniu Guards that King Nanchang placed outside the lower chamber door last night are not for nothing."
"Hasn't the King of Nanchang resigned from the Qianniu Guards and Jinwu Guards a long time ago? Why can he still command the Qianniu Guards and Jinwu Guards?" Secretary Zheng Fan looked angry and dissatisfied. Zheng Fan Xingyang Born in the Zheng family, he knew what he should know, but he didn't know anything about what he shouldn't know.
"Because the King of Nanchang is investigating the Tibetan spy case, His Majesty has decreed that Qianniu Guard, Jinwu Guard, Dali Temple, Yongzhou Prefecture, and Chang'an Wannian County will provide full assistance." Zhou Zhi sighed softly and said: "His Majesty the King of Nanchang Because of his favor and trust, the queen's tolerance, and his personal talents, even the prince is very close to him."
"In a few days, the prince will rest in Lishan Hot Spring. It is said that it was the suggestion of the King of Nanchang to help him have children." Hu Zai said quietly.
Cui Fan couldn't help but ask: "Brother Hu, is what King Nanchang said really useful?"
Hu Zai sighed softly and said: "The prince asked the imperial doctor. The imperial doctor was silent for a long time and said, if your majesty is not unwell, I hope your majesty can go to Lishan Mountain often..."
Everyone was silent. It was now clear whether Li Xuan's words were useful.
"It seems that if we have nothing to do, we might as well go to Lishan Mountain for a walk." Cui Fan couldn't help but nod and said: "Although King Nanchang is young, there are rumors in the palace that he is a god. His Majesty loves him very much. All the kings. If not, there are even rumors that His Majesty intends to let the King of Nanchang intervene in the internal affairs of the East Palace."
Cui Fan's words caused everyone present to fall silent.
The original chat about imperial examinations and medical knowledge also came to an abrupt end.
The East Palace has its own internal structure, which is infinitely similar to a court.
Prince Zhan Shifu is equivalent to Shangshu Province, while Zuo Chunfang is equivalent to Zhongshu Province and Menxia Province.
The three internal officers of the prince are analogous to the five eunuchs of the nine temples, and the sixth rate of the prince is equivalent to the sixteen guards of Nanya.
If anything happens, the prince can take control of the situation immediately to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the chaos and destabilizing the political power.
These people are the true core administrative group of the prince. The other guests of the prince are mostly similar to the court officials. Although they have no specific responsibilities, their status is special and aloof, and they play a role in restraining the prince's words and deeds.
The most important thing is the prince's third master and third young master, so they are the people who have a real close relationship with the prince.
Just like Li Gang.
Yang Yong, Li Jiancheng, and Li Chengqian were the three students of Xinchang County Duke Li Gang.
Later, something happened. Although he was safe, his children were implicated.
Li Xuan is now just the Prince Inspector, Doctor Youzanshan, and in the final analysis, it is just a part-time job.
It is far from entering the power level of the East Palace, but it is enough to make people wary.
The East Palace has already formed a strong internal structure. Even if Li Xuan is close to the emperor and the prince, he can't get in without a good entry point.
Cui Fan turned around and said, "But what happened last night, those rebels finally suffered a loss at the hands of King Nanchang. Speaking of which, ever since King Nanchang became an official, the plots of the rebels have been thwarted one after another. Your Majesty and the Queen of Heaven have learned what happened. happiness."
"Could it be that things would go more smoothly without the King of Nanchang, Qianniu Guard, and Secret Guard?" Zheng Fan said suddenly.
Zhou Zhi, Cui Fan, and Hu Zai glanced at Zheng Fan at the same time and stopped talking.
Zheng Fan suddenly looked embarrassed.
Zhou Zhi then continued: "According to the report from the Jinwu Guards, the Wanxiang Pavilion Chang'an Branch was completely uprooted yesterday. Although the Pavilion Master Qiu Huan escaped, he was also severely injured by Master Shiyin. It is difficult to plot... However, although the external troubles have been eliminated, what about the internal worries?"
"Internal worries?" Cui Fan, Hu Zai, and Zheng Fan all looked sideways at the same time.
Zhou Zhi said calmly: "Everyone, you don't really think that the Qianniu Guards who appeared outside our house last night came to protect us."
With one sentence, everyone present fell silent.
After a long time, Cui Fan said softly: "Everyone, sometimes things have nothing to do with us and we don't need to pay attention to them. This is my position and the position of the Cui family."
"But this is only the Cui family's position."
(End of chapter)
