Halfway through Unity Hour, the palace will be closed and locked. If there is an emergency or major event, memorials or letters can only be stuffed through the cracks in the palace door. As for whether the palace door will be opened or a hanging basket will be used to take people in, it all depends on the emperor's wishes.
It's late autumn, and it's getting dark earlier and earlier. When the time arrived, it was already pitch black, and I couldn't see my fingers.
Several forbidden soldiers and chamberlains on the inside of the palace wall worked together to put a ladder up on the three-foot-high palace wall. Two forbidden soldiers climbed up from the ladder to the top of the wall and placed the hanging basket in their hands outside the palace wall.
In the darkness, the hanging basket was first felt shaking and then sinking. The two Imperial Guards quickly worked together to lift the hanging basket, and a tall and tall figure came up with the hanging basket.
As the figure got closer to the ground, the two Imperial Guards felt an invisible pressure that made it difficult to breathe, and their noses seemed to smell a strong smell of blood.
The Imperial Guard wanted to pull the man in the hanging basket, but his arms were opened.
The figure jumped over the wall in the hanging basket, and then fell directly into the palace wall with a bang.
The imperial guards on the wall and under the wall were all startled. They jumped down from the three-foot-high palace wall without any bend in their waist and legs, and they hit the hard stone road straight up. They were still fine!
What kind of god is this person?
The man's appearance could not be seen clearly in the darkness, and the imperial guards and chamberlains did not dare to ask any more questions. While speculating on the case in their minds, they led the burly figure towards the depths of the palace.
Outside the imperial study, the governor of the East Factory, Jia Shen, personally stood outside the door as a guard, but the imperial troops who were supposed to be guarding here had already been driven away.
Hearing the footsteps coming closer in the darkness, Jiashen held a lantern and walked towards them.
"Go back and rest."
Jiashen said with a kind face to the imperial guard who sent people over.
Several people bowed silently, turned around and disappeared into the darkness.
These people are all Jiashen's confidants. There is no need to explain anything more, and there is no need to worry about spreading lies outside.
"Thank you for your hard work, Marshal."
After the imperial guard walked away, Jiashen respectfully said to Chang Gaoyuan.
"It's only two thousand miles away. It will be enough for me to stretch my muscles and bones, hahaha. I wonder what I call my father-in-law?"
Although Qingzhou is far away from Kyoto, more than half a month is enough time for the news to spread here, not to mention that Jiashen is still a celebrity around Zhu Sheng, how could he not know it.
But Chang Gaoyuan still pretended to ask for advice.
"Hehehe, I don't dare to touch the commander's ears as an old man. Your Majesty has been waiting for a long time. Commander, please."
The lights in the imperial study were brightly lit. After opening the door and asking Chang Gaoyuan to come in, Jiashen closed the door outside and continued his duties as gatekeeper.
"Your Majesty, Chang Gaoyuan, the commander-in-chief of the Qingzhou Army, is here to see your Majesty."
Chang Gaoyuan, who was dressed in dust, saluted Zhu Sheng who was standing behind the imperial case, and said in a deep voice full of energy.
"Come to me."
Zhu Sheng was looking down at something on the imperial desk at this time. Hearing this, he waved to Chang Gaoyuan without raising his head.
Chang Gaoyuan didn't write anything when he heard this. He strode around the imperial desk and stood next to Zhu Sheng. He found that there was a map of the northern border spread on the imperial desk.
At this time, Zhu Sheng glanced sideways at Chang Gaoyuan and said with a smile.
"It's been ten years since we last saw each other. Brother, you're fine."
"These days are different from the past. Your Majesty should call me by my first name."
Chang Gaoyuan said in fear.
"Once a brother, always a brother. There is no one else here. You are still the high-spirited deputy Qianhu ten years ago, and I am still the down-and-out prince who no one cares about. How about that?"
Zhu Sheng straightened up, faced Chang Gaoyuan and said loudly.
Hearing this, Chang Gaoyuan suddenly raised his head and met Zhu Sheng's eyes, with waves of light flashing in his eyes.
After looking at each other for a long time, Chang Gaoyuan suddenly grinned and punched Zhu Sheng lightly on the chest.
"Third brother!"
"Brother!"
"Hahahahaha..."
The two reunited after a long separation and laughed. After laughing, Zhu Sheng took a closer look at this sworn brother whom he had not seen for ten years.
"Brother, you have gray hair."
"Time makes us grow old."
Chang Gaoyuan couldn't help but feel filled with emotion when he looked at the once youthful younger brother who was now an emperor.
"You're not old, you should be in the right time. Hahaha, brother, come and see."
Zhu Sheng brushed off the dust on Chang Gaoyuan's shoulder with his palm, turned around and pointed at the map of the northern border on the imperial desk.
"The time has come! It's time for the ideals and ambitions of you and me, three brothers, to be put into action."
The palace is like a city. Some people quietly want to come in, and some quietly want to leave.
A hanging basket was lowered on the palace wall on the other side. After the hanging basket landed smoothly, a strong figure jumped out of the hanging basket and carefully helped out another figure who was moving slowly.
As soon as the two of them stood firm, an ox cart drove over. When the two got into the carriage, the driver gently patted the back of the green bull pulling the cart. The green bull silently moved its hooves into the darkness. middle.
Half an hour later, the bullock cart stopped in a narrow alley.
The old man who had been waiting for a long time in the backyard gate slowly opened the gate when he heard the noise in the alley outside.
The slow-moving figure was helped out of the carriage, and was picked up by the old man in front of the courtyard gate. He was helped into the backyard and entered a room.
The driver and the vigorous figure stayed in the alley outside.
There was a square table in the center of the room, with an oil lamp lit on the table, a plate of fried peanuts, a plate of cold rice noodles, a pot of freshly boiled rice wine, and two small wine glasses.
Liu Chuanfang, the old chief assistant who had just resigned, helped the old man, who was about the same age as him, sit down on the chair, and then sat opposite him.
Pick up the wine flask, fill a cup of warm rice wine and push it to the opposite side.
"It's a cold night and the dew is heavy. Princess, please have a glass of wine to warm yourself up first."
The person opposite took off the cloak and hat on his head, revealing the graceful and kind face of the wise concubine.
"Master Liu will be leaving Beijing soon. I think there will be too many guests to see you off, so I might be inconvenienced. Why don't I take advantage of the fact that I am still light today and come to see you off in advance."
"What are you talking about, Princess?"
"You are kind to the emperor and kind to Dayan. This kind of treatment should always be given."
Concubine Xian raised her wine glass and saluted Liu Chuanfang.
"I feel wronged, Mr. Liu!"
After drinking a cup of hot rice wine, Concubine Xian sighed guiltily.
"It's all for the sake of the people and Dayan. I'm just doing my best. I just hope that Your Majesty... can be more merciful. After all, they are all meritorious ministers."
Liu Chuanfang pursed his lips and said.
"We're here, Mr. Rong, let me help you get out of the car."
The sky had just turned dark, and the carriage stopped in front of a courtyard. Ling Xujie opened the curtain and jumped out first, reaching out to help Rongfei.
"I'm not old enough to be like this."
Rong Fei laughed and jumped off the carriage.
"Ha, I almost forgot, sir, you are still the best catcher in the world with great skills."
Ling Xujie patted his head and said suddenly.
"Would you please pay the fare for the bus? It's fifty coins in total."
The coachman asked the three of them with a smile.
"What are you doing stupidly? Pay the fare quickly."
Ling Xujie poked Zheng Ziqiu and whispered in his ear.
Zheng Ziqiu knew that all of Ling Xujie's net worth was used to rent the courtyard of Wuxie Residence. At this time, Zheng Ziqiu was really embarrassed. He sighed helplessly and said to the coachman.
"Wait."
Then he took out the key and opened the lock on the courtyard door. He invited Rong Fei and Ling Xujie into the courtyard before going back to the room to get the money.
"Mr. Rong, please sit down quickly."
Ling Xujie used his sleeves to brush off the floating stains on the stone bench in the courtyard.
Hui, greeted Chao Rongfei enthusiastically.
Rong Fei was not polite, lifted up the hem of his gown, sat down on the stone bench, and looked at the small courtyard in the weak skylight.
After Zheng Ziqiu sent the coachman away, he went into the house and took out a wind lantern and placed it on the stone table to light it.
Ling Xujie plundered some peanuts, melon seeds and fruit snacks from somewhere, put them on a plate, brought them out, and shouted to Zheng Ziqiu.
"Quickly make a pot of the good tea you have hidden."
"No need to make tea, I have wine here."
Rong Fei said and took out a bottle of wine from the storage jade ring.
"Mr. Rong is a good man."
Ling Xujie praised enviously, and then shouted to Zheng Ziqiu.
"Zi Qiu, hurry up and get those three cups."
"Hey Ling Xujie, is this your home or mine? You can't think of me as your servant."
Zheng Ziqiu complained, but still went to the room to get the cup.
The two of them then sat down. Ling Xujie did not dare to call Zheng Ziqiu this time, so he picked up the wine flask and filled up the wine glasses in front of the three of them.
"Mr. Rong, my students would like to propose a toast to you, and wish you the honor of becoming a great scholar as soon as possible."
Ling Xujie was the first to raise his glass and salute Rongfei.
"Looking at all the strange things happening today, it seems almost certain that Mr. Rong will be promoted to a great scholar."
Zheng Ziqiu also raised his glass and said excitedly.
"Hehehe, I accept your good advice, and Rong will do it first as a token of respect."
Rong Fei chuckled, raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp.
"Sir, you can drink well!"
Ling Xujie continued to flatter Rong Fei, then raised his head and drank the wine in the glass. Then with a strange look on his face, he brought the empty wine glass to his nose and took a whiff.
"Hiss~ this wine... smells so good... so mellow... so... so good... drinkable..."
With a bang, he fell down onto the stone table.
"Xujie, Xujie, what's wrong with you?"
Zheng Ziqiu, who had just put down his wine glass, was startled and quickly stretched out his hand to detect Ling Xujie's breath.
"Hoo~ho~"
Feeling the warm breath on his fingertips and hearing faint snores at the same time, he realized that this guy was actually asleep.
It was just that I was full of energy just a moment ago, so I just fell asleep.
Could it be that he was too drunk?
This product is quite drinkable at ordinary times!
When Zheng Ziqiu was confused, Rong Fei opened his mouth to explain.
"I forgot to mention that I got this wine from a good friend. It's called monkey wine. The wine contains abundant spiritual energy. Monks drink it to help improve their cultivation, but ordinary people will get drunk immediately after drinking it. .”
"Ah! So it's this...this..."
Before he could finish speaking, Zheng Ziqiu's eyes suddenly became dull, his tongue began to become knotted, and his body swayed as he looked about to follow in Ling Xujie's footsteps.
"Haha, stop pretending, Twelve Lang."
