Red Tang

The corridor is unadorned and back, with cornices and brackets.Although it is just green bricks and plain tiles, if it is placed in the East Palace, it will naturally be imbued with the unique imperial atmosphere of Qinzhong.

Noble, proud.That innate sense of superiority has long been integrated into every piece of loess in Yongzhou, and it has never changed despite the flames of war and the change of dynasties.And in the Shaoyang Palace in this extremely respectable place, even the bricks and half tiles between the brackets and the cornices seem to contain a touch of nobility, which makes people dare not look up.

Even though Li Kuo and Zhang Yanji had seen the world, they couldn't help but sigh in their hearts at this time.Read all the books of sages and sages, and sell them to the emperor's family.Whether it's a well-educated, gentle and jade-like son of an aristocratic family, or a half-hidden Nanshan, a worldly expert who works on the Longshang, their purpose is nothing more than to become an official, but the latter is just looking for a shortcut. (Note 1)

In the whole world, is it the land of the king?In this land of Central Plains, if one wants to stand out, one cannot escape becoming an official in the end.Although since the Wei and Jin Dynasties, celebrities have mostly advocated seclusion and pleasure, but most ordinary scholars have given up the shackles of fame and fortune, and they all hope to gain fame and glory to the lintel.

After sorting out his thoughts, Li Kuo set foot on the Qingshiban Street of the side hall with the guidance of the servant.The side hall is built on an abutment of about one mu, with a height of two floors.The clear vermilion lacquered wooden pillars go straight to the sky, and the cornices turn slightly toward the east to complement the main hall of the Qing Palace.The morning sun sprinkled a few streams of light, and the plaque inscribed in Xiaozhuan was plated with a thin layer of gold, which made this holy place of Prajna in the palace and buildings, making people want to kneel down and offer gifts, expressing their admiration for the heavenly family.

Today, the prince does not live in the East Palace for a long time. The sage often takes the prince to live beside him in the palace, thinking of the family relationship between father and son.His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also fulfilled his filial piety, and every morning and evening, he made peace with himself and never stopped.It's just that the East Palace fell into ruin and withered.Perhaps because of not practicing for a long time, the varnish on the carved doors and windows of this side hall is a little peeled off, which makes people sigh with emotion.The servant surnamed Wang lightly pushed open the wooden door, waved the dust casually, and smiled flatteringly at Li Kuo and the two: "Recently, His Royal Highness has received guests in the Library Pavilion, and this side hall has not been visited for a long time. Strange. Please sit in the warm pavilion for a while, the slave has already ordered someone to serve tea to the two young gentlemen."

"Excuse me, father-in-law." Li Kuo cupped his hands at Wang's servant, and walked towards the hall with square steps.Gently lifted the skirt of the robe, sat down on the pear wood armchair where the guest was sitting, picked up the tea cup and scraped off the powder, and took a sip of the clear tea.

Zhang Yanji found a chair next to Li Kuo to sit down, and said suspiciously: "Brother Kuo'er, you're fine. Usually you pay the most attention to the politeness of the monarch and his ministers, but today you seem to be a different person, and you regard this East Palace as your own." Home?"

Li Kuo patted his friend's forehead lightly, and Li Kuo smiled angrily: "That's also an occasion. If you and I are as observant as Dr. Hongwenguan, then Your Highness will not be bored to death."

"That's true, you can just say it, why shoot me!" Zhang Yanji wrung his hands behind his back and complained with his mouth half pouted.

"You!" Li Kuo shook his head and said helplessly.

"His Royal Highness is here." Accompanied by a high-pitched announcement, the hall fell into silence for an instant.

I saw a middle-aged man who was about forty a year, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, striding into the side hall surrounded by two small yellow gates.

Knowing that this person must be Li Heng, the prince of the Tang Dynasty, the two teenagers bowed down and bowed down one after another. "Minister Li Kuo (Student Zhang Yanji) pays his respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Prince Li Heng took a few steps forward, helped Li Kuo up with a smile and said, "This must be the new guest of the Eastern Palace. Speaking of which, you are still recommended for this official position." After speaking, he nodded to Zhang Yanji, It's half a gift.

Li Kuo raised his head slightly, staring at the prince of the Great Tang Empire.To be honest, Li Hengsheng is quite handsome and elegant, with well-proportioned facial features, clear facial edges and corners, coupled with a bundle of black hair that is casually pulled up like a waterfall, I am afraid that even a handsome young man in his twenties will not give up. .Perhaps because of the proper maintenance, Li Heng's cheeks are very fair, and there is not a single wrinkle on his face as white as suet.

Being stared at by Li Kuo, Li Heng coughed and said, "Why does Li Binke always stare at Gu? Could it be that there are flowers growing on Gu's face?"

Li Kuo was taken aback by the question, and after realizing it, he hurriedly prostrated himself and pleaded guilty: "I have lost my composure, Your Highness is a dragon and a phoenix, and I can't look away for a while. I have offended His Highness, and I am guilty."

Li Heng waved his hand magnanimously, and said with a wry smile: "It's not a crime, it depends on how you have learned to be like a rotten scholar at a young age. I only praise you as a guest to appreciate your courage and courage, and if you do it all day It's really boring to talk about the truth without losing your face."

Li Kuo hurriedly responded, "What Your Highness said is that etiquette should not be neglected lightly. Your Highness is the second heir of the country, and I dare not overstep it."

Li Heng sighed lightly and said: "Follow you, in fact, calling you to the East Palace is not a big deal. I have heard about your affairs a few days ago, which made people excited. To do one's duty for the country, to track down traitors is loyalty; It is righteousness to help a friend and fight against the barbarians; it is wisdom to leave clues and report to Jin Wu; it is bravery to not be afraid in the face of danger, and to sacrifice life and forget death. Such a loyal, righteous, and wise man can be employed by our Tang Dynasty It's really a blessing for Tang Dynasty!"

The young man's cheeks flushed instantly, not to mention that he didn't think so much at the time, just reporting this matter to Jin Wu couldn't be blamed on him!

However, Li Heng didn't seem to care, turned his back and looked at the mottled shadows under the shade of the locust tree outside the window, and said to himself: "At that time, your feat was reported to the Daming Palace, and my father, Longyan Dayue, immediately sealed you off Lang's dismissal. Gu was thinking, if you can come to the East Palace to be a subordinate official, you can also set an example for my two unsatisfactory sons. So Gu asked his father for a favor and asked you to come .”

"His Royal Highness loves so much that I cannot repay it with a hundred deaths. However, His Royal Highness King Guangping and His Royal Highness King Jianning (Note 1) are both dragons and phoenixes among the people, beyond the reach of a mere commoner..."

"Hey." Li Heng waved his hand lightly and said, "I know how much my own son weighs. Besides, when it comes to blood relationship, your father should be the grandson of King Hengshan. Speaking of which, you and I are still of the same generation. Gu really wants to call you a clan brother."

Li Kuo was startled, and hurriedly knelt down and said, "Your Highness killed the humble minister. Since my father, the lineage of the humble minister has not been counted as the clan, and has been bestowed with official positions by the sage and His Highness. How dare you use the light of fireflies to compare But the brilliance of the bright moon?"

Li Heng leaned forward to help the young man up, and said indifferently: "Forget it, since you were born with a stable and appropriate temperament, I will not talk about it. Sometimes I think about it, if I could be born in the family of ordinary people , fulfilling filial piety at the knees of parents, it is also a pleasure to enjoy children and grandchildren in spare time. Looking at it today, people live in this world to pay off their debts, and everyone has their own difficulties." <Fang Dianmao, you next year If you want to take the imperial examination, you can't fail in classics, history, prose and essays.According to Gu's opinion, he came to the East Palace once a month. I don't know what Li Binke thinks? "

Li Kuo didn't know why the prince's attitude changed so quickly, but he didn't have much to say. He bowed and replied, "Your highness is the one who decides. In this way, I will come to listen to your highness' teachings on the days of rest at the end of each month."

Li Heng waved his hands in a dispirited way: "If you have nothing else to do, then you all will leave. I have been practicing calligraphy alone for a long time, and my body is also exhausted. I want to rest."

Li Kuo bowed to the crown prince and left the side hall with Zhang Yanji on his back.When leaving the Nuan Pavilion, I only heard a sigh of regret from the inside.

Stepping away from the platform, Zhang Yanji muttered in a low voice: "What's the matter, His Royal Highness, I was so enthusiastic about you just now, and how could you be so indifferent in the blink of an eye after admiring you. It is said that the king's heart is unpredictable, and he has not yet become a king." Well, it keeps people in a fog. If he succeeds to the throne, the subordinates will have to spend more than half a day trying to figure out what the old man is thinking!"

Li Kuo covered his friend's mouth and said in a low voice: "Shen Yan, you and I can judge Your Highness the Crown Prince. This is the East Palace. If you say such rebellious words, you will die? Grandpa often said, As a courtier, it is enough to complete the tasks assigned by the emperor, and don't say a word of extra words."

Zhang Yanji shrugged his shoulders and said, "I'm just talking about it. You're nervous. But, I can see that His Highness still has high hopes for you. Work hard, and remember to support me when you get rich in the future."

"Hmm." The young man replied in a young voice.

Accompanied by each other like this, the two teenagers strode out of the East Palace and walked southward along the narrow streets of the imperial city.When he came to the door, he gave the waist badge to the guards of the Shenwu Army for inspection, and then hurried out of the palace.

At this time, it was noon, and the sun was the most vicious.The sun made the figure very short, and shone through the pagoda tree beside the road, brushed the water surface of the ditches on both sides, and dizzy with misty water vapor.Because the heat was unbearable, the two teenagers walked along the canal all the way to the carriages and horses at the east end, thinking about renting a carriage instead.

However, as soon as Fang entered Chongrenfang, Li Kuo was really taken aback.There was a constant flow of people in front of the Taibai Restaurant facing the square gate, but Li Kuo saw him at a glance.

The back figure leaning against the doorpost and wearing a rough and thick sweater was very familiar.Taking a deep breath secretly, he plucked up the courage to look forward, and the young man felt dazzled for a while... Seven years ago, the man was also wearing the same style of thick dark clothes, casually tied with a black square with four corners scarf.He always likes to hold himself in his arms, sit under the big pagoda tree in the front yard of the old house in Chongrenfang, and tell himself about the beacon smoke in Mobei and the flowing clouds in Guanhe.

The setting sun is like blood, reflecting in the sky.At that time, he had the same smile and eyes as now...

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Note 1: These two are the sons of Li Heng, and King Guangping is the later Daizong.I am his fan, and I specially asked him to come out to make soy sauce!

ps: Who is this mysterious man?