During the famine, my ancient well connected to modern times

The civil and military officials in the court gradually understood His Majesty's thoughts. As long as he did not offend the Queen or get dirty with Xiangmi, His Majesty was still very reasonable in other matters.

Your reasonable Majesty is playing chess with Cui Zhengbai from Jiangnan.

Cui Zhengbai arrived in the capital yesterday. In fact, Luo Tingye wanted to meet this person half a month ago.

Xuan Jiayi spoke highly of this person, which made Luo Tingye a little curious.

After Cui Zhengbai received the imperial edict, he entered the palace as soon as possible. He played a game of chess for a whole hour, and it was difficult to distinguish the winner from the loser.

In the end, Luo Tingye narrowly won.

Luo Tingye was so happy that he stayed with Cui Zhengbai for dinner at noon. In the afternoon, he rewarded Cui Zhengbai with a set of chess pieces made of warm jade and a chessboard made of golden nanmu.

Cui Zhengbai also brought a gift to Luo Tingye, silk and satin from Jiangnan.

Because the production of loose flower brocade takes a lot of time and energy, Jiangnan stopped paying tribute when the late emperor was here.

To show his sincerity, Cui Zhengbai specially presented three loose flower brocades, namely Birds Facing the Phoenix, Ruyi Peony, and Good Harvest.

Luo Tingye liked it very much.

When Cui Zhengbai left the palace, Luo Tingye sighed, "The husband of the Cui family knows better than Song Zhe of the Song family, and he is also more relaxed. The court needs such talents."

Feng Jizhong put down the tea and stood aside.

"But I don't see anything extraordinary about Mr. Cui, but he is a good chess player. I rarely see anyone who can play better than Your Majesty."

"Didn't I lose to Marquis Xuanwen a few days ago?"

Feng Jizhong smiled and said: "Actually, I have already noticed that your Majesty deliberately gave way to Marquis Xuanwen."

There is no point in playing chess with Jiang Qian. Jiang Qian learned his chess skills from members of the He tribe, and later studied on his own. After following Luo Tingye, Luo Tingye also gave him guidance.

Nowadays, Jiang Qian's chess style is unique, but Luo Tingye can still find his flaws. Playing chess with him is like playing chess with another person.

No challenge at all.

Feng Jizhong looked at Luo Tingye's face and said, "Your Majesty, how is Cui Zhengbai's chess skills?"

"Cui Zhengbai's chess skills are already superior to Hu Jijiu's. In fact, he should have won this game, but in the end he deliberately exposed his flaws."

The chessboard was not taken away. Luo Tingye just changed a few chess moves at will, and the situation changed instantly.

The Feng Ji Center was startled, and then he began to flatter him without any trace: "Your Majesty can see what he is thinking. Your Majesty is more skilled."

Luo Tingye nodded at him, "When did your mouth become so good at talking? Be careful that the courtiers read your book."

Feng Jizhong hurriedly looked in the direction of the door. Fortunately, the people standing at the door were all his own people, so there was no need to worry about the news reaching the court.

Luo Tingye thought about it again and again, "Let Cui Zhengbai take the Guozixue exam. If he can pass, I can give him a chance."

"But Your Majesty, Cui Zhengbai is from the Cui family. Aren't Your Majesty worried?"

“People from aristocratic families also need to use it, and children from poor families also need to be supported.

After Luo Tingye came to the throne, he did not blindly support the children of poor families. There were only a few children from poor families who were as talented as Jiang Qian.

Secondly, people from poor backgrounds are more susceptible to temptation.

Furthermore, the children from a poor family had little experience and seemed to cause some troubles from time to time. Luo Tingye quite hated the fact that iron cannot become steel.

But he also knows that he doesn't blame them, the family's heritage cannot be matched by talent.

If Jiang Qian didn't have himself, he might not be able to get to where he is today. Speaking of temptation, Luo Tingye thought of a person, "Has Zhong Huai arrived in the capital?"

"If I tell you, Your Majesty, I'm already in the dungeon."

"Where's the queen?"

Feng Jizhong said: "The Queen has been staying in her palace today and did not go out. However, Miss Lan Shui beside her did leave the palace and went to the nursery. Miss Lan Yu also entered the palace."

"I guess Amiao won't be able to sit still any longer. Send someone to keep an eye on her to make sure no one deceives the queen."

"Your Majesty is joking, the Queen is very talented, who can deceive her!"

"I'm not afraid that she will be deceived, I'm afraid that she will be soft-hearted."

Feng Ji was puzzled, and Luo Tingye hesitated and said: "Actually, it's good to be soft-hearted, at least it won't go to extremes."

There are too many extremes in the palace, and there are not a few people who go from one extreme to another.

Luo Tingye hoped that Jiang Miao could keep it unchanged for the rest of his life.

"Hey……"

Lan Xin looked at Lan Shui helplessly, and the empress had sighed countless times since she entered the palace.

"Mother, if you want to go and have a look, just go. Your Majesty didn't stop you?"

"What are you going to say after you go? I know everything he did, so what else do you have to ask?"

Lan Shui suggested: "Even if he knows everything, the queen can still ask him if he has any unfulfilled wishes. After all, in a master-servant relationship, the queen can show kindness appropriately and let other people in the Zhong family remember the good things of the queen." , I will definitely do my best when running errands in the future.”

Jiang Miao thought what she said made sense, "You're right, let's go and take a look. If I don't ask some questions in person, I will always have a knot in my heart."

Lan Shui brought Jiang Miao's cloak, "It's windy outside, please be careful of catching a cold."

Jiang Miao glanced at the sky outside. It was obviously cloudy and not too cold, but she couldn't resist the blue water.

The three of them came to the dungeon together and saw Zhong Huai imprisoned in the innermost room.

Compared to his original tall and thin appearance, he has gained a lot of weight and has become a tall, fat man. I heard that he can eat three big bowls in one meal. Is he overeating? It would be weird if he doesn't gain weight.

The jailer knocked on the railing and said, "Zhong Huai, the Queen is here to see you."

Zhong Huai, who was huddled in the corner, heard the sound and looked towards the door with a look of disbelief. What caught his eye was an extremely delicate face, graceful and noble, looking forward to the brilliance, and his every move carried an aura of superiority.

For a moment he almost didn't recognize it.

girl?

"Zhong Huai, why don't you kneel down when you see the Queen?" The jailer shouted loudly when he saw that Zhong Huai was as motionless as a piece of wood.

"Here." After reacting, Zhong Huai's limbs became weak and he knelt on the ground, "Zhong Huai, please pay homage to the Queen."

Jiang Miao asked someone to open the cell, and the jailer diligently brought a chair with a flattering look on his face, "What else do you have to say, the Queen?"

Lan Shui gave him a piece of silver and said, "You are no longer needed here. Just go and guard outside and don't let anyone in."

"Yes."

After the jailer left, Jiang Miao walked into the cell. There was a musty smell inside, and it had not been taken care of for an unknown period of time.

She frowned but did not withdraw.