Fortunately met when I was not married

Chapter 63
Chapter 58
In the morning of the next day, Pei Yunkuang summoned Shang Yu and the envoys, and held another banquet in the imperial garden. Officials of the third rank and above participated in the banquet in a grand and enthusiastic manner to show the intention of the two countries to repair each other.And Si Tian, ​​as a female family member, was entertained by the queen, and another banquet was held in the inner palace.

Shang Yu originally worked in the Ministry of War and was very familiar with the courtiers, so the atmosphere during the banquet was harmonious and joyful.

After drinking three cups, Shang Yu said to Pei Yunkuang: "Your Majesty, it's not interesting to drink blindly. We have a custom in Cangqiao called gambling."

Pei Yunkuang smiled: "What kind of gamble?"

"It's an archery competition. Whoever loses will drink. I lost to Mr. Zhan in the martial arts test last time, and I feel a little dissatisfied. Today I want to compete with him again. Whoever loses will drink a pot."

The ministers were in an uproar, an altar!
Pei Yunkuang frowned and smiled: "King Cangqiao is betting a bit big, the loser can drink three bowls."

Shang Yu laughed heartily and simply: "Okay."

Immediately, a servant served three golden bowls and placed them in front of Shang Yu and Zhan Peng.Zhan Peng twitched the corners of his mouth, wondering secretly, this kid, he didn't provoke him.

Pei Yunkuang sent someone to fetch the bow and arrow.

Shang Yu and Zhan Peng left the banquet and stood under the steps.

Pei Yunkuang asked with a smile, "How do you two compare?"

Zhanpeng humbly apologized: "I have no objection, let King Cangqiao decide."

Shang Yu chuckled, took the bow and arrow and pulled the string, narrowed his eyes slightly, and said with a smile, "Why don't you just shoot at a pot of yellow wattle over there. Yellow wattle is a homonym for gold, and it's also a good way to make a fortune. The arrow that passes through the gap between the thorns will be counted as the winner."

All the ministers turned their heads to look, the pot of yellow wattle was placed on the railing of a small bridge a few feet away, with a simple and elegant shape.The two thick branches are intertwined together, and then branched out into two branches, and there is indeed a gap the size of a copper coin in the middle.

All the ministers agreed with smiles, and Pei Yunkuang also nodded in agreement.

Because Cang Qiao is a guest, Zhan Peng politely asked Shang Yu to invite him first.Shang Yu smiled at Zhan Peng: "Why don't I do it today as a respect, and later, Mr. Zhan will be merciful." As he said, he picked up the bowl first and drank three bowls of wine in a row.Everyone was amazed at his boldness.

Shang Yu picked up the bow and put on a feathered arrow. His arm strength was astonishing, and the bow was drawn like a full moon. Everyone held their breath, and all eyes were fixed on his fingers.

He let go abruptly, and with a slight thud, the arrow pierced through the air, and everyone's eyes followed closely, but they were stunned!

The arrow was as powerful as swallowing clouds and mist, and with the sound of wind and thunder hidden, it pierced Zuo Xiang's throat directly. Zuo Shiqiu fell to the ground without even making a cry.Huang Jing was several feet behind him, safe and sound.

All of a sudden, the banquet was as quiet as death.No one ever thought it would be like this!The sudden change of the situation is only between the fingers.

Pei Yunkuang stood up abruptly, and said sharply, "Boldly dress Yu Hao!"

Shang Yu didn't seem to hear Pei Yunkuang's scolding. He gently lowered his longbow, rubbed his brows, and said in a low voice, "Did I lose? Well, I'll accept the punishment and drink."

Lifting up the golden bowl, he drank down the three bowls of wine newly filled by the waiter, then shook his body and said with a smile, "Cousin Emperor, I have accepted the punishment." Frankly and innocently, it seems that the scene just now was just a drunken dream.

Only then did the crowd realize that Shang Yu and his entourage had been surrounded by guards with swords, and the relaxed and joyful banquet was on the verge of breaking out.

Everyone was waiting for Pei Yunkuang's words.

Pei Yunkuang stared at Shang Yu with blazing eyes, and said for a long while: "Shang Yuhao is drunk, first send him to Xinuan Hall to watch, and wait until he wakes up."

Although only Si Tian was entertained at the harem banquet, it was grand and extraordinary. Si Tian just felt uncomfortable and a little bit like sitting on pins and needles, because after all, she was different from Princess Qingping, who was Pei Yunkuang's queen.

After the two chatted politely, Princess Qingping smiled slightly and said, "Miss Si, I heard that you have an engagement with King Cangqiao?"

Si Tian replied, "Yes."

Princess Qingping smiled and said, "The marriage between Cang Qiao and Daliang seems to have become a custom. Counting it, there are many previous examples! The day before yesterday, the Empress Dowager heard that King Cang Qiao came to congratulate her, and she told me about it. thing."

She paused and said: "Her old man said that Princess Yun Yi and King Cang Qiao are the right couple at the same age. Alas, her old man likes to match young people the most."

Si Tian's heart skipped a beat, and he became inexplicably nervous.

"I also think that King Cangjie and the princess are very suitable, so I went to mention this matter to the emperor, but the emperor said that you are already engaged to King Cangjie, which surprised me quite a bit."

Si Tian felt faintly uneasy, and looked directly at Princess Qingping, her expression seemed very regretful.

Princess Qingping said again: "I and the Empress Dowager both feel that Princess Yunyi and King Cang Qiao are a perfect match, so if Miss Si is willing, I can choose a good husband for you in this dynasty."

Si Tian's heart skipped a beat, what does she mean?
"Miss Si can think about it."

Si Tian felt a lump in his throat, unable to speak.Princess Qingping obviously means that her identity is not suitable for Shang Yu, and the one who married Cang Qiao should be Princess Yunyi. She occupies the position of princess. He should take the initiative to withdraw the engagement with Shang Yu.

She couldn't appreciate such kindness.Although she was secretly annoyed, but she couldn't show her face because of her affection, that kind of grievance and depression was about to block her heart and lungs and make her breathless.She was originally a lady of the family, and although her family was in decline, years of family education and self-cultivation, and the inherent arrogance in her bones made her unable to accept this kindness and charity.

She was silent, with a stubborn look on her beautiful face, neither humble nor uttered a word but noncommittal.The scene is a bit stiff.Princess Qingping was a little displeased, she didn't expect that a poor girl would be so difficult to speak.

Suddenly, a servant hurried over and whispered something in Princess Qingping's ear.Princess Qingping's complexion changed, she stood up, she glanced at Si Tian, ​​and said coldly: "King Cang Qiao just missed while drinking, and shot Zuo Xiang to death."

Si Tian was shocked and stood up.

how come?She knows his drinking capacity, and she also knows his archery skills.There was only one possibility for her to miss after drinking, and she immediately thought of the reason, which was to touch his heart and complain about his recklessness.In an instant, her back, forehead, and palms were all wet.

Princess Qingping said: "Miss Si, you should wait for news here first."

"Empress, the daughter of the people wants to leave first to meet Lord Liu Chongliu."

Princess Qingping pondered for a while, and said to the servant beside her: "You take Miss Si to Changchun Garden, and please come over, Mrs. Liu."

Si Tian bid farewell to Princess Qingping, followed the inner guards to Changchun Garden, and waited anxiously for Liu Chong.He must be at the state banquet today, and he must know the specific situation.

A quarter of an hour later, Liu Zhong came in a hurry, and before she could ask, he said, "I don't know what he was thinking, and no one thought that he would be like this. Whether it was a mistake after drinking or intentional, no one can say right now, just look at it." The emperor meant it. The emperor said that he would be fine if he lost his hand after drinking. If the emperor did it on purpose, I am afraid that the repair between the two countries will be in vain. This is Cang Qiao who provoked the incident first."

She had already thought about the magnitude of this when she came here, whether this matter is big or small, she immediately thought of Pei Yunkuang, at this moment only he can smooth this matter out.But he is no longer King Anqing, and she can no longer see him casually.

Liu Chongdao: "The emperor didn't get angry on the spot. I think he was hesitating and didn't know how to deal with it. He is not a subject, but the monarch of another country. It is related to the long-term relationship between the two countries. The emperor will definitely not make a decision easily. Right now, he is being left by the emperor. Sober up in Xinuang Pavilion, let's see how the emperor handles it, you can wait at ease."

How could she wait any longer.She said urgently, "Brother-in-law, I want to see him."

"The emperor sent troops to guard the Xinuang Pavilion, and even the envoys he brought stayed in the palace."

She bit her lip and murmured: "Then, can I succeed if I want to meet the emperor?"

"Well, the emperor is no longer King Anqing, he is the emperor of Daliang. If you go to ask him, I'm afraid it will be difficult to change anything."

Si Tian burst into tears: "Brother-in-law, you always let me try."

"Well, you come with me, I wonder if the emperor would like to see you."

Liu Zhong led her to Qianming Hall.When he arrived outside the hall, Liu Zhong asked her to wait outside first. After the servant informed him, he entered the hall. After a while, he came out and nodded to her: "The emperor let you in."

She took a long breath, lowered her head and walked into Qianming Hall.

She didn't raise her eyes to look at Pei Yunkuang, and she knelt on the ground as soon as she entered the door. The marble floor was covered with thick velvet blankets, deep blue, dotted with charming peach blossoms.She put her forehead on the back of her hand, anxious and anxious, the tears she suppressed all the way suddenly fell, and were sucked drop by drop on the carpet, without a trace.

Pei Yunkuang stood up from the dragon table, condescending, only to see her pitch-black hair resting on the cloud sleeves like a black cloud.She was wearing a lavender dress, with a fringe of snow fox fur around her neck and cuffs.The neckline and cuffs are embroidered with small white plum blossoms.His heart skipped a beat, and he remembered the few words she answered when he asked Mei in the snow that night.Somewhere in his heart broke through the soil again and sprouted, as if the spring breeze was blowing in after the severe winter.

He came over and gave her a weak support, but she didn't use her strength to get up, she just raised her head slightly.

The bright water marks on her face and the sparkle in her eyes made him feel slightly jealous. Now she is no longer the one who sheds tears for him, her tears are for other men, and this man is his dearest relative , is his ally and an opponent he admires.The scene in the morning was thrilling and unexpected.He couldn't help admiring Shang Yu's arrow, which was both cunning and courageous, and it hit his mind with a twist, which made him unable to deal with it, and he was embarrassed and hesitated.

Her eyes were as clear as water, she didn't speak, she just looked at him, she seemed to have a thousand words, but she only spoke with her eyes.She knew that she didn't need to say anything, he naturally knew why she came.

Pei Yunkuang stared at her, and after a moment of silence, he said, "I know why you came. I am indeed in a dilemma. It would be fine if he shot an ordinary palace man, but Zuo Shiqiu is the prime minister of Daliang. What do you want me to do?" ?”

She whispered: "Your Majesty, he is just drunk."

Pei Yunkuang smiled wryly: "Si Tian, ​​you know, I know how much he can drink. You know, I know, he knows why he shot the prime minister!"

Her heart sank heavily and she began to get nervous.It was precisely because she knew why Shang Yu did this that she became more uneasy and worried.And Pei Yunkuang also knew the reason, how would he deal with it?

She raised her head and said boldly: "But, the emperor also wants to get rid of Prime Minister Zuo, doesn't he?"

Pei Yunkuang did not deny it: "Yes, I want to get rid of him, but not now, nor in such a way. Right now, I have just ascended the throne, and the situation in the court needs his support. His disciples have many followers. I haven't figured it out yet, and there is still time for him to be used. Leaving aside these things, Shang Yu did this in front of so many people. If I ruled that it was a drunken mistake, I was afraid that the courtiers would not agree. If I said he did it on purpose , and it will be detrimental to the relationship between Cang Qiao and Daliang. He really gave me a problem."

Si Tian said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, since this matter involves the relationship between the two countries, the Emperor should rule that it was a mistake after drinking."

Pei Yunkuang narrowed his eyes: "He has improved a lot this year, he knows how to embarrass me and make me helpless against him."

Si Tian hurriedly said: "He has always respected the emperor in his heart. He heard that the emperor chose congratulatory gifts for the emperor for a few days after he ascended the throne. He also knew that the emperor really wanted to get rid of Zuoxiang, so he did this. He was not just avenging me. "

Pei Yunkuang stared at her, and paused every word: "You know him so well?"

"Yes, I know what he's thinking."

Her words had the meaning of matching Shang Yu's heart, which made him a little uncomfortable.

He stepped forward, frowned and asked, "Do you know what's on my mind?"

Si Tian shook his head slowly, the worry and panic in his eyes were clear and clear, covering her bright eyes, like a foggy mountain, misty rain on the river, aroused his repressed and buried old unwillingness, long-lost desire swept over, knowing it was out of date , still want to fight one last time.

His eyes were deep, and his tone was low: "Si Tian, ​​even today, I still want to ask you that question, please think about it before answering, okay?"

(End of this chapter)