Beautiful step by step

Chapter 169

From Chu Ying's mouth, Wei Wei learned the details of Qinghuowei.

The origin of this dark guard organization with a similar name to Qinglongwei is also similar. Back then, Taizu established Qinglongwei to be in charge of intelligence. In order to prevent the expansion of the emperor's power, he established another Qinghuowei to check and balance.According to the regulations, Qinglongwei can only be passed on to the most just and virtuous person recognized by the clan, but this way it is easy to raise the latter's heart, and use the power in his hand to usurp power and seize the throne.In this way, the Qinghuowei came into being. Its own strength is slightly weaker than that of Qinglongwei, but it is controlled by the emperor itself.

Taizu was indeed far-sighted. After hearing about the sources of the two dark guards, Wei Wei admired the founding emperor who came up with this strategy.

"Emperor Taizu is indeed holy."

When she said this, Chu Ying's mood was rather complicated. The founding emperor of Dai Viet had done many things.He not only established two secret guards to restrict the royal power, but also completely reformed the laws that have gone through many dynasties. These unprecedented changes have only one purpose: to restrict the rights of officials, and let the supreme power hang a sharp sword over the head at all times.

In conscience, this kind of change is very good, but when the Chu family becomes a victim of these new policies, the reverence in his heart will be greatly reduced.

"Master Hou, I don't know who is in charge of Qinghuowei now?"

All the way to the old lady's courtyard, Wei Wei finally asked the key.

Qinglong and Qinghuo, Qinghuo, who was originally held by the emperor was weaker, and Qinglong, who was held by the other party in the clan, was stronger.The emperor has imperial power. Even if the dark guards in his hands are weaker, he is still in an overall advantage, but this advantage will not be so great that he can do whatever he wants. This is the original intention of the establishment of the two dark guards back then.

But the wish is beautiful, but there is a deviation in execution.Just because the emperor who made this policy can control himself does not mean that his successors are also so self-disciplined and willing to be bound and restricted by foreign objects.During the first emperor's reign, the Azure Dragon Guard was basically useless, and now when he ascends the throne, he directly holds the two dark guards in his hands.In the end, due to the family law of his ancestors, Emperor Qinglong mastered the strongest Azure Dragon Guard.

"The slightly weaker Qinghuowei was given to the crown prince as a reward when he became the emperor's heir."

It turned out to be the crown prince. She stepped across the threshold in a daze, her foot was pinned down, and when her body swayed and almost fell, Yan Heng leaned over and hugged her.At the same time, the main courtyard door opened, and the old lady Feng, who was wrapped in a cloak, came out with the support of Wei's mother. Next to the two of them stood the eldest son Chu Lian.

Seeing this scene, Old Madam Feng subconsciously looked at her grandson, seeing him more relieved than in pain, she nodded inwardly.At the beginning, Ah Mao wanted to go out of the house to marry someone, and the reason why Brother Lian wanted to leave her was not because of Wu Shi's two important words, but because he knelt down and begged her in private.From the perspective of a bystander, she could clearly see his feelings.With his reaction now, he obviously still has feelings in his heart, but he has already been able to persuade himself to let go.

This kind of reaction satisfied her. Even if the men of the Chu family left the Northwest battlefield, they should stand upright and be able to afford it.

Brother Lian has indeed grown up in the past few years, but this growth has something to do with Ah Mao.It was Ah Mao's injury that stimulated him, and she also found out what Ah Mao said to him before she got married, explaining the current situation of the Zhenbei Hou Mansion, she encouraged Brother Lian to support the Hou Mansion again with his own talents.If you want to say who brother Lian listens to the most, it must be Ah Mao.The childhood sweetheart and the love between men and women are so deep that even her grandmother sometimes feels jealous.

These thoughts flashed through his mind, he patted Mother Wei's hand next to him, and when he spoke again, Old Madam Feng smiled.

"This is Grandma's husband and son-in-law, he is indeed a good-looking talent, and Qingniang has a good vision."

Mother Wei also glanced at Shizi from the corner of her eye, seeing that his expression was normal, she breathed a sigh of relief, and said modestly: "The old matriarch praises you."

Chu Lian, who was secretly observed by everyone, felt bitter, but he was also a scholar, he knew everything from passion to etiquette.He didn't deny that the thing he regretted most in his life was being confused and cowardly three years ago. The reason for being confused was that he didn't discover Wu's conspiracy in time, and the reason for being cowardly was because he obviously liked Ah Mao but didn't dare to grant her a high position justifiably.Tongfang, after all, is no different from a maid.If he had obeyed his own will at that time, justifiably doted on his concubine and killed his wife, protected Ah Mao tightly, and spoiled her to heaven, would Wu Shi still dare to treat her like that?

He thought about this question countless times until he saw Ah Mao again after two years.She was still so delicate and pretty, and the wind outside the Northwest Great Wall didn't leave the slightest trace on her face, it only made her temperament stronger.With just one glance, he realized that she had lived a very good life in the past two years, and she justifiably got married and became a real wife. This kind of life is really suitable for her.

In addition to the love between men and women, Ah Mao is more important in his heart, and it is the younger sister who grew up with him as a childhood sweetheart.Regardless of whether Tongfang or Jinlan became sworn brothers later, deep down in his heart he always wanted her to be happy.Seeing her like this now made him feel relieved.

Hiding that unwillingness in the deepest part of her heart, Chu Lian stepped forward, facing Yan Heng, her bookish face became more serious.

"Anyway, I'm still your uncle, and I don't know how to say hello when we meet."

Concentrated and cold all over, Yan Heng felt admiration for Chu Lian for the first time.After helping Ah Mao and leading her across the steps, he folded his fists and bowed slightly: "I have seen my uncle, and I am very grateful that my uncle has taken care of my family's business in the past two years."

What he took care of was obviously Ah Mao's business, when did it become his family's business!Hearing the meaning of drawing a clear line in his words, Chu Lian suddenly felt that the face in front of him was very flat.

So at the reception banquet later, he specially ordered someone to bring the jars of old spirits deep in the wine cellar, and poured them down one after another.Aware of his intentions, after asking Mother Wei to take good care of Wei Wei, he punished himself with three cups to thank Zhenbei Hou when he came up, and then he would not refuse anyone who came, and drank with father and son.

This wine was transported from the northwest when Beihou of the old town was alive. It is said that it came from a master wine maker in Jiuquan.The old recipe handed down from the ancestors makes the wine strong but not overpowering.Before Chu Ying finished talking about the relationship, Wei Wei and Yan Heng thought that this was the wine made by the lame Wang Bo in Jiuquan County.

The brewer met, and Yan Heng talked about the reason why Uncle Wang's feet became lame.After listening to how he dealt with the domineering Zhou Qianhu in Jiuquan, and how he returned the Zhou family's people who had been greedy for ink all these years, Chu Ying applauded again and again.

"An official, regardless of whether he is a scholar or a general, should be blessed. This glass of wine, I respect you."

Chu Ying toasted in person, and Chu Lian followed suit. How could Yan Heng really ask these two people to toast, so he quickly stood up and held a toast.

"What I do is far worse than that of the Hou Mansion. When Zhou Qianhu was judged that day, the people of Jiuquan missed the old Hou Ye who was a clean and honest official and devoted himself to the people. When it comes to Fuze, this glass of wine does not matter. No matter what, I have to respect Lord Hou and the son."

After flattering each other, the two sides toasted each other.After picking up the wine glass and drinking it down, Yan Heng and Chu Lian looked at the empty glass and smiled.There are two men who are equally handsome but each has its own merits across the dinner table.The grievances between the two disappeared completely, and the wine table became lively.Affected by this atmosphere, Wei Wei, who has been depressed for the past few days and affected his appetite, will also have a big appetite now.Wei's mother on the left and Yan Heng on the right, both of them were holding vegetables for her at the same time, sitting in the middle she ate happily.

With her mouth full of food, she tasted the exquisite and delicious dishes of the Hou Mansion. Her eyes were bright and her cheeks were bulging. Her bright face looked like a little squirrel, and the other people at the dinner table were equally happy.

When they were full, the three men's drinking competition reached its peak.Just now, he suppressed his voice within normal decibels, and now he yelled at the top of his throat.Unexpectedly, the one with the loudest voice was not the forthright Chu Ying, nor Yan Heng who had been in the army, but Chu Lian, who had always been quite a gentleman.

Holding the wine glass, the moiré sleeves of the green robe rolled up, revealing that fair but well-muscled arm resting on Yan Heng's shoulder, he said with his tongue out, "Ah... that's my sister, who is more beautiful than my own sister." Dear, if you treat her well, I respect you as a man; if you dare to treat him badly, our Zhenbeihou Mansion also led troops in the northwest before, so don’t think I can’t cure you.”

Nodding, Yan Heng didn't say anything, and directly picked up the jar in front of him.Under everyone's surprised eyes, he stood up with the jar on his lips, because he drank too fast, the wine in the jar flowed down the corners of his lips, poured down his neck, and wet a large lump on his chest.

Although the three of them drank a lot just now, but the jar is big enough, there will be at least one third of it left.The rest, Yan Heng raised his neck and drank it all in one gulp.That didn't count, after he finished drinking, he acted as if nothing had happened, and gave Wei Wei another green bean.

Because Wei Wei was pregnant, the dishes on the table were not fishy, ​​most of them were vegetarian dishes and pasta, and the meat was stewed in soup.Among the dishes on the table, the green beans served with wine were crunchy, sweet and salty, and tasted particularly good.Because it is too brittle, it is not so difficult to clamp it.

Yan Heng used a green bean to prove his sobriety at the moment, witnessing his massiveness with his own eyes, Zhenbei Hou was admirable.

"Thousands of cups don't get drunk, wine is a hero!"

The atmosphere reached its peak again, and when everyone was happy, the maid who was responsible for adding water by the door walked in and reported with a troubled face.

"Old Majesty, Lord Hou, masters, someone from the Wu family said that Mrs. Shizi is not feeling well, and would like to invite Shizi to the main courtyard."

"Wu's name is this son?"

Chu Lian's capacity for alcohol was light, but just now in order to get Yan Heng drunk, he drank to death, and now he was a little drunk.Hearing that Wu's old tricks were repeated in a haze, the fire in his heart surged up.Maybe when he is sober, he can still retain a third of his sanity, and this will cause the twist in his body inherited from the Chu family to suddenly erupt through the strength of alcohol.

Why does Wu say what he says? Wu said that Ah Mao was the first to do housework, so he wronged Ah Mao; Wu said that there are great Confucian lectures in the academy these days, so he has to leave the mansion for a few days to give her The gap hurt Ah Mao.

Pointing to his nose, he rubbed his tongue: "I have to go if she tells me to? I'm not an imperial doctor, nor an elixir that can cure all diseases from the Supreme Lord. What's the use of going if I don't feel well."

"Tell her: My son, don't serve me!"

(End of this chapter)