Happy Little Scholar

The surname "Cui" is extremely unusual in Jingguo.

There are many families with the surname Cui in Jingguo, but the "Cui family" that people in the world often mention is only the Cui family in Zhouzhou.

As a famous family that has been passed down for hundreds of years, it has gone through several dynasties, changes of ownership, and the fall and rise of many imperial powers. However, the Cui family is still the Cui family, standing firm in that land and is indeed more stable than the royal family.

This is of course not because the Cui family has strong military strength and self-respect, which makes the royal family extremely jealous, but because through hundreds of years of family inheritance, the Cui family has become the most popular in Wangzhou and neighboring states, and even in the hearts of scholars all over the world. Has a very high prestige.

It is easy to destroy a Cui family, but what is destroyed at the same time is the people's hearts and the people's belief in the royal family.

Therefore, even decades ago, when the power of the Cui family reached its peak and the power was overwhelming, and even able to control the court, the royal family did not take any extreme measures against the Cui family.

Of course, since His Majesty came to power, he has deliberately supported poor families and adopted a strategy of slowly encroaching on the influence of the powerful families in the court. In the past twenty years, the Cui family's influence on the court has been greatly weakened, especially in this period. During the year, the Cui family's layout in the court for more than ten years had almost suffered a devastating blow, and its momentum had long been reduced to what it used to be.

However, a skinny camel is bigger than a horse, Cui's disciples are spread all over the world, and his reputation among the people is still there, and his legitimate daughter is a concubine in the palace. Even though his influence is not as good as before, it should not be underestimated.

What's more, the prince raised by Concubine Cui is the eldest son of the current emperor. According to the etiquette system, after His Highness King Shu ascends the throne, the power of the Cui family will surely reach a new peak.

Concubine Cui would appear briefly at the Cui family every year on her birthday.

This is also one of the few opportunities for some low-level officials to see the beauty of the concubine in the harem. Of course, when the concubine comes over, most people bow their heads and salute, and even this opportunity will be missed.

Therefore, no one noticed that among the crowd, Jingcheng Ling Liu Dayou raised his lowered head at a small angle, looking at Concubine Cui who was walking slowly with some scrutiny in his eyes.

Then he lowered his head again and moved his lips without making a sound. If someone knew lip reading, he would naturally be able to read it. What he said should be..., "Damn, it's too far away, I can't see clearly..."

On the birthday of a noble concubine, according to the etiquette, there is still a set of tedious procedures to go through in the palace during the day. By the time Concubine Cui arrives from the palace to the Cui family, it is already night, even though the Cui residence has long been decorated with lanterns and colorful lights. It is transparent, but standing behind the crowd, with a distance of more than half a foot, it is not difficult to see clearly the appearance of Concubine Cui, but if you want to see more details, such as the color of Concubine Cui’s lipstick, what color her face is, Is there too much makeup powder on my face, is my eyelids single-lidded, etc...

These can't be seen clearly.

Magistrate Liu thought for a while and looked at an official standing in front of him.

Although Concubine Cui was born in the Cui family, her identity has changed since she entered the palace, and her relationship with the Cui family has become that of a principal and minister. Therefore, when she was supported by the palace maid and walked in slowly from the outside, the head of the Cui family and the The Cui clan members all stood in front and waited respectfully.

In the crowd, a certain doctor from the Ministry of Etiquette lowered his head, waiting for Concubine Cui to pass by. He was still thinking in his mind that he didn't know what the concubine looked like. He didn't dare to look up last year, but this year he stood a little further forward. , I dare not lift it...

Just when he was hesitating in his mind whether to cast a glance, a huge force suddenly came from behind him, and he staggered forward.

Plop!

The doctor from the Ministry of Etiquette fell to his knees on the ground. Before he could get up, something pressed down on him from behind, followed by a slightly panicked voice.

"Who, who just pushed me!"

"Qiang!"

Several guards emerged from behind Concubine Cui. Their swords were unsheathed and pointed directly at the two people in front of them, "Who are they!"

His eyes were dazzled by the cold light on the tip of the knife. The doctor from the Ministry of Etiquette had just stood up halfway before he collapsed again.

A middle-aged man got up from the ground and said hastily: "I don't know who pushed the official from behind just now, disturbing the queen. Please forgive me!"

"What's going on? Who are you?"

The head of the Cui family and everyone in the Cui family hurried over and asked with a gloomy face.

The surrounding officials were also stunned by this incident. Someone recognized the identities of the two men, and there was a whisper of discussion.

"Isn't that Doctor Zhang from the Ministry of Rites?"

"That one, that one seems to be Mr. Liu from the capital..."

"Why did the two of them escape?"

"It was said that someone pushed me...who would do such a boring thing?"

…

Only then did Cui Qingze, the head of the Cui family, realize that it was a false alarm. He let go of his suspense, frowned and was about to speak when Concubine Cui's voice came.

"Since there's nothing to do, forget it and go in first."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for being so generous!" Magistrate Liu stood respectfully and saluted Concubine Cui. When he raised his head, his face was filled with gratitude and reverence.

Then he returned to his original position and stood there respectfully.

The imperial concubine is the imperial concubine after all, and her eyes are probably the most beautiful he has ever seen - one-lidded.

The head of the Cui family glared at County Magistrate Liu and the doctor of the Ministry of Etiquette with a hidden look, then turned around, stretched out his hand and said: "Please..."

…

Although today is the birthday banquet of the Imperial Concubine, for most people, they can only catch a glimpse of the Imperial Concubine at the moment they lower their heads.

After Concubine Cui and the core members of the Cui family entered the main house, the atmosphere outside began to become lively again.

When fireworks began to bloom over the Cui Mansion, at a table somewhere in the hall, Yu Dingfeng, the head of the Yu family, smiled and said: "To talk about the fireworks, you have to look at the Chen Guogong Mansion. Brother Cui, next year, You should learn more from Brother Chen..."

The head of the Cui family smiled but did not speak.

Chen Chong led the Chen family guards to attack the Yu Mansion and even tore down the gate of the Yu Mansion. Although the Yu family paid a price to settle the matter afterwards, the feud between the two families was finally settled.

Everyone here is an old fox, and everyone knows that Yu Dingfeng's words may seem like compliments, but he actually wants to say that the third Miss Chen's birthday banquet is so grand that not even Concubine Cui's birthday can match it.

The Yu family has made great contributions to the academy. It can be said that they single-handedly hindered the development of the academy and preserved the power of the Cui family and many wealthy families. Although the Yu family is not as well-established as the Chen family at the moment, the Yu family His achievements and status in the eyes of the Cui family and His Highness the King of Shu will surpass the Chen family sooner or later.

In fact, Cui Qingze's attitude just now showed this trend.

At the table, a hint of displeasure appeared on Chen Qing's face, but Chen Chong seemed to have neither heard nor seen it. He pointed to a dish in front of him, turned his head and whispered to Zeng Shichun sitting next to him: "This dish The food is not bad, Mr. Zeng, try it..."

After Zeng Shichun tasted it, he nodded and said: "It's really good. Mr. Chen might as well try this..."

This scene made many people confused.

The second master of the Chen family and the Zeng family have never had any contact except occasionally discussing important matters together. When did they become so close?

…

At a table outside the hall, several young people were changing glasses. One of them paused and suddenly said, "Look, who is that person?"

Everyone's eyes turned to him.

"Liu Dayou!"

"It's him!"

"He actually came today!"

Including Young Master Qin, many young princes in Kyoto have suffered a lot at the hands of Magistrate Liu, so everyone has a deep impression of him.

Zeng Zijian glanced over there in confusion and murmured: "Isn't this person always following Li Yi? Why are he here today? Could it be that... he is trying to show his favor to the Cui family?"

"I'm afraid it's too late to show your kindness now..." Seeing Liu Dayou, someone at the table felt a dull pain in their buttocks and said coldly.

"Xi Xin, why don't you go and investigate. If he really has good intentions towards your Cui family," let's settle the accounts with him more lightly. If he has bad intentions and ulterior motives, today..."

Cui Xixin nodded, stood up, and showed a smile on his face.

This is the Cui family, a small capital city, haha...

At Cui Mansion's banquet, acquaintances and close friends gathered at the table, drinking and chatting. Since they belong to the lineage of the King of Shu, and today they are attending the birthday banquet of the noble concubine in person, they naturally have many contacts on weekdays.

It's not often that Magistrate Liu drinks alone and silently.

Of course, it was precisely because he occupied a table in the corner alone that no one wanted to be with him. Naturally, no one could hear the words he whispered while drinking alone.

"Single eyelid, single eyelid, double eyelid..., damn, what is this..."

"Damn it, if I had known it, if I had known it, I wouldn't be here today..."

"Damn it, who would believe this kind of thing?"

"I can't say it, I can't say it now, the Cui family, the Cui family, you and him..."

"Master Liu..." Cui Xi came from behind with a wine glass in his hand, smiling, and was about to speak.

"Fuck you!"

Magistrate Liu turned his head, looked depressed, and said impatiently.