Pawn Crossing the River

Zhang Yuelu submitted the record to Jin Que through the communication talisman array and waited for Jin Que's reply.

Although Qi Xuansu cannot be reinstated until Jinque officially replies, he is no longer strictly banned as long as he does not leave the imperial capital.

This period of time is a rare rest time for Qi Xuansu. Since he has not been reinstated, he does not need to and cannot participate in the investigation. Now the case of Gao Mingyin's death has been transferred to Zhang Yuelu. And because he is no longer grounded, he can move freely in the eight inner city and outer four cities, and can do private things.

The day after Qi Xuansu gained partial freedom, he received an invitation from his immediate superior.

This immediate boss is not Zhang Yuelu, but Zhang Yuelu's uncle Shi Bingyun.

Shi Bingyun not only invited Qi Xuansu alone, but also invited Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu. However, Zhang Yuelu considered that she was now inspecting the Imperial Palace on behalf of Jinque, and there were many eyes watching from the side. It was neither good nor bad. Qi Xuansu, who was reinstated, was too close to Shi Bingyun, who represented the Imperial Palace, so he declined Shi Bingyun's invitation on the pretext of going to the underworld of the Jade Palace, and asked Qi Xuansu to go alone.

Qi Xuansu understood Zhang Yuelu's concerns. After all, Li Changge was watching next to him, and Li Ruoshui from the Imperial Palace was also watching. It was hard to force him, so he went to the banquet alone.

Shi Bingyun's treat place is not far from the Taiping Inn semicolon beside Penglai Pool. It is also a private courtyard in Haosheng Southeast Square.

When Qi Xuansu first arrived in the Imperial Capital, he knew that Haoshengdongnanfang was a very special place. First, most of the area was occupied by Penglai Pond, and then the area along the lake was divided up by the powerful. Many people regarded this place as a good summer resort. Some people regard it as a place where the golden house hides the beauty.

Qi Xuansu has also heard that the person who can hide his beauty in this golden house is not an ordinary powerful person. At least he must have started with Uncle Hou, or is a third-rank official or above. Of course, the person who can be hidden in the outer room here is not an ordinary person. Women are all worth a lot, so it's not just about their looks, they also have to have other skills. Beauties are not uncommon, but it is very rare for beauties who can write poems and lyrics and become famous, or be blessed by other identities, such as a certain master, a heroine, a fairy, a witch, a witch, a female head catcher, etc.

The Daxuan law was inherited from the previous dynasty, so there was no polygamy system, only a monogamy system with multiple concubines. The concubines were divided into "noble concubines" and "low concubines." Those who have to marry into a family with a higher status than their own as a concubine just because of other reasons are called "noble concubines". Although he must be submissive in front of his wife, he is not allowed to be beaten and scolded. Also, after giving birth to a son, the son also strives for success, and the mother values ​​the son, so she can be regarded as a "noble concubine".

In addition to these two types, other concubines, maids who live in the same house, women who redeem themselves, and widows who remarry are all "mean concubines" and the like.

You must know that the gap between the main wife and the concubine is huge. The main wife can kill and sell the concubines at will, almost like items.

The bitch concubine can only let the real wife squeeze and round her at will. The outer room is much more relaxed, and there is no need to look at other people's faces. Moreover, in many families, the concubines have to work, just like slaves, and the outhouses are usually served by maids. Not everyone can afford to support the outhouses.

After all, it is still an issue of Taiping money.

Don't say that people can't be measured by money. Qi Xuansu didn't believe this. His life was worth 20,000 worry-free money at its most expensive. Gao Mingyin personally set the price.

Of course, it is definitely not worth that much now. This person's life also has a market, which is high and low, and keeps changing according to the market.

Qi Xuansu also heard that there were always some jokes in Haosheng Southeast Square, such as the head wife bringing people to knock on the door and tearing apart the outer room with her hands.

This is something that is difficult to see in the Taoist sect. After all, the Taoist sect has very strict requirements in this regard. If anyone causes such a scandal, their future will be lost. However, it was not a big deal in the imperial court, it could only be regarded as something to talk about after dinner, a joke. For example, such-and-such a man has a weak husband, and his concubine and concubine are betrayed by his wife, or so-and-so is a lustful man, and his concubine is proud of his favor, and is in conflict with his mistress.

Of course, there are also some families with wives and concubines, who appear to be harmonious, with sisters and sisters enjoying themselves happily.

But Qi Xuansu doesn't have to think about this, he will never have such an opportunity in his life. If he betrays Zhang Yuelu, there are probably only two results. Either Zhang Yuelu breaks off the relationship with him and has no contact with him forever, or Zhang Yuelu takes his life with a sword. At least he must be taught a profound lesson. Zhang Yuelu will never cry. Keep him or tolerate him generously.

There is a private joke among the people in the court: Taoist women are all tigresses. If you marry a Taoist woman, whether you like it or not, you will only be a couple for the rest of your life. For example, the "Old Qin" in Shi Bingyun's mouth, even if he is not married to Shi Bingyun, has been quite clean and self-sufficient over the years. Whether actively or passively, he is a breath of fresh air in the clan, and is considered by many clan nobles to be "lost and crazy".

Of course, His Majesty the Emperor and a few top powerful figures are not included in this list. In fact, "Old Qin" can also do it. The key is that Shi Bingyun's rank and position are too high, and his background is deep enough, so he has trapped himself.

However, precisely because Shi Bingyun's position and rank are too high, the Taoist sect does not want Shi Bingyun to become the princess unless Shi Bingyun gives up the title of real person and the position of deputy palace master.

Qi Xuansu thought about these messy things and unknowingly came to the door of the other courtyard.

Because he has not yet been reinstated, Qi Xuansu did not wear the formal attire of the crane cloak, but a Taoist robe and regular clothes. He did not hang a sutra basket around his waist, but only hung the "Nine Yang Lihuo Hood", pretending to be a pendant such as a jade pendant, which was not very eye-catching. .

Qi Xuansu originally thought that he would not encounter anything like a dog looking down on others, but he did not expect that the concierge of this other courtyard was very discerning. He was respectful when they first met, and he guessed Qi Xuansu's identity in a few words. A "Master Qi" made Qi Xuansu sigh with emotion. But then he thought about it again, this is what the concierge does. If he didn't have the eyesight to offend people every three days, he would have been kicked away long ago. Moreover, Shi Bingyun must have told the concierge that there will be guests visiting today. It has been prepared for a long time.

Under the guidance of the concierge, Qi Xuansu entered the other courtyard. But instead of going to the main hall, he walked all the way through the corridor, passed the second door, and went straight to the garden - there were no other female relatives in the other courtyard, there was no such thing as an inner house, and there was no maid to lead the way halfway.

Because it is close to Penglai Pond, it is not difficult to bring water into the residence of Haosheng Southeast Square. There is a small man-made lake in this courtyard, with a winding water corridor on the lake, leading to the water pavilion in the lake. It's winter now, so there are charcoal basins placed around the water pavilion. If it snows, you can enjoy the snow around the stove.

The concierge stopped here, Qi Xuansu walked alone through the water corridor and entered the water pavilion.

At this time, there were two people sitting in the water pavilion. One of them was Shi Bingyun, Qi Xuansu's immediate boss, and the other was a man who looked about his age. He was dressed in azure uniforms, with a five-willow beard under his chin, a face like a crown jade, and a clear appearance. Strange, at first glance, he looks like a pampered person, with a very chic look on his face.

Although Qi Xuansu is a man, he has to praise her for her good looks. As the saying goes, masculinity does not diminish with time. On the contrary, older men have a different charm than younger men. After all, many temperaments need to be accumulated over time. It also takes time to fade away the milky and green smell. This man in front of me He is a handsome man who has experienced the precipitation of time, just like a jar of old wine.

Look at the two of them sitting together, like an ordinary couple.

Qi Xuansu knew in his heart that this was probably the "Old Qin" in Shi Bingyun's mouth.

Such a person, with such an identity, such an appearance, and a reputation for being generous and generous with money, and presumably having a good temperament, it is no wonder that he can get into Shi Bingyun's eyes.

As a junior, Qi Xuansu took the initiative to salute.

The two of them had already stood up, and Shi Bingyun introduced: "Tian Yuan, this is the old Qin I often mentioned to you, the King of Jin who was canonized by the imperial court."

Qi Xuansu called "His Royal Highness the King of Jin". He had done some homework before coming to the imperial capital and knew that His Highness the King of Jin was a generation above Qin Lingge in terms of seniority. He was of the same generation as His Majesty the Emperor and the King of Liao. He looked young. In fact, he is a person who is almost sixty years old and mainly has good looks.

The imperial family also has a set of seniority corresponding to the Taoist sect: Guo Yixun is outstanding, and he is self-sustained in balance. This was not decided by Emperor Gaozu, but by Emperor Taizong for future emperors, starting from the third generation of emperors with the character "fruit". Emperor Taizong and Xuansheng were of the same generation. If we include Emperor Taizong who is not in the same generation, His Majesty the current emperor happens to be the seventh generation. The generation "Quan" corresponds to the seventh generation of disciples of the Taoist sect, so the name of His Highness the King of Jin is His name is Qin Quanyi.

Qin Lingge belongs to the generation named "Heng", but after he gave up the title of prince, he also gave up this generation as well. Later, he was named "Lingge", but it was the same name as Ning Lingge, the Taoist sect master.

Shi Bingyun pointed out: "We are all members of our own family, so don't be constrained by Tianyuan."

Qi Xuansu knew clearly that the imperial court was indeed not monolithic. The King of Liao was obviously on the side of Taiping Road, while the King of Jin was on the side of Zhengyi.

Qi Xuansu said apologetically: "Qingxiao was going to come with me, but Deputy Hall Master Li and Chief Lu were still waiting for her. She really couldn't get away, so she asked me to confess to the Deputy Hall Master and His Highness Prince Jin. "One sound."

Shi Bingyun didn't understand, so he didn't take it seriously. He smiled lightly and said: "Well, it's because she is not lucky. Today, Lao Qin specially took out a jar of 'Drunken Life and Dreams of Death' from his wine cellar, and asked others to fish out a few more The pufferfish kept in the pond was specially made by the master chef of Taiping Inn. "

】

Qi Xuansu has heard about the name of pufferfish for a long time, but he has never eaten pufferfish before risking his life. After coming to the Imperial Capital, apart from other things, he has really seen a lot of luxury enjoyment in the world.

However, Qi Xuansu also knew in his heart that today's banquet was not just a celebration of his being cleared of suspicion.

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