Chapter 74 seventy three
Li Chengqian's men finally figured out that Duan Boldly was arrested for selling horses, and Li Ke was behind it.When Heng Lian reported the matter to Li Chengqian, the prince's face was livid with anger, and he said angrily, "Well, Wei Zheng never only asked about military affairs. Someone went out to sell military horses. General Feihu didn't even know, so why did he ask him to look into it! It turned out that the youngest ordered someone to report the letter."
Zhang Xuansu said from the side: "From the recent incidents, it can be seen that the two of them have colluded with each other, and they are working together. Your Highness will have a sad life in the future. We must guard against the third child among the princes. It's not easy for you to guard against the youngest among the courtiers!" Li Chengqian nodded and said, "I will definitely be careful of these two guys from now on."
Zhang Xuansu knew very well that the East Palace was a bloody place, and it was not enough to just be careful.From Li Ke's usual demeanor, he has already seen that the third prince has great ambitions. This reminded him of the fate of Li Jiancheng being overthrown by his younger brother. For a solid long-term solution.The first thing Zhang Xuansu thought of was the prince's marriage. He stroked his beard and said to Li Chengqian: "I think the empress has already figured out the matter between you and Haitang. Why don't you hurry up and get married. With Haitang That dowry, hmph, it will not be so easy for the two youngests to shake the big tree of your East Palace."
Li Chengqian said strangely: "Who doesn't know that the Hou family is poor, what kind of dowry can she have?" Zhang Xuansu pointed him and said: "Don't you see the momentum of Haitang's father? Hou Junji now controls half of the imperial army, In the Tang Dynasty, is there any woman who can bring a more valuable dowry than this!" Only then did Li Chengqian understand what Zhang Xuansu meant.He had admired Haitang for a long time, and being able to marry such a beautiful wife and get such benefits, he naturally had no reason to object, so he agreed to Zhang Xuansu's suggestion.
The crown prince himself nodded, and Zhang Xuansu began to talk up and down. Empress Changsun wished to marry her daughter-in-law back one day soon, so she used his words to discuss with Li Shimin.The friendship between Li Shimin and Hou Junji's family was so deep, so naturally they would not push back, and the matter soon became clear, and within a few days, an imperial decree came down, and Zhang Xuansu would choose an auspicious day to go to the Hou's mansion to protect the matchmaker.
On a good day, Zhang Xuansu brought a few carriages of dowry gifts, and led a group of drummers to the gate of Duke Lu's mansion beating gongs and drums. Hou Junji happily ushered him into the living room.After securing the big matchmaker, Zhang Xuansu couldn't stop congratulating Hou Junji, and Hou Junji also thanked Zhang Xuansu a thousand times. He ordered people to put down the matchmaker wine and invite the Tai Tuo to the table.Zhang Xuansu was so happy that he couldn't help drinking a few more glasses. After drinking for three rounds, his face was a little drunk, and he joked about Hou Junji: "When the emperor asked me to protect this big matchmaker, I was ten thousand. I don’t like it. The emperor asked me, you old guy, why are you so pushy when you are a matchmaker? Guess what I told the emperor?”
Knowing that he was joking, Hou Junji responded with a straight face on purpose: "It's not because I look down on Hou Junji." Zhang Xuansu said seriously: "Where is it, I told the emperor at the time that the old minister was afraid of going to the Hou's mansion to eat pickles. "Hou Junji laughed heartily for a while, and said: "No matter how poor I am, Hou Junji, I'm just such a girl. You have to treat me to the matchmaker wine. I can see that Master Zhang is happy today, so you can drink it openly. It’s not good, but it must be enough.”
Standing aside, Chi Deli filled Zhang Xuansu's glass with both hands, Zhang Xuansu took it over and said to Hou Junji: "Junji, you and General Chi have toasted me so many glasses, I also It's time to pay back a toast, come, I'll toast you for the billions of people in the Tang Dynasty." Zhang Xuansu said the last sentence very seriously, Hou Junji's expression changed, he put down his glass and said, "Master Zhang, what do you mean by that? ?”
Zhang Xuansu said seriously: "Because you accepted this marriage, you have provoked a heavy burden for the country and society of the Tang Dynasty. The prince is kind by nature, and there are always people in the court who are eager to move and covet the East Palace. He has a father-in-law like you. Those who are ambitious should naturally weigh it."
Hou Junji's face changed, he looked at Zhang Xuansu and said, "You mean Shu—" Chi Deli was pouring wine for Hou Junji, he was startled by Zhang Xuansu's words, his hands shook, and he poured the wine After pouring it out of the bowl, Hou Junji glanced at him unhappily, then turned his face to look at Zhang Xuansu and said: "I also heard about these things when I was in Xiangyang, and now I see it more and more clearly." Zhang Xuansu moved his face closer and said: "You will soon be the prince's father-in-law, and I am the prince's master, so naturally you don't need to hide these words from you—" Hou Junji glanced at Chi Deli and interrupted Zhang Xuansu's words , Instructed his adoptive son: "Deli! Go and invite the young lady to come, thank the big matchmaker."
Chi Deli knew that his adoptive father wanted to send him away, so he answered "yes" knowingly and walked out the door. Hou Junji closed the door, came to Zhang Xuansu, and said solemnly: "Master Zhang, I see The king of Shu is a big kid, with many tricks, not inferior to his grandfather Yangdi, once his wings are full, I am afraid no one in the court can hold him down." Zhang Xuansu nodded and said: "You are a smart man, if you When the King of Shu flies up, your son-in-law will inevitably end up with his uncle Li Jiancheng."
Hou Junji was startled when he heard the words.
At dusk, Li Ke sat on the gazebo fishing with a gloomy expression.The seven stars in the pool moved, and he pulled hard on the rod, but the fishing line broke.Li Ke was furious and broke the bamboo fishing rod into two pieces.Quan Wanji sighed outside the pavilion.
Cen Wenwen walked over slowly, followed by a family member holding a jar of old wine, he picked up half of the fishing rod on the ground and asked in puzzlement: "What's wrong, Your Highness?" Quan Wanji sighed and told him that the prince had heard the news , Zhang Xuansu has already been ordered to go to the Hou Mansion to propose marriage.Cen Wenwen lightly shook the folding fan in his hand, glanced at Li Ke and said, "Why, are you sad because of this? This jar of wine was specially brought from Xinghua Village by the old minister. Come, let's have a good drink." Said Then, Cen Wenwen sat down on the stone bench, but Li Ke stayed where he was depressed.
Cen Wenwen beckoned and said: "Your Highness, come here, they drink wedding wine, why don't we drink a glass of boring wine?" Li Ke sat down angrily, pointed to the east and said: "Sir, did you hear that? The East Palace is playing music to celebrate! He has the support of the Empress inside, and the eldest grandson Wuji outside to take care of him, if such a backer is added, his arrogance will be even more different than before."
Cen Wenwen lifted the wine cup and poured wine into the glass, the wine overflowed over the rim of the glass, but he still didn't stop.Li Ke saw it and shouted: "It's full!" Cen Wenwen asked without raising his head: "What will happen when it is full?" Li Ke replied: "It will overflow when it is full." Cen Wenwen put it down The jug, picked up the wine glass and drank it all: "Well said, it will overflow when it is full. The grandson's lineage has produced a queen, a prince, and a reserve, and now there is another general. Hmph, if the court is regarded as a It’s just a cup, the place is for them to stand, and the wine has to overflow. The current Long Live Lord is an emperor who can make decisions, so he can keep watching? I think you don’t need to worry about this matter. Wait, sooner or later There will be movement!"
This sentence was very reasonable, which cheered Li Ke up a lot. His brows relaxed, and he raised his glass and said, "Thank you, sir, for your guidance. I have come to drink this cup." Drinking, An Heihu came over and said: "Your Highness! Someone sent a letter outside the door, it is for Your Highness." As he said, he handed over a letter with both hands.Li Ke took it over, tore open the envelope, and took out a piece of paper. He read it in the light of Twilight. Eyes have been opened!"
He handed the letter to Cen Wenwen. After Cen Wenwen opened it and read it, he raised his head and turned to An Heihu and asked, "Where is the person who delivered the letter?" An Heihu replied, "He left the letter and left."