The dream of a lonely hero

Yan Yun was worried and said:"Eighth brother! Seventh brother has not changed. Seventh brother was not the kind of villain who flattered and flattered the powerful in order to rise to the top. He is not now and will never be in the future."

Yuanda said:"Yes.! This is my seventh brother who would rather take the straight way than ask for it, and would rather bend than bend! The eighth brother doesn’t understand why the seventh brother is so submissive to Zhao Rong, I don’t understand, the eighth brother really doesn’t understand! Brother, why did you fall to the ground?"

Yan Yun said:"No reason."

Yuanda said:"Badi really doesn't want you to be a person who flatters the powerful and opportunistic. If you say no why, I will never figure it out even to my death.."

Yan Yun deeply hates those who flatter the powerful for the sake of glory. If he doesn't tell Yuanda, Yuanda will misunderstand him to some extent, and his character will definitely be compromised in Yuanda's heart. Among these sworn brothers, only Yuan is now Daneng had a heart-to-heart exchange and couldn't bear to hide it from Yuanda. After thinking about it, he said:"Zhao Rong is not the young master of the Prime Minister's Mansion. She is Zhao Yuanrong, the second princess of the Prime Minister Hancheng County."

Yuanda said,"Ah!" He was shocked. He said"Oh" for a moment,"Haha! That second princess is really passionate about you, blessing, blessing, seventh brother is so lucky!"

Yan Yun's cheeks turned red with embarrassment, and said:"Eighth brother! I misunderstood, misunderstood, no. You think so."

Yuanda said:"Haha! Although the eighth brother is a rough man, he is not confused. From your demeanor and behavior, how can the eighth brother not see some clues?"

Yan Yun's explanation made him feel that he was really Chaos added to chaos, and things were counterproductive. He had no choice but to say:"Eighth brother, please remember! No matter what you think, don't talk openly."

Yuanda said:"Seventh brother, don't worry, eighth brother will definitely keep his mouth shut!"

Speaking of the second princess Zhao, Zhao Yuan Rong hurried to Peach Blossom House to ask the old bustard about what happened in Yanhua Pavilion at midnight three days ago. Seeing her frowning and angry, the old bustard dared to hide it with a sharp sword hanging at her waist. A short and skinny master with gold tattoos on his cheeks, a small nose, small eyes, and a square face came to play with a guest officer who was six feet five six, with a round face, a dark hair, and three strands of moustache. The two were placed in the Yanhua Pavilion. After not much effort, a sick man with a smoky face and more than seven feet tall came in noisily and said that he wanted to find the guest who had just come in. The younger one couldn't afford to offend him so he had to tell the truth. Entered the Yanhua Pavilion; alas! My Peach Blossom Pavilion was in a state of uproar, as if they were all officials, what kind of school lieutenants they were."

Zhao Yuanrong said:"You are so verbose! What's the end?"

The old bustard said:" They quarreled for a long time, and the sick man took away the master with a sharp mouth and monkey cheeks, like a chicken."

Zhao Yuanrong grabbed the old bustard's wrist and said:"You have to tell a lie, grandpa. I'll crush your bones!"

The old bustard screamed in pain:"Yeah! Grandpa doesn't dare, and I don't dare! If I tell a lie, I will die badly!"

Zhao Yuanrong pushed the old bustard away and hurriedly left Taohua. building.

The residence of the Zhao sisters in Yiguan.

Zhao Yuanchun was leaning on the desk reading, while maid Chunrong stood beside him. Zhao Yunrong walked in full of worries and sat in front of the desk without saying a word. Of course Zhao Yuanrong could tell and didn't ask. Yunrong was silent for a long time and said,"Chunrong go outside for a walk." Chunrong accepted the promise and retreated.

Yuan Rong told her sister Yuan Chun what had just happened. Yuan Chun's heart was as calm as water and she continued to read. Yuan Rong said:"Sister! Is Yan Yun really what the bustard said?"

Yuan Chun knew what her sister wanted to hear, and it was the result of her own thinking, so she said:"You are as fierce as a god, how can the bustard dare to lie to you. Yuan

Rong said:"I went back to Yan Yun's residence, and Yuanda told the truth again. Prince Liang was really stupid. Instead of punishing the thief Yang Mao, he beat Yan Yun who caught the thief."

Yuan Chun said:"Yuan Yun said. You can't speak without restraint. How can Prince Liang be the one you criticize? He has his own reasons."

Rong Rong said,"Why does it make sense to favor Xiaoxiao so much? Then the one who went to Taohualou with Yangmao must also be from the county. The prince does not investigate the disciples of the king, the prince is really confused!"

Yuan Chun thought: The prince's hand bead was in Yang Mao's hand that day, and the person who went to Taohua Tower with Yang Mao should be——, He said to Yunrong,"Sister, please don't discuss this matter again! Everything you say and do is related to your father, the prime minister and your younger brother, the king, and the stability of the government."

Yuanrong saw that her sister was angry and said:"Sister, I will listen to you. But sister is stupid and can't figure it out no matter how hard she thinks." Yuan Chun saw that she was feeling uncomfortable, so she had to break it down at a shallow level and said:"The Yang Mao is unworthy, but he was just promoted by the imperial court, and he was also promoted by the county. The king recommended that if Yang Mao was punished, it would not only be a slap in the face of the prince, but also make the court look bad. As a prince, how can one not consider the overall situation? This is why the prince did not pursue the case of going to Peach Blossom House with Yang Mao to find pleasure."

Yanrong seemed to understand but didn't think about it at all, and suddenly said:"How did Yan Yun sneak into Peach Blossom Alley in the middle of the night? I'm afraid he is not so innocent. Could he also be thinking about Yan Feng, that rotten beast?"

Mentioning Yan Feng again It hurt Yuan Chun's heart that her first love met that heartless beast. Yanrong looked at his solemn sister and felt that what he said was inappropriate. He quickly changed the subject and said:"Most of the people under the prince's family are rough men who fight and kill. Yan Yun doesn't bother to associate with them. They are bored and wander around. I don't know. Before I knew it, I had arrived at Peach Blossom Alley, and I believed that Yan Yun must be innocent!" Although he said this, there was an element of insincerity in his words.

Yuan Chun said:"Asking Yan Yun, a well-mannered man with both civil and military skills, to work with a bunch of wild men who are illiterate is a kind of merciless torture for Yan Yun. It is tantamount to being exiled from the army. What is better than having no confidants? Even more depressing things. If you think about him, you should believe him."

Yuanrong said:"My sister is helping me to check it, I don't think I will make mistakes, right?"

Zhao Yuanchun thought: his father did not blame himself for hanging out with his sister for a long time. Instead of returning, I feel uneasy in my heart. The meaning behind the words"carefully observe the sentiments of the people and report back to my father for enquiry" is unfathomable. I subconsciously feel that I am gradually taking on a mission that I can't explain at the moment. My sister and Yan Yun are in love with each other. It is worth gratifying and I can do it myself. They can only give silent blessings, which is the same in Zhangzhou as in the capital, and there is no point in staying in Zhangzhou; but my father's instruction to"carefully understand the sentiments of the people" cannot be violated, and Zhangzhou cannot leave for a while, so I can only , we can only wait and see what happens, and return to the capital as soon as possible if there is a chance.

Time flies, and it’s New Year’s Eve in a blink of an eye. Zhao Guangyi held a banquet in the lobby of the state government and invited the civil and military staff of the royal family and officials of the state government to welcome the new year. Civil servants include Shi Jiasu, the chief minister of the palace, Chai Yuxi, the minister of the palace, Wei Qi, the judge of Zhangzhou, Cen Chongxin, the right magistrate, Cheng De, the medical officer of the palace, and Wang Yuanyou, the medical officer of the palace. Military generals include: Peirong Colonel Yangmao, Peirong Colonel"Peach Blossom Little Wenhou" Wang Rong, Peirong Colonel Yan Yun, Peirong Deputy Lieutenant Wang Xijie,"Zhanwen Taoist" Lingran Taoist Zhang Yugui,"Yuyong Military Guest" Shang Feng,"The Brave Military Guest" Ge Ba,"The Brave Military Guest" Sang Zan,"The Fierce Warrior Warrior" Zhou Ying,"The Fierce Warrior Warrior" Dai Xing,"The Fierce Warrior Warrior" Zhang Ning,"Cao Cao" Wang Neng, the fierce warrior, Zhang Xu, the ferocious warrior, Lu Bin, the brave soldier, Fu Qian, Gao Tieta, Wang Zhao, Chen Congbao, Yuan Da,"Flower Sword King" Wang Hanzhong,"Flower Spear Taisui" Wang Zhaoyu,"Golden Retriever Lion" Zhang Baoyang,"Double Hammer Sai Cao Zhang" Pei Zhongpu,"Eight-Armed King Kong" Li Jun,"Sai Yingbu" Fu Dun Fu Rang,"White-faced Tiger" Li Bin,"Hengjiang Iron Dragon" Geng Quanbin.

A dozen candles as tall as a person and as thick as a girth were burning in the lobby of the state government office, illuminating the lobby as brightly as day. Sitting behind the main banquet table was Zhao Guangyi, Prince of Liang County, and behind dozens of banquet tables on both sides were sitting the assistants of the royal family and state officials. Each table is filled with meat and vegetable dishes, and the cups and plates are arranged, which is very rich. Candles were a luxury item in that era, and such thick candles could only be used at palace banquets. Zhao Guangyi's doing so can be regarded as overstepping the rules (violating the court system). He was demoted to Zhangzhou and made great achievements in wiping out the bandits in Centipede Mountain. However, he still did not receive the order from the imperial court to recall him to Bianliang City in Tokyo. On New Year's Eve, he was worried and depressed. This was a way to vent his endless melancholy.

If you serve as an assistant, you may come from a military camp, a swamp, or a small official in a remote county. How can you know how to exceed the rules and not exceed them? Shi Jiasu, the chief minister of the Imperial Court, Chai Yuxi, the Sima of the Imperial Palace, and Wei Qi, the judge of Zhangzhou, understood it, but they knew that the prince was in a depressed mood. Besides, it was not a big deal for Emperor Gao to be in Zhangzhou, which was far away, and it was not convenient to give advice.

Zhao Guangyi stood up and said sadly:"You are all resourceful, resourceful, wise and far-sighted people. You are not worthy of being brave enough to win the three armies. Unfortunately, you followed me and came to this poor country. On New Year's Eve, you left your hometown and had no home to spend with your family." Family happiness." He took out a sweat towel to wipe the tears from the corner of his eyes."I am very ashamed! I was so obedient and ended up here. I am afraid that I have wronged you. When people go to higher places and water flows to lower places, why don't you abandon me? And you surrender to the Lord Ming to gain fame?"

It wasn't his assistant who covered his face and shed tears. Gao Qiong stood up and said:"Why are you crying during the Chinese New Year? What do you mean by 'leaving home and having no home to spend time with your family to enjoy family happiness'? His Highness is our home, and following His Highness is to spend time together with family happiness."! Do you think so?" The sound was like a loud bell.

Wang Hanzhong, the"Flower King" who was born in the green forest of Mingshan, Wang Zhaoyu, the"Flower Spear Taisui", Zhang Baoyang, the"Golden Retriever Lion", Pei Zhongpu, the"Double Hammer Sai Cao Zhang", Li Jun, the"Eight-Armed King Kong", and Sai Yingbu"Fu Dun Fu Sirang,"White Faced Tiger" Li Bin, and"Hengjiang Iron Dragon" Geng Quanbin said in unison:"That's right! His Highness the County Prince is our home, and following His Highness is the joy of family life!"

The rest of the officials echoed," Yes! That's right!"

Chai Yuxi said:"Your Highness! Success or failure sometimes happens, why should you be sentimental about a temporary failure? With His Highness's rich knowledge and talents, it will be just around the corner for him to be reinstated."

Zhao Guangyi's face showed a slight trace of relief, he picked up his wine glass and said :"I hope you will not give up! Come and drink this cup. This wine was brewed by Cheng Yuan, the deputy envoy of Wangfu Winery, the younger brother of Medical Doctor Cheng De. Although it is not a jade liquid, it can be compared with the royal wine of the palace." He brought the wine glass to his mouth and stopped suddenly. The tragic scene of Xiang Chunqiu being poisoned by Chen Xin's medicinal wine appeared in front of his eyes. Unconsciously, his hair stood on end in fear. His hands and feet suddenly became cold and his face turned pale. The jade wine glass fell to the ground with a"bang" sound. broken. Everyone was surprised when he sat down again.

Chai Yuxi thought that her master was unwell and said hurriedly:"Broken, peace and prosperity every year, good sign, good sign!"

Zhao Guangyi gradually regained his composure and said:"Oh! I see you and I spending this beautiful time together in Zhangzhou and welcome you with joy. New Year, I feel very happy, but I accidentally lost the jade cup." Under the instruction of Chai Yuxi's eyes, the deacon changed Zhao Guangyi's cup of tea, but others thought it was wine. Zhao Guangyi raised his cup and said,"Come and drink with you all!" He drank it all in one gulp. Everyone also drank a full cup.

From then on, Zhao Guangyi never drank any alcohol. Even if the emperor gave him wine, he would only drink it with salt water.

Don't underestimate drinking. It was not considered low-end consumption in the Song Dynasty. Alcohol was a hugely profitable industry monopolized by the government and an important source of fiscal revenue, so the price of alcohol itself was very expensive. Records of food and goods in the history of the Song Dynasty record that in the second year of Jianlong's reign (961), Taizu Taizu of the early Song Dynasty would be beheaded if he brewed 15 kilograms of wine privately. Later, the regulations were relaxed, but brewing a certain amount privately was still a capital crime.

There was no distilled wine in the Song Dynasty, and the alcohol content was very low, barely keeping up with today's beer. A bottle of beer in the Northern Song Dynasty was roughly equivalent to more than 100 yuan today. If you meet someone who drinks a little bit more, it's okay to drink seven or eight bottles of beer, which means you'll be using up a thousand yuan.

How can these subordinates be polite when the master is the host? All the officials gathered together, changing cups and cups, drinking happily, and mingling with each other. Less than half an hour later, Zhao Guangyi excused himself from the banquet due to feeling cold and went back to the back office to rest, accompanied by several deacons. When Gao Qiong, Wang Zhao and others saw their master retreating, they became even more relaxed and drank from their wine jars. The entire lobby was noisy and full of festive atmosphere.

Yan Yun was so quiet and restless, eating and drinking by himself, thinking: It would be great to read books and practice martial arts at this time, so why waste time on this boring banquet? He got up and just wanted to leave. Yuanda swayed the wine glass and came forward, saying:"Where are you going, seventh brother? Have you missed Mr. Zhao? Don't be in a hurry, eighth brother hasn't toasted you yet; come on, eighth brother. Three hundred for you."

Yan Yun said:"Buddy, don't be greedy for wine."

Yuanda said:"If you can be greedy, you can't be greedy. If you pass this village, this shop will be gone. Buddy is not as rich as your elder brother. The county king rewarded you with several thousand gu, enough to drink wine for many years!"

Yan Yun said:"Have you finished drinking the money I gave you the day before yesterday?"

Yuanda said:"You have already finished drinking."

Yan Yun said:"Tomorrow Get it from me."

Yuanda said:"Then eighth brother, please thank seventh brother first! What a wonderful day, why is seventh brother always so depressed, and second brother has become a bookworm when he stays out of the house all day long? If you are crazy about medicine, you are almost crazy about love!"

Yan Yun gave him a hard look.

Yuanda changed the subject and said,"Brother Qi has so much money, why don't you drink?"

Ma Wei also came over and said,"Brother Q-Seven can live a life.

" The wine glass was crooked as he stumbled over and said:"Yan Yun will live a lousy life! If you don't eat, drink, whore or gamble in this life, what are you going to do with your life!" Gao Qiong came over staggeringly with the wine jar in hand and said:"Yes. It makes sense! What Yang Mao said makes sense. We are all eating on the tip of a knife or a spear. Today we have a big bowl of wine and a big piece of meat. Tomorrow, we don’t even know if this thing on our shoulders is still there. Drink!"

Yang Mao saw someone agreeing with him, and he immediately became energetic and said:"Yan Yun is rustic, 'Lord Tu Tu became a monk.——?The soil is home'! Even giving him a gold mountain would be a waste. Thinking back to when he was at Guiyun Village in Zhenzhou, Yan Yun said,"The cripple is slipping down the slope - it's a shame!" You are so angry that you want to marry my cousin. Kneel down and kowtow to me. That head will make a loud noise! 'Dong dong dong' haha-" He kept laughing wildly.