Red Dust Daqian

Zhou Sen was promoted directly, and his seat surpassed all the bigwigs in Jiangxia Prefecture, and was even higher than the governor Zhu Deling and the chief secretary Ouyang Changzong. How could he not be hated? Zhu Deling was used to being on the bench, but he didn't say anything. But Ouyang Changzong was furious. Isn't it just a crappy poem? Is it worth my dedication to the Chu Palace?

Of course, although Ouyang Changzong and other officials were unwilling, they dared not speak out because it was the King of Chu who made the decision after all.

Zhou Sen was surrounded by a group of old men, who started talking nonsense. This gave Zhou Sen a headache, as he didn't know these people and had no common topics to talk about, and he felt very uncomfortable.

An old man sitting opposite Zhou Sen saw his embarrassment and took the initiative to greet him, "The Taoist priest's poems are stunning, and I am ashamed of myself." Before Zhou Sen could be polite, the old man continued, "I heard old man Yu Wen boasting before, saying that there is a young and promising poet in Jiangxia Prefecture, and it is rare to see one in a thousand years. I thought it was just a boast, so I specially asked for permission to come to the birthday banquet of the King of Chu. Another purpose is to meet the Taoist priest to distinguish the truth from the false. After hearing this poem, I have no regrets. The Taoist priest is indeed a genius of the ages."

Flattery never wears thin, and although Zhou Sen didn't know who the other person was, it was clear that he had conveyed goodwill to him. Zhou Sen was also polite to the old man: "Mr. Yuwen has exaggerated, and this old gentleman also praised it immediately. This poem is just something I learned by chance, and I dare not claim to be the author."

The other old man next to him questioned Zhou Sen with a puzzled look on his face: "Little Taoist priest, don't you know who you are talking to? What's the old gentleman's name?" Zhou Sen was a little embarrassed. Although he knew that the people at this table were all important people, Zhou Sen had never seen them before, so it was inevitable that he didn't recognize them. Zhou Sen replied frankly: "I am new here and I really don't know you. I hope you can forgive me. May I ask who this old man is?"

Another old man next to him said in disbelief: This is Fang Xueru, the Grand Secretary of the Imperial Academy of Daqian. He is the teacher of the current crown prince and a famous figure who left Jiangxia Prefecture in his early years. As a junior of Jiangxia Prefecture, you don't know him. I'm afraid that the King of Chu and the Prince of Chu sitting here have to call Fang Xueru "Master".

So this person is so powerful. Zhou Sen bowed to Mr. Fang and apologized: "I'm ashamed, I'm ashamed, I'm ignorant."

In order to avoid further impoliteness, Zhou Sen took the initiative to ask the names of the elders next to him and how to address them. The elders looked a bit pedantic, but they were actually quite open-minded and introduced themselves to each other.

They were indeed of prominent origin: Cheng Yaojin, a former general of the court, had retired and came to Jiangxia Prefecture to join in the fun. Zou Wenyuan, the Minister of Rites, and Wang Liqian, the Minister of Revenue, were also important officials in the court and were special envoys sent by the court to celebrate the birthday.

Zhou Sen didn't expect that the people sitting around him were all the most trusted ministers of Daqian. He had to flatter them. When he arrived in Kyoto in the future, these people would be able to help him.

So many important officials came to the birthday banquet of King Chu. It seems that the power of King Chu in the court should not be underestimated.

There were a bunch of old men at the table. Zhou Sen was just a kid in front of them. He could only bow and salute. But they were still quite considerate of Zhou Sen. The congratulatory poem just now really shocked them. They were chatting among themselves, and no one cared about what gift the King of Chu got.

If the birthday gift was introduced, it would be inconvenient for him to move. Zhou Sen was still quite panicked and anxious. After a few pleasantries, Zhou Sen pretended to have to pee and hurried out. Seeing that Zhou Sen had escaped, Xiangcao followed him out from the last seat where no one noticed him.

After Zhou Sen and Xiangcao reached a safe location, they immediately contacted several secret agents that Li Qi had set up in the Hundred Flowers Garden. Then they took the drugged Shuimu Xianjiu and headed straight for the wooden house leading to the Huaxi Temple.

The guards of the Prince of Chu's Palace were almost all around the banquet to ensure order. The entire Hundred Flowers Garden, except for the banquet area, was guarded by guards near the wooden house.

Zhou Sen heard from afar that Guard A complained to everyone: Today is the birthday of the King of Chu, and everyone is guarding the banquet, leaving us here alone. I really can't bear this, because at the banquet, we can still get some wine, and that wine is really fragrant, the kind that can make people hungry just by smelling it. Guard B: Yes, I heard that the wine used for the birthday banquet this time is Shuimuxian Niang. This is a famous product of Jiangxia Prefecture, and I haven't had a chance to taste it yet. God is unfair. Guard A: We work so hard, but no one rewards us. I heard that there is a limited supply of Shuimuxian Niang every month down there. Guard C: Just think about it, I'm afraid you and I will never get a share of Shuimuxian Niang down there.

Hearing the guards' chat and looking at the Shuimuxian wine in their hands, Zhou Sen was overjoyed. This was a good opportunity for him. Zhou Sen directly arranged for the secret agents dressed as servants to take the Shuimuxian wine to seduce them to drink. It was said that it was a special favor given to them by the King of Chu at his birthday banquet.

Zhou Wodi, the head of the secret agents arranged by the Plum Blossom Department, was indeed a bold and careful person. He walked towards the guards with the drugged Shuimuxian wine in his hand. The guards were alert at first, but when they saw that the man looked like a servant and did not act like a person with ulterior motives, they relaxed their vigilance.

Zhou Wodi shouted to the guards: Brother guards, you have worked hard. My Lord, I am particularly happy to have obtained a great poem today. So I have shown special grace and rewarded all the brothers in the palace with the water and wood wine. I have not forgotten you brothers.

When the guards heard about the "Shuimu Xianjiu", their saliva started to flow. They didn't care whether he was guarding or not and urged Zhou Wodi to open the wine so that they could drink.

Zhou Wodi even pretended to persuade them: "Brothers, we still have to guard our duty, so don't drink too much." The guards have been craving for Shuimuxian wine for a long time. They couldn't listen to the persuasion at this moment. They wanted to grab Shuimuxian wine and start drinking immediately, but they didn't dare to act rashly in the Chu Palace.

Zhou Wodi was a little worried when he saw that there was still a guard standing at the door of the wooden house and had not come over. If everyone else was unconscious and there was only one person left watching, they would definitely be exposed.

Zhou Wodi signaled the guard to come and taste the wine. Guard A said dissatisfiedly: Don't pay attention to him, he is old-fashioned and unsociable, and doesn't like to drink. He has no good taste, so don't bother with him.

Zhou Wodi directly rejected all the guards and said righteously: Today's wine is a gift from the King of Chu. It is a gift from the master, so how can a servant refuse it? If he doesn't drink, I'm afraid his brothers won't be able to drink in peace.

The guards were all stunned when they heard this. How could this be possible? The Shuimuxian wine they had been waiting for was right at their fingertips. How could they spit it out because of a guard who didn't get along with them? Without waiting for Zhou Wodi to invite him, the guards directly took the guard who didn't get along with them hostage and ordered him to drink with them. He was not allowed to refuse.