Poor monks do not break the precepts

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, a married woman returns home. As Concubine Ji is the head of the Six Palaces, it goes without saying that there is a huge team of visiting relatives.Despite Ji Guifei's repeated orders, the entire Hermitage Villa is still surrounded by soldiers escorting Ji Guifei to visit her relatives, and no one else is allowed to come in and out at will. There are soldiers patrolling everywhere in the villa, which makes people very restrained.

Xu Sheng stood outside the heavily guarded courtyard, his eyebrows seemed to be frowning, it was normal for his mother to come back to see her son, and she specially summoned him, and it was still in the old lady Ji's courtyard, the purpose was obvious, it was very boring.

The subtle sound did not escape the ears of Aunt Lu, the leader in front, she stopped and turned around, "Master Xusheng, is there something wrong?"

"Auntie, please lead the way." Xu Sheng didn't dare to delay any longer, so he hurriedly followed.

When the guards outside the courtyard saw the aunt who was leading the way, none of them dared to block her way. Seeing that they all saluted respectfully, they dared not neglect her in the slightest.When people arrived outside the main room, the aunt in charge stopped and asked Xu Sheng to wait outside the house, she opened the heavy door curtain and went in, and walked out after a while, inviting Xu Sheng to enter the room.

It is not the first time Xu Sheng has seen Concubine Ji, he has entered the palace several times at night and seen Concubine Ji from a distance several times, so he is no stranger.He went forward to pay homage to Concubine Ji, before he bent down, he was supported by the man in official uniform beside Concubine Ji.

Concubine Ji raised her palm upwards, and said with a dignified smile: "You don't need to be too polite." She then said to her aunt who was born just now: "Tang Yun is watching tea."

There were quite a few people sitting in the room, not only Mr. Ji was waiting, but also the younger generation were present, and next to Concubine Ji was sitting a girl who had just reached the age of a hairpin, with bright teeth and bright eyes like pearls, wearing an ordinary flying fairy bun, and wearing jewelry Most of them are suet white jade with simple style.The girl was talking and laughing with Concubine Ji on her arm, her witty and witty tongue made the room laugh constantly.

Xu Sheng sat quietly by the side, looking at this girl who deliberately made others happy, but he still couldn't like it, maybe he had seen too many little girls, so his vision was much higher, and he didn't like this kind of girl who deliberately sells well, under the hypocritical mask. What kind of bloody mess would it be.

After talking and laughing for a while, the girl shifted her eyes to Xu Sheng, and said with a smile: "This master is..."

Concubine Ji reached out her hand to help her smooth the messy hair on her sideburns, glanced at Xu Sheng, and said calmly: "He is Xu Sheng's master from Shaolin." After finishing speaking, she stroked the top of her head again, narrowing her phoenix eyes, " Just to make you laugh, she is the granddaughter of Duke Ning, Princess Pingning."

When Xu Sheng heard the words, he got up and saluted Princess Pingning, and the princess accepted it naively, and when Xu Sheng's gift was complete, she threatened at a loss: "Master, there is no need to do this, Yuyi can't bear it." After finishing speaking, she Climbed down on the couch and wanted to return the gift, but was grabbed by Concubine Ji.

Before the storm comes, the sea is always very quiet, just like now, Xu Sheng acts as if nothing happened so that the princess doesn't have to worry about it, he lowers his black eyes and waits for Concubine Ji to say something to give him a seat, the bottom of his eyes is like an abyss, making it impossible to see any thoughts.

Sitting next to Mr. Ji, Huai Mingmo wanted to speak, but when he noticed that Mr. Ji was secretly tugging at his sleeve, he took a deep breath, and restrained his impulse several times.

Seeing that it was almost the same, Concubine Ji smiled slowly and said, "Master Xu Sheng, sit down." While speaking, she glanced at Aunt Tang, Tang Yun immediately clapped her hands knowingly, and then walked into several court ladies holding wooden trays, the trays were full of Jewelry and jade, gold and official silver.After a few court ladies stood still in front of Xu Sheng, Concubine Ji said unhurriedly: "Master Xu Sheng has been kind to Ji's family several times, please be careful, I hope you don't refuse."

Xu Sheng suddenly stood up again, looked at Caibo in front of him with a half-smile, and declined: "The Ji family has a good relationship with Shaolin, I'm just doing some business, these..." There was a flash of sarcasm in the bottom of his eyes, Xu Sheng respectfully said : "The poor monk dare not accept it."

Ji Sushan couldn't see it, so he opened his mouth to smooth things over: "The monks regard money as something outside of themselves, so it's not easy for the empress to embarrass others."

Concubine Ji Gui seemed to have just come back to her senses, and said with a smile not displeased: "It's my palace who didn't think carefully."

Being humiliated for no reason, kneeling three times, Xu Sheng acted as if nothing had happened, bowed down again, straightened his upper body but could not get up, "Imperial Concubine, can you send these rewards to Shaolin for the poor monk? How many temples are there in Shaolin?" Yu has not been repaired for a long time, but it happens to be useful."

Concubine Ji was stunned for a moment, then she rolled her eyes at Aunt Tang, she agreed, and asked Xu Sheng to sit back in her original seat, and let her sit aside before saying anything.Princess Ping Ning is very good at watching, seeing everyone's expressions a little embarrassed, he laughed and talked about funny things, and gradually talked about similar stories from his childhood, most of which were related to Huai Mingmo.

An Jingyue glanced at Xu Sheng worriedly, and Ji Duorui whispered in her ear: "I'll accompany you to find him later."

"Okay." Looking back at her husband gratefully, she smiled with hope in her beautiful eyes, so soft and graceful that Ji Duorui couldn't take her eyes away.

Their voices were so soft that others couldn't hear them amidst the uproarious laughter. At first glance, they seemed to be expressing their affection to each other.The old lady Ji sat on the opposite side of Ji Guifei's case, pointed at the two people looking at each other, and said happily: "This monkey Sun Chengwan has finally settled down." Looking around the younger generation in the room, she finally fell on Princess Pingning , said with a smile: "Say, girl Yi has passed the ceremony, did you say we kissed you?"

Princess Pingning's cheeks were slightly red, and she shyly hid behind Concubine Ji, shyly saying: "My lady... the old lady..."

Concubine Ji pushed Princess Pingning forward affectionately, and said with a smile: "Not yet, when I brought her here this time, the Duke asked me to look at her grandson-in-law for her. "

Bai Zhaorong and Ji Sushan looked at each other, thinking it was bad.Di Feng saw the looks of the elders at a glance, and quickly smiled and said: "The old lady has fallen in love with the princess, and the granddaughter-in-law is also interested in the princess. The aunt and the princess love each other as mother and daughter, so she is willing to marry the princess. "

Princess Pingning covered her cheeks and stomped her feet in embarrassment, Yixi and Yichen yelled in a low voice: "Sister Feng is bullying people." She made a gesture to pinch Di Feng, but her eyes dishonestly glanced at Xu Sheng.

The old lady Ji laughed and watched the two girls fighting, she stopped laughing for a while and said: "The old woman also looks at this girl, Yintong, how about finding a daughter-in-law like this for you?"

Mr. Ji noticed that Huai Mingmo's hand trembled suddenly, and said with a faint smile: "Yes, I'm just afraid of wronging the princess. Besides, the princess is the only granddaughter of the Duke. If she is to marry from afar, the Duke may not be willing to bear it." of."

The old lady Ji pretended to be stern, and called Princess Pingning to her side, "I want to decide on this granddaughter-in-law, but if the old boy dares to disagree, I will serve you."

"The old lady wronged my grandfather. My grandfather often praised brother Mingmo and kept saying that he would help me find someone like brother Mingmo." Princess Pingning shook the old lady Ji's hand, puffing up her cheeks and puffing up. Said: "If the old lady wants to bully my grandfather, Yuyi will not obey."

Concubine Ji said with a smile: "Mother and the Duke are distant relatives, and now it seems that we are going to get closer." Seeing that the time is ripe, Concubine Ji immediately made a decision and said, "I will send someone eight hundred miles to rush to request the order. Let the emperor bestow a marriage, so that on the day of mother's birthday, there will be double happiness."

Everyone had different expressions when they heard that, Ji Nianxian still looked indifferent but not happy, Di Feng and Ji Deqin strongly agreed, the expressions of the rest were not very good-looking, and Huai Mingmo, who was the person involved, was even more embarrassed.

The play was so boring, Xu Sheng couldn't help humming, watching this lame play with cold eyes.

Huai Mingmo's voice was full of sarcasm, he stood up abruptly, and rebuffed flatly: "My nephew only regards Princess Pingning as his younger sister, and please take it back."

Concubine Ji put down the tea bowl heavily, cracks appeared on the saucer following the bang, she opened her mouth solemnly for reprimand.With slightly red eyes, Ping Ning ran up to Concubine Ji Gui in small steps, leaned on her knees, choked and said, "Your Majesty, don't be angry, it's Yuyi who is unlucky."

Huai Mingmo predicted what Ji Guifei wanted to say, and said firmly: "Even if the grass-roots resist the order, they still won't marry the princess, please think twice."

The atmosphere suddenly cooled down, and the silence made Concubine Ji's rapid breathing more and more prominent. When she was about to open her mouth, a guard suddenly came from outside the house to announce that it was King Dingxi who sent someone to send a birthday gift.Concubine Ji calmed down a bit, and waved for Aunt Tang to bring him in.The envoy entered the room to see the gift, and quickly handed over the gift list, and after Ji Guifei had spoken, he turned around and handed a letter to Xu Sheng.

"This is?" Xu Sheng opened it for a look, the corners of his lips could not help but sneer, and his eyes slightly raised his eyes to Noble Concubine Ji.His eyes were so cold that it made people panic, Concubine Ji Gui seemed to be pinched by him, and she was suddenly afraid.

The envoy said in awe: "The annual gift list sent by my lord, please have time to tell me, if there is a shortage, please tell the lower official, and the lower official will check it immediately." The envoy was very respectful to Concubine Ji just now. It is normal for the people of King Dingxi not to pay attention to Concubine Ji Gui, but the timid and cautious appearance at the moment is unbelievable. He doesn't seem to be talking to a monk, as if he is seeing a ghost from hell.

Xu Sheng was puzzled for a moment, then clapped his hands suddenly, "Ah, is that person still being punished?"

The early spring was cold, but the envoy's forehead was covered with thin layers of sweat, and he nodded hurriedly. If he didn't still have a semblance of reason thinking about the presence of Concubine Ji, he would have knelt down and begged for the grace of life.

Staying in the room felt uncomfortable all over, Xu Sheng looked at a few people who seemed to be warm and felt nauseous for no reason, so he found an excuse and said: "Young concubine, empress, the poor monk has an urgent letter to return to King Dingxi, so he won't be here with you." gone."

Before he stepped forward, he glanced at the envoy who was about to faint, and said with a smile: "You handle things carefully, I don't worry. Remember to come to me when you go back, and bring me a letter back to your lord. Your lord is really, Is it worth complaining about a trivial matter?" He paused for a moment, then sneered and said, "I don't know what is good or bad, but you deliberately made trouble for me during the Chinese New Year, right?" After finishing speaking, he did not wait for Concubine Ji to make a sound, and teased her without looking back. Lifting the curtain of the door and walking straight out of the house, the cold wind blowing into the house was as cold and harsh as the one radiating from his body, making people shiver.

Walking out of Mrs. Ji's courtyard, just after turning the moon gate, he saw Huaxinglou in a blush shirt, his clothes were stained with long-standing dust, walking towards Xusheng with a smirk on his face.

"There are swords and swords inside." Hua Xinglou dusted the dust on the back of his hand, seeing Xu Sheng quietly took two steps backwards.

Xu Sheng covered his nose with his hands, and said in distaste: "The majestic Palace Master of Shuiwu Palace is like others to listen to the wall."

Hua Xinglou hooked Xu Sheng's shoulders, and took Xu Sheng away with his arms, "Come to me and tell me, what news did you get from King Dingxi?"

Reluctantly being dragged to the guest room in the East Wing, Xu Sheng hurriedly shook off the hand that had slapped the ashes.He wrung out the veil in the copper basin, carefully wiped the coat that Hua Xinglou had touched, and then settled down to sit opposite the round table, "It's surprising that someone didn't write sooner."

Hua Xinglou saw through Xu Sheng completely, and said with a smile: "Don't change the subject, to be honest, you suddenly changed your attitude just now, what news did you receive?"

Xu Sheng lit the silver charcoal with a fire bag, threw the gift list in his sleeve into the brazier until it was ashes, and then said with a smile: "It's nothing, the second prince colluded with the king of Xishu, and wanted to frame the prince for colluding with other countries to rebel." The corners of his mouth were cold. With a glance, he seemed to say expectantly: "Meng Qixian's position as crown prince has been unstable for a few days."

"Actually, it's not difficult to keep Meng Qixian's position as crown prince based on your ability."

"Yes." Xu Sheng admitted generously, smiling brilliantly, "But I will not protect him, Meng Qixian must be deposed. Keeping him alive is my bottom line, and it is also a compromise I must make."

Hua Xinglou was quite confused when he heard this, and stared at Xu Sheng's deep eyes, but he only saw a deep pool, unable to see the end, "You will not assist the second prince, let alone help the fake Meng Yinghuan. He is Ji Guifei's adopted son, so what's the difference between him and the crown prince?"

"I can survive." Xu Sheng sneered mockingly, with deep eyes, "I helped Meng Yinghuan deal with Ji's family at the beginning, outsiders might not know, would Concubine Ji not know? If the crown prince really wins the throne, even though he is benevolent and cowardly, he may not necessarily get rid of my queen Quick, but what about Concubine Ji? If I were her, she would not spare my life."

Chen Xiang had just entered the room, and when he heard this, he said puzzled: "I have seen the attitude of Ji's family towards the landlord recently, and it doesn't look like they will settle accounts after autumn."

Hearing this, Xu Sheng nodded in agreement, and then said sarcastically: "I believe the Ji family will never do it, but Concubine Ji..." After a pause, he sighed and said: "The palace is the place that devours people's hearts the most. Go in innocently and sincerely. After coming out, who knows what kind of man-eating ghost is under that skin."

Hua Xinglou muttered: "The third prince was brought up by Concubine Ji, and loves his mother and son. If Concubine Ji insists on killing you, and if Meng Qingrun obeys, you will have no way out."

"It's just that mother and child are in love." Xu Sheng was silent for a while, his eyes were dark and deep, as if he could see through everything, and he sneered sharply: "Emperor Meng was not a suspicious person in the past, but he sat in that seat for too long. It is enough to annihilate conscience and heart, so Meng Qingrun will not be like this forever. Under the imperial power, one's own flesh and blood can be discarded like shoe shoes, let alone this complicated mother-child relationship."

"You saved Meng Qixian's life to check and balance the relationship between Meng Qingrun and Concubine Ji?"

Slowly opened his eyes, the curve of the corners of Xu Sheng's lips seemed to be invisible, and his voice was low and calm, "Meng Qixian who is alive will be an arrow tightening the string of Meng Qingrun's bow, and a fishbone stuck in his throat. If he dies Now, his blood will gradually stain the so-called deep love between mother and child. If you say that you love mother and child or the biological mother and child, which side will the imperial concubine choose? No matter what, no one can untangle this knot."

The room fell silent in vain, Hua Xinglou looked at the strange Xu Sheng in front of him, and couldn't speak for a long time. After a while, he regained his composure, frowned and said, "Aren't you afraid that Meng Qingrun will kill the heroes after he inherits the throne?"

"I don't intend to become an official, and he won't kill me." Xu Sheng said with a smile, "Using me to fight against Ji's family is more cost-effective than killing me."

"Isn't the landlord planning to stop that absurd gift of marriage?"

Taking advantage of the recent news, Hua Xinglou quickly smoothed his train of thought and replied before Xu died: "Ji's family is married to Ningguo Duke's mansion, Ji Guifei is talking in a dream, and it will never happen."

Xu Sheng raised his eyebrows slightly, looked at the person who had finally enlightened with satisfaction, and turned around to find that Chen Xiang was still in a daze.He was in a very good mood at the moment, so he talked more than usual, so he asked Chen Xiang to be by his side, and asked slowly: "Why did Concubine Ji try her best to make Ningguo's mansion marry Ji's family? You are so stupid to think that she simply likes Pingning County host?"

Chen Xiang blinked his black eyes for a long time, then clapped his fists abruptly, and said enlightenedly: "Ning Guogong, An Guohou, and General Cen hold real power in their hands, and Concubine Ji is pulling for the prince..." Chen Xiang paused for a long time, and finally squeezed out two words. Word: "Partner."

Xu Sheng almost spit out the tea in his mouth, turned his eyes and shook his head, "That's called cronies." He straightened his expression, and continued in a slow voice: "The noble concubine has been in the palace for a long time, and she is good at detecting the king's heart. How could she not know her thoughts. So she wins over several important ministers of the country, even if she can't keep the crown prince, Emperor Meng will take into account the criticism of these important ministers and spare the prince's life."

Hua Xinglou glanced at Xu Sheng who was drinking tea leisurely, and said sarcastically: "Unfortunately, Concubine Ji underestimated Emperor Meng's determination. Since he is determined to abolish the reserve, how can Emperor Meng allow the Ji family and the important officials of the court, Yuqian Hong People get married. If Emperor Meng agrees to this request, wouldn't it be troublesome for him in the future? This matter can't be done anyway, Emperor Meng won't allow it, and the second and fourth princes will try their best to stop it. Wait, eight hundred Riga is in a hurry, there will be a result within two days."

In the next two days, Xu Sheng seemed to be very busy. This morning he chatted about martial arts at Yang Yusheng, and tomorrow night he talked about major martial arts events at Ji Boru. Don't have time to chat with Huai Mingmo alone.But Huai Mingmo was pestered by Princess Pingning, so he had no time to look for Xu Sheng during the day, and went to Xu Sheng's guest room at night to look for someone, but he couldn't meet anyone by force several times, and was always turned away.

After a few days like this, in the evening of the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the palace sent a eunuch, Emperor Meng's confidant, who was holding the imperial decree of Minghuang in his hand.Princess Pingning quickly dragged Huai Mingmo to the front hall, without the slightest shyness of the younger daughter. When Ji's family arrived at the front hall, all the Ji family members were present. Because the will was related to Princess Pingning, it was not until the princess appeared. Only then did the eunuch slowly unroll the imperial decree and read out the decree in a shrill voice.Emperor Meng's will to send someone to come quickly is indeed the will to grant a marriage, but the object of the marriage has nothing to do with the Ji family, but the second place in the new division, a Qingliu who has no entanglements with any party.

After the eunuch finished reading the decree, Princess Pingning was stunned for a long time and didn't recover. It was not until the eunuch coughed several times that she came back to accept the decree with red eyes.The news of the thunderbolt from the blue sky completely crushed Concubine Ji Gui, and she became ill from depression. She couldn't catch her breath, fainted on the spot, and the room was suddenly in a panic.

It was time for dinner, and the news quickly spread throughout the villa through the mouths of the meal delivery boy. At that time, Xu Sheng and Hua Xing Lou happened to be together, hearing the news, they looked at each other and smiled lightly, without saying a word.

Concubine Ji woke up that night, it was the hour of Hai, she was groggy and was poured with so many soups, her mouth was so bitter that it couldn't compare to her heart.Princess Pingning lay beside her couch and wept unceasingly, threatening unreasonably to resist the edict, which made Concubine Ji more and more upset, and asked Tang Yun to take the princess down, and after the others left, she turned her head and sat on the table. Mr. Ji beside him said: "Go invite Xu Sheng."