Your Majesty will suffer

On December 29, the crown prince's birthday, a banquet was held in the Jingfu Hall of the East Palace.In addition to clan relatives, there were also lecturers from Zishantang Yishan (1) and Zandu (2) who came to pay their respects. Generally speaking, there were not many visitors.

In the afternoon, while drinking tea with the crown prince, Yunxi and Yunze presented the "rare things" they got from Nanshi yesterday. Yue Ling saw that they were just two wooden birds and beasts, and he didn't pay much attention at first.

Yunxi was not in a hurry, he asked someone to fetch a water bowl, followed the example of the old man, nodded the bird's head, and taught the wooden bird to drink water with its head down, it really frightened everyone, Yue Ling himself was amazed!Then he fetched the wooden ox, but when he saw the ox tail being gently pulled, the wooden utensil started to move, walked dozens of steps in a row, and even turned around, and he was praised by everyone.

Yue Ling smiled and said, "Where did you get this thing?"

Yunze was proud of it for a while, and said: "It's the city..." Yunxi hurriedly interjected: "I ordered people to go out to look for it."The person who knew he had slipped his tongue turned red and lowered his eyes.Yunxi continued: "I heard that you can get it from the market in the south of the city." Yunze hurriedly nodded in agreement.

After the two of them presented their gifts, it was Nangong Ji's turn!Seeing him instructing him to present a box, he said: "I am not as caring as the two of you. The etiquette is a bit rough. I hope your Highness will accept it with a smile."

Yue Ling laughed and said: "Sending goose feathers from thousands of miles away is light and affectionate! Thinking that you came from thousands of miles away, this gift must not be light." That's what he said, but at the moment he didn't intend to open the box to find out.

Nangongji tunnel: "Your Highness, if you don't open it and take a look, how will you know that etiquette is light and important?"

Yue Ling was slightly startled, as if he felt that he meant something, so he took the box according to the words, opened it and took a look inside, then closed it again immediately, and said with a smile: "This gift is too heavy, I feel uneasy accepting it, It’s unreasonable not to accept it, so what should I do?”

Nan Gongji smiled and said: "It's okay, Your Highness will keep it for now, if you feel something is wrong in two days, you can send it back to my minister."

Yue Ling nodded: "It seems that this is the only way."

The two of them seemed to be playing charades, which made everyone confused and confused. Seeing this, Nan Gongji secretly smiled.

When going out of the palace at night, Nan Gongji saw that there was no one around, so he asked Ling Qi what he was confused about: Why are there only a few people here to congratulate the crown prince's birthday?

Ling Qi said: "The prince has been weak since he was a child. An expert once said that before your highness grows up, birthdays should not be made big, and it is not suitable to receive big gifts. Only in this way can disasters be eliminated and blessings accumulated! Therefore, the prince did not see much when he was young. Outsiders, even now, rarely see foreign ministers."

Nan Gongji said: "Can the alchemist's words be listened to? If it is according to this, then when the crown prince ascends the throne in the future, wouldn't it be true that even those in the Golden Palace will not be able to receive gifts?"

Ling Qi said: "I would rather believe in this matter! Besides, the prince is grown up now, and it will be different when he ascends the throne."

Nangong Ji thought for a while, and said, "That's not bad."

Make him ponder for a while, and said: "I'm curious about something, I don't know if I should ask?"

Nangong Ji smiled and said, "You want to ask me what gift I gave the crown prince today!"

Ling Qi hurriedly said: "That's right! The riddle that Langjun and the prince are playing makes everyone easy to guess."

Nangong Ji still smiled lightly: "There is nothing else, just two old books."

Ling Qi said: "It must be a relic from the previous dynasty, and it should be treasured forever."

At the moment Nangong Ji just smiled and didn't say anything.

There were indeed only two old books in that box, one was "Milou Ji" and the other was "Lei Shuo", which are two of the most widely circulated novels in the world.

On New Year's Eve, Nangong Mansion is like ordinary people, hosting banquets and drinking, staying up late to watch the New Year's Eve. However, when it is supposed to be a reunion, they are not allowed to be in the same room with their loved ones and have a family reunion. It is a pity!Although Nan Gongji tried to put on a happy face, but his heart was sad, but he knew that when he was simply drunk until dawn, he had no thoughts and no worries.

Years later, when classes resumed in Shangyuan, Nan Gongji was bored in the mansion, so he entered the palace under the pretext of visiting the prince, and played with a few classmates, which was a good time to pass.

In a blink of an eye, it was the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. There was a big banquet in the palace, and all the officials were called into the palace to watch the lanterns.

At this time, watching lanterns and guessing riddles was very popular among the people, so the palace also set some lantern riddles for everyone to guess for entertainment.

Nangongji guessed two questions, saw that there was nothing clever about the riddles, so he lost interest, and was about to go elsewhere, when he turned around, he saw the prince, Yunxi and others discussing something, so he stepped forward Take a look.

It turned out that those people were also guessing a lantern riddle, and the riddle was: four members of a family live together in the same house, three brothers sit together and serve the younger brother, and the eldest brother carries two people on one shoulder, even in bad years, there will be no worries.It's a word.

Nangongji thought for a while, although he could guess the answer, but when the prince came, he didn't want to be the first, so he still pretended to think hard.

The prince pondered for a while, but still couldn't solve it, and said, "I'm not good at guessing riddles, so I'll leave this question to you to solve it."

Yunxi smiled and said: "If this mystery is easy to guess, it will not be left to the present. These villains have confused people for a while, and I don't know the clue yet."

Nangong Ji also claimed to be.

Unexpectedly at this time, a voice suddenly heard: "Is this riddle really so difficult to guess? Brother has been guessing for a long time and still hasn't found the answer. It must be interesting to think about it, but allow me to guess?"

Everyone followed the prestige, and it turned out to be the second prince, Yue Zhi!

The prince stepped forward to look at the enigma and bowed his head but thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "I guess it's the word 'thrift'!"

When everyone thought about it, it was really good, it was the word "thrift (thrift)"!

The second prince was naturally proud, and turned to the prince and said: "Father often teaches us with this word, the so-called hardworking and frugal, strict self-discipline, is the way to be a king! Did you forget, big brother?"

The prince's expression suddenly changed, and he said in a cold voice: "Since you have guessed right, why don't you go to daddy to ask for a reward?!" After saying that, he walked away.

Nan Gongji was very surprised when he saw this. Although he didn't have a close relationship with the second prince, he usually saw his brothers respectful and friendly, and he still remembered that when they first met, the second prince was still worried about the prince's illness, but he didn't want to make such a statement today , It seems provocative!It's hard to guess what's going on.

The prince was not in high spirits, and the few people accompanied him casually for a while, then dispersed in a hurry, and each went back to rest.

As soon as Nangong Ji approached Xuanyou Gate, he asked someone behind him to call him, and when he turned around, he saw that it was the servant of the Eastern Palace, who came hurriedly with a wooden box in his hand.Thinking that the crown prince had given him something, he smiled and said, "What kind of gift is your Highness?"

Huang Mendao: "Lang Jun will know when he accepts it."

Let him go forward to pick up the box and present it.

Nan Gongji turned on the weak light and looked at it, but was disappointed: "Your Highness is too unkind, it is rare to give it to you next time, but it is not a precious and beautiful jade! Anyway, you go back and report to Your Highness. The minister has received it, and he will return the gift some other day."

The Yellow Gate went down by itself.

It made him seem a little worried, and said: "Aren't you afraid of offending the crown prince when you say this?"

Nangongji's smile did not change: "My words are true, the prince will not be angry because of a truthful statement."

Ling Qi said: "Your Majesty's words seem to be hiding a mystery."

Nangong Ji didn't say yes or no.After walking about ten steps, Fang said: "Since you are so curious, why don't you guess what the crown prince gave me?"

Make him bow his head and think for a moment, then said: "Since Mr. Lang's words are not precious and beautiful jade, could it be books, calligraphy and paintings?"

Nangong Ji said: "It's close, let's guess again!"

Make him frowned, ponder for a while, and said: "Your Majesty said so, then I will make a bold guess again. I guess it is not a gift from the prince, but something returned to you."

Nangongji laughed loudly: "Since I already guessed it, why bother to be hypocritical!"

Ling Qi smiled and pointed to the two small yellow doors leading the way ahead, and waved his hand.Nangong Ji knew what he meant, so he didn't say any more.

Not long after, the two left Donghua Gate, and the chariots and horses from the mansion were waiting for them earlier.

Back in the mansion, Nan Gongji dismissed his entourage and left him alone to order him, saying: "It's still early, so you are here to chat with me to relieve boredom."

Make him ponder: "Your Majesty, do you have something to ask?"

Nan Gongji said: "It's not really important, it's just that what I've seen and heard recently made me quite doubtful, so I want to teach you to clear up my doubts today."

Ling Qi said: "If your lord wants to ask about forbidden matters, I dare not speak out. Although I have been in the palace for a long time, after all, I am a low-ranking person and know little about it."

Nangong Ji said: "It's okay, just tell me what you know and can say!"

Making him hesitate for a moment, he bowed and said, "So, the little one will obey."

Nangong Ji said: "I remember that you once served Jingfu Palace, should you know about the East Palace?"

Ling Qi said: "If it's about the prince, your lord should know more than me!"

Nan Gongji shook his head: "I have studied with the prince for two months, and you have been in his palace for several years! How can I know so much?"

Ling Qi said: "Mr. Lang's words are wrong. Although I served the East Palace back then, there is only a yellow gate, which is only used for sweeping and sweeping on weekdays. Even the prince's face is rarely seen. How can I know anything?"

Nan Gongji said: "This is just an excuse, so it's okay not to say it. You have been in the palace for a long time, and you know a lot just by hearing it. How about telling me about the prince's life in detail today?"

Ling Qi wondered: "This... Don't you know, Mr. Lang? If you want to elaborate, I'm afraid it will be a long story!"

Nangong Ji smiled and said: "It's okay, it's still early, let's talk slowly."

Make him bow his head as if thinking about it, and said: "Then, we have to start with Queen Zhanghuai!"

Empress Zhang Huai, Guo Shi, was born in a slightly cold family, but she was born beautiful, virtuous and intelligent.After the death of the former empress Zhang Shi, she intends to make her the empress today, but unfortunately she came from a humble background and has no children. The officials thought it was impossible, and Guo Shi also firmly resigned.However, it may be fate, the five princes born in the harem in the early years died one after another, and now the generals are not confused, but the knees are especially empty, so they privately said that if anyone in the harem gave birth to a prince, he could be made a queen!Not long after this remark was made, Concubine Guo really gave birth to Lin'er, the current crown prince Yue Ling!The emperor was overjoyed, overcame all opinions, and was allowed to move to the middle palace.

Hearing this, Nan Gongji laughed and said: "It turns out that Queen Guo's mother is more expensive than her son! In this way, if Concubine Shen was the first to give birth to the prince, wouldn't it be..."

Ling Qi hurriedly said: "This can't happen, Shen Zhaoyi has not yet entered the palace, and the second prince is three years younger than the crown prince. The so-called difference between concubine and concubine, the order of elder and younger, ancient etiquette! You must not speculate randomly. "

Nan Gongji said: "I just said it casually, and I have no other intentions. Although I often heard the name of Empress Zhanghuai in the palace, I didn't know such a story. It's a pity that the empress died young, and the middle palace is still empty. It is rare to forget the old relationship!"

Ling Qi also called it yes, and said: "The empress's affection is very deep, and everyone in the palace knows that after the death of Empress Zhang Huai, the world is in great grief. Although there are remonstrances to ask for a new empress, they are not allowed."

Nangong Ji said: "Shangshu mostly recommended Shen Zhaoyi?"

He ordered him to say, "I don't know this little one. How can we ministers know about the affairs of the foreign court?"

Nangong Ji smiled and said: "Forget it, that's it for today! You should go and rest earlier. Tomorrow, we will go for a walk in the market and find a share for the prince in return."

Ling Qi was startled when he first heard this, and he turned around after a while, and said with a smile: "This 'gift' is originally yours, but do you still need to return it?"

Nan Gongji casually opened the "Milou Ji" and said: "I said you were smart, why are you confused now! If the prince has no other intentions, why bother to return this book to me."

Only then did he suddenly realize: "Lang Jun is clearly aware! You are so stupid, you can't even think of this! Your Highness wants to teach you to send two new books, otherwise returning the book to you will be superfluous!"

Nan Gongji nodded: "That's exactly what I mean! However, your Highness is so coy, asking for two new books and playing riddles, I'm not afraid that I will be stupid and not understand what it means."

Ling Qi smiled and said, "Your Highness knows that you are smart and will be able to guess his mind, that's why you did this."

Nangong Ji snorted with a laugh, feeling really proud in his heart.

Note:

(1) Yishan: The crown prince of the Tang Dynasty had Dr. Zanshan in his official vassal, and in Song Dynasty Yi was good at giving lectures to the attendants in the prince's house.

(2) Complimentary reading: The crown prince is an official.

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