kvmb Chapter 130 Imperial Envoy
Chapter 130 Imperial Envoy
What Chu Yunchuan wore on his head was the sick plum hairpin that Bai Zhi had bargained for at Wanjia Street in the capital.
"That's right." Chu Yunchuan's eyes lit up, "Bai Zhi often wore this hairpin when she was in the Marquis' Mansion. Since you remember it, Lu Jiliang must remember it too."
Fang Zhiheng was stunned: "Your Highness, this..."
Before he finished speaking, Fang Zhiheng knew what Chu Yunchuan was going to do.
In the Thirteen States, when a man and a woman wear hairpins to each other, it means they are in love. The imperial envoy is an old friend of Miss Bai, and Chu Yunchuan wants to tell him that he and Bai Zhi are engaged.
But the problem is... Fang Zhiheng said helplessly: "Your Highness, the imperial envoy is a foreigner, he may not know the custom of mutual hairpins in the Thirteen States."
Chu Yunchuan was not worried about this at all. He handed the mirror to the servant beside him and said confidently, "I will always find a way to let him know."
Fang Zhiheng: “…”
After a while, the imperial envoy arrived.
Chu Yunchuan waved his sleeves, stepped forward and greeted him with a loud smile: "Lord Lu, I was in a foreign land yesterday in disguise, and I didn't know that Lord Lu was coming. I am sorry for the neglect. Did Lord Lu sleep well last night?"
Lu Jiliang bowed and said, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. Lord Fang has made very thoughtful arrangements. I have had a good meal and slept well, and I am very relaxed and comfortable."
He pretended to look at Chu Yunchuan from head to toe casually - this Prince Jing who suddenly appeared was very young, with a slender figure and a handsome face like a person in a painting. His peach blossom eyes were smiling, and one look at him made people feel comfortable all over.
He is really too approachable, without any airs of a prince, Lu Jiliang thought to himself. It seems that some ordinary people suspect that he is not orthodox, and it is not unreasonable. If he had not often heard the emperor calling him "my brother" and "my brother" when talking about old things, he would probably have doubts.
Fang Zhiheng stood behind Chu Yunchuan and interrupted at the right time: "Your Highness, Lord Lu, please take a seat."
The servants poured wine, the actors came in, and the banquet began.
Lu Jiliang didn't seem to have any serious business here. At the dinner table, he praised Chu Yunchuan for his diligence and thriftiness, and the simple customs of the people in Weizhou. He also talked about what he saw and heard on the road. Chu Yunchuan was not in a hurry to ask questions. He continued wherever Lu Jiliang talked about. The two talked about the customs of the people and the official style, and expressed their opinions to each other, looking like they were having a very pleasant conversation.
However, the emperor was not anxious, but the eunuch was. Fang Zhiheng was afraid that Chu Yunchuan's words would be reported to the emperor, so he quickly found an opportunity to interrupt and said, "Lord Lu, I wonder if His Majesty is well?"
Lu Jiliang: "Your Majesty, I am worried about you."
The two exchanged some nonsense words before Fang Zhiheng got to the point and wanted to ask Lu Jiliang why he came: "Your Majesty loves the people like his own children, and you are worried about the disease. Why did Lord Lu come here..."
"Knowing the constant."
Chu Yunchuan interrupted, and both of them looked at him. He picked up the wine glass and wiped the rim of the glass twice with his long and flexible fingers. It seemed that he did not use any force, but the glass made a clear sound and the wine rippled. "Lord Lu came from afar, he must be here to investigate the people's livelihood on behalf of His Majesty. Lord Lu, am I right?"
Fang Zhiheng immediately said, "My humble words are foolish. Sir Lu, please don't mind. Eat your meal, eat your meal."
The signal for knocking the cup was what they had agreed upon earlier: one step forward, two steps back, then circle and stop.
Lu Jiliang's face was a little stiff, and he followed the words with evasive eyes: "It is indeed so, Your Majesty will understand."
Chu Yunchuan noticed the changes on Lu Jiliang's face, his eyes narrowed again, and he invited Lu Jiliang to eat - he was indeed a loyal and honest man, and all his thoughts were shown on his face.
After three rounds of drinks, Chu Yunchuan and Lu Jiliang started chatting animatedly again.
"Your Majesty, I believe that if we want the world to be governed, we need officials to take the lead. Officials should put aside their own selfishness, fulfill their duties, and be honest and upright. I'm going to say something presumptuous - in this matter, Weizhou is much better than the capital."
How can you say that? Fang Zhiheng's hair stood on end, his mouth half open, his mind racing. Chu Yunchuan glanced at Fang Zhiheng, his fingers traced a circle around the rim of the cup, and then smiled and said, "What do you mean, Lord Lu?"
Lu Jiliang bowed and said, "It is just as the words say. The officials in Fuzhou, from the prince and Lord Fang to the servants in the government office, are all honest and dedicated to serving the people. In contrast, in the capital, everyone in the court has their own selfish desires. Your Majesty's orders are obeyed in public but disobeyed in private, each seeking their own personal gain, not to mention taking advantage of opportunities and forming cliques for personal gain."
Fang Zhiheng: “…”
He was speechless as he saw Chu Yunchuan's fingers still circling the rim of the cup.
"What Lord Lu said is far from what I know." Chu Yunchuan said in surprise, "After the rebellion of the deposed crown prince, Your Majesty investigated and punished many treacherous officials. Your Majesty has a keen eye for talent, and those who stay by your side should be loyal and good."
Lu Jiliang sighed, "Your Highness, you don't know that the aristocratic families in the capital are intertwined and intertwined. Even a loyal and good person has to take care of his family first and then the court. It is far from being like the state of Wei."
"I see. Since the situation in Weizhou was rebuilt not long ago, it is naturally not as complicated as that in the capital. When Lord Lu sees it again in ten or twenty years, I am afraid it will be a completely different scene." Chu Yunchuan said neither praise nor blame, "People are used to this, and the Thirteen States cannot escape it."
"This, this is really wrong!" Lu Jiliang said anxiously, "If even the Thirteen States are eventually tainted, how can there be justice in the world?"
Chu Yunchuan tapped the rim of his wine glass and said, "Lord Lu, the Thirteen States are also under the rule of the Emperor. They are just different from other places in terms of customs. How can there be a saying that one is dirty and the other is clean?"
Fang Zhiheng echoed, "Your Highness is absolutely right. Lord Lu, you should be careful with your words."
Lu Jiliang looked at the two people who were singing in unison with the king, and finally restrained himself and said, "I have spoken out of turn, Your Majesty, please forgive me."
There was nothing more to say after that, and after the three of them had exchanged cups for a few rounds, it was time for the welcoming party to end.
Lu Jiliang was drunk and staggered when he stood up. However, Chu Yunchuan was still clear-headed, so he quickly helped him up.
Lu Jiliang immediately saw a sick plum blossom passing by.
He suddenly remembered the face of his dead friend.
"Your Highness...Your Highness!" Lu Jiliang opened his eyes wide, grabbed Chu Yunchuan's shoulders, stared at the sick plum hairpin and asked, "Your Highness, where did this hairpin come from?"
Fang Zhiheng thought to himself, Lord Lu, Lord Lu, our prince has been sitting in front of you for so long, and you finally noticed the hairpin he wore on purpose. It was worth his careful planning.
"This hairpin." Chu Yunchuan said with a smile in a long tone, "To be honest with you, Lord Lu, I have been engaged. According to the custom of the Thirteen Prefectures, men and women give each other hairpins when they are engaged. This hairpin is my wife's."
The light in Lu Jiliang's eyes dimmed - no matter what, it was impossible for that old friend to travel thousands of miles to Weizhou to get engaged to King Jing. It seemed like it was just a coincidence and a false alarm.
Chu Yunchuan paused for a moment and continued, "From Lord Lu's appearance, it seems that he knows this hairpin. My wife's name is Bai Zhi, and she was born in the capital. Lord Lu, do you know her?"