Chapter 576 What is Tiger Guard
Ten days!
Jiang Qingzhi said in front of the emperor and his ministers that the outcome would be known at the training ground of the Huben Zuowei in ten days.
The entire imperial city was in an uproar.
Yan Song asked to see the Taoist priest to test whether Jiang Qingzhi was sure. The Taoist priest replied: Don't worry about it.
Yan Song couldn't just ignore it, so when he returned to Zhilu, he mentioned the matter to Yan Shifan, worrying that if Jiang Qingzhi failed, there would be one less wall between them, father and son.
Yan Shifan said, "This matter is set in stone, and we can only leave it to fate. If Jiang Qingzhi fails, it may be a good thing for us..." His eyes dimmed and his voice was so low that only the father and son could hear it.
"Dad, before Jiang Qingzhi came to Beijing, we were the wall that His Majesty pushed out to block the knife. Although we were just blocking the knife, we held supreme authority. Our reputation was not good, but we held great power."
There was a glimmer in Yan Song's eyes, "You mean..."
Yan Shifan leaned forward, with a gloomy look in his one eye, "After Jiang Qingzhi came to Beijing, he was highly valued by His Majesty. I thought he was a check and balance for us, but who would have thought..."
"Your Majesty originally intended to use him to check and balance us." Yan Song said softly: "My father has served Your Majesty for many years, and I will not be wrong about this. But I didn't expect that Jiang Qingzhi would become a leader of the Mohist school after fighting with us. As a result, the situation is out of Your Majesty's control, and Jiang Qingzhi has become the mortal enemy of Confucianism. The status of our father and son is awkward instead."
"That's right." Yan Shifan's eyes were complicated. His opinion of Jiang Qingzhi was just like his current mood. He felt that Jiang Qingzhi was a man worth making friends with, but he also knew that he was a potential rival for his father and son. "Jiang Qingzhi is now at the forefront, and we are just watching the show. Dad, His Majesty will not keep useless people."
Yan Song narrowed his eyes. "Now it is Jiang Qingzhi who is blocking the offensive of the literati, and we are being ignored. If this continues, His Majesty will find us useless."
"Some people say that my father and I are His Majesty's dogs." Yan Shifan laughed at himself, "But if that were not the case, how could this power come into our hands?
Since it is a dog, I will bite the enemy for your majesty. But now those enemies have abandoned us... What use is there for your majesty to have this dog?"
He looked at Yan Song and said, "Dad, when the cunning rabbit dies, the flying birds will all die!"
Yan Song leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and let out a tired sigh from the bottom of his lungs.
Yan Shifan walked to his side and squatted down, gently patting his thigh, looking up and saying: "Dad, we are outsiders after all. Your Majesty, he values love!"
Yan Song was silent for a long time, "You said this, but is there anyone looking for you?"
"I knew I couldn't hide it from my father." Yan Shifan smiled and said, "Someone came over there yesterday and said that if we can stand aside and watch this time, a minister."
Yan Song opened his eyes and said, "I know that a minister cannot satisfy you. What else is there?"
"And... a few beauties, beauties from the Western Regions." Yan Shifan said with a drooling face, "Dad, I've been feeling tired lately, it would be better to have a few people around to serve me."
"You, you!" Yan Song pointed at his son, "That's all."
At this time, someone came in. "Yuan Fu, the food is ready."
"Then let's serve the meal!" Yan Song got up and went to the next room.
The meals for the father and son were clearly different. Yan Shifan's meal was not delicacies from land and sea, but it was also quite rich, and he even had a pot of wine. Yan Song's meal was just tofu, pickled radish, and some soaked dried vegetables and mushrooms.
"Dad, eat some meat!" Yan Shifan didn't know why his father didn't eat meat anymore, but he couldn't help feeling distressed when he saw how thin he was.
"Today, I added too much oil." Yan Song frowned. "Since I stopped eating meat, I feel much better."
"Eat something!" Yan Shifan said, "How about a chicken?"
Yan Song shook his head. After dinner, Yan Shifan went out for something. Yan Song went into his small bedroom next to him, took out the statue of the deity, and prayed devoutly...
"May the gods protect my son... and keep him safe."
……
Xu Wei hasn't been to the vegetable market for several days.
At first Yang Zhaodi didn't take it seriously, but after not seeing Xu Wei for several days, she somehow felt empty in her heart.
The old man at the stall next door sighed, "That Mr. Xu must have lost hope. I've said before that if you're interested, just agree to it. But you're saying you're worried that others will look down on you in the future."
Yang Zhaodi said, "If a talented man marries a butcher woman, what do you think people will say?"
"Xu Xiaozi has already said that it is his business."
"A man's mouth..."
The old man chuckled, "If I say you are stupid, you are really stupid. Since you don't care whether you get married or not in this life, then fine! Even if you are divorced, you have experienced it, right?"
Yang Zhaodi remained silent. The old man came over and said, "I have something to say that is worth a pair of pig kidneys." He pointed at the pig kidneys on the chopping board and said, "You are afraid. Why are you afraid? If I don't like you, you are not afraid of anything. You just like Xu boy, and the more you like him, the more afraid you are of being divorced by him."
"Why did I ever like him?"
"What's there to be afraid of if I don't like you?"
"When was I afraid?"
"If you're not afraid, why don't you go visit?"
"Visiting?"
"I just heard today that Xu was dragged back to Xin'an Lane by a cart with blood all over his face a few days ago. It is unknown whether he is alive or dead."
Seeing that Yang Zhaodi remained silent, the old man sighed, shook his head and went back.
As soon as he sat down, he heard the sound of wind above his head, followed by a clacking sound on the chopping board in front of him. Looking up, he saw a pair of pork kidneys.
"If you want to go, hurry up." The old man picked up the pork kidney and hummed a tune. Knowing that Yang Zhaodi was shy, he did not look back.
Yang Zhaodi changed her clothes and washed her hands many times, but they still looked rough. She bent down and sniffed her rough hands, and she always felt a greasy smell.
She bought some snacks, thought about it, and bought some for her parents at home, only then did she feel at ease.
Xin'an Lane is easy to find, just ask anyone and they will know.
"But the lane with Long Wilbur's house?"
"Yes."
"Go forward, turn right after the street ahead, and go twenty steps forward. The alley on the left is Xin'an Alley."
"Thank you."
Yang Zhaodi walked all the way into Xin'an Lane. There was no need to ask, she just needed to find the largest household, which must be the Bo's Mansion.
Knock knock knock!
The door opened and the man came out, "Who are you looking for, madam?"
"Xu Wei." The doorman looked at her with surprise in his eyes, as if the sun had risen from the west. "How do you report this?"
"My last name is... Yang. Just say I'm from the vegetable market." Yang Zhaodi felt a little embarrassed. She held the oil-paper bag in one hand and pulled her clothes with the other. She wished she could turn around and go back immediately.
"It's cold, please come in and have a cup of hot tea."
Yang Zhaodi entered the side room, and someone brought her hot tea and asked her if she wanted some snacks.
"It's not that the Earl's family is stingy, it's that the Lord said that every guest is served snacks, but most of them are wasted if they are not eaten. In that case, if you are hungry, speak up, if you are not hungry, drink tea." The accompanying maid was very cheerful.
As she was talking, the maid kept looking at her. Later, she made an excuse to go out and whispered to the doorman, "This lady's hands are extremely rough, and the skin on her face is not delicate, and it is even a little dark. I'm afraid she is here to take advantage of me."
Menzi nodded. "It's fine if they're just trying to get money, but I'm afraid they're here to pester me. Keep an eye on them. If anything goes wrong, report it immediately. Who is that?"
There is someone running towards us from the front.
"Yes...it's Mr. Xu."
The doorman had never seen Xu Wei lose his composure like this before, and was shocked and said, "Mr. Xu..."
With a whoosh, Xu Wei rushed past the two of them.
The maid turned around blankly and saw Xu Wei rushing into the room.
"Zhaodi!"
There was silence for a moment.
"You, why are you here? No, you are here... I am very happy. Have you... eaten?"
"I heard you were not feeling well, so I came to see you. I'm going back now."
"Stop! Are you...is this for me?"
"Just snacks."
Xu Wei took the oil-paper bag, opened it, and started eating without hesitation, "It just so happens that I didn't eat enough breakfast."
God have mercy on him, Xu Wei ate three pancakes and two large lamb chops for breakfast.
He rolled his eyes while eating, then picked up the teacup and took a sip.
"This is what I drank." Yang Zhaodi said.
"I don't mind!" Xu Wei said vaguely.
Later, Yang Zhaodi said goodbye, and Xu Wei walked her out of the alley, watching her go away reluctantly.
"Why not send him home?" someone asked from behind.
"She weaves a web for herself and traps herself in it. If anyone touches the web, she will distance herself from that person."
"Would you like me to give you a hand?"
"Old Hu, don't ruin my business."
Hu Zongxian smiled, "Someone has to propose marriage, right?"
"I'll go check on this matter later." Xu Wei saw Jiang Qingzhi, "Master is back."
Jiang Qingzhi had a drink with the old playboy and now came back drunk.
"Where are you two going?" Jiang Qingzhi asked.
"Come out and get some fresh air." Xu Wei looked back disappointedly.
Seeing her drunken husband, Li Tian couldn't help but complain a bit. She personally served Jiang Qingzhi some sobering soup, and after changing his clothes, she let him lie down.
Jiang Qingzhi fell asleep. Li Tian came in several times. Seeing that he was not sleeping well and the quilt had fallen to the ground, she quickly picked it up and covered him with it again.
"Musketeers...forward!"
Jiang Qingzhi murmured.
……
"Musketeers...forward!"
On the last day, three rows of soldiers marched in an orderly manner on the training ground of Huben Zuowei.
"Stop!"
"volley!"
bang bang bang...
In the smoke, Jiang Qingzhi looked back and said, "The name of Tiger Guards is well deserved!"
He went to the palace to ask to see the Taoist priest.
He met Chen Yan on the way and asked him how King Jing was doing recently.
"Being drilled!"
Jiang Qingzhi arranged for Sun Chonglou, a teacher, to train King Jing, but after just a few days, King Jing asked to return to the palace. But it is easy to leave the palace, but difficult to enter!
Concubine Lu couldn't help but feel distressed when she heard the news, but when she thought of what her son had done, she waved her hand and said, "Select the best gifts sent at the end of the year and send them to Xin'an Lane. Let Princess Huating come to the palace to relax when she has nothing to do."
"Yes."
Jiang Qingzhi has arrived at Yongshou Palace at this moment.
There are still five days before the New Year, and the Taoist has changed into a new Taoist robe. His beard looks carefully groomed, and he looks particularly energetic.
"Why were Emperor Taizu and Emperor Chengzu able to suppress their ministers? It was all because of their martial arts!" Dao Ye looked at Jiang Qingzhi, "What those people feared was not verbal criticism, but the emperor's powerful army.
Qingzhi, for me, for the sake of the Ming Dynasty, tomorrow let those people see what a tiger soldier is! "
Jiang Qingzhi said: "The Tiger Guards will not let your majesty down!"
(End of this chapter)
