In the early morning, Guo Zongyi wore a green arrow suit and practiced swordplay under the supervision of Chai Wang.
Most of the sword, gun and stick skills he learned from martial arts masters when he was young were too fancy and unrealistic. During the year when he was recuperating from his injuries, Chai Wang, an old killer who licked blood from his knife edge, couldn't stand it, so he kept giving pointers.
After dancing for about half an hour, he practiced archery with the horn bow. A haystack half a man's height was placed in the northernmost corner of the garden, less than fifty steps away from him. However, the sky was not bright at the moment and the visibility was low. , but it is also more difficult than a hundred steps.
Guo Zongyi set up the bow and guided the arrow, slowly leaning forward with his left hand, and he pulled the bowstring to the position of his chin, making a squeaking sound.
He closed his left eye, took a slight aim, and instantly released it. The arrow shot straight out with a buzzing sound, hitting the bull's-eye.
Chai Wang took a look at it and praised: "Xiao Lang's archery skills are far better than his fists, feet, swords and spears. He can already learn to ride and shoot."
Guo Zongyi shook his head, picked up an arrow from the arrow kettle, and smiled self-deprecatingly: "It's so difficult to shoot from a horse. The horse's back is bumpy. It takes a year and a half just to pick up the arrow right away, and then practice splitting the mane." If you want to go further in archery skills such as kicking, kicking, and mowing, you can finally practice left and right bow shooting. If you don't practice hard for three to five years, you may not even be able to hit the dead target."
"Xiao Lang is extremely talented. With a little hard work, he can ride and shoot." Chai Wang persuaded with flattery.
He really wanted to teach his husband the skills of battle, so that in the future he could become a wise prince who could run the army on horseback and manage the people on horseback.
With a snap, he hit the bull's-eye again, Guo Zongyi waved his hand: "Don't make any noise here, I have my own plans."
"Provoke." Chai Wang said with his hands crossed, his sleeves raised, and he waited quietly at the side.
When the rising sun was gushing out from the hillock to the east of the city, Guo Zongyi's arrow pot behind his waist was empty again. He had fired ten rounds, rubbed his swollen shoulders and back, threw the bow to Chai Wang, and said loudly: " We'll be here today. It's morning and evening. Bring me some hot water. I want to take a bath."
After taking a shower, Guo Zongyi came out refreshed. He was about to go to the front hall to eat the morning meal, but was blocked by Cao Han, who was wearing a green official uniform.
"Your Highness Jin An." Cao Han crossed his hands and saluted.
"What's the matter?" Guo Zongyi asked with a smile.
Cao Han hesitated for a moment, then smiled in a flattering way: "Wang Zhu came to see me before dawn today, hoping to acquit me in person."
Guo Zongyi's face turned cold and asked: "Have you eaten?"
Cao Han shook his head. He had been waiting here all morning and had no time to eat.
Guo Zongyi walked around Cao Han and said as he walked: "Come over and eat together."
Cao Han hurriedly followed and reached the front hall. He declined, thanked me happily, and sat with him in the corner, restrained.
The morning meal was relatively simple, just some rice porridge, a few plates of pickles, a few biscuits, and a large pot of peppery mutton soup.
"Here." Guo Zongyi scooped up a bowl of mutton soup himself and handed it to him.
Cao Han was flattered, took it with both hands, and thanked him repeatedly. Guo Zongyi stopped caring about him and started to eat happily.
During the dinner, Cao Han wanted to mention Wang Zhu several times, but he held his tongue. It wasn't until he was full that Guo Zongyi wiped his mouth and asked slowly: "How many gifts did Wang Zhu give you to make you so attentive? "
Cao Han was so frightened that he knelt on the ground and said anxiously: "I didn't accept the gift! The king did bring something, but it concerns His Highness, and I dare not accept it without permission."
Guo Zongyi looked at him steadily, Cao Han lowered his head, feeling uneasy, and suddenly smiled and said: "Get up and kill the talent."
"Is Wang Zhuren outside the garden?"
"Yes." Cao Han replied honestly.
"Morning rain, sharpening ink." Guo Zongyi mused, got up and went to the writing desk by the window, picked up a pen, spread out the paper, and wrote a short poem.
While Cao Han was puzzled, Guo Zongyi handed him the small poem and said, "Take it to the king, but you are not allowed to read it."
"Provoke!" Cao Han followed the order.
Chaoyu came up to him at this time and asked softly: "Your Highness, why did you write a broken poem?"
Guo Zongyi looked at Cao Han's retreating back and smiled mysteriously: "Of course I let Wang Zhu finish it by himself."
Seeing outside the mountain garden, Wang Zhuo was very anxious. Because he woke up from drinking last night, he found that he was thrown into prison in single clothes. Although he was frightened, he could not remember how he got in, and he was puzzled. When he was released, Wang Min came over, explained the cause and effect in detail, and released him home.
Feeling ashamed and annoyed, he stayed up all night and rushed to Cao Han's house before dawn with generous gifts, hoping that this old acquaintance of the Guo Mansion could help introduce him, and that's what happened this morning.
After lingering for a long time, the guards guarding the gate had changed, but Cao Han had not yet said anything. Just when he couldn't hold it in any longer and thought of going into the garden to see him in person, Cao Han arrived belatedly.
Wang Zhu hurriedly came forward to greet me and said anxiously: "Wait to kill me, Commander Cao, your highness is willing to see me?"
Cao Han shook his head, handed over the small poem, and said: "Cheng Xiang has been waiting for a long time. Your Highness does not want to see you, but I gave you this calligraphy treasure as a gift."
Wang Zhuo's heart sank, he took it in a daze, looked around, pulled him to a remote corner, held the paper, and asked: "What did His Highness write?"
"I don't know, Your Highness doesn't allow me to see it. The calligraphy treasure is in your hand. You can tell it by looking at it."
Wang Zhu no longer hesitated at that moment and slowly unfolded the roll of rice paper that was as clean as jade. His eyes lit up and he praised: "Your Highness has good calligraphy, a gentle and elegant style, and vivid and lively writing."
In his dream, Guo Zongyi was fond of practicing calligraphy. He first learned from Zhao Mengfu and then from Wen Zhengming. He raised his hand to write, which showed his skill.
Take a closer look at the little poem, "Gold has no color, and white jade has slight flaws. Ask for help but not for preparation."
The collection ended abruptly at this point, leaving a large blank space, leaving only a line of small words in the corner, which was signed "On the first month of the second year of Guangshun, Zongyi presented it to Wang Chengxiang, the observation envoy."
The king's face turned red. He had a literary name, and after reading it once, he knew what His Highness was thinking.
There was no rebuke, no anger. Between the lines, there was only a kind heart and a caring heart.
He was so ashamed that he could not help but sigh. He carefully rolled up the paper and said in a solemn voice: "Please tell your highness that I will spend the rest of my life writing the missing half."
After finishing speaking, he straightened his robe, opened his sleeves, and solemnly marched towards the garden to the end, then turned around and left without looking back.
Cao Han looked puzzled, but did not dare to ask further questions, so he turned around and reported back to Guo Zongyi.
Bianjing, Da Nei, Qianfu Hall.
It was already Haishi, and at the appointed time, a primary school student was kneeling outside the hall, quietly waiting for the reply from the people inside the hall in the middle of the winter night when his fingers were broken and his fingers were broken.
In the hall, Guo Wei only wore a coarse cloth singlet with his hair shawl-shouldered. He was sitting in front of his desk writing furiously. The eunuch next to him was holding a fur coat. It was neither covered nor worn.
After hesitating for a long time, the supervisor still had the courage to put it on the old man who was nearly fifty years old.
Guo Wei was completely unaware that his son from Chanzhou had sent a letter saying that his eldest son's friendship was still alive. He was so happy that he climbed up from the dragon bed and wanted to reply to him on the spot, asking for everything in the letter. , nothing is not allowed.
After writing the letter, he sealed it with wax himself and said in a deep voice: "Call the elementary school to come in."
The eunuch left in response, and the palace door opened. A cold wind blew in along the cracks and turned on the heater. Guo Wei felt a little cold and couldn't help but wrap up his fur clothes tightly.
"Your Majesty, I wish you all the best." The principal lowered his head and fell to the ground as soon as he entered the door.
"Get up." Guo Wei spoke very casually, "You will set off tonight to deliver this letter to my son."
"Provoke!" the principal sang loudly, took the letter from the superintendent with both hands, and walked backwards out of Qianfu Hall.
Wrapping his fur robe tightly, Guo Wei walked to the window lattice and opened the window. He could just see half of the palace. The palace city was looming under the night sky, and the eaves looked more and more ferocious, and the atmosphere was solemn.
He glanced at it with some disgust, then looked up at the ink-stained sky.
The voice and smile of his first wife, Mr. Chai, emerged from the curtain again, and then changed into Brother Qing and Brother Yi. Mr. Chai died early, and several children born to his two successors were also massacred during the Qianyou Incident.
Losing his wife in middle age and losing his son in old age are the greatest sorrows in life. Even now that he is sitting on the throne of emperor, he still feels very uneasy.
Being an emperor has many worries, but it is far less comfortable than being a governor or privy councilor.
The only comfort now is that this adopted son has been raised under his knees since he was a child. Although he is not a blood relative, he has the kindness of the Chai family and the guilt of causing the ruin of his family. Besides, he also has great feelings for this fake son. , coupled with his wise, heroic, benevolent, decisive, both for the country and for his own private life, he is an ideal successor.
The only shortcoming is that his sons also died in the Qianyou Incident, and the country cannot be left without heirs, so he has been hesitating between his nephew and his adopted son, who should be chosen as the crown prince.
Now, the eldest grandson who escaped had filled this gap, and his wavering heart gradually stopped at this moment.
After closing the window, he called the chief eunuch and whispered: "I have ordered Xiang Xun, the envoy from the Imperial City, to come see me."
