When it was time to hold the lantern, Lin Jue, Guo Caiwei and Zhan'er arrived in front of the palace, escorted by Shen Tan and more than ten guards.
Although he was demoted from a prince to a county prince, the scale and luxury of Prince Liang's palace have not changed at all. On the way to the flower hall of the back house, palace lanterns are hung in the corridor, which is full of light. The guards come and go, and the servants shuttle, they are still first-class.
The atmosphere of the royal family.
After hearing the news, Guo Bing and his concubine stood in the corridor to greet him. After the ceremony, the concubine took Guo Caiwei's grandson's liver and went to the back hall to talk. Lin Jue followed Guo Bing into the flower hall.
A banquet table had already been set up in the flower hall, which was as bright as day, but there was no one there.
"Lin Jue, take a seat. Let's drink tea first. The banquet will begin later." Guo Bing said with a smile, looking at Lin Jue with a very friendly look, which made Lin Jue feel a little unnatural.
"Father-in-law, where is my brother? Is he still in the military camp on business?" Lin Jue asked.
I heard from the little princess that Guo Kun was very busy after he was promoted to the post of deputy commander of the Guard Infantry Division. He was responsible for daily military affairs. But even if he was busy, he should come back when he returned to the capital.
Guo Bing smiled and said: "He will be there in a minute. He has some things to do. Let's wait while drinking tea."
Lin Jue thanked him and sat at the small table with Guo Bing next to him. The maid brought him some fragrant tea, and he and his son-in-law sat opposite each other, holding tea and sipping.
Guo Bing only touched his lips slightly, then put down the tea cup and looked at Lin Jue and smiled. Lin Jue was shocked by his look and thought he was disheveled. He turned around and took a look and felt that there was nothing wrong with him. He felt very confused.
.
But when Guo Bing leaned over, he asked with a smile: "Lin Jue, this time is really good. He has made meritorious service in suppressing the rebellion and is famous in both the government and the public. He has been granted the title of earl and has given birth to a fourth-rank official. It can be said that the fortunes have turned around and everything is prosperous.
It's up. You had a bad luck in the past two years, but now it seems that your fortune has turned around. It's very good, very good. I am very happy and happy in my heart."
Lin Jue looked at Guo Bing's face, which had become paler and fatter after being pampered, and said with a smile: "My son-in-law is ashamed that I have only now made my father-in-law feel gratified. I must have gritted my teeth in hatred before."
Guo Bing laughed loudly, pointed at Lin Jue and nodded: "You are a sharp-tongued kid, are you deliberately trying to embarrass me? I admit that my attitude towards you was not very good before, but isn't that a spur to motivate you to make progress? If
If I really treat you badly, how could I marry Wei'er to you? Isn't it because I have taken a fancy to you and you are not the best thing in the pool? You are being hypocritical."
Lin Jue chuckled and thought to himself: "You and your son are really a father and son. I remember the young prince also said this. You father and son are really good at putting gold on your own faces."
But he said: "What my father-in-law taught me is that my son-in-law also took advantage of his brother this time. If he hadn't asked me to join the army, I wouldn't have had a chance to show off. I heard that this was what my father-in-law suggested to him.
So, this is actually the support of my father-in-law."
Guo Bing's face turned red, but he said calmly: "You can say that you are giving face to my father and son, but in fact it is still your own ability. If you say you have benefited from it, this time it is Guo Kun who has benefited from you. Guo Kun came back to follow
I've said it all, if it weren't for you, he would have been defeated. Lin Jue, we are a family, and it doesn't mean much to say this. It doesn't matter who supports whom. You and Guo Kun are now both prosperous and disadvantaged.
Even bad luck has to affect the other person. I hope you understand this and don’t think that you are you and we are us.”
Of course Lin Jue understands this truth. In fact, he has been in the same boat since the day he married the young princess. Otherwise, Lin Jue would not have tried his best for Kang Zizhen's case.
"My son-in-law understands, father-in-law, don't worry." Lin Jue said with a smile.
Guo Bing nodded, sighed and said: "Now, I can only stay at home and cannot go out. The world is yours now, and I can only watch you show your talents. In the past few months, I have been fishing every day. I'm tired of it. The fish pond at home is full of fish I caught. It's really boring. What do you say in those two poems? By the way, what's the meaning of 'The maple leaves have just begun to fall in front of the window, and the dace fish under the pavilion are getting fatter in autumn.' An I have to follow you to take care of the coir raincoat, and sing songs in the mist.' It sounds wonderful, but when you really live such a life, it is really boring and tasteless. I don't know how those hermits live like this all their lives."
Lin Juexin said: That's a compliment to you. For a power-minded person like you, once you can't show your face and are suppressed at home, it will really be enough for you.
"Father-in-law, you are hiding your capabilities and biding your time. This is also right. It is good that the Kang Zizhen case has the current result. Father-in-law, please do not take it for granted. Besides, the future that my brother mentioned is not Affected, the emperor did not look at him differently. Isn't my brother's future the same as my father-in-law's future? You are now sitting firmly on the Diaoyutai, waving the fishing rod, and pointing out your brother's behavior. Your brother has made great achievements. Isn't that what my father-in-law wants to see? Huh?" Lin Jue laughed.
"That's true. Isn't it because of him that I'm fighting? Isn't it what I want because he has a future? I just need to make suggestions for him. Although I can't keep a high profile, my relationship is still open. There, you are not blind or deaf. You can still do something. Lin Jue, you are right, my mentality is unbalanced and a little pessimistic." Guo Bing nodded and smiled.
Lin Jue said with a smile: "Father-in-law is ridiculous. Don't stay at home for too long, as it will make you feel depressed. It's also good to go to various scenic spots in the capital with your mother-in-law."
"Going out with your mother-in-law? Isn't that just like burning incense and worshiping Buddha every day? Hey, women are like this. They always think that Buddha can save people, but they don't know that it is a delusion. What kind of Buddha is there? The temples only offer clay sculptures and wooden bodies. How can I help? Do you want me to burn incense and chant Buddha's name with her? Don't even think about it in this life." Guo Bing waved her hands.
Lin Jue smiled and said: "Actually, it's good to worship Buddha and burn incense. At least it can make people see the prince's piety. Burning incense and worshiping Buddha is not to ask for anything from the Buddha, but to let others know that you are doing this."
Guo Bing was stunned, chewing on what Lin Jue said, and suddenly understood what Lin Jue meant. Lin Jue meant that burning incense and worshiping Buddha is for others to see, to let others know that he no longer has any chance to win. Instead, place your heart in the Buddha, take refuge devoutly, and repent of your actions. This will make others less wary of you. And it is self-evident who this other person is.
Guo Bing nodded and was about to speak when he suddenly heard footsteps and someone walked into the hall talking loudly outside the flower hall.
The person who came in was none other than the young prince Guo Kun. There was another person behind him. He was dressed in brocade robes and had a smile on his face, but it was Jin Wang Guo Mian who came. Lin Jue's scalp was a little numb. Obviously this Jie Feng family banquet was not that simple. Guo Kun may have specially invited Guo Mian here. Guo Bing stood up and greeted him with a smile, and Lin Jue had to stand up to greet him. But when he saw Guo Mian striding forward, he walked directly in front of Lin Jue. He cupped his hands with enthusiasm and said with a smile: "Oh, Lin Jue, you have returned to Beijing. You didn't even send anyone to inform me. If Guo Kun hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known you were back to Beijing. What a shame! The king is a little unhappy to see you outside."
Lin Jue smiled and said: "Lin Jue has met King Jin. His return to the capital this time was impromptu and for official business, so he did not disturb King Jin. In fact, I did not even inform my father-in-law. Please forgive me, King Jin."
Guo Bing laughed and said: "Yes, yes, if Caiwei hadn't sent someone to inform us, even I wouldn't have known about Lin Jue's return to Beijing. Don't blame him, King Jin."
Guo Mian laughed and said: "How can I blame him? I know he is busy with official duties. I just hope to get together with Lin Jue."
Guo Kun said from the side: "Please take a seat and let's talk while drinking. The night is still long, what can't be said clearly?"
"Yes, yes, yes, let's sit down and talk. Come on, Lin Jue, you and I will sit down together. You sit next to me." Guo Mian affectionately took Lin Jue's arm and walked to the table. Lin Jue frowned slightly and wanted to shake it off.
His hand, but felt that this was not good, so he had to be half dragged and half walked to the table.
The maid came up to pour wine for everyone. The wine was clear and fragrant. It was clear at a glance that it was the best wine. Guo Mian sniffed and praised: "Oh, my second uncle really knows how to enjoy it. There is such a good wine in the house.
You won’t even give me a few jars to drink.”
Guo Bing stroked his beard and chuckled: "Prince Jin, even if I give it to you, I'm afraid you won't dare to drink it. At this time, you can't be greedy and cause trouble."
Guo Mian lowered his head and sighed: "Yes, even if you give it to me, I can't drink it. My second uncle is right. Now I can't drink and recite poems every day and be as carefree as before. Now
I have to restrain myself. In extraordinary times, I can only endure it."
Guo Bing nodded and said: "The King of Jin is right. How can you be greedy and lethargic at this time? You must restrain yourself. How can you ruin a big thing just because of what is in the cup? In the future, when you drink wine freely, you must restrain yourself and restrain yourself."
.However, we can have a few drinks tonight. We are all members of our family, and we are here to give Lin Jue a break, so a few drinks is not an exaggeration."
Guo Mian said with a happy face: "That's great, I'll have a rest tonight after getting drunk. Come on, come on, let's have a drink first to welcome Lin Jue back to Beijing."
Several people raised their glasses and toasted to Lin Jue. Lin Jue quickly picked up the wine glass and thanked them, and everyone drank it down.
The words that Guo Mian and Guo Bing just said about drinking may sound meaningless, but Lin Jue has already heard some clues in his heart. Guo Mian is addicted to alcohol and loves drinking and feasting the most. Now
What he said about restraining himself from drinking was obviously because the imperial court was discussing the establishment of a crown prince. The emperor issued an edict to discuss the establishment of a crown prince. Naturally, the King of Jin could no longer be as dissolute as before and had to restrain himself so as not to leave any excuses. Listen to Guo Bing
The tone of his reply to Guo Mian was probably the result of Guo Bing reminding Guo Mian behind his back.
Lin Jue was not surprised at all by the stance of Guo Bing and his son on establishing the crown prince. Guo Bing would definitely side with Guo Mian, and there was no need to think too much about it. Now it seems that Guo Bing is probably the one Guo Mian is competing for.
Behind the throne of the prince, he is the biggest supporter and military advisor. He plans everything for him.
