In the hall, Liu Lanshuang had changed into women's clothes and was sitting upright behind a small desk.
Not far from her, there was the same small case, with Mr. and Mrs. Wang Chen sitting behind it.
Wu Chengsi stood in the middle, Wen Rong and Yang Tai stood behind him, and the maids such as Qin Bao and Fen Bao stood in the corners.
Wu Chengsi raised his voice and said: "I am the most particular about fairness in everything I do. Since we choose the venue, then it is up to you to decide what instrument to use in the first competition!"
Mrs. Wang said without hesitation: "Bise first!"
Liu Lanshuang listened to her playing the harp and snorted to herself, thinking: "Your level of playing the harp is indeed superb, but you are not the only one in the world who has this skill." She said coldly: "I'll go first!"
Ming Qin Bao took her fifty-string harp and placed it on the small case.
When Mrs. Wang saw the harp, she was secretly surprised: "Everyone who can play the 50-stringed harp these days is a master. I'm afraid this lady of the country really has some skills. I can't be careless!"
Outside the house, Feng Ying was sitting on an apricot tree, playing a bobblehead drum in her hand.
Long Yang stood under the tree, holding his breath and looking like he needed to go to the toilet.
The two of them originally followed Wu Chengsi to the Xinglan Courtyard. After seeing the apricot forest, Feng Ying felt the fragrance of flowers and jumped up to the tree trunk to play by herself.
Long Yang felt that if he could not recite a poem after seeing such a beautiful apricot forest, he could not be called a qualified scholar.
He paced back and forth under the tree, thinking about reciting a song, but after thinking for a long time, he didn't have any inspiration.
However, Fengying's head-shaking drum kept playing, and she couldn't help complaining: "Can you go somewhere else to play, and don't disturb me from composing poetry?"
Fengying sneered and said, "You have only been studying for a few days, and you already want to imitate other people's poetry. You are not ashamed."
Long Yang was about to fight back when suddenly, an elegant and soothing song came from the house.
Although they didn't understand the music, they both thought the music was pleasant, so they stopped bickering, and Feng Ying stopped shaking the bobblehead drum in her hand.
After a long while, the song was played, and both of them secretly praised it, but no one could tell how it was done.
Long Yang suddenly remembered that in the Imperial Academy, after someone recited a good poem, everyone else liked to shout "Wonderful", so he loudly said: "Wonderful! It's really wonderful!"
At this time, a clear voice came from the direction behind the two of them: "This music is played by the second lady on the drums."
When I turned around, I saw Qinghe, a girl holding a dog, with a little white dog following at her feet.
She walked her dog here, heard the music, and saw the courtyard door open, so she couldn't help but walked in, wanting to listen more carefully.
As soon as the outsider came, Long Yang immediately shut up.
Feng Ying was very fond of her because Liu Lanshuang rewarded her with money, and praised her: "The second lady plays really well."
Qing He smiled and said, "That's natural. There's no one in our house who doesn't like her music." He knelt down, touched the little white dog's head, and said, "Even this little thing likes it very much."
At this moment, another harp music was heard. Qinghe said "Huh" and was about to speak. He felt that the harp music was so beautiful that he couldn't help but want to continue listening, so he closed his mouth and listened carefully.
After a long time, the song was finished.
Feng Ying smiled and said: "Although this piece of music feels different to people, it is equally good. It would be great if I could hear the Second Madam's music more often in the future."
Qing He frowned and said, "This piece was not played by the second lady."
Feng Ying asked curiously: "Who played that?"
Long Yang finally couldn't help it and said: "Are you a Pig? You forgot what happened just now! That Mrs. Wang came here just to compete with the Second Madam, so naturally it was Mrs. Wang who played this song!"
A red cloud suddenly flew up on Feng Ying's face, and Qing He asked Long Yang: "Who is Mrs. Wang?"
Long Yang said: "She is a Shu girl who is good at music and wants to challenge the second lady."
Qing He sighed: "There are so many talented people in this world, but Mrs. Wang's singing skills are not inferior to our second wife's at all."
At this moment, another burst of pipa sound came from the room. Qinghe smiled slightly and said: "This is the second lady's mulberry picking song. She likes to play this song on pipa the most."
Feng Ying and Long Yang were attracted by the pipa music and neither responded.
This piece of music is lingering and lingering, with one note following the other, as if it hits people's heartstrings, making the listener's attention follow the melody closely, completely forgetting himself.
After the song was played, I woke up.
When Feng Ying came back to her senses, she realized that she had fallen from the tree and her buttocks felt sore.
Long Yang laughed and said: "Feng Ying, have you never heard such a good song?"
Fengying hummed: "Have you heard of it?"
Long Yang raised his head and said, "I heard about it in the book."
Feng Ying rolled her eyes at him, picked up the oscillating drum, jumped up, and jumped onto the tree trunk.
After a while, a pipa tune of different styles came from the room, and the three of them listened attentively.
After the song was played, Qinghe smiled and said: "Although this song is not bad, it is not as good as the second lady's mulberry picking song."
Long Yang didn't hear the difference, but he wanted to show off his knowledge and said, "Yes, this song is not as good as the one just now!"
Then, one song followed another, with the people in the room playing intently and the people outside listening intoxicated.
When the instrument was switched to the seventh type, Liu Lanshuang finished playing a zheng piece, but Mrs. Wang's zheng piece in the room never sounded again.
The three of them quietly came to the hall. They saw Mrs. Wang's face was pale, her hands were placed on a zither, her fingers could not help trembling, as if she did not dare to touch the strings of the zither.
It turns out that in the previous six games, she only won one, drew one and lost four.
When she heard Liu Lanshuang's zheng music, she knew that she was inferior, so she had lost the competition in advance, and her and her husband's lives had also been lost.
Liu Lanshuang suddenly showed a smile and said: "Mrs. Wang, over the past many years, I have competed with others many times, but this is the only one that makes me happiest."
Mrs. Wang bit her lip, tears were already welling up in her eyes, and she sobbed: "You win, I can't beat you." After saying this, the tears couldn't hold back any longer, and fell down in strings.
Wang Chen hugged his wife tightly and said, "Madam, don't cry, you have done your best."
Liu Lanshuang suddenly turned her head and said to Wu Chengsi: "Your Majesty, I want to ask you something."
Wu Chengsi smiled secretly and said, "Shuang'er and I really have a tacit understanding." He asked, "What's the matter?"
Liu Lanshuang said: "In these many years, this is the first time that I have encountered an opponent like Mrs. Wang. Can you spare her for once?"
Wu Chengsi frowned and said nothing.
Liu Lanshuang added: "With an opponent like Mrs. Wang, I can improve my musical skills and let you hear better music. Please spare her!"
Wu Chengsi sighed and said: "Forget it, just for your sake, spare her life!"
Mrs. Wang asked urgently: "What about my husband?"
Wu Chengsi's face was straight and he said: "His crime is unforgivable, and it is naturally a death sentence."
Mrs. Wang knelt down on the ground and said sadly: "I beg Your Majesty to be merciful and spare my husband!"
Yang Tai then knelt down and said: "Your Highness, I made a lot of mistakes, and this matter is all my fault. Please let Brother Wang go, and put all the blame on those in humble positions."
Wang Chen's eyes filled with tears and he said loudly: "No, this is all my own fault. It has nothing to do with my wife or anyone else. Please forgive me!"
Wu Chengsi was silent for a long time, waved his sleeves, turned and left the room, followed by Wen Rong.
Mrs. Wang was surprised and asked: "Why is the prince gone? Is he..."
Liu Lanshuang smiled and said, "My lord, by leaving, I mean to spare you and your wife. I hope you will change your minds in the future and not break the law again."
Wang Chen and his wife escaped death, and they both cried with joy and said loudly: "Thank you, Your Majesty, and Mrs. Qin!"
Wang Chen turned his head and cupped his hands to Yang Tai again and said, "Brother Yang, thank you very much."
Yang Tai touched his nose and said with a wry smile: "As long as you stop calling me a seller and seeking glory."
Wang Chen blushed.
After what had just happened, he not only admired Liu Lanshuang's musical skills better than his wife's, but also appreciated Wu Chengsi's kindness. He said, "I was confused, don't be surprised."
At this time, Wen Rong suddenly returned to the room and said: "Wang Chen, Deputy Supervisor Yang, the prince invites you to go to the study."
The two of them agreed. Wang Chen looked at his wife. Mrs. Wang smiled and said: "You should speak to the prince properly and don't be stubborn. I will wait for you here."
Wang Chen nodded in agreement, and together with Yang Tai, followed Wen Rong to the study.
Wu Chengsi was sitting behind a desk reading an official document.
None of the three dared to disturb them. After a long time, Wu Chengsi put down the official document and said with a smile: "Just now good news came from Yangzhou. Our army defeated the Japanese army near Huludao and killed more than 20,000 of the enemy!"
"Great!" Yang Tai clenched his fists.
Although Wang Chen paid little attention to the affairs of the court, he also knew that the Japanese had been harassing the coastal states for a long time and was extremely disgusted with them. Hearing that the imperial court defeated the Japanese, he was secretly happy.
Wu Chengsi said: "Yang Tai, the role of artillery in this war is crucial. This military merit belongs to you and your son. I will not express my merit for you. Are you willing to use your two military merits to offset your crimes?"
"
Yang Tai was overjoyed and said loudly: "I am willing!"
Wu Chengsi nodded, turned to look at Wang Chen, and said: "I would like to ask you a few questions. According to the agreement, your wife lost to my wife. You must answer truthfully."
Wang Chen was now filled with gratitude to Wu Chengsi. Even if there was no agreement, he would answer all questions and said, "My lord, may I ask."
Wu Chengsi said: "Is the person behind the scenes who ordered you to assassinate me King Pei?"
Wang Chen nodded and said, "That's right. In the name of King Pei, someone asked ordinary people to come to the capital to help him."
"King Pei has been imprisoned, so after you came to Beijing, was the person you came into contact with the king of Yin Li Dan?"
Wang Chen was stunned for a moment and said: "The common people don't know King Yin. After entering the capital, Butler Wei has always been in contact with me to convey King Pei's instructions."
Wu Chengsi raised his eyebrows and thought to himself, "Is it possible that Li Dan didn't come forward to meet with Wang Chen?"
After a long silence, he ordered Wen Rong: "Take all the people captured in that mansion into Dali Temple and let Di Renjie interrogate him personally. Be sure to find out who is behind them!"
Wen Rong nodded in agreement.
Wu Chengsi looked at Wang Chen again and said, "Besides asking you to participate in the assassination of this king, did they ask you to do anything else?"
Wang Chen nodded and said: "These past few nights, they always send me to a place in a carriage."
Wu Chengsi's heart moved: "Where?"
Wang Chen said: "It's a dark little room. There is an old man in black waiting inside. After I go there, the old man will blindfold me and carry me to another place."
After a pause, he added: "When I was being carried by the old man in black, I felt like my body was floating in the air, and the wind was very strong, and he kept pouring water into my mouth."
Wu Chengsi thought to himself: "The man in black must have used Qinggong to carry Wang Chen and sneak into somewhere." He asked: "What happened next?"
Wang Chen said: "By the time he untied my eyes, we had already arrived at a Buddhist hall. The old man in black told me that there was a secret passage in the Buddhist hall and asked me to find it."
Yang Tai explained: "Your Highness, what Brother Wang is best at is cracking the secret passages of agencies."
Wang Chen was not modest either, he raised his head and said: "It only took me one night to find the secret passage, and the man in black asked me to change the mechanism."
Wu Chengsi frowned and said, "How to change it?"
Wang Shen said: "That mechanism is a stone door. There is a secret room behind the door. You can use the mechanism to open the door from the inside and outside. The man in black asked me to set up another mechanism outside. As long as the switch is pressed, the people inside will not be able to open the door and come out.
.”
Wu Chengsi frowned deeply and thought to himself: "Why did King Pei ask Wang Shen to set up such an institution? That place is a Buddhist temple, could it be the Great Ci'en Temple?"
After thinking for a long time, he asked again: "What is that secret room like and what is in it?"
Wang Chen shook his head and said: "I only saw a passage behind the stone gate, and the old man in black didn't let me go deep inside."
Yang Tai said in a deep voice: "Brother Wang, think carefully, is there anything special or weird about the Buddhist hall? Have you seen anyone else besides the old man in black?"
Wang Chen thought for a long time, shook his head and said: "I didn't find anything weird, and I didn't see anyone else."
Wu Chengsi said: "Yang Tai, take Wang Chen to Da Ci'en Temple immediately and visit every Buddhist temple to see if it is there."
Yang Tai agreed and resigned together with Wang Chen.
Wu Chengsi thought about it in his study for a long time and ordered people to find Zhang Jianzhi.
Zhang Jianzhi entered the study, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, are you looking for your subordinate to inquire about Tibetan affairs?"
Wu Chengsi secretly praised and nodded: "Yes, the Tubo people suddenly attacked our country. I want to know if they really intend to go to war, or will they withdraw after the attack like last time?"
Zhang Jianzhi's face was heavy: "I originally planned to report this matter to you, but because the Tibetan people's behavior is so unusual, I plan to confirm it before reporting it."
Wu Chengsi raised his eyebrows: "Why is it unusual?"
Zhang Jianzhi said: "According to the intelligence I gathered below, the Tibetans were not ready for war and should not attack our country with all their strength at this time."
Wu Chengsi nodded, this was also the strange thing about him.
The Tubo people are probably still consolidating Tuyuhun's territory. If they attack the Tang Dynasty now, if they fail, Tuyuhun's territory may be lost.
Zhang Jianzhi continued: "However, according to the latest reports from Xizuo, the Tibetans are mobilizing a large amount of troops, money and food from the rear, and they seem to be really preparing for a big war!"
Wu Chengsi was stunned and thought to himself: "How could this happen?"
He had always had a suspicion in his mind that King Yin's unscrupulous men had helped the Tibetans escape, and there might have been collusion between the two parties.
Now when he was dealing with King Yin and King Pei, the Tubo people suddenly attacked. He suspected that this was King Pei's plan to send him away from Chang'an.
But if this were the case, the Tibetans would never attack in a large scale.
Could it be that he guessed wrong? The Tubo people really thought that the Tang Dynasty was empty and planned to fight head-on?
After Zhang Jianzhi resigned, Wu Chengsi stayed in the study. After a long time, he ordered someone to call Feng Ying and said: "Feng Ying, there is a very important errand I want you to do."
Feng Ying was very happy to see Wu Chengsi reuse her. She puffed out her chest and said, "You can just ask me, I am much more reliable than Feng Wu or Long Yang!"
Wu Chengsi reached out and handed over a letter and said: "Take this letter and go to Yangzhou and hand it to Hei Te Changzhi."
Fengying took it, put it away carefully, and said, "Then I'll leave now!"
Wu Chengsi said: "Be careful along the way."
Not long after Feng Ying left, Wen Rong suddenly came to report and Shangguan Wan'er asked to see her.
Wu Chengsi ordered Wen Rong to invite her into the study. When he saw Shangguan Wan'er, he was startled and said: "Wan'er, why do you look so bad?"
Shangguan Wan'er touched her cheek and forced a smile: "Really? I didn't pay attention. Maybe it's because I haven't slept well recently."
Wu Chengsi frowned and said, "Please pay more attention to your health in the future, otherwise I will ask my aunt and ask you to come over!"
Shangguan Wan'er stared at him for a moment, her eyes suddenly filled with tears, she bit her lip and said, "If you really do this, Wan'er will suffer for the rest of her life."
Wu Chengsi sighed and said: "Wan'er, sometimes I really don't understand what you are thinking. Do you hate me?"
Shangguan Wan'er shook her head repeatedly.
"Then why don't you want to come to the palace?"
Shangguan Wan'er lowered her head and said nothing.
After a long while, she raised her head and said, "Your Highness, Wan'er came to see you today because she has something to tell you."
"Say it."
"Are you going to lead an army on an expedition the day after tomorrow?"
"Yes."
Shangguan Wan'er took out a letter from her chest and said solemnly: "I want to give this letter to you, but you must promise Wan'er one thing!"
Wu Chengsi reached out to receive the letter, but found that Shangguan Wan'er refused to let go. She said stubbornly: "You must promise me before I can give you the letter."
Wu Chengsi frowned and said, "What do you want me to promise you?"
Shangguan Wan'er said: "You can only open this letter on the third day after you leave Chang'an!"
Wu Chengsi was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, I promise you that."
Shangguan Wan'er bit her lip and said, "You must keep your promise, otherwise...otherwise I will be...all my life..." She wanted to say something cruel, but couldn't.
Wu Chengsi said seriously: "When have I ever lied to you?"
Shangguan Wan'er nodded, stared at him deeply, and said quietly: "Your Highness, I'm leaving then. You must take care of yourself in the future."
Wu Chengsi frowned and said, "Wan'er, do you have any troubles? Have you forgotten what I said? No matter what difficulties you have, you can always come to me."
Shangguan Wan'er shook her head, saluted him, turned around and walked out of the study, her figure looking indescribably lonely.
Wu Chengsi couldn't help but chase him out, shouting: "Wan'er!"
As soon as the sound was heard, Shangguan Wan'er suddenly shook a few times and fell down in the corridor.
Wu Chengsi was shocked and hurriedly picked her up and found that she was unconscious.
"Come here! Quick, please ask Mr. Mei to come over!"
Dr. Mei was the exclusive doctor of the Zhou Palace. Since Li Zhiying became pregnant, Wu Chengsi asked Wen Rong to invite him to the mansion. He had served as an imperial doctor and had considerable medical skills.
In the study, Shangguan Wan'er was lying on the wooden couch where Wu Chengsi was taking a nap. Doctor Mei took her pulse for a while and said slowly:
"Your Highness, this girl suffered from a heart disease, coupled with the recent lack of sleep, which caused her to faint."
Wu Chengsi frowned and said, "Then how to treat it?"
Mr. Mei smiled slightly and said: "Originally, this disease is difficult to treat with medicine. It can only be alleviated by enlightening the patient's emotions. However, the heart-protecting elixir that Mr. Li refined for His Highness the Princess is a powerful tonic. It will be very beneficial to her." It should be helpful.”
Wu Chengsi immediately said: "Wen Rong, go to the princess's place and get a heart-protecting pill."
Li Ji spent several months refining the Heart-Protecting Pill using fifteen kinds of rare medicinal materials. It has many functions. It can not only replenish the body, but also nourish the mind, calm the qi and detoxify. It can be called a life-saving pill.
Li Ji's hard work was naturally for the sake of the child in Li Zhiying's belly, hoping that she would have a safe delivery and that both mother and child would be fine.
Wen Rong came over to take the heart-protecting pill, and Wu Chengsi fed it to Shangguan Wan'er.
Soon, Shangguan Wan'er woke up, opened her eyes and saw Wu Chengsi, and said blankly: "Your Highness, I... what's wrong with me?"
Wu Chengsi said with a straight face: "You fainted in the corridor just now! Wan'er, what's wrong with you? Is there something on your mind that you can't tell me?"
Shangguan Wan'er opened her mouth, then shook her head and said: "No, Your Highness, thank you for your concern. As long as you remember to promise Wan'er, Wan'er will always be grateful to you."
He struggled to get up and left the study.
Wu Chengsi sighed. Shangguan Wan'er had a strong temper. If she didn't want to speak, no one could do anything to her.
There was a faint worry in his heart, thinking that this matter might have something to do with Wu Mei.
The expedition was about to begin, and there were still a lot of military matters to be dealt with tomorrow, so I didn't think much about it and went to bed immediately.
The next day, the army's supplies and supplies set off westward ahead of schedule.
One day later, Wu Mei personally issued an edict, appointing Wu Chengsi as the chief military officer of Longyou Road March and Xue Rengui as the deputy chief officer.
The two men led the western expeditionary army and generals to rescue the four towns in Anxi and recover the lost territory.
Three days later at night, the army settled in camp west of Longzhou. In the commander's tent, Wu Chengsi opened Shangguan Wan'er's letter. After reading the contents, he frowned deeply.
It is said that King Pei colluded with the Tubo people and informed the Tubo people of the defense status of the four towns in Anxi, telling Wu Chengsi to be careful.
Wu Chengsi was silent for a long time, then a cold light suddenly flashed in his eyes and he burned the letter.
At this moment, Han Cheng and Russell entered the tent together and said solemnly: "Commander, when a group of soldiers were patrolling outside the tent just now, they found an arrow on a tree with a letter tied to it."
Wu Chengsi snorted and said, "Does the letter say that something has changed in Chang'an, that the Queen Mother is in danger, and that I should immediately lead my troops back to Chang'an to rescue her?"
Han Cheng was surprised and said: "How do you know?"
Wu Chengsi did not answer, but said in a deep voice: "Go and ask General Xue to come over immediately."