Naturally, the first priority after returning to Beijing is to go to the palace to meet the Holy Spirit. No matter whether you are busy or not, you must take care of your official business first.
So, after Qi Yu put on his official uniform, he prepared to go out to attack.
However, just as he reached the gate, Qi Yu stopped again: Huh? It seems that he forgot something!
Yes, it’s cricket!
On the surface, I am the emperor's imperial censor, and I went to Ningyang County to collect crickets according to the imperial order. Now that I have returned to Beijing, how can I go to meet him empty-handed?
Fortunately, I bought one before. Otherwise, how could I hide it from others? How could I give my emperor face?
But I only have one in my hand. Doesn’t it seem a little less?
Solitary.
Tong Yanhuo thought it was okay. Although the number was a bit small, he couldn't bear the fact that this insect was so fierce in fighting.
Qi Yu was a little dubious about this and asked: "Brother Tong, this cricket hasn't fought yet, isn't it a little too early to draw conclusions now?"
Tong Yanhuo didn't think so. Although he didn't dare to give an absolute guarantee, he still patted his chest and said, "I dare not say it because I am too old. There should be few opponents."
"real or fake?"
"Basically, it's almost the same. You may not know that the cricket we have is a rare species of superior quality, and its name is 'Black Steel Teeth'. According to rumors, it was born with a pair of iron teeth and copper teeth, which can kill many people."
It is rare for the four parties to lose. However, I have never actually gone to a gambling house to see it, so I can only estimate that what I said is true."
Oh well.
Let’s think so.
After bidding farewell to Tong Yanhuo, Qi Yu took his cricket into the palace.
…
Generally speaking, when a censor returns to the court and wants to go to the palace to meet the emperor, few people will deliberately make things difficult.
Therefore, once he reported in, Qi Yu basically had a smooth journey until he reached the Yangxin Hall.
However, they saw San Dezi walking out of the hall with a smile on his face and his waist bent. As soon as they met, he greeted him: "Master Qi, we haven't seen each other for a long time, but your health has become a little thinner."
Oh? I lost weight?
Qi Yu cupped his hands in a dignified manner and said, "That's right, I have been busy running errands for the emperor recently. I have worked tirelessly along the way, and the saddle and horse are tiring, so it is inevitable that there will be some work and trouble!"
"Ha ha……"
The two looked at each other and smiled, then ended their conversation.
Then, Qi Yu straightened his clothes and prepared to enter the palace for an audience.
San Dezi suddenly gave a reminder and said: "Master Qi, when you enter the hall later, you must not make any noise, so as not to disturb the crickets."
What?
Disturbing the cricket?
What does this mean?
Seeing the confusion on his face, San Dezi quickly pointed to the palace and explained in a low voice: "The emperor is playing with crickets right now. If you disturb his interest, wouldn't you be asking for trouble?"
Oh, that’s it!
"Thank you for reminding me, father-in-law." Qi Yu nodded and asked, "Is Your Majesty amusing himself? Or is he fighting bugs with others?"
Generally speaking, when gambling, most people don't play alone, so Qi Yu asked this question.
It means, is there anyone else in this temple?
San Dezi replied: "In addition to the Holy One, there is also Lord Wu Wanrong and Wu who are playing with me!"
Hey! It’s actually this guy?
No need to guess, he must have come here to flatter me again.
Qi Yu thought for a while and asked: "Wu Wanrong still knows how to fight crickets?"
San Dezi smiled and said: "Our family has indeed heard that Mr. Wu is learning this recently. It seems that he has learned it well. He can even discuss it with the Holy Master."
Oh, I see!
This guy's goal is to learn whatever his master likes.
Back then, the late emperor loved color painting, and he showed himself to be a hobbyist. Now, the emperor likes weaving, and he has transformed into an insect expert.
If the superiors do something good, the subordinates will follow suit. It seems that Mr. Wu is well versed in this approach.
San Dezi suddenly smiled and said: "Mr. Qi, you are really right. The emperor asked you to go to Shandong to collect and promote weaving, but it took you more than a month to return. Mr. Wu is much more diligent than you. In only ten days, he came back
I have collected hundreds of famous insects for the Holy One."
Oops!
When Qi Yu heard this, he couldn't help but take a deep breath and thought to himself: How much will this cost?
This one insect cost him ten taels of silver. He collected hundreds of them, didn't he spend as much as a thousand taels of silver?
Tsk tsk, having money means being willful!
Qi Yu sighed: "I have something important to report to the emperor. If Wu Wanrong stays here and refuses to leave, won't it hinder my hands and feet?"
"this……"
San Dezi had no intention of getting involved in the fight between the ministers, so he said perfunctorily: "Master Qi, why are you in such a hurry? You can wait until he leaves to report. It's not too late."
Too.
Then, he went into the palace to pay his respects.
Qi Yu walked in quietly, trying not to make any noise.
When he raised his eyes, he saw that the emperor was holding a cricket in his hand and staring at the basin on the table attentively. Wu Wanrong was slouching, leaning to the side to watch, humming in agreement in a low voice.
.
Listening carefully again, you can hear the faint sound of crickets flapping their wings in the bucket basin.
this……
Forget it, let's wait first, the emperor is happy, don't disturb his mood.
Then, Qi Yu leaned forward gently, staggering and looked into the basin.
Tsk tsk~~
There's nothing interesting about this cricket fight!
Thinking of this, Qi Yu burst out laughing.
Um?
Who's laughing?
The emperor frowned slightly, looked up, and found that it was him. Then he suddenly remembered that he had been summoned to see him.
"Oh, it's Qi Aiqing here."
"Yes! Back to the emperor, I was ordered to go to Shandong on official business. Now that it has been accomplished, I will return to the palace to resume my duties."
The emperor said casually, his main attention still focused on the bucket basin.
"Your Majesty, the minister is saying that the matter has been completed."
"Well, let's wait until this round is over."
"yes!"
Qi Yu's original intention was to remind the emperor about Princess Chuan, but Wu Wanrong didn't think so.
You know, Qi Yu went to Shandong Mansion in the name of promoting Zhi Yushi. Now that he claims to have succeeded, could it be that he has collected good crickets?
It should be!
Thinking of this, his expression suddenly darkened.
I finally collected so many good crickets to make the emperor happy, but I didn't expect that he would suddenly come over and interfere.
Isn't this deliberately trying to steal my limelight?
Wu Wanrong suppressed the soreness of his teeth and asked: "Master Qi, I wonder how many crickets your Ningyang County team collected?"
Uh... why are you asking this all of a sudden?
And I want to answer truthfully, is there only one?
Forget it, just say it, the emperor will ask anyway.
In order not to appear embarrassed, Qi Yu used a relatively artistic way to express: "As the saying goes, the mountain is not high, and immortals are famous. The same is true for crickets. It is not about having many insects, but just being able to fight them.
I choose insects to pursue excellence and not to choose mediocrity, so I only get one insect."
A bug?
what's the situation?
Not only Wu Wanrong, but also the emperor was stunned.
I asked you to go all the way to Shandong Prefecture and you collected a cricket?
Is this perfunctory?
Wu Wanrong thought about it for a while, and began to laugh secretly in his heart: Qi Yu, Qi Yu, you are so courageous, you dare to fool even the emperor!
Last time you blackmailed my big dark horse, I haven't settled the debt with you yet. Today, I will set a trap for you and make you lose everything. Otherwise, it will be difficult to satisfy the hatred in my heart!