Font
Large
Medium
Small
Night
Prev Index    Favorite Next

Chapter 94: Ayaqi Hall

When Zhang Huan returned to Dongneiyuan, the polo competition had ended. Dongneiyuan was very quiet. The trees were like pondering people in the dark, with a layer of silver gray under the moonlight.

As soon as Zhang Huan entered the gate, a soldier rushed to report, "General, someone is coming from the palace."

When he was fifty steps away from the place to stay, he saw Chen Xianfu, the eunuch in the distance, pacing back and forth in front of his door, looking very anxious.

"Eunuch Chen, but the emperor is looking for me?"

When Chen Xianfu saw Zhang Huan, he rushed up immediately, grabbed Zhang Huan's reins and complained: "Where have you been there? The emperor summoned you, I have been waiting for you for almost half an hour."

Zhang Huan looked up at Ye Se and smiled, "It's late at night now, and the emperor should have rested. Why not go again tomorrow."

"It's not time for the emperor to rest now, come with me!" Chen Xianfu pulled Zhang Huan's reins and pulled him away without saying a word.

"Eunuch Chen, why did the emperor come to me?"

"It seems to be a matter of polo, cough! You don't know, the emperor was also very good at playing polo when he was young."

"Polo?" Zhang Huan smiled. It was rare that Li Shi had such a leisurely time.

Passing through the palace gate, Chen Xianfu led Zhang Huan to Lingqi Palace. When passing through a small bridge, Zhang Huan suddenly felt an extremely familiar aura, and a faint fragrance floated in the air, as if someone had stayed on the bridge only a moment ago.

Chen Xianfu had already got off the bridge. Seeing Zhang Huan's pace slowed down, he hurriedly waved: "General Zhang, Your Majesty and the Empress are waiting urgently."

Zhang Huan had no choice but to give up searching and followed Chen Xianfu. Just as his back disappeared, his beautiful eyes flashed from behind a big tree at the bridge, looking at Zhang Huan's back sadly.

Lingqi Palace is the queen's bedroom. Teams of tall palace guards patrolled back and forth, and were extremely guarded. After several inspections, Zhang Huan was taken into the palace.

Although it is called Lingqi Hall, it is actually the general name of a huge building complex. In the center is indeed a main hall. This is the place when the queen met the wife of the officials. It is surrounded by pavilions and towers. A river is brought into it from Taiye Pond. It runs through it. Along both sides of the river, the palace is full of strange flowers and plants.

"The Queen Mother is also a polo fan. Last year, the Qinghepo team she supported only ranked third. She was so sad that she didn't eat for a day. This year, she heard that she had given up her support for the Qinghepo team, and she didn't know who she would support...."

Chen Xianfu was nagging and introducing, Zhang Huan just smiled but didn't say anything. The two walked into the inner hall and waited for a moment. A eunuch shouted loudly: "Your Majesty and the Empress Xuan Zhonglang General Zhang Huan."

The inner hall was brightly lit, and a three-meter-high gauze curtain hung from the top separated the inner hall into two, dozens of palace maids and eunuchs stood on both sides. Zhang Huan came in, and the two palace maids pulled up the curtains. Emperor Li Shi of the Tang Dynasty and Empress Cui Xiaofu were sitting upright.

Zhang Huan stepped forward and half-kneeled to salute and said, "The General Zhang Huan of the Central Army will meet His Majesty the Emperor and join the Empress."

This was the first time Cui Xiaofu saw Zhang Huan. She was the one Cui Ning liked. She couldn't help but look at him carefully. She saw that he was tall and straight, and his bright armor made him look very heroic. Although his skin was a little darker, his eyes were deep, and there was a warm smile on the corners of his mouth, which made his face slightly shine with a strange luster.

Cui Xiaofu secretly praised her. She was indeed very charming in appearance. Coupled with his legendary experience, it was reasonable for Cui Ning to like him, but his background in the Zhang family was a gap that they could not cross.

She raised her hand gently and said, "Zhang Jun is exempted from gifts and is given a seat!"

A palace maid lays a soft pad in front of Zhang Huan. Zhang Huan sat down and bowed and smiled: "I have something to do when I go out, so I have to wait for Your Majesty and the Empress for a long time!"

"It's okay!"

Li Shi smiled and said meaningfully: "Zhang Huan, I heard that you formed a polo team?"

"Yes! Seeing that the soldiers' lives are boring, I formed ten polo teams to play and enjoy the game on weekdays."

Li Shi and Cui Xiaofu looked at each other, and both of them showed expectations in their eyes. Li Shi pondered for a moment: "I was very good at polo when I was young. Later, when I was old, I couldn't go on the battlefield anymore. So I formed my own polo team. They are all royal children and their skills are pretty good. Unfortunately, they lack a killing spirit and cannot make it to the top twenty every year. I and the queen discussed whether your polo team can give us two teams. All their expenses are borne by me and the queen. Do you think this is feasible?"

After saying that, the two looked at Zhang Huan nervously, waiting for his reply. Although they were the emperors and queens of the Tang Dynasty, forming their own polo team was a private matter. If Zhang Huan did not agree, they would have no choice.

Zhang Huan smiled and said, "I can only lend two polo teams. They can represent His Majesty and Empress in the competition, but they are still soldiers of the Tianqi Camp. Their daily training should be the same as before. I wonder if Your Majesty and Empress agree?"

"This..." Cui Xiaofu hesitated a little. How to ensure training time if this is the case, but the Li clan understood very well that the Tianqi Camp was already in the Ministry of War, so Zhang Huan was cautious in doing things so as not to be impeached by those who were interested.

"Then let's just say it!"

Li Shi gave Cui Xiaofu a wink and said, "You are my general. You must choose the two strongest teams for us. Their number clothes and ball gear will be arranged by me and the queen."

"Please rest assured that I will pick the most exquisite riding skills, the most archery skills, the most brave warriors in combat, and equip them with the best Dayuan horses. I will definitely not disappoint His Majesty and the Empress."

Li Shi smiled slightly and said, "Of course I don't worry about General Zhang doing things."

Cui Xiaofu nodded with a smile. At this moment, she suddenly remembered something and smiled, "I heard that the Ai family wanted to recruit you as their son-in-law, have you agreed?"

"This..." Zhang Huan scratched the back of his head embarrassedly and smiled: "It's true, but Lord Changsun is interested in polo, not son-in-law."

Li Shi couldn't help laughing. He said to the queen as if he had guessed the answer in advance: "I have to say nothing wrong! Then Changsun Nanfang must be for this purpose."

"What happened later? Did you see Changsun Yiyi?" Cui Xiaofu smiled kindly, but she asked relentlessly.

"Later, his bowler was injured, so I said goodbye and didn't see Miss Changsun."

"I see."

Cui Xiaofu looked at Li Shi, then smiled at Zhang Huan and said, "Your Majesty, I will pay attention to your affairs. Do you want the Ai family to be your matchmaker?"

"But it depends on the Queen!"

At this time, the first bell of the closing of the Daming Palace sounded. Zhang Huan stood up and bowed to say goodbye. At the moment of leaving, he quickly winked at Li Shi.

















"Are you saying that Zhang Ruohao is about to resign from the Minister of Rites and be responsible for clan affairs?"

On a path outside Lingqi Hall, Li Shi and Zhang Huan walked slowly with their hands behind their backs, and dozens of eunuchs and guards followed carefully behind them.

Zhang Huan nodded, "Pingyang County Governor Zhang Ruojin secretly entered Beijing a few days ago. This is a sign that Cui Yuan took action against the Zhang family. Therefore, in order to prevent it, the head of the family would first remove the firewood from the bottom of the pot. In this way, even if Zhang Ruojin took the position of the head of the family, he would not be able to take the army."

Lee sneered, "Zhang Ruohao is too wishful thinking, good! He can recommend his successor according to customization, but will Cui Yuan agree? He only needs to delay for a few months, so is Zhang Potian's turn?"

"That's why I came to find Your Majesty!"

Li Shi suddenly turned around, looked at Zhang Huan with a smile and said, "Do you want me to come forward and interfere in this matter?"

"How dare I let Your Majesty do things? I just make a suggestion."

"Suggestion? What if I refuse?" Li Shi asked staring at him.

Zhang Huan smiled faintly and said, "If Your Majesty refuses, then I have to change my career as a grain escort officer and go to Anbei every day to deliver grain to General Duan."

The two stopped at the same time. Li Shi looked up at Tian without saying a word. After a long time, he smiled coldly and asked, "What else do you have to do? Let's talk about it together!"

"Hedong was seriously affected this year. I beg your Majesty to be polite to the people and be lucky to visit Hedong."


















Chapter completed!
Prev Index    Favorite Next