On the ninth day of the seventh lunar month in Longtai, Chu Dynasty, the rising sun rose early, with brilliant rays of light. The entire palace of Chu State was bathed in the sunshine, and the red walls and glazed tiles looked even more resplendent in the sunshine.
Three days have just passed. Early in the morning, all civil and military officials have gathered in front of the Chengtian Palace. Everyone knows that a good show is going to be staged in the palace today. Although the outcome seems to have been doomed, since there is It’s a great show, and no one wants to miss it.
Qi Ning also woke up early, but it seemed that he had not had a good rest last night. He stood among the ministers, yawning from time to time, looking sleepy.
The front of the palace was empty, and the ministers stood together in twos and threes, talking and laughing.
In any case, the recent happy events in Chu State have been continuous. First, Emperor Beitang of the Northern Han Dynasty passed away happily. The princes of the Northern Han Dynasty have made the Northern Han Dynasty a mess because of their competition for the throne. And the Eastern Qi Dynasty sent Tianxiang. Princess, the alliance between the two countries is a certainty.
In a few days, the emperor will get married. This is a great event celebrated by the whole world. Because to welcome the emperor's wedding, red lanterns have begun to be hung in the streets and alleys of the capital. Many people who have relatives and are imprisoned in prisons have also begun to hang up. It is hoped that the emperor can use the joy of the wedding to grant amnesty to the world.
Therefore, the atmosphere in the court has been relatively relaxed recently, and since today we were just watching a competition, everyone seemed quite casual.
Qining stretched and heard a voice next to him: "Jin Yihou didn't sleep last night, okay? Young people should be more restrained."
Qining turned around and saw Wuxiang Hou Suzhen standing beside him.
Among the four hereditary queens, Wuxiang Hou Suzhen's presence in the court seems to be getting weaker and weaker, but no matter what, he is still one of the hereditary queens. He has a title and is not inferior to Qining.
Qi Ning smiled and said: "The Marquis of Wuxiang didn't seem to sleep well last night, and his face didn't look energetic."
Su Zhen drank too much when he was young. After inheriting the title, his temperament remained unchanged and he was still looking for flowers and flowers. Excessive consumption also caused him to become thinner and look a little pale all day long.
Su Zhen sneered and then asked: "They say that although you, Jin Yi Hou, are young, you are very knowledgeable. I wonder who you think will win and who will lose in the competition in front of the palace today?"
Several people nearby heard Su Zhen's inquiry and thought to themselves that you, Marquis of Wuxiang, are not talking nonsense. You still have to tell who wins and who loses. Everyone knows it. They just worry about Ximen Wuhen's face. Just don't say it.
"Wuxiang Hou, who do you think will win?" Qining asked with a smile.
Su Zhen raised her hand to stroke her beard and said with a smile: "Miss Ximen has the title of Ximen God, so her martial arts skills are not bad, but she is still young. As time goes by, her martial arts skills will naturally become better, but right now...!" After two dry laughs, there was nothing. Go on, but everyone knows what he is going to say next.
"So, Wu Xianghou thinks that the Eastern Qi Iron Guard will definitely win?" Qining said with a smile.
Su Zhen said with a half-smile but not a smile: "A few days ago, Jin Yihou was admonishing the emperor in the court, asking someone to replace the prince of Dong Qi in the battle. Did he not expect that the prince of Dong Qi would be accompanied by an iron guard?"
Everyone on the side naturally heard the ridicule in Su Zhen's words.
Qi Ning advised someone to replace the prince in the battle, but he did not expect that the prince Dong Qi sent an iron guard, which was like a slap in the face.
Qi Ning sighed, thinking that Su Zhen had no other abilities, and his ability to make sarcastic remarks seemed to be getting better and better. The Su family was unlucky, so it was a bad luck. He deliberately smiled and said: "What about the Iron Guard? Wu Marquis of Xiang, when an iron guard from Dong Qi goes into battle, you think that he will win without a doubt? Are you trying to embolden other people's ambitions and destroy your own prestige?"
"Jin Yihou, you can't say that." A person next to him said angrily: "That's the truth. The Iron Guards of Dong Qi are very skilled. They can even do things like go into the sea and kill sharks. They are not brave. Such a warrior, Miss Ximen wants to fight It’s really hard to win.”
Qi Ning glanced at it, but it turned out to be Dou Kui, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
Dou Kui is the best friend of King Huainan, and Su Zhen has also been very close to King Huainan recently, so it is no wonder that he would come out to help.
"Master Dou, Marquis of Wuxiang, it seems that you are full of confidence in the Dongqi Iron Guard." Qining said with a smile: "It just so happens that we are all here today. We are just watching the competition, but there are some flaws. Otherwise, let's make a bet. It’s also a good pick-me-up.”
"A bet?" Su Zhen asked immediately: "What bet?"
"You all think that Dong Qi Iron Guard will definitely win, but I don't believe it." Qi Ning smiled and said, "I think Miss Ximen has a better chance of winning today."
"Do you think Ximen will win against Yingying?" Su Zhen opened his eyes wide, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world, and suddenly burst out laughing. At this time, Ximen Wuhen had not yet arrived, and all the officials nearby couldn't bear it. Stop laughing.
Qi Ning stared into Su Zhen's eyes and asked, "Marquis of Wuxiang, do you dare to bet?"
"Okay." Su Zhen said immediately, "I'm just afraid you will regret it." He said to the left and right, "Everyone will bear witness. Jin Yihou wants to bet that Ximen Zhanying will win today. He has a red mouth and white teeth. Everyone has said what he said. If you bear witness, you cannot go back on your word."
"I wonder what Marquis Wuxiang is betting on?" Qining asked.
Su Zhen said: "This is the palace. If you are betting money, I'm afraid...!"
"It doesn't matter!" Qi Ning immediately stopped and said: "It's just to refresh ourselves. We made a bet and we won't pay the money in the palace. We can wait until after the competition and get the money out of the palace. How much do you want to bet, Marquis of Wuxiang? ?”
Su Zhen chuckled and said, "I can bet as much as you want."
"You, the Marquis of Wuxiang, have as much silver as a cow's hair." Qining said with a smile: "If you don't gamble enough, you, the Marquis of Wuxiang, may not be satisfied. Let's see, I still have more than 10,000 taels of silver in the Qi family's treasury, which is too much. If I can’t get it out, if Marquis Wuxiang is willing, how about a bet of ten thousand taels?”
Su Zhen said with a smile: "Jin Yi Hou is being modest. How can the dignified Jin Yi Hou Mansion only have ten thousand taels? But since you said ten thousand taels, let's bet on ten thousand taels."
Qi Ning sighed and said: "It's just that you all feel that the Dong Qi Iron Guard will definitely win, and the Ximen girl will definitely be at a disadvantage. Let's... ten thousand taels versus ten thousand taels, isn't it a bit unfair?"
"I'm willing to admit defeat. If you don't want to, it's still too late to regret it." Su Zhen smiled lightly and said: "Since we know that Ximen Zhanying is not the opponent of the Dong Qi Iron Guard, there is no need to talk big here, lest people think that you, Jin Yihou, are Being in the limelight and sensationalizing, your father would never do such a thing."
"Okay, ten thousand taels is ten thousand taels." Qi Ning looked angry and a little excited: "Everyone will bear witness. After the competition is over, after leaving the palace gate, go back and get the silver immediately."
"This is the spirit of a noble family." Su Zhen said with a smile.
Dou Kui sighed at the side: "It's a pity."
"Master Dou, what's the pity?" Su Zhen asked.
Dou Kui said: "It's a pity that there are only ten thousand taels of silver in Jinyi's treasury, otherwise I would be willing to join in the fun and gamble with Jinyi Hou with some silver."
Qi Ning frowned and said: "Master Dou also wants to bet?" He sneered: "Master Dou, if you dare to bet, I will dare to take it. Although the treasury only has ten thousand taels of silver, the Jinyi Qi family still has some antique jewelry. Even if it’s not good enough, we still have the title deed to the house, which can save us tens of thousands of taels of silver.”
The mature and prudent official beside him frowned, thinking that young people are just young and energetic and don't know the rules. There is obviously no suspense about the outcome of this competition, but the young marquis is so motivated that he wants to make a big bet with others. This bet The initial sum is ten thousand taels, which is by no means a small amount for a hereditary candidate.
But looking at the attitude of the young marquis, it seems that he wants to bet the entire Jinyi Qi family's wealth. This is really stupid and stupid. I'm afraid that after leaving the palace today, the Jinyi Qi family will have no choice but to beg on the street. Some officials wanted to dissuade Qi Ning, but they knew that once they did so, they would become enemies with Su Zhen and Dou Kui, so they did not dare to speak out for a while.
"My Dou family has accumulated a small amount of savings over the years. Although it is not much, we can still come up with several thousand taels of silver." Dou Kui was not as open-minded as a lion. After all, he was just the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs and was not like a hereditary minister. The official salary of the fiefdom is not much in a year. Although the Dou family is not short of silver, they dare not ask for tens of thousands of taels. "Master Marquis, how about I just take five thousand taels of silver to join in the fun?"
"Five thousand taels?" Qi Ning said, "Okay, five thousand taels is five thousand taels." He looked around and asked, "Is there anyone else who wants to join in the fun? One hundred taels is not too little, and ten thousand taels is not too little." If there are many who are willing to place a bet, feel free to come and join in the fun, in full view of the crowd, no one is afraid of going back on one's word."
It was very lively here, and many nearby officials had already come over. After hearing what Qi Ning said, many people were ready to make a move, thinking that betting against Qi Ning at this time would undoubtedly be like picking up money. Some people thought This little marquis is really a bastard and doesn't feel sorry for him. This prodigal son really wants to defeat the Jinyi Qi family.
Some mature and prudent officials felt that it was really unseemly when they saw the important officials of the imperial court gathering to gamble in front of the Chengtian Palace. However, the Marquis of Jinyi and Marquis of Wuxiang were involved, so they did not dare to say anything.
Qi Ning called twice more, and finally a few officials had the courage to go up and join in the fun. Someone took the lead, and then more than a dozen officials placed bets, but most officials didn't want to get involved, and in the end there were two More than a dozen officials placed bets, totaling seven to eight thousand taels of silver. Including Su Zhen and Dou Kui, the total bet amounted to more than 20,000 taels of silver.
Many people shook their heads secretly, thinking that even if they were in Jinyi Qijia, 20,000 taels of silver was by no means a small amount. Today, I don’t know what kind of nerve the young marquis had gone wrong and insisted on giving away a lot of money. go out.
Qi Ning determined the bet, remembered the official who placed the bet, and then said: "The bet has been placed, and it will never leave my hand. After the competition is over, if I lose, you can just wait in your own house, tonight Before midnight tonight, I will send someone to send it to your house. Of course, if I am lucky enough to win, I also ask you to send the money to Jinyihou's house before midnight tonight. Let's make it clear first and then there will be no chaos. Who If you don’t send the money in time, don’t blame me for visiting you!”
Everyone was still worried about whether the young marquis could cash it in time. After hearing what he said, they all said, "Yes, yes, if anyone defaults on a penny, everyone will spit on it!"