In the side courtyard, Yelu Zongzhen was flipping through the roster. Han Jieli was talking to Yelu Dashi, and there were five teenagers, Helianbo, Cai Yan, Duan Ling, another Xianbei surnamed Huyan, and a child of an official from the north of the Liao Kingdom.
Tang Ji Shi signaled Duan Ling and Cai Yan to follow Yelu Zongzhen and said, "You can answer whatever your majesty asks."
Duan Ling's heart was beating wildly, and he didn't know what the other party's intention was. Yelu Zong really came to choose someone? What does the elector do
Yelu Zongzhen walked with his hands behind his back, and everyone followed behind. Zongzhen spoke from time to time, but he asked how many years he had been in Biyong and how he was studying. He must have been examining everyone's homework. Duan Ling was surprised to find that this little emperor understood. It seems that they are no less than them, and it is obvious that they have worked hard in Zhongjing.
And the five people who came, except Helianbo, were all the ones who wrote the best articles in the Spring Examination School in the Biyong Hall.
"I read your article last night." Yelu Zongzhen said, "It's a good handwriting, but now it seems that the text is like a person, each with their own style, not bad."
The five hurriedly bowed and thanked them.
"You two are Han Chinese." Yelu Zongzhen sat down in the courtyard and said, "The news from the south must have been spread all over the place recently, so let's talk about it individually."
Siye brought snacks and tea, Yelu Zongzhen took a sip of tea, and said with a smile, "We don't have so many rules, we just talk about it at will. We didn't expect to say anything, just chat at will."
Cai Yan then said: "Your Majesty, I am from Liao."
Yelu Zongzhen was stunned at first, then became amused, and said, "Cai Qing is right, I have offended you."
Cai Yan said: "With the current situation in the south of the Yangtze River, we should not trade in. It has been a hundred years since Daliao was in power in the Central Plains. In the past hundred years, there have been better times than now, but I can take this opportunity to win the southern country in one fell swoop. ."
"Yeah." Yelu Zongzhen nodded, and Cai Yan added: "Li Jianhong and Zhao Kui are fighting against each other, Li Jianhong already needs the help of my Daliao, so it is better to help him contain Zhao Kui in exchange for the six counties of Zhongxi Road. ."
Yelu Zong really pondered, and Cai Yan stopped talking when he clicked.
"Duanling, what do you think?" Yelu Zongzhen said, "Your article says 'inner sage and outer king', which is a new interpretation of ancient meaning, which makes my eyes shine."
Duan Ling roughly guessed what Yeluzong really meant - he didn't come here specially for himself, nor did he find any inside information. The purpose of the little emperor coming to Beijing was very simple, maybe he was just looking for a few companions to read for entertainment.
"Convince people with the king's way." Duan Ling replied, "What Your Majesty's heart points to is where the king's way is. The king's way is an upright and upright conspiracy. In everything, righteousness comes first. 'Faith' and 'righteousness' are part of the king's way. The world has Yuan on the side, looking at my Daliao territory, it is inconvenient to lose trust in others at this time, and it is difficult to stand without trust."
"Yeah." Yelu Zongzhen nodded again and said with a smile, "Your family is from a businessman's background, so you must respect your faith and trust, so you can convince people with sincerity, yes."
Yelu Zongzhen glanced at Duan Ling, but Duan Ling was still thinking, but with such a momentary expression, Yelu Zongzhen realized that Duan Ling still had something to say, with a questioning look in his eyes. But Duan Ling shook his head and smiled.
Yelu Zongzhen also laughed and stopped asking.
"Are you all willing to follow me to Zhongjing?" Yelu Zongzhen finally asked.
The emperor asked this out, who would dare to say that he would not? Duan Ling thought badly in his heart, but on the surface he still had to nod his head.
"Very good." Yelu Zongzhen said, "These days, I will go back to reunite with my family for a few days, and someone will come to inform you."
At this time, Han Jieli came over and respectfully invited Yelu Zongzhen. Everyone sent him out of the Biyong Hall, and all the sacrifices and business affairs came out to see him off. Yelu Zongzhen got in the car and left.
As soon as the people left, Duan Ling realized that his back was soaked with sweat. Everyone, look at me, I look at you. The eyes of the teenagers who were not selected were full of envy, but the teenagers who were selected were different. Careful.
Tang Jishi said: "Since you have been selected, you can go back today. I would like to stay in the Biyong Hall. It's up to you, but you can't go out of the city."
If there is a choice, Duan Ling is very unwilling to go. He believes that Yelu Zongzhen has not discovered his identity. Maybe Yelu Dashi has not told him at all. Seeing the worried expression of the king of the North Court today, he must have been for several months. Busy fighting for power with Han Jieli's father, he has no time to take care of him.
However, the most important thing is whether my father can win this war in the south. As long as Li Jianhong wins, all the problems will be solved. It doesn't matter whether he stays in Shangjing or goes to Zhongjing with Yelu Zongzhen. The father's ability can take him out at any time.
However, once the Liao Kingdom sent troops at this moment and invaded the Central Plains while Li Jianhong and Zhao Kui were at a stalemate, things would become more complicated.
When he returned to his room, Duan Ling sat on the couch in a daze, the sun shining through the window panes.
Cai Yan also came back, took out the jade, put it on the table, and made a soft sound.
"Good stuff." Cai Yan said, "Don't lose it."
"Thank you." Duan Ling replied, returning his copper coins, but Cai Yan hesitated. Duan Ling felt that Cai Yan must have guessed it, but as long as Duan Ling didn't say anything, Cai Yan didn't ask.
"Where are you going next?" Cai Yan sighed and sat on the couch.
Duan Ling still wanted to stay in Biyong Hall, because he could hear news from the south here, he thought and thought, and said, "Dad hasn't come back yet, it's still more lively here."
"Go back." Cai Yan said, "We were chosen as companions, and people in the courtyard are jealous. Maybe they will catch you and cause more trouble."
Duan Ling thought so too, so he had to pack up and leave with Cai Yan.
"I'll go to your house at night and talk to you." Cai Yan said again.
Duan Ling said, "I'll go to your house."
"I'll go to your house." Cai Yan said again.
Duan Ling nodded and agreed with Cai Yan to meet on the bridge at sunset, eat out together, and then go to the bathroom to take a bath, and stay at Duan Ling's house at night.
In June, the plants in Shangjing grew lush and lush. Duan Ling went home once a month and found that the plants in the flowerbed never died, and people often came to water. their mansion.
That peach tree bears a lot of green fruit, but it never grows. Duan Ling first took a nap and dreamed of Li Jianhong in the south, but when he woke up, he forgot what he was doing. He had to be notified as soon as possible that he was chosen to go to Zhongjing, so Duan Ling wrote a letter, also using the phrase "the sky is full of wind and rain to the west building" to imply that his father might have to move to Xunchun, and she would send someone Report to Li Jianhong.
Before sunset, he had to go to Qionghuayuan. Duan Ling received the letter and was about to go out when there was a knock on the door.
"Duan Mansion?" A guard came in and looked at Duan Ling.
"Yes." Duan Ling replied.
There was a carriage from the North Court parked on Chang Street of the Mansion. The guard made a "please" gesture. Duan Ling still had the letter on his body and said, "I'll come when I go back and clean up."
The guard waved his hand, preventing Duan Ling from going back, saying, "Let's go now."
Duan Ling began to get nervous, but there was nothing he could do. He only got on the carriage. Once the curtain was opened, Yelu Zong's real face was revealed.
"Your Majesty!" Duan Ling exclaimed in surprise.
"Shh." Yelu Zongzhen smiled and said, "Get in the car."
Duan Ling calmed down a bit, shared the car with Yelu Zongzhen, and drove out the long street to the east of the city under the protection of several guards. Yelu Zongzhen said: "Batu wrote me a letter, and you were mentioned in the letter."
Yelu Zong really claimed to have undergone a subtle change, from "Zhen" to "I", Duan Ling also felt it.
"Is he okay?" Duan Ling asked, "but he never wrote me a letter."
Yelu Zongzhen said: "It was a good life. I had several encounters with him back then, and he said, you are his answer."
"Actually not." Duan Ling replied, "I haven't given him the token yet."
Yelu Zong really laughed, and Duan Ling smiled embarrassedly.
Zong Zhen inherited the eyes of Empress Dowager Xiao. There were rumors that this emperor was born from an affair between Han Weiyong and Empress Dowager Xiao. Many years ago, rumors spread in Zhongjing until he grew up and his facial features developed, and his thick eyebrows naturally saw Liao. Tai | Ancestor's rough aura, all guesses have just given up.
He has the eyebrows, bridge of nose and lips of a warrior, and when he doesn't speak, he has a calm and restrained murderous aura, and that murderous aura is barely there, but when he laughs, it disappears instantly, like a knife wrapped in sugar. He likes to laugh very much, and there is intimacy in his smile, and occasionally glances in his eyes, but with a little thought.
"What did you say you didn't say today?" Yelu Zongzhen leaned against the car window, looked out, and tapped on the window rail with his fingers, casually.
Duan Ling suddenly had a bold idea in his heart.
Batu brought them closer, which meant he could say something.
"I..." Duan Ling pondered for a moment.
Yelu Zongzhen replied: "Speak freely, Duan Ling, I often think that there is no one in this world who can say a few words from the heart. Don't let me down."
Duan Ling understood.
"The Han family wants to send troops." Duan Ling said, "The river is not ready, so we will attack the middle reaches."
"Not bad." Yelu Zongzhen replied.
"The king of the North Academy hopes to reconcile with Nan Chen and continue the Huai Shui alliance." Duan Ling added, "To defend against the Yuan people together."
"good."
The overall situation must have been discussed over and over in the North and South Courts countless times. The actual ruler of this country is the Empress Dowager Xiao, and Yelu Zong is really the emperor in name, but he can't make a real decision. Yelu Zongzhen came to Shangjing at this time, presumably it was not just as simple as picking a few companions—perhaps his real purpose was to meet Yelu Dashi.
Duan Ling finally said: "The Han family... um, the king of the North Academy..."
Yelu Zongzhen glanced at Duan Ling, and Duan Ling felt that Yelu Zongzhen had a bit of complicated meaning in his eyes, as if he had seen it in someone else's eyes.
Cai Yan, at that moment his eyes were a bit similar to Cai Yan's, but it was fleeting, and Duan Ling read that it was helpless, angry and unwilling. Presumably Yelu Zongzhen couldn't bear the relationship between Empress Dowager Xiao and Han Weiyong, and the fall of the monarchy made him full of hatred.
"So, it is not appropriate to send troops at this time." Duan Ling said, "Otherwise, it will be out of control. The best situation is that Liao and Jiangzhou and other places, Xichuan will return to Chen, and Saibei will return to Yuan. In this way, Chen and Yuan will form an alliance. , attacking our country. The worst case is that the Liao can neither occupy the south of the Yangtze River nor return to the Central Plains, and the Yuan people invaded massively…”
"Yeah." Yelu Zongzhen replied.
Duan Ling didn't speak anymore, and Yelu Zongzhen said again: "Let's go to the most famous Qionghua Court in Shangjing tonight for a stroll."
"Okay." Duan Ling smiled.