The younger brother of the First Emperor

Chapter 209: The King of Chu is Cuckolded, Debating Zhuangzi's Teachings
In the main house in the center of the backyard, the red and gold-rimmed curtains of the big bed were drawn, and vague human figures could be seen rising and falling.

On the wooden table next to the bed, there was a lacquer box that was nine inches long, seven inches wide, and three inches high, with a pair of colorful mandarin ducks painted on the surface.

Lacquer box is lacquerware.

Lacquerware occupies an important position in the life of the Chu people and is a symbol of nobility.

Different from modern chemical lacquerware that affects health.

The lacquer used in Chu State lacquerware was mostly produced from lacquer trees native to Chu State. It was pure natural and non-toxic.

Compared with traditional bronze ware.

Lacquerware has many advantages, one of which is its light weight and ease of handling.

An arm as white as jade stretched out from the curtain, like a white snake coming out of a cave.

After the hand accurately grasped the painted mandarin duck lacquer box, it quickly retracted into the curtain like a frightened fish.

Inside the curtain.

Li Yancong, with crystal-clear skin and no clothes on, touched the black mechanism with her fingers and pressed it lightly, which popped it open.

When opened, the lacquer box is divided into an upper cover and a lower bottom. The upper cover is a well-polished round bronze mirror.

Li Yan looked at himself in the mirror lazily.

With red lips and pearly teeth and a lovely smile, who wouldn’t want to eat her up in one bite?

She snapped off her top and threw herself into the arms of the equally naked man next to her.

She lay on the man like a kitten:

"Chun Shenjun~ Again"

The Chu king's concubine had not yet finished her words.

The man turned over and pressed on her:

"Behave yourself lately!"

Li Yan's charming face was flushed:

"Is Chunshen Jun scared?"

Huang Xie’s power doubled, and his breathing became heavier.

The wind stopped and the rain stopped, the clouds and fog dissipated.

Huang Xie held his aching lower back and walked out of the main house.

"Master." Li Yuan, who was waiting outside the door, bent down slightly and lowered his head to avoid seeing his master's embarrassment.

Huang Xie himself didn't feel anything, and didn't feel ashamed. He even stretched out the arm that was not supporting his lower back:
"Come and give me a hand."

"Yes." Li Yuan half lowered his head and placed his hands on his master's arms.

The master may not care, but he cannot.

The two walked into a room in the backyard.

In the wing room stands a large lacquer screen, on which is painted a scene of Donghuang Taiyi being worshipped by all living beings in the world.

The picture is lifelike, and the dragon and phoenix with spread wings seem to be hanging in the air and flying into reality.

Huang Xie was well-informed and could tell at a glance that this work was made by a master craftsman in the palace. He was truly happy for his guest:
"The king even gave you this screen for worshipping the gods. It seems that your position in the king's heart will soon surpass mine."

Li Yuan hurriedly took two steps back and slammed his knees onto the ground, making a loud "bang" sound:

"Master! Yuan would never dare to think of this!"

Huang Xie laughed and waved his hand, asking Li Yuan to stand up by himself.

His waist was sore and painful, and it was really uncomfortable to bend down:

"You've been with me for so long, but have you ever seen me attack my own people?"

Li Yuan knelt on the ground and refused to get up.

Huang Xie could be magnanimous and not care, but he had to show his attitude. This was his way of being a subordinate.

Huang Xie was not angry when he saw that Li Yuan was so stubborn. Instead, he felt a certain favor towards him.

The slight grudge in his heart, which he didn't even know when it came into being, disappeared just like that.

Before and after Li Yuan came to power, he treated Huang Xie the same and served him attentively.

Huang Xie, the real power holder of Chu State, was somewhat moved, and he smiled faintly and said:

"You gave Yan'er to me.

"After Yan'er became pregnant with my child, she concealed her pregnancy and presented it to the king.

"You and I share such a big task, how could I not trust you?"

Li Yuan expressed his loyalty twice more and then stood up. His attitude was as respectful as ever, with a hint of fear on his face.

When Huang Xie saw this, he felt that although Li Yuan was loyal, he was somewhat weak and could not accomplish anything great.

Li Yuan was the person with the highest status in the State of Chu among Huang Xie's retainers.

Huang Xie now hoped that Li Yuan could help him take on some responsibilities, and could not help but say:

"Do you know who came up with the idea of ​​letting Yan'er get pregnant and enter the palace?"

Li Yuan looked puzzled:
"Isn't that what the Lord wants?"

Huang Xie shook his head, paused, pointed outside the door and said:

"Last year, Yan'er became pregnant.

"One day he found me and told me that the King of Chu respected and trusted me, even more than his brothers, and had made me the Prime Minister of Chu for more than 20 years.

"But now the king has no son. When the king dies, according to etiquette, his brother will be made king.

"Then when the State of Chu appoints a new ruler, the new ruler will promote those whom he used to trust and make them prominent.

"Where do these people get their power from? From me, Huang Xie.

"Once the king dies, I will lose the favor I have enjoyed for so long.

“Not only that, I have been in a high position and in charge of government affairs for many years, and I am only loyal to the king.

"I was inevitably rude to the King of Chu's brothers.

"If the brothers of the King of Chu are really made kings, the disaster will fall on me. How can I keep my position as prime minister and my fiefdom in Jiangdong?
"Now Yan'er knows that she is pregnant, but no one else knows.

"Yan'er has not been in my favor for long.

"With my noble status, if I present Yan'er to the King of Chu, he will surely favor Yan'er.

"If, one year later, Yan'er can give birth to a son with the blessing of God.

"If my son Huang Xie becomes the King of Chu, the entire Chu State will belong to me.

"This is much better than the unexpected disaster that befell me."

Huang Xie said with a look of disappointment:
“Your sister dares to do such a big thing and has such insight.

"You've been with me for so long, and you can't even beat a woman?"

Li Yuan was shocked, as if he couldn't believe that his sister could be so bold, and he was speechless.

Huang Xie groaned and said helplessly:

“That’s all.

"Send someone to Lanling County to find the magistrate of Lanling County, Xunzi, and tell him that Huang Xie sincerely invites Xunzi to Ying.

"With Xunzi's talent, it is a waste of his talent to govern a city. Please come and govern the country of Chu."

Li Yuan looked relieved and readily agreed to the task.

Huang Xie gave Li Yuan a few more instructions, asking him to keep a good eye on his sister and not let her go in and out of the palace too frequently, so as not to arouse the king's suspicion.

Beads of sweat appeared on Li Yuan's forehead. He agreed hastily, and his expression was obviously scared.

Huang Xie sighed helplessly.

Thinking that the three-foot-thick ice did not form overnight, it would take time to make the loyal but timid Li Yuan brave.

Holding his lower back, he left through the back door of Li Yuan's residence.

After Li Yuan escorted his master away, he walked to the door of the main house in the backyard and knocked hard on the door:
"Li Yan."

Inside the house, Li Yan, who was sitting on a chair and facing the bronze mirror with yellow patterns on the table, recognized the voice of her brother and called out tenderly:
"Enter!"

Li Yuan pushed the door open and walked in with a gloomy face.

He turned around, closed the door, bolted it, and walked up to his sister in two steps.

He leaned down and whispered in his sister's ear:
"How many times have I told you not to leave the palace without permission? Why didn't you listen?"

Li Yan looked normal, carefully applying powder evenly on her face, and said:
"You asked me to serve Chunshen Jun, and I did." "After I became pregnant, you asked me to persuade Chunshen Jun to send me into the palace, and I did as you said.

"Now that I have given birth to the king's only son, our status has become much more noble than before. Why are you still so cautious?

“The doctor who felt my pulse has been killed by you.

"Now the only ones who know that You'er is Chunshen Jun's son are you, me, and Chunshen Jun.

"If you don't tell me and I don't tell you, will Chunshen Jun tell you?
"Brother, you don't know.

"Ever since I had You'er, the king has never touched me. How could I resist?"

Li Yuan's heart softened when he looked at his sister's beautiful face.

How could such a charming little girl, who was experiencing love for the first time, endure the pain of living in the deep palace?
Li Yuan was silent for a moment, then said in a deep voice:

“The king is lenient with you and won’t suspect you.

"But the queen sees you as a thorn in her side.

"I will think of a way to let you sit on the throne of queen. Then you will be much freer."

Li Yan nodded repeatedly, very excited.

Although she is now favored by Prince Chu Yuan, she is not afraid of the queen.

But if she could actually sit on the throne of queen and legitimately control the power of the Chu harem, how could she refuse?

Li Yuan frowned and whispered:

"I have already found a dozen good fighters and had been planning to get rid of Huang Xie in the near future to prevent him from letting the cat out of the bag and implicating my brother and sister.

“Once Huang Xie dies, this secret will never be revealed again.

"When the king dies and You'er succeeds to the throne, the State of Chu will belong to us, brother and sister.

"But if you want to become the queen, Huang Xie must help you... Let's spare his life for now."

Li Yan nodded casually.

No sadness, no objection, some impatience:

“Huang Xie’s physical strength is even worse than the king’s, I’ve had enough of him.

"As long as Huang Xie is alive, I can't go looking for someone else. Brother, please do things faster."

"Yes." Li Yuan responded, walked to the door and unbolted it. "I'll send someone to Lanling County. You should leave as soon as you finish your makeup. Remember not to put on too perfect a makeup, or people will see that you have touched up your makeup."

Five days later.

Chu State, Lanling County, Lanling Government.

The servants sent by Li Yuan arrived at the gate of the government office and informed the soldiers at the gate.

Soon, he was led to the back hall of the government office where official business was handled.

In the largest room in the back hall, I saw an energetic old man.

The man who led the guest here bowed deeply to the old man:
"Commander, the person has been brought here. Mao Heng has left."

The old man said "hmm", and Mao Heng left.

The retainer looked at the world-renowned old man and felt a little restrained for a moment.

The old man put down his pen, turned to look at the guest, and said calmly:

"Chunshen Jun sent an envoy to look for you. What's the matter?"

The doorman clasped his hands and said respectfully:
"Chunshen Jun invited Xunzi to Ying to jointly govern the State of Chu!

"For Xunzi's great talent, Lanling is too small a place."

The old man was Xunzi, whose name was Kuang and whose courtesy name was Qing.

Recommended by Huang Xie, he became the magistrate of Lanling County in the State of Chu.

Xun Kuang looked at the messenger deeply, and his attitude became much colder:
“Please tell Chunshen Jun.

“Human nature is evil, and Kuang believes that this is not the fault of man.

“But if he had gone through education and grown to be as old as Chunshen Jun, his temperament would still be the same as when he was just born.

"Kuang believes that this is his fault."

The retainers were stunned, and then angry.

Although he respected Xunzi, he was more loyal to his lord.

"Xunzi, why do you say that?" He was furious. "My master invited Xunzi to Ying with good intentions, why did Xunzi speak ill of my master? Is there anyone in the world more virtuous than Chunshen Jun?"

Xun Kuang was neither happy nor angry, neither humble nor arrogant:

"Six years ago, when Kuang was first appointed as the magistrate of Lanling County, it was Chunshen Jun who recommended him.

"Others told Chunshen Jun about Kuang's faults, and Chunshen Jun believed them and dismissed Kuang from his position as county magistrate.

“Two years ago, Chunshen Jun invited me to serve as the magistrate of Lanling County, and I was the magistrate of Lanling County for the second time.

"Now Chunshen Jun wants you to invite Kuang to Ying, which is the same as the first time he dismissed me from my position, because he doesn't want Kuang to be the county magistrate.

“When something goes beyond common sense, there must be a reason.

"This time I am not slandering Kuang, but rather trying to deceive Lord Chunshen.

"You must know that when Duke Zhou spit out food for his guests, the people of the country were at peace.

"Even if a person who assists in governing a country truly gains power, he may not be able to maintain it."

The retainer was not a stupid person, and his face changed drastically when he heard this.

The implication of Xun Kuang's words was clearly that his lord wanted to usurp the throne!

This is the business of the Yi three tribes!

Although Xun Kuang's words were somewhat obscure, if they were to get out, his master might still meet with misfortune.

The retainer was about to protest, but Xun Kuang waved his hand and had him driven out.

Ignoring the servant's struggle and roar, Xun Kuang picked up the pen again and shook his head:

"Chun Shenjun is still not hypocritical enough... In terms of virtue, how can he compare to Master Chengjiao?

"Pingyuan is dead, Xinling has broken his promise, and now even Chunshen can no longer sit still. The world's virtuous reputation will all be attributed to Prince Chengjiao alone.

"I just don't know how long this boy can keep pretending..."

The 2nd day of the twelfth month, the 16th year of King Jian of Qi.

Qi State, Linzi.

Jixia Academy, in the courtyard of Ying Chengjiao's house.

Wei Mou and Ying Chengjiao sat opposite each other on a stone bench, with a granite table between them.

Ying Chengjiao had a bitter look on his face:
"But Wei Mouzi thinks that I am not talented enough to be the chief priest of Jixia Academy, so he wants to leave Jixia Academy?"

The boy didn't expect it.

He had been the chief academic officer of the Jixia Academy for less than two months when his son came to resign.

Hu and Wei Mou, who were standing next to him, were both disciples of Gongsun Long, and they had a close relationship.

He stepped forward, temporarily ignoring the etiquette, and spoke out to dissuade him:

"Why did Wei Mouzi insist on leaving? Is he still holding a grudge against Yingzi because of his teacher's death?"

Wei Mu glanced at Hu, who looked anxious, and snorted:
"Still so stupid."

He pointed to his heart and said:

"Am I, Wei Mou, a narrow-minded person in your eyes who cannot tolerate even a needle?
“People in Jixia Academy were free to come and go.

"If I had any objections, why would I come to Yingzi to resign?

"If I had any objections, why didn't I resign when Ying Zi just took over as the chief priest?

“This time, I just want to follow my heart.

“But now that I am gone, no one in the Jixia Academy will talk about Zhuangzi’s teachings anymore.

“I am here to see the chief priest.

“One is to resign.

"Second, I want to debate with Jijiu using Zhuangzi's teachings.

"I hope the chief priest can understand Zhuangzi and pass on his teachings."

(End of this chapter)