Volume 3: Dragon and Snake Movement Chapter 358: Beauty with Thorns
While Zhang Shou was forcing Lao Xianyu to try his best to make achievements elsewhere if he was not good at farming, Zhu Ying was taking Zhu Hong and Zhu Yi to climb the Maliu Mountain with great interest under the guidance of their temporary guide, the young monk Guan Tao.
By the way, the honorable task of leading the young lady was not originally the turn of the young Guan Tao. The young monks even wanted to use a competition to determine the winner. However, all of this was no match for Zhu Ying's clever glance, and finally she hooked her finger at a short bald man. Then, Guan Tao, who had never been out of the Canghai Lower Courtyard since he was a child, was selected.
To use the words of others beating their chests and stamping their feet, Guan Tao is so good at getting lost that he can't even lead the way for the young lady? It's a waste! Moreover, such a child of eight or nine years old probably doesn't even know what the word "female beauty" means, what's the use of looking at a gorgeous woman? They don't want to do anything else, but it's good to stay in the lower courtyard of Canghai all day and look at beauties!
But Zhu Ying, who chose Guan Tao, didn't care what others thought. Although she didn't care about people peeping at her appearance, and of course she was even less afraid of being seen openly, she was very concerned about the value of the guide following her. Although Guan Tao was not a handsome little monk, he had a chubby face and was a bit silly, which was just what she liked.
Maliu Mountain is the only small mountain in Cangzhou. If it were in the future, the scientific community would talk about its volcanic geology. However, nowadays, people would talk about the incense of Wanghai Temple on it and the amazing scenery on the mountain. At this time, Guan Tao was walking and acting as a guide.
"Master said that there is an imperial tomb on this mountain. It belongs to the father of a little emperor during the Han Dynasty. The little emperor seemed to be... seemed to be called Emperor Zhi of Han. When he was poisoned to death by a powerful official, he was only my age. So Master said that being an emperor is actually very pitiful ..."
As Zhu Ying listened, her expression suddenly became strange. It seems that ordinary people would not think that being an emperor is pitiful, right?
Most people dream of being an emperor, and then they can drink a bowl of tofu pudding when they buy it, and eat as much sweet white flour pancakes as they want all day long. In their opinion, the emperor's life is just like this. But it is precisely because the people are so simple that the emperor and the court officials should always reflect on themselves and live up to the people's wishes. Of course, this is not what she said, but from Taizu Yu Lu.
Thinking about how Zang Hai, a monk, was concerned about the emperor, Zhu Ying thought viciously: Sure enough, the fat monk was just as suspicious as the old salted fish! Having said that, she did not vent her anger on the little monk beside her. Instead, she reached out and touched Guan Tao's smooth head thoughtfully, and asked with a smile: "Do you know why Emperor Han Zhi was poisoned to death by a powerful official?"
"I don't know." Guan Tao shook his head innocently, "Master never told me."
Zhu Ying smiled. There were more and more pilgrims and tourists on the mountain. She stood out from the crowd in her gorgeous clothes and accessories. She was so dazzling that she could not be seen. She had no idea how many people were secretly watching her. When they saw her smile, their eyes were fixed on her. Some scholars held their heads high, talked loudly, and some were absent-minded and distracted, trying to eavesdrop on her.
"Emperor Zhi of Han ascended the throne at the age of eight. Before him, there was Emperor Chong of Han who died at the age of two. The one in power was Emperor Chong of Han's biological mother, Empress Dowager Liang, or more precisely, Empress Dowager Liang's brother Liang Ji..."
Although Zhu Ying was ridiculed as a fool by some of the daughters of wealthy families in the capital, she still read the books that a young lady should read. However, she would forget the things she didn't like after reading them, but she could remember the things she liked after listening to them once . For example, when she recounted the little stories from history books that Ge Yong told her, it was just like the tone of Ge Yong's lectures to her.
Therefore, the ordinary villagers around were simply confused and surprised, but those scholars who claimed to be well-read and came here to admire the relics of the Han Dynasty, mourn the past and lament the present, trying to convince themselves that they were just talented but not appreciated, were simply overjoyed.
How difficult is it to meet a beautiful woman who is both talented and beautiful?
No one thinks that retelling history books in the form of storytelling is a talent...beauties have always been treated preferentially.
When Zhu Ying finished telling the story of Emperor Zhi of Han being poisoned, Guan Tao was already in tears, feeling sorry for the clever little emperor who was poisoned by a powerful official. At this moment, a voice came from the side: "Since Emperor Zhi of Han saw that Liang Ji was domineering, he should have been patient and waited for the right time. It is really unwise to shout that Liang Ji was a domineering general in the court because of a momentary anger."
Looking sideways, she saw a young scholar waving a folding fan and nodding slightly at her, as if he was very graceful. Zhu Ying raised her eyebrows and then smiled slightly: "Then what do you think of Emperor Han Zhi?"
The young scholar's bones softened when he saw the beauty's smile. When he heard this, he was even more overjoyed: "Of course, we should learn from Emperor Huan of the Han Dynasty, pretend to be indulgent, wait for an opportunity, and use the eunuchs to kill the Liang family, the relatives of the emperor..."
Before he could finish his words, Zhu Ying said with a smile: "Yes, yes, Emperor Huan of Han pretended to be indulgent, and then used a group of eunuchs to kill Liang Ji's party, but in the end he was afraid of being controlled by a group of eunuchs, so he supported another group of eunuchs and let the eunuchs deal with the eunuchs. In the end, he successfully controlled a group of dogs with different minds. He was indeed a good political player."
When Zhu Ying compared the eunuchs who had been favored by Emperor Huan of Han to dogs and said that Emperor Huan of Han was very good at using political tactics, the young scholar immediately felt that he had met a confidant in life and was extremely happy.
"That's right, young lady, your comments are really sharp! Emperor Huan of Han used eunuchs to kill the arrogant and domineering relative Liang Ji. Since he knew that he should restrain these greedy eunuchs, he should take the opportunity to root them out and replace them with loyal and honest people. In this way, he will have loyal slaves to help him at home and wise scholars and officials to assist him outside. Why should he worry about the prosperity of the empire and the disaster of party imprisonment?"
“That’s ridiculous!”
Before he could finish his passionate words, the four words that came towards him were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head.
The other scholars were envious of this person's ability to perform, and that he could actually get along with this stunning beauty, but they didn't expect that the beauty would turn hostile in an instant! The little monk Guan Tao, who was already a little confused after hearing the complexity of the conversation, was frightened by Zhu Ying's sudden shout.
"Emperor Huan took advantage of the internal conflicts among the eunuchs and instigated a group of them to kill the relatives of the emperor. This move of driving away the wolf and swallowing the tiger was indeed a good one. It was also right to reduce their power afterwards. There was nothing wrong with even fostering more factions among the eunuchs. He succeeded to the throne from a foreign vassal, and the civil officials did not support him at first. Why would he try to please those scholars who had accomplished nothing?"
Zhu Ying recalled the tone Ge Yong used when he spoke to her about Emperors Huan and Ling. Unconsciously, she also imitated the tone used by Grand Tutor Ge and sneered contemptuously.
"Those scholars and officials failed to kill Liang Ji, so Emperor Huan organized the eunuchs to kill him. Just based on this fact, he has the right to look down on those guys who boast in the court but are submissive in front of Liang Ji! What's more, these guys are against the eunuchs he supported, but it's just because their interests are damaged. Why pretend to be righteous!"
"It's just that the eunuchs' monopoly of power means the rise of imperial power, and no one wants to go back to the era of being suppressed by imperial power and being as silent as a cicada! Even if Emperor Huan really uses a group of honest and loyal eunuchs, the scholars and officials can still find reasons to attack them! They say that eunuchs are a disaster to the country and the people, but aren't there enough of their own relatives, friends, and nephews who are a disaster to the country and the people?"
As if she didn't notice the sudden change of expression of the young scholar, Zhu Ying actually smiled. However, at this time, apart from the pilgrims and villagers who were just watching the fun, there were not many people who were only interested in looking at the beautiful face.
This beauty who appeared out of nowhere, isn't she using history to satirize the present and making indirect accusations?
"Emperor Huan did nothing wrong in eliminating a group of so-called party members, but he didn't care that the common people in the world were almost dying, nor did he care that the noble families occupied high positions and the wealthy dominated the area. He even forgot that he didn't even have a son, and he actually thought that he had already grasped the power. He only cared about his own debauchery, selling official positions and titles, and indulged himself to the point that he didn't even leave any offspring, and he lost his life when he was over 30."
"As a result, the dictator Emperor Ling was brought up! It is said that the Han Dynasty fell under the reign of Emperors Huan and Ling. Now, tell me, what right does Emperor Huan have to say that he is wiser than Emperor Zhi? Is it because he was a winner in front of Liang Ji? The tyrant who caused the fall of the country laughed at the death of the young ruler? What a joke! Let Emperor Zhi and Emperor Huan go to the underworld to meet Emperor Guangwu. Just look at who Guangwu will spit on!"
It was not until Zhu Ying scolded Emperor Huan for being incompetent and Emperor Ling for being a tyrant that someone among the scholars blurted out "good job."
The young scholar who had just said that Emperor Zhi should learn from Emperor Huan was dissatisfied. He also found that the beautiful lady he had just thought was a flower with thorns. He could not help but sneer, "Young lady, your comments on others are sharp, but I don't know which scholarly family you come from with such unscrupulous words and deeds?"
"Could it be that you were raised in some brothel to have the courage to show yourself in public and be so rude and cunning?"
"Haha." Zhu Ying sneered and said with disdain, "I knew it. Only a family of scholars who haven't even read history books well can raise a waste like you who talks big when he's proud and lies when he's frustrated!"
"You are so brave, bitch. My father is the governor of Hejian..."
Seeing the angry young scholar jumping up and down, Zhu Ying interrupted him angrily, "The fun of hiking has been ruined by a buzzing fly... Zhu Hong, Zhu Yi, tell him to shut up!"
In an instant, Zhu Hong and Zhu Yi rushed forward, twisting the other's arms on the left and right. Seeing the man cursing and calling for help, and angrily saying that he would find some brothel to settle the score, Zhu Hong became impatient and simply kicked the man in the knee to make him kneel, while Zhu Yi grabbed a ball of dirt and stuffed it into his mouth with an expressionless face.
Seeing the two men being so overbearing, the scholar's companions and the servants were all shocked and forgot to go up to rescue the man. At this time, Zhu Ying came to the man leisurely, smiled at him, and kicked him down the stairs. Seeing that the servants woke up from their dreams and went down to rescue the guy who rolled down the stairs, she gently adjusted her skirt.
"If you want revenge, remember that every wrong has its perpetrator, and ask your father, the prefect of Hejian, to come to the Zhu family of Zhaoguogong to seek revenge! Oh, by the way, my eldest brother, General Mingwei, is now serving as an imperial envoy in Cangzhou. You can go to him to argue, and then complain that his sister taught you a lesson!"
“…”
In an instant, there was silence all around, especially the son of the prefect of Hejian, who was so angry that he was trying desperately to spit out the dirt and grass in his mouth. He even stopped breathing in an instant.
This is simply a rip-off! The daughter of the Duke of Zhao actually brought two followers and a little monk with her just to go for a ride?
The son of the Hejian prefect, whose face was covered in mud, was speechless with grief and indignation. His followers and lackeys were afraid to speak, but the two scholars who were friends, or supporting actors, who followed the prefect's son out for food, drink and fun, could not remain silent. The county magistrates should take charge now. If they sit back and watch their sponsors being beaten into pigs, how will they survive in their "study tour" in the future?
So, one of them spoke calmly, "Mr. Huang's words were indeed inappropriate just now, but isn't it also rude of Miss to start a fight over a disagreement? It's better to resolve a feud than to create one..."
This time, he still couldn't finish his words, because Zhu Ying raised the corner of her mouth and sneered, "If I wasn't so graceful, I would have whipped him hard! A family of scholars? Haha, what a disgrace! No need to waste words, if you don't want me to send someone to throw him off the mountain, take this piece of trash and get out!"
Seeing that Young Master Huang was finally helped up by his followers, the two scholars looked at each other, but did not dare to hesitate. They hurriedly went up to support Young Master Huang's arms on the left and right, persuaded him a few words, and then dragged him down the mountain in a miserable state. The lackeys did not even dare to say a word, let alone confirm the identity of Miss Zhu.
That General Mingwei directly stripped off the official robe of Xu Cheng, the magistrate of Changlu County, and dared to shoot an arrow in front of the eldest prince. When the master was not around, how could they dare to confront the eldest lady who came from such a family and was extremely beautiful but also fierce?
After chasing away a guy who was angry because he failed to strike up a conversation and ended up hitting a wall, Zhu Ying instantly cleared out the idle people around her. At least no one dared to approach within three meters of her.
This earned the young monk Guan Tao an admiring look, and his praise was simple and direct: "The kick that Miss just gave was fierce and accurate. My master always says that my legs are weak and powerless!"
Zhu Ying was immediately amused. She had just said jokingly with a smile, "Then you can practice the plum blossom pole more," when a flattering voice came from the side.
"Miss, are you still in need of someone to look after your house and run errands? I have been practicing martial arts since I was a child, and I am willing to serve you!"
