Records of the Cattle and Horses of Chang'an

Dali Temple

Cui Bianxu, who had just finished attending a court meeting, was riding his beloved horse to work. Before he got close, he saw a few people standing outside the door in the distance, looking up from time to time. One of them was swaying like a willow branch on the shore.

(The Tang Dynasty held two grand court sessions a year, on New Year's Day and the Winter Solstice. Regular court sessions were held daily. In the 13th year of the Zhenguan reign, Fang Xuanling requested that this system be changed to once every three days, and in the 23rd year of the Zhenguan reign, it was restored to once a day.)

"Shaoqing!" Wang Leisheng's eyes lit up and he hurried over to help lead the horse when he saw the person. Although the emperor was not in Chang'an and the prince was the regent, the rank of the leader was downgraded, but his rank was still not enough to qualify for attending the court meeting.

Wang Leisheng took the reins eagerly, turned around, and threw them to the yamen runner. He then followed Cui Bianxu closely and glanced at Li Zhong who was standing nearby. "Shaoqing, this is Li Zhubu's son. He came here early this morning."

Li Zhong waited for a full hour before someone showed up. It wasn't because he didn't know the time for the court meeting, but Li Xingquan's temper hadn't improved at all after a good sleep, but had gotten worse, forcing him to come to the Dali Temple.

"My name is Li Zhong, nice to meet you, Mr. Cui."

Cui Bianxu stopped and looked behind him. Only a servant was following him. He dusted himself off and said, "Didn't you ask everyone from the Li family to come over? Why are you two the only ones here?"

"Please forgive me, Master. My father is old and worried about Madam Zhao. He has been traveling all the way back and is not feeling well." Li Zhong licked his lips, which were half tilted up. "I have come to invite Master Cui to come to my house for a chat."

Wang Leisheng, bullying the other man's son with his own bully-like whimpers, said, "Master Li came to our place yesterday. I saw him as full of energy. How come he fell ill overnight?"

He dared not come when he was called? It's up to him to come or not, it's not their Dali Temple's daughter-in-law who was lost!

He looked at Cui Bianxu, his facial features all over the place, his expression was: Shaoqing, give them some color, look look!

Cui Bianxu closed his eyes. Sure enough, another miserable day was about to begin: "Wang Sizhi, go get your things and go."

"Ah? Oh! Okay, I'll go right away. Please wait a moment, Shaoqing."

When investigating a case, one needs to bring paper, ink and pen for recording. Wang Leisheng glared at Li Zhong fiercely to vent his anger, then ran in to get his things.

Li Zhong had been standing quietly by the side. Seeing him agree, he smiled and thanked him, "Thank you, Young Master. My father is really worried about Madam Zhao..."

Cui Bianxu looked him up and down several times, and suddenly asked, "Are you married?"

"Ah?" Li Zhong looked up in surprise, then smiled shyly and said self-deprecatingly, "Sir, I'm stupid and haven't passed any imperial examinations in years. How could a young lady like me be interested in me?"

"So you haven't married yet? I remember you are about twenty-three, right? Others of your age have children already, but isn't Li Zhubu in a hurry?" Although he was not married, it still did not prevent Cui Bian from asking this question. He was only twenty-one!

"My father is very busy and he is a man, so he never worries about these things." Li Zhong's face flushed and he seemed to be very embarrassed.

"Oh?"

Cui Bianxu had absolutely no intention of letting him go, acting like a gossipy old woman: "What about Zhao? Although Zhao is the second wife, as the mistress, why didn't she arrange anything for you? Didn't the official matchmaker come to your door?"

"Although your appearance is not outstanding, you have everything you need. Your eyes are eyes, your nose is nose. And with Li Zuocheng here, how can there be no young lady willing to marry you?"

Li Zhong, who was not good-looking, froze for a moment. He suspected that he had misheard or something. Is this what an official should say when meeting someone for the first time?

"Shaoqing really loves to joke."

When Cui Bianxu and the other man left Li's house, the sun was already high in the sky. They were wearing official uniforms, and their inner clothes were soaked with sweat.

If it were an ordinary day, Wang Leisheng would definitely complain a few words, and then immediately seize the opportunity to flatter Cui Bianxu and invite him to dinner or something to enhance their relationship.

After all, what kind of relationship can we have if we eat in the cafeteria together every day?

But today he was a little absent-minded. He looked back at the gate of the Li family several times, and then looked at Cui Bianxu's jaw with hesitation, wanting to say something. Well, it was because of their height.

"Young Master, I am your subordinate, I am your subordinate..." He opened his mouth but didn't know what to say. This matter was really too... too taboo!

Cui Bianxu climbed onto his horse and looked down at him, "Don't utter a single word you shouldn't. I have important matters to attend to. You can go back on your own."

"Yes, yes, I understand!" Wang Leisheng responded quickly. He was afraid that if he held back for a while longer, he would ask directly. For a talkative person, the feeling of holding back is really uncomfortable.

Fortunately, Cui Bianxu left, otherwise he was afraid that he would have to slap himself in the face constantly to keep his mouth shut.

But not long after Cui Bianxu left, he stamped his feet and said, "Oh!"

Wang Leisheng felt like a complete fool! He couldn't hold it in anymore, so shouldn't he just be with his boss? Everyone had heard about this, so was Cui Bianxu going to push him out?

If I had known earlier, I would have come along! If you really can’t hold it in, just tell Cui Shaoqing!

Cui Bianxu was originally riding his horse towards Wannian County. Just as he ran onto Zhuque Street, he suddenly thought of something. He lowered his head to sniff the smell on his body, then suddenly pulled the reins and turned back home.

Half an hour later, after showering and changing his clothes, Cui Shaoqing stopped in front of Lexianlou's door. A sharp-eyed waiter came out to greet him, "Cui Shaoqing, you haven't been here for a while. Chef Jiang has come up with some new dishes."

"Well, then add it." He strode inside. It was too hot outside. It was okay with the wind when riding, but it would feel stuffy as soon as he stopped. He had just washed it, so he couldn't let it get dirty again.

"Yes, Mr. Cui, would you like to ask Master Jiang to come over?" The waiter had to jog to catch up with him. His male model legs were well-deserved.

"kindness."

Cui Bianxu came here just to have dinner and talk to Jiang Shangxian. He ate lunch outside every day, and the Dali Temple Minister even wanted to talk to him, so he finally got the chance.

These days he also took the time to hire a raccoon cat. It was white with one-third of its face covered with yellow hair and its eyes were rolling around. He also specially asked a craftsman to make a pure gold safety lock for it to hang around its neck.

Unfortunately, the little thing didn't appreciate it and broke several ropes...

Well, Miss Jiang is still well-behaved and wants to raise...

As soon as Jiang Shangxian got the news, he started thinking about how to put it. How should he vaguely mention the matter of pimping to Cui Bianxu?

In fact, she had been thinking about it for several days, but she couldn't figure out how to say it in a reasonable and unobtrusive way to fulfill Li Xueyan's wishful thinking.