peach plum spring breeze a glass of wine

On this day, Gu Hanzhao took the greeting card and went to Xie's mansion. Maybe it was because Grand Tutor Xie had already made arrangements before, but the servants of Xie's mansion welcomed him in without telling him.

Regardless of whether it was the previous life or the present life, this was Gu Hanzhao's first visit to the Xie Mansion.It may be that Emperor Wuchang favored Empress Xie, the size of Xie's mansion far exceeded what the prime minister's mansion should enjoy, but even so, Emperor Xuanwu did not dare to touch Xie's family in the slightest.

Compared with the Zhao family that only emerged during Emperor Xuanwu's time and the Gu family that prospered for several generations, the Xie family is a real famous family. The Xie family's children are all over the ruling and opposition scholars, even if the superiors are afraid, there is nothing they can do.But this is not the reason why the superiors dare not touch the Xie family, just like Emperor Xuanwu, even if he trusts Queen Zhao and others, he will never give the same honor to the Zhao family.

The biggest reason for this is that every generation of the Xie family's patriarchs follow the legacy of Empress Xie and only be pure ministers.Of course, not every Xie family is willing to listen to the words of a deceased person. The Xie family has produced a few ambitious people, but they were often suppressed in the clan and never had a bright future.

Gu Hanzhao clenched the scroll in his hand before making up his mind. In fact, he was not very sure about what happened today, but since he had already taken this step, he had to give it a try.

The servants of Xie's mansion took Gu Hanzhao to a small pavilion built near the water, and saw Prime Minister Xie with white beard and hair sitting in the pavilion. It seemed that he had been waiting for a long time. This steaming hot tea.

"Thank you, Prime Minister." Gu Hanzhao saluted.

"Your Majesty is very polite." Prime Minister Xie Shi Shiran stood up, with a neither humble nor overbearing attitude, and invited Gu Hanzhao to sit down after seeing the ceremony.

"I heard from Xie Min that Master Hou wanted to visit the old minister. Isn't that why?" Prime Minister Xie was not a polite person, and he didn't like to beat around the bush, so he asked straightforwardly as soon as Gu Hanzhao sat down.

"I got a painting by chance the year before last, and I want to ask Master Hou to appreciate it." Prime Minister Xie was a little strange when he heard that, Xie Min was his student, since he brought Gu Hanzhao in front of him, he would naturally explain the cause and effect.It's just that after he heard what Xie Min said, he couldn't help being a little strange. He didn't have friendship with Gu Hanzhao, but he was familiar with the old Hou Ye. Although he didn't know the purpose of Gu Hanzhao's trip, he agreed to Xie Min's request after thinking about it.

But today Gu Hanzhao came here just to admire the painting with him, or is there something else in this painting?

When the scroll was unfolded, Prime Minister Xie felt his breath stagnate. Apart from the palace, Xie's home is the place with the most treasures of Empress Xie's calligraphy. Having grown up watching these paintings of Empress Xie, he naturally recognized them at a glance. This painting is authentic!

What's more commendable is that although this painting is from the hands of Empress Xie, the characters belong to Emperor Xuanwu. Although the paintings of Empress Xie are rarely handed down to the world, they can still be heard occasionally, but Emperor Wuchang's calligraphy is searched everywhere except in the palace. Daze is also hard to find.

"This painting!" Prime Minister Xie stood up excitedly, and the joy in his eyes was undisguised. Although he knew this painting was genuine, Gu Hanzhao couldn't help but sigh. The poor shopkeeper in Huanxi Town couldn't see gold and jade, so he missed it for nothing. This pair of handed down treasures.

Prime Minister Xie wanted to stretch out his hands to describe the scenery in the painting in detail, but he was afraid of damaging the painting. His hands trembled slightly, and he asked hoarsely, "Where did this painting come from, Lord Hou?"

"It was a gift from a shopkeeper in Huanxi Town." Gu Hanzhao said without any concealment. Prime Minister Xie looked at him in disbelief. He didn't expect that this painting would end up in Huanxi Town and be given as a gift by an ignorant shopkeeper. It was because of the shopkeeper's move that the fate of the painting being judged as a fake was avoided.

"It's really a good painting." Prime Minister Xie praised sincerely, but he felt a little regretful in his heart, only lamenting that he didn't have such good luck.Gu Hanzhao sniggered unkindly when he saw his itching and unbearable appearance.

"At first, I didn't know whether this painting was authentic, but later I asked Xin Zian to identify it. I didn't expect him to recognize that this painting was authentic at a glance." Gu Hanzhao explained.

"Young Master Xin is really astute." Although Prime Minister Xie boasted, his attention was all on the painting.

"This time I brought paintings to Xie's mansion, not just for the appreciation of the prime minister." Seeing that Gu Hanzhao mentioned the purpose of this trip, Prime Minister Xie had to tear his eyes off the paintings, barely maintaining the status of a prime minister of a country Don't allow yourself to look at the painting again.

"Then, why did Lord Hou come to Xie Mansion this trip?" Prime Minister Xie asked after taking a sip of hot tea.

Gu Hanzhao just pretended that he didn't see Prime Minister Xie's duplicity, and gently rolled up the painting in his hand and said, "I'm a rough person, if Zi'an didn't point it out, I'm afraid I would treat this painting as a fake and throw it away at will."

Prime Minister Xie was distracted by the word random, although he still had a calm expression on his face, he couldn't help stretching his ears.

"So, instead of putting this painting in my hands, why don't you give this painting to Mr. Xiang, what does Mr. Xiang think?" Before Gu Hanzhao finished speaking, Prime Minister Xie almost agreed, but he still had a few Very rational, and quickly suppressed the thoughts in his heart.

"Of course," Gu Hanzhao paused, and added, "This painting is not given for nothing." Prime Minister Xie's eyebrows twitched, and his heart really came.

"When the shopkeeper gave me this painting, he asked me for one thing. If the painting is finally taken away by Mr. Xiang, I hope that Lord Hou can fulfill the wish of the shopkeeper." this.A shopkeeper in a small town, even if his request is too big, with Gu Hanzhao's ability, he should be able to fulfill it easily.Gu Hanzhao's move was really unwise. If he satisfied the shopkeeper's request, it would be okay to use the painting as a bargaining chip to get something more beneficial to him, but he just didn't want to be this middleman.

Prime Minister Xie sighed in his heart, Gu Hanzhao's move made him even more unable to refuse.

"Then what did the shopkeeper ask for?" Prime Minister Xie asked.

"The ancestor of the shopkeeper was expelled from the clan because of a mistake, and now he wants to return to Fengshouzhou." Gu Hanzhao did not hide it, and then said: "I sent someone to investigate, and the ancestor of the shopkeeper did not make a big mistake. , it was just because he accidentally offended the nobles in Beijing, and the clan expelled him indiscriminately in order to avoid disaster. This matter is not the fault of the ancestors, but the nobles used their power to oppress others."

Prime Minister Xie struggled for a while, but in the end he couldn't match the words Xie Huai'an, so he silently accepted the painting, only saying that he would send someone to investigate the matter.Seeing that he agreed, Gu Hanzhao didn't say anything else, and took a sip of the still steaming fragrant tea.

Seeing Gu Hanzhao's calm look, Prime Minister Xie sighed in his heart, it really was a deal, if he had any more requests at this time, it would be even harder for him to refuse, but just because of his success, he Also willing to listen to it.

"Actually, besides the painting, I have other things I want to discuss with Mr. Xiang." Gu Hanzhao put down the teacup and said.

Prime Minister Xie had expected it a long time ago, and just signaled the other party to continue. Seeing this, Gu Hanzhao lost his scruples and continued, "I wonder what the Prime Minister thinks of the Fifth Prince?"

Prime Minister Xie glanced at the other party in surprise, wondering why the other party suddenly mentioned the fifth prince, frowned and said: "Is it something we can criticize about the royal family?"

Gu Hanzhao noticed the dodge in his eyes, and didn't hide it, instead he said with a smile: "I don't think so."

Prime Minister Xie didn't expect the other party to be so bold, and immediately felt relieved that he had already made preparations before meeting Gu Hanzhao.Now that Gu Hanzhao asked these words, it is obvious that he has his own considerations for the position, but he doesn't know which one he prefers, or does he want to replace him?

"There are only two princes who have grown up, but with their abilities, it is difficult to become a great treasure." Gu Hanzhao looked directly into Prime Minister Xie's eyes, not giving him a chance to avoid them.

"Master Hou, be careful!" Prime Minister Xie was furious, and interrupted loudly: "Master Hou, do you know why my Xie family has been able to stand upright since Emperor Wuchang?" Seeing that the other party had stopped, Prime Minister Xie eased his tone Continued: "Master Hou also said that my Xie family is a pure minister. The Xie family doesn't care who is in that seat and what methods are used. My Xie family is only loyal to the person who finally sat in that seat, no matter who he is. who."

Gu Hanzhao suddenly smiled. In his previous life, Feng Yu's road to the throne was not smooth, but the reason he was able to reach the end was that the Xie family had secretly helped him.This Prime Minister Xie is indeed a pure minister, but his family members may not be. They may have a good sense of family and country affairs, but they are more worried about the family.

If the Fifth Prince ascended the throne, the Xie family would no longer have a place in the court, and the Zhao family would work hard to eradicate the Xie family.It is true that the current Emperor Xuanwu did not dislike the Xie family in order to check and balance, but in the future, who can guarantee that the fifth prince will not abandon the Xie family's children who are all over the court and the public, and always restrict him and his mother's family? Thank you.

"What Xiangye said is true, so according to what Xiangye sees, does the fifth prince have the ability to ascend to the position of supreme?" The answer is naturally no, no matter how well the fifth prince pretends to be, he will not be able to escape this situation that has gone through two dynasties human eye.The more humble the Fifth Prince was, the greater his ambition.

Prime Minister Xie also had mixed feelings in his heart. He couldn't help but think of the Yin family who had an in-law relationship with the Xie family. An unfounded crime could turn the whole family into dead souls. Such a Zhao family, under the wings of such a Zhao family The five princes who grew up under him were too terrifying.