Xingqing Palace is located to the east of Chang'an City, close to Chunming Gate. Geographically speaking, Xingqing Palace is relatively close to the side, unlike Taiji Palace, which is in the middle of the meridian of Chang'an City.

But Xingqing Palace is the residence of Li Longji and Long Qian. Li Longji also used to live in Xingqing Palace after he ascended the throne. He can do whatever he wants if he has money. Naturally, people who become emperor can be more willful. You are the emperor and you have the final say. Wherever you want to live.

Live wherever you want.

The place where Li Longji summoned Gu Qing was the Huacalyx Xianghui Tower, a very famous place. Before the late Tang Dynasty, this building had the reputation of "the most famous building in the world". It was also known as the Yueyang Tower, Tengwang Pavilion, Yellow Crane Tower and Stork Tower.

There are five buildings in the world. After the Later Tang Dynasty, Huaxe Tower was destroyed by war, and there were only four buildings left in the world.

The Flower Calyx Tower was built by Li Longji's order after he ascended the throne. This building was not built for Concubine Yang, but for Li Longji's brothers. According to etiquette, it was Li Longji's brother who should have ascended the throne at that time, the direct descendant of the late Emperor Ruizong.

The eldest son Li Xian.

It’s just that Li Longji was too good. He led the troops to kill Queen Wei’s group and then killed Princess Taiping. It was all Li Longji’s fault that the world returned to the Li surname. Although Li Xian was the eldest son, he felt that he could not compete with this heroic warrior.

His superior younger brother competed for glory, and courtiers invited him several times, but Li Xian still refused to inherit the throne and insisted on giving up the throne to Li Longji. Li Longji couldn't resist his kindness, so he had to reluctantly agree (aunt laughs, haha)...

The most important thing is that Li Longji held military power at that time. Well, how could brothers dare not be friendly and respectful to each other?

After Li Longji came to the throne, he was moved by Li Xian's virtue of abdication, and ordered the construction of the Calyx Xianghui Building. The characteristic of this building is that it is located in the southwest corner of Xingqing Palace, close to Anxingfang and Shengye next to Xingqing Palace.

The houses are only separated by two walls. After the abdication, King Ning Li Xian, King Qi Li Fan, and King Xue Li Ye lived in the two houses outside the palace. Standing upstairs, Li Longji could see what his brothers were eating today and what they were eating tonight.

Which princess did the elder brother and the younger brother summon to sleep with?

Brothers and sisters, are you touched?

Of course I didn't dare to move.

Even though the princess begged him to move, he didn't dare to move, so the princess had to sit up and move it herself.

Gu Qing was brought to the Huaxe Tower by the eunuch. The eunuch asked him to stand under the jade steps and wait for the report. Gu Qing looked around, and then heard the sound of strings, bamboos, and bells coming from the Huaxe Tower, as well as the sounds of men and women.

of laughter.

Not long after, the eunuch came out and announced in a loud voice that Gu Qing was here to see him.

Gu Qing straightened his clothes, followed the etiquette ordered by the eunuch, bowed his head and bowed his head to enter.

After taking off his boots at the entrance to the palace, Gu Qing entered the palace with his head bowed and counted silently. After counting the number of steps specified by the eunuch, he stood still without daring to look up. He bowed and bowed, saying: "Your Majesty, Zuo Wei's personal record is

I'm going to join the army, Gu Qing, to pay homage to His Majesty and to the Imperial Concubine."

The sound of silk and bamboo music in the hall gradually became quiet, and someone obviously signaled them to stop. Then Gu Qing heard a bold and free and easy voice and said with a smile: "Now you can see this young hero who is capable of both literature and martial arts. Gu Qing, raise your head."

, let me see, don’t be constrained by vulgar etiquette, the Calyx Tower is a place where monarchs and ministers have fun together, no matter what disrespectful things are done in this building, I am not guilty."

Gu Qing chuckled in his heart, but he still raised his head obediently and looked straight ahead.

On two golden chairs in front of the hall, an old man with an aged look was dressed in a yellow robe, with his chest exposed and his hair disheveled. His bare feet were placed on the table in front of him in an unruly manner. Next to him, he had seen

On the other side, Concubine Yang peeled a grape with her own hands and put it into the old man's mouth. Then she smiled lightly at Gu Qing, her talkative eyes filled with joyful smiles.

Is the old man in front of me Li Longji?

Gu Qing's emotions were a bit complicated. He admired the great achievements of the Tang Dynasty that the old man had created when he was young, but also regretted that he had become arrogant and ruined his country in old age. It is difficult to judge the merits and demerits of history.

Li Longji was also looking at Gu Qing, with a smile on his face but no smile in his eyes.

After just one glance, Li Longji frowned: "Gu Qing, are you in a bad mood when you see me? Or are the eunuchs outside making things difficult for you? Why do you look unhappy?"

Gu Qing sighed sadly, this face is really... It only adds to the troubles.

Concubine Yang next to her burst into laughter. Seeing Li Longji looking over curiously, Concubine Yang simply laughed loudly and laughed so hard. Li Longji saw her laughing so happily and couldn't help but laugh too: "Why are you laughing, ma'am? How funny is that?" Something about?"

Concubine Yang pointed at Gu Qing and said: "Sanlang, this little fellow countryman of mine is born with an unhappy face. When I first saw him in Shuzhou, I thought he had something to do with me. I was dissatisfied, but later I asked and found out that he was born like this."

Li Longji laughed loudly, pointed at Gu Qing and said, "Your unhappy face actually makes me happy. It's interesting."

Gu Qing had no choice but to smile, trying to look festive.

After Li Longji laughed for a while, he finally stopped. After pondering for a moment, he said: "Gu Qing, Xianyu Zhongtong said in his post that the chaos in Nanzhao was brought to an end because of your advice. Have you ever studied under any famous military master before, or have you read What military book?"

Gu Qing bowed and said: "Your Majesty, I have not read any military books. I just gave my words according to common sense. I rarely expressed my wish to accept my ministers during the festival. This shows my magnanimity and demeanor."

Li Longji said with great interest: "Where is the sand table? Is it just a random idea?"

"I opened a porcelain kiln in my hometown. Because young people often coveted the secret recipe, I had to build a sand table to prevent the entrance and exit around the porcelain kiln. I was accidentally discovered by Xianyu Jiedu, and was used in the Pingnan imperial edict. It is my honor to be able to do something small to suppress the rebellion of the Tang Dynasty."

Li Longji was in a good mood, and as he got older, he seemed to especially like to hear other people's words of loyalty.

Then Li Longji waved to an eunuch beside him, and the eunuch understood. Not long after, several eunuchs worked together to carry a huge sandbox and slowly walked out and placed the sandbox in the center of the hall.

Li Longji winked at Gu Qing as if he was showing off, and said with a smile: "After I learned about the use of the sand table, I was particularly interested, so I ordered the general to supervise the construction of this thing. Gu Qing, can you see if it is decent?"

Gu Qing took two steps forward and got closer, and found that the sand table was extremely exquisitely made. It actually showed the terrain of Chang'an City. There were 108 squares in the city, as well as the east and west cities, Taiji Palace, Daming Palace, and Xingqing Palace. On the sand table Towers, pavilions, cornices and green tiles, and even pottery figurines that have been shrunk countless times, are densely distributed in the streets and alleys, and they are very lifelike.

Gu Qing watched for a while, and couldn't help but admire him from the bottom of his heart. He bowed and said: "The craftsmanship of the master craftsman is exquisite, and it is countless times more exquisite than the crude things made by me. I admire you."

Li Longji stared at the sand table, his expression suddenly became gloomy, and murmured: "This thing is really magical. If one day, there are rebels in Chang'an City, I will know where the enemy is stationed and deploying troops just from this sand table. A small flag planted on the sand table is an ambush or a decisive battle. It is really wonderful."

Concubine Yang said softly: "Your Majesty, the Holy Emperor, created the prosperous Tang Dynasty. Now that the nobles have returned home and the people live and work in peace and contentment, how can there be rebels and rebels? Your Majesty is overly worried."

Li Longji's gloomy expression relaxed like the spring breeze thawing, and he laughed and said: "My lady is right, but if I keep this thing in the palace, it can be regarded as a novelty. It may be useless, but it is interesting."

Looking up at Gu Qing, Li Longji said again: "Gu Qing, the success report only mentioned the wonderful use of the sand table, and I rewarded it based on merit. Now that the supervisor has built the sand table, I know that the magic of this thing is unexpected. , after thinking about it, I feel that the reward given to you is a little low..."

Gu Qing hurriedly bowed and said: "Your Majesty's gift is generous enough. I thank God for his kindness and dare not accept any more generous gifts."

Concubine Yang glanced at Gu Qing, covered her mouth and smiled softly: "Gu Qing, when did you come to Chang'an?"

"Going back to your concubine, I arrived in Chang'an yesterday afternoon."

"Where do you live?"

"Well, I'll live in Guanyi for the time being. I'll look for a place to live after I join Zuo Wei."

Concubine Yang turned around and grabbed Li Longji's arm and shook her, her coquettish tone made people shudder.

"Your Majesty... I, this little fellow countryman, came to Chang'an and didn't even have a place to stay. How pitiful. If Your Majesty feels that the reward is not enough, and you are afraid of criticism in the court if you appoint an official, why not reward him with a house?"

Li Longji was so excited by this coquettish act that he laughed loudly and said without thinking: "I will order the Ministry of Household Affairs to grant Gu Qingguan a house. In recent years, the world has become rich, and the hands and feet of some officials in the court are not clean. Every year A group of corrupt officials have been found, and there are many confiscated official houses under the Ministry of Revenue, so I will give one to Gu Qing."

Concubine Yang's beautiful eyes turned into two crescent moons when she smiled, and said: "Gu Qing, why don't you thank Heaven for your kindness."

Gu Qing said hurriedly: "I would like to thank Your Majesty for your kindness, and I would like to express my gratitude to the Imperial Concubine."

Li Longji added: "You presented a set of tribute porcelain plum vases to my wife. The poems on them were quite well written. My wife said you did it, and I admired it very much. Haha, 'I wish to be a winged bird in heaven, and a bird on earth'." "Wish to connect the branches", doesn't this poem just describe the love between me and my wife? If this poem can be passed down to future generations, the love story between me and my wife can also be passed down to future generations. For the sake of this poem, I will give you a house. It’s okay, it’s not considered excessive.”

Gu Qing was a little tired of thanking him today, but he still had to continue to bow and say: "Your Majesty and the imperial concubine are a loving couple. It can be said that 'I only envy mandarin ducks but not immortals'. I wrote it down in poetry to express my admiration in case it happens." ."

Li Longji was surprised and said: "'I only envy the mandarin ducks but not the immortals'? What a poem! During the reign of Emperor Gaozong, a talented man named Lu Zhaolin wrote a sentence, 'I would like to be the mandarin ducks but not the immortals'. Today Gu Qing said 'I only envy the immortals'. "Mandarin ducks don't envy immortals." If you look at it carefully, only two words have been changed. It seems to have more of the charm of husband and wife's love than Lu Zhaolin's sentence. It's wonderful!"
Chapter completed!