The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 368: Disaster every step of the way
The southeastern part of Jiangning City is crossed by the Qinhuai River. There is a square mountain to the west of the upper reaches of the Qinhuai River. The mountain runs east-west. The western section connects to Jiangning City. The terrain is higher and the scenery is beautiful all year round. It has always been occupied by the powerful and built The garden manor is a good place to escape the summer heat and cold.

When Li Jing succeeded to the throne, he designated the western section of Fangshan Mountain as a royal garden and named it Jujingyuan. No casual people were allowed to approach it. Beacons were also set up on the top of the mountain to station soldiers and horses.

Prince Li Hongji fell in love with the place after visiting it once. After begging Li Jing several times, Li Jing rewarded him with Jujing Garden. The large Jujing Garden became the prince's private garden, and a team of East Palace troops were stationed in the mountain camp. The guards led the troops and horses.

Zhou Ling led a troop of the Holy Army to escort Zhou Xian's carriage through the east streets and alleys of the city, and walked to the foot of the west section of Fangshan. In front of him was the Qinhuai River, and there was a stone arch bridge named Baizi Bridge on the river. .

More than a mile ahead, a lush green mountain appears in sight. In summer, green trees are all over the mountain. The cornices and brackets of the palaces and pavilions are reflected in the shadows of the branches and leaves.

There is no one around here. The people of Jiangning know that this place is a royal garden and they will not go near it.

Zhou Xian got on the carriage and soon fell asleep due to fatigue.

After a while, she was woken up by Dongmei shaking her.

"Miss! Miss, wake up!" Dongmei's low-pitched cry was a bit urgent.

Zhou Xian tilted his head and leaned against the car, suddenly waking up, his red almond eyes were blank, and his pretty face was full of pitiful haggardness.

"what happened?"

Dongmei whispered in a panic: "Miss, look quickly, we are almost at Baizi Bridge, but this road is not back to the Taifu Mansion at all!"

Zhou Xian opened the corner of the curtain and looked out. The carriage was walking on a wide and flat road, with lush camphor trees on both sides, and bursts of birds chirping could be heard from the forest.

Not far ahead is the Baizi Bridge built over the Qinhuai River.

The Qinhuai River flows around the western section of Fangshan Mountain, flows through the northwest of Jiangning City, goes straight to Stone Mountain, then flows through the southern foot of Stone Mountain, then turns to the west, and finally flows into the Yangtze River.

Zhou Xian has lived in Jiangning since he was a child and is very familiar with the layout of the city. He naturally knows that after crossing Baizi Bridge, he is not far from the Royal Garden Jujingyuan.

But here and the Taifu Mansion are completely opposite, they are basically two directions.

Zhou Xian was confused for a moment, then he stuck his head out of the car window and shouted to the front: "Cousin! Cousin!"

Zhou Ling, who was sitting on horseback, looked back, reined in his horse and turned back, smiling and saying, "What's the matter with Emperor E?"

Zhou Xian said hurriedly: "Cousin, did you go the wrong way? This is not the direction back to Taifu's Mansion!"

Zhou Ling smiled without changing her expression and said, "Oh~ Emperor E fell asleep when he got in the car. Brother, I haven't had time to tell you that today His Royal Highness the Crown Prince entertained my uncle at a banquet in Jujingyuan. My uncle specially ordered me to pick up Emperor E and go with him. feast."

"Really?" Zhou Xian was stunned, full of doubts.

For some reason, Zhou Ling's smile looked a little cold in her eyes.

"wrong!"

Zhou Xianqiao's face changed, and he frowned, "The prince has always looked down on his father, and even insulted him in court, so how could he entertain his father for no reason?

Everyone in Jiangning City didn't know that because his father had a good relationship with the King of Jin, the prince regarded his father as a friend of the King of Jin. He hated his father to the bone. He never had a good look towards his father, and he would never entertain his father at a banquet in Jujingyuan!
Cousin, you lied to me! "

Zhou Ling narrowed his eyes, and said with a half-smile, "I didn't expect Ehuang to be a lady, but she knows something about the situation in the court, and she speaks clearly about the struggle in the court."

Zhou Xian felt chills all over when he saw him, and said in panic: "Where on earth are you going to take me, brother?"

Zhou Ling's face suddenly turned cold, and the friendly smile he had just pretended was completely gone. He sneered, "Of course I'll send you off to enjoy wealth and wealth!"

Zhou Xian's hand holding the curtain suddenly tightened, as if he understood something, his pretty face turned pale, and he said in a trembling voice: "You, you want to take me to Jujingyuan?"

"Haha~ Not bad!"

Zhou Ling laughed loudly, "Jujing Garden is the prince's private residence, and everyone in Jiangning City knows that the prince hides in the golden house here and raises many beauties.

Ehuang's appearance is outstanding, and His Highness the Crown Prince will definitely fall in love with him when he sees her. The wealth and future of his brother and the Zhou family still depend on Ehuang.

After paying homage to the prince, Emperor E will have to do a lot to please him and please him. In the future, he will appoint concubines and concubines to help my Zhou family become relatives of the Tang Dynasty! "

Zhou Xian's face was as pale as snow, and his eyes were dizzy and black. He never expected that Zhou Ling, a clan brother, would actually bring her into Jujingyuan to give her to the prince!

Fortunately, she was so happy when she ran away from Puji Temple and met Zhou Ling that she never thought that this cousin whom she trusted and relied on was actually a beast in human skin.

Having just emerged from the tiger's den and entered the wolf's den, Zhou Xian burst into tears, feeling fear and sadness in his heart.

Rather than doing this, it is better to continue to stay with the evil person.

Although the villain was hateful and often bullied her, it was only to take advantage of her words. After a few days of getting along with her, there was never any real act of overstepping.

But everyone in Jiangning City knows who Prince Li Hongji is.

It was a real hungry ghost in lust, and Jujingyuan was even regarded as a devil's cave by the wives of officials and aristocratic families.

As long as any pretty girl enters Jujing Garden, none of them can come out alive.

Zhou Xian's eyes were blurred with tears, and he cried out with hatred: "Father will never let you go!"

Zhou Ling spat bitterly and said disdainfully: "When I become the crown prince's confidant, that old man will have to kneel on the ground to beg me! Huh~ The old man is so stubborn that the huge Zhou family will leave these three useless people. A promising fool will be doomed sooner or later, so what qualifications does he have to be the head of the family?
The Zhou family will soon be in charge of me! "

A black shadow came out of the car window and hit Zhou Ling hard on the forehead. It fell to the ground and broke into pieces. It was a blue and white teacup.

Zhou Ling screamed in pain, covered his forehead, and a warm current dripped from between his fingers, stinging his eyes sorely.

Zhou Ling opened his hands and saw that his forehead was smashed and bleeding, and his hands were bright red.

"Miss, run away!" Dongmei screamed, pulling Zhou Xian and jumping out of the carriage.

At this time, the carriage had just driven onto Baizi Bridge, and the two girls fell heavily on the stone bridge, under which was the slowly flowing Qinhuai River.

Zhou Xian sprained his foot when he fell to the ground, and the pain made her burst into tears.

Ignoring the severe pain in his ankle, Zhou Xian bit his lip. He and Dongmei supported each other, stood up and limped towards the bottom of the bridge.

"Humph~"

Zhou Ling snorted coldly, got off the horse, took off the bow and arrow hanging from the saddle hook, and walked down the bridge unhurriedly with two soldiers.

All the Gongsheng soldiers looked on with cold eyes, some with playful sneers, as if they were watching a good show.

They had seen similar situations countless times.

"Miss, run!" Dongmei turned her head and saw Zhou Ling striding after her, her face pale with fright.

Every time Zhou Xian took a step, she felt severe pain in her right ankle, which made her shed tears.

"Dongmei, run away, I, my feet hurt and I can't run away!" Zhou Xian tripped and fell to the ground, his bun was loose, his loose black hair clung to his sweaty cheeks, his expression was extremely miserable.

"This slave must be with the young lady until death!" Dongmei cried and helped her.

Zhou Xian pushed her with all his strength and roared miserably: "Go away quickly! Go back to see my father!"

Dongmei was startled and reacted suddenly. She gritted her teeth and looked at Zhou Ling who was catching up with her with hatred. She got up and ran along the river bank with all her strength.

"Let's see where you can run." Zhou Ling sneered. He drew his bow and aimed an arrow at Dongmei's back. When the bowstring was loosened, there was a "whoosh" sound and the arrow shot straight out.

From a distance, I saw a sharp arrow hitting Dongmei's back. After a scream, Dongmei fell to the ground and couldn't get up, vomiting a few mouthfuls of blood.

Zhou Xian screamed sadly, lying on the ground and crying bitterly.

"Go over and capture that bitch!" Zhou Ling spat.

As soon as a soldier ran over, he saw Dongmei struggling to hold herself up, ran a few steps to the river, and fell into the water with a pop.

Zhou Ling was startled and hurriedly ran up to the bridge to look. He saw that the river was deep and there was no trace of him anywhere.

The water surface of the Qinhuai River in this section seems calm, but the undercurrent underneath is turbulent and the water is turbulent. A weak woman who was hit by an arrow may not survive.Zhou Ling slapped the stone railing angrily and cursed a few times.

Zhou Ling again ordered people to stand up Zhou Xian on the left and right, and said fiercely: "I warn you to be more honest, so as not to suffer physical pain! What's wrong with being a woman to the prince? As long as you can please the prince, you will have many benefits in the future. Full of glory and wealth."

Zhou Xian bit his thin lips until blood leaked out, and a pair of red and swollen eyes glared at him angrily.

Zhou Ling sneered and waved: "Bring it to the car!"

While escorting Zhou Xian to the Baizi Bridge, Zhou Xian suddenly struggled like crazy. His thin body burst out with unimaginable strength. He suddenly broke away from the two soldiers and slammed into the stone railing with a look of determination!

Zhou Ling was shocked, stepped forward and grabbed her arm.

With a muffled groan, Zhou Xian still hit his forehead against the railing. His forehead was bruised and swollen with some blood. He rolled his eyes and passed out immediately.

Zhou Ling hurriedly breathed out, but luckily, he was still alive.

Zhou Ling was so frightened that he broke into a cold sweat. If he was really killed by a collision, his efforts to please the prince would be cut off.

I didn't expect this delicate-looking Nizi to have such a strong temperament.

"Watch her carefully. If she goes on a business trip again, I will chop off your heads first!"

Zhou Ling roared at the two soldiers, who were also very frightened, and carried Zhou Xian back to the carriage in despair.

After a long delay, the team set off again, passing Baizi Bridge and heading towards Jujingyuan.

In the evening, Zhou Ling led the soldiers of Gongsheng Army into the gate of Jujingyuan.

The main entrance was guarded by the East Palace Guards. Only those with an invitation from the Crown Prince or reporting to the Crown Prince in advance could enter.

The East Palace Guards are the prince's private soldiers, and the Gongsheng Army is the Imperial Guards Division. In terms of rank, the two are comparable, but when Zhou Ling faced a guard captain, he showed a flattering face.

"Brother, the carriage contains a gift for the prince. The general has informed His Highness the prince in advance and made an appointment to come and present the gift today."

Zhou Ling put a silver collar into the hand of the captain.

The captain of the school guard weighed it and stuffed it into his waist. He immediately smiled and said: "Zhou Tongjun is so polite! I have received the order from the prince for my humble position. When Zhou Tongjun comes, just invite him in."

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is enjoying the cool weather and fishing in Longqing Hall, while Zhou Tongjun can do as he pleases. "

"Thank you, brother!" Zhou Ling clasped her fists gratefully and waved her hand to signal the team to continue moving forward.

At this moment, there was a sound of horse hooves outside the gate of Jujingyuan. Zhou Ling looked back and saw an old man in rich clothes with white beard and hair galloping towards him, followed closely by five or six strong soldiers.

Zhou Ling's expression changed slightly, it turned out to be Prime Minister Song Qiqiu!
He gave gifts to the prince in private but did not tell Song Qiqiu.

"Let's go, let's go!" Zhou Ling hurriedly shouted in a low voice. He didn't want to be bumped into by Song Qiqiu.

Unfortunately, Song Qiqiu had already seen him from a distance and shouted: "Zhou Tong's army stays!"

Song Qiqiu galloped directly into the gate, and the guard of the East Palace guarding the gate quickly stepped forward with his troops to lead the horse.

The captain of the guard nodded and bowed his head, showing great respect.

Song Qiqiu just nodded to him and said nothing.

Everyone around the prince knew that Xianggong Song was the most important official in the court that the prince relied on, and no one could afford to offend him.

Zhou Ling secretly complained, and when he turned around, his face immediately changed into a surprised and affectionate smile: "I said that the scenery in Jujingyuan is so beautiful today. It turns out that my brother is here!"

"Hahaha~ I see you don't want to see me at all!"

Song Qiqiu laughed heartily and was full of energy.

Although Song Qiqiu is already in his sixties, his body has always been strong and he still maintains the habit of practicing martial arts for half an hour every day.

In the court of the Southern Tang Dynasty, Song Qiqiu was famous for his literary talent. He also learned good swordsmanship and was regarded as a civilized and military officer.

Li Min, the founding father of the Southern Tang Dynasty, entrusted him with state affairs. Now Li Jing also has great trust in him. Song Qiqiu can be regarded as a generation of powerful ministers who are less than one person and more than ten thousand people.

A look of uneasiness flashed across Zhou Ling's face, and she clasped her fists and said, "Brother, what are you talking about?"

Song Qiqiu stroked his white beard, glanced sideways at him, and jokingly said: "You told the crown prince in private that you will meet today to present a beautiful woman with an alluring appearance to His Royal Highness, do you think I don't know?"

Zhou Ling was surprised and embarrassed, with sweat on his forehead. He clasped his fists and said, "Brother is really well-informed! I didn't think carefully about this matter and didn't inform my brother in advance."

Song Qiqiu snorted coldly: "Why, are you so impatient to climb onto the high branch of the crown prince? Or are you afraid that I will not be able to transfer you to serve in the Sixth Army of the Forbidden Army?"

"No, no, no! How dare the general! Song Xianggong's kindness to the general is like reincarnation. The general will never forget it for the rest of his life! It's just..."

Zhou Ling was fearful of Song Qiqiu from the bottom of his heart. He felt that this old guy had very deep and unpredictable thoughts. He was stammering in nervousness and was covered in cold sweat. He didn't know how to explain it.

"It's just that I am a minister after all. Even if I become your brother-in-law, it's still not as useful as being with the prince? Right?"

Song Qiqiu sneered and said what was in his heart.

"The general would never dare to think like this! Mr. Song has misunderstood!~"

How could Zhou Ling dare to admit it? She repeatedly cupped her fists to apologize.

Song Qiqiu waved his hand: "Forget it, don't you know what kind of person Zhou Ling is? But I still want to remind you that the prince is unpredictable and moody, so it's not easy to serve him! You have a shallow foundation, even if you send a beauty to the prince , at most you can get one or two compliments, how long do you think the prince can remember you?"

Zhou Ling's expression changed, and she quickly cupped her fists and said, "Brother, please give me some advice!"

Song Qiqiu sneered a few times, "You want to bypass me and approach the prince alone, which is a good idea, but don't forget, without the Zhou family and me as your foundation, why would you be valued by the prince?
The reason why the prince is willing to get close to you is not because he appreciates your talents, but because you have the Zhou family and me behind you!

If you can't even figure this out, I advise you to go back as soon as possible and don't try to step into the muddy waters of power struggle! "

Zhou Ling's expression changed, he gritted his teeth suddenly, bent down and clasped his fists, saying: "Zhou Ling knows that he was wrong, please forgive Mr. Song! I will never dare to do anything without authorization in the future. I will obey Mr. Song's orders in everything!"

"Well, it's good if you understand!" Song Qiqiu's face softened a little, and he leaned over to help him up.

"You and I are a family, and we should be of the same spirit. Whether in front of the prince or in the court, in the eyes of others, you and I are one."

Song Qiqiu stroked his beard and smiled, and Zhou Ling hurriedly said: "Thank you very much, Mr. Song, for your teachings. I will finally understand!"

Song Qiqiu nodded and walked towards the carriage: "First let me see what kind of stunning beauty you bring."

Song Qiqiu opened the car curtain and saw a girl in her twenties leaning in the carriage. Although her clothes were vulgar, her appearance was astonishing.

Song Qiqiu took a few more glances, and his expression suddenly changed: "Zhou Zong's daughter!"

Song Qiqiu turned his head suddenly and looked directly at Zhou Ling: "You are so brave and cruel, and you actually brought Zhou Zong's daughter here!?"

Zhou Ling lowered her head guiltily, cupped her hands and said, "Emperor E is in her prime, and she is extremely beautiful. Only His Highness the Crown Prince can have such a beautiful woman. It is also an honor for E Emperor and my Zhou family."

Song Qiqiu noticed the bruises and blood on Zhou Xian's forehead and sneered: "It seems that you, the clan girl, are not very willing to serve the prince!"

Zhou Ling smiled and said: "Emperor E is young and ignorant, and something unexpected happened on the way here."

Song Qiqiu's mind was quick and careful. He immediately thought of something and said in a deep voice: "Today's fire in Puji Temple, does it have something to do with you?"

Zhou Ling knew that he couldn't hide it, so he could only say, "Something happened to the Zhou family in the past few days."

Song Qiqiu listened to a few words, then got on the horse and said, "Let's talk while walking!"

The two rode horses side by side, climbed the mountain road, and rushed towards the Longqing Hall halfway up the mountain. A soldier followed behind in a carriage.

(End of this chapter)