Chapter 16: Die together!
Zuo Lingquan was still raising his spear to stab, but he didn't know how many things were going through his mind in an instant, and his heart fell to the bottom in an instant.
How could it be...
A dignified princess went to wander around the ruins in the middle of the night, is she sick?
Zuo Lingquan had extraordinary hearing ability, and was 100% sure that the woman who spoke behind the bead curtain was the girl he met in Linhefang. Regardless of why this scene appeared, the current situation was extremely dangerous.
Since it was her, she must have seen that he was acting.
Why was he acting? Because he didn't want to be a prince consort.
A young and beautiful woman, if a man wanted but couldn't get her, would satisfy her vanity.
But if a man could get her but didn't ask for her, and showed that he was not interested, the consequences would be extremely serious!
What's more, he had spanked the princess...
I'm going to die...
In a flash, Zuo Lingquan's mind turned, and he knew that this play couldn't go on like this!
Bang——
Almost the next moment after Jiang Yi spoke, a muffled sound came from the ring.
Thousands of people on and off the Qiyuntai were concentrating on the ring, but they were shocked to find that the panting young man in white had turned into a white afterimage, leaving only two broken wooden boards on the spot.
The one who saw it most clearly was Li Cang, who was also standing on the ring.
Li Cang was holding a long sword and wanted to strike the enemy, but his face suddenly changed halfway. Just by looking at Zuo Lingquan's slightly bent knees while running, he knew that something was wrong and raised his sword to defend in advance.
But no matter how quick Li Cang's reaction was, he still underestimated Zuo Lingquan's explosive power.
Zuo Lingquan practiced sword for fourteen years, and he only practiced one sword, and this sword was also very simple - use the fastest speed to stab the most accurate place.
Because the purpose of martial arts moves in the world is to kill people, and to kill people, it is enough to practice this move well!
Zuo Lingquan did not use his full strength, and there was no need, but this was not something Li Cang could resist.
Zuo Lingquan, holding a two-foot silver spear, was close to Li Cang in the blink of an eye. Fearing that he would kill Li Cang, he abandoned the spear and struck Li Cang in the chest with a palm strike.
Bang——
Li Cang's robe on his back suddenly swelled up, and then his feet left the ground, and the whole person turned into a shrimp with a bent waist.
Before his body was in the air, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Everything happened in a flash.
The crowd in the arena felt a flash before their eyes, and Li Cang, who was not touched by a leaf just now, turned into a torn sack and flew out of the ring horizontally, until he flew more than two feet away and fell to the ground.
The eight people waiting in the audience suddenly saw this scene, and they felt their scalps numb, and they were almost scared to death, and their faces turned pale:
"This guy is pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger!"
Jiang Yi, who had just stood up to reprimand, suddenly stopped talking and covered his mouth, knowing that he was exposed.
But Jiang Yi immediately put his hand down again, staring with eyes, as if "You are finished! Keep acting? ' with a fierce look.
Zuo Lingquan stopped his hand and stood still before Li Cang landed.
In order to enter Qihuang Valley to learn from the master and not be harassed by the princess, he really had to continue acting.
Zuo Lingquan gritted his teeth and pretended not to hear Jiang Yi's voice. He stood with his hands behind his back, put on a defiant attitude, and looked at the eight opponents under the stage:
"A bunch of rabble, are you worthy of fighting with me? I just hit you casually to tease you. I have decided to take the position of the son-in-law today. If you don't accept it, just come together."
Said this, of course, to make up for the loss.
But Jiang Yi is not stupid!
One place leads to everything. Just now, she saw that Zuo Lingquan didn't want to be a son-in-law and deliberately let him go. Now she can naturally see that Zuo Lingquan is trying to save the situation so as not to be hated by herself.
Don't want to be a son-in-law?
Jiang Yi's eyes were slightly cold. She stood up and lifted the bead curtain. She appeared on the edge of the terrace in a bright red palace skirt.
"Greetings, Princess!"
All the civil and military officials in the court stood up and bowed on the Qiyun Terrace.
Zuo Lingquan raised his eyelids and forced a surprised look of "Why is it you?"
But Jiang Yi had seen through Zuo Lingquan. She put her hands on the carved fence, looked down at him, and said with her teeth clenched:
"Mr. Zuo is so skilled! Since you want to be a consort so much, I will..."
Stop it, sister! You are meaningless...
Zuo Lingquan raised her head quickly and signaled with her eyes, hoping that Jiang Yi would not make a joke of the lifelong event of both parties on impulse.
But Jiang Yi didn't care about Zuo Lingquan's feelings. She had to choose a consort today to explain to the royal family. She also knew that the princes and nobles who were not of the same mind as her must have arranged a lot of people in it, trying to take the opportunity to get close to her and control her.
So when she chose a consort today, she was destined to choose someone she didn't like. She could only choose a husband who was a little more reliable, had no background, and would not stab her in the back.
Zuo Lingquan's family background was not ordinary, which met the primary condition.
He was virtuous, good-looking, and had good martial arts, which also met the secondary criteria.
The most important thing was that Zuo Lingquan didn't want to be a consort!
He didn't want to be one, that's right.
You didn't want to be one, but I still chose you, wouldn't that be too easy for you!
You didn't want to be me, but I let you be!
I'll piss you off!
With all these reasons combined, did Jiang Yi still need to choose?
As long as Zuo Lingquan became a consort, she would let him do whatever she wanted.
Especially now, seeing the helpless look in Zuo Lingquan's eyes, "I was wrong, don't mess around", Jiang Yi felt that the anger that had been suppressed in her heart for the past few days was half released, and the whole person was about to float.
Jiang Yi looked at Zuo Lingquan grimly, and paused deliberately while speaking, keeping Zuo Lingquan in suspense for a while. When he felt that there was a turnaround, he said with a cold look:
"It's you. No need to compete anymore, all the ministers, please leave."
"Wow——"
When these words came out, the whole audience was in an uproar.
Of course, they were not surprised that the princess chose Zuo Lingquan as her husband, but they were surprised that the princess decided on her husband so quickly.
They thought that the princess didn't want to get married and give up power, so she would find an excuse to shirk it. They even prepared a script for persuading her earnestly, but they didn't expect it to be so direct.
For a while, the court officials all took a reassurance pill.
The young man from the aristocratic family who participated in the selection of the husband cast an envious look at Zuo Lingquan.
The expression on Zuo Lingquan's face suddenly became stiff. He stood up straight, spread his hands, and looked up at the eldest princess above. The meaning was very clear:
Are you sick?
What do you want?
Jiang Yi leaned against the fence, staring at her future husband without showing any weakness, and her meaning was very clear:
What can you do to me?
You don't want to be me so I choose you, are you angry?
Zuo Lingquan was helpless.
Not only could he not be angry, but he also had to be grateful!
After the two looked at each other affectionately for a moment, Zuo Lingquan took a breath and raised his hand to salute respectfully:
"Thank you, Princess, for your kindness."
Jiang Yi looked at Zuo Lingquan's reluctant look and was in a very good mood. She was looking down on him and was about to raise her hand to indicate that she didn't need to salute, but suddenly there was an inappropriate voice from below:
"Your Highness, I have an objection!"
Jiang Yi frowned and looked over. It was Wang Zheng, the Minister of Revenue, who was sitting at the table.
The noisy Qiyuntai also quieted down and looked at Wang Zheng.
Jiang Yi's face was calm: "Minister Wang, what objection do you have to the consort I chose?"
Wang Zheng bowed and said respectfully:
"I dare not question the decision of Her Royal Highness the Princess, but I am afraid that Her Royal Highness the Princess will be deceived by villains. This Zuo Lingquan, my subordinates have had contact with him. He has poor personal ethics and is absolutely not suitable to be a consort."
Jiang Yi narrowed her eyes slightly - he pressed her down and spanked her, and also played tricks on her. How could his personal ethics not be poor?
But this matter is a personal grudge, and it is nothing to put on the table. It is enough to keep his great virtue intact.
Just based on Zuo Lingquan's help in Linhefang and his risking his life to save people on the court, Jiang Yi could see that Zuo Lingquan was not a bad person, and he was a very good person, just a little fierce.
Jiang Yi knew that someone was dissatisfied with her for not choosing the person she had arranged in advance, so she picked faults at this time and said in a deep voice:
"Oh, is that so?"
Minister Zuo Hanchou, whose official position was lower than Wang Zheng, was mercilessly thrown dirty water by the other party, and he was also angry:
"Sir Wang, don't say anything nonsense. Lingquan just came to the capital the day before yesterday. He has been law-abiding in Qinghe County. I didn't even know that his personal morality was damaged. How could it be known by Sir Wang's subordinates?"
Wang Zheng's face was serious, and he turned his eyes behind him:
"Maode, tell the princess about the matter again."
Supervisory Censor Chen Maode hurriedly stood up and walked forward:
"Princess, I have a granddaughter named Tang Jingyan, who lives in Linhefang all year round. Yesterday morning, before dawn, the dog at home The concubine of the son of the emperor, once saw Master Zuo Lingquan, coming out of Jingxun's house, and closed the door for him. A single man and a single woman spent the night together..."
"Master Chen!"
Before Chen Maode finished speaking, Zuo Lingquan on the stage spoke coldly:
"Tang Jingxun is the granddaughter of your deceased brother. It is inappropriate to insult her innocence with rumors like this, right?"
When Chen Maode heard this, he was not guilty at all, but laughed:
"Master, you know Jingxun's family affairs very well. Let me ask you, did you come out of Jingxun's house yesterday morning?"
Jiang Yi frowned slightly. She was beaten in Linhefang the night before yesterday, and Zuo Lingquan also said that he was drinking nearby at that time...
Jiang Yi looked at Zuo Lingquan, wanting to see how he would answer.
Zuo Lingquan looked calm:
"The day before yesterday, there was a beast in Linhefang. I assisted the arrest department in killing it. At night, I was worried that the beast would attack again, so I sat in the Tang family wine shop in Linhefang for a night and left in the early hours of yesterday morning."
Minister of the Ministry of Revenue Wang Zheng said seriously: "That means you did spend a night with Chen Yushi's granddaughter?"
Zuo Lingquan nodded: "Yes, the doors and windows were not closed, and I sat in front of the window the whole time. The people along the street can testify."
Wang Zheng shook his head: "You have just been selected as a son-in-law. For the sake of your future, you will naturally find excuses to explain. If there is no other relationship, how can a woman who has never met a man stay overnight?"
"That's the fact. I can choose not to be a son-in-law, but I will not let rumors ruin my innocence with that girl."
Wang Zheng snorted softly: "The princess has selected you as a son-in-law. How can you choose not to be a son-in-law if you want to? You said so, aren't you also trying to pretend that you are not greedy for power and to excuse yourself? Do you have real evidence?"
Real evidence?
Where is the real evidence?
Zuo Lingquan frowned, and had nothing to say. It was useless to find excuses to accuse someone of a crime.
Jiang Yi didn't know the details, but she knew that Zuo Lingquan didn't want to be a consort, so there was no need to find excuses to prove his innocence.
Thinking of this, Jiang Yi's face darkened:
"Enough! I know the character of the person I choose, and if I say there is no consort, then there is no consort."
Wang Zheng bowed and dissuaded:
"Your Highness, recruiting a consort is a lifelong event. As court officials, we should do our best for the princess. Now that he has admitted to staying at a woman's house, how can we..."
Jiang Yi's eyes were slightly cold: "I told you to trust him, and he said that he is innocent. Furthermore, what if he stays at the woman's house? I am recruiting a consort, and it is not like a saint selecting a concubine and asking the beautiful girl to be perfect. What’s so strange about a man having a confidante? Wang Zheng, tell me how many wives and concubines you have?”
As soon as these words came out, the entire audience fell into silence. Even the young masters from the aristocratic families who were running for election lowered their heads. Only Zuo Lingquan had a calm look in his eyes.
Wang Zheng's face stiffened slightly. He didn't expect the princess to say such a thing. He rolled his eyes and said again:
"According to the rules, a prince-in-law cannot take a concubine, and it is even more contemptible to abandon a useless wife..."
Jiang Yi frowned:
"I have the final say on whether my concubine can take concubines. Do I still need you to set the rules? How about you, Wang Zheng, make the decision for me and choose another one here?"
"Wei Chen doesn't dare."
Wang Zheng quickly lowered his head with an awkward expression: "It's just that the choice of this son is really inappropriate..."
Seeing that these courtiers were holding on, Jiang Yi had no choice but to pat the fence to stop her words, and turned to Zuo Lingquan:
"Zuo Lingquan, I have granted you permission today. If Miss Tang is your confidante, you can let her become your concubine today. The civil and military officials of the court can testify that I will treat each other as sisters in the future and will not treat her unfairly. You Are you willing?"
When the civil and military officials in the court heard this, they were in an uproar.
Even the Jiang family members felt it was inappropriate. This was too cheap for that boy. How could there be such a comfortable prince-in-law, and let the two princesses serve the same husband?
But what they didn't expect even more was Zuo Lingquan's reaction.
Zuo Lingquan didn't expect Jiang Yi to say this, but after thinking about it carefully, he understood that Jiang Yi believed his words and let him prove it for himself. He was innocent, so he naturally said seriously:
"I met that girl Tang by chance. We have nothing to do with each other. I can't agree to this matter."
Once this statement is made, there is no need to explain anything else.
Yes means, no means no.
Even with a daughter in front of me and a beautiful woman on my bed, I won’t change my words.
All the civil and military officials in the court nodded when they heard this. There was no more doubt or conjecture in their eyes, only approval.
Jiang Yi almost found a sister for herself, but she was actually quite nervous, fearing that she would agree so shamelessly. Seeing Zuo Lingquan's answer, Jiang Yi was completely relieved. Her eyes when looking at Zuo Lingquan softened a bit unconsciously. She looked at Wang Zheng coldly:
"Wang Shangshu, do you still have any unknown dirty water that you want to pour on the left consort?"
Having said this, what else can Wang Zheng say? He bowed quickly and then raised his hand to Zuo Lingquan:
"Master Zuo, I heard this from hearsay and misunderstood. Please forgive me, Master Zuo."
"It doesn't matter. Mr. Wang also thinks about the princess. Just explain the matter clearly."
Zuo Lingquan didn't have the slightest fondness for Wang Zheng and others, but as his third uncle was an official in the court, he still had to be given the steps he deserved. After he finished speaking, he said goodbye, turned around and left the ring, preparing to return to Zuo Hanchou.
But Jiang Yi, who had just finished scolding his ministers, saw Zuo Lingquan trying to run away and said again:
"Stop, where are you going?"
Zuo Lingquan paused and looked at Jiang Yi in response, slightly confused.
I'm going home. Where am I going? Do I have to stand here all the time?
Jiang Yi raised her hand and said: "Come here, I have something to tell you."
The tone was very domineering.
Zuo Lingquan sighed secretly, feeling that the word "freedom" was getting farther and farther away.
As the saying goes, 'if the king wants his minister to die, he will have to die.' The eldest princess is equivalent to the empress of the Great Dan Dynasty. He can't just turn around and leave without paying attention. Now he can only turn around and go to the high building to wait for the eldest princess to come down...
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9,000 words, which adds up to four chapters of debt repayment...