Save the tragic villain in progress!

The king of the small county of Guangping sent invitations to the prince in order to be courteous to his relatives, but the prince did not treat him as an outsider at all, and he would come to the banquet every time. The little county king's shoulders went inside.

When passing by Chu Xinian and Xie Jingyuan, they just greeted each other casually, not as warm as they were in the mansion.

Chu Xinian looked at the back of the prince going away, thoughtfully, thinking that although the prince is usually reckless and impulsive, he still has some thoughts in the end, knowing how to put on an appearance on the surface.

Although many people know that Xie Jingyuan is a member of the princeling party, it is not a good thing for the prince to make friends with courtiers, and he is suspected of forming a clique.The censor heard the news, and the next day's impeachment of the prince would be full of dragon cases.

There are many people at the Qunying Banquet today, so it is better to keep a distance on the bright side.

Xie Jingyuan was full of disgust for this kind of occasion, and the corners of his lips curved like sarcasm, thinking that those literati who recited sour poems were like big white geese shouting in the lake, which was quite funny.

"General, let's go, the banquet has already begun."

Chu Xinian took his hand and headed towards the Jinlin Pavilion. The paper fan in white clothes was elegant and elegant, and it was more elegant and bookish than those literati.

Xie Jingyuan lowered his eyes, squinted at Chu Xinian and held his hand, thinking that if this person wanted to read poetry, he could listen to it reluctantly and cheer him on.Chu Xinian didn't have that sour smell on his body.

Jinlin Pavilion is located in the middle of the lake, surrounded by water, except for boat trips, there is only one corridor on the shore.Thousands of golden carps are raised in the lake, and those with outstanding talents may be able to "jump the dragon's gate".

The king of Xiaojun is a Taoist priest from the East, and he was supposed to take the seat, but thinking of his position as the crown prince and half monarch, he still said according to the etiquette: "Your Highness, please take the seat."

The prince himself found a random place at the bottom, right next to Chu Xinian and Xie Jingyuan: "This is not a palace, so you don't need to be polite, just sit here alone. Today, it is only about talent and learning, no matter whether you are high or low. .”

Those words were so beautiful that they didn't seem to come out of his mouth.

Chu Xinian observed everyone present with great interest.His eyes swept over those masters of fame and learning, young and talented, and unexpectedly found that there were many young ladies from aristocratic families sitting in it, with hairpins and floral dresses, adding to the scene of the Golden Scale Pavilion.

Seeing Chu Xinian staring at those women, Xie Jingyuan followed suit, laughed lightly, and asked without emotion, "How is it, is it pretty?"

Holding a folding fan in his hand, Chu Xinian tapped twice on the palm of his hand, and said with a smile, "You are very energetic, so you will naturally look good."

What he looked at was not his appearance, but his youthful spirit.All the people here today, if you are lucky enough to meet Bole, you will step out of the Jinlin Pavilion in one step, and you will step up the ladder in half a step. In the future, you may become an official butcher, or become famous all over the world, and your future is boundless.

When Chu Jiaoping entered an official position, he debated and lectured on classics at a banquet of heroes, and fought with many literary masters. Since then, he has become famous in Beijing and was accepted by the King of Jin.

This group of heroes' banquet is a ladder to heaven and a place of fame.

Chu Xinian felt that it would be interesting to experience this kind of scene in person.But I don't know if it's an illusion, Xie Jingyuan always felt that he was looking at a beautiful woman, raised his eyebrows and asked: "Then what do you see?"

Chu Xinian only said two words: "Many."

Today, King Chang and King Ping are also present.They saw the eldest brother of the crown prince, but they didn't come up to pay respects, but devoted themselves to making friends with scholars, obviously they had no respect or fear in their hearts.Even a little contemptuous, even unwilling to save face.

King Chang wanted the support of Shilin students, and he kept toasting and chatting with Wenzong Yen Qingha, trying to win him over.But it's a pity that he chose the wrong target. The Yan family has never participated in the seizure of power, and has been immersed in making a fuss.Just looking at Yan Qinghe's indifferent appearance, one knew that King Chang's strength was in the wrong place.

King Ping was talking very happily with a young prince surnamed Jin, so he almost called him a brother.Don't look at this Mr. Jin is ordinary and behaves frivolously, but his father is the supervisor of the Ministry of Finance and is in charge of the world's trade.

Old foxes are not easy to win over, so they will attack their cubs, King Ping is much smarter.

Xie Jingyuan snorted at Chu Xinian: "Playing tricks."

While they were talking, many people came to the scene one after another.When one of the young men in blue clothes stepped into the Golden Scale Pavilion, he received the most attention, and it was Chu Jiaoping.

Seeing this, the king of Guangping Xiaojun was very happy, and immediately got up to greet him personally: "Brother Jiao Ping, Xiao Wang has been looking forward to you for a long time, you are late, you have to punish yourself with three cups."

"It turned out to be Chu Shizi. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"It's better to be famous than to meet, it really is extraordinary."

It can be seen that Chu Jiaoping has a very good reputation among the aristocratic families in the capital, and many people stood up to greet him.In contrast, Chu Xinian was quiet, a bit inconspicuous.It's just that the appearance of the body is really good, attracting all kinds of eyes.

"I came down late, everyone forgive me."

Chu Jiaoping was dressed in a blue robe, as warm as jade.He apologized generously, and then sat down surrounded by everyone.Coincidentally, he was seated opposite Chu Xinian, and when he looked up and found that his younger brother was also here, he couldn't help being stunned for a moment.

Chu Xinian poured a glass of wine and respected him from a distance, with a smile as bright as the wind and the moon.

Chu Jiaoping didn't know why his younger brother came here for a while, and he was full of doubts, but seeing Xie Jingyuan was also at the side, so he could only press down temporarily and nodded in greeting.

Xie Jingyuan saw that the stars were holding the moon, and he swung the wine in the cup thoughtfully with downcast eyes, thinking that Chu Xinian is obviously not bad, why are the two brothers famous in the sky and in the earth?

He couldn't help but conspiratorial theories in his heart, after all, it was not uncommon for brothers to quarrel with each other among high-ranking and wealthy families.Xie Jingyuan glanced at Chu Xinian, slightly pursed his lips, and asked deliberately, "Do you want the position of son?"

Chu Xinian was stunned for a moment, not understanding why he asked such a question, but after realizing it, he smiled and asked in a low voice: "If I want it, will the general take it for me?"

Xie Jingyuan didn't hesitate, he didn't even think for a moment, he played with the cup in his hand, and said with a half-smile: "If you want it, so what if I get it for you?"

"..."

When Chu Xinian heard the words, he took a deep look at Xie Jingyuan, but seeing that the other party didn't seem to be joking, he couldn't tell what it was like for a moment.He was silent for a moment, then gently pressed Xie Jingyuan's hand, and said seriously: "I was joking with the general."

What does he want to be the son of the world?

Chu Xinian touched the back of Xie Jingyuan's cold hand, and subconsciously rubbed it with his fingertips. He didn't withdraw his hand for a long time. He didn't know what he was thinking, and he was a little lost in thought.

Xie Jingyuan felt the warmth covering the back of his hand, paused, but did not push it away.

The banquet has already begun, and everyone in the hall is talking about it, citing scriptures, reciting poems and composing Fu, it is very lively.The prince was not interested in listening, and turned his head to find that Chu Xinian and Xie Jingyuan were holding hands under the table, while others were not paying attention, he quietly approached, and asked in a foxy tone, "What are you doing?"

The voice suddenly sounded from behind, startling them.

Chu Xinian and Xie Jingyuan were both startled when they heard the words, and they let go of their hands like an electric shock, feeling a little embarrassed for some reason.Seeing that it was the crown prince, Chu Xinian changed the subject nonchalantly: "No problem, why is Your Highness here?"

"solitary……"

Before the prince could come up with a reason, Xie Jingyuan had already picked up a dried fruit from the fruit plate and smashed it on his forehead, and said to Chu Xinian with a sneer: "What he can do is naturally the same as you. Come and see the beauty."

The prince sat back covering his head.

Chu Xinian didn't know how to explain to Xie Jingyuan that he was not interested in female sex.With a casual glance out of the corner of his eye, he saw that the little prince of Guangping was already preparing to let everyone admire his collection of paintings. He folded his fan and pointed at the box containing the paintings impartially, and said with a smile: "General, I'm here to look at the paintings .”

By chance, the king of the small county of Guangping obtained a famous painting "Chen Wang Banquet" which has been lost for a long time, which is Meng Xiting's masterpiece.He regards it as a treasure, loves it more than his life, and others can't easily take a look at it.It's really strange that I'm willing to share it with you today.

"Xiao Wang traveled to Jiangzhou last year and spent tens of thousands of gold to obtain this painting from an old Taoist. Today I will take it to you to have a look at it, so that we can see the authentic work of Master Meng together. Please—"

After the Xiaojun Wang finished speaking, he personally took out a scroll from the exquisite box held by the maid, and then slowly unfolded the seven-foot-long scroll in front of everyone.I saw that this painting is delicate and delicate, the king Chen feasts and the officials toast, the scene is lifelike, the expression is lifelike, it is really a rare masterpiece.

"Wonderful and wonderful!"

"It's wonderful, wonderful!"

Everyone was amazed and stepped forward to watch.Naturally, it was impossible for Chu Xinian to squeeze over and meow along with them. He poured a glass of wine by himself and poured it into the back of the chair, wondering what he was thinking.

Xie Jingyuan looked at him puzzled: "Didn't you say you came here to see the paintings? Why don't you look at the paintings now that the scholars have brought them out?"

"The general doesn't know something." Chu Xinian took a sip of his wine and said with a half-smile, "That's a fake painting."

Xie Jingyuan paused when he heard the words, and felt that it was impossible. How could the small county king of Guangping show a fake painting for everyone to see, so he narrowed his narrow eyes: "Have you seen the real one? Why did you decide that this painting is fake?"

Chu Xinian shook his head: "I haven't seen the real one, but "The Picture of King Chen's Banquet" is from the previous dynasty, at least more than 150 years ago. It is rouge silk with light powder on the paper surface, which is the handicraft of Shaojiang Prefecture 80 years ago."

They were in a forward position and could see more clearly.

Chu Xinian observed carefully for a while, and found a loophole again, chuckled, pointed to Xie Jingyuan with a fan, and said in a low voice: "This painting uses ancient jade and ivory as the axis, and the dark flowers carved on it are the luan that was popular in my dynasty. Magpie pattern, how could the royal paintings of the previous dynasty carve this pattern."

After finishing speaking, he came to a conclusion: "It is full of loopholes."

It can also fool those who have not seen the real thing.

Xie Jingyuan didn't understand: "Why did he do this?"

Chu Xinian shook his head, unable to understand: "Let's just watch the excitement."

Little did they know that the prince pricked up his ears and listened to all their words.

King Guangping stood aside and saw that everyone was enjoying it, so he ordered people to slowly put away the scroll.However, when he got this famous painting, he was not only unhappy, but also frowning, as if he had encountered some difficulties.

Someone asked aloud: "Why is the king of the county worried? It is really a blessing in my life to see this famous painting today."

Xiaojun Wang shook his head and sighed: "Qibao is suffering for nothing. Although Xiaowang has a slight reputation, he can't bear the weight of this painting."

Everyone hurriedly asked why.

The king of Guangping Xiaojun said: "I don't know, but you know that a few days ago, bandits were rampant in Beijing, and a thousand-faced snitch appeared. Treasure, has not yet been brought to justice."

When this matter was mentioned, everyone felt sorry for each other.Without him, this thief stole many rich and powerful people's houses, among the people present, eight out of ten homes have been stolen.

The white jade pendant from the Shen family, the nine-faced Buddha from the Jin family, the thousand-year-old ink from the Prince Chang's residence, and the luminous cup from the Prince Ping residence are too numerous to count.

"What does this matter have to do with the county king?"

The king of Guangping Xiaojun took out a piece of paper from his sleeve with a serious expression, and showed it to everyone: "I don't know, every time this thief steals, he always leaves a letter to the stolen family, stating what he stole. Three days ago, Xiao Wang It is convenient to receive this letter by my pillow, and it says that he will take away the "Picture of Chen Wang's Banquet" today."

As soon as this remark came out, the entire audience was in an uproar, and the Xiaojun Wang's face was even more pale and ugly: "This thief is really clever, and Xiao Wang has nothing to do, and I can't sleep for several nights. The purpose of showing this painting today is to share it with everyone. Even if the last pen is stolen... don't feel too sorry."

Chu Xinian seemed to know what he was going to do. When everyone was at a loss, he slowly shook his fan and said to Xie Jingyuan: "This painting will be destroyed soon."

The prince looked at him suspiciously: "Really?"

As soon as the words fell, there was a sudden sound of paper breaking in the hall.Everyone followed the sound, but saw that the little prince had found a dagger from nowhere, as if he was crazy, he suddenly scratched the painting two or three times, and tore it into pieces all over the floor.

"The county king can't!"

"Prince of the county! This is the last word of Master Meng! Stop it!"

The little county king didn't feel distressed, and those people who knew the goods were so distressed that tears were about to fall, and they stepped forward to stop them, but it was too late.

Seeing everyone watching, the little prince of Guangping threw his dagger on the ground vigorously, and said loudly: "Even if I destroy this painting today, I can't make the pearl dusty and fall into the hands of bandits!"

The prince was quite surprised, and turned to look at Chu Xinian, amused: "Your guess is quite accurate."

Chu Xinian smiled, but said nothing.

Xie Jingyuan slumped back in his chair lazily, thinking that this year's Heroes Banquet is much more interesting than previous years, and today's show is quite lively.

Everyone else was lamenting the destruction of famous paintings, only the three of them were sitting in the corner laughing and gloating.An old master with sharp eyes walked up to them tremblingly, pointed at them and said angrily: "A famous painting has been destroyed today, and it is hard to see the beauty of Meng's meticulous brushwork. We are heartbroken, why do you look at it with laughter? !"

The old Confucian scholar was a bit annoying, he just cried by himself, why bother whether others laughed or not.As soon as the voice came out, everyone's attention was immediately drawn to the three of them.

When was the prince pointed at his nose and scolded, he laughed and said, "If you tear up a fake painting, you just tear it up. There's nothing to cry about."

The Prince of Guangping Xiaojun's complexion changed slightly when he heard the words, and his expression was tense, let alone others.

The old master was shocked when he heard the words: "Why did His Royal Highness make such a statement? This painting is obviously an authentic work of the Meng family. Could it be that the king of the small county will deceive us? If you don't say that you are ugly today, the old man will not give up!"

These old fellows are highly respected, and the status of the prince does not have any deterrent effect on them, and it is not good if there is a conflict.

Chu Xinian was thinking about how to calm down the turmoil, but saw the prince suddenly pointing at him, and said carelessly: "Chu Xinian, you are the one with the sharp eyes, the first to recognize that this painting is fake, and explain it to him." Explain."

As soon as these words came out, the Jinlin Pavilion was so quiet that a needlepoint could be heard falling to the ground.Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, did they hear correctly, that idiot Chu Xinian said that this painting is fake? !

If it was said by Chu Jiaoping, it would still be credible, but if it was said by Chu Xinian, they would never believe it.Chu Xinian was a well-known rascal in Beijing, he hung out in brothels, lingered in gambling houses, he knew nothing about poetry and poetry, and he didn't know how to distinguish ancient paintings.

The old master flicked his sleeves in anger, pointed at Chu Xinian and said, "Zizi is rude! Don't even look at where this is, how dare you talk nonsense?!"

Xie Jingyuan squinted his eyes when he heard the words, his eyes were dangerous.If it wasn't for the fact that the other party is an old man, he would have knocked out the other party's mouth and teeth, and said in a gloomy tone, "Old man, try saying it again?"

Chu Jiaoping hurriedly came out to smooth things over: "Old man calm down, it was unintentional and not intentional to abandon my younger brother."

Chu Xinian looked meaningfully at the king of the small county of Guangping, but didn't say much.Anyway, he tore up the fake painting by himself. If the real painting is lost, there will be no place to appeal for grievances, no place to appeal for suffering, and he can only swallow his teeth.

It is obvious from today's incident that in order to keep the authentic Mengxi Pavilion, the King of Guangping deliberately forged a fake painting, and tore it up in full view with his own hands, in order to dispel the idea of ​​the Snitch from stealing.

It's pretty smart, but it's a pity that the camouflage painting is too clumsy.

Although Chu Xinian felt that this method might not be reliable, he would not expose it.He took advantage of the opportunity to get up, apologized to everyone with a smile, and said in a gentle and polite manner, "I'm talking nonsense, I made everyone laugh, don't take it seriously, just continue with the banquet."

The old master did not continue to entangle, but just reprimanded in a stern tone: "You are young, you should be more prudent, today the capital is full of talented people, don't make a joke."

Laughter gradually rose around, and Chu Xinian also smiled, and sat down again without being surprised.The prince rolled up his sleeves, and lowered his voice unconvinced: "Chu Xinian, what are you afraid of them doing?!"

Chu Xinian signaled him to be calm and not to be impatient, implying: "Your Highness, don't mess with useless things."

Xie Jingyuan raised his eyelids, and said in a cool tone, "I've already said that these sour scholars are more annoying than one another."

Sitting opposite, King Ping glanced at Chu Xinian unobtrusively. Seeing him talking and laughing without surprise, it was difficult to tell the depth for a while, even more unpredictable than Chu Jiaoping.

The turmoil barely subsided, and Prince Guangping ordered people to clean up the venue, and everyone was invited to return to their seats to continue the banquet.However, not long after sitting down, there was a sudden scream, and a lady from a noble family panicked and pointed at the back seat and said, "It's not good! It's dead! It's dead!"

"Wow—"

There was an uproar.

Everyone looked in the direction she pointed, only to see the young man of the Jin Mansion lying on the table with his head bowed, as if he had fallen asleep.There was a red blood hole in the temple, and the dark red blood dripped down the table and formed a small pool on the ground.

"vomit--"

For a moment, the people around him retreated like an electric shock, forming a vacuum encirclement. The timid people covered their mouths and vomited in fright. They wanted to run out, but were stopped by the servants at the door.

"Everyone, don't panic! Don't leave your position!"

The king of the small county of Guangping stepped forward quickly to appease everyone, but before he could speak, a servant suddenly entered the room quickly and whispered something in his ear.

I don't know what he said, but the Prince of Guangping's face turned pale when he heard the words, and suddenly staggered back, grabbing the servant's collar in shock: "What did you say?! My painting was stolen?!"

It was really a wave of ups and downs, and Ping Wang subconsciously asked: "Painting? What painting?"

The servant shook like a sieve, and said with a mournful face: "It is the picture of "Chen Wang's Banquet". After the servant returned, he opened the box and saw that it was empty and had disappeared."

Everyone didn't understand anymore: "Didn't the painting be torn?"

The king of the small county of Guangping was trembling with anger, and in a moment of urgency, he even spit out the truth: "The painting I tore up is a fake painting, it's a fake painting! Go find it quickly! Bring the real painting back to the king of this county." Come!"

The servant hurriedly took orders, and ran out like hell, leaving everyone in the seat stunned.The painting is fake? !How can it be? !

Many people subconsciously looked at Chu Xinian, but they saw him sitting quietly in his place, pouring himself a drink, as if he was not surprised by this incident at all, even the death of someone did not cause him the slightest disturbance .