Chapter 599: Shangfang Sword

Li Yong's letter of state was handed over, which had an unexpected effect. The envoy of the Xixia Kingdom was leaving, and the court could no longer delay the time to consider it! When the court was discussing, Chen Ao was also in the class. He thought that there was nothing wrong today, and was thinking about waiting for the martial arts school to work hard for a day. Unexpectedly, Zhao Ji sat in the golden hall and said with a calm face: "Chen Ao, come out."

Chen Ao had no choice but to stand up and said aloud: "Your Majesty..."

Zhao Ji said: "As the Minister of the Honglu Temple, you are so arrogant to the envoy, can you know your crime?"

The martial arts hall was in an uproar. No one expected that His Majesty would use this to scold Chen Ao. Many people thought to themselves, could it be that the government took advantage of an excuse to dispel Xia Ao’s arrogance? Or maybe in order to make Chen Ao fall into trouble for the sake of checks and balances?

It was just a time of random thoughts that Zhao Ji continued: "The princess of Xixia married, and the princes of various countries went happily. Although the border affairs of the Song Dynasty and Xixia were tense, they could not neglect the envoys. The etiquette of the Honglu Temple should be fully used, and they must not be abandoned, nor should they be neglected." Zhao Ji raised his eyes, and then looked at Yang Zhen, the Minister of Rites, and said, "Yang Aiqing, what do you say?"

Yang Zhen came out and said, "Your Majesty said very well. I heard that the envoys of Xixia were sent to various countries, and all countries happily sent princes to Xixia to participate in this grand event. Our Song Dynasty cannot be despised. In any case, we should also send individual candidates."

Yang Zhen and Shen Ao had no personal grudges, but they just couldn't stand it in official matters. The Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple both had the responsibility to welcome foreign envoys. Chen Ao was good and acted entirely on his own will, and overturned the foreign affairs and national policies for the past century and were not polite to those envoys. This was really unreasonable in Yang Zhen's opinion.

Zhao Ji said loudly: "Yang Aiqing's words are the words of planning the country, and I have already had this intention." After that, he looked at Chen Ao and said: "Chen Ao, you have also read books. You should look at the principles of sages and think about your mistakes."

When he announced his retirement from the court, Zhao Ji kept Chen Ao. This time he left him at the side of the Martial Arts Hall. Yang Jian poured tea for Zhao Ji. Zhao Ji took a sip and said casually: "What? You don't think so after hearing my preaching?"

Chen Ao said in response: "Every word that Your Majesty says is as straight as nectar as nectar poured into his heart, which is thought-provoking."

Zhao Ji smiled faintly and said, "Okay, I will bear this slander. However, after thinking about the matter of Xixia, I still want you to do it."

Chen Ao was stunned and said, "Your Majesty, I am not a prince."

Zhao Ji shook his head and said, "You are the prince, what's the point? The Xixia Kingdom only wants to have fun and doesn't care about your identity."

Chen Ao was full of heart and was unwilling to go to Xixia. It is said that the place where birds do not shit is extremely windy and sandy. It is almost winter, and the winter there is also extremely cold. Besides, he was running around, which made his wife dissatisfied. When he went to Xixia again, he would definitely not know how many resentments he had.

Chen Ao said embarrassedly: "I already have so many wives. If you want a princess back, how can I live?" He looked bitter and his hands were full of worries.

Zhao Ji said with a stern face: "This is what I mean. It's better if you can bring the Xixia princess back. The most important thing is to destroy the marriage between the Prince of Jin and the Xixia people. The Empress Dowager was right. You have the ability. Your greatest ability is to turn good things into bad things and bad things into worse things."

Chen Ao was stunned for a moment and thought to himself, why do everyone thinks of me like this? Am I so disliked? I was extremely sad and angry, and I couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty said this, how dare I not obey orders? When you go to Xixia, you must marry the princess and fight it three times a day, which can be regarded as winning glory for me, the Song Dynasty."

As he said that, he smiled at Zhao Ji, but Zhao Ji still had a stern face: "Is it funny?"

Chen Ao's smile immediately froze: "Isn't it funny?"

Zhao Ji shook his head and said, "The one I trust most is you. Jin Xia's marriage is a big concern for me. If I cannot destroy it in the middle, I will regret it at that time. I entrust all my country to you, and I know you will not refuse."

Speaking of this, Chen Ao had no choice but to say, "Your Majesty, I have to give my orders in the face of danger."

Zhao Ji finally smiled and said, "This is Chen Ao, who is not afraid of heaven and earth. In fact, at the beginning, I might have thought about the candidate, but later when you went to Cai's Mansion to make such a mess, I was wondering what would it look like if you were put in Xixia?" He couldn't help laughing: "Let the Jin people and Xixia people have a headache, but you must also remember that I will not allow you to suffer any damage. If there is any danger, come back immediately."

Chen Aohe nodded: "I understand that I am a rabbit and run faster than others."

Zhao Ji said again: "You can choose the candidates for the mission by yourself, and I will just follow it. There is another saying in the palace that the Grand Master is suffering from severe illness, right? Alas, it is hard for him. If you are disturbed like this, you will get sick even if you are not sick. At this point, he still tried hard to maintain his subordinates. I feel ashamed. But if you want to go to Xixia, there is no one available in the court, so you can only let him continue to maintain it."

Speaking of Cai Jing, Zhao Ji felt a little guilty at this time and then said, "If you have the chance, you can visit Cai's Mansion."

Chen Ao smiled bitterly and said, "If the Wei minister really goes, I am afraid that the Grand Master will really die."

Zhao Ji just shook his head and couldn't speak. He smiled and moved away from the topic, "Your side received the treasure. I have compared the seal of the imperial edict from the pre-Tang Emperor Taizong. It turns out that it is the same, and it is also a peerless treasure. I have something to give to you." Then, Zhao Ji winked at Yang Jian.

Yang Jian was digesting the news that Chen Ao went to Xixia to serve as an envoy. At this time, he came to his senses and immediately came out of the Martial Arts Hall. After a cup of tea, he sent a long box. Zhao Ji opened the box and exposed a long sword. Jian Hui was made of gold wire wrapped in black silk. The hilt was inlaid with gems and colorful glass. Chen Ao was stunned for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, what kind of ancient thing is this?"

Zhao Ji smiled and said, "It's not an antique, it was forged by me. Didn't you tell me the allusion of the Shangfang Sword? This sword is named as the Shangfang Sword. I gave you today and you will wear it on your body and show me."

Chen Ao took out the sword from the box, played with it for a while, then put it on his waist, showed it, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, does this sword have the effect of killing slanderous ministers?"

Zhao Ji raised his face and gave him a sword. He really wanted to play the trick of killing the foolish monarch and beheading the slander ministers. However, at this time, he would not be able to scold him for talking nonsense when he wanted to fool him to go to Xixia. He had to say, "You can kill the criminals under the fifth rank, so you can take it away."

Chen Aoda was disappointed. If he could really kill the slander, the first thing he did after leaving the palace was to go to Cai’s mansion to see if Cai Jing died so quickly. As for criminals under the fifth rank, how could they still need to use Shangfang’s sword? Just slap them to death. How could they use a ox knife to kill the chicken?

After all, it was a great gift, at least it was still very intimidating when worn. Although Chen Ao was a little disappointed, he had to thank him and said, "Your Majesty, I dare not forget your favor."

Zhao Ji felt that his words were more appropriate, so he said a lot of good things in his heart before letting Chen Ao leave the palace.

When Chen Ao walked out of Zhengde Gate, he felt that he had a little surrender. He took the Shangfang sword and played with it. He finally felt a little comforted. He let out a sigh and asked the imperial guard to lead the horse. He straightened his waist to the imperial guard who led the horse for him, placed the sword on his waist in a conspicuous position, and said, "Do you know what kind of sword this is?"

The imperial guard was confused and said, "Please ask the prince to show his advice."

Chen Ao was full of energy and said proudly: "This is the sword of Shangfang. He killed the fifth-rank official and the ninth-rank county magistrate. He was unsheathed and saw blood. The world's number one weapon. Remember it, don't tell it out, so that the slander's secrets can know, and they all clamp their tails to be human." He just prayed in his heart, little brother, you must be a big mouth and spread the news immediately.

After saying that, Chen Ao rode his horse and took the guards who had been waiting for a long time to drive the horse away from the palace city. He was not in a hurry to go home first, but took his men around the market for a few rounds and bought a few top-quality silks trafficked from Jiangnan, and then he returned anxiously.

When he returned home, Chen Ao walked forward with his sword hanging, while the guards chased him with silk fabrics. Although there were many such silk palaces, they bought them in person and gave them the gift.

When I returned to the back garden, I saw the wife chatting and shaded in the pavilion. Chen Ao walked over quickly and deliberately coughed a few times, but there was no movement. After a few steps, he coughed violently again, but still no response.

It's so strange, there's no reaction at all, and the guard follows him, where can I put this face?

Chen Ao said loudly: "I'm back."

The ladies turned their backs to him, indifferent.

Chen Ao was even more uneasy. How could the news spread so quickly? No, no, you have to be calm and calm. He held his courage and walked over quickly. The five ladies over there looked back together and said, "Husband is back."

Then they hugged each other and laughed. Chen Ao realized that he had been fooled and immediately looked shocked: "I'm scared to death, I'm scared to death."

Zhou Ruo first saw the silk fabric held by the guard and said happily: "Today it seems like the sun is coming out from the west, and my husband still cares about us outside."

The guards handed the fabric to Zhou Ruo and stepped back. The woman had a natural favor for the fabric and savored it together. This was better than the Shu brocade that who sent it a few days ago, and also said that the fabric was delicate and you could cut a dress.

Chen Ao was left aside and said in a resentful voice: "Although I am diligent in the affairs of the king, I have always been thinking about you in my heart. When I come back today, I will tell you a good and a bad thing. Which one do you want to listen to first?"

Zhenzhen smiled charmingly and said, "Let me tell me good things first."

Chen Ao stood up and faced the palace and said, "Your husband is deeply grateful and trusted by Your Majesty the most. Your Majesty summoned me to the palace today and comforted me with kind words. He also gave him a great task and gave him a sword to the Shangfang, and killed the unspoken officials from the top and the corrupt officials from the bottom. Is this good news?"

Zhou Ruo sneered at the corner of his mouth and said, "If I had known that I should have listened to his bad news first, there would have been no good things."

Chen Aohe said, "It's not a bad thing. I have said just now that Your Majesty only trusts me. It's impossible for those who can do more work. Although the country of Song Dynasty requires Your Majesty to sit in the guard, there must be effective people to send them. This time, there are things in the Western Xia state, and Your Majesty chooses thousands of choices. In the end, he still thinks that being a husband is the most diligent and willing to work, so..."

When he heard about going to Xixia, Tang Moer said worriedly: "Xixia and the Song Dynasty have always been in disagreement. Will there be dangers for your husband to go here?"

Chen Ao smiled and comforted: "How can there be danger when two countries fight and come to war?"

After comforting her, she saw that the wife became solemn suddenly, Chen Ao said on the pretext: "Why didn't Dong'er come? Come and call Miss Dong'er."

Dong'er came over slowly, looking a little restrained. Chen Ao waved to him and said, "Dong'er also came over to cut a piece of fabric to buy a dress."

Dong'er was stunned for a moment: "I...I have too..."

Chen Ao said with a straight face: "Of course I have my sister."
Chapter completed!