The surname "Cui" was not an ordinary one in the Jing Kingdom.
There were many families with the surname "Cui" in the Jing Kingdom, but the "Cui Family" that people often mentioned only referred to the Cui Family of Wang Province.
As a prestigious clan that had been passed down for a few hundred years, it'd experienced the change of dynasties, the change of ownership of the land, and how many imperial powers had been destroyed before rising again. But the Cui Clan was still the Cui Clan, and it stood towering on that piece of land without collapsing. It was truly even more stable than the Imperial Family.
Of course, it wasn't because the Cui Clan's military strength was strong, and it possessed an army of its own that caused the Imperial Family to be extremely fearful of it. It was instead because the Cui Clan had been passed down for a few hundred years, and it was even to the extent that the Cui Clan had an extremely high prestige in the hearts of the scholars in the Moon Prefecture, the neighboring prefectures, and even the entire world.
It was easy to destroy the Cui Family, but at the same time, it also destroyed the people's trust in the Royal Family.
Therefore, even decades ago, when the Cui Family was at its peak and could even control the court, the Royal Family did not take any extreme measures against the Cui Family.
Of course, since the Emperor ascended the throne, he had deliberately supported the poor and adopted a strategy of slowly nibbling away at the power of the Noble Families in the court. In the past 20 years, the Cui Family's influence in the court had been greatly weakened. Especially in this year, the Cui Family's arrangements in the court for more than 10 years had almost suffered a destructive blow, and their reputation was no longer as strong as before.
However, a starving camel was still bigger than a horse. The Cui Family's disciples were all over the world, and they still had a reputation among the people. Moreover, they had a daughter who was the Imperial Concubine. Even if their influence was not as strong as before, they should not be underestimated.
Moreover, the Prince that Imperial Concubine Cui gave birth to was the current Emperor's eldest son. According to the rules of etiquette, after the King of Shu ascended the throne, the Cui Family's power would definitely reach a new peak.
Every year, during Imperial Concubine Cui's birthday, she would appear for a short while at the Cui Family's residence.
This was also one of the few opportunities that some low-ranking officials had to see the beauty of the Imperial Concubine. Of course, when the Imperial Concubine walked over, most people would lower their heads to pay their respects, and they would even miss this opportunity.
Therefore, no one noticed that in the crowd, the Governor of the Capital, Liu Dayou, had lowered his head and looked at Imperial Concubine Cui, who was walking over slowly.
Then he lowered his head again and moved his lips without making any sound. If someone knew how to read lips, they would naturally be able to read what he said … "Damn it, it's too far, I can't see it clearly …"
It was the birthday of the Noble Consort. According to the rules of etiquette, there was a set of complicated procedures that had to be followed in the palace during the day. When Noble Consort Cui arrived at the Cui Residence from the palace, it was already night time. Even though the Cui Residence was brightly lit with lanterns and streamers, it was not difficult to see Noble Consort Cui's appearance from the back of the crowd at a distance of half a zhang. However, if one wanted to see more details, such as the color of Noble Consort Cui's lipstick, whether she had too much makeup on her face, whether she had a single eyelid and so on …
He couldn't see these clearly.
Family Concubine family, Family Family, Family, Family Li Family members.
Although Imperial Concubine Cui was born in the Cui Family, her identity had changed since she entered the palace. Her relationship with the Cui Family had changed. Therefore, when she walked in slowly with the help of a palace maid, the head of the Cui Family and the members of the Cui Family were waiting respectfully in front of her.
In the crowd, a Minister of the Ministry of Rites lowered his head and waited for Imperial Concubine Cui to walk past him. He was still thinking, "I don't know what Imperial Concubine Cui looks like. Last year, I didn't dare to raise my head. This year, I'm standing a little forward, but I still don't dare to raise my head …"
Just when he was hesitating whether he should glance at her or not, he suddenly felt a huge force behind him. He staggered and fell forward.
Thump!
The minister of the Board of Rites knelt on the ground. Before he could get up, he felt something pressing down on him from behind. Then, there was a panicked voice.
"Who, who pushed me just now!"
"Clang!"
Several guards rushed out from behind Imperial Concubine Cui. They unsheathed their weapons and pointed at the two people in front of them. "Who are you?"
His eyes were blinded by the cold light on the tip of the saber. The Minister of the Ministry of Rites had just stood up when he slumped back down.
A middle-aged man got up from the ground and said in a panic, "I don't know who pushed me from behind just now and disturbed Your Highness. Please forgive me!"
"What's going on? Who are you?"
The head of the Cui family and the rest of the Cui family hurried over and asked with a gloomy face.
The surrounding officials were also stunned because of this matter. Some people recognized the identity of the two men and immediately whispered to each other.
"Isn't that Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Rites?"
"That, that seems to be Lord Liu, the capital magistrate …"
"Why did the two of them run out?"
"They said they were pushed by someone … Who would do such a senseless thing?"
…
Only then did the head of the Cui family, Cui Qingze, realize that it was a false alarm. He relaxed and was about to speak with a frown when Imperial Concubine Cui's voice came.
"Since there's nothing else, forget it. Go in first."
"Thank you, Your Highness. Your Highness is generous!" County Magistrate Liu respectfully stood where he was and bowed to Imperial Concubine Cui. When he raised his head, his face was full of gratitude and respect.
Then he returned to where he was and stood there respectfully.
Imperial Concubine Cui was indeed Imperial Concubine Cui. Her eyes were probably the most beautiful single eyelids he had ever seen.
The head of the Cui family vaguely glared at County Magistrate Liu and the Minister of the Ministry of Rites. Then he turned his head and stretched out his hand, saying, "Your Highness, please …"
…
Although today was Imperial Concubine Cui's birthday banquet, for most people, they could only glance at Imperial Concubine Cui when they lowered their heads.
After Imperial Concubine Cui and the core members of the Cui family entered the main residence, the atmosphere outside began to warm up again.
When fireworks began to bloom in the sky above the Cui Residence, Yu Dingfeng, the Patriarch of the Yu Family, who was sitting at a table in a hall, smiled and said, "If you want to talk about fireworks, you'll have to depend on Duke Chen's Residence. Brother Cui, next year, you'll have to learn from Brother Chen …"
The head of the Cui family smiled but did not speak.
Chen Chong led the guards of the Chen family to attack the Yu family's residence and even tore down the main gate of the Yu family's residence. Although the Yu family later paid a price to settle the matter, the enmity between the two families was considered to be formed.
Everyone present was an old fox. Everyone knew that although Yu Dingfeng's words seemed to be praising, they were actually saying that the birthday banquet of the Third Miss of the Chen family was far grander than even Imperial Concubine Cui's birthday banquet.
The Yu family had made a great contribution in the matter of the Academy. It could be said that they single-handedly hindered the development of the Academy, allowing the Cui family and many other aristocratic families to preserve their power. Although the Yu family was not as deep-rooted as the Chen family, with the Yu family's achievements, in the eyes of the Cui family and His Highness, the King of Shu, it was only a matter of time before the Yu family surpassed the Chen family.
In fact, Cui Qingze's attitude just now was already vaguely showing this trend.
Beside the table, a trace of displeasure appeared on Chen Qing's face. However, Chen Chong acted as if he did not hear or see it. He pointed to a dish in front of him, turned his head and whispered to Ceng Shichun who was sitting next to him, "This dish is not bad. Lord Ceng, please try it …"
After tasting it, Ceng Shichun nodded and said, "It is indeed good. Lord Chen, why don't you try this …"
This scene caused many people to be puzzled.
This second master of the Chen family and this one from the Zeng family, other than occasionally discussing important matters together, had never had any contact. When did they become so close?
…
At a table outside the hall, a few young people were toasting each other. Suddenly, one of them paused and suddenly said, "Look, who is that?"
Everyone's eyes looked over.
"Liu Dayou!"
"It's him!"
"He actually came today!"
Many young masters in the capital, including Young Duke Qin, had suffered a lot in the hands of this County Magistrate Liu. Everyone naturally had a deep impression of him.
Ceng Zijian looked over in confusion and murmured, "Doesn't this person always follow Li Yi's lead? Why is he here today? Could it be … is he expressing goodwill to the Cui family?"
"I'm afraid it's a little too late to express goodwill now …" Seeing Liu Dayou, someone felt a dull pain in his buttocks and said coldly.
"Xixin, why don't you go over and check him out. If he really has the intention to express goodwill to the Cui family, you can let him off for what he has done in the past. If he harbors ill intentions and has ulterior motives, today …"
Cui Xixin nodded and stood up with a trace of a smile on his face.
This is the Cui family, a small capital magistrate, haha …
At the banquet of the Cui family, close friends gathered at the table, drinking and chatting. Since they were on the side of the King of Shu and personally came to attend the birthday banquet of the Imperial Concubine, they naturally kept in touch with each other.
It was rare to see someone like County Magistrate Liu drinking alone in silence.
Of course, it was precisely because he occupied a table alone in the corner that no one was willing to sit with him. Naturally, no one could hear the words he whispered while drinking alone.
"Single eyelid, single eyelid, double eyelid … Damn it, what is this …"
"Damn it, if I had known this, I wouldn't have come today …"
"Motherf * cker, who would believe such a thing?"
"I can't say it, I can't say it now. The Cui family, the Cui family, he …"
"Lord Liu …" Cui Xixin came from behind with a wine glass in his hand and was about to speak with a smile.
"Damn it!"
County Magistrate Liu turned his head and said with a depressed face, extremely impatient.
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