This was the first time Li Zhen had such a lively New Year's Eve. In his memory, every New Year's Eve was deserted every year. At that time, his family was relatively tight and he had at most two meat and vegetables. Today, there was a sumptuous banquet, and everyone gathered together and laughed loudly and was extremely lively, which made him feel the atmosphere of New Year's Eve.

Li Quan was thinking about Xiu'er, and he took a step first in less than an hour. At this time, Zhao Qiuniang's disciples began to play various games. This is the tradition of every year. Some disciples used clay pots to fight insects, and some shot flying knives to have fun, but more people played the Wumu play and threw pots.

At this time, everyone was already full of food and food, and basically went for fun. The most popular entertainment on New Year's Eve is throwing pots. Punching pots is also called Wenshe, which means throwing arrows into thin-necked bottles several feet away.

This kind of game is suitable for all ages and young people, with a large number of participants. It is very popular in both famous families and ordinary families. Even in the palace, it is also the most popular game for palace maids and eunuchs.

There are usually lottery heads for throwing pots, and as the difficulty increases, the lottery heads also increase. Zhao Qiuniang takes out 100 guan of money every year as a reward for throwing pots for disciples. The highest lottery head is a jade hairpin worth 30 guan, which is required to be obtained by 20 steps and five consecutive shots.

In ordinary families, they usually throw pots in three or five steps, but Zhao Qiuniang's apprentices are good at martial arts, so they are basically more than ten steps.

Li Zhen was chatting with Zhang Li. Zhang Li looked very much like his father Zhang Ting, and his personality was as calm as his father. Or rather dull and boring. He didn't joke with others and didn't participate in various games. He liked to sit there and drink, and said a few words to Li Zhen from time to time.

Jiuzhi was the opposite. He was indeed a very interesting person. He ate and drank a little, then wiped his mouth and went to throw a pot with his female disciples. His flying knife was very accurate, which made him soon become the object of worship by the female disciples. A large group of female disciples clapped and cheered around him, making Jiuzhi even more proud.

Li Zhen looked at Jiuzhi from afar and smiled at Zhang Li, "This morning, I accompanied my eldest sister to the Pure Land Temple to burn incense. I happened to meet Master Lingyin from our Dunhuang Dayun Temple. Do you still remember him!"

"Of course I remember that in the summer I accompanied my mother to Dayun Temple to make a wish and chatted with the abbot Lingyin for a while."

Zhang Li asked strangely: "How could he be in Luoyang?"

"He came to raise money for the Mogao Grottoes' large stone statue. He said that the So family stopped supporting the Maitreya statue, and the Maitreya statue had stopped working."

Zhang Li sneered, "The Suo family's promise is the least credible. How many things they promised can be done? However, there are special reasons for the Suo family's breach of trust this time."

"What's the special reason?" Li Zhen asked curiously.

"For Wu Chengsi's case! The earliest backstage of the So family was Suo Yuanli. After Suo Yuanli was killed, the So family took a lot of effort to reach Wu Chengsi's backstage. As a result, Wu Chengsi also fell and suffered a great blow to the So family. I heard from my father that during that period, the So family was like a funeral, and the whole family was extremely depressed. It was expected that it would stop supporting the Maitreya statue."

Li Zhen snorted disdainfully and said, "If I'm not wrong, the Suo family will be in trouble again."

Zhang Li was stunned, "Why?"

Li Zhen took a sip of wine and slowly said: "The reason is very simple. Wu Chengsi was released this afternoon. Although it is impossible for the official to be restored, he was at least relieved of his crime. At this time, the Suo family abandoned Wu Chengsi and turned to Lai Junchen. Do you think Wu Chengsi would let the Suo family go?"

"You're right. People with two faces and three swords are the most hated."

Li Zhen received news this afternoon that Wu Chengsi was released. He also heard that the reason for his release was that Princess Taiping pleaded with love, and Wu Zetian finally followed Princess Taiping's persuasion.

Although it is unlikely that Wu Chengsi will regain power, he will definitely be attracted by Princess Taiping. With Wu Chengsi's wealth and power, he will be able to become a great help to Princess Taiping. From this incident, it can be seen that Princess Taiping is also a very skilled person. Her political acumen is far superior to Xue Huaiyi and she is a very difficult enemy to deal with.

If Xue Huaiyi was a little smarter, he should have convinced Wu Zetian to release Wu Chengsi, so that he would get favors from the Wu family. It would not be so easy to defeat him. However, Xue Huaiyi was not loyal, but in the end no one supported him, and ended up being betrayed by everyone.

Li Zhen was thinking, Zhao Qiuniang came over with her and smiled and said to Li Zhen: "Azhen, I will introduce you to a disciple."

Li Zhen saw that this person was about fifteen or sixteen years old, and he was very thin and had a figure similar to that of a small thin, but he looked sturdy and very clever than a small thin.

"Liar Wang Jie, see Brother Li!" He knelt on one knee and bowed to Li Zhen very skillfully.

Li Zhen immediately realized something, Zhao Qiuniang sat next to Li Zhen and whispered: "He used to be a hidden guard under my command, and his father was the owner of the Liansuan Shop."

The serial lock shop is the largest lock shop in the Nanshi Lock Shop. It has sold locks for generations. They made half of the locks in Luoyang and are very famous in Luoyang.

"What did it mean before?" Li Zhen asked lightly.

"Wan Guojun wanted to pull him over, but he refused to agree. As a result, Wan Guojun found an excuse to beat him fifty sticks and eliminate the inner guard."

Li Zhen nodded and quickly helped Wang Jie up with a smile, "Brother Wang, please get up!"

At this time, several disciples of Zhao Qiuniang surrounded him and said with a smile: "Have Wang Suolang come to show his skills again?"

"You all get aside!"

Zhao Qiuniang smiled and scolded and drove away several apprentices, and said to Li Zhen: "Today is New Year's Eve, I'll ask Silang to show you a unique skill."

Li Zhen suddenly became interested, and even Zhang Li came up. Wang Jie took out more than a dozen locks from his skin, including thick door locks, exquisite beast-head locks, and small thumb-like mini locks. He smiled and said to Li Zhen: "Please check the locks, Brother Li."

Zhao Qiuniang's apprentices slipped back and surrounded Li Zhen, saying angrily: "Brother Li, don't check it anymore. This kid has real skills."

Li Zhen looked roughly and saw that more than a dozen locks were locked very tightly, so he nodded. At this time, Wang Jie took out a copper needle with a ring. The copper needle was about two inches long. He put the ring on his index finger and smiled and said, "I'm starting!"

His expression became solemn. He picked up the largest lock and gently stabbed the copper needle into the lockhole. He only tried it twice, and with a "click!" sound, the lock popped out.

He picked up another lock and opened the copper lock in the blink of an eye. In less than a cup of tea, he opened all the dozen locks, and everyone around him applauded.

Li Zhen was surprised to pick up the lock, looked carefully, and asked with a smile: "Are these all locks sold by your lock shop?"

Wang Jie shook his head, "There is no lock in this place that is our lock. Of course, I can open our locks too."

Zhao Qiuniang smiled and said, "Even the Lock Silang in the Palace can be opened, but he can't open only one lock. A Zhen, you should have seen it."

Li Zhen remembered the underground palace of Ziyun Pavilion, which should be there, otherwise Shangguan Wan'er would not have to look for him. He couldn't help but admire: "Brother Wang has unique skills!

"How is it?" Zhao Qiuniang hinted to Li Zhen: "Can he be able to re-issue..."

Li Zhen trusts Zhao Qiuniang very much, and Li Zhen generally accepts the person she recommends, let alone such a person with unique skills. He smiled happily and said, "Of course there is no problem. After the New Year, come with Sister Qiuniang!"

Wang Jie was extremely moved. He didn't expect that he would return to the inner guard one day, and couldn't help but cry and said, "Thank you, Brother Li!"

"You're welcome, come! Sit down and drink together."

Wang Jie sat down and poured Li Zhen a glass of wine. At this time, cheers burst out from the distance from the pot. Everyone looked at Li Zhen. Li Zhen couldn't help but be stunned. Why did he pull himself up?

Several female disciples ran over with a smile, pulled Li Zhenjiao and said, "Brother Li, let's throw an arrow with us!"

A group of male disciples also came to pull Li Zhen. Under the cheers of everyone, Li Zhen had no choice but to get up and come to the quiver. Seeing that the podium was empty, he couldn't help but smile and said, "You have won all the prizes, why are you going to pull me to do?"

"Brother Li, the best prize is still here! I'm waiting for you to take action."

Only then did Li Zhen see a box placed at the top of the podium. He asked with a smile: "What is that? Oh! I remembered it, it seems to be a jade hairpin."

Jiuzhi stepped forward and pulled Li Zhen aside and whispered: "Old Li, give me some face and give me this prize!"

"Why give it to you?"

Li Zhen rolled his eyes at him, "You kid has made so much, do you still want to take it all?"

"No!"

Jiu Zhi bowed to him anxiously and said, "I have given them all the prizes I have cast. I don't have them either. I just want this jade hairpin. It's a matter of my life. Just let me let you do this time!"

"A lifelong event?"

Li Zhen was surprised. He followed Jiuzhi's gaze, but found that A Ling was looking at Jiuzhi shyly, with expectations in his eyes. He couldn't help but laugh, "Did you promise something to A Ling?"

Jiuzhi scratched his head and his face flushed, which reminded Li Zhen of the situation when Jiujiu was pursuing Cui's anger. He smiled and patted Jiuzhi on the shoulder, "Don't take it so seriously, just an arrow."

Jiu Zhi has no choice but to say that he is suffering. In his opinion, this is no longer as simple as throwing an arrow. It is rare that a beautiful and cute little girl likes her. If she loses face in front of her, how can she win the hearts of a beautiful woman?

He knew very well that Li Zhen's archery skills were far superior to him. If he refused to let him go, he would definitely lose today.

At this time, the pot was already twenty steps away, and Zhao Qiuniang's disciples were crowded with each other. Everyone was eagerly looking forward to Li Zhen's arrow, and someone shouted: "Five consecutive wins!"

Li Zhen picked up a gold-painted bronze arrow and smiled at Jiuzhi, "Old Fat, come first!"

Jiuzhi bit his lip tightly, his expression was extremely nervous. The bronze arrow turned around his fingers. He found the feeling and threw the green bronze arrow in his hand. With a sound of "Damn!", the bronze arrow was in the center of the pot, and there was a clamor next to him. Jiuzhi secretly looked at A Ling, and saw her slapping excitedly, cheering for himself.

An incomparable joy surged in his heart, and finally someone liked him again.

At this time, Li Zhen also stood on the side of the shooting line and smiled and said, "I haven't made a shot for a whole year. I've become much unfamiliar with my hands, so I may not be able to make a shot!"

Having said that, the copper arrow in his hand drew a beautiful arc and shot it accurately into the copper pot, attracting everyone to cheer.

Although throwing a pot is a game suitable for both young and old, it is difficult to really shoot to a high level, especially for five consecutive shots outside of twenty steps, which is basically difficult to do. Those who can shoot must also have superb archery skills.

Jiuzhi is good at flying knives, which is similar to throwing pots, so throwing pots is also his strength, but since he was a child, he has never beat Li Zhen once.

After four consecutive shots, Jiu Zhi's face turned pale, his hands were trembling slightly, and his spirit was almost broken. He shot four consecutive shots, which was his limit. He could not do it even if he had to throw the fifth arrow.

Li Zhen did not have any pressure at all. He easily threw four arrows as he shot. This kind of shooting outside twenty steps was really not a difficult task for him. He could easily throw them even if he threw ten arrows.

At this time, Li Zhen glanced at A Ling, and saw her fingers tightly twisting her handkerchief, worried about Jiuzhi. When he looked at Jiuzhi's nervous look, Li Zhen couldn't help but feel funny, and whispered to remind him: "Release the middle finger a little."

Jiu Zhi's hand shook, and the bronze arrow came out, and his face suddenly felt ashamed. He knew that the arrow was not good, and Li Zhen also saw that the arrow was too weak and could not hit the bronze pot at all.

For the sake of brothers, Li Zhen decided to help him once, and the golden copper arrow in his hand also flew out at a very fast speed. He caught up with Jiu Zhi's green copper arrow. With a sound of "Dang!", the two arrows collided in the air, and everyone exclaimed.

But the final result was beyond everyone's expectations. Jiu Zhi's green copper arrow bounced on the edge of the copper pot and slid into the pot. However, Li Zhen's golden copper arrow hit the pot and fell to the ground.

After a while, the applause was thunderous. Although the last arrow had an accident, the winner was decided. Jiu Zhi shouted "Ah!" and jumped excitedly, and he won.

At this moment, Jiuzhi ran towards the podium regardless of everything, grabbed the box containing the jade hairpin in his hand, ran to A Ling happily, and said with a shameless look: "A Ling, I give this to you!"

A burst of laughter suddenly broke out in the lobby, "Aling, please accept it quickly! Otherwise we will take it away."

A Ling's face was flushed with shame. She took the box and ran into the inner room. The laughter in the lobby became louder.

Even Zhao Qiuniang saw that Jiuzhi fell in love with her little apprentice. She smiled and shook her head, and said to Li Zhen: "You have done a good job today!"

Li Zhen had already sat back in his seat, picked up the wine glass and smiled, "It's the beauty of adulthood, Sister Qiu Niang is not allowed to make things difficult for them!"

Zhao Qiuniang also smiled slightly, "I have never cared about such things."

At this time, Jiuzhi walked over with excitement on his face, poured wine for Li Zhen, and said respectfully: "Thank you, Brother Li, for your help!"

Li Zhen glanced at him, "You kid still know how to thank me!"

Jiuzhi scratched his head and laughed, "How come I don't know?"

Li Zhen drank the wine and said to him with a solemn expression: "There is a reason for me to fulfill you. Since you have joined the inner guard, you must strictly abide by the rules of the inner guard and do not allow you to go to the brothel again. If you can't do it, leave the inner guard as soon as possible, so as not to punish you with military discipline."

Jiu Zhi nodded silently. Although he was a little greedy and lustful in his heart, he knew that the inner guard and Qianniu Wei were not the same thing. The inner guard was extremely strict and it was difficult for ordinary people to join. He got this opportunity because of Li Zhen. If he did not cherish this opportunity, he would not even have a place to buy medicine for regret.

.........
Chapter completed!