Gongshang Confidante

In the Yu Temple in early spring, peach blossoms are in bud, and under the white eaves, wind chimes make crisp sounds with the wind. Palace ladies in pink and green palace skirts shuttle back and forth, holding food boxes in their hands, walking towards the garden of the apse.

"Your Highness, this poppies blooms really well." Zhou Chiyu sat in the small pavilion by the lotus pond, propped his chin, stared at the flowers and colors in the garden, in a daze.

In Mobei, there are war drums and gunpowder smoke outside the city. Even if there is a fierce and good fighter in front, but behind him is the roar of the Black Tiger Army, with the support of the united Ning family, and Su Muxue beside him, he never feels lonely.

After returning to the palace, it seemed that there was only one person left, fighting.

"Your Highness, the Eldest Princess sent someone to send a post." Xia Ling handed over the post. Luoshui gold paper, depicting a peach blossom fan, once invited to a flower feast, Zhou Chiyu flipped through the gold paper, but Xia Ling hesitated to speak. Yes, said lightly, "Speak up if you have something to say, hesitating",

Xia Ling made a blessing, and couldn't help but said, "I heard that the eldest princess's annual flower banquet invites the royal relatives and nobles in the capital, and it is designed to match the unmarried sons and daughters in the city. Unexpectedly, this year, His Royal Highness is invited." ,

Zhou Chiyu was stunned, and put the golden paper on the side of the desk, "The flower banquet every year is a grand event in the city. This time, the slaves heard that the flower banquet is very grand, because the King of Dian has returned to Beijing." Beside said,

"Sister Xia Ling, what does the flower feast have to do with King Dian's return to Beijing?" The little maid next to her boldly asked, "King Dian is Princess Chang's son-in-law, but I don't know. Does it matter?" Xia Ling continued, "I'm afraid the Eldest Princess will be looking for a consort for His Highness."

"Oh?" Zhou Chiyu raised his eyebrows jokingly, revealing a faint smile. Seeing that she was not displeased, Xia Ling became bolder and said, "His Royal Highness has reached the age of sixteen, so he has reached the age of marriage." up",

Zhou Chiyu glanced at Xia Ling, and said, "Xia Ling is also a sixteen-year-old youth, but are you implying that I will find a husband for you?" "Your Highness," Xia Ling blushed with shame, and said straight, "Slaves don't marry , just stay by His Highness's side",

"Qu'er, do you think she's telling the truth?" Zhou Chiyu looked at the little maid, Qu'er covered her mouth, and said with a smirk, "Two days ago, the servant saw sister Xia Ling secretly embroidering mandarin ducks?"

"Qu'er, don't talk nonsense." Xia Ling blushed and chased after Qu'er. Qu'er, who has a lively personality, dodged twice, and said with a smile, "You are sixteen years old, in Qu'er's hometown, you should have married and had children long ago. , the old family is commonly known as Pogua Nianhua, sister Xia Ling, why should you be shy",

Zhou Chiyu frowned, with some displeasure on his face, Xia Ling stopped in his tracks, and scolded with a straight face, "Little girl, learn some rough language, if you want to say it again, I will punish you not to eat."

Qu'er glanced at Zhou Chiyu's face, knelt down hurriedly, and said, "Qu'er was outspoken and abrupt, Your Highness", "Forget it", Zhou Chiyu was in no mood, walked into the hall with a sullen face, and said, "Refuse up".

Xia Ling followed behind her, and said cautiously, "I heard from the people on the post that the eldest princess also invited Mrs. Su." Zhou Chiyu paused, and Xia Ling continued, "I heard that Eunuch Li said that Prime Minister Su is looking This year's new champion, I'm afraid he wants the two to meet first."

Zhou Chiyu stopped in her tracks and said with a smile, "It seems a bit interesting." She casually held a poppy flower, but she didn't pick it up. She just put it on the tip of her nose and sniffed it, saying, "It's fine to chat and have fun."

The little court lady, Qu'er, saw His Highness bowing, and wanted to show courtesy to fold the flowers for His Highness, but was stopped by Xia Ling, and said softly,

"His Royal Highness takes pity on flowers, and only rewards without discount."

It is said that after Princess Zhaoning accepted the invitation to the flower banquet, the threshold of the Princess's Mansion would be broken down. The dignitaries in Beijing, literati and writers tried their best to squeeze into the Princess's Mansion, but only asked for an invitation.

On the night of the flower banquet, in the Princess's mansion, the lights were brightly lit, the harpsichord and the flute were played, the weeping willows by the lake were covered with lanterns, and a hundred flowers were in full bloom, and the fragrance of flowers was intoxicating everywhere.

Zhou Chiyu was wearing golden silk soft words, looking at the fairy dress with light pink on the ground, Xia Ling was afraid that it would be cold at night, so she put on a soft brocade cloak for her, the most wonderful thing was the poppies silk flowers on her head, and the scarlet silk of Hang Gong. , Made of weaving yarn, the persimmon flower is lifelike, pure white dyed with a circle of light pink, like a shy beauty.

"Zhaoning has met the eldest princess", Zhou Chiyu went to meet the eldest princess first. In order to beat the cold spring, the earth dragon was baked in the room, and the incense was smoked in the incense burner. Lying lazily, she is not confused about her age, but her skin is smooth, her cheeks are red and her skin is snowy, and she looks a bit like a drunken begonia.

"Today's banquet at home, don't be too polite, be more comfortable, serve tea to Princess Zhaoning", the eldest princess smiled lightly, let Zhou Chiyu sit, Zhou Chiyu raised his eyes, and saw the maids beside the eldest princess, all of them were beautiful, beautiful, kneeling By the side of the eldest princess, serve her drinking wine and feed grapes.

With light gauze and chiffon, incense all over the room, and the heat from people grilled by earth dragons, Zhou Chiyu couldn't help but think that the king of Dian was in Xishu all year round, and the eldest princess stayed alone in the capital.

"Why, is the maid in this palace in a daze?" The eldest princess smiled, got up gracefully, handed her hand to the maid, leaned softly on the maid, and as she walked, the maid's white chiffon chest surged Rubbing the princess's arm, Zhou Chiyu looked away a little awkwardly.

"Let's go, all the guests are here." The eldest princess waved her hand and called Zhou Chiyu over, and the two walked towards the banquet.

Walking to the banquet, Zhou Chiyu saw Su Muxue who was sitting at a glance. Looking around, there was no one who was well-dressed, and her brocade robe was shining, but she, dressed in plain clothes that could not be more plain, without hairpins or hairpins, was sitting indifferently. During the banquet, if they were walking outside, who would have thought that this was the daughter of the Su family, who was in the middle of the court, Zuo Sijiao.

"Here, that is this year's champion of the new division, Lin Wenxuan, Chen Pianpian, the daughter of Chen Shilang, and Li Jinse, the younger sister of Li Yushi. Many girls came for him in this flower feast," said the eldest princess,

Lin Wenxuan, whom the eldest princess refers to, is dressed in a snow-colored brocade robe with dark patterns and a jade crown on his head. He is handsome and elegant.

Men and women sat at separate tables, and Lin Wenxuan was facing Su Muxue. Unlike the room full of brocade robes and dresses, the two of them were plain and pure white, with an indifferent temperament.

"It seems that Mr. Lin seems to have his own heart." The eldest princess smiled, Zhou Chiyu didn't make a sound, but just followed her and sat down, "Greetings to the eldest princess and Princess Zhaoning", the people under the table saluted, left and right After looking around, the King of Dian did not show up at the banquet.

Zhou Chiyu saw Su Muxue's gaze fixed on her body, she tilted her head, and looked outside the corridor, where a flower poked out.

After the banquet is the highlight of the annual flower banquet. The eldest princess will win the prize. Whoever wins it can give it to the person he likes, and the person who is given the gift must not decline it.

"This year's lottery is made by the master craftsman Ling Xun." As soon as the eldest princess said it, she immediately attracted fiery eyes. Although the children of the capital have seen many kinds of rare treasures, the master craftsman Ling Xun's work is worth a thousand dollars. Hard to find.

The eldest princess ordered someone to present a tray, on which lay a budding golden lotus, emerald jade as the stem, and pure gold as the petals, "a cold golden lotus with thousands of emerald jades",

Emerald jade and gold are not uncommon, and everyone lacked interest. The eldest princess looked around and ordered someone to light up the candle. In the flickering light, the golden lotus emitted a brilliant luster. Gradually, the dazzling light flickered, and the lotus petals were slowly Stretched out, the golden light is shining, as if a living lotus flower is in full bloom, lifelike.

Accompanied by bursts of exclamation, the lotus petals, as thin as cicada wings, unfolded layer by layer, like thousands of layers of clouds, with as many as a thousand layers. When the lotus petals are fully unfolded, there are hundreds of clouds in the lotus heart. The hair-thin filigree enamel is colorful and dazzling in the golden light.

The eldest princess breathed out slowly, the petals of the cold golden lotus, which were as thin as cicada wings, and the stamens, which were as thin as a hair, actually swayed with the wind like a living thing, and the golden light shone in the swaying, and the splendor was gorgeous, which was astonishing .

"Mr. Xu, can you ask for this lotus for my little girl?" Miss Wu Jia didn't care about being reserved, and asked directly, "I will do my best", Taishi Xu Hang responded repeatedly.

The young masters and young ladies of all families are all in the hall, gathering in twos and threes, wondering what is the topic for this year's lottery?They all guessed whether it was poetry, coping, or last year's quiz.

"This year's topic is to find objects," the eldest princess smiled, and led everyone to Xinrong Lake, which was bestowed by the late emperor, and it is widely available for boating. There are thousands of lotus lanterns floating on the lake, like stars falling from the sky. Stars, like flowing silver and white ribbons, are truly beautiful.

"My palace has hidden a gold-plated hollow lotus that is similar to the emerald jade lotus under the lotus lamp in the lake," the eldest princess said with a smile. Paddle towards the lotus lantern.

"Look, I said that this Ning Hu is still impatient and only cares about pleasing the beauties." The princess teased, "The mystery is, looking up at the mountains and rivers of the heart lake, the emerald curtain can't be hidden by the mist. The oriole just crows."

"Heart Lake, Rongqiao, West", Xu Taishi heard it, and said in a low voice, "Princess Xie, give me some advice", turned around and boarded the boat, and went to the west of Rongqiao, "Master Su, excuse me", Lin Wenxuan cupped his hands to Su Muxue Said, seeing her nodding, paused, and said, "Lin must do his best to obtain this lotus for Mr. Su."

"You...", just as Su Muxue was about to speak, Lin Wenxuan turned and left, "No need...", the rest of the words dissipated in the wind, Su Muxue sighed softly, and walked towards Zhou Chiyu.

"Lord Su, I have something to tell you." The eldest princess held Su Muxue, turned her head and said to Zhou Chiyu who was about to leave, "Does Zhaoning want to give it a try?" Zhou Chiyu shook his head.

The guests gathered around Xinrong Lake, the back garden full of flowers, but quiet and quiet, full of fragrance, thousands of flowers, solitary admiration.