May you live in peace

Front hall.

Yin Xi sat on the first seat, watching the singing and dancing, a peaceful scene.Many ministers were drunk talking politely to each other, coming and going, toasting wine, or watching singing and dancing.

When the new year is approaching, it is the busiest time for Hao Guo to receive guests from all over the world. Hao Guojin usually pays tribute before the beginning of spring.Therefore, at today's banquet, envoys from more than a dozen countries, large and small, who are close friends with Hao Guo or have affiliated relations, all arrived.

Yin Luo is busy dealing with envoys from various countries, which is what she is best at.It was rare for Yin Xi to take a break at this kind of banquet, and watched the people in the right-hand seat move their whole bodies closer to the limp.According to Luo Er, these people have been too quiet recently.

"Princess Wan'an." Seeing two people who came forward, they were dressed in scarlet and green official uniforms, and they held wine cups in their hands.Yin Xi was very familiar with one of them, this cunning and cunning number one scholar, in less than a year, was named Pan Chan of Yushi Zhongcheng.The other one, she had a vague impression of, the second dark horse, Fang Shi.Although it seems that he does not walk around with others at ordinary times, and his acting style is extremely low-key.But Yin Xi vaguely knows that he often visits the former court ministers in private, or the veteran ministers in the current court who are not very involved in political affairs.

Yin Xi got up slowly, picked up the wine cup on the table, and walked down the hall.

Pan Chan and Fang Shi were taken aback at first, but they didn't expect the eldest princess to come down in person, so they couldn't help bending down to show their respect.

"I think that I don't usually go around with the two lovers in normal times. Seeing the two lovers again today is already the mainstay of our country Hao."

Yin Xi stopped at a position less than five meters away from the two of them, so that the distance would not be too far or too close, and she could slightly look at the images of the two of them and observe their subtle movements.

"Thank you, princess, for your compliment."

Pan Chan is used to laughing, so the lines at the corners of his eyes are a bit dark.Fang Shi usually doesn't talk much, and he is used to keeping a straight face, which makes people feel a little stressed.When Yin Xi glanced at the wine cup in his hand, he found a thick layer of yellow calluses on the palm of his hand, and the surrounding skin was a little dry.

Yin Xi raised the wine cup forward, and the two quickly raised the wine cup and drank it down in one gulp.Yin Xixu watched the movements of the two with eyes, then raised his sleeves, and took a shallow sip of wine.

"I don't know why the eldest son-in-law didn't attend the banquet?" Pan Chan asked with a smile, looking around as if he didn't know the rumors circulating among the people.

Several ministers who were nearby heard the conversation here, and seeing that the newly promoted Yushi Zhongcheng asked directly like this, they turned their bodies slightly, wanting to hear something.Yu Kui was promoted to an official position not long ago, thanks to his father, this time the position is also relatively high.Watching the eldest princess's every move, I also have a feeling of admiration in my heart, so I naturally pay more attention to the movements here.

"The son-in-law is weak, so it is not suitable to attend the banquet."

Pan Chan naturally didn't believe it, and said with a smile.

"My minister and the eldest son-in-law are officials in the same dynasty, and they also walk around on weekdays. The elder son-in-law is sick, but this minister only found out today, and he is really negligent of his duty. I also hope that the eldest princess will greet the eldest son-in-law on my behalf. If I have time, I will come again." Visited at home to apologize."

Yin Xi smiled and shook her head.

"The son-in-law is fine. When Zhong Cheng takes office, he should talk and learn more with Yu Shi, so as to understand the affairs of the court and contribute to the court. The matter of the son-in-law should not worry Zhong Cheng."

Pan Chan nodded and answered yes, but he also pretended to say a few words of greeting, and handed over the things he was carrying in his arms to Yin Xi, hoping that the Eldest Princess would hand them over to the son-in-law to show his condolences.

Yin Xi looked at Pan Chan with a smile, didn't say much, asked the maid beside him to take it down, got a few more glasses of wine, said some innocuous words, and prepared to go back.

"Princess."

Fang Shi's deep voice made Yin Xi look at his position. From the beginning, this person did not participate in their conversation, and he didn't know where this person stood.

"Eldest Princess, I went to the West Mountain for fun a few days ago, and found something very interesting, so I wanted to dedicate it to the Eldest Princess."

Yin Xi saw that when he spoke, his eyes subconsciously glanced at the position next to him, and saw him take out a small square box from his sleeve, arched his body slightly, and handed the box to her.

Yin Xi nodded towards the maid, and after the maid took the small box, a smile appeared on Fang Shi's buried face.

After handing over the items, Fang Shi withdrew, and Pan Chan saw that Yin Xi had no intention of talking to him anymore, so he withdrew wisely.

The actions of the few people did not attract too much attention from the ministers. They were still drinking and talking.When seeing Fan Yu, Yin Xi gave up on going back to her original position and walked towards Fan Yu.

"How is the Duke's recovery?"

Seeing Yin Xi coming in front of him, Fan Yu got up quickly, but almost fell, but fortunately, he was supported by the people around him and Yin Xi, so he stood still.

"Princess Wanan, I'm really rude with your appearance."

When Fan Yu spoke, he was still coughing, his face was a little pale, his eyes were too dark, and even his hair was a little messy.

"You don't need to be too polite, please sit down quickly. Come here, replace the wine cup of the Duke, and pour some hot tea over."

The noise here attracted the attention of many people, and only then did they realize that Fan Yu, Duke of Ning, who had not been in court for a long time and had gradually faded out of the eyes of the world, had also come to the banquet.However, judging by his demeanor and condition, he seemed to be seriously ill.

"The duke is weak, so we don't have to hold on so hard for future banquets."

Seeing Fan Yu's uncomfortable and weak expression, Yin Xi frowned slightly worriedly.

Fan Yu wanted to say something, but just adjusted his position to sit up straight, but he couldn't help coughing, and even coughed up blood.

Yin Xi's eyes changed, and he quickly called a servant to help Fan Yu to the side hall, and sent someone to invite the imperial physician.

The movements around finally attracted everyone's attention. Seeing the six servants carrying Duke Ning cautiously towards the side hall, the eldest princess had a serious expression, and guessed that something might have happened to Duke Ning.

After the attendants helped Fan Yu down, Yin Xi looked at the silent lobby, the singers around had retreated and waited aside, and many envoys from outside were also watching what happened.

"Why did the singing and dancing stop?"

Yin Xi changed her serious expression, resumed her usual smile, waved her hand, and let those divas who were afraid to move continued to perform.Then, he turned around and walked back to his original position, and sat down.

The minister was a little confused, but saw that the eldest princess had no intention of saying anything, so he continued to do his own thing.

Yin Luo shunned a few official children who wanted to come forward to compliment her, and returned to Yin Xi's side.

"Sister Huang, what's wrong with Duke Ning?"

Yin Xi shook her head, did not speak, but gestured her with her fingers to be in the side hall.

Yin Luo nodded, sat down next to Yin Xi, and rubbed his uncomfortable eyebrows.

"Have someone prepare some hangover tea." Yin Xi bowed down and instructed Zhu Qing who was waiting beside her.Zhu Qing responded with a bow, and then retreated.

"Sister Huang, what do Pan Chan and Fang Shi want from you?"

Although Yin Luo was busy dealing with foreign envoys, he always paid attention to the imperial sister's side. When he saw Pan Chan and Fang Shi toast with the imperial sister alone, he was also curious about what they said.

"It's nothing, but I just asked about the son-in-law. Also, the man named Fang Shi gave me a small box."

While Yin Xi was talking, her fingertips were rubbing against the small wooden box that Fang Shi handed over to her. The thin lines on it made it a little prickly.

"Fang time?"

"Ah."

Yin Luo also knew that Fang Shi had been doing something secretly recently, combined with his past actions, and the things he appeared in front of himself and Huang Jie from time to time, he also sent someone to secretly check his background, and it was indeed from a poor family.However, I don't know what this person is secretly planning.

"Sister Huang thinks, stay or not?"

Yin Luo is not a kind-hearted person, and he is somewhat uneasy about this kind of person who doesn't know the details.

"No hurry." Yin Xi looked at the small ornaments in the box, couldn't help squinting and smiling, but a little cold.

The blue and white jade stone was engraved with particularly obvious characters, which were painted with red cinnabar. The conspicuous and elegant font, Yin Luo couldn't help but widen his eyes when he saw it.This word is exactly 'pan'.

"he……"

"Shh, don't disturb others."

Yin Luo saw that sister Huang showed an expression she hadn't seen in many years, she was obviously smiling, but she felt a chill behind her back, which was more oppressive than the feeling her father gave her.

"Pan Chan doesn't stay around Yin Yao very much recently." Yin Xi put the trinkets into the wooden box again, glanced at Yin Yao's position, and said.

"Well, however, according to reports from the secret guards, they often exchange letters, but most of the content is not painful, and some are just asking about political affairs."

"Oh?" Yin Xi smiled and said nothing.

"However, Miss Huang, Pan Chan always likes to hang out near the White Tiger Pavilion of the National Teacher recently."

"Baihu Pavilion?" Yin Xi looked at Pan Chan and saw that he was dealing with the right minister, Yizi Wang and all the ministers with ease.It seemed that he felt that he was looking at him, and he turned around, looked at him, and then raised the wine in his hand to show respect.

"Well, according to the news from the hidden guard, he didn't go in. However, not long ago, Fang Shi went to the Baihu Pavilion and stayed there for nearly an hour before leaving."

Yin Xi turned the wooden box in her hand, it seems that many things have happened recently.If that person was Yin Pan, then what did Fang Shi give him, what did it show?

"His Royal Highness."

Yin Xi came back to her senses and saw that the singing and dancing had stopped, and Dawan's envoy was standing at his highness, bowing down to salute.

Dawan is rich in horses. Although Hao Guo has a superior location and fertile land, Youzhou, a natural pasture, has been occupied by Beidi for nearly a hundred years. Hao Guo's horses have always been rare military supplies.Therefore, the arrival of Dawan Kingdom every year and the horses that pay tribute will make Hao Guo very happy.

After Dawan paid tribute, he made a one-time contribution or made friends according to the order. Yin Xi also sent ministers to present gifts one by one when the envoys returned to the country.

When it was Annan's turn, Yin Xi couldn't help but look at Yin Yao's position, and saw that he really looked up.

"His Royal Highness Princess Hao, the gift prepared by our country for Hao Guo is a bit special, so it cannot be carried to the hall. I hope the princess will forgive me."

"It's okay, your country has a heart." Yin Xi replied with a smile, and then asked Annan's envoy to return to his position.

After the presenting ceremony was over, the envoys from various countries raised their glasses and performed the final etiquette, which ended the dinner.

After the front hall became quiet, Yin Xi left behind Da Honghe, and took Yin Luo to the Tai Chi Hall.

"Eldest princess." Da Honglu Guo Shijia is a disciple of Duke Fu and is responsible for receiving guests from all over the world.

"Where is the tribute from Annan placed?"

Guo Shijia didn't understand why the eldest princess kept him, and he just asked this question.

"Reporting to the Eldest Princess, because the tribute An Nanjin presented was too large, it was first placed in the inner mansion."

"Is it possible to pass now?"

"Ah?" Guo Shijia was puzzled at first, seeing that the Eldest Princess didn't look like she was joking, so she cupped her hands.

"Of course, please, Eldest Princess and Second Princess."

The Inner Mansion is not far from the Tai Chi Hall. When they arrived, there was no one there, only a few guards guarding the gate. Seeing the three adults coming, they hurriedly opened the gate of the Inner Mansion.

In the courtyard of the inner mansion, there is a huge but ordinary wooden box, three feet high and nine feet wide, placed in the middle of the courtyard, it is particularly conspicuous.

Yin Xi walked up to the big box and touched the sawdust on it, and he could see that the workmanship was extremely rough.

"Can you open it and have a look?"

"Princess Hui, not at all. Envoys from all over the world submit lists when they come to pay tribute, but Annan does not. And the tribute is too large, so it was sent directly to the inner palace, and it has not been opened yet."

"Get someone to open it."

Yin Xi instructed, Yin Luo stood aside and didn't know what Huang Jie was doing, but she didn't ask.

"promise."

Guo Shijia asked the guards outside to put the wooden box flat, and then asked the two guards to work together to lift the lid of the box.

"This..." Guo Shijia looked at the things inside, a little confused, and looked at the eldest princess with doubts in his eyes.

Yin Xi looked at the neat arrangement, but it was just a dozen ordinary poplars, and couldn't help smiling.

'Sure enough, Annan can also do these things. '

Yin Luo stepped forward to take a look, and it turned out that there were only a dozen or so poplars of very ordinary color, some of which had been soaked in water and turned white.

"Miss Huang?"

Yin Xi shook his head, and asked Guo Shijia to ask the guards to cover the box and carry it in, and told them not to tell what happened tonight, so he let him go back.