Yang Peng and others turned over and dismounted. Yang Peng said with a smile: "No need to be polite!" Everyone responded and stood up, still looking respectful. Li Ruolan's brothers were so excited that their whole bodies were shaking.
Yang Peng smiled and said: "I'm here to eat today. I don't need to understand anything. Just do whatever you want." Everyone agreed together. Li Ruolan's father, Li Shicheng, bowed and said with a smile on his face: "The King of Yan has arrived, and the humble house is full of glory! I respectfully invite the King of Yan to sit down at the table!" Yang Peng walked in, and a large group of people gathered beside and behind him. Everyone walked into the magnificent and brightly lit hall, and the guards surrounded the entire hall to protect Yang Peng's absolute safety.
Yang Peng stepped up to the main seat and sat down at the respectful invitation of everyone. Jiang Li and another female guard stood on his left and right with their swords pressed. Seeing that everyone was still standing, Yang Peng smiled and said, "Everyone, please sit down." Everyone thanked them and then sat down. Li Shicheng, the head of the family, sits on the left hand side, and Li Ruolan sits on the right hand side. The other members of the Li family sit below them. The elders in the family sit under Li Shicheng, and the younger members of the family sit under Li Ruolan.
Yang Peng glanced at everyone and asked, "Why don't there seem to be any other guests?" Li Shicheng quickly clasped his fists and said, "Report to King Yan, we only invited King Yan!"
Yang Peng felt a little surprised and said with a smile: "So, I am flattered!" Li Ruolan lightly opened her red lips and said in an extremely sexy voice: "The King of Yan is the most noble person in the world! The King of Yan is willing to come down to his humble residence. I'm so flattered!" Everyone in the Li family agreed. Yang Peng smiled and looked at Li Ruolan, only to see Li Ruolan looking at him, with beautiful eyes that were full of brilliance and touching, which made his heart skip a beat. It’s no wonder that Yang Peng and Li Ruolan are called Daji by Xixia people. Their appearance and temperament are naturally extremely attractive! This woman may be slightly inferior in appearance to the most beautiful women of all time, such as Zhi Yan Ji and Luo Yanran, but she has a unique and charming temperament that makes men lose their souls when they see her!
Yang Peng came back to his senses and smiled, and Li Ruolan responded with a charming smile. Yang Peng waved to the female guard next to him. The female guard immediately came forward holding a long wooden box. Yang Peng pointed at the wooden box and said with a smile: "This is my gift to Miss Li. I don't know if Miss Li likes it." ?”
Everyone in the Li family showed great surprise. They never expected that Yang Peng would prepare a gift for Li Ruolan. They would have been so happy as long as King Yan could come!
Li Shicheng hurriedly said to Li Ruolan: "Daughter, why don't you quickly thank King Yan for the reward!"
Li Ruolan stood up, bowed Yingying, and said: "I thank you, King Yan, for your love!" Yang Peng smiled slightly. The female guard walked down and handed the long wooden box to Li Ruolan with both hands. Li Ruolan stretched out his hands and took it respectfully. The female guard returned to Yang Peng. Li Ruolan placed the wooden box on the table in front of her, knelt down and opened it carefully. An antique seven-stringed guqin immediately appeared in front of her eyes. Li Ruolan showed a look of surprise, and everyone in the Li family stretched their necks to see what kind of gift King Yan gave Li Ruolan.
Li Ruolan raised her head and said to Yang Peng with infinite joy: "This is the Jiuxiao ring pendant of the Tang Dynasty. It is very rare to see it now! What's even more rare is that this Jiuxiao ring pendant also has the seal of the Tang Dynasty court. It's really amazing It’s a rare treasure that you encounter but don’t desire!”
Everyone in the Li family couldn't help but be very excited when they heard that it was such a precious gift. Yang Peng smiled and said, "I don't know if you like it or not, but I heard that Miss Li is good at singing and dancing, so I found this guqin as a gift for you!"
Li Ruolan stood up holding the Jiuxiao Huanpei Guqin, bowed to Yang Peng Yingying, and said: "I like it so much! Thank you King Yan for the gift!" Yang Peng chuckled, "It's fine if you like it, I'm still worried about this gift It's not the right gift!" Li Ruolan looked at Yang Peng lovingly, with infinite tenderness in her beautiful eyes.
Li Shicheng smiled and said: "Daughter, since King Yan has rewarded you with this treasure, you can play a song as a thank you!"
Li Ruolan also had this intention, sat back in her seat, placed the Jiuxiao Huanpei Guqin on the table in front of her, and cast a charming glance at Yang Peng. Immediately, her slender jade fingers pressed the strings and began to play with them gently. A few crisp ding-dong sounds sounded, like the sound of spring water, and then the melodious and lingering music rippled out. At the same time, Li Ruolan lightly opened her red lips, softly and pathos. The singing voice sung from Li Ruolan's red lips, the endless love and infinite tenderness, you can clearly feel it even if you don't understand the lyrics. Yang Peng couldn't help but be amazed. He felt that Li Ruolan's singing and piano music and Zhao Xiangxiang's dancing could be considered as two unparalleled masterpieces. They were like two peerless beauties, twin pearls in the world, which should not be possessed by the human world! At this time, other people, even women, looked intoxicated, not to mention men. In fact, few people in the Li family, including Li Ruolan's father Li Shicheng, had the privilege of hearing Li Ruolan sing, so it was thanks to King Yan that he sang today.
When the song ended, everyone sighed and couldn't extricate themselves for a long time.
Yang Peng came to his senses first and couldn't help but applauded: "Great! It's so beautiful! It's such a heavenly sound!" Everyone also came to their senses and praised it one after another.
Li Ruolan stood up, bowed Yingying, and said modestly: "King Yan has given me the reward! It's not because I am good at playing the piano, but because this treasure that King Yan gave me is really extraordinary!"
Yang Peng waved his hand and said with a smile: "You don't have to be modest! I don't know how many times I have heard the sound of the piano and singing, but there is nothing that can compare with you! In this aspect, Miss Li is truly unparalleled. Ah!" Then he added in his heart: No wonder the late Emperor of Xixia was so fascinated by you, it really wasn't your fault!
Li Ruolan was very happy when she heard Yang Peng's praise. She looked at Yang Peng affectionately and said, "King Yan, thank you for your praise! I may be more skilled than others, but I am inferior to King Yan even if I want to compete with him." !" Yang Peng was stunned. Li Ruolan showed admiration and said intoxicatedly: "Those songs and poems written by King Yan are very popular and touching. Even if I think about my previous life, I can't compose a poem that can rival them!" Her beautiful eyes rolled down, and she said with great admiration: "I am so impressed by King Yan's literary talent! If King Yan wants to compare those so-called talents, they will be like the light of fireflies compared to the bright moon! It's ridiculous that they are still complacent!" Everyone in the Li family started talking. He echoed this and praised Yang Peng's literary talents as surpassing Li Bai's and surpassing Du Fu's skills. He was simply the most talented person in history!
Although Yang Peng has always been very thick-skinned, he was still very embarrassed to be praised so much by everyone!
Everyone in the Li family toasted to Yang Peng one after another. After several rounds, the atmosphere became quite lively. Li Ruolan's younger brother Li Chenghu took the opportunity to say: "King Yan, our family has spent a lot of money to help King Yan this time!..." Everyone fell silent, and Li Ruolan shouted: "Little brother, you drank too much! Why are you doing this in Yan?" You're talking nonsense in front of the king! Why don't you back off!" Li Chenghu was very dissatisfied and said angrily: "I'm talking nonsense! Isn't what I said the truth?" Li Ruolan's face changed with anger and she was about to have a seizure. stand up. Yang Peng waved his hand and said with a smile: "Brother Cheng Hu is right. The Li family has indeed made a huge contribution to Yan Yun this time! Yan Yun and I will never forget it!"
Li Chenghu was very proud, but Li Ruolan and Li Shicheng looked pale and worried, calling Li Chenghu a loser in their hearts. Li Ruolan was shocked when she saw that Li Chenghu wanted to say something more, and immediately shouted to his father: "Father, my brother is drunk, take him down quickly!" Li Shicheng knew what his daughter meant, so he stood up quickly and ran to When he arrived at Li Chenghu's seat, he grabbed him up and dragged him out regardless of Li Chenghu's protest. He cursed angrily: "You kid actually lost your temper in front of King Yan. Go back to your room quickly." Go!" Li Chenghu protested loudly, but facing his father, he did not dare to do anything drastic. Everyone in the Li family whispered, some were funny, some were worried.
Li Ruolan picked up the wine glass and said to Chen Xiao: "I will apologize to King Yan on behalf of my younger brother!"
Yang Peng waved his hand and said with a smile: "It doesn't have to be like this, brother Cheng Hu didn't do anything wrong!"
When Li Ruolan saw what Yang Peng said, she still felt uneasy. She was once the favorite concubine of the late Emperor of Xixia, and she was used to seeing the emperor's moodiness and inconsistency. The emperor might not be angry now, but he might be furious when he thinks about it later. , maybe he behaves very kindly now, but in fact, he is extremely angry inside! Although what my brother said is not wrong, this kind of language is an offense that the emperor cannot allow!
Yang Peng was not surprised to see that Li Ruolan and many people in the Li family were still worried. Let alone ancient times, modern society was not the same. Yang Peng simply made it clear: "You are afraid that I will take Li Chenghu's words as an offense, so you are very worried?" Everyone did not expect that Yang Peng actually made it clear, and they couldn't help but look at each other.
Yang Peng smiled and said: "You don't have to worry about this! You have lived in Bianliang for a while, and you should understand who I am. I will not punish anyone because of what he said! Unless he maliciously spreads it rumor!"
Li Ruolan said quickly: "King Yan is an unprecedented sage king. He is naturally as broad-minded and magnanimous as the sea!" Everyone in the Li family agreed.
Yang Peng smiled and waved his hand and said: "If you really want to say something that cannot be said, it is the so-called 'Eternal Saint King'!" Everyone was stunned.
Yang Peng glanced at everyone and said: "The Li family has devoted so many resources this time to help Yanyun deal with the refugee problem and at the same time help Jiangnan recover and rebuild. Naturally, you are not doing this out of public interest." Everyone looked a little embarrassed, especially Li Ruolan.
Yang Peng smiled slightly and said: "Whether it is public or selfish, I don't care about these and will not pursue them. What is important is that your Li family did spend real money to help Yan Yun. This is enough." . Yan Yun has always been clear about rewards and punishments. You have paid so much for Yan Yun. Yan Yun cannot let you down in any way!" Everyone couldn't help but be moved when they heard Yang Peng speak so sincerely. Li Ruolan even more deeply felt that King Yan was really with you. The kings she had seen before were completely different! Although he has conquered the world and is so powerful, he does not have the pretentiousness and hypocrisy of those kings at all, and he can be said to be as broad-minded as the sea!
Li Ruolan stood up, went to lie down, knelt down and said gratefully: "Thank you so much, King Yan!" Seeing this, everyone in the Li family quickly left their seats and came to the hall, knelt down and thanked King Yan for his great kindness.
Yang Peng smiled and said: "No need to be polite, everyone get up!"
Everyone thanked him and stood up. Yang Peng glanced at everyone, and finally his eyes fell on Li Ruolan, and smiled: "I should be the one to thank you!" Li Ruolan smiled sweetly and said: "We are all subjects of King Yan, and we will do anything for King Yan. That's what it should be!" Yang Peng laughed loudly and said loudly: "We are all here for Yan Yun, so don't say any polite words! Come on, come on, sit down and continue drinking!" Everyone happily agreed. , all returned to their seats. Then there were lights, laughter, and the atmosphere became more harmonious and cheerful than before. Li Shicheng hurried back to the hall and saw that the worried situation did not appear. Instead, the atmosphere became better. He was surprised and pleasantly surprised. He quickly joined in.
Jiang Li whispered to Yang Peng: "Master, I want to go to the toilet."
Yang Peng nodded.
Jiang Li stood up and walked outside. At this time, Li Shicheng came to propose a toast to Chen Xiao. Yang Peng smiled, picked up the glass and drank it in one gulp. Li Shicheng was extremely excited and said many compliments. At the same time, Li Ruolan stood up and left his seat.
Jiang Li came out of the noisy and lively lobby, and was sobered up by the night breeze. Asked a maid standing next to her, "Where is the toilet?" The maid was about to answer when Li Ruolan came up and said with a smile, "I'll take my wife there." Jiang Li smiled and nodded. Li Ruolan led Jiang Li towards the back. The two women left the hall, and the surroundings suddenly became silent. The noisy hall seemed like another world.
Jiang Li came out after using the toilet and saw Li Ruolan waiting in the corridor not far away, so she walked up. Li Ruolan smiled and said: "Madam, it's too noisy over there, why don't we just take a stroll here."
Li Ruolan's words were exactly what Jiang Li wanted and she nodded.
The two of them strolled along the corridor. Li Ruolan smiled and said, "The empress and King Yan are inseparable. It seems that the concubine that King Yan loves most is the empress!"
Jiang Li smiled bitterly, shook her head and said, "You guessed this wrong!"
Li Ruolan smiled and said: "Your Majesty is so self-effacing! I think King Yan really likes your Majesty! No other empress would be treated like this!"
Jiang Li frowned slightly and said: "No matter my appearance or talent, no matter my birth or my past with the master, I can't compare with her sisters. How could the master like me the most! I was originally just the commander of the Feifeng Female Guard, and I was in no way outstanding. Being able to win the favor of my master is already a blessing gained from my previous life, so I really don’t dare to have any other undesirable thoughts!"
Li Ruolan said: "Your Majesty's words are a bit underestimating yourself! Maybe your Majesty's appearance is not as good as hers, but this will not affect your status in the eyes of King Yan! There is often no reason to fall in love with someone you love. It doesn’t matter what you look like or what you have learned. Maybe the one who loves most in King Yan’s heart is you!”
Although Jiang Li felt that Li Ruolan was trying to please her, she still felt very happy to hear those words.
Li Ruolan saw Jiang Li's expression in her eyes and said with some worry: "My Lady, it is certainly a happy thing for you to be favored by King Yan, but I'm afraid it will also bring disaster to your Majesty!"
Jiang Li showed confusion and frowned: "Where do you start talking about this?"
Li Ruolan showed a look of reminiscence and said quietly: "Since ancient times, jealousy and strife in the harem have been very intense and cruel!" Looking at Jiang Li, "The empress can always be with King Yan, and other empresses will inevitably not be aware of it. Jealousy can lead to dangerous thoughts!"
Jiang Li couldn't help but think about Concubine Pang and her son. She frowned and felt a chill on her back.
Li Ruolan looked at Jiang Li and continued: "Now that the empress is just a person, even if something happens to her, it won't be a big deal. But if she has a child in the future, once someone plots against her, the consequences will be disastrous!"
Jiang Li's heart trembled, her face turned pale, and her brows furrowed tightly.
Li Ruolan struck while the iron was hot: "Your Majesty is kind-hearted in nature and will never harm others! But as the saying goes, you must not have the intention to harm others, and you must have the intention to guard against others! Your Majesty must make plans in advance to prevent trouble from happening. It’s your place to be slaughtered by others!”
Jiang Li felt that what she said made sense, and couldn't help but nodded, looked at Li Ruolan, and asked, "What should I do?"
Li Ruolan was secretly happy and said: "First of all, the empress needs sisters who can stand on the same side as herself, and at the same time, she also needs to have enough support behind her!"
Jiang Li thought to herself: "Although my relationship with the sisters is okay, but if we want to stand on the same front, I'm afraid it won't work!" Suddenly her heart moved, she raised her head and glanced at Li Ruolan, and thought to herself: "Although this Li Ruolan was once a Xixia The imperial concubine, however, is charming and alluring, and her eldest brother seems to have a special regard for her. Judging from the Li family's actions this time, the strength of the Li family cannot be underestimated. In terms of financial resources, it is probably no worse than the Luo family and the An family. Although Xixia was destroyed, there are still many officials from the former Xixia in Yanyun's military and political fields. As a former noble concubine, Li Ruolan must have influence on them. If I can get their support, I will have a strong guarantee in the harem in the future. As soon as she thought about it, Jiang Li had an idea, but it was hard to say.
Li Ruolan saw Jiang Li's expression in her eyes and asked deliberately: "Is there something difficult for the empress?"
Jiang Li made up her mind, looked up at Li Ruolan, and asked with a smile: "You must have some ideas about King Yan, right?" Li Ruolan didn't expect Jiang Li to ask this, and was surprised. Several thoughts quickly passed through her mind. She sighed quietly and said, "I don't dare to hide anything from you. What woman can't be tempted by a real man like King Yan!"
Jiang Li said: "I can help you realize your wish!"
Li Ruolan looked at Jiang Li and didn't know how to respond to this sentence.
Jiang Li looked at Li Ruolan and said with a smile: "In terms of appearance and charm, you are just a little inferior to Yan Ji and Zhao Jinxi. I think the master will definitely like you!" Li Ruolan said with a blushing face: "I'm just kidding, the empress." !" Seeing her like this, Jiang Li really had a charming temperament that attracted all the people. She couldn't help but feel jealous in her heart and said: "Just tell me straightforwardly, whether you are willing or not!"
Li Ruolan hesitated for a moment, nodded gently, and then bowed to Jiang Liyingying: "If the empress can help me, the Li family and I will do our best to repay you!"
Jiang Li said angrily: "You obviously have something serious in mind! What you said to me just now was actually just to get my help!"
Li Ruolan looked apologetic and said, "My Majesty, please forgive me. I, I really don't know what your Majesty feels, so I had to do that."
Jiang Li waved her hand, "Forget it, from today on, we are sisters!"
Li Ruolan quickly bowed to Jiang Li and said, "Little sister, meet my elder sister!"
Jiang Li couldn't help but be very happy to see her being so well-behaved. Jiang Li looked at Li Ruolan and asked puzzledly: "With your appearance, it shouldn't be difficult to win the favor of the master. Why do you want to get my help?" Li Ruolan said with a wry smile: "I'll tell you the truth, little sister. I've tried it before, but it didn't achieve the goal! People in the world say that King Yan is lustful, but I don't think that's the case at all!" Jiang Li smiled and said, "There are some men who are not lustful!" Li Ruolan felt the same way. He nodded, with a mocking look in his beautiful eyes, and said: "Those guys who talk about morality are the most ridiculous! They usually look sanctimonious, but when they see a beauty in private, their eyes turn green! Such people It’s really disgusting!” Jiang Li smiled.
Li Ruolan begged: "Sister, my little sister's affairs depend entirely on you!"
Jiang Li nodded and thought: "Don't rush this kind of thing. I will make arrangements, just wait for my news." Li Ruolan nodded. Jiang Li glanced towards the hall and said with a smile, "We should go back too." Li Ruolan smiled sweetly, held Jiang Li's wrist and said, "I'll help my sister!" The two women walked towards the hall.
Yang Pengzheng and Li Shicheng were drinking and chatting. When they saw Jiang Li and Li Ruolan walking in affectionately, arm in arm, they were very surprised.
Li Ruolan returned to her seat and sat down, while Jiang Li returned to Yang Peng's side and sat down. Yang Peng turned to look at Jiang Li and said with a smile: "You and that Li Ruolan seem to be getting along well?" Jiang Li said with a smile: "I just met outside and chatted for a few words. I found that I can get along well with her! Yang Peng said with a smile: "It's good to have a friend you can talk to!" He turned around and glanced at Li Ruolan. Seeing Li Ruolan looking this way, he couldn't help but smile at her. Li Ruolan returned a shy look and lowered his head. go. Yang Peng couldn't help but feel his heart tremble, subconsciously feeling that Li Ruolan seemed a little different at this moment?
Yang Peng turned around and said to Jiang Li: "The Li family is actually quite good! I think back then, the Dangxiang people described them as a scourge, like a monster that would bring disaster to the country and the people! In fact, the situation that Xixia ended up in has nothing to do with Li Ruolan, nor does it have anything to do with Li Ruolan. What’s the business of the Li family? It’s basically the emperor’s own problem!”
Jiang Li nodded with deep sympathy, "Brother is so right! Just like what eldest brother said, under the influence of Confucianism, everyone's thoughts have been distorted! It is obviously the emperor's problem, but he insists on saying it is the concubine's problem. The problem, or the problem of some ministers! Like the late Emperor of Xixia, if Li Ruolan and the Li family did not cater to the emperor so much, they would definitely not have a good life! That Xixia princess, what is the result of her remonstrance? Let me tell you In other words, the so-called treacherous ministers and the so-called demon concubines are actually just protecting themselves! Although they are not as respectable and admirable as the loyal ministers who do not want to offend Yan Zhijian, there is nothing wrong with it! The person who deserves to die is actually the person sitting in the highest position. !”
Yang Peng smiled and nodded, saying: "Well said! These words deeply touched my heart!" Jiang Li couldn't help laughing happily when she heard her lover's praise.
What happened after all, let’s see what happens next.
