After Tang Shiqi's death, his second son Tang Zhongxing took charge of the Tang family and became the new head of the Tang family. Today is different from the past.
If Prime Minister Tang was still there, and Bai Ze came to visit him, since the prime minister's direct granddaughter was his senior sister, the Tang family would still have the qualifications to stage a show. Even if they didn't greet him in time, it wouldn't be impolite.
But the problem is that after Tang Shiqi's death, the trees fell and the hozens dispersed. The Tang family was suppressed by the Liu family, which was gaining momentum in the court, and was already in decline.
Now Baize suddenly came to visit, prompting Tang Zhongxing to quickly tidy up his clothes and go to greet Baize in person.
"I have long heard that the eldest son of Yunhai Xianmen is majestic. When I saw him today, he is even more majestic and graceful than the rumors!" A middle-aged man walked towards him, with gray temples and a broad face. With a wealthy figure, he said with a smile: "The eldest son is visiting the Tang Mansion. I am not welcome at a distance, but I hope you can forgive me." Bai Ze guessed that the person in front of him was Tang Zhongxing, and he cupped his hands and said: "The head of the Tang family was joking. Last night, Li arrived at Haojing, the capital. The weather was amazing, so I walked around a lot. I thought that Senior Sister Tang was also in Haojing early this morning, so I came here to visit." When Tang Zhongxing heard that Bai Ze had just arrived in Haojing, he was the first to visit the Tang family. No matter who he met, he felt embarrassed. There was light above, and his face suddenly glowed. He smiled and said, "My eldest son, please move to the hall and drink a cup of bad tea. My niece will be here in a moment."
"Thank you," Bai Ze said. He took out a jade box and several gifts from the chess pieces and handed them to the steward next to him.
"A little thought, one of which is the elixir on the mountain that strengthens the foundation and nourishes the body. Please accept it, Master Tang." From a scholarly family in the Tang Mansion, except for Tang Zhizhi who has entered the path of immortality, everyone else is just studying, even ordinary people. Even though he didn't even know the basics of martial arts, the value of elixirs that could strengthen his body and cultivate his vitality could be imagined to Tang Zhongxing, who was about to enter old age.
The steward could tell just from Tang Zhongxing's eyes the desire and importance the family owner attached to the jade box, so he naturally put it away solemnly.
A group of people came to the hall. Bai Ze and Tang Zhongxing had nothing to say, and they were full of polite words while drinking tea.
However, Tang Zhongxing was very complimentary to Bai Ze, and even asked Bai Ze to stay in the Tang Mansion temporarily, saying that he had ordered his servants to clean a guest room, and the scenery was elegant and quiet, suitable for Bai Ze to stay for a few days.
During the conversation, just when Bai Ze was about to decline, his consciousness moved and he noticed Tang Zhizhi's aura. But there was a strange aura next to the girl, very close to her.
"Long time no see, Junior Brother Bai's cultivation has improved a lot. Now I can't really see the depth of Junior Brother." The girl in the dress strolled into the hall. Even though her face was not painted with makeup, it was still dazzling. When she saw Bai Ze, smiled.
Bai Ze stood up and said with a smile: "Senior Sister Tang, you are over-praised. Senior Sister is very talented, but she is not practicing on the mountain, so she was overtaken by me. If Senior Sister is still on the mountain, I may not be able to see clearly the depth of Senior Sister." Bai Ze Naturally, Tang Zhizhi would not take his polite words seriously.
But as soon as these words came out, Tang Zhongxing's expression changed vaguely. After all, he was the head of the family. Tang Zhongxing concealed it very well. He laughed and said: "My eldest son, Zhizhi is your senior sister. Naturally, no introduction is needed." After saying that, he looked at the young girl next to Tang Zhizhi, who was wearing a gouache skirt and had a beautiful appearance. It is somewhat similar to Tang Zhizhi, saying,
"This is my eldest daughter, I call her Ningzhi. Ning'er, haven't you met the eldest son soon?" Tang Ningzhi glanced at Bai Ze shyly and said happily, "Ning'er has met the eldest son."
"Since Miss Ning'er is Senior Sister Tang's sister, you don't have to worry about these etiquette." Bai Ze said with a smile.
"I'm visiting the Tang Mansion today. I actually have a few words to say to Senior Sister." Tang Zhongxing's eyes darkened when he heard this.
Tang Zhizhi asked in confusion: "I wonder what you mean?"
"Before leaving, Senior Uncle Yu Diezi knew that I was coming to Haojing and specifically asked me to speak to Senior Sister alone for a few words." Bai Ze said, looking at Tang Zhizhi,
"I wonder if Senior Sister can move?" When it came to this, Tang Zhongxing dared not stop him, so he had no choice but to go with the flow and said with a smile: "Since you have something to say, if you know it, you and the eldest son can go to Meiyuan to talk about it." Tang Zhizhi Nod in agreement.
The two of them went straight to Meiyuan, one behind the other. After the two of them walked away, Tang Ningzhi looked at Tang Zhongxing, the shyness in her eyes had not dissipated.
"Ning'er, you have to keep your composure." Tang Zhongxing said with a sharp look in his eyes,
"I have asked the eldest young master to stay temporarily. There are many opportunities to meet in the past few days, so there is no need to rush."
"I obey daddy," Tang Ningzhi said.
"With your cousin's relationship, if I can get into the Immortal Family, I, the head of the Tang Family, will not be considered in decline." Tang Zhongxing was full of calculations.
Plum Garden. In the middle of winter, plum blossoms are in full bloom. The petals of yellow plum blossoms are petite and lovely, but they exude a strong floral fragrance in the cold winter air, which is refreshing.
"Master really asked you to bring me a message?" Tang Zhizhi stretched out his white fingertips, touched a winter plum, and asked the young man behind him.
"Senior sister is not only the legitimate daughter of the Tang Dynasty, but also a disciple of the Immortal Sect." Bai Ze answered the question inappropriately.
"Although people on the mountain don't ask about things below the mountain, if Senior Sister is unwilling, Senior Uncle Yu Diezi will definitely not sit idly by and ignore it."
"Did Jiang Wei ask you to come?" Tang Zhizhi had a clear mind and immediately guessed the whole story and said, "Junior Brother Bai, if you have anything to say, you might as well say it directly."
"Senior Sister Tang is so refreshing." Bai Ze laughed, looked at the girl's back and said,
"Are you willing to marry the prince?"
"Marriage matters, parents' orders, matchmaker's words." Tang Zhizhi said, without looking back, just shrinking the fingers touching the plum blossoms,
"I lost my parents when I was young, and my grandfather agreed to my marriage to the prince. What does it have to do with whether I am willing or not?" Bai Ze said silently.
"You go back and tell him that no one can change the predetermined ending. It's better for both of us to live well together." Tang Zhizhi lowered his eyes and said,
"Fighting with the prince will not end well."
"Senior sister, don't those who cultivate immortality have to compete with heaven for their fate?" Bai Ze said,
"If you are willing to marry the prince, just pretend that I have never been here today. But if you are not willing, I will definitely take you back to the Immortal Sect during the trip to Haojing." Tang Zhizhi was silent.
"Now that the Tang Mansion has lost power, what if Senior Sister marries into the Prince's Mansion?" Bai Ze said,
"A core disciple of the Immortal Sect becomes a concubine for the Crown Prince? I don't think Master Yu Diezi would agree to it either."
"Stop talking." Tang Zhizhi took a deep breath, turned around, and looked at Bai Ze,
"You don't understand the situation in Haojing. It's better not to get involved in this water. Contamination of cause and effect may not be a good thing for your future."
"Then please senior sister, take a good look at the situation in Haojing." Bai Ze handed the things Jiang Wei entrusted to him to Tang Zhizhi, turned around and left.
"The road to enlightenment is filled with thousands of causes and effects. To me, this one more thing is not worth mentioning." Tang Zhizhi held the letter from Jiang Wei in her hand and stood under the plum blossom tree, letting it go. The scattered petals were entangled in the hair, and she was silent for a long time.
Bai Ze originally intended to leave the Tang Mansion directly, but Tang Zhongxing persuaded him in every possible way to let him stay in the Mansion for a few days so that he could reminisce with Tang Zhizhi.
"Bai... Immortal Master Bai! Has sister made you angry?" Tang Ning said without hesitation, looking at Bai Ze and said,
"If this is the case, I will apologize to you on behalf of my sister!" Bai Ze glanced at her and was about to speak when a servant came to report in a hurry: "Master, Mr. Yang, the Minister of Rites, and Mr. Tang, the young minister of Honglu Temple are here!"
"Dedicate it?" Tang Zhongxing was stunned. Bai Ze raised his eyes and saw that the two of them, one behind the other, had entered the courtyard.
The old man in the front is probably the Minister of Rites of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and the young man in the back has a face that is somewhat similar to Tang Zhizhi.
Bai Ze heard what Tang Zhongxing said
"Present it", guessing that the young official is probably related to the Tang family by blood.
"Master Yang, Master Tang, I have missed the opportunity to greet you from afar, please forgive me!" Although Tang Zhongxing was angry that the Minister of Rites went straight to the middle gate, he was a high official in the imperial court and did not dare to show it on his face, so he hurriedly greeted him.
As soon as Yang Wenjie, the Minister of Rites, entered the courtyard, his eyes were fixed on Bai Ze, and he cupped his hands and said, "May I ask this young man, is he the eldest son of Yunhai Xianmen?"
"That's right." Bai Ze replied,
"Bai Ze has met two adults."
"Don't dare to take it, don't take it!" Yang Wenjie was startled by Bai Ze's return gift, and his old bones almost fell apart on the spot.
"The eldest son has broken my heart!" After saying that, he looked at Tang Zhongxing and said,
"Zhongxing, when the eldest son arrived in Haojing, why didn't you report it to Tianjia immediately?" There was a reproach in his tone.
"Master Yang, this eldest son only arrived in Haojing yesterday. He came to the Tang Mansion early this morning to see him and talk about the friendship between senior brothers and sisters. I only just learned about this matter, so please forgive me for my slightness."
"That's it..." Yang Wenjie pretended not to understand what Tang Zhongxing said, and said to Bai Ze: "My eldest son, your Majesty specially asked me, an old man, to come to meet you, and this person is Tang Xianzhi, the young minister of Honglu Temple. The eldest son has just arrived in Haojing. He has not yet arranged a place to stay, so it is better to move to Honglu Temple. Firstly, it will be convenient to entertain the eldest son, and secondly, Xianzhi can take the eldest son around Haojing. Seeing that the new year is approaching, Hao The capital city is very lively. How about the eldest son living in the mountains for a long time so that he can appreciate the scenery of the world?" Tang Zhongxing saw that Yang Wenjie was robbing someone in front of him. How could he be willing? Just when he was about to speak, he heard Bai Ze say: "That's very good. You've got work." As soon as these words came out, no matter how reluctant Tang Zhongxing was, he had to swallow the words in his mouth, and said on his face: "Young Master, you two adults, I have ordered the house to prepare meals, why don't you..."
"No need to bother." said the Minister of Rites,
"Honglu Temple has prepared wine and food. Sir, please!"
"Please." Bai Ze smiled. Tang Zhongxing looked ugly and had no choice but to see the guest off. …
