Pingkangfang is a well-known place for sensuality and entertainment in Daxing City. There are many restaurants, inns, brothels, and music studios in the square. It is the most prosperous and lively place in Daxing City besides the east and west cities. Every night, it may be quiet elsewhere, but Pingkangfang is noisy and lit all night long. The value of the area within the square can be said to be very high, several times more expensive than Yongxing, Chongren, Wuben, Xingdao and other squares where princes and nobles are concentrated.
However, Pingkangfang is not all fireworks and willow lanes. The entertainment venues are mainly concentrated in the south, while the east, west and north are still the houses of normal people. In addition to Prince Wei's Mansion and Princess Yang Lihua's Mansion of Princess Leping, which each occupy 300 acres, the residences of important ministers such as Yang Su, Gao Jun, Yang Xiong, Yu Wenbi, and Li Min are also here.
The carved beams and painted pillars and green tiles and green eaves of Prince Wei's Mansion are shining and majestic in the snow light. On the lintel of the majestic main entrance, there are three large characters inscribed "Prince Wei's Mansion".
In front of the red lacquer gate covered with large copper nails on the mouth of the bowl, two huge stone pillars are densely engraved with text, recording the achievements of King Wei Zhao Yang Shuang for the Sui Dynasty. These two stone pillars have the valve on the left and the reading on the right. The red lacquer gate in the middle is the portal.
This is where the so-called clan theory comes from.
There are nine halberds on the left and right in front of the door. The eighteen halberds above are all given by the emperor. They are not only the emperor's praise to the meritorious ministers, but also to show the glory and dignity of the master of the house. They are also to set an enterprising example for other officials. Eighteen halberds means that the titles and official positions have all reached the highest level. Looking at the current situation, only Prince Wei's Palace enjoys this honor, not even the prince or prince.
When he arrived in front of the mansion, Yang Ji was surprised to find that there were guests visiting his home. This really surprised him.
You know, although Yang Ji is a prince, he also has a literary official from the Yitong Third Division of the Kaifu, which seems quite intimidating, but both of them are empty posts to make a living, and there is nothing about him that is worthy of being fawned over by others.
It was only on the anniversary of his father's death that his old subordinates came to pay homage, which made Prince Wei's palace more lively. Usually, except for the twenty soldiers guarding the door and a gatekeeper, there were not even a wild dog.
But now, on the right side of the square in front of the mansion, there are two large and gorgeous carriages parked neatly. Judging from their placement, it is obvious that the visitors are all women.
There were several people guarding each car behind and on the left and right sides. They were all strong men wearing fine silk robes and sabers hanging from their waists. They did not slack off or make noise because of the master's absence. They were all silent and stood as loosely as possible, showing the master's good and strict tutoring.
Yang Ji took one look and then stepped forward. When the soldiers in front of the door saw their master returning in embarrassment, they all clasped their fists and saluted as usual: "See you, young master."
"No courtesy." Yang Ji waved his hand gently, and then he and Zhu Can followed the door and walked into the open door.
Inside the main entrance is a white marble screen wall. The huge basalt relief on the screen wall is the sacred beast that guards the palace of Prince Wei.
Compared with the five gates and three dynasties of the imperial palace, the palace lacks the Kumen and the Pheasant Gate. Going around the screen wall is the front yard of the Xuanwu Hall, the main hall of the palace.
The ground in the front yard is paved with bluestone, and in the center is a circular pond. There is a rockery in the pond, with pavilions and trees on the mountain. There are groups of red carp swimming freely in the pond.
Pine, cypress, rosewood, camphor and bamboo are planted on both sides of the courtyard. Although it is the middle of winter, the place is still full of greenery.
After Menzi passed the screen wall, he shouted excitedly: "The young master is back, the young master is back."
An old man with white beard and hair and a dignified appearance came out to greet him. He was wearing a green gown on his slender body, making him appear gentle, elegant and chic.
This old man's name was Gongsun Huan. He once practiced Taoism in Kongtong Mountain. When Yang Shuang was the general manager of Liangzhou, he heard that Gongsun Huan was knowledgeable, capable in literature and military, and had a good character. He was a very powerful person, so he invited him personally. After going down the mountain, he has been advising Yang Shuang as an aide since then. After Yang Shuang died of illness, Gongsun Huan stayed as the general manager of Prince Wei's Mansion. He not only helped the concubine manage the huge family business, but also taught Yang Ji swordsmanship and maneuvering skills that he could not learn in the palace.
"I've met the young master." When Gongsun Huan saw Yang Ji, a smile appeared on his face, and he strode forward to salute.
"Master, you are so polite." Yang Ji returned the gesture.
Gongsun Huan glanced at Yang Ji and said with a smile, "Young Master, have you suffered a lot this time?"
Yang Ji glared at the bad old man: "I guess it must be the master's contribution, right?"
"Haha!" Gongsun Huan did not deny it, but just laughed.
Yang Ji waved Zhu Can and Menzi to leave, and asked casually: "Master, who is here?"
"It's Princess Leping here." Gongsun Huan announced a name that Yang Ji didn't expect.
"What is she here for?" Princess Yang Lihua of Leping is the eldest daughter of Yang Jian, the empress of Emperor Xuan of Zhou, and the cousin of Yang Ji.
Yang Ji, a cousin who had grown from a queen to a queen mother and then a queen mother to a princess, was a bit arrogant and felt that their mother and son were embarrassed. Except for visiting Princess Dugu during holidays, she never visited the gate of Prince Wei's palace.
Gongsun Huan said with a smile: "According to the inner court manager Su, the princess is here to get married."
Yang Ji was stunned, then asked with a smile: "Whose wife is my sister talking about?"
"The person accompanying the princess is Gao Jiong's step-sibling Yuwen." Gongsun Huan said, "The person who proposes marriage to the young master is Gao Jiong's daughter."
"It seems like a concubine's daughter can't be my legal wife, right?" Yang Ji was a bit dumbfounded. He pretended to be deaf and dumb to avoid Gao Qiu, but his wife actually ran to his house to say goodbye in person.
Gongsun Huan nodded: "It is true that a concubine cannot be a princess."
Yang Ji's question came again: "Does Gao Jiong have an unmarried legitimate daughter? Even if he does, I'm afraid she is older than my mother."
"There are no legitimate daughters, but concubines can also become legitimate daughters." Gongsun Huan said with a smile.
"Can this change? How?"
"Two years ago, Gao Jiong adopted a concubine to his step-sibling, Yu Wenshi, and she was officially his legitimate daughter." Gongsun Huan said with a smile.
"It's really speechless." Gao Jiong and others are now particularly determined to build momentum for Yang Yong's comeback. The momentum is not small. If Yang Ji marries Gao Jiong's daughter at this time, he and Yang Guang will have an irreparable relationship. Due to the rift, the future Daye Dynasty would not only be unable to survive, but would even lose its head.
Yang Ji is not afraid that his mother will make mistakes, but he is worried about Gao Jiong.
Once this kind of cunning old fox sets his sights on someone, he has dozens of ways to force him into submission, and he never gives up halfway. Even if he refuses to marry today, this old fox will definitely have tricks up his sleeve that people cannot guard against.
"The eldest lady and the princess are in the side hall, do you want to go?" Gongsun Huan asked when he saw that Yang Ji's face looked a little ugly.
"No, I'm going to wash up first." Yang Ji shook his head and went straight to the backyard.
Bridge to bridge, road to bridge, he would only blame Gao Jun for this matter, and would not blame a few women. It would be embarrassing if he lost his temper at a few women in his own home and flipped the table. It's not just him, Yang Ji, but the signature of Prince Wei's Mansion.
