In Xianchi Hall, Xu Hezi's heavenly singing voice sounded.
"Nine times reaching Chang'an Road, Sanyang villa spring. I will also listen to the morning after the morning, and return to Yuyou morning."
This poem was written by a saint, and the officials applauded it one after another. Many people began to think about how to write corresponding poems and sing in harmony with the saint.
Yang Guozhong couldn't write poetry anyway, so he was very happy. He was holding the wine glass and staring at Li Linfu. He felt that the right minister was a little different today than usual.
"Xue Bai is not here?" Zhang Bian came over and asked casually.
Yang Guozhong looked back and said with a smile: "It must have been invited by Yao Siyi. A few days ago, Xue Bai wanted to cause trouble for him, and he even asked me to be a lobbyist."
"Who ordered this?"
"Who gave the order? Did Xue Bai do what he was told to do?"
"I'm just curious. If eating is too extravagant, Xue Bai should trouble you instead of pointing the finger at the palace servants."
After hearing this, Yang Guozhong cursed Zhang Bian secretly and said unhappily: "How should I know? The prince-in-law will just go and find out. It's not you, it's not me, it could be the right minister who wants to deal with Yao Siyi."
The two have never gotten along well, but today Zhang Bian was willing to put down his posture and chat with Yang Guozhong for a few more words. He looked at Li Linfu who was sitting there with his eyes closed, and asked, "Have you paid a visit to the Right Prime Minister recently?"
At this time, Xu Hezi had sang the last line on the stage.
"The song ends in high spirits, and one must return drunk."
"good!"
The officials in the palace cheered, but the royal banquet was not over yet. It was just getting underway, and the sage said that everyone had to get drunk.
Yang Guozhong raised his glass and drank, and then replied: "No, I haven't had any trouble with the Prime Minister for a while."
Zhang Bian lamented: "Your Prime Minister doesn't drink alcohol."
Yang Guozhong looked at Li Linfu again and saw that he still kept his eyes closed and meditated, instead of drinking a drink for the poem written by the saint.
"I heard that the right prime minister is suffering from wind disease and will soon retire from office."
"The prince-in-law still doesn't give up?"
"Since you know that I am the consort, you should know that it is difficult for me to worship the prime minister." Zhang Bian sighed slightly and said casually, "But you are different."
Yang Guozhong was stunned for a moment, then looked at Li Linfu, and couldn't help but narrowed his eyes, trying to tell from that old face whether he had a chance to become the prime minister.
"Feng Yi?"
"Wind disease, once you drink alcohol, you may suddenly become ill."
"Want to toast?"
Yang Guozhong asked, and a knowing smile appeared on Zhang Bian's face.
The two immediately went to Li Linfu and persuaded him to drink with the saint's poems.
"If someone comes home drunk, I'll drink to you."
Li Linfu then opened his eyes and looked at Zhang Bian with clear eyes, but he didn't say anything. He took the wine glass and drank it down in one gulp.
Li Heng, who was sitting opposite him, saw this situation and waved to Li Fuguo, who was behind him, to lean over and said: "I should also respect the right prime minister and bring the strongest wine."
In the palace, Li Xiu saw everyone surrounding his grandfather and winked quickly.
Soon, an official hurriedly came forward and reported: "Right Prime Minister, there are still urgent matters that need to be dealt with tonight."
"It's okay." Li Linfu said, "You can't get me drunk even after drinking these few glasses of wine."
"Please also ask the right minister to put national affairs first."
Li Linfu was dissatisfied and said calmly: "This is an imperial banquet, can you still drive me away? At least wait until the saint is happy before I take my leave to the saint."
"Here."
This was because he planned to leave early after the saint came on stage to sing.
Zhang Bian and Yang Guozhong looked at each other, and they couldn't do anything about Li Linfu. After all, it seemed that Li Linfu was not as seriously ill as the rumors said.
…
At this time, on the other side of the hall, a young eunuch rushed to Wu Huaishi and reported in a low voice.
"Grandpa, my son caught a palace lady who left her post without permission. She claimed to be from Fan Meiren's side. I don't know how to deal with it?"
"Fan Meiren?"
Wu Huaishi didn't dare to offend Fan Nu, and was about to order the palace maid to be released. But when he spoke, he thought of something, turned his head and scanned the palace, and sure enough he couldn't find Xue Bai.
"I'll go and ask myself where he is."
"Just behind Wangyunting Pavilion."
Wu Huaishi then went there in person. When he arrived, he saw the palace maid who was detained there, trembling with fright and panic.
He was the best at observing faces, and knew in an instant that this palace lady must have made a big mistake.
But when he stepped forward, he did not threaten her. Instead, he whispered softly: "Fan Meiren said that she is not feeling well today and can't even come to the Taichi Banquet. Why don't you come here to look at me if you don't want me to accompany you?"
"Slave...slave...curious?"
Wu Huaishi looked at her for a while, and when he saw her eyes unconsciously glancing toward the bushes on one side, he went straight over and took a look. He saw a package hidden in the woods. He leaned over to pick it up, opened it and took a look.
It's a set of eunuch's clothes.
Wu Huaishi rolled his eyes twice and thought about it. Then he rewrapped the package, walked towards the palace lady, pointed at her, and scolded: "Stealing food?"
"No...yes, the slave girl is for Fan Meiren."
"You go down first."
Wu Huaishi stepped back, handed the package to the palace lady, stepped forward, and whispered: "I know what Beauty Fan wants to do. She has flown up the branch now, and she wants to thank her past benefactor in person, right?"
"General Wu, you..."
The palace maid was shocked and frightened, and she didn't dare to deny it. She didn't know what to do at all.
Fortunately, Wu Huaishi was kind to others and had a kind face. He sighed: "I don't want to offend Beauty Fan, but she is too bold. If someone catches her and misunderstands that Beauty Fan and Xue Lang are messing around in the palace, what should they do?"
"No, Fan Meiren just wanted to thank Xue Lang, but he didn't come over."
"You dare to say no, he is clearly no longer in the palace."
"I really don't know this. General Wu, please let me go, please?"
Wu Huaishi took a few steps and said helplessly: "He must have lost his way. If he is found... Do you know that I have always been close to Xue Lang, how can I bear to see him causing such trouble?"
"What should we do?"
"Do you trust me? If you do, I'll help you with Fan Meiren."
The maidservant was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly.
Wu Huaishi asked: "Tell the truth, what is Fan Meiren's plan?"
"She is recuperating in Chengxiang Palace and would like to invite Xue Lang to come and see her."
"Do you have a token?"
"Yes, when Fan Meiren played the role of matchmaker, Xue Lang asked her to hold this handkerchief. Later, Fan Meiren embroidered 'Waiting for the moon under the west chamber, the door facing the wind is half open'."
"Give it to me." Wu Huaishi reached out to take it and ordered: "Let Fan Meiren wait, I will go find Xue Lang. But this time, there will be no worries in the future."
"Thank you so much, General Wu! This is a great kindness that I will never forget."
"Go ahead."
Wu Huaishi put the handkerchief into his sleeve, thought for a while, called an adopted son, and asked, "Where is Yao Siyi?"
"Son, let's go find him now."
~~
Yao Siyi met Xue Bai today just to turn the conflict into friendship. Even if he was caught, it would not be a big deal, so he did not deliberately hide it from others.
He even asked Wu Huaishi to be a peacemaker, but Wu Huaishi declined at that time, saying that Xue Bai was not difficult to get along with.
Therefore, when Yao Siyi saw Wu Huaishi coming from a distance on the tower, he couldn't help but roll his eyes, secretly thinking that something bad would happen.
Who can get a position in the palace, who is not mature with age? Yao Siyi immediately hurried down the tower and rushed towards the Xianchi Palace.
"General Yao, slow down."
Yao Siyi heard the call, turned around and asked in surprise: "General Wu, why are you here at this time?"
"Where are you going?"
"There is something wrong with one of the dishes at the banquet. I rushed over to take a look."
"You guys stand down first." Wu Huaishi backed away from the others and whispered, "Have you talked to Xue Bai?"
"It's a bit difficult, but we should be able to negotiate a deal. I'll leave him alone first."
Wu Huaishi said: "I bumped into something today. I'm afraid that you will be implicated by him. You also know that he has an old relationship with Fan Meiren."
Yao Siyi thought.
He was bullied by Xue Bai, but in turn he wanted to help Xue Bai move to an official position. This was simply because Xue Bai was the adopted brother of the imperial concubine and was difficult to deal with. But if there is a chance to get rid of Xue Bai, it will be much more enjoyable than swallowing one's anger.
"General Wu doesn't dare to talk nonsense."
Wu Huaishi then handed over the handkerchief in his sleeve and whispered: "Fan Meiren is waiting for him in Chengxiang Hall. You also know that I have a long-standing friendship with him, so I will help him today."
"Okay." Yao Siyi took the veil and said, "Is this feasible?"
"It's feasible." Wu Huaishi said: "If you send him there, send someone to tell me and I will handle it. A few people who know about it have to keep their mouths shut."
"got it."
"Where are the others?" Wu Huaishi asked again.
Yao Siyi originally didn't want to tell him Xue Bai's whereabouts, but now he hesitated.
"What? He has left the palace?" Wu Huaishi said, "That's it, just pretend that I didn't say anything."
"That's not the case." Yao Siyi thought for a moment, made a decision, and said, "I was threatened by him again just now and asked him to follow Princess Hezheng to Yeting Palace."
"What?"
"Princess Hezheng asked me to let her go to see Webster a few years ago. I don't want to offend her." Yao Siyi said: "Xue Bai bumped into this matter again today. For some reason, he insisted on following her."
"You are not afraid of falling into his hands." Wu Huaishi said: "Why did he follow him? What if he had an affair with Princess Hezheng, can you afford it?"
Yao Siyi smiled bitterly and said: "The two of them want to go to a desolate place like Ye Ting together for the purpose of having an affair. If I stop them, can I afford to offend them? I regret it now. If I had gotten this veil earlier, I would have done it myself. He won’t be able to manipulate me.”
"What is there to regret? You still only need to send someone to lead Xue Bai to Chengxiang Hall."
"But if he surrenders me..."
"When the time comes, tell the truth first. He threatened you with eating, and first forced you to let him and Princess Hezheng into Yeting. You were loyal to the saint and went to complain first. But I didn't expect that he also forced your eunuch to lead When he went to Chengxiang Hall, you were already in Xianchi Hall and didn't know about it."
"In this case, I am still guilty."
Wu Huaishi said: "Think about it for yourself, does the saint care how much you spend on land and water delicacies? Without Xue Bai, who will still bite you?"
"Then follow General Wu." Yao Siyi said with a smile, "Then General Wu must give me a good word in front of the saint."
"rest assured."
After Wu Huaishi said that, he returned to Xianchi Hall first.
Yao Siyi recruited a confidant and whispered: "Xue Bai will come out in a moment, and you will lead him to Chengxiang Hall."
"Grandpa, don't worry, my son knows."
"Just say go back to Xianchi Palace, don't let him know where you are going."
"Here."
After giving instructions, Yao Siyi returned to the palace, picked up the official robe left by Xue Bai, and put the handkerchief into his sleeve pocket.
~~
Yeting Palace.
Li Yuetu walked quickly, looking back from time to time to glance at Xue Bai, who was dressed as a eunuch behind him.
When no one was around, she couldn't help but stop and asked, "Did you do this on purpose?"
"yes."
"Why are you following me?" Li Yuetu said, "Are you trying to use my mistakes to frame my grandpa?"
"Too lazy to do this." Xue Bai said: "It is easy to frame your grandpa, but difficult to get rid of him."
"Why is that?"
Xue Bai didn't answer.
Li Yuetu thought for a while and asked in a low voice: "Do you like me?"
She has a completely different temperament from Li Tengkong. As she spoke, she took a step forward and said, "Because of my status, you like me but don't want to marry me? But I want to marry you, but I may not like you."
Xue Bai considered it carefully and said in deep thought: "You and I will not have a relationship between a man and a woman, and we cannot have one."
"Why?"
"Because I'm a married man."
Speaking of Yan Yan, Li Yuetu couldn't help but said: "Did you listen to Sanniang? I occasionally come to Ye Ting to see my adoptive mother."
"Yes." Xue Bai finally agreed to answer her and said, "I want to meet Princess Boping to confirm who the saint wants to arrange to marry Anqing Zong."
"For this, you take such a big risk?"
"If we can't get rid of An Lushan, he will kill me sooner or later. It will be much more dangerous than now."
"I think you are lying to me." Li Yuetu said, "You have secrets to hide from me."
"One day, you will know." Xue Bai said: "But you can believe that I am a loyal and upright minister of the Tang Dynasty."
"I don't believe you."
Li Yuituo said this, turned around and left, but took Xue Bai to the palace where Princess Boping lived. After all, this matter was related to her. She did not want to marry An Qingzong.
"But I wonder if Princess Boping can get married, would it be a good thing or a bad thing?" she asked Xue Bai.
"Then let's see if she is willing to leave the palace."
"If she is willing, will you help her? Then you are also helping me." Li Yuetu said, "But she must be willing."
…
Officially, Yeting Palace is said to be "the place where palace people teach their crafts", but in fact it is also the residence of concubines and palace ladies. The saint had many concubines. Except for a few favored concubines who had separate palaces, most of the concubines and palace ladies lived in Yeting Palace.
But this is indeed a place where concubines and princesses are imprisoned, and the female family members of prisoners and officials are imprisoned. For example, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, the two daughters of Concubine Xiao Shu, the princesses Yiyang and Xuancheng, were imprisoned in Yeting and were not allowed to marry when they were over thirty.
The palace where Princess Boping lives is exactly where Princess Xuancheng lived.
The palace door was closed, and no one was guarding it. Li Yuetu glanced around, and when he opened the door, he saw that the courtyard was desolate, with withered flowers and trees that had not been cared for, the vines growing wildly beside the stone path, and the eaves above the palace rising and falling. Full of dust.
An old palace maid was sitting on the porch, basking in the sun and dozing off. She heard some noise and opened her eyes. She was pleasantly surprised to see Li Yuetu coming.
"The county lord is here."
Li Yuetu did not say that she had been made the princess, but asked: "Ge Niang, is your princess here?"
What she said was nonsense. Where else could Princess Boping go if she wasn't here?
"Here I am."
While talking, someone came out of the temple.
Xue Bai looked at it, but was greatly surprised... It was a girl, about the same age as him, with a beautiful face, but with curly hair and a high nose, she was obviously of some barbarian descent.
Princess Boping was not born to Li Ying's Crown Princess Xue? Then Li Qian isn’t it either? So these twins, one died and the other was imprisoned?
If so, all plans will be in vain.
"This is Chong Niang." Li Yuetu introduced Xue Bai in a low voice and said, "She is my aunt."
Xue Bai knew that the woman with Hu people's blood was not the princess of Boping County, and asked: "Is she also a princess?"
"No, Chongniang hasn't made her a princess yet."
"Why?"
Li Yuetu didn't want to say anything, but Xue Bai asked, so he had to say: "Her mother-in-law is a Hu Xuan girl who paid tribute to Cao State. When Lady Chong was born... she was less than a month old."
Xue Bai then understood that when the child was less than a month old, Li Longji suspected that she was not his biological daughter, and that perhaps Hu Xuannu had been brought with her as "private goods" when she was brought as tribute.
Ahead, Li Chongniang had already stepped forward, bowed to Li Yuetu, and said timidly: "I'm here to see the princess."
"I want to see you too." Li Yuetu stepped forward, took out a box of pastries and said, "For you and your mother-in-law to eat."
"Thank you, Lord County."
Li Chongniang was greatly surprised. Her humble demeanor was not at all like the daughter of an emperor, and she looked even more miserable than ordinary palace people. After all, the saint had twenty-nine daughters, and it is almost impossible to think of one who might not be his daughter.
Xue Bai lowered his head slightly and looked into the hall.
The old palace maid who was sitting in the corridor narrowed her eyes and saw the stubble on his lips that had been shaved just this morning. Then she stepped forward and reached out to dig into his crotch.
Li Yuetu quickly stepped forward to block it, shook his head, and whispered: "Don't touch Ge Niang, he is here to help the princess,"
Ge Niang nodded and welcomed them into the palace.
There are more furnishings in the palace than Xue Bai expected.
There is a harp on the qin table, and a pipa next to it. There are dominoes scattered on a table. It seems that only two people are playing. There is a long table next to it. The scroll on the floor is only half painted, because there are no more dominoes on the inkstone. Without the ink sticks, the paintings hanging on the walls have monotonous colors.
It can be seen that various materials are still supplied here, but there are inevitably heavy discounts.
A ray of light penetrated into the palace from the dilapidated window. Princess Boping was sitting by the window reading a book. There was another volume on the stool opposite. Li Chongniang must have come to read too.
Hearing the movement, she turned around, showing a pale face.
Xue Bai first observed whether she looked like him, and the answer was no, she was too thin, skinny and small.
She has willow-leaf eyebrows, pink eyes, and very small lips... One detail that can be noticed for now is that when she holds the scroll, her thumb is raised.
Xue Baisui also raised his little thumb.
He has already asked Li Cong. Her name is Li Yiniang.
Li Yuetu had already stepped forward, got close to Li Yiniang, and whispered.
"Today the saint gave a banquet to Taichi. I took the opportunity to come and have a look. If you are missing anything, tell me and I will ask the tall man to bring it to you in a few days..."
"Okay, the books and pictures are gone."
Li Yiniang usually didn't speak very much. Her speech was not fluent and her voice was soft. She looked at Xue Bai and asked, "Who is he?"
Li Yuetu glanced at Xue Bai first and asked him with his eyes whether he could identify himself. Xue Bai thought for a while and nodded.
"The dominoes, poems, and stories you like are all from him. He is Xue Bai."
For a moment, Li Yiniang's eyes lit up, then dimmed again. Without looking at Xue Bai, she asked Li Yuitu in a low voice, "Is he a man?"
"right."
"I haven't seen a man yet."
"He came here this time to have a chance to leave Ye Ting, and he wanted to ask you."
Li Yiniang was still not surprised. She shook her head and said, "I can't get out of Yeting."
"Why?" Li Yuetu said, "After all these years, at least you told me the reason."
Li Yiniang pursed her lips and said nothing.
Seeing this situation, Xue Bai took a step forward and said politely: "Princess Hezheng, can I talk to Princess Boping alone?"
"No."
Before anyone else answered, Ge Niang spoke first.
Li Yiniang didn't look at anyone, she lowered her head and said, "Let him talk to me alone."
"Don't worry, Ge Niang. I know what he wants to talk about, and he won't harm the princess." Li Yuetu thought that Xue Bai wanted to talk about the Anqing clan and wanted to stay, but she still had to go see Wei Shi, so she took Li Yuetu along with her. Chong Niang said: "Chong Niang, will you follow me to see my mother?"
"good."
Ge Niang had no choice but to send them back outside the courtyard and watch from a distance to prevent Xue Bai from bullying Li Yi Niang.
…
In the hall, Li Yiniang felt that Xue Bai had been staring at her, so she simply raised her head and looked back curiously.
"You said you could help me leave Yeting, but do you know why I am being held here?"
Xue Bai said: "I can't help you now. That's a lie to deceive Princess Hezheng and ask her to take me to see you."
"Why did you come to see me?"
"If I want you to leave Yeting, I have to wait for the three common people's case to be overturned. I can't do that now. But if you believe me, sooner or later that day will come."
"Why should I believe you?" Li Yiniang said, "I don't know you."
"you know me."
"Do I know you?" Li Yiniang was a little confused.
Xue Bai hesitated and decided to change the original plan.
He originally planned to take a look at it slowly, but today he just came to observe.
But just now he saw that Li Yiniang had not revealed the reason for her imprisonment for so many years, and he judged that she was a very strict person.
There is no benefit to pretending to be Li Qian now, only danger. It is easier to win people's trust, and as long as Li Yiniang doesn't tell, the danger is far less than it seems.
Worth a try.
So, Xue Bai stepped forward and knelt down to look at her level, and said, "I am your brother."
"Brother? Which one?"
Xue Bai stretched out three fingers.
"No." Li Yiniang shook her head, hiding backwards, and murmured: "Impossible, you lied to me."
"Why is it impossible?"
"I won't tell you. Stop testing me. I won't tell you."
Xue Bai observed her reaction and asked tentatively: "Do you think I am dead? Have you seen it with your own eyes?"
Li Yiniang was shocked, with deep fear in her eyes.
But her reaction was very calm. She stretched out her hand, as if she wanted to poke Xue Bai to see if he was real.
A finger slowly stretched forward, and finally touched the tip of Xue Bai's nose.
He didn't hide, and felt that her hands were very cold, much colder than Yan Yan's hands.
"I don't know." Li Yiniang said, "Who...are you?"
Xue Bai's eyes were calm and his attitude was sincere, and he said: "I will be the closest person to you in this world and treat you best."
After saying that, he turned his back and opened his collar.
Li Yiniang understood what he meant, stood up, and asked him to move slightly to the sunlight by the window. She looked at the back of his neck and saw three connected brand scars.
"The original scar has been burned away." Xue Bai said, "Mr. Zhang Jiuling doesn't want people to know my life experience."
After that, he waited for a while, but didn't wait until Li Yiniang spoke.
But there was a drop of water falling on the scar on his neck, which was slightly warm.
"I saw it with my own eyes... I saw you being beaten to death..."
"Seeing is not necessarily believing." Xue Bai said: "I was already dead, but when I opened my eyes, I found that I was still alive."
~~
Xianchi Palace.
After Li Linfu drank a few glasses of wine, he had a splitting headache and his consciousness gradually became unclear.
He couldn't remember what he looked like when he got sick, but he heard from his family that he had a premonition that he was about to get sick.
"Where did Xue Bai go?" he asked Li Xiu.
"I must have met Yao Siyi."
"Ignore him." Li Linfu whispered: "When this deal is over, I have to resign."
"My child, we'll make arrangements now."
Li Xiu looked towards the stage and saw Li Longji still playing the role of the Jade Emperor.
It can be seen that no matter whether they are prime ministers or saints, their deepest desires are the same, they want to live forever and become an immortal, so one calls himself an immortal official and the other pretends to be the Jade Emperor.
The voice of the narrator resounded throughout the hall, and the show was about to come to an end.
"The emperor came to Jade Capital and looked down at the world. The East China Sea is covered with white clouds, and the mountains are covered with five green mountains..."
On the other side of the hall, Wu Huaishi turned his head and looked out. Seeing that the saint was about to sing a good show, Yao Siyi had not made arrangements yet, and he couldn't help but frowned.
When Xue Bai came to Yanshi to take office, he asked Xue Bai to help bring home letters, which was actually a great help. Unexpectedly, despite his kindness, he was tricked by Xue Bai in the end, which made the eunuchs in the palace think that he was easy to bully. of.
Today it just depends on how Xue Bai decides. If he can really control his belt, Wu Huaishi will continue to smile at the worst. But as long as you dare to enter Chengxiang Hall, you will have grievances and revenge.
Just as he was thinking about it, Yao Siyi finally came over.
"Has it been arranged?" Wu Huaishi asked.
"It's already been taken over there."
"good."
Wu Huaishi then winked and pretended that a young eunuch had taken the order and went to make arrangements.
Soon, a palace maid rushed over in a panic and whispered to Gao Lishi: "General Gao, I seem to have encountered a foreign minister who went to Chengxiang Palace to steal."
When Gao Lishi heard this, he remained calm and with just one look, he arranged for a team of servants to go and check.
After arranging this matter, the saint also sang a play, and he hurried over to serve.
…
At this time, Li Linfu was saluting in front of Li Longji.
"The saint's performance today is unparalleled in ancient and modern times."
"Haha, I haven't heard Juro's singing voice for a long time. I've had a lot of fun today, so I'll just play one more song."
"The old minister is also looking forward to discussing music with the saint again, but the general affairs have not been dealt with yet, so I dare not delay..."
"Hold on, right."
Gao Lishi stepped forward, first whispered to Li Longji, and then said: "I'm afraid the right prime minister shouldn't leave at this time."
Li Longji was in high spirits and didn't want anyone to spoil his fun. Hearing that there was a thief in the palace, he decided to let Gao Lishi and Li Linfu co-operate. He then said: "Shiro, don't leave in a hurry. Let's listen to General Gao and tell us what happened." .”
"Old minister, I obey."
Li Linfu had no choice but to agree.
After arranging this matter, Li Longji walked to the imperial couch, raised his glass and said: "The Spring Palace Banquet, the beautiful scenery on this beautiful day, I have composed poems and sang songs. It is the turn of the ministers to compose poems. All excellent works will be rewarded!"
As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere became more and more heated.
Wu Huaishi felt the atmosphere and thought that Xue Lang was indispensable in composing poems at the imperial banquet.
It's a pity that Xue Lang hasn't come back yet...
(End of chapter)
