Anye Fang in the south of the eastern capital, not far from the imperial city and Dingding Gate in the southwest of the city, is originally the place where the squires of the eastern capital live. In recent years, the Holy Driver has been fortunate in the Eastern Capital, and many court officials have set up other businesses in the Eastern Capital, and many foreign officials have gradually lived in the Anye Fang.

In the northwest of the fang, there is also such a medium-sized mansion in the area of Tongji Canal. There are only more than 20 rooms inside and outside, and there are generally only two old guards at the door, and donkeys and mules are used to enter and exit, and there is no wealth and wealth - but if someone enters the house, you can see carved beams and painted buildings everywhere, and pink gold and jade. Pavilions and pavilions, although not very atmospheric, but extremely exquisite, calligraphy and painting, although not much on display, but are all famous.

Although there are only more than 20 houses, the courtyard has five or six layers, and the small courtyard in the west also leads the water of the Tongji canal, and makes a curved water pavilion by itself, and is full of strange flowers and trees on all sides, regardless of spring, autumn, winter and summer, it is verdant and lush.

In the middle of the curved water, there is a piano case on the pavilion, and a pair of guqin is placed on it. There is no name mark on the instrument, it is not known whose hand it is, and there is no engraved decoration.

In the afternoon, someone on the pavilion burned incense and sat on the plate, plucking the strings idly, although it was a casual move, but it also became a chapter of its own, played to the place where it arose, and suddenly changed the music halfway, from "hairpin willow" to "breaking the array", the sound of the iron horse was not finished, and it became the slow and tactful "Parting is difficult", before a chapter, it was changed to "Sword Instrument", "Sword Instrument" was played, and it became "Thousand Autumn Music" - There is no shortage of teaching workshop songs, with a solo, it is inevitable to be sparse, but this piano player can be ingenious, with fast fingers, when it is high, it seems that the drum music is played in unison, and when it is soft, it is like everyone sighing in unison, whether it is soft and melancholy, or Jin Ge Iron Horse, can get its three flavors, even the girl standing next to him listens to each other, sometimes sad on the face, sometimes excited, as if it has entered the artistic conception with the sound of the piano.

Dugu Shao entered the courtyard, what he heard was "Sword Weapon", because he stopped and stood up, looking at the people in the pavilion from afar, the maid next to him wanted to come forward to report, she shook her hand to stop, pretending to be thirsty, the maid went to pour a glass of ice drink, and after listening to a song quietly, she went up the steps, and said with a smile: "Okay." ”

Cui Mingde stroked the strings lovingly, got up slowly, and said, "Today's cicadas are very noisy, and they don't fit to play the piano, so take it." ”

The maid whispered and came up to clean up the piano, this maid is only ** years old, it is the season when the little girl loves to play, but her demeanor is quiet, the master does not speak, and she refuses to even look at Dugu Shao who is nearby, let alone a word.

There were only Cui Mingde, Dugu Shao and the girl in the courtyard, and the two of them were silent, and they were extremely quiet for a while.

Dugu Shao was not embarrassed, and smiled first: "I heard that the lady of the Zunfu was sick, so I came to inquire." ”

Cui Mingde glanced at her, slowly descended the steps, and said as he walked: "Thank you for your kindness." My mother is sick and inconvenient to entertain guests, so I hope you will forgive me. ”

Dugu Shao also followed her down the steps, laughing as he walked: "If you have a way to play the piano, it is inconvenient to entertain guests, this is the hospitality of your Shandong wealthy family?"

Cui Mingde suddenly turned around, glanced at her, and saw that she was wearing a skirt with half sleeves, which was very different from the usual Hu Fu makeup, and said slightly: "The "Clan Chronicles" of the Contempt clan is only ranked third, and I dare not call it a wealthy family. The poor family, the servants are sloppy, and the distinguished guests come from afar, and they don't know how to report it, so they really forgive their sins. Dugu's surname is Guan Long's surname, and the "Clan Chronicles" is second-class, this party is the leader of the wealthy family, and we are a model, but I don't know how to come to the gate, what advice do you have?"

She was clear and sharp, but her expression and tone were still unhurried, Dugu Shao said: "It's no wonder that they are here, I handed Lan Sheng's name card, they thought I was your companion in the palace, so they didn't dare to slack off." I'm not going to tell you anything—your mother is obviously fine, so why do you want to say that she is sick, and take you out of the palace?"

Cui Mingde said coldly: "The relatives are sick, and the respectful service of the children is always divided, so why bother to divide the size of the disease?

Dugu Shao smiled: "It's because you are articulate, I can't talk about you." Don't tell me these words to the outside world, since I have come to look for you, naturally there is my sake, you sue me why did you come out of the palace, and I will also tell you a piece of news, how about it?"

Cui Mingde turned his head to look around, and the girl had already walked away with the piano set, and she was the only one left in the garden. The courtyard is wide, the flowers are sparse, and there is nothing to hide, so she glanced at Dugu Shao and said lightly: "You tell your news first." ”

Dugu Shao smiled: "No, you have to sue me first." ”

Cui Mingde sneered, raised his feet and left, Dugu Shao didn't care about her, he bent down to pick up a peony, pinched it in his hand, and said with a sigh and pity: "It's been hot in mid-February, and this year's drought will be better than in previous years." ”

Cui Mingde stood with her on his back for a long time before he said: "The eldest princess of Yan'an has repeatedly brought her children into the palace, and she has a very happy conversation with the saint and the prince. ”

Dugu Shao squinted slightly, took a step closer, and said, "If I remember correctly, the eldest princess of Yan'an only has one daughter under her knees, and now she is the same age as King Ji?"

Cui Mingde bowed slightly, and looked at Dugu Shao again.

Dugu Shao said with a smile: "Of the seven prime ministers, only three of them drove to Luo. Duke Xu, Gong Fang, Duke Wei. Xu Gong is seriously ill, and the medicine stone is not saved, and the phase is about to be vacated. ”

Cui Mingde frowned and said: "If the disaster is better than in previous years, I'm afraid that there will be one more vacancy." ”

Dugu Shao said with a smile: "The four people left behind in Beijing are all pillars of the imperial court, close ministers of the Son of Heaven, and they have stayed in Beijing since last year, even if there is a disaster, I am afraid that they can't blame them." ”

Cui Mingde stared at her and said lightly: "It can't be Fang Gong." ”

Dugu Shao also looked back at her: "Duke Wei is loyal and upright, everything must be based on etiquette, on the first day of the year before last, the sage wanted to make the prince and the king of Ji each hold a box, and lead a hundred officials to tug of war for a play, Wei Gong thought that it was not possible to make the king and the minister equal, nor to make the young brothers a play of dispute, the sage Jiazhi, gave three hundred pieces of silk, and then stopped the matter. ”

Cui Mingde lowered his eyes and said: "The eldest princess of Yan'an's mother's family is noble, and her husband's family is also a big family. His daughter was born in a high family, both friendly and noble, dignified in manners, known as a talent, and few peers matched. ”

Dugu Shao said with a smile: "And you are from the Cui family, and you have a lot of prestige." If you can accept you as a concubine for King Ji, then whether it is a saint or the eldest princess of Yan'an, there is nothing to say. The best thing is that Sister Ling also refused to marry the prince..."

Cui Mingde said: "I still have to go to my mother's place to serve the decoction, and I will say goodbye first." ”

Dugu Shao raised his eyebrows and said, "I said, why did you think of such an unfortunate excuse, it turned out that you were really sick." But what are the symptoms? My family is familiar with Luoyang, a famous local doctor, no invitation, if you want to help, just ask. ”

Cui Mingde said: "Thank you for your kindness, it's not a serious illness, you don't need to bother to drive." It is inconvenient at home, so I will not accompany you. After saying that, he turned around and walked forward, and after walking a few steps, he heard Dugu Shao calling: "Cui Er." After a pause, he heard her laugh loudly: "You still play the piano well." ”

Cui Mingde ignored her and walked away quickly.