The front yard was full of people, gongs and drums were pounding, and the juggling artists on the stage attracted the applause of the spectators.

As the night deepened, the guests were tired, and some of the ladies went home with their children first, leaving the men to stay in the Yan Mansion until the end. The steward whispered a few words to the troupe owner, and the artist on stilts received the class owner's eyes and jumped down to end the scene.

As soon as the stage was withdrawn, the courtyard suddenly became much quieter, and the yawning old minister in the front seat cheered up, and his eyes stared at the door where Hou Ye came out earlier.

The eyes and ears of the officials only found that there were more people in the courtyard. Those people in black clothes and soap boots, dressed as retinues, were scattered in the corner of the courtyard, and coldly surrounded the surroundings.

"Oops......" An old man exclaimed in a low voice, he had just stepped down from the fourth rank position a few years ago, his body was very good, and he saw a familiar face almost every day when he was in office.

Ji Wei didn't have a saber at his waist, he led a few people to enter through the back door, and the family guarding the back door respectfully let him go, obviously being instructed. The river drum guard moved lightly, and did not alarm the birthday guests who ate, drank and admired the moon at all.

He clasped his fists and saluted the old minister who recognized him, walked from the corner to the center of the banquet, and said aloud:

"Please wait, Lord Hou will come out to receive a few birthday gifts in a moment!"

The guests who had already received the news were very excited, and the birthday gift was to be invited out when the feast was about to be over, and it must be a rare treasure in the world, and those who were about to return home were also fished with curiosity to see what this unusual gift was. For a while, there were whispers everywhere, and it didn't matter which family's attendants were so loud.

When the candle was halfway burning, the night wind blew the clouds next to the full moon, obscuring most of the light. The maidservants added lamps and retreated, and their skirts dragged a long path neatly.

The lights on the side of the road are turned off, and there are beautiful women walking under the lights.

For a moment, the guests were speechless, only to feel that under the hazy moon, the table full of pearls and jade glass, red candles and silver lamps became empty foils, and they were illuminated by their faces, and they were immediately dimmed.

His eyebrows are extremely elegant, his pupils are like mirrors, reflecting the shadows of flowers and stars. The hanging courage is beautiful, the lips are like clouds, the skin is like the bright moon, and the hair is a waterfall of ink.

At the moment when everyone was stunned, the old ministers knelt down in their robes and shouted long live.

Beauty is naturally today.

There are two people behind him today, and the person in the middle is in a white robe, which is Yan Shizi who has changed into regular clothes. Behind the prince was a delicate girl, and halfway through, she changed direction in a panic and bowed to the guests, and slipped down the steps in three or two steps into the gap between the guards and the maidservants.

Ji Wei, the commander of the River Drum Guard, ordered today: "You guys are flat, Your Majesty is dressed tonight, and you don't have to follow the etiquette of weekdays." ”

Yan Xugui stood on the right side of Sheng Yunyi, bowed down and said, "Your Majesty is here to celebrate my father's birthday, and my father and ministers are very grateful." He also said: "The Yan Mansion was able to see His Majesty's gift with all the distinguished guests, which is a great blessing for the humble house. ”

Everyone sat on the table, secretly thinking about what congratulatory gifts to give to the old marquis today.

With a squeak, the door of the main house opened from the inside, revealing the figure of Duanyang waiting for the elderly.

Yan Xugui stepped forward to help his father, Sheng Yunyi insisted on not sitting, and the master did not sit either, standing straight against the autumn wind.

I saw that Jin Shang raised his left hand slightly, and two black-clothed attendants with sturdy bodies and cold faces walked down, carrying two heavy ebony boxes.

Yan Huayu ordered someone to take it.

Sheng Yunyi smiled gently: "I know that Hou Ye has been unwell for some time, and the prince has spent great efforts to find effective medicinal materials, and a piece of filial piety is really rare. Yesterday, I went to Xicheng Guangdu Temple, and asked the presiding master to pray for Hou Ye to hit the bell at today's time, which was the first gift I gave to the Hou Mansion. ”

Yan Huayu immediately bowed down and was held by Jinshang with one arm.

Sheng Yunyi lowered his eyes and met a pair of Xiao Suo's eyes. His gaze moved from the wrinkles on Yan Huayu's cheeks to the white hair on his sideburns, and his heart suddenly emptied for a moment.

A petty official at the bottom muttered: "Your Majesty, this is to make Master Hou's illness known to everyone." Seeing Qian Shangfeng glaring at him, he immediately shut up.

Su Huihui, who slipped away, finally met Chen Hua Shuheng, who was watching the excitement, and briefly explained that he had given things to Yan Gongzi and came to the front yard with them, I really didn't know that person was today, otherwise I wouldn't have talked to him.

Looking at Sheng Yunyi's smiling appearance again, the people around him were all intimidated by his complexion, he was really confused by Yang City and fascinated Cai, and the country began to suffer the people before it was in trouble.

She remembered that she heard the bell from Guangdu Temple after the fireworks, and thought that it was the custom of the Southern Qi Dynasty that the bell rang late, but it was the will of the lord of the country to pray for the blessing of his relatives. In this way, it is rumored that the present is close to the Hou Mansion, but it is extremely abnormal to say that the birthday star is not in good health at the birthday banquet.

Yan Xigui said: "Your Majesty is sympathetic to the minister's father, and the minister's heart is afraid. ”

Sheng Yunyi said: "The prince doesn't need to see the outside like this. After speaking, he made another gesture for Ji Wei to send someone to open the first box, "This thing is the second gift." ”

As soon as the box was opened, the white ice cubes were presented to the guests. The ebony crate was almost filled with crushed ice, and on top of the crushed ice was a small, delicate white flower.

"Bodhi Snow!"

While Shu Heng exclaimed, Su Huihui also recognized the flower at once. Bodhi snow grows in the cold land of the extreme north, and its medicinal properties are ever-changing according to the different refining methods, and only one petal is needed to achieve the maximum effect, and it is not comparable to other medicinal materials. At present, this flower has only appeared on the black market, because the production is scarce, it is difficult to preserve the value of 10,000 gold, the lord of the country should have used countless manpower and material resources to get such a small flower.

Chen Hua didn't know this flower, but he knew that this thing was extremely precious, so he pulled Shu Heng's sleeve and said:

"What is Master Hou's body, you have been in front of Gongzi for so long, and you haven't revealed a little news. ”

Shu Heng sighed helplessly: "You should ask Uncle Chen, he is the good doctor in the house." ”

Chen Hua flicked his sleeves and moved away from him.

Su Huihui also found that the black-clothed attendant was standing in the corner, suspicious in his heart, and it was inconvenient to speak, so he settled down to watch the young man's actions.

The petals of Linden Snow emit a faint silver glow in the dark, which is not very noticeable due to the illumination of the longevity lamp. Sheng Yunyi made people extinguish more than a dozen lights, and the courtyard was several times darker, and everyone could see it clearly - the inconspicuous little flower was as white as jade in the center of the ice cube, the surface was as smooth as silk, and a few traces of red veins spread from the calyx to the root of the petals, which was very strange and beautiful.

Yan Huayu ordered someone to carefully close the lid of the box and carry it to the warehouse in Fuzhong, covered his mouth with the back of his hand and coughed a few times, and said hoarsely:

"Your Majesty is gracious, and the old minister has nothing to repay. ”

Sheng Yunyi only said: "Master Hou takes care of his body." ”

Yan turned to the side and stopped looking at him.

Su Huihui quietly stood in the crowd. She left the original seat with the Chinese medicine doctor, but this position could be seen clearly, Shizi's gaze was faintly mocking, and it seemed sad, seeing her looking straight away, he quickly withdrew his gaze.

Sheng Yunyi motioned for Ji Wei to open the second box in person.

Yan Xugui was silent for a long time, and then stared at the box for a moment, and suddenly his eyes froze:

"Wait!"

Sheng Yunyi turned a blind eye to it, and said with a smile: "Come on, show the old marquis." ”

Yan Xugui wanted to take a step forward, but the words he wanted to say turned into full of anger. He sighed deeply and looked at his father with a solemn look.

Duanyang Hou noticed his son's anxiety, and calmly waved his sleeves and said:

"Let's go. ”

Yan Xugui's clenched hand gradually loosened, he knew that sooner or later there would be such a day, he stood here, even though he was extremely sad, but he couldn't move at all.

What's in the box...... He closed his eyes.

Yan Huayu sat quietly on the chair, as calm as a stone statue. There was a trace of remorse in his eyes, what did he do back then, and he made such a stalemate with this kid today!

The clouds drifted, and a full moon dazzled.

The cold silver light passed through the decades, and the years passed by to see him rise up Zhu Lou, see him feast guests, and see him ...... The building collapsed.

The 300 birthday guests in the courtyard are witnesses to the imminent collapse of this building.

Ji Wei had already opened the box.

The crate was still full of crushed ice, but there were no more delicate white flowers on top of the crushed ice.

Facing the bleak cold light of the moon, a slight red oozed from the crystal ice, like the petals of Bodhi snow.

Someone screamed below, and the black-clothed guard who was guarding the side immediately cut off the voice.

Everyone gasped - it was a miserable white human head.

The facial features of the human head were clear, the eyes were wide open in horror, and the hair was neatly tied, as if the original owner was walking on the road, and suddenly a sword flew and cut off his head.

On the chair, Yan Huayu's body shook.

Sheng Yunyi said lightly: "This person is the main culprit who murdered Hou Ye five years ago, and he was punished on the spot by the river drum guard two days ago, and Hou Ye was given justice. I don't know if this gift is still satisfied?"

Yan Xugui's chest heaved, and he knelt down on one knee and held his father's trembling shoulder.

Yan Huayu clutched the handrail tightly, and his voice was almost broken: "Thank you...... 陛xià. ”

Sheng Yunyi said: "Commander Ji, now I can explain it to you. ”

The guests were all stunned, and the old minister, who knew a little about the past, was trembling, for fear that today's turmoil would affect his retirement.

Su Huihui was about to ask Chen Hua what was going on, but saw Shu Heng's face bloodless, stiffened, and squeezed out a few words from between his teeth:

"Song Tingzhi ......"

Chen Hua was stunned for a moment, and said hurriedly: "What's wrong with you?"

Ji Wei in front of the box waved to everyone and said loudly: "This person is Song Tingzhi, the second-room concubine of the Song family of Manhua nine years ago, who poisoned and assassinated the Hou Ye nine years ago, and has been on the run, and was only discovered by my river drum guard a few days ago. ”

Everyone at the table was shocked, and the Song family burned half of the people nine years ago was gone, where did the concubine come from? Before the banquet, several friends and businessmen in the house knew the most, and they recalled the scene of the Song family and the Yan family fighting openly and secretly.

Ji Wei seemed to hear everyone's doubts, and said loudly: "If you don't believe it, please ask the descendants of the Song family to come out and verify it!"

As soon as he raised his hand, Su Hui warmed his eyes and watched the two black-clothed guards stride towards here, she subconsciously looked around, and when she found something unusual, Shu Heng had been led out.

"At the beginning, the jade casting workshop went to the water, and the grandson of the long house survived, and the Hou Ye was kind-hearted, and because it was not suitable to be made public, he raised the name of the Song family in the house, regardless of the previous suspicions. ”

Shu Heng's handsome face was as pale as paper, he gritted his teeth and looked at the fresh human head in the box, and said loudly:

"Yes, it's Song Tingzhi. ”

Everyone was in an uproar, on the one hand, they didn't expect that the fire had burned the two of them at that time, and on the other hand, they were surprised by the hatred in the young man's voice.

After the discussion was over, Sheng Yunyi paced two steps and signaled to be quiet.

He looked at Yan Huayu with a light smile and said, "Master Hou should have no objections." ”

After a period of dead silence, Yan Xugui stood up suddenly and said coldly:

"Your Majesty is wrong, today Weichen will ask for the Duanyang Marquis Mansion in public!"

Yan Huayu withdrew the sleeves that were hidden at the corners of his mouth, and his clothes were red and shocking.

This is the usual method used today, and it is the opposite. seems to follow the wishes of others, but in fact, it dismantles all retreats, forcing people to become more and more panicked, as long as they can't help but speak out for a moment, they lose all their chips. In the past nine years, how could he have given up the persecution of the Yan clan, and he was at peace on the surface, and the flowers were brocade, which was a precursor to the killing! If the Yan clan could not find an opportunity to take the initiative to break the situation, he would one day suffer a severe backlash.

Imagami had waited so long that the anger that had been suppressed for so many years could no longer accumulate.

Yan Xugui faced the courtyard, and said unusually calmly and fluently:

"Your Majesty has misunderstood. This Song Tingzhi is the first person to be protected by his father. ”

The petty officers in the front row were dumbfounded, and when they came back to their senses, they found that everyone else was just as misty as themselves. The prince refuted His Majesty in court, and His Majesty sent the river drum guard to kill the person who the Yan clan wanted to protect, and then cut off his head as a birthday gift and put it in a box and offered it?

Sheng Yunyi stood next to a lamp, like an immortal who does not eat fireworks in the world under the moon.

He smiled and said, "Oh, I was mistaken. May the Son not disappoint these people. ”

Yan Xugui's eyes were like night, and he said softly: "The minister obeys the order." ”

His voice did not carry a trace of emotion, like a slight cool rain: "Do you still remember the thirty-two years of worship, ten years ago, the princess of Li Guo returned from the west night to the south?"

An old minister of Zhishi said boldly and tremblingly: "Remember, Princess Li...... She was the sister of Lu Ming, the general of Zhenguo at that time, and married to the royal family of the West Night. The Turks will attack the six countries of the Western Regions, and the princess will go south to Qi to ask for help from the country. ”

The rest of the people who remembered the past nodded when they heard it, and Su Hui was shocked. Married to the royal family of Western Nights...... Could it be her grandmother she had never met?

Another person whispered: "I remember that at that time, Su Jin, the king of Northern Liang Jingbei, had been buried in Dingqi, Su Jin had a close relationship with Xiye, and the Turks had no constraints and wantonly went west to conquer, and the princess may be really anxious." ”

Su Hui warmed his heart and was overjoyed, after his father died, his grandmother was still alive, so what about now?

Sheng Yunyi glanced at the old minister and did not speak.

Yan Xugui continued: "When the princess went south, she brought a person with her. ”

His eyes were clear, and he looked directly at Sheng Yunyi: "It's Song Tingzhi." ”

"Yan Shi is ashamed to receive His Majesty's grace for nine years, and the sin to be invited today begins from this. ”

Some of the guests who were quick to turn their minds now finally reacted, and the Hou Mansion sent invitations and gave gifts today, which turned out to be all disguises! The highlight of tonight was that the Yan family above Qingyun made the biggest concession to the offended Jinshang. This well-planned birthday banquet made even the people in the Yan Mansion not ready to withstand the pressure, just to highlight the inviolability of the current monarch. There is a saying that it is not too late for a gentleman to take revenge for ten years, and after ten years, it can be said that he will be revenged, and he will be compared.

Su Huihui lowered his voice and asked Chen Hua, "What is this for?

Chen Hua smiled bitterly: "Collusion is collusion, but ...... It doesn't seem to fit very well. Let's listen to Childe. ”

Yan Xugui continued: "The Song family of the banner flower is famous for peonies, the princess loves peonies, and the Song family went to the West Night as a dowry, both for business and walking in the court. General Lu led troops to welcome the princess at Yangshi Pass, and Song Tingzhi brought a letter from the King of the West Night, which contained a cloud: unconditionally gifted the West Pole Heavenly Horse of Qi to supplement military supplies. Song Tingzhi was not on good terms with the head of the family, and he was clever and tricked the emperor into believing that General Lu was conspiring against foreign countries. At this time—" his tone suddenly deepened, "At this time, Yan has vouched for him. ”

Hundreds of people froze in place.

Lu Ming is the grandfather of today, the Zhenguo General's Mansion was copied, implicated in the Shangshu Mansion, and the blood of Fanjing for 32 years was flowing. The Queen Mother Yan Sui is in charge of the harem, her relatives are like the sky, Yan Huayu is deeply respected by Emperor Jing, as long as the Yan family speaks, where will there be hesitation in the royal pen!

Yan's blade pointed directly at Jinshang's mother's house, God knows how Jinshang endured these nine years, no wonder Yan's found an opportunity to take the lead in pleading.

In the battle between the two merchants of Yan and Song, the Yan clan won an overwhelming victory by virtue of their power. The fire that wiped out the clan in the Jade Casting Workshop must not have been accidental, but since then, where will the Yan clan go? The Duanyang Marquis Mansion has lost the complete trust of the Heavenly Family.

The old marquis sat on the chair with a haggard face, as if he was asleep.

Yan Xigui straightened his robe and knelt down in front of Sheng Yunyi.

"This person learned that the Song family still had blood, and he did poison his father nine years ago, and his father's body is still very reluctant. His Majesty's execution of this person was really to relieve Yan's great heart disease. “

This fluttering sentence did not stop the secrecy of the year.

His eyelashes twitched, he paused for a moment, and said:

"Yan's pampering and arrogance is for disloyalty, disregard for human life is unkind, and not being honest in life is unjust. Yan Xugui is here today, and I implore His Majesty to remove the Lord of Duanyang!"

He raised his chin, and the old housekeeper held a gold plate in both hands, with a seven-beam crown and four-color robe on the plate, a gold and purple ribbon, and a piece of white bi that was warm and flawless, which was the seal of the court dress used by the two generations of Duanyang Hou.

The trend of cooking oil with foreign relatives is only three generations.

Sheng Yunyi still didn't speak.

After a long time, he helped Yan Xugui, who had bowed three times, only to feel that through several layers of clothing, the other party's whole body was extremely tight.

Ji Wei took over the gold plate according to the original instructions of Jinshang, and was regarded as receiving the request of the prince to remove the lord.

Just when the guests lamented the timely actions of the Hou Mansion, Sheng Yunyi smiled again:

"Today's Hou Ye's birthday, how dare I refuse the invitation of your mansion? Tomorrow's will will come down, and I hope your mansion will do it for itself. ”

He walked to the edge of the steps, the corners of his sandalwood coat melting into the thick night.

"I have a fourth gift to present to your house. ”

Ji Wei walked up the stairs, held a jade shaft three-color auspicious cloud silk brocade, and read out:

"Fengtian carried the emperor, and said: Yan's meritorious service to the country, hereby give Yan's Yong, Li, and Quercus the right to sell salt, and the tenth generation will not take it, and give the jade plate as evidence. August 17 of the fifth year of Mingguang. ”

The decree was unexpectedly short, and the decree was unclear, but no one dared to say it. The power of selling salt was part of the Yan clan before, but it was only the acquiescence of the imperial court, after today, the Yan clan who was abolished and disgraced will stand on the top of the commercial market again, and it will be difficult for anyone else to compete with it in the long ten lifetimes - this is a slap in the face and a play of benefits.

Today's birthday gifts are more and more shocking.

Yan Xugui's fingers were cold, and he held the black jade card handed over by Jinshang.

Sheng Yunyi paused, his hand slid over his shoulder, and finally did not fall.

"Yan's father and Yan family thanked His Majesty for his great kindness. His Majesty has not delved into the sin of Yan's death, and Yan's only has the heart to smear his liver and brain in the future!"