The crown princess saw that the corners of her eyes and eyebrows were gloomy and worried, and she stood on a small position and gently persuaded her: "Twilight, don't think about it too much, King You's quirky and interesting, maybe Lord Qiao was just a little greedy by him, maybe he will go back in a few days." ”

Yao Duran listened to this ineffective comfort, and forced a smile on her face: "Thank you Niangniang for your comfort." ”

At this point, it was the end of the words, and it happened that a palace lady came up behind her, and said respectfully: "Crown Princess Niangniang, Concubine De Niangniang has already arrived, please go back to the table with Mrs. Qiao." ”

"Okay, this concubine knows." The two walked back together, and when they returned, everyone was already seated, full of three tables, and a cluster of flowers. And there are still a few empty seats on the fourth table in the middle, Concubine De sits at the top, and Huo Jingrou and several princesses are at the left and right.

The first time Yao Duran saw Concubine De, she wanted to pay a special salute, so she bowed down: "The concubine came to see Concubine De, and the mother was very happy." ”

Concubine De didn't say anything, but she heard a man's voice suddenly come: "Huh? ”

Yao Duran looked up unexpectedly, but saw a young man sitting on the lower left of Concubine De, the man had clear eyebrows, starry eyes and bright teeth, and was frowning slightly at her.

Yao Duran didn't know why, lowered her beautiful eyes, and didn't move.

Concubine De looked at Yao Duran and said in a gentle tone: "Mrs. Qiao, hurry up and take a seat." This is the youngest brother in the palace, named Mohua, who was originally a civilian foreign official, and was recently transferred to Beijing by His Majesty to join the company, and it happened to be in time for the winter solstice banquet in the palace, so he was not ashamed to follow, Mrs. Qiao Don't laugh. ”

I see. Yao Duran thanked her, and the crown princess pulled her into a seat, Yao Duran saw that all the people sitting at this table were their own people, so she politely excused herself. Concubine De spoke, "Mrs. Qiao is seated." The official wives and celebrities in Beijing have all seen this palace, only Mrs. Qiao has always been low-key, and this palace has never seen it. ”

Yao Duran sat down at the head of the crown princess according to her words, opposite Huo Jingrou.

At this time, I had time to look at Concubine Nade, she looked like she was about forty, her face was graceful, but she was also amiable, her every move was very steady and decent, and she had the demeanor of a venerable.

After the banquet, rows of palace ladies walked briskly, and quickly and orderly served dishes one after another. When the lid is opened, the dish is still steaming.

Concubine De was very satisfied, and first elegantly picked up the chopsticks, and said: "This palace is still afraid of setting up a banquet here, and it will be cold when it is served, and it looks good now." Let's use it while it's hot. ”

She is the longest, when the chopsticks are moved, the others also move the chopsticks, for a while, the fragrance of the dishes is wafting, mixed with the soft chatter of several tables of guests, the scene is very comfortable and harmonious.

"Jianxian, why didn't you bring Yi Zheng into the palace today?" Concubine De asked.

The crown princess smiled: "It's just a hairy child, so I won't take it with me, and leave him to do his homework in the palace." ”

Concubine De said: "Yi Zheng is the eldest son of the sixth child, the sixth child really values it, such careful cultivation, and the trained Yi Zheng has the style of a gentleman at a young age, humble and courteous, and the most annoying, it is really a tiger father without a dog." ”

The crown princess listened to the spring breeze and said modestly: "The mother praised it." ”

Concubine De smiled, turned to Huo Jingrou again, and said, "By the way, Jingrou, how is the injury on your arm?" But scarred? There is a scar removal elixir here in this palace, will you bring a bottle back later? ”

Huo Jingrou smiled lightly: "It's a princess, how can there be no elixir to remove scars?" Niangniang cared about the injury on my arm, but dug the wound in my heart, thank you so much for your kindness. ”

When Concubine De heard this, her face stiffened slightly, revealing a touch of embarrassment.

"Niangniang, what kind of dish is this? It's so delicious. The crown princess pointed to a dish and asked, quietly easing the scene.

Concubine De's face softened, and then she said: "No wonder you don't know, this dish is indeed a new dish in the dining room of the palace, called freshly roasted shrimp balls, the entrance is delicious and does not lose strength, the palace tastes it and likes it, this is the banquet today, if you also like the palace, you will be happy." ”

The crown princess praised: "It is indeed a good dish, and I will like it when I taste it." Do you know how to make this dish? After the concubine went back, she wanted to make it for Yi Zheng to taste in person. ”

Concubine De smiled: "This dish is meticulous and complicated. First, remove the head and shell of the shrimp, chop the shrimp meat into puree, form balls, and then use a little oil that has fried the shrimp shell and shrimp head, fry the condiments, and then add the fresh soup of the boiled shrimp head and shrimp shell, add the shrimp balls after the soup boils and cook until the flavor is in, and finally thicken the pot, sprinkle some coriander, and so on. ”

When the crown princess learned this trick, her smile deepened, and she said, "Thank you, Niangniang, the concubine remembers." No wonder this dish is so delicious, you can taste it too. ”

Yao Duran was stunned for a moment, and immediately responded, but he didn't dare to touch the shrimp meatballs, but instead scooped a small spoonful of soup into his mouth, and praised it casually: "The things made in the mother's dining room are really good." ”

Concubine De's smile deepened: "It's good if you like it." ”

At this time, Yuan Mohua suddenly stared at Yao Duran, and said with a smile: "Would Mrs. Qiao like such a light thing?" As far as I can tell, Mrs. Joe should like spicy things. ”

As soon as these words came out, the table fell silent. Let's look at this side, look at that side, I really don't understand, how these two people talked.

After Yao Duran's accident, he said: "Lord Yuan is really powerful, and even these can be counted with his fingers. ”

Yuan Mohua was unaware of the surrounding atmosphere, and still said frankly: "That is, it is not unfounded to watch people and their products, and then explore their tastes." ”

Yao Duran was helpless, and just wanted to send him away quickly, so he said, "What Lord Yuan said is true." After speaking, she turned her head sideways and took the initiative to chat with the crown princess, obviously unwilling to say more to him.

Yuan Mohua looked at it with a smile, and then gave up.

During the banquet, Yao Duran became more and more uncomfortable, and always felt that there was a gaze that followed her from time to time, but when she raised her eyes to look, there were no clues, so she had to be accompanied by a hard head.

After tasting the dishes, the wine was served on the banquet again, and Concubine De led everyone to drink happily, and a few small games were set up in the middle, which was also lively and interesting.

After three rounds of drinking, Concubine De smiled appropriately, suddenly looked at her brother beside her, and said: "Mo Hua, your flute is playing well, even Your Majesty has praised it, since you are here today, there is no reason to sit and watch in vain, why don't you show your hand to help us women?" ”

Yuan Mohua smiled and said generously: "Yes, please don't laugh at you." As he spoke, he took out the blue flute pinned to his waist and put it to his lips to blow softly.

Suddenly, a steady and gentle flute slowly poured out, and the opening sound flowed softly, but it was more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people than the first stirring and high, so the surroundings were quiet and quiet.

suppressed the scene, the flute slowly raised, tactful and clear, leisurely around the ear, like a yellow oriole crying, and like a murmuring stream, so mysterious and natural, very pleasant to the ear, let people forget their worries, intoxicated.

Suddenly, the sound of the flute became more and more urgent, which suddenly awakened the hearts that were intoxicated, and turned to excitement and turmoil. The flute sound turns from low to high-pitched, rippling a thousand ripples, rising and suppressing, between the transitions like flowing water, between the ups and downs, stretching and whirling, and the heartstrings are aroused. At last it was steadily retracted, and it was reconciled, and in the soft trill, which seemed to be interrupted, the last flute sound was silenced.

"It's ugly." Yuan Mohua skillfully inserted the jasper flute back into his waist.

Everyone finally came back to their senses, and the hall was full of applause.

When Concubine De saw this meeting, she smiled with a spring breeze.

The crown princess praised: "It's really better to see than to hear." It is no wonder that his father once praised Lord Yuan as a master of the flute in the world. ”

Huo Jingrou also said: "It is said that Lord Yuan played the flute, and there was a strange incident, so I asked today, is it true or false?" ”

Yao Duran didn't know anything and asked, "I don't know, what is the strange thing?" ”

The crown princess patiently explained: "It is said that when Lord Yuan was in Yanyang City, he took Mrs. Yuan on a trip one day, but when he passed by Yanyang Lake, he suddenly heard a noise by the lake. At this time, Lord Yuan took out his flute and played an extremely cheerful and leisurely tune. After finishing the song, the woman gave up the idea of suicide, walked back by herself, and then eagerly ran back to her parents' house to see her father. This matter is known to everyone in Yanyang City, and the beautiful name is called the flute sound. ”

Yao Duran suddenly realized: "I see, it is indeed a beautiful story." ”

Huo Jingrou saw that the two of them had stopped, and asked again, "Lord Yuan, is this matter true?" ”

Yuan Mohua said, "Back to the princess, there is indeed something to do." ”

The crown princess asked, "Then why did Lord Yuan think of this method to save people?" ”

Yuan Mohua thought for a while and said seriously: "Actually, music is like human words, and music is meaningful. The woman had no idea of life, and it was useless to persuade her, so if she had another way to listen to a song, first, she would be calm, and second, the cheerful song would evoke the good things in her heart, which would be equivalent to injecting life into despair. ”

Everyone listened to it and applauded it.

Seeing this, Concubine De smiled from ear to ear.

A winter solstice feast begins at noon and disperses at dusk. There were a lot of officials and celebrities who drank wine, and they were helped by the maids to get into the carriage and return home.

Yao Duran and the crown princess walked together on the palace road, and Lu Yan and her maidservants followed from afar.

Both of them had their own things on their minds, and they each brought their own wine, so they chatted more frankly and cordially.

The crown princess seemed to be overwhelmed by the wine, took a deep breath of fresh air, and then spit out softly, "Twilight, in fact, I sometimes envy you." ”

Yao Duran smiled bitterly when she heard this: "Niangniang said that she laughed, in this world, the most enviable person should be you." ”

The crown princess glanced at her with a smile and said, "You also use other people's words to compliment me?" ”

Yao Duran said: "It's not a compliment, but it's true. Men chase the world, women chase men, the high marriage of the mother, the dignity of the husband, the future is noble, it is self-evident. ”

The crown princess smiled bitterly and said, "It's just that you can't have both fish and bear's paws." Since ancient times, men have had three wives and four concubines, especially noble men, who have taken this as their face. No matter how noble and high the status is, as a woman, don't we have our own thoughts? ”