Just after the beginning of spring, the team set off from Baimadian, and the queen mother said that she would rush to the Yazi River before the first day of February, and celebrate the festival there. The Queen Mother also said that this year's invitation festival will not be held at Xiao Jixian's house, but at her daughter's house, Princess Wuguo.

This news made the Xiao Mansion very excited, and in previous years, the Mid-Peace Festival (that is, the Invitation Festival) was at Xiao Jixian's house. Although they are both from the Xiao family, after all, there is a difference between the eldest father and the younger father, and the eldest and younger fathers. As the saying goes: the latter is not the first, and the relatives are not separated. This year, such an important festival is set at the new horse family, although there is a relationship between her daughter, but it is enough to show that she attaches great importance to the horse family.

From the moment he received the holy decree, Xiao Mansion began to be busy preparing. Since the death of Empress Chunqin, the father's family has gradually declined, and no royal family has come to invite the festival for many years. Therefore, the family felt both surprised and honored, believing that this heralded the beginning of the rise of the father's house again.

On the way to the march, the Xiao Mansion has already sent several groups of people to go around to purchase supplies for the Zhonghe Festival, and the strange things from all over the world, regardless of money, can be bought back, and must be sent to the Yazi River before the first day of the second month. In addition, some artists will be invited to join in.

The bowl procession arrives at the Duck River the day before the festival. The wind was fierce, and the duck river was covered with a thick layer of ice, as if it had frozen to the bottom of the river.

On this day, the items purchased from all over the country were shipped one after another, and the treasures were dazzling. Princess Wu Guo saw it and sighed.

Xiao Pai hurriedly asked what was wrong.

Princess Wu said: "There is nothing that the queen mother likes to eat. ”

Xiao Pai hurriedly asked, "What does the Queen Mother like to eat?" ”

Princess Wu Guo said: "The queen mother likes to eat fish the most. ”

Xiao Pai said: "There are a lot of fish at home, what dried fish, dried pickled fish, bighead carp, grass carp, big yellow croaker... There are all kinds of fish. ”

Princess Wu said: "The queen mother likes to eat fresh fish, and the fish that has just been caught is the queen mother's favorite." ”

Xiao Hengde said: "This is easy to do, I will go to the Duck River tonight to ensure that a big basket of fish will come back tomorrow." ”

Xiao Pai said: "No, it takes the emperor's will to open the ice to fish, and now you go fishing to let people know, don't you be offended?" ”

Xiao Hengde said: "It doesn't matter, I went to the Duck River in the afternoon and found a secret place, not far from us, full of reeds, inaccessible, fishing there will never be seen." ”

Princess Wu said: "So it's hard brother." ”

Xiao Hengde said with a smile: "Why should the family say such an outward thing? ”

After dinner, it was getting dark quickly. After the second watch, Xiao Hengde carried a wicker fish basket on his back, held an iron chisel, three wooden sticks, and wore a mink green robe out of the vault. He easily bypassed a few checkpoints and crept to the Duck River, along which he glided gently and silently like a breeze.

He knew that before the emperor chiseled the first fishing hole, someone fished for a crime, and his finger would be cut off. Therefore, he had to be careful not to be discovered. During the day, he observed the location of the checkpoint, the terrain of the Duck River, and in case he was found where to hide, he also thought of an escape route.

Countless domes have been opened on both sides of the Duck River, judging from the lights, Xiao Hengde can tell at a glance which is the emperor's big tent, which is the north courtyard, which is the south courtyard, which is the provincial palace, which is the Shouning Palace.

Xiao Hengde squatted down under a huge rock and looked around. He was already close to his destination, and the other side of the river was where he went. The rushing Duck River made a big turn here, forming a large fork on the opposite side, like a small lake, which was overgrown with reeds, and was also a place where birds and animals gathered. In late spring, it's a great place to hunt geese. However, fishing is not convenient, so at this time it is still unexplored virgin land.

Despite this, there are still mobile patrols along the river. Xiao Hengde watched with bated breath, listened, suddenly got up, kicked a few feet, flew across the river, and dodged into the reeds.

The reeds were almost impermeable, blocking Xiao Hengde's path like a wall, and he was looking for a place where he could chisel the ice while picking up the reeds. Due to the arrival of the invaders, the reeds were not quiet, and from time to time birds flew one after another, and the sound of panic screams stirred in the air.

Xiao Hengde finally found a square open space, he put down the back basket, used an iron drill to cut a hole in the ice, and supported three wooden sticks on the hole, and hung a mutton oil lamp on the support. Before he could finish this, a fish burst out of the hole and landed on the ice, its tail fin slapping against the ice with a loud snap.

Xiao Hengde didn't expect that there were so many fish here, and if it went on like this, it wouldn't take an hour to fit the back basket.

At this time, the resident birds in the reeds were startled again, and hovered over the reeds, and their sharp screams woke up the other birds, and they flew out of the reeds one by one, whirling and swooping like shuttles.

Xiao Hengde shouted: "It's broken." He hurriedly extinguished the mutton oil lamp, and listened with bated breath, and sure enough, the reeds rattled, and someone walked towards the middle of the reeds.

"Someone found me?" Xiao Hengde couldn't figure out how he was discovered.

He hurriedly picked up the basket, picked up the shovel, threw the three into the distance, and squeezed them to the other side.

Crawling to the edge of the reeds, crouching under a dense cluster of reeds, and looking around cautiously, there were several dark figures standing on the other side of the river, and they did not light the torches. The night was dark, but the glimmer of snow allowed the Duck River to reveal its rough outline.

Xiao Hengde gently climbed out of the reeds, walked along the river, and quietly walked back. Suddenly, I heard someone whispering: "Xiao Hengde." ”

Xiao Hengde was stunned, who recognized him? No way, who would recognize him when it was so dark?

He continued to walk back, and someone was indeed shouting "Xiao Hengde." ”

The shout came from the opposite side, and Xiao Hengde turned around to see that several dark shadows were walking towards him on the opposite side.

"Oh no, they really found out."

Xiao Hengde raised his feet and wanted to run, but heard someone shouting: "Xiao Hengde, have you caught a fish?" ”

It sounds like the voice of the princess of Yueguo, why is she here?

Xiao Hengde stood still, and several black shadows floated across the river, standing in front of him, and sure enough, they were several slaves married by Princess Yue and Princess Wu.

"Why are you here?" Xiao Hengde asked.

The princess of Yue Kingdom said: "Xiao Hengde, you are so bold, you dare to dig ice and fish in front of the emperor?" ”

Xiao Hengde saw that the matter had been exposed, so he relented and said, "I'm fishing, what do you want?" ”

The princess of Yue Guo said: "If you don't want to do anything, confiscate the fish you caught." ”

As soon as Princess Yueguo's words fell, two people came up to snatch the fish basket on Xiao Hengde's back. Xiao Hengde was busy protecting the fish basket, holding the iron drill across his chest, and scolded the people who came to retreat.

The princess of Yue Guo stepped forward, grabbed the iron chisel, and said, "Xiao Hengde, you really don't know what to do, do you think you can go back with a fish basket on your back like this?" I'm afraid I won't even be able to enter the camp, someone has already been eyeing you, do you think I'm going to ask for your few fish? I'm helping you, and the fish can swagger into the camp with me in my hands. ”

Xiao Hengde suddenly realized, so he handed the fish basket to the two people.

Someone whistled a few times, and a few people came out of the reeds, and they all gathered in this direction.

The princess of Yue Guo said, "Go back." ”

A group of people quietly walked back. When he was about to arrive at the camp gate, Xiao Hengde said, "Are they really eyeing me?" ”

The princess of Yue Guo said, "Don't talk, go home." ”

But when she was stopped at the door, the princess of Yue Guo stepped forward and whipped the guard, and the guard recognized the princess of Yue Guo. Almost all the Khitan recognized this unruly princess, thinking that she was the most unprovoked lord, and it would be unlucky to meet her. The guard hurriedly flashed to the side, silent. The princess of Yue led everyone into the barracks.

The guard waited for them to go far away, and then came to his senses, and hurriedly ran to a small yurt, and reported to a man who looked like an officer, what should be done about the situation just now?

The officer said, "What else to deal with?" What can you do? You don't want a head, do you? ”

The guard immediately shrank his head and returned to his sentry post.

After entering the camp, Xiao Hengde rescued and snatched the fish basket and carried it on his shoulder.

The princess of Yue Guo teased: "Isn't it just a few fish, who will rob you?" ”

Xiao Hengde didn't respond, and strode home.

The princess of Yue followed closely, and when she was out of breath, she said, "I saved you, don't you thank me?" ”

Xiao Hengde said: "You are not saving me, you are making trouble, if it is not you, I will catch a basket full of fish." ”

Princess Yue said: "You don't know what to do, you are really kind to be a donkey's liver and lungs." ”

Saying that, they walked into the Xiao Mansion, and the people in the house didn't seem to be sleeping, and when they saw them coming back, they all gathered around at once, gossiping, and asking non-stop.

Xiao Pai said to Xiao Hengde: "Hengde, you can come back smoothly, is it that the princess has helped a lot?" ”

Xiao Hengde snorted and said, "Without her, I would have been able to come back." ”

Xiao Pai said: "Brother, what you said is a little unkind, you don't know that the princess heard that you went fishing, and I don't know how worried I am." In the middle of the night, I want to pick you up, worried that something will happen to you. ”

Xiao Hengde said: "What can happen to me, isn't it good?" ”

Princess Wu Guo said: "It's not that I'm worried that you will be stopped by the guards, Yue Guo heard that there are often wild beasts in the Duck River, especially in the reeds, there are wolf dens, and there are black blind people, which is quite scary." ”

Xiao Hengde glanced at the princess of Yue Kingdom and said, "The princess will not go to that kind of place in the future." ”

When the princess of Yue Guo heard this, her eyes lit up and she said, "I will go wherever you go in the future." ”

Xiao Hengde yawned and said, "I'm going to sleep." ”

Xiao Hengde slept until three o'clock in the morning, when he was woken up by the sound of gongs and drums.

The little servant ran in and shouted: "Childe, get up quickly, come, come, the emperor and the queen mother are here, Taigong, let you get up quickly to greet you." ”

Xiao Hengde hurriedly put on his clothes, washed his face, and went out with the little girl. I saw a lot of people lined up in the middle of the road outside the door, and everyone in the house stood on the side of the road with their hands down, as if there were many wooden pillars.

Xiao Hengde stopped at the head of Xiao Pai's custody and said, "She went back last night?" ”

Xiao Pai said, "What? Concerned about her? ”

Xiao Hengde said: "Just ask." ”

Xiao Pai said: "But people are not casual, people really like you." ”

Xiao Hengde said: "Didn't you say that the emperor would come soon?" Why hasn't it been so long? ”

Xiao Pai said: "Don't talk nonsense, I know you have someone in your heart, but if you are in the Song Kingdom, you will die of this heart." ”

Xiao Hengde said: "Brother, I can't forget her, I can't forget her in this life." ”

Xiao Pai said: "If you can't forget, you must forget, you can't meet again in this life and this life." ”

Xiao Hengde lowered his head and did not squeak.

Xiao Pai said: "Song Guo is our enemy now, you won't see her again, last time you were unwilling, go to her, did you find it, didn't you find it?" I don't know where I've moved to. Why haven't you given up? ”

Xiao Hengde said: "Yes, I just don't give up, I want to find her, I must find her." ”

Xiao Pai said: "Brother, don't be too reluctant, what is wrong with the princess of Yueguo?" People really like you. ”

Xiao Hengde said: "But I can't tolerate her in my heart." ”

Xiao Pai said: "If you can't tolerate it, you have to tolerate it, our family has been inferior for many years, and now, there is finally such a good opportunity, you can't waste it in vain." ”

Xiao Hengde said: "That's not because they fancy the strength of our family. ”

Xiao Pai said: "That's also for the good of the Khitan, for the sake of the Khitan, we also have to make more efforts, don't you always want to make contributions to the Khitan, isn't this a good opportunity?" ”

As he was talking, he only heard the sound of music, and the people of the royal family arrived one after another. The emperor and the queen mother also arrived, and the Xiao Mansion was suddenly crowded with people. The people of Xiao Mansion are busy shuttling, inviting guests to sit down, making tea and condensed milk, cooking sheep and cattle, and preparing delicacies on land and water. The guests of honor are harmonious, happy, and full of joy and laughter.

When the table opens, the table is full of delicacies, which is really dizzying, the taste buds are opened, and finally, there is a golden carp soup, bright color and mellow taste. After tasting it, Xiao Sui asked, "It's so fresh, where did you get such a fresh carp?" ”

Princess Yue said: "In addition to the duck river has such a good golden carp, where is there such a fresh taste?" ”

Xiao Sui said: "This is the fish of the Duck River? Who caught it? ”

Princess Yue said: "I said that the queen mother, don't blame him. ”

Xiao Xuan said, "Why should I blame him? ”

Princess Yue said: "Xiao Hengde learned that the queen mother likes to eat fresh fish, so he went to the river to fish for a basket last night. ”

Xiao Xuanxi said: "It's rare that he has this filial piety, I don't blame him, call him over, I have something to ask him." ”

Xiao Hengde walked over.

Xiao Xuan said: "I heard that last night, the princess of Yue Guo disturbed your fishing Yaxing, right?" ”

Xiao Hengde said: "No, the princess is worried that the villain is in danger and wants to protect the villain. ”

Xiao Sui said, "Then how did I hear that you complained about her, otherwise, you would catch more fish?"

Xiao Hengde said: "The villain is anxious, worried that the fish he caught will not be enough for today's banquet, and he doesn't dare to complain about the princess." ”

Xiao Sui said: "Today, I remember you for your filial piety and do not cure you for the crime of arrogance, but you are disrespectful to the princess and will be punished with three glasses of wine." ”

After that, people poured three glasses of wine, Xiao Hengde was about to drink, and the princess of Yue Guo said: "Slow, since you drink, you can't drink alone, I will accompany you to drink three glasses." ”

Xiao Xuan smiled and said: "That's fine, if you go out of the camp privately, you are also guilty, and you will be punished with three cups." ”

After the two of them finished drinking, Xiao Sui looked at it and laughed, and said: "It's really not that the enemies don't get together, and this pair of small enemies is not worry-free." ”