In Kyoto in January, the snow is falling all over the world, the roof is covered with snow, and the sound of broken tiles can be heard in my ears.

In the cold wind, the sky has broken down, and a few chickens in the courtyard of the inn are too cold to crow. In front of the desk, Lu Zuo's left hand held the Analects, and his right hand was warming up by baking back and forth in front of the red candlelight.

When Lu Zuozheng saw the words in his mouth, he suddenly felt a warmth on his back, and when he looked back, it turned out that Yin Ji saw that he was thinly dressed, so he added another layer of cloak to himself. Lu Zuo didn't expect Yin Ji to be so considerate at such a young age, and he couldn't help but smile.

Ji'er, why don't you sleep? Is it still early? Lu Zuo asked with concern.

"Can't sleep!" Yin Ji smiled sweetly, without any sleep, "Why did the master get up so early to read?"

"Think about things!" Lu Zuo said lightly.

"Oh?" Yin Ji frowned, "Isn't the master reading a book?" How can you still think about things? ”

"Because the answer is in the book!" Lu Zuo took the book and gently knocked twice on the door of Yin Ji's head.

Yin Ji gathered around the red candle to keep warm. While asking, "What is it that needs to be solved by this book?"

"Do you know the Analects?"

"I've heard that the master in my temple taught me a few words, but I can't remember those!"

"Ji'er! Saints often reflect on themselves after the fact, and we should reflect more on it!" Lu Zuo said and nodded thoughtfully.

Yin Ji asked puzzledly, "What are you thinking?"

Lu Zuo smiled and patiently replied, "Seeking for others and not being loyal?" Making friends and not believing them? Can't get used to it?"

"Master, Ji Er knows what this sentence means!" Yin Ji looked a little excited, "This sentence is about whether I have done my best for others, whether I am loyal when I interact with friends, and whether I have reviewed the knowledge imparted by my teacher, right?" ”

Lu Zuo smiled and nodded.

"But master, what do you want to do with this?"

The corners of Lu Zuo's mouth raised slightly, "Because someone will come to us early this morning!"

"Huh?" Yin Ji didn't know why, "How does the master know?" Could it be that the master will not be able to calculate the hexagram? ”

Lu Zuo smiled in a low voice, "Yes! Now we have to think about how we're going to go down this road!"

"Yes!" Although Yin Ji didn't understand what the master said, he nodded resolutely, "I believe that the master already has the answer, and Ji'er is willing to follow the master!"

As the two were talking, Lu Renxiang had also woken up, and when he saw Lu Zuo and Yin Ji getting up early, he rubbed his eyes and asked, "You two got up early!" When?"

Yin Ji smiled mischievously, ran to Lu Renxiang's bed, lifted Lu Renxiang's quilt, and said with a smile: "It's all bright, and the second brother hasn't gotten up yet!"

Lu Renxiang was sleepy-eyed and lazily crawled up.

"Ji'er, don't make trouble!" Lu Zuo stopped Yin Ji, "You go to the store guy to borrow a piano!"

Yin Ji was puzzled, touched the back of his head and asked, "What are you doing this early morning?" Aren't you afraid your hands will be frozen?"

Lu Zuo saw that Yin Ji was a little casual, and said sharply: "You slippery head, what's the matter?" It's not easy for the teacher to speak now, right?"

Yin Ji was busy smiling, "Ji'er doesn't dare!" Ji'er is just curious!" After saying that, hurry up and stay, "Let's go get it!"

"By the way, I'll go to the guy and borrow a plate of incense!"

Lu Renxiang couldn't help but ask, "What does my brother want to do this?"

Lu Zuo smiled, "There will be a distinguished guest back in a while!"

"Brother! You're thinking too much! Who will run out on this early morning, on a cold day?"

After a while, Yin Ji held the piano in his left hand and a small bamboo basket in his right hand, which contained an incense burner and several rolls of incense. Yin Ji was followed by the shopkeeper named Li Erdan, who was holding a few pieces of charcoal that had not yet been burned.

The shopkeeper filled up the charcoal fire and said with a smile: "Mr. Lu, I heard that you are coming here to have a guest, so I specially came to add a few pieces of charcoal, it is very cold today, if this charcoal fire is not enough, just say hello."

After the shop guy finished adding carbon, he turned around and went out, and when Yin Ji also put the piano and lit the incense, Lu Zuo sat in front of the piano case, and after plucking the strings a few times, he played the piano with his hand. Suddenly, the cigarettes in the room curled, and the sound of the piano was melodious, reflecting the sound of the heavy snow pressing the bamboo outside the window!

Lu Renxiang and Yin Ji raised the tea in their hands, and while smelling the tea slowly, they were fascinated by the sound. Listening to the sound of the piano, the two couldn't help but shake their heads, as if they were delusional!

I don't know when the sound of the piano suddenly stopped, Lu Renxiang and Yin Ji were like souls returning to the sun, and when they opened their eyes, they didn't know when there were two young people standing beside them.

The leader is a handsome young man who is extremely well-dressed, with a bright red jacket and a snow-white mink fur, which is particularly eye-catching. As soon as you look at this domineering appearance, you know that it is a child of a rich family. Next to him is a man with a mustache, who looks strong and healthy, in terms of appearance, this one looks like a porter, but he is also dressed like a rich man.

The two of them saw Lu Zuo pressing the strings with both hands, his eyes closed, as if he was meditating, so they waited quietly and didn't dare to disturb. After a stalemate, the handsome posterior couldn't bear it anymore, bowed down to Lu Zuoshi, who was sitting up, and asked, "Your Excellency is Lu Gongfu, Mr. Lu?"

The bearded man on the side of the latter seemed to feel a little abrupt, and hurriedly and respectfully accompanied him.

At this time, Lu Zuocai slowly opened his eyes, smelled the sandalwood in the room, took a deep breath, and said the word "yes" slowly.

"I have heard Mr. Lu's name for a long time, and under him is Liu Xingzhi, the son of Ning Wangfu. Today, my father specially ordered me to come, and invited Mr. Lu to my house for a banquet! I wonder if Mr. Lu can appreciate his face?" Although the latter was tactful, there was a trace of disdain in his eyes.

Lu Zuo squinted his eyes, his eyes swept away from Liu Xingzhi's body, and then lowered his head to wipe the strings, but did not answer.

The man next to Liu Xingzhi bowed down again and said, "Mr. Lu, when my brothers were leaving, my father repeatedly told me to invite Mr. Please also ask Mr. Lu to enjoy the light and get together in the shelter! ”

Lu Zuo glanced up at the man, thought for a moment, stood up and asked, "Your Excellency?"

"I am Liu Xingyuan, the eldest son of King Ning!"

When Liu Xingyuan spoke, his voice was thick, but he was extremely polite.

Lu Zuo glanced at Liu Xingzhi, who was slightly embarrassed, and then at Liu Xingyuan, who was smiling.

"Oh! That's right! The two of us are half-brothers, I am the concubine of Princess Ning, he was just born to my father's concubine, and he is only a few years older than me!" Liu Xingzhi seemed to want to hide his embarrassed expression, and then said loudly to Liu Xingyuan: "Brother! You don't have to worry about that! ”

Liu Xingyuan's back was sweating for a moment, his face was sinking like water, and he didn't dare to look up at anyone in the room, so he had to bow his head deeply and take two steps back carefully.

At this time, Lu Zuo looked at Liu Xingyuan's blushing face, pondered for a moment, and replied coldly: "Okay! When are you going to get up?"

"Is it convenient now?" Liu Xingzhi couldn't wait to ask, "The carriage is ready!"

Lu Zuo looked at Lu Renxiang and Yin Ji, who were still stunned, Lu Renxiang came back to his senses and said with a smile: "Wait a while, let's sort it out!" ”

Lu Zuo and the others packed up and got into the same carriage with Liu Xing, and Lu Renxiang and Yin Ji followed Liu Xingyuan into another carriage.

Liu Xingzhi was in the carriage and asked several questions in a row. Lu Zuo just smiled and nodded and shook his head, and didn't say more than half a word, Liu Xingzhi only felt that the scholar in front of him was pretending to be deep, and finally didn't bother to ask.

The frame of the group swayed, and after a while, the coachman told him that it had arrived. When the doorman of the palace saw that the two little masters had returned, they hurriedly stepped forward to pick up the wind and dust.

An old man with white hair ran forward to greet Liu Xingzhi from the courtyard, and said with a smile: "The little master has been tired all the way!" As he spoke, he stepped forward and dusted off Liu Xingzhi's cloak.

Liu Xingyuan also walked quickly to Liu Xingzhi's frame, and helped Lu Zuo get out of the carriage with Liu Xingyi, and Lu Zuo waved his hand to signal that he was not too polite.

"Old butler! This is Mr. Lu!" Liu Xingzhi introduced to the housekeeper, "You go and order your subordinates, prepare a banquet, and wash the dust for Mr. Lu!" As he spoke, he let a servant take the reins and motioned for him to drive the carriage back.

The old butler smiled and saluted Lu Zuoshi: "The banquet has been prepared, just wait for you, Mr. Lu!" Mr. Lu, please go ahead!"

"There's a Steward Lao!" Lu Zuo smiled and gestured.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!" At this moment, a sharp and piercing voice came from not far away.