Jiang Zikai and Princess Nanxiang walked all the way to the river, and saw that everyone was holding river lanterns in their hands.

Princess Nanxiang asked, "What is this doing?" ”

Jiang Zikai said: "This is the custom of our Jiang country, put the river lantern, you can make a wish on the river lantern, looking forward to the coming day." ”

After hearing this, Princess Nanxiang said, "Let's put one too, okay?"

Jiang Zikai smiled and nodded.

They took a lotus-shaped lantern and came to the river, and when they put it down.

The princess made a wish and said: "May the Hou Ye go safely and smoothly here, and everything will go well." ”

Jiang Zikai looked at her gently, and said silently in his heart: "May the princess be happy and happy." ”

Besides, Shangguan Beitang is not so idle on the day of the Lantern Festival.

There was a dinner party in the palace, so he went out early. Before going out, he gave the servants in the house a moment off. Tell them to go out at night too.

Originally, today's palace was only holding a family banquet, but Dugu Yanxiang insisted that Shangguan Beitang also attend.

At the banquet, the singers and dancers danced like fairies. Needless to say, the songs and dances in the palace are really good. The food, wine, and meat are also mellow and delicious.

But people are not so harmonious. The ladies of each palace are competing with each other and disagreeing with each other, whether they are in their gestures or words and deeds.

This meal was bitter Shangguan Beitang, and he sat there like a pins and needles, trembling when he ate.

Just said that Dugu Yanxiang thought that he liked to eat goose meat, so he gave him his share of Ning Chun'an. It attracted the cold eyes of the ladies of the palace.

It stands to reason that above the family banquet, the emperor's food is generally given to the queen, or his favorite concubine. The people in each palace are naturally looking forward to it.

The queen thought about today's Lantern Festival, and the emperor would definitely not refute her face. Even if she gives vegetables, she should be the queen of the middle palace.

Concubine Rong thought that the emperor showed great affection to her in front of people, no matter what was behind it, but today's food will inevitably be her.

But no one expected that the emperor would give this dish to the king of Beixuan. Although everyone is displeased, it is understandable, after all, the king of Beixuan is an important minister of the country, and it is understandable that the emperor takes a fancy to him.

But Concubine Rong has an extra heart, she always feels that something is wrong, and the emperor's eyes when he looks at King Beixuan are always full of doting. It's not like a king should look at his courtiers.

Even if the emperor takes a fancy to the king of Beixuan, there is no need to reward him at today's banquet. But the emperor thinks about him everywhere. Regard the six palaces as nothing. This couldn't help but make her suspicious.

When the king of Beixuan stepped forward to thank him, she also picked up her wine glass and stepped forward to say a congratulatory message to the emperor.

"Your Majesty, the concubines also came to toast the emperor today." She stepped forward as she spoke, but as the King of the North was about to return to his seat, he passed by her.

"Oops." With a scream, he accidentally stepped on the skirt and fell. Straight down and fell on the King of the North Spin.

Fortunately, the king of Beixuan was quick and helped her. The King of Beixuan was defenseless against this sudden collision, and although he protected Concubine Rong, he was also knocked to the ground hard.

Everyone also exclaimed, the two of them hurriedly got up, and Shangguan Beitang hurriedly asked, "Is Niangniang okay?" ”

Concubine Rong smiled embarrassedly and said, "It's rude, please see the prince."

Shangguan Beitang said: "It's okay, it's okay, it's okay." ”

However, Dugu Yanxiang hurriedly got down from the dragon chair, hurriedly stepped forward, grabbed Shangguan Beitang's arm and looked at him carefully, and asked, "How is it?" Are you okay? ”

Shangguan Beitang felt embarrassed, retracted his hand and said, "The minister is fine. ”

Then Dugu Yanxiang turned his face and slapped Concubine Rong on his face: "How do you walk, can you walk." ”

Concubine Rong was stunned, on weekdays, whenever she came to people, the emperor was very fond of her, why would she be angry today.

"Your Majesty, concubine," Concubine Rong's soft voice wanted to be coquettish.

But Dugu Yanxiang no longer allowed her to finish her words, but said sharply: "I see that Concubine Rong is a little tired today, let's go back and rest early!" ”

"Concubine," Concubine Rong tried to explain again. When she looked at the emperor aggrievedly, the emperor didn't look at her and walked away.

Concubine Rong had no choice but to bow and withdraw from the banquet, and said stupidly: "The concubine has retired." ”

Although Dugu Yanxiang defended him, Shangguan Beitang's situation was even more embarrassing.

He was eating like pins and needles, and the ladies of all the palaces expressed doubts about this matter. Naturally, the gaze cast at him was not too friendly. He could only finish eating as quickly as possible and hurriedly leave the table.

Yuzhu is always busy these days, today's Lantern Festival, the prince let them go out for a walk, she carefully wrapped a new pair of shoes, and went out.

When she got to the street, she didn't go in the direction of the Lantern Festival, but went to Xiao Mansion along East Street.

When she came to the door of Xiaofu, she stepped forward to buckle the door. After a long time came an old woman on crutches and asked, "Girl, who are you looking for?" ”

"May I ask Xiao Yiqing, is Lord Xiao here?" Yuzhu asked softly.

"Oh, he's not back yet." The old lady replied.

"Do you know what he's doing?" Yuzhu asked again.

"I don't know." The old lady ignored her and walked straight back. Her legs and feet were not very dexterous, and she limped up and down, and it took a long time to descend a step.

Seeing this, Yuzhu stepped forward and said, "Old man, I'll help you over!" ”

"No, no, what's the matter with you?" The old lady waved her hand and said.

"I'm fine, I'll help you!" As he spoke, Yuzhu put his hand on the old man's arm.

"Thank you." The old woman looked at her and said.

"It's okay, you watch your step." Yuzhu helped her into the inner courtyard.

The two of them chatted as they walked: "Old man, are you a relative of the Xiao Mansion?" ”

"No, I'm an old servant of the Xiao family." The old woman replied.

"What about the rest of the Xiao Mansion, why are you the only one at home?" Yuzhu looked around and asked, when there was no one.

"For the big holidays, they all went home." The old lady looked at her, pushed open the door, and asked, "Girl, are you?" ”

"Oh, I'm the maid of the Beixuan Palace. I have something to do with Lord Xiao. Yuzhu said.

"Then you can wait a while, he will be back later. You're a maid, so you should be able to cook. The old lady asked again.

"Hmm." Yuzhu nodded.

"I haven't eaten yet, old woman, please help me make a little!" The old lady finally sat down in her chair and said with two breaths.

"Okay, it's okay, old man, you wait, it'll be fine in a while." Yuzhu readily agreed.

"The kitchen is the one on the west side."

"yes, got it." Yuzhu said that he had already gone out.

She went to the kitchen to light the fire, and quickly began to wash and chop vegetables.

When she turned around, she saw the old lady standing at the kitchen door, looking at her. She smiled and said, "Old man, you go back to the house and wait, I'll be fine right away." ”

"It's okay, you can get it!" The lady nodded.

Then he asked, "Girl, how old are you?" ”

Yuzhu said to him, "I'm eighteen years old this year. ”

"Then what are you doing in the Beixuan Palace?" The old man asked.

"We are all the same at the moment, that is, we are serving people." Yuzhu said.

"And how does the King of the North Spinning treat you?"

"The prince treats people very well, and today our palace is also on holiday, so I just came out."

"Oh."

The two were talking, but they heard a voice outside: "Mother, I'm back, mother, why are you standing at the door of the kitchen, and what about the others?" ”

The old lady turned to the man who was coming to her and said, "What are you shouting about?" For the big holidays, I let them all go home for the holidays. ”

"What about Furong?" Yuzhu heard Xiao Yiqing's voice getting closer and closer.

"That kid has no father since he was a child, it's quite pitiful, I let him go to the Lantern Festival." The old woman replied.

"You say you're home alone, who's going to take care of you? Come inside and I'll cook for you. Xiao Yiqing said and helped the old lady cross the threshold.

The old lady smiled and said, "Someone will make it for me."

Xiao Yiqing looked up and saw that the jade bamboo was kneading dough with an apron.

Suddenly, he was stunned. I was speechless for a long time.

Yuzhu also blushed, smiled awkwardly and said, "Lord Xiao, you're back." ”

"Yuzhu girl, you, or I'll come!" Xiao Yiqing said that he wanted to come forward to help.

"No need, my lord, it'll be fine right away, you and the old man will wait first!" Yuzhu finished speaking, and kneaded the noodles again.

"Mother, how can you bother other other Yuzhu girls?" Xiao Yiqing looked at her mother behind her and said.

Yuzhu hurriedly grabbed it and said, "Adults don't have to see outside, Yuzhu still does this thing." ”

After eating, the old lady smiled and said to Yuzhu: "Girl, I said that I am a servant of the Xiao Mansion, don't be angry, the old woman is bothering you today." Don't be surprised. ”

"Old man, where is this?" Yuzhu said.

"Okay, then you can wait a while, the old woman is tired, so go and rest first." The old woman got up and walked away.

Xiao Yiqing got up and said, "Mother, I'll help you." ”

"No, no. The old woman can still walk on this road, it's still early, you and Yuzhu girl go to the lantern festival! Send them back early. ”

"Yes." Xiao Yiqing replied.

After her mother left, Xiao Yiqing looked at Yuzhu and smiled, saluted and said, "There is Miss Lao." ”

"Your Excellency is polite, Yuzhu came today to thank your lord, and what is it to cook a meal for Ling Zun." Yuzhu said.

"By the way, I saw that the adults were still wearing thin shoes, so I took the time to buy a pair of cotton shoes for the adults, and the adults tried to see if they fit." Yuzhu took out the pair of shoes he had brought.

Xiao Yiqing took it and said gratefully: "Girl, this." ”

"Try it!" Yuzhu said again.

"Okay." Xiao Yiqing took off his shoes and put on the pair of cotton shoes he was holding in his arms. After taking a few steps back and forth, he immediately said, "It fits, it fits." Thank you, girl. ”

"It's good if the adults don't dislike it." Yuzhu looked at him like a boy who had a baby and smiled.

"No, no, no, the girl has a heart, Xiaosheng is grateful, how can she dislike it." Xiao Yiqing said again.

"That's okay, if you like it, the palace still has something to do, Yuzhu will go back." Yuzhu got up and said.

"Girl, wait, I'll send you." Xiao Yiqing said as she took off her cotton shoes and wrapped them carefully, putting on her original pair.

After sending Yuzhu, Xiao Yiqing walked on the street with joy, he only felt that the moon was particularly bright tonight, and everything around him was exceptionally beautiful.

Oh, yes! How wonderful it is! Yuzhu gave him shoes, the meaning of which could not be clearer.