In the middle of May, the Liang Palace was in full bloom, and Emperor Wu of Liang discussed with Concubine Hu to prepare to set up a banquet of flowers in the palace, and summoned the noble ladies of Jiankang City to enter the palace to enjoy the flowers.

Inside the Chunning Palace.

Cai Wei, Yun Zhu and other palace maids were busy directing others to clean the palace and move the peony flowers and peony flowers in the palace to the hundred gardens, Concubine Hu sat aside for fear that someone would break the flower pots, Qingwen was worried that Concubine Hu would blow the wind and get cold, so she said: "Niangniang, let's go back to the house first, the slave maid will watch for you." ”

Concubine Hu watched them move the flowers, and said: "These are all rare flower species that are paid tribute from all over the world, and His Majesty likes them the most on weekdays, let them be careful, don't worry about me." ”

After hearing this, Qingwen agreed, and went to watch the palace people work.

Coincidentally, Xiao Mingyue and Xiao Zhong came back from riding horses in the suburbs, and when they saw such a busy scene in the palace, they asked, "Auntie, where are these flowers going to be moved?" ”

Concubine Hu saw Xiao Zhong and Xiao Mingyue coming back together, so she said happily: "The day after tomorrow, a hundred flowers banquet will be held in the palace, these are all to be sent to the hundred gardens, and the two of you came back just in time." Mingyue, I will help my aunt choose a dress for the banquet. ”

Xiao Mingyue agreed with a smile after hearing this.

Concubine Hu looked at Xiao Zhong again and said with a smile: "Zhong'er, don't mess around these two days, your father has already given you three days off to live with your mother." The day after tomorrow, let's go to the Hundred Flowers Banquet together. ”

Xiao Zhong replied: "Erchen has always disliked flower appreciation, so my son won't go to the Hundred Flowers Banquet, and there are still many important things to deal with in Menxia Province." ”

Concubine Hu looked at Xiao Zhong and said: "Put the government down in advance, your life's major events are also important, there will be many young ladies entering the palace the day after tomorrow, your father and the emperor are specially preparing a banquet for you to choose the princess." ”

Xiao Zhong refused and said: "My son only wants to use his mind on state affairs, and he doesn't want to be distracted by his children's personal affairs." ”

Concubine Hu smiled: "Now that you have reached the age of a weak crown, it is indeed time to start a family, and in the future, with a wife by your side to take care of, your mother will be more relieved." ”

Xiao Zhong saw that it was difficult to refuse, so he could only agree first.

After that, Xiao Mingyue chose a royal blue coral brocade dress for Concubine Hu, and helped choose a blue-green vermilion brocade sleeve shirt for her cousin Xiao Zhong, chatted with her aunt for a few words, and left.

When he went back and saw Amber staring at the birdcage alone, he walked over and asked, "Unhappy?" ”

After hearing this, Amber quickly came back to her senses and explained, "Miss, the slave just misses her hometown a little. ”

Xiao Mingyue sat next to her, took Amber's hand and said, "The two of us grew up together, I know that you are for your cousin's business, but I am absolutely reluctant to let you be his concubine and live a life of grievances." When we return to Huaizhou City, my father and I will make decisions for you, and we will definitely let you get married. ”

Amber bowed her head and said, "Miss, Amber has never thought of getting married, Amber is willing to stay by Miss's side and take care of Miss." ”

Xiao Mingyue hugged Amber and said with a smile: "Silly Amber, I'm afraid that if I meet someone I like in the future, I can't keep you if I want to." ”

The two then talked a lot more privately.

In a blink of an eye, it was time for the Hundred Flowers Banquet, and the ladies in each house were dressed like flowers, standing in the hundred gardens one by one, delicate and beautiful.

Emperor Wu of Liang, the Empress and Concubine Hu have all arrived.

Empress Youlan smiled at Emperor Wu and said, "Your Majesty, the concubine recently heard that Your Majesty was going to hold a Hundred Flowers Banquet, so she specially asked Qingtong to bring the best roses in the palace for everyone to enjoy." ”

After hearing this, Emperor Wu of Liang nodded with a smile and said, "The queen has a heart." ”

Then he turned around again and asked Concubine Hu next to him, "Why hasn't Zhong'er come yet?" ”

Concubine Hu hurriedly explained: "Zhong'er is changing clothes, and she will be here soon." After saying that, he privately asked Qingwen to urge.

In Chunning Palace, Xiao Mingyue came to Xiao Zhong's room with Amber after finishing her makeup.

knocked on the door, Xiao Mingyue pushed the door in, but there was no one.

"I'm afraid Your Highness has already gone." Amber said.

Xiao Mingyue said suspiciously: "I said that I would go together, why did I leave first, and said that I didn't want to marry a wife, so I was in such a hurry." ”

So he turned and went to the hundred gardens. Bumped into the returning Qingwen head-on.

"Sister Qingwen, are you coming back to pick up something?" Xiao Mingyue asked.

Qingwen panted and explained: "Niangniang asked me to come back and call Your Highness, why hasn't Your Highness cleaned up yet?" ”

"Isn't Your Highness already gone?" Amber asked rhetorically.

"Your Highness is not in the Hundred Gardens. Oh no, what can I do!? Your Majesty and Niangniang are waiting for Your Highness. Qingwen said anxiously.

Xiao Mingyue thought about it, and then said to Qingwen: "I know where my cousin is, Sister Qingwen, you go back first, tell Your Majesty and Aunt that your cousin will come in a while, and Amber and I will go to find my cousin." ”

When Qingwen heard this, she said in surprise: "Then I'll bother Miss Mingyue, and the slave will go and reply." ”

Amber looked at Xiao Mingyue in surprise and said, "Miss, where are we going to find Your Highness?" ”

Xiao Mingyue looked at Amber and said, "Go to the place he frequents." ”

After speaking, he pulled Amber to find Xiao Zhong.

At the banquet.

Queen Youlan said to Xiao Jing: "Is there anything you like?" ”

Xiao Jing said indifferently: "What's the use, let the eldest brother pick first, I don't want him to pick the rest." ”

Queen Youlan said: "There are so many girls, there are not a few who are both talented and beautiful, can they all be picked by him?" ”

Emperor Wu of Liang said to Concubine Hu: "Does Concubine Ai have a favorite girl? ”

Concubine Hu smiled when she heard this: "The concubine can't be the master for Zhong'er, and he has to like it himself." ”

Forbidden barracks.

"Miss, Second Lieutenant Chen is not here, what are we doing here?" Amber asked.

"You'll find out if you go in." Xiao Mingyue said.

As he spoke, he pushed the door open and entered.

When he walked into the house, he found Xiao Zhong sitting on a chair in the middle room.

"Your Highness! Why doesn't Your Highness go to the Hundred Gardens, Your Majesty and Niangniang are waiting for Your Highness. Amber said anxiously.

"Cousin, let's go, you can't hide today no matter what." Xiao Mingyue walked over and said.

"Our identity looks extremely noble, and we can have whatever we want. Don't you know how much you are willing to want? I often envy Chen Xian, who can get everything with his own hands, rather than being arranged by others. Then he got up again and said, "Let's go." ”

Xiao Mingyue looked at her cousin's back, and also said to Amber, "Let's go too." ”

So, the three of them came to the Hundred Gardens together.

successively asked Emperor Wu and the Empress for peace. When Emperor Wu saw Xiao Zhong coming, he motioned to the chamberlain to start the banquet and let the palace people start singing and dancing.

He also asked someone to send Xiao Zhong the hibiscus cake and grapes on his table.

Xiao Wen on the side saw it, so he leaned over and said to Xiao Zhong: "Big brother is really a blessing, if you talk about the favor of my father, now I am afraid that I and Brother Jing are not as good as the eldest brother." ”

Xiao Zhong said without changing his face: "I don't care about any of this, it's just that I'm older, and the good days of the second and third brothers are still ahead, don't worry!" ”

Xiao Wen listened and said with a smile: "The eldest brother said that he was joking, how dare the younger brother be compared with the eldest brother." ”

As she was talking, a girl wearing a moon-white Suzhou embroidered begonia brocade shirt stepped forward and saluted and said: "Courtiers Gao Mengyao, see Your Majesty, Queen Mother, Concubine Hu Niangniang, courtiers are not talented, and they are willing to use the guzheng to play a song for Your Majesty and all the mothers, Your Highness, I hope you don't laugh." ”

Emperor Wu of Liang looked at Concubine Hu, and Concubine Hu also looked at Emperor Wu and smiled: "It's rare that this child has a heart, and the concubine really wants to hear her zither sound." ”

Emperor Wu said, "Okay! So you can play it, and if you play it well, you will be rewarded. ”

So, Gao Mengyao's girl and the palace people sent the guzheng up and began to play.

"This is Shang Shuling Gao Min's daughter, she is really good-looking and versatile." Queen Youlan said.

"To be able to play Guangling San so skillfully, I must have put a lot of effort into it in private." Xiao Mingyue said to Amber.

Concubine Hu also nodded again and again.

After the song, everyone was full of praise.

Emperor Wu rewarded Gao Mengyao.

After that, Han Shangshu's daughter Han Yuying performed a dance again, and Sun Taichang's niece played the pipa again.

After the banquet.

On the way back, Xiao Mingyue asked Xiao Zhong, "Does my cousin have a favorite girl?" ”

Xiao Zhong said indifferently: "I'm the same as you, it's the first time I've met them, so why do you like it?" ”

As he spoke, he walked briskly forward.

Xiao Mingyue smiled behind her: "That's what I don't like." My cousin is really picky. ”

Northern Wei Imperial Palace.

Emperor Wei's study.

Emperor Wei secretly summoned Yuwenxin and said to Yuwenxin: "Now the Queen Mother has become more and more vigilant against widows, and even the palace people who serve widows have been added to her people. In this way, the widow did not want to endure it any longer. ”

Yu Wenxin coughed a few times when he heard this, and said: "In this way, Your Majesty must be even more calm, if we do it first, we will definitely be charged with unfilial piety for forcing our mother, besides, with Zhu Rong's troops, we have little chance of winning." ”

Emperor Wei said anxiously as he walked around, "What should I do then?" ”

Yu Wenxin continued: "According to the old minister's opinion, the only way to ease the contradiction with the Queen Mother is to ease it first, and then find an opportunity to take advantage of her unpreparedness, and we will strike first." ”

Emperor Wei stopped and said, "Aiqing means to let the widow continue to endure?" But the widow succeeded to the throne at the age of six, and it has been thirteen years now, and he has endured the queen mother for thirteen years! ”

Yu Wenxin said anxiously: "Your Majesty, if you can't bear it, you will make a big plan, at the moment, we can only endure." ”

The two of them talked for a while, and Yu Wenxin walked out of the palace through the side door.

When I got into the carriage, I coughed and bleed.

When the domestic servant Li Qi saw it, he hurriedly said with concern: "Master, otherwise let's go to the hospital first!" ”

Yu Wenxin shook his head and said: "** I'm sick, it's useless to see more doctors, I just want to live for a few more days." ”

As he spoke, he told Li Qi to drive the carriage back to the house.

Ubun House.

Yu Wendi was looking at the book and read: "The art of using soldiers...... Ten are encircled, five are attacked, and multiple is divided. The enemy can fight, if there is little, he can escape, and if he is not, he can avoid it. ”

When he read this, he shouted out the door, "Thursday! Thursday! ”。

A tall man in plain clothes came in from outside the door and said, "Young Master, what are your orders?" ”

Yu Wendi asked, "Don't you have any letters from Nanliang yet?" ”

Thursday replied: "Back to the young master, the people over there didn't send the letter. ”

Yu Wendi called Thursday in front of him and whispered a few words in his ear.

Thursday said in surprise: "Young master, do you still want to go?" The master has ordered you not to let you go. ”

Yu Wendi corrected: "Who said I was leaving? Didn't I say it? I just go to the street and buy some paper, ink, pen and inkstone, you all follow me, and I can't run. After so many days in the house, I'm suffocating to death, why don't you try it? ”

Thursday thought for a while and said, "That's what the young master said, then it's okay, you are not allowed to play tricks." ”

Yu Wendi smiled: "With your group of masters following, I can't run." ”