Xiao Ziqing explained on the side: "Erlang has no doubt. The fourth sister came here because I invited her. Today, I was summoned to the palace, and His Majesty the Emperor intended to teach martial arts and hunting in the Shogunate Mountain, so as to inspect the armies of the school, and he intended to invite Erlang to go with him, so he sent me to inform Erlang. I thought that Erlang would rarely come to the palace as a guest, so I asked to invite the fourth sister to stay for one night, and I would send the fourth sister back to the palace early tomorrow morning. ”

After Xiao Ziqing finished speaking, he greeted the three daughters who were standing beside his mother, Princess Yu, and said, "Auntie, I have met my sister and Brother A." ”

Tuoba Shen looked around, and saw that Xiao Ziqing's three daughters were arranged from left to right at this time, from high to low. The eldest daughter was about a head shorter than him, and the youngest was a head shorter than the oldest.

The three little sisters stepped forward together, said goodbye, and then ran back to their mother. They had been instructed by their mother that there would be a visit, and that they should not be arrogant.

According to Xiao Ziqing, the eldest of the three daughters is called Linghua, who is eight years old, the second daughter is called Yunhua, six years old, and the youngest is only five years old.

After the host and guest ceremony, Xiao Ziqing instructed the servants and slaves to serve chilled fruits and various drinks before sitting on the master's seat. Because the ancients paid attention to sitting in the north and facing south, and due north and south are the position of the lord, and the ministers are not allowed to invade the respect, so Xiao Ziqing's position is not due north, but slightly moved to the left. Tuoba Shen sat on Xiao Ziqing's left side, and Liu Teng stood behind him. Princess Yu and Xiao Lingyuan's sister-in-law are on the right, and several maids are on the left and right. The three little girls were taken out to play by the maidservants.

"I heard that Erlang went to Zhongshan early this morning?"

"Exactly, when I first left the capital, King Danyang asked the fifth aunt in the family to speak on his behalf and sent his son to Jiankang with him. Entrusted by people, loyal to people, so today I accompanied Deputy Liu Jialangjun to Zhongshan together. ”

"The Liu family has no male children in Jiankang. I went to the New Year's house to accompany Uncle Yuzhang Wang's mansion, and on the way I saw the women of the Liu family going to sweep the sacrifices. Ay! His Majesty sent a few horses of white silk and white yarn, and most of the rest were placed by the women's houses on the side of the tomb. I heard that it was divided by a few beggars. ”

After saying a few exclamations, Xiao Ziqing didn't wait for Tuoba Shen to speak, and asked in a low voice to Tuoba Shen's side: "The prince was ordered to visit Uncle Wang before noon today, has you ever met the prince on the road to Erlang?" ”

"I happened to meet in the long pavilion in Dongtian."

"Did he say anything?" Xiao Ziqing asked

Tuoba Shen shook his head and said, "I just said a few words, but I didn't say anything." Speaking of Xiao Ziqing's words so mysterious, it was a little strange, and asked, "Why does Uncle ask this?" ”

"Erlang didn't know, in the past, after His Majesty ascended the throne, he used his mother to cut the harem for several years, and three years ago, the prince secretly made his subordinates frequently slander, and His Majesty ordered his mother to return to office. My brother had a feud with the prince because of this. Last year, my brother went out of the town in Jingzhou and disobeyed the order with his staff, and I have no excuse. It's just that at the beginning, His Majesty had edicted that if his brother could return to his fate, he would be fine. didn't want the prince to secretly instruct Xiao Shunzhi to hang and kill because of some small grievances. After my brother's violent death, my brother-in-law returned to Beijing from Jingzhou and sent back my brother's dying handwriting, the details of which we know. ”

Xiao Ziqing paused for a moment, and then said: "The prince didn't know that you were related to my brother at the beginning, and there may still be one or two sincerity in his relationship with you, but now I'm afraid he will suspect you because of this." I'm afraid that you don't know about this joint and are confused by the prince's hypocrisy, so I'll tell you. In the future, you should pay more attention to his dealings. ”

Tuoba Shen nodded and said, "I wrote down what Uncle said." ”

No wonder when I met Xiao Changmao this afternoon, I felt different from when I first met. It turns out that the reason is here.

Xiao Ziqing smiled and said: "When I went to the harem to pick up my little sister today, my mother said that you are young and may not be able to adapt to the water and soil of Jiankang, and asked me to find a few northern cooks for you, and the princess also selected a few little maids for you, you can bring them with you when you go back." ”

Tuoba Shen nodded, and said to Xiao Lingyuan and Princess Yu: "I also ask my aunt to return to the palace for my grandchildren, I have thanked my aunt and grandmother, and I have worked hard for my aunt and aunt." ”

Xiao Lingyuan chuckled and returned the salute.

。。。。。。

After chatting in the front hall for about half an hour, until the moonlight outside the door shone in through the door and window, there was a sound of light footsteps from outside the door, Tuoba Shen raised his head and looked over, and saw Princess Yu and Xiao Lingyuan's aunt and sister-in-law crossing the threshold, stepping on the carpet and entering with the moonlight.

Princess Yu took a few steps forward and said, "Your Highness, the concubine has prepared dinner upstairs in the cool breeze." There was still some breeze tonight, and the concubine went to the Cool Breeze Building to check it, and the heat upstairs had dissipated. ”

Xiao Ziqing got up and said to Tuoba Shen: "Erlang, the princess knows that you are coming today, but she has prepared a lot of delicacies, you can try it, if you like it, you can come often." ”

Tuoba Shen followed next to Xiao Ziqing, Princess Yu, and Xiao Lingyuan's aunt and sister-in-law walked out of the front hall in turn, and saw that there were many maidservants holding candlesticks under the corridor on the left, all wearing cyan gauze clothes, and there were two people facing each other in three steps, just looking at the maids in the tortuous corridor, there were no less than 300 people.

Following the path guided by these candle-wielding maidservants, we have traveled about two or three hundred meters, and after passing two terraces and three portals, we can see a large pond, and on the opposite side of the pond there is a two-story square quadrangular building, the windows on the upper floor are wide open, and the lights inside reflect the eaves flickering.

As you walk around the promenade by the pond to the vicinity of the building, you can see two large rotating waterwheels through the weeping willows on the pond not far in front of the building. It seems that this waterwheel was stimulated by living water to make it spin.

With the sound of weaving and frogs in the grass, and looking at the fireflies flying from the pond and around from time to time, the group walked to the front of the cypress building, and heard the sound of rushing water from the top of the cypress building and the corner of the building. Tuoba knew that the water was diverted to the roof of the building with a water wheel and bamboo tube, so that the water could be used to cool down the building, so that the temperature inside the building was much lower than outside. This kind of summer shelter is the standard configuration of wealthy families, and they will be built as long as there are conditions. Not only can it be used for banquets, but it can also be used as a place to rest in the middle of summer.

Walking into the cypress building, the temperature inside is much lower than the outside, which makes people feel very refreshed. After going up to the second floor, I saw that there were four soft mattresses on the carpet inside, and there was a low table on each mat, and there was a seat behind each of the low tables, and there were a lot of ice cubes used to cool down in the middle of the low table and in the corner of the wall. There are still a lot of calligraphy and paintings hanging on the four walls of the building, and there are a few bead curtains hanging on the door and window, and the pale yellow light veil attached to the bead curtain has been put away left and right, and only the bead curtain is shaking slightly.

Not long after sitting down with Xiao Ziqing, I saw Princess Yu and Xiao Lingyuan coming upstairs, followed by three little girls with small bamboo tubes in their hands.

"Erlang, you have to listen to the optimistic dance to accompany the meal. Jiankang's music and dance, you must rarely hear it. ”

"Uncle's kindness should have been obeyed, but now that my father is living in mourning, how dare I turn a blind eye to my son. If there is a chance in the future, come to the uncle's mansion again to watch the wonderful music and dance. ”

When Xiao Ziqing heard this, he smiled and said: "If Erlang can come to Jiankang again in the future, I should ask my life to go to Huaiyin to meet you and accompany you to Jiankang inside and outside." On the Qinhuai water, there are many good places you haven't tasted......"

Xiao Lingyuan grabbed the broken ice cube in the ice basin with one hand, smashed it over, and said angrily: "Brother, don't talk nonsense......"