The north-south longitudinal street in the east of Zhuque Avenue can be simply called by the names of the first street and the second street, and so on, most of the people of Chang'an are also called so. Most of the high-ranking official residences of the Tang Emperor's relatives and relatives living in Chang'an are concentrated in the dozens of square districts through which these two streets pass.

Today's left prime minister Li Shizhi's mansion is in the southwest corner of Yongle Fang, East Second Street, and there are more than 20 court officials living in the entire Yongle Fang, and Li Shizhi is undoubtedly the highest official in Yongle Fang. And his mansion covers the largest area and is also the most luxurious.

Yongle Fang southwest and southeast sides have the gate of the mansion of the Zuo Prime Minister's Mansion leading to Fangwai Street, and four independent houses form the main part of the Zuo Prime Minister's Mansion; There are also three large and small gardens and two ponds. Around the main house, around the eight. The nine courtyards, which are the attached courtyards of the Zuo Prime Minister's Mansion, are the places where Li Shizhi gave his own clansmen and staff guests to live, so that they can enter and leave the Li Mansion and talk about poetry and papers with his staff affairs.

At the beginning of the time, Wang Yuan's carriage arrived at the south gate of the Li Mansion, stood in front of the door and looked up at the high steps in front of the door, only to see that the south gate of the Li Mansion was surrounded by the square wall, and the door was directly opened on the square wall, and the vermilion gate was tightly closed, and the beast ring on the door was hideous and vicious. In front of the red lacquer pillars on both sides, two stone lions squatted on the stone platform with their teeth and claws, and under the huge eaves in front of the door, four Hao slaves dressed in green robes and hair and sleeves stood tall and stood upright, and the momentum was very majestic and intimidating.

"Wang Gongzi, Zuo Xiang was on duty in the political hall in the morning, and explained the next words, Wang Gongzi was accompanied by the old man and several Mr. Curtain Guests, and settled in the willow garden of the elm alley in the west of the square. It is a small mansion next to the west wall of the Prime Minister's Mansion, and although it is not very large, it is also exquisite. Steward Liu behind him smiled and spoke.

Wang Yuan hurriedly arched his hand and said: "Thank you for Steward Liu, Zuo Xiang is so courteous, I really dare not take it." ”

Steward Liu smiled and said: "There is nothing to dare to be, yesterday Zuo Xiang saw the Yongmei poem you wrote, and passed it on to the gentlemen in the house, and they were also full of praise." Zuo Xiang cherishes his heart, and courtesy is the consistent style of Zuo Xiang. By the way, Wang Gongzi, although I am the manager of the Zuo Xiangfu, I am also a guest of the Zuo Xiangmen. Steward Liu's title is not called on weekdays, and I am not used to listening to it. The old man's surname is Liu, and his name is straight, you can call the old man by his name, or if you can afford the old man, it is more cordial to call the elder brother. ”

Wang Yuan hurriedly said: "How dare you trespass, call you Mr. Liu." ”

Liu Xun nodded and said, "Okay, then I'll call you Erlang directly." ”

Wang Yuan nodded. While speaking, the two of them climbed the steps, and the four slaves in front of the door saw Liu Xun hurriedly clasping their fists and saluting, Liu Xun nodded and said, "Are all gentlemen back?" ”

A stout slave replied, "Steward Willow, the gentlemen have all returned, and they have brought seven or eight new gentlemen, who are waiting in the courtyard for Steward Willow." ”

Liu Xun nodded straight, pointed at Wang Yuan and said: "This is Wang Yuan's prince, he will be Mr. Fuzhong in the future, see clearly, in the future, when Wang Gongzi enters and leaves the mansion, you must not be rude." ”

The four men clasped their fists and said in unison: "Wang Gongzi is good." ”

Wang Yuan hurriedly returned the salute: "A few brothers take care of it." ”

A doorman opened the small door on the Zhu door, and Liu Xun stretched out his hand and signaled, "Erlang, please enter the house." ”

Wang Yuanqian gave way, and the two of them stepped into the mansion one after the other, and after a few steps into the door, a huge wall in the middle of the two stone drums was in front of them. Bypassing the wall, a huge courtyard appeared in front of you, and a straight bluestone path led to the tall hall behind. Flower beds and small ponds on both sides of the road, green trees swaying, a corridor in the distance connects the hall door porch, and in the sunlight in a clearing on the side of the corridor, a group of people gather there, and laughter and laughter come from afar.

A small servant walked quickly towards the group of people, and after bowing down and saying a few words, the group of people hurriedly straightened their clothes and hurried towards Liu Xunzhi and Wang Yuan.

"Liu Gong." A middle-aged man in a green robe with a white face and a slight beard took the lead, and six or seven old men in long robes stepped forward one after another to salute.

Liu Xun smiled and returned the salute, turned his head to Wang Yuan and introduced: "Erlang, these are all gentlemen in the Zuo Prime Minister's Mansion, this is Mr. Qin Changmu Qin, this is Mr. Liang Sigui Zhao, this is Mr. Qian Mengliang Qian......"

Each time one is introduced, Wang Yuan bowed his hand, and several gentlemen also hugged their fists in return, and after the introduction, the middle-aged man in the green robe smiled and said: "Liu Gong, is this the prince of Wang Yuan who made Yongmei poems?" ”

Liu Xun stroked his beard and smiled: "It's Wang Gongzi." ”

Qin Changmu nodded slightly, looked Wang Yuan up and down with his eyes, and said, "I didn't expect to be such a handsome young man, you are really a talented young man." ”

The old man Liang Sigui picked up his fingers and praised: "Brother Wang's Yongmei poem is wonderful, and there are several plum branches in the corner...... Ling Han drove the ...... alone It's a good Ling Han to drive alone, and the old man admires it so much. ”

Another old man, Qian Mengliang, said with a smile: "Yes, good sentences, good poems, it seems that at this year's Pear Blossom Poetry Conference, our Zuo Xiangfu will win, and it is time for Zuo Xiangfu to breathe." ”

Everyone said yes, Liu Xun smiled and nodded, didn't say anything more on this topic, pointed to a few unfamiliar faces behind a few people and said, "Are these all talents invited back?" ”

Everyone stepped forward to salute and report to their homes. Wang Yuan realized that he was not the only one who was invited back to Zuo Xiangfu, these six or seven people were also invited from Chang'an City to be good at writing poetry.

"The old man is going to accompany Wang Gongzi to settle down, and Zuo Xiang left a message, and the house in Yushu Hutong in Nansanli will be used as Wang Gongzi's residence? You also lead all the talents to settle down, and we'll see you in the hall when we go back. Zuo Xiang didn't have dinner in the government hall at noon, and he was about to come back after talking, and everyone went to work separately. ”

Qin Changmu and the others said with stunned expressions on their faces: "That mansion is for the prince to live alone?" ”

"yes, what's wrong?" Liu Xun straightened.

Liang Sigui smacked his tongue and said: "It seems that Zuo is really important to Wang Gongzi, the house scenery in Yushu Hutong is the best, and it is also the most elegant and quiet, and Zuo Xiang is used as a private resting place on weekdays, but I didn't expect it to be given to Wang Gongzi to live." ”

Qin Changmu smiled and said: "Zuo Xiang loves talent, what is a small mansion?" If we can make the verse 'I know that it is not snow, but there is a dark fragrance', we are also qualified to live in it." Mo Duo said, let's go separately. ”

Everyone hugged their fists, each with a few new guests who were selected, Liu Xun smiled and turned back: "Erlang, please, from the left corridor of the hall to the west, through the bamboo garden and the water garden two courtyards is the west gate of the Xiangfu, out of the west gate to walk more than 100 steps is the elm alley, in the future, you can enter the palace from the west gate of the branch, no need to detour to the outer door of the fang to enter the house." ”

Wang Yuan frowned and said, "Mr. Liu, just listen to the tone of a few gentlemen, is my residence actually Zuo Xiang's favorite leisure residence?" How can I live in this? ”

Liu Xun smiled and said, "Zuo Xiang personally ordered it, you don't have to worry about it." It is not the residence of the left minister, but the left minister likes the scenery in the house, so sometimes he stays there. Don't think about it. Come with me, after settling down, Zuo Xiang is afraid that he will have to go home, let's hurry up, don't let Zuo Xiang wait for a long time. ”

Wang Yuan had some doubts in his heart, it was a bit unexpected that he was treated with such courtesy, at best, he was just an unknown person, and Li Shizhi didn't have to be like this even if he was a corporal of Lixian. Maybe it's just for the sake of making himself earn face for him at the Pear Blossom Poetry Conference, so he made this gesture.

In any case, some of them enjoy it for the time being, he has something to ask for himself, and he doesn't have to be too polite, and he is full of confidence in this so-called pear blossom poetry club, and the ancient poems and texts recited by future generations may really become the capital for themselves to gain a foothold here.

The courtyard of Yushu Hutong is indeed shocking, to be exact, this courtyard has a name, and the word 'Willow Garden' is written on the lintel of the courtyard gate, which shows that this house was not originally a house, but a garden.

When leading Wang Yuan into this garden, Liu Xun also said the origin of this willow garden, which was originally part of a mansion of the eldest grandson Wuji, an important minister of the Gaozong Dynasty. After tossing and turning several times, Li Shizhi finally spent money to buy this courtyard, and the rest was bought by several other officials.

Wang Yuan's heart was a little clogged after hearing this, when the eldest grandson Wuji followed Gaozu to conquer the world, and participated in the Xuanwumen Change, he became the most favored henchman of the two emperors of the founding of the country, ranking first among the heroes of Lingyan Pavilion, which can be described as a powerful government and opposition. But this person ended up with a tragic death, when Li Shizhi bought his mansion, he didn't even consider the taboo issue, and he was afraid that it was a little unlucky to live here.

After entering the park, there is a large area of water behind the rockery stone that is used as a screen in front of the door, the shore of the zigzag lake excavated by hand is full of silky weeping willows, although the willow tree has not yet sprouted, but from a distance it looks a little pale yellow like smoke, the willow branches after warming up are also softer a lot, dancing lightly with the wind, and the posture is thousands.