The demon's birthday banquet was very simple, but very warm. Mrs. Pei Kudi rushed over with her three children and gave the demon a gift she liked, the Lantian jade pen.

The demon loves to read, writes and draws, and has recently developed a small hobby, collecting all kinds of brushes. The tube of brushes sent by Kudi is made of authentic Lantian jade, which is very exquisite. The nib is made of the hairs on the wolf's neck, which is the finest material for pen making.

The demon took this Lantian jade pen and was overjoyed.

At this time, the Kudi clan brought another gift, a high-grade inkstone-Wu Zetian.

There is a piece of such an inkstone Xue Shao, which was given by Emperor Li Zhi himself when he was in the forbidden country, and it can be called a treasure of no price for scholars.

In fact, whether the inkstone is valuable or not is not too important in itself. What surprised Xue Shao was that Wu Zetian, who was in a good situation, was still thinking about the birth of the demon, it seemed that the rumors in and out of the palace were not false, and the demon was indeed very fond of Wu Zetian now.

Because it is a birthday family banquet, there are not so many etiquette constraints. The children of the Moon Nu and the Kudi clan all attended the banquet and had a great time. Xue Shao injected some novel elements into this birthday banquet - he asked the cook in the house to steam a large "big meat steamed bun" instead of the birthday cake, and then lit candles for the demon to make a wish.

According to Xue Shao's instructions, the demon closed her eyes happily and made a wish, but her mouth said: "I hope God bless the fairy brother, and every day can be as happy and happy as today!" ”

Then in the cheers of everyone, the demon child blew out the candle and cheered.

Xue Shao smiled heartily.

It's so nice to be with them!

Good wine and food came up one after another, and the unrestrained Kudi drank a few glasses of wine and became more and more unrestrained, and danced in the hall. Sister-in-law Xiao took the initiative to stroke the piano to help the music, and the demon and her three children followed to learn together, full of joy and naivety, which made Xue Shao's stomach hurt with laughter.

Inadvertently, Xue Shao found that there was one person missing from the hall, and the moon slave was gone.

After thinking about it for a while, Xue Shao seemed to have thought of something. He got up to change his clothes and walked to the backyard where Ai Yan was being held.

The moon slave is indeed here. She brought Ai Yan a "birthday cake" made of meat buns.

Xue Shao stopped outside the door and listened to the conversation between the two of them.

"Moon slave, thank you. Only you remember me! Ai Yan's voice.

Yuenu hurriedly said, "Don't say that. Childe has been very busy since he returned to Chang'an, and due to identity restrictions, it is inconvenient to come to see you. ”

"You don't have to explain, I don't mind at all." Ai Yan said, "Back to Chang'an, he is the son of a concubine, and I am a prisoner of the imperial court." It is reasonable that they do not come to each other. ”

"......" Yue Nu was speechless for a moment, and said, "Ai Yan, Gongzi and Princess Taiping are about to get married, and it seems that there is still a lack of a concubine." Do you think it's possible to ......?"

"No way!" Ai Yan said it categorically.

"For what?" Moon Nu asked in wonder.

"Do you need to ask?" Ai Yan said, "I've already said it. I am a prisoner of the imperial court, a prisoner of the court! ”

"Not necessarily, right?" Yue Nu hurriedly said, "If you are a prisoner, why hasn't the imperial court taken you away, but let you stay in Gongzi's house all the time?" ”

"I don't know what to do." Ai Yan said, "Anyway, I won't have any good results. Exile at least and beheading at worst. ”

"No, it won't!" The moon slave hurriedly said, "Childe will never sit idly by and watch the court treat you like this!" ”

"Hehe, Yue Nu, Yue Nu ......" Ai Yan sighed and said, "I know that you have been kind to me. But...... Forget it, don't talk about it! ”

"Why not?" The moon slave was in a hurry.

"A lot of things, I can't tell you clearly. Moreover, it is better for you not to know the way than to know the way. Ai Yan said softly, "Perhaps, the fate of my life has been doomed since I was born, and no one can change it." Meeting your son-in-law was a turning point in my fate. But after all, I can't get rid of the Ashina bloodline, and I can't escape my fate! ”

"Fate?"

"Yes, fate." Ai Yan said leisurely, "No one can change it, including your son-in-law, including anyone!" ”

The moon slave was speechless.

Xue Shao left silently, thinking in his heart that if Pei Yan's proposition was really adopted by the imperial court, then Ai Yan's fate was indeed not optimistic. It is not impossible to be exiled or beheaded at worst.

Putting aside all personal relationships and positions, killing Ai Yan is really a hundred harms and no benefits for the stability of the northern grasslands of the Tang Dynasty.

Is there really no turning point for the better?

Xue Shao walked towards the front hall while thinking, and a doorman trotted in front of him, reporting that a guest had visited.

The comer, Li Xianyuan, also brought a companion. The two were followed by four wagons, dragging eight large boxes.

Xue Shao took the greeting sticker handed over by the door and looked at it, okay, there is nothing to do but go to the Three Treasures Hall - Wu Youning's own brother, Wu Youji is here.

"Tea in the side hall." Xue Shao commanded.

Menzi was stunned, why isn't it the main hall to entertain guests?

Xue Shao frowned, "Don't you understand?" Tea in the side hall! ”

"Yes, Childe!"

Menzi hurriedly ran to receive the guests, but Xue Shao still returned to the main hall and had fun with You'er and the others, as if he had completely forgotten about Wu Youji's visit.

A full hour passed.

Li Xianyuan couldn't sit still a little after all, and cautiously touched the side of the main hall, standing outside the hall and beckoning Xue Shao to wink.

Xue Shaoxin walked over reluctantly, and said impatiently: "What's the matter?" ”

"Childe, this ...... Not quite right? Li Xianyuan said cautiously with a bitter face.

Xue Shaoman said nonchalantly: "What's so good?" ”

"People took the initiative to come to the door to apologize, which is very sincere. There is a way, if you don't stretch out your hand and don't hit the smiling person, it is better to settle the grievance than to tie the knot......" Li Xianyuan carefully persuaded.

Xue Shao snorted coldly and ignored it.

Li Xianyuan scratched his head, and said again: "I know that you have a holiday with someone from the martial family. But Wu Youji is different from other martial artists, he is a personable and humble gentleman, otherwise I would not dare to bring him to your mansion. ”

Xue Shao glanced at Li Xianyuan, "Just say it, who called him here?" ”

"He's coming on his own!" Li Xianyuan said seriously, "Originally, I only had a one-sided relationship with him, and I was also surprised that he would come to me for matchmaking." If it weren't for this person's good character, sincerity and integrity, I wouldn't have accepted him. Childe, at least you should be able to trust Xiaosheng, right? ”

"Hey, can I trust you? You traitor! Xue Shao feigned anger, "Say, did you leak the matter of Xuanwu Fajian?" ”

"Uh......" Li Xianyuan's face was embarrassed, "Childe, you have a lot of adults, and Xiaosheng knows that he is wrong!" ”

"I'll strangle you!!"

Li Xianyuan hugged his head and shouted, "Her Royal Highness the princess asked aggressively, Xiaosheng didn't dare not answer!" …… Woo, Childe spares his life! ”

"Stop!" Xue Shao scolded, he was really angry and funny about this bad friend.

Li Xianyuan froze, scratching his ears and cheeks with a dry smile.

"Let's go, go see Na Wu Youji once." Xue Shao glared at Li Xianyuan fiercely, "If you dare to betray me again, you will be picked!" ”

"Yes, yes, yes!" Li Xianyuan hurriedly bowed his hand, looking like he had been amnestied.

When the two arrived at the side hall, Wu Youji hurriedly left his seat and stepped forward to greet him, very humble.

Xue Shao glanced at him, at the age of about twenty years old, he was indeed as Li Xianyuan said, the image of a humble gentleman. In all fairness, Wu Youji is also quite handsome and straight, and there is a very strong bookish atmosphere all over his body, at least he is not as annoying as Wu Yizong of the roe head rat.

But Xue Shao's heart always felt strange, because the modest and handsome beautiful man in front of him was the second husband of Princess Taiping in history.

According to the original trajectory of the history of the Tang Dynasty, Xue Shao was unjustly imprisoned in the case of the Li Tang clan rebellion seven years after marrying Princess Taiping. Wu Zetian chose another husband for Princess Taiping among the nephews of the Wu family, and chose the young, handsome and honest and low-key Wu Youji. At that time, Wu Youji was already married, and Wu Zetian killed his original wife and let Princess Taiping marry him.

In other words, Wu Youji also had no choice but to achieve a brown political marriage with Princess Taiping. His wife was killed for this...... Like Xue Shao in history, he is also a poor baby. The only thing that is a little stronger than Xue Shao is that he lives a little longer!

Li Xianyuan introduced the two, and Xue Shao invited Wu Youji to take a seat, and asked him why he came.

Wu Youji hurriedly left the table and got up, bowed in front of Xue Shao, and said, "Xue Gongzi Rongyu, in the next day, I specially came to ask for the guilt!" ”

"Where do you start?" Xue Shao remained silent.

Wu Youji bowed his hand and said: "It's just that my brother's use of non-human emperors is not strict, and someone once did something in Lantian County that couldn't help Xue Gongzi." After my brother learned about it, he was deeply remorseful, and he should have come to the door in person to apologize, but he was afraid that Xue Gongzi would not accept it. Therefore, I took the initiative to invite Ying, and came to apologize to Xue Gongzi on behalf of my brother! I also hope that Master Xue Gongzi will forgive my brother once! ”

Xue Shao smiled indifferently and said: "Brother Ling's martial arts people are high in the center of the Ding, how can Xue dare to ask Brother Ling to come to the door to apologize?" ”

When Wu Youji heard this, he hurriedly bowed to the ground, "Please also ask Xue Gongzi to forgive his sins!" ”

Actually kneeling?

Li Xianyuan on the side was directly stunned. No matter how you say it, Wu Youji is also a five-rank general, and his official position is no smaller than Xue Shao!

Xue Shao looked at Wu Youji, who was bowing down in the hall, the corners of his mouth raised slightly, and he smiled coldly.

"General Wu is such a big gift, Xue doesn't dare to bear it." Xue Shao said, "I'm just wondering, since you keep saying that the people of the martial arts house are very sincere in peace, why didn't he come in person?" ”

"This ......" Wu Youji was speechless.

Li Xianyuan gave Xue Shao a strong look, signaling him not to be too aggressive.

Xue Shao turned a blind eye and continued: "General Wu, can you tell me the truth?" ”

"Although Xue Gongzi asked, he knew everything." Wu Youji said.

Xue Shao nodded and asked, "You came to the door to apologize for the crime, Brother Ling, do you know?" ”

"......" Wu Youji was slightly stunned, and was speechless for a moment.

Obviously, Wu Youji is not a good liar.