That night, Xue Shao wanted to go home and make some preparations so that he could enter the palace for a banquet tomorrow, but his brother and sister-in-law refused to let him go, so Xue Shao and Princess Taiping stayed in Xue's mansion.

When drinking tea and playing against the eldest brother at night, Xue Shao inadvertently asked the third brother Xue Xu, "What has the third brother been busy with lately?" What are your plans for the future? ”

Xue Xu, who was serving tea at the chess table, hurriedly replied: "After the younger brother followed the eldest brother back to Beijing from Jeju, he has been immersed in his study and just reads. ”

"Good reading." Xue Shao said, "My Fenyin Xue clan is a prosperous poetry and book family of Confucianism, if my father was not demoted from the capital to live in a foreign land and could not show his ambitions, then the name of Tianwen Sect may not be Xue Yuanchao's turn." ”

Xue Yi also nodded frequently and said, "Among the three of my brothers, most of them are not good at writing or martial arts. Erlang went out of his own way from Rong, and Saburo seems to be the most likely to inherit the family study and promote the article. ”

"What the eldest brother said is true. No matter what the third brother says, he can't be worse than Xue Ji, and everyone now claims to be 'buying Chu and getting Xue to lose his temperament'. Xue Shao said, "Third brother, if you really want to study, then read a little famous, and I will find a way to get you to go to the Guozijian and study hard for a few years." I will give you all the ancestral land of Lantian, and I will give you a sum of Lu rice to subsidize your study every month according to the treatment of the seven-grade Beijing official. What do you think? ”

Xue Xu was stunned and his face turned red, "Second brother, where can I use so much money as a scholar?" ”

Xue Yi smiled, "San Lang, look at how old your second brother is." In the past, when you followed me in Jeju, I gave you ten stones a month, and some people said that I was too arrogant and spoiled you. ”

"Yes, second brother, ten stones per month is enough for me to marry a wife, have children, and support my family!" Xue Xu said, "I really don't want the field, let alone the Lu rice of the seven-grade Jingguan!" ”

"You better take it, and you will know later how unspent money is." Xue Shao said with a smile, "If you want to study in Guozijian, it's not as simple as burying yourself in the study and eating three meals a day and supporting your family. ”

Xue Yi smiled and said, "San Lang, your second brother is right. In the Guozijian, all the sons and nephews of the royal family and the prime minister Shangshu are studying there. If you are in the company of it, ten stones per month is indeed too shabby. You can be simple and frugal, and the eldest brother doesn't care about those false names. However, you can't disgrace your second brother! ”

"Big brother, it's really not a question of who to disgrace." Xue Shao said with a smile, "Chang'an is expensive, and it is not easy to live. Everything here is much more expensive than Jeju. The students in the Guozi Prison are all dressed in fine clothes and food, and if the third brother has coarse tea and light food, he will inevitably be isolated and excluded by them, and even the teacher will treat you differently, which is very unfavorable to studying. Furthermore, if your classmate or teacher has a birthday, or if someone is knighted and invites you to his feast, can you leave empty-handed? Therefore, I gave you Lantian's field products and Qipin Jingguan's rice, which is really not for you to go to the squandering of fresh clothes and angry horses, but to live in Chang'an, which are inevitable and must be used. Later, you will slowly understand! ”

"San Lang, this is all the experience that your second brother has accumulated as an official in Chang'an for so long. You have to learn. I've got to learn, too. Xue Yi said thoughtfully, "You just accepted your second brother's kindness, don't shirk it anymore." ”

"That little brother...... Just thank you second brother! Xue Xu bowed his hand and bowed.

Xue Shao smiled, went home, chatted with his brothers and family, and helped them by the way, it was really warm and happy!

At dawn the next day, Xue Shao and Princess Taiping left Xue's mansion under the collective send-off of their families. Before leaving, the family did not forget to tell him to let the couple go home from time to time. Especially during this Chinese New Year, you might as well reunite with your family.

Princess Taiping said, the taste of family affection in your family is really strong, especially the sister-in-law is very good. During this time, we will come to Qinglongfang Xue Mansion as soon as we are free, how about it?

Of course, Xue Shao couldn't ask for it. The man is working hard outside, and when he comes home, he wants to recharge. There is no doubt that the family with brother and sister-in-law and brother-in-law can best rest and recharge.

The husband and wife went back to Princess Taiping's mansion to make a difference, and drove to the palace to attend the annual royal family banquet. Every year on the second day of the first lunar month, the people of the Li royal family will try their best to rush to Chang'an and have this meal with the two saints in the palace. Although it is a family banquet, it is actually a royal event, which is very important. This is also the reason why Wu Zetian deliberately reminded Xue Shao that day.

Later, the husband and wife entered the imperial city and went straight to the Daming Palace, stopping in front of the Penglai Palace. Xue Shao got out of the car and saw that there were already many luxurious carriages parked here, each horse was a high-quality horse, and even the servants who guarded the carriage were all luxuriously dressed.

"Xue Lang, today is your first time attending the royal family banquet, are you nervous?" Princess Taiping laughed teasingly.

"It's just eating, what's there to be nervous about?" Xue Shao said with a smile, "I've eaten seven or eight thousand meals over the years, and I've long been used to it!" ”

"Bragging!" Princess Taiping rolled her eyes, "Later, you will see many, many princes of the royal family, among them is the imperial uncle whom my father and emperor respect very much, Huo Wang Li Yuanliang; There is my father's brother Li Zhen, the king of Yue, who is very dependent, and the royal brother Li Shen, who has been very close since he was a child. and Princess Qianjin, the imperial aunt who has a very good relationship with my mother...... There are also many princes and princesses of very high seniority, just you are a young face, are you not afraid? ”

Xue Shao pouted, "I'm just here to eat!" ”

"You! ......" Princess Taiping was angry and funny, "You are really a rice bucket!" ”

The couple walked up to the dragon tail road while laughing, and walked to the main hall under the guidance of the inner attendant. Sure enough, a large number of people have gathered here. At a glance, it is rare to even wear a scarlet robe, which is basically a purple robe that can only be worn by dignitaries of the third rank or above, or a yellow robe that can be worn by the royal family. The crown prince Li Xian and his crown princess Wei are also there, and they are surrounded by a group of royal relatives in the core, talking and laughing.

But as soon as Princess Taiping and Xue Shao appeared, they immediately attracted everyone's attention. Many people came to greet Princess Taiping, and even some of the royal family who had surrounded the crown prince before also walked towards the two of them.

Princess Taiping introduced Xue Shao one by one and saluted each other.

In fact, these people have already seen Xue Shao and Princess Taiping's wedding day. It's just that there were too many guests that day, and Xue Shao was drunk all the time and rarely had a soberness, so he was not impressed.

But these people obviously all remembered Xue Shao. No way, who called him the concubine of the only princess in the dynasty? Recently, he has become a celebrity in front of the palace, and he can't attract attention if he wants to.

The royal family who came to the banquet included their spouses, children and others, and there were no less than 100 people. Xue Shao saluted him one by one, and he really felt a little anxious, his forehead and dry mouth.

Cold, Xue Shao felt a cold "poke" of his gaze on him. So he quietly turned his gaze and saw that Princess Wei, who had a big belly, was hiding behind the fat prince, looking at him with resentment and even resentment. As soon as Xue Shao's gaze turned over, Princess Wei hurriedly turned her head and talked to a royal lady beside her, pretending to be innocent.

Xue Shao couldn't help but think of how the big-bellied Princess Wei "secretly fought" with Princess Taiping on the day he got married, and how he made those warm movements to seduce him when he was leaving. He blinked his eyes and subconsciously looked at the crown prince Li Xian, no matter how he looked at it, there was always such a green light shining above the head of this chubby prince.

Xue Shao was muttering with ill intentions in his heart, and the eunuch said in a long voice, "The Queen of Heaven has arrived!" ”

The royal family hurriedly returned to their positions, ready to greet them. At this time, some people were already discussing carefully, "What, didn't Your Majesty come?" ”

Later, Wu Zetian, who was dressed in a luxurious costume that could almost blind people's eyes, appeared on the stage. All the royal families greeted together, "See the Queen of Heaven!" ”

"Ladies and gentlemen, please excuse me. Today's family feast does not have to be restrained. Wu Zetian smiled lightly, not as majestic as usual in the court, and said, "There are also my uncles and aunts here, so I will salute them together!" ”

After that, Wu Zetian also bowed down to Li Yuanliang and Princess Qianjin, who were at the head of the line. These people hurriedly returned the salute, saying that they did not dare to be.

After the ceremony, Wu Zetian said: "The annual royal annual banquet, Your Majesty is always in person. But today His Majesty Xià can't come for some reason, and I would like to invite all the royal relatives, Haihan! ”

As soon as this remark came out, it immediately made many people's hearts flutter - His Majesty has never been absent from such a royal annual banquet since he became the crown prince. It's been more than 30 years and is suddenly absent for the first time today, could it be that there is really something wrong with His Majesty's dragon body? Or, is 陛xià under house arrest?

Xue Shao was also in his heart, so it seemed that Li Zhi's body was really not good. Otherwise, he would not be absent from such an important royal family banquet! Because Li Zhi himself knew in his heart that it was almost time to "transfer the monarchy", he must have especially wanted to meet his imperial uncles, uncles, brothers and nephews.

At this time, Huo Wang Li Yuanliang stood up and spoke: "Queen of Heaven, Lao Chen only has such a chance once a year, he can see His Majesty Xià Tianyan!" For this reason, Lao Chen set off from Dingzhou half a month in advance, drove thousands of miles in the wind and snow, and made a special trip to Chang'an. Now I can't see His Majesty...... Old minister, it's hard to sleep and eat! ”

Li Yuanliang is the son of Tang Gaozu Li Yuan, who is erudite and talented, and has been known as a prodigy since he was a child, and has a high reputation in the royal family. He is Li Zhi's imperial uncle, and he is extremely senior and respected. When he spoke, many other imperial uncle-level figures and Li Zhi's brothers and princes all started to talk about it.

In this scene, the court is above the queen of heaven, but Wu Zetian, who is the daughter-in-law of the Li family during the family banquet, is obviously difficult to parry. She sighed and said, "That being the case, I have no choice but to dare to go to the Majesty again!" ”

"There is a queen of labor!" All the people thanked each other.

Wu Zetian went.

Xue Shao and Princess Taiping are just juniors here, so they haven't spoken. The two just looked at each other frequently, revealing deep worries from time to time!

After a long time, about an hour or so, the emperor and the queen were finally here.

But as soon as Emperor Li Zhi appeared, everyone's eyes were almost blinded!

- He was wrapped in five or six thick quilts and slept on a large dragon bed, and was carried in by more than 20 eunuchs who demolished the palace wall with the bed!