The next day, it was a welcome banquet for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, which was attended by the whole princess's mansion. Princess Pingyang was waiting for the prince at the door early to come-

"My sister has seen the prince, how did you rest yesterday?"

As soon as the prince got out of the carriage, Princess Pingyang sent greetings. The prince said: "Thank you for your concern, but because of the two things that have not been achieved, it is not good to rest." ”

Princess Pingyang's expression remained unchanged, only the lip line straightened slightly, and she didn't say a word. The prince turned his head and looked at Princess Pingyang with burning eyes: "Why doesn't Ah Mei say nothing?" ”

Princess Pingyang said: "The courtier sister has nothing to say. ”

The prince said: "Ah Mei told me yesterday that I am the eldest son of a saint, and it is natural for the prince to be righteous, I thought Ah Mei supported me!" ”

Princess Pingyang did not avoid it, looked directly at the prince, and said: "Therefore, the prince has no scruples to make people buy my subordinates!" If you can't buy it, you still want to ask for someone in person? ”

The prince was a little uncomfortable avoiding Princess Pingyang's eyes as if she could see through everything, and said: "Ah Mei is going back to Chang'an, if you really value Ye Qing and Xue Lang, you should plan for them as soon as possible." ”

Princess Pingyang was not annoyed, but looked at each other with cold eyes: "Shi, amiable but not robbed, close but not forced, killed but not humiliated!" ”

The prince was stunned, and said suddenly: "It's for brother's love, it's not thoughtful, Ah Mei forgive me." ”

Princess Pingyang only said lightly: "Don't dare!" A banquet has been prepared in the house, and the prince invites him. ”

The crown prince walked in front, and Princess Pingyang was two steps behind and went into the princess's mansion together.

This banquet, not only Xue Lang, but Jiang Lin also wanted to attend. The feast was held in the afternoon, and before leaving, Xue Lang told Lamei: "Close the window of my bedroom in a few moments, and be careful not to touch my potted plants when you close the window." ”

"Oh, the slave can be saved, please rest assured."

Xue Lang nodded, and then sorted out his clothes and went to the banquet.

Xue Lang didn't arrive early or late, when he arrived, the prince and princess hadn't arrived yet, and Aunt Fang was directing the servants to set up wine-

This is the wine treasured in the house, not made by Xue Lang. Since the prince didn't mention it, Xue Lang didn't plan to recommend himself.

After a while, people arrived one after another, and Aunt Fang also instructed people to prepare for the banquet. The civil and military officials stood on the left and right, waiting together to welcome the prince and the princess.

"The prince has arrived with Princess Pingyang of Anguo!"

"The ministers have seen the crown prince and Princess Pingyang of Anguo."

Han Jin took the lead, and everyone saluted the prince and Princess Pingyang together. The prince smiled on his face, and raised his hand unyieldingly: "You are exempt, I am very happy to be able to drink and feast with you today, come, everyone sit down, I hope you will not be restrained, drink heartily, and share joy." ”

Everyone saluted: "Thank you, Your Highness." ”

Princess Pingyang just stood coldly, silent. Compared with the prince, it seems that the prince is the master. Xue Lang quietly looked up at Princess Pingyang, saw that her eyebrows were cold, and then looked at the smiling prince, could it be that he was too careful?

Only then did Xue Lang restrain his thoughts and sit down in his seat-

The crown prince is in a high position, so he naturally sits in the chief, and the second seat sits Princess Pingyang, then the subordinates brought by the prince, and then the officials of the princess's mansion.

Seeing this, the prince said: "Youyang is here, you are the county prince, and the seat should be under Pingyang!" ”

As soon as these words came out, not only the subordinates of the princess's mansion, but even Princess Pingyang also looked at Xue Lang. Xue Lang screamed loudly in his heart, bowed down and said: "Thank you for the prince's attention, but there is only the counselor of the princess's mansion in Weize Pass, and there is no county prince, and that is where I should sit." The prince values the intentions of his subordinates, and the subordinates understand it, but there is a distinction between public and private, and there is a first-come, how dare Xue Lang exceed it, and be rude to this point! ”

The prince said: "I know that Youyang has a clear distinction between public and private, and he is a person with both talent and virtue, but today is a private banquet, and it is good to be casual." I heard that Youyang is good at drinking, Youyang sat down and drank a few cups with the lonely king. ”

Xue Lang was unhappy in his heart, and he was still waiting to refuse. Princess Pingyang: "Youyang, since the prince is invited, there is no need to perform the salute again, and come and sit." ”

Xue Lang saw Princess Pingyang speak, so he moved his steps and changed his seat to Wei Zheng's head. The seat was even higher than Han Jin, the long historian.

After Xue Lang changed his seat, the prince raised his glass and said loudly: "Today's banquet is the welcome banquet of the lonely king, and it is also a farewell banquet. ”

Everyone said in unison: "Prince please!" ”

Everyone had a drink, and the prince said: "Everyone here is a subordinate of Princess Pingyang's mansion, Pingyang is the sister of my mother's compatriots, thanks to your dedicated assistance in the past, I am the eldest brother, I should thank you, come, have another drink!" ”

Han Jin said respectfully: "Don't dare, this is the responsibility of the ministers, prince, please!" ”

Everyone immediately followed: "Prince please." ”

"Please!"

After drinking two cups in a row, Princess Pingyang's injuries had not healed, and she couldn't drink alcohol, so she only held a tea cup and replaced wine with tea, coping with two cups.

After the prince and everyone drank two glasses in a row, Fang Cai said with a smile: "I have already drunk two glasses of water and wine, and I should also eat some food, so as not to hurt my body, everyone, please." ”

"Prince, please."

Xue Lang quietly coveted Princess Pingyang, saw her calm expression, and then looked at the smiling, long-sleeved prince who was good at dancing, and his fists hidden under the desk, couldn't help but clench-

The crown prince Jiancheng is the brother of Princess Pingyang, and he is the prince, but his grade is higher than that of Princess Pingyang. The banquet should indeed be in the first place, but since the beginning of the banquet, he has relied on the name of being both the prince and the elder brother, and regarded himself as the master, so he did not put Princess Pingyang in his eyes...... Xue Lang felt so uncomfortable in his heart!

His beloved princess, his dedicated boss, his sincere friend, were treated like this—

Xue Lang glanced at the prince with a dark look in his eyes, no smile on his face, and only a serious look on his face. His eyes swept through the crowd, Dong Sima, who was drinking and talking with the prince, was still smiling respectfully with a face full of respect, Han Jin had a straight face like him, and so did Jiang Lin; There was a faint smile on the corner of Ma Sanbao's mouth, Ye Qing still had a poker face, and he couldn't see what he was thinking.

"Young Sun."

The prince called him. Xue Lang said with a straight look: "Your Majesty is here, I don't know what His Highness commands?" ”

The prince smiled and said jokingly: "Youyang, you are too stubborn, Ah Mei is silent, you have to stick to the principle even if you change seats, it's really boring." Today's banquet is a private banquet, why is Youyang so serious? I heard that Youyang is good at drinking, which is not only a private banquet, but it is necessary to drink freely, and there is no need to be so restrained. I want to drink with Youyang today, but do I need Ah Mei's order? ”

As soon as these words came out, Princess Pingyang glanced at the prince directly, and was about to speak, when she saw Xue Lang clasping her fists and saluting: "Back to the prince, although Xue Lang is not talented, he also knows the word loyalty." Xue Lang is in the princess's mansion, Princess Pingyang of Anguo is my lord, and it is the duty of a subordinate to obey the orders of the lord, and he dare not disobey. ”

The prince high-fived and praised: "Youyang is really a person with both ability and political integrity, and Pingyang really didn't see the wrong person." However, such a talent is limited to the princess's mansion, which is a pity, but fortunately, Pingyang is about to return to Chang'an, and after Youyang returns to Chang'an, I will ask the sage to transfer Youyang to my East Palace. ”

Princess Pingyang held the hand of the tea cup for a moment, her expression remained unchanged, and she sat quietly, as if she was a beautiful rag doll, without saying a word.

Xue Lang was very tired in his heart, and only said indifferently: "Thank you for the prince's attention, the so-called seeking his government in his position, today's affairs are finished today, and the things of the coming day are ...... I'll talk about it for a while. Princess Pingyang has a great kindness to me, although Xue Lang is not talented, but he does not dare to be ungrateful! ”

The prince laughed dryly: "Youyang has good conduct, so he should be a big white for this!" ”

"Don't dare, thank you prince, the subordinates will do it first as a respect!"

Xue Lang raised his wine glass and drank it in one sip, the prince took a sip and said with a smile: "Good amount of wine, Youyang is good at drinking, and it really lives up to its reputation." ”

Xue Lang said: "The prince has won the award, but he is just a hobby of things in the cup, and it is difficult to get into the hall of elegance." The subordinate is clumsy, he can't speak, everything is in the cup, and the subordinate will salute the prince again! ”

"Good! This cup should be drunk. ”

The prince also took a drink.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

As soon as the prince put down his wine glass, he met Dong Sima's very flattering face. Dong Sima said respectfully: "The prince led the army to pacify Liu Heimin, commanded the troops in a good way, and was respectful in his humble heart, beyond words, only a glass of water and wine, congratulations to the prince for his great contribution to my Tang Dynasty, and he was the first to do his duty." ”

The smile on the face of the prince Jiancheng became a little bigger, as if he was proud of Dong Sima's words, and after a drink with Dong Sima, he chatted with him.

Xue Lang scolded in his heart, but quietly breathed a sigh of relief.