The banquet of Hou Zhouxuan in Guannei made the capital full of spring in advance, with young men and women on the street in groups, and tailoring and jewelry shops coming and going.

Although some scholars have held banquets before, such as the most famous Chang family banquet attended by Princess Jin Yao Chen Danzhu, Zhou Xuan also went that time, but it can't be compared with this time, the last time was mainly for the fun of young ladies, and this time it was mainly for young men.

This time, the Chang family also received an invitation, which made the Chang family happy, which meant that the young men of the Chang family had the opportunity to make friends with the powerful people in the capital.

Of course, Liu Wei, who was not a scholar in the first place, also received an invitation, although it was a small family of the Shu family, but Liu Wei had a brother appointed by the emperor himself, a domineering friend Chen Danzhu, and Princess Jin Yao, and now Miss Liu, a small family of the family, has a status in the capital that is no less than that of any noble girl.

Aunt Cao's grandmother specially took Liu Wei and made new clothes in person, Liu Wei also went to the Peach Blossom Temple, and Chen Danzhu chose clothes together, Chen Danzhu, who didn't care about dressing, was also driven by her and Ah Tian to be interested, thought of two or three new buns, and drew them down to send them to Li Lian and Princess Jin Yao.

The princes and princesses in the palace don't care about making friends, but in view of the recent quarrel between the emperor and the queen, the dark tide between the princes is surging, and the atmosphere is tense, and everyone urgently needs to get out of the palace to relax.

Princess Jin Yao and the two young princesses were busy dressing up, and the palace maids also ran around to Concubine Xian, wanting to follow and play.

For a while, the young women shuttled like warblers and swallows in the palace city that was gradually green, and the emperor stood on the tall building and saw it, and his gloomy face for several days couldn't help but ease, and the young spring was always pleasant.

However, in a side hall in the palace, the spring light that appeared outside the hall was isolated by the closed doors and windows.

Wang Xian walked into the hall, waved his hand and coughed twice: "It's a good day, and you are bored in the house playing with wood?" ”

The iron-faced general sat cross-legged by the window, and there were piles of wood on several cases, one of which was being ground on his knees, and the crumbs were scattered on the dusty robe, not wearing armor, not like a general, like an old craftsman.

"Did your righteous daughter ask Zhulin to ask you if you would like to attend the banquet?" Wang Xian stretched out his hand to open the window, felt the spring breeze, and quipped, "I suggest you go anyway, so as to escort your daughter." ”

The iron-masked general focused on carving on the wood with his knife, and did not look at the spring light outside, but said: "The old man can escort him when he sits here, and he doesn't need to go in person." ”

Wang Xian laughed, and there was a burst of silver bell laughter in the spring breeze, he followed the sound and saw several palace maids laughing and playing not far away, and it seemed that in the blink of an eye, the heavy winter clothes were replaced by bright spring clothes.

"It's a big party." "I heard that from noon to night, there are horseback riding and archery fights during the day, and lanterns and fireworks at night. ”

He turned his head to look at the iron-masked general next to him, who was still focusing on carving wood, and asked with a smile: "General, have you ever been there?" ”

The iron-masked general said: "The old man doesn't like these hustle and bustle. ”

Wang Xian wanted to tell some jokes, but he felt that he couldn't say it, and looked at the gray-haired old man with his head down - who doesn't have youth? People are only young once, and spring is fleeting.

"General, why don't we go too." He couldn't help but propose, "Marquis Zhou is a young man, but who said that old people can't go?" ”

The iron-masked general shook his head: "It's too noisy, the old man is old, and he just likes to be quiet." ”

Wang Xian was a little annoyed, and flicked his sleeves: "I'm younger than you, if you don't go, I'll go and have fun." ”

The iron-masked general said in the back: "Close the door, the spring cold is steep, and my old cold legs can't withstand it." ”

Wang Xian scolded twice, walked to the door and grabbed the door and couldn't help asking, "Did you commit another leg injury?" Use some plasters, right? ”

The iron-masked general hummed, thought of something and smiled again: "The medicine sent by Miss Danzhu also has medicine for treating cold and rheumatism, and it is indeed worthy of being the daughter of a military general, and I know what injuries and illnesses the generals have." ”

Wang Xian shook the door with a snort: "Then you use your daughter's medicine, I don't care." He walked out in a huff, the door was closed, the window was not closed, he walked out a few steps and turned around, and saw the iron-masked general sitting by the window with his head bowed and continuing to concentrate on carving wood—

For an old man, there may be only this one to have fun with, spring, youth, youth, fresh clothes and angry horses, and purple and red, all have nothing to do with him.

Wang Xian's figure disappeared by the window, and the last knife on the wood of the iron-faced general was also settled, he put down the carving knife with satisfaction, shook the wooden block, and put it on the table, there were already more than a dozen such wooden blocks on the table, he looked at it for a moment, swept a place with his big sleeves, spread out a piece of paper, took an inkstone, dipped a piece of wood in ink on the paper and pressed, and then picked it up, and there was a villain on the paper.

The villain is vivid, carrying a bow and arrows on his back, and seems to be galloping on a horse.

The iron-masked general picked up the other wooden blocks one by one and dipped them in ink and pressed them on the paper, and more and more villains appeared on the paper, some carrying lanterns, some dancing swords, some blowing sheng, some beating drums, some drinking, some playing, and some laughing hand in hand—

The spring breeze blew in from the window, blowing the paper, and the little people on the paper seemed to come to life, they were playing, laughing, wanton.

The iron-faced general sat at the table, the spring breeze also blew his gray hair, gray robe, he crossed his knees and cheeks, motionless and quietly watched.

Ah Tian jumped out of the carriage, looked up and saw above, crossed the high door wall of the Hou Mansion, and could see the colorful buildings set up inside.

"Miss, look." She happily stretched out her hand and pointed, "And the swing." ”

Chen Danzhu and Liu Wei came in a car, the two got out of the car at this time, and they both looked up, there were already many people coming to the banquet, the girls were swinging, and there were bursts of silver bell-like laughter through the high wall.

Laughter is contagious, and Chen Danzhu and Liu Wei also looked at each other and smiled.

"We'll go play later." Liu Wei said with a smile.

Chen Danzhu nodded, the two of them held hands and were about to enter the door, there was a neat sound of horses' hooves and footsteps behind them, obviously someone of high status came, Chen Danzhu didn't look back, he heard someone shouting "Danzhu!" ”

She and Liu Wei turned around and saw a carriage escorted by the guards coming, and Princess Jin Yao was raising the curtain to wave to her.

Chen Danzhu and Liu Wei hurriedly turned around to greet her, and the curtain on the other side of the car was also lifted, and a young man with starry eyes and bright moon smiled at her.

Chen Danzhu's face instantly bloomed with a smile: "Third Highness." ”

The third prince and Princess Jin Yao got out of the car, and came to Chen Danzhu surrounded by a group of eunuchs and palace maids, and was just about to speak, when there was a commotion in the door of the Hou Mansion, and a person strode over, he was tall and long, wearing a black background and gold silk curly deep clothes, and the gold silk outlined a tiger shape extending from the shoulders to the chest, dazzling in the brocade clothes of youth and youth.

"Your Highness." Zhou Xuan raised his voice and shouted, "Jin Yao." ”

I just don't look at Chen Danzhu.

Guan Neihou greeted him personally, and the third prince and Princess Jin Yao could only leave Chen Danzhu first and greet Zhou Xuan.

"Come in, please." Zhou Xuan stretched out his hand to invite, "The Second Highness and the Fifth Highness have all arrived, I thought you wouldn't come either." ”

Not all the princes came, because the prince was busy with government affairs, he asked the princess to bring her children to the banquet, the princes were used to it, the eldest brother was different from them, but now there was a different one, and the third prince was also busy with the government affairs handed over by the emperor.

The third prince smiled: "I'm not in good health, so I still have to rest more, so I came to Ah Xuan to relax here." ”

Zhou Xuan patted him on the shoulder: "That's right, life is short, what to do when you are so tired." ”

After that, he entered the door hand in hand, Princess Jin Yao followed by him, and the palace maid and eunuch accompanied him, cutting off Chen Danzhu and Liu Wei behind.

Chen Danzhu didn't care, he took Liu Wei's hand and waited for them to walk over and then take a step, just stepped up the steps, Zhou Xuan in front turned his head, looked at the third prince out of the corner of his eye, raised his eyebrows and smiled at her, a little proud.

Smug interrupted her talking to the third prince? Childish, Chen Danzhu pouted at him.