The song and dance continued, between the toasts and the lamp, it was time to go, a palace banquet also ended perfectly, Ling Xiao followed Zhong Liyi out of the palace, the carriage drove towards the Hou Mansion, Ling Xiao was silent all the way, Zhong Liyi saw that Ling Xiao was in a low mood, so he asked: "Is it not good to marry him?" How many women in Jundu dream of marrying him as a wife, he is a person who can be entrusted for life, steady, gentle personality, you two are childhood sweethearts, he will never fail you, for the father I hope you can live a life without worry, happiness and happiness. Ling Xiao believed what Zhong Liyi said, and these days, she could feel that Zhong Liyi really cared about her. But she didn't like Yanlingzhan, and she didn't believe that it was a marriage with no other purpose.

After listening to Zhong Liyi's words, she nodded, leaned there and closed her eyes. After a long time, she comforted herself and thought that maybe after being in contact with Yanlingzhan for a long time, she could really accept him slowly, and it was possible, since she came to this world, she could only slowly accept some facts.

When Ling Xiao was having breakfast with He's family, he saw a servant girl come to report that Father-in-law Chai had come to deliver the decree and was in the hall. So they put down the dishes and chopsticks and went to the front hall.

When he came to the front hall, he saw Chai Gongcheng drinking tea and talking with Zhong Liyi. Seeing that Ling Xiao was coming, he put down the teacup and said to Ling Xiao respectfully: "Princess Liwu, since you have come, then I will make a decree." ”

Ling Xiao nodded, ready to take the order. When everyone saw that Grandpa Chai took out the holy decree from his cuffs, they also knelt down one after another.

"Fengtian carrier, the emperor edict said, Zhong Liyi's daughter Zhong Liyi is full of poetry and books, dignified and courteous, well-behaved and lovely, and now it has reached the year of the Xuan, read the six princes Yanling Zhan has no marriage match, the two are a good match, so the Xu match and Yanling Zhan as a wife, and then read its filial piety touching, so the marriage period was postponed for three years, accompanied by parents to fulfill filial piety, admiration." Ling Xiao listened to every word, and his heart became heavier and heavier.

Father-in-law Chai handed the holy decree to Ling Xiao, "Princess, take it." Ling Xiao slowly took the holy decree that was so ridiculous and ridiculous for her with both hands, and stood up.

"Little girl, what's wrong? Looking unhappy?" Ling Xiao was leaning alone on the carved railing of the pavilion, looking at the lake that was rippling by the wind, Zhong Limu turned his head to look at her and asked.

Ling Xiao retracted his gaze and said, "No, third brother, why are you here?"

"I still said no, I knew it at a glance, and I must have something on my mind." Zhong Limu didn't answer her words, but affirmed his thoughts to himself. Ling Xiao didn't deny it either, and nodded.

"Is it because of last night's wedding? It's strange to me, when you were a child, you always said that you wanted to marry him when you grew up, and now you have got your wish, but you are not happy. Zhong Limu guessed what Ling Xiao was worried about, but he didn't know why.

Ling Xiao could only tell him: "I have amnesia now, he is like a stranger to me, if you were me, I wouldn't want to marry a stranger." ”

Zhongli Mumu nodded after hearing this: "That's right." He agreed with Ling Xiao's statement.

In fact, more importantly, Ling Xiao didn't want to fall into the intrigue between women, she liked the comfortable life of the Hou Mansion now, and there was no deceit here.

Zhong Limu suddenly showed a smile on his face and said, "Let's go, the third brother will take you out for a walk, take a walk, I will buy it for you." ”

Ling Xiao listened to his words and shook his head, "I asked Qian'er to order someone to get the embroidery frame, and it is estimated that it will be sent soon, so I won't go out, I want to embroider flowers here for a while." "She has been in the house for so long, she has too much free time every day, and she can't adapt to it for a while without her busy work. In addition to reading and reading every day, she spent the rest of her time on embroidery, and at first she couldn't, so she asked her to find a maid who was good at red to explain to her, and then she felt that embroidery was not difficult, and it was good to get started.

When Zhong Limu heard Ling Xiao say embroidery, he showed a surprised expression and said in disbelief: "You have learned to embroider now, where did you get this patience?" He didn't wait for Ling Xiao to speak, then said again: "If you want to embroider, there will be more time in the future, don't embroider today, I will accompany you to the street, then the mood will naturally be good, and you have been home for so long, except for a trip to the palace, it seems that you haven't gone out yet." ”

While Zhong Limu was talking, the embroidery frame had been moved by his subordinates and placed according to Ling Xiao's instructions. Zhong Limu looked at Ling Xiao's Ou heather, which had already embroidered half of the white juan, and the clusters of pink bell-shaped delicate appeared in front of him, and he asked suspiciously, "Little girl, what are you embroidering?" I've never seen it before. ”

"Ou heather, this kind of flower is not available in the original country." Ou heather generally grows in the colder areas of the north, Ling Xiao estimated in her heart that she was afraid that she would not have a chance to see it in the future, so she thought about embroidering it, maybe after the Nuogan year, it faded out of Ling Xiao's memory, forgetting its appearance, she can also look at the delicate shadow in its embroidery, and recalled that this is her favorite flower, the flower that accompanied her through her childhood, the flower she planted with her own hands.

"Oh, is this from the North Vietnamese Kingdom?" Zhong Limu continued to ask.

"I don't know, it's just a memory." Ling Xiao really didn't know if there was such a flower in Beiyue, so she said it truthfully, but she didn't tell Zhong Limu how she knew.

The silk thread shuttled between the brocade silks, Zhong Limu watched from the side, and after a long time, he said calmly as if he was explaining a story: "You used to like peach blossoms the most, my father planted two peach trees in your yard for you, and placed a swing under the tree. And he also named your courtyard 'Peach Creek Pavilion', among the five of us brothers and sisters, except for you, my father has never been so concerned. ”

Ling Xiao listened to his words, and a beautiful picture appeared in her mind, which was the family affection she longed for when she was a child. She stopped the silk thread shuttle and asked, "Is my sister's 'Tang Liwan' also my father's question?" ”

"No, it was written by the fifth prince." Zhong Limu replied.

"What is the relationship between my father and the emperor?" Ling Xiao thought of Zhong Liyi's affectionate title to the emperor at the banquet last night, so he asked.

"They are sworn brothers and have a very good relationship. In addition, in the past ten years, the eldest brother has guarded the border passes, the second brother has entered the Nanzhuan Kingdom, and the sister has gone to the North Yue Kingdom, and the power of our Hou Mansion is even more monstrous, which is also forming a situation with the Zuoqiu family in the court, so we must be more careful in doing things, so as not to leave anything to criticize. Ling Xiao listened to Zhong Limu's words, and originally thought that Zhong Liyi's status in the court should be extraordinary, but he didn't expect it to be a monstrous power.

Zhong Limu took Ling Xiao's hand and stood up, Ling Xiao carefully got rid of his hand and glanced at him. Zhong Limu said: "Don't embroider, the third brother will take you out and stay at home all day, and it's not good for your mood." ”

"Go and help Miss change her clothes." He commanded to the Lady again.

Ling Xiao had no choice, so he ordered Qi'er to pack up the things, change his clothes and leave the house with him.

Nowadays, the folk customs have opened up a lot, and rich and official women can also go to the streets, as long as they don't do anything out of the ordinary, others will not say that it is against the norm for you to show up casually.

When she left the mansion, Ling Xiao thought that there would be a carriage waiting, but she didn't find it, so she asked, "If there is no carriage, will you go like this?" Ling Xiao couldn't adapt for a while, for so many years, she had never walked in front of everyone like this, before, there was a special car to pick up and drop off when she went out, and there was no time to go shopping every day, and there was a special person responsible for what she worn, and gradually, it became a habit. Now letting her walk in front of many strangers is like the feeling of not wearing clothes in front of people, full of discomfort.

Zhong Limu listened to Ling Xiao's words and quipped: "Little girl, I'm really getting lazier and lazier, I still need a carriage on the street, let's walk, sit in the carriage, then it's not called shopping." He said so, and Ling Xiao had no choice but to walk with him. It's just that the early summer sun is a little delicate and dazzling, so Ling Xiao ordered his subordinates to bring a plain oil-paper umbrella, Zhong Li Mu didn't say a word, took the umbrella and held it for her.

Just like this, I walked slowly with an oil-paper umbrella, and occasionally a breeze blew through the broken hair on my face, giving people a very comfortable feeling. The bustle and prosperity of Jundu is what Ling Xiao did not expect, there are all kinds of stalls on the street, selling items of all shapes and shapes, all kinds of shops, people come and go on the street, and people of different identities and statuses are integrated into one, which constitutes a beautiful scene.

"Little girl, what do you want, the third brother will buy it for you today." Zhongli Mu said arrogantly. Ling Xiao didn't want to sweep Zhong Limu's interest, so he stopped in front of a stall selling hand ornaments at random, and browsed the objects in the stall at random, although the materials of these hand ornaments were not of the highest quality, the workmanship was also fine. She picked up a silver hairpin and looked at it for a moment, it was a silver hairpin carved with plum blossoms, and the carving was very delicate.

The woman behind the stall said enthusiastically to Zhong Limu: "Childe, buy a piece of jewelry for this girl." ”

"Do you have a favorite?" Zhongli asked warmly. Ling Xiao shook his head, put down the things in his hand, and said, "Third brother, let's go." "She's never been very interested in hand jewelry, so of course she doesn't particularly like it.

After walking for a while, Zhong Limu said: "I'll take you to the 'Feiyun Pavilion', the jewelry there is finely made and the material is good, I heard that the ladies of Jundu like to go there to choose their favorite things, I will take you to pick a few, you will definitely like it." ”

Ling Xiao shook his head and said, "Why don't the third brother take me to buy a piano." "Zhong Liling's piano, the workmanship is very exquisite, there is a small poem inscribed at the headstock, because Ling Xiao has just learned the small seal, so many words do not know, so I don't know the meaning, but she thinks that the piano should have special significance for Zhong Liling, so she is not good to contact at will, and it is not good to break it at that time, thinking that it is better to buy a favorite one herself.

Sure enough, Zhong Limu was very surprised: "Buy a piano? Are you sure? When did you learn to play the piano, you didn't learn it in North Vietnam, did you? ”

"Yes." Ling Xiao replied.

"Really, didn't you say that you didn't learn anything in North Vietnam? It seems that I really underestimated you, and I learned a lot of things. Well, I'll take you to buy a piano. Zhong Limu looked very pleased.

They settled down in front of a pavilion called 'Seinomiya Sai' and walked inside, and the furnishings inside were elegant and quiet, like a bamboo forest with dew in the morning, calming their hearts and giving people a sense of comfort. At this time, a handsome young man with a beautiful white clothes and jade crown walked out of it, and when he saw them, he bowed his hand and asked humbly, "Two, do you need anything?" ”

"Are you the owner of this shop? My sister wants to buy a piano, can you introduce it to us" Zhong Limu also arched his hand and said.

"The piano is divided into five strings and seven strings, I don't know which one the girl wants?" The man asked.

When Ling Xiao heard what he said, he suddenly had doubts in his heart, and said, "Aren't all pianos all seven-stringed?" How come there are still five strings?" The piano she learned before was indeed seven-stringed, and I remember that Zhong Liling's piano should also be seven-stringed.

"The girl is a beginner?" The man asked.

"Sort of." Ling Xiao admitted.

The man nodded, "Please come with me." And he led them to the inner room. This is a room separated from other rooms by hollow flower carving, which displays well-made pianos carved with different patterns, each one is placed separately, and there is a certain distance between the two pianos, just the distance between one person who can sit on the ground, and different piano methods are also different, and they are exquisite.

The man said: "The piano is here, I see that the girl is a beginner, and I think the girl can try the lyre, the fifth string is too difficult." ”

Ling Xiao walked up to a piano and asked, "Can I give it a try?" Seeing him nod, Ling Xiao sat down, and began to pluck slowly on the strings with both hands, and then accelerated the movement of her hands, and the sound of the piano became more rapid, and then, she increased the span of the strings, and the sound became much more tactful. The series of movements is smooth and orderly, and there are no mistakes. When the song was finished, she pressed her hands together on the strings.

After standing up, turning around, I saw the man bowing to her, and said elegantly: "It's clumsy, I didn't expect the girl's skills to be so skillful, I was offended just now, please forgive me!" ”

"I don't blame you, it's me who is only shallow in learning, lonely and unheard." Ling Xiao admired his humility and courtesy, so he said.

The man asked again, "I wonder what kind of song the girl just played, why haven't you heard it before?"

Of course he hadn't heard of this song, it was composed during the Yuan Dynasty, so Ling Xiao casually said that it was made by a friend, and there was no name. The man didn't ask any more questions.

Ling Xiao said: "I want to buy a good piano, the piano just now is okay, but the sound quality of that string is not good, can Childe help me choose a good one?"

"Since the girl has said so, then I should do my best to help the girl choose a good one." The man said.

At this time, a half-centenarian gentleman walked in, whispered a few words in his ear, and he apologized, "I am out of company, the girl will see for herself first, and I will come back immediately." With that, he walked out, as if something had happened.

"Little girl, it's really impressive, she has learned such good piano skills, compared with her sister, she is slightly better." Zhongli Mu exclaimed.

"Compared with my sister, it's still far behind, and I've only studied for a few years in my spare time, but I'm just learning fast." Ling Xiao said as if stating a fact.

"It seems that you have not been in vain in the country of North Vietnam, at least you have practiced such a skillful piano technique," Zhong Limu continued, "This piece just now is really good, is it really composed by your friend?" Zhong Limu was skeptical.

Ling Xiao pretended to be a memory: "I don't actually know, it appeared unconsciously in my mind, maybe." I have amnesia now, and I don't remember what happened before at all" Faced with Zhong Limu's puzzlement, she could only explain it with amnesia. Zhong Limu nodded after hearing this, and did not ask again.

After a while, the man came back, still holding a piano in his hand, and then carefully placed the piano on the desk, and said to Ling Xiao: "Girl, look at this piano, made by the best Baitong, whether you are satisfied." ”

Ling Xiao walked over and looked at this piano, it was obvious that this workmanship alone was different from other pianos, the headstock was carved with green bamboo, the green bamboo lines were clear and delicate, and the lacquer dyeing was very delicate, looking lifelike. The body is bright black and carved with scattered white pear petals, giving people a plain feeling as a whole. The hand strokes on it, it is cold and smooth, and there is no trace of lacquer, which is enough to see the superb craftsmanship of this lacquer piano. She plucked the strings twice with her fingers, and the sound was pure and pleasant, and it was obvious that the sound quality was one in a hundred. She was very satisfied with this piano, so she said to Zhong Limu: "Just buy this one." ”

"How do you sell this instrument?" Zhongli Mu asked the man.

"It's good if the girl likes it, this piano doesn't cost money, it was given to the girl by my son-in-law."

Ling Xiao was very surprised, she excused herself and said, "You better say a price, this piano must be worth a lot of money, just give it to me like this, how do you do business." ”

"My son-in-law said that a good piano should be given to someone who deserves it. Girl, don't refuse. Besides, what my son-in-law said could never be taken back. Don't embarrass me, girl. ”

He said this, and Ling Xiao couldn't refuse, so he said: "Can you let your son-in-law come out to see him, I can thank him in person for giving him the piano." ”

"Childe just had something to do and left first, which is really unfortunate." The man looked slightly regretful. Ling Xiao didn't say anything more, but was a little more curious about the person who gave her the piano.

Zhong Limu originally planned to wait for them to go back and send someone to get the qin, but Ling Xiao was worried that the subordinates would be careless, and it would not be good for the qin to be bumped by them, so Zhong Limu became her bitter subordinate.

After leaving the 'Zhenggong Zhai', Zhong Limu took Ling Xiao to the 'Feiyun Pavilion', picked out two pieces of jewelry there, and went back to Houfu.