Jinling City has been known for its royal steam for generations, and the center of the city is naturally the palace of Emperor Daliang. Exiting from the South Victory Gate, a sloping red-walled brick road connects an exquisite mansion that is both independent and integrated with the palace city.

The regulations of the prefecture are not large, but if the identity of the owner of the mansion is judged by the size, it is likely to make a serious mistake. The main entrance of the house is not open all the year round, and there is a plaque with a gold trim and a pure black bottom hanging on the lintel. On it, three words are written in the official beam style: "Liyang Mansion".

The eldest princess of Liyang, the only living sister of the emperor of the dynasty, is the wife of Xie Yu, the marquis of Ningguo.

People who are a little older in the capital still clearly remember the grand occasion that caused a sensation in the city when the eldest princess got married. The newlyweds who are high on the Yingfeng Tower looking down on the civilians are simply the most intuitive interpretation of the four words of heroes and beauties. Twenty-four years have passed, the two are still in love, respect and respect each other, three men and one woman under their knees, all are well-informed children, in the eyes of everyone, this is definitely the most perfect family model.

Originally, according to the royal practice, after Princess Liyang and Xie Yu got married, Xie Yu should have moved to the princess's mansion, and outsiders called him "a horse" rather than a "marquis". However, due to the wishes of the princess herself, and the fact that the former queen mother has always disagreed with letting the princesses be high in her in-laws' house and not enjoy the joy of family, Princess Liyang moved to the Ningguo Marquis Mansion after marriage, and got along with her in-laws in the mansion with family etiquette. The eldest princess is virtuous by nature, dignified and dignified, and orders her subordinates to call her "madam" as long as she is in the Hou Mansion, and she is even more strict with the palace people she brings. Later, Xie Yu's military exploits became more and more prominent in the court, and the princess was always low-key, and the government and the opposition gradually became accustomed to regard the relationship between the two as "Hou Ye" and "Madame", rather than the "princess" and "concubine" as they should be.

This Liyang Mansion is the princess fifteen and the year of the Xuan to build, since her marriage, it is idle, the princess of Liyang feels that it is a pity to be vacant, ordered people to plant countless strange flowers and plants in it, the four seasons are often fragrant, the concubines in the palace and the relatives and noble families often come to ask for a tour in the flowering period, it is a scenic spot in the upper floor of Kyoto. When the princess fasts and worships the Buddha, or when the Queen Mother wants to come to stay, she will move back to live for a few days.

When Xiao Jingrui and Xie Bi returned, their mother happened to be staying in the princess's mansion.

Early in the morning, the two brothers obeyed their father's orders and went to Liyang Mansion to greet the eldest princess, and escorted her Luan back to the Ningguo Marquis' Mansion. At this time, the old marquis and Mrs. Tai had passed away, and there was no need to go to greet her, so the eldest princess of Liyang directly ordered to go back to the main room of the inner courtyard where she lived daily.

Along the corridor through the side yard, along the wall planted a water of evening laurel, at this time the flowering period is not over, there is still a lingering fragrance, the princess of Liyang slowed down slightly, as if feeling the wind in the lush. At this moment, there is a wisp of piano sound over the wall, although because of the distance, it is not real, but the rhyme is clear, which makes people feel that they are washing the dust and washing the customs.

"Who is this slutting? The artistic conception is extraordinary. ”

Xiao Jingrui looked up and listened carefully for a moment, and replied: "This is a friend of the child, surnamed Su Mingzhe, who was invited by the child to live in Jinling to recuperate, and is currently staying in Xuelu. ”

"Does my mother want to meet this person?" Xie Bi hurriedly asked.

Princess Liyang smiled faintly: "Since you are Jing Rui's friend, you can just entertain you, why do you need to see me?" ”

"But I can't really hear it here, why don't you invite Brother Su into the inner courtyard and touch the piano for your mother through the curtain?" Xie Bi suggested.

The eldest princess of Liyang frowned slightly, but her tone was still gentle: "Bi'er, this Mr. Su is here as a guest, not a servant for fun, how can he be summoned like this?" In the future, if there is a chance, I can hear the sound of the piano again, and if there is no chance, I can't force it. ”

When Xiao Jingrui heard the second brother's suggestion at first glance, he felt the same as Princess Liyang, and he was a little unhappy in his heart, but when he saw that his mother had refused, he didn't say anything more. Xie Bi's original intention was naturally not to be rude, but because of his habits since he was a child, he always felt that his mother had a noble status, and he called someone to stroke a few songs on the piano, but he didn't think much about it, but he was blamed, and he couldn't help but blush.

When she arrived at the main room of the inner courtyard, the eldest princess of Liyang sat down to rest on a long couch set up by the window. She had always been Yinghui, and she had seen that her two sons seemed to be in trouble, so she didn't keep them longer, just chatted a few words, and let the two go out.

Due to his background, Xiao Jingrui has long stated that he has no intention of attacking the lord, and resolutely gave up the position of the prince to Xie Bi. And after Xie Bi grew up, he was indeed more familiar with political affairs than his brother and was better at handling external relations, so in the past year or two, Xie Yu, the Marquis of Ningguo, had handed over most of the affairs to him, and he also attended many important occasions on his behalf, so he had always had a lot of chores, and he disappeared as soon as he left the inner courtyard, and the more leisurely Xiao Dagongzi immediately rushed to Xuelu.

At this time, Mei Changsu was no longer stroking the qin, but reading a book under the tree. When he heard the sound of hurried footsteps, he raised his head and smiled in the direction of the courtyard gate, and the specks of sunlight fell through the gaps in the leaves, swaying and dancing on his face, making the smile even more vivid.

Xiao Jingrui also laughed, stepped forward and arched his hand, and greeted, "Brother Su slept well last night?" ”

"Are you worried that I won't sleep well?" Mei Changsu motioned for him to drag a bamboo chair over to sit, "We people in the rivers and lakes, where will there be a problem with choosing a seat, but I just thought about the excitement that Yujin said, and I slept late, and I got up late today." Feiliu said you also came here in the morning? ”

"Hmm." Xiao Jingrui looked around, "Why didn't you see Feiliu?" ”

"Oh, Feiliu came to Jinling for the first time, and I asked him to go out and play for a while." Mei Changsu said lightly.

Xiao Jingrui couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. Feiliu's mind is like a child, but his martial arts are superb, Mei Changsu actually let him out to play so easily, and his courage is really not small.

"Don't worry, we Feiliu won't get into trouble." Mei Changsu raised his eyebrows and smiled as if he could read Xiao Jingrui's thoughts, "Even if he really gets into trouble, according to his skills, he will disappear as soon as he runs, and people will not be able to find trouble with the Marquis of Ningguo's mansion." ”

"What do I mean by being afraid of trouble?" Xiao Jingrui smiled bitterly, "Brother Su wronged me again. ”

Mei Changsu didn't say much, knocked on the table and said, "Since you're here, why don't you go and get a chessboard, how about we fight for a while?" ”

Xiao Jingrui hurriedly stood up, personally went to the side room to take out a chess board, and placed it on the stone table under the tree. Although Mei Changsu is talented, he is not really perfect, at least in terms of chess skills, he is not first-class. This way into Beijing, Xiao Jingrui already knew his details, and he didn't have to use all his strength to make him hold his cheeks and twist his eyebrows and think for a long time.

After three games, Mei Changsu was defeated. Xiao Jingrui smiled and brushed the chess pieces and said: "Although Brother Su is good at chess, he is not good at counting by nature, I can put a big sentence here, you probably can't win me in this life." ”

"Don't be complacent, wait for my church to fly, and when you cry. Although Feiliu is not as capable of thinking as the average intelligent person, his concentration is amazing, and no one I know can match him. ”

Xiao Jingrui ignored his words of trying to get back to the field, but looked up and asked, "Where did Brother Su let Feiliu play?" It's noon, why haven't you come back yet? ”