In September, autumn is getting stronger, and in order to celebrate the engagement of the eldest princess Xiao Yuanzhen, the nobles are invited to hold an osmanthus banquet. Xiao Yuanzhen also specially invited the "master of the Golden Court" Lutang to enter the palace to participate.

For the palace banquets hosted by the queens, concubines, and princesses in the palace, most of the invited guests did not give invitations, but only verbally "summoned". The one who can make the eldest princess place an invitation is definitely a very close confidant.

Everyone has already heard these days that the second lady of the Wen family, Lu Tang, after the defeat of her uncle Wenhou, clinged to the power of the eldest princess and became the princess's Taoist stand-in. Unexpectedly, Xiao Yuanzhen really regarded her as a close friend in the boudoir, and invited her to the palace banquet.

When Lutang returned to the palace, he followed his father and got engaged to King Jin three years ago. At that time, it was the east gate and went straight into the imperial study. This time, I entered the palace from the north gate, passed through the imperial garden, and went to the eldest princess's bedroom on the northeast road.

The people Xiao Yuanzhen summoned to reward Gui were all the daughters of the princes and nobles in Beijing, and there were only about a dozen people in total. What shocked Lutang was that Wen Hongyao also came.

At the birthday banquet of the Qi Wangfu last month, Wen Hongyao was still the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Wen, the future princess of Jin, and was extremely rude to the eldest princess Xiao Yuanzhen.

Now that Wenhou has lost power, his mother's power is gone, and the marriage contract with King Jin is in jeopardy, he has to enter the palace to be in the limelight at this time, which is difficult to guess.

Lutang dressed up as a Taoist today, followed the palace maid into the palace gate, and smelled the sweet fragrance of osmanthus flowers.

In Xiao Yuanzhen's dormitory garden, several osmanthus trees are blooming very luxuriantly. There are tables and chairs next to the tree, the eldest princess chats with the daughters, and the little palace maid cooks tea under the porch, and the scene is very warm.

Xiao Yuanzhen looked up and saw Lu Tang entering the door, pursed his lips and smiled: "The master of the Golden Court has arrived, and this palace is talking to everyone as a young lady, telling the story of when Chongxian Guan tied your hair that day." ”

Lu Tang wore a Taoist costume, and it was inconvenient to perform the daughter salute again, so he bowed down according to the Taoist etiquette: "Meet Her Royal Highness the eldest princess." ”

When she was in the Wenhou Mansion, she rarely went out to socialize, and most of these daughters in front of her only nodded friends, and the only one she was familiar with was her cousin Wen Hongyao.

Who knew that the first person to sneer was the closest sister: "The second sister suddenly changed her dress, and my sister couldn't recognize it." Something happened at home, you ran away as if you were fleeing, you know that the eldest princess values you, and you don't know that you think the family owes you something! ”

Lu Tang couldn't help but laugh angrily when she heard her yin and yang weirdness, and said coldly: "Big sister's words are really funny. I was injured in King Qi that day, and you and the eldest princess saw it with your own eyes. As for why I couldn't go home, my sister knew better than anyone else. Now the Wen family is at fault, and it is the emperor's grace to protect his uncle's title, so that the eldest sister can sit here. My sister's eldest princess took a fancy to me and asked me to become a stand-in monk regardless of my previous suspicions, which is the grace of the eldest princess. If I am an older sister, I should accompany my parents at home and go out less. ”

Wen Hongyao has become very haggard these days, since Wen Hou's real position was cut off, Xiao Shizi's name was stripped away, and her mother was seriously ill.

She once secretly ran out of the mansion and went to the Jin King's mansion to ask for a meeting, hoping that Xiao Yuanhui could remember the kindness of the engagement and save the Wen family a few points. Who knew that Xiao Yuanhui was closed and disappeared, and sent someone to warn her coldly that if she dared to make trouble, she would immediately divorce her.

Wen Hongyao also secretly wrote to her lover's cousin Yan Shuqin for help, but Yan Shuqin hid and did not meet her, but only comforted her with words, telling her not to move, so as not to be self-defeating.

She has always been a woman with the stars holding the moon, how could she ever be so down? When she was desperate, she was bent on meeting Yan Shuqin, so she had to buy off the Shang Gong grandmother who was familiar with her in the palace, and let her be added to the guests of the eldest princess's laurel banquet.

In normal times, Xiao Yuanzhen is an unfavored princess, she doesn't look down on her at all. She felt in her heart that her cousin Yan Shuqin wanted to be her concubine, and she was too wronged to marry low.

When she arrived in the palace today, she was already the daughter of a down-and-out marquis, and she couldn't get in front of the princess in the seating arrangement, so she could only stand under the porch.

She was full of grievances for a long time, and when she saw Lu Tang, the enemy in her previous life, she couldn't help but reprimand her yin and yang.

But now Lutang is already the eldest princess's guest, as soon as she enters the palace gate, the stars sit beside the princess like the moon, and her mouth is full of imperial grace, so that her face is red.

"I invite you to come today, to eat tea and enjoy flowers, talk and relieve boredom. This palace doesn't have these idle feelings to listen to quarrels. If Miss Wen didn't come for fun, don't open your mouth, there are some osmanthus pastries over there, eat more and block your mouth. Xiao Yuanzhen sneered and asked the palace maid Shang Gong: "The girl who came today is either read to the palace companion, or she is to accompany the palace to practice. Who invited Wen Hongyao? Did Hongu write her name? ”

Mama Shanggong, who had received the money from Wenhong Medicine, couldn't help but blush, and came up to say with a smile: "It's the fault of the old slave." The old slave only thought about calling a few more people to be lively. ”

Xiao Yuanzhen smiled at everyone: "Some people come here to join in the fun, but some people don't know what they are doing!" ”

The ladies were really unhappy to see Xiao Yuan, so they naturally didn't dare to argue. These little girls have been in and out of the palace since they were children, and their ability to worship high and low is more flexible than that of the palace maids, so they hurriedly gathered around Xiao Yuanzhen to tell jokes, and none of them dared to pay attention to Wen Hongyao.

Wen Hongyao originally stood under the corridor and didn't attract attention, just to scare Lutang for two sentences, his face was red and white, and he couldn't cry in front of everyone, it was like being tortured.

Lu Tang also ignored her anymore, and listened to Xiao Yuanzhen tell the ladies about the adventures of Chongxian Temple that day.

The story of the old Taoist priest Chen Tianshi being killed by lightning has long been spread throughout the capital. Most of these young ladies have also heard of it, and some of them are old and serious, and they have a close relationship with Xiao Yuanzhen, and said euphemistically: "At the beginning, it was said that His Highness's fate was not good, and it was Chen Tianshi who should be a monk and cultivate." He was killed by a thunderbolt, and he couldn't see his own life, but I was afraid that what he said back then was nonsense, right? ”

The other one nodded as well, "Exactly." Not only Her Royal Highness the Princess, but also the fate of Miss Wen Er, the owner of the Golden Court, was also cut off by him, saying that the destiny was ominous, and he was divorced by His Royal Highness the King of Jin. In this way, I am afraid that it is not very reasonable. ”

There is even more that who is not afraid of offending people, glanced at Wen Hongyao behind him, covered his mouth and smiled: "I also heard that when Old Taoist Chen said that Miss Wen's fate was ominous, he also praised Miss Wen for being a rich and prosperous man in front of King Jin, which attracted His Royal Highness the King of Jin to change his marriage contract to marry her." At that time, it was Miss Wen's uncle and cousin's family who were playing Jiao in Chongxian Temple, and the marriage was decided. The eldest princess, the courtiers told a joke, the old Taoist priest is afraid that he will take too much money from others, and God can't stand it! ”

When everyone heard her say it explicitly, they didn't want to laugh, but the more they thought about it, the more they felt that the matter was reasonable, and a few young people couldn't help it, and they sneered out loud.

Xiao Yuanzhen frowned slightly, and scolded lightly: "Hugh is talking nonsense." The marriage contract between the palace and the Yan family is also the premise of the old Taoist priest meeting the imperial brother. For this marriage, the palace even delayed the cultivation of immortals. Who knew that the marriage was undecided, and the iceman let the thunder chop to death, wouldn't it be bad luck! ”

Everyone hurriedly comforted, saying that the eldest princess's marriage must be successful, and praised Yan Shuqin for being young and talented, and her appearance and demeanor were excellent.

When Yan Shuqin was mentioned, Lu Tang looked sideways. Wen Hongyao really couldn't hold back any longer, and quietly turned his back to wipe his tears.

No, Xiao Yuanzhen also glanced at it by taking the tea, and saw that Wen Hongyao's eyes were red, and the grievances were incomprehensible, and there was a sneer in his eyes.

At this moment, Mama Shang Gong came over to talk back, saying that Yan Shuqin wanted to see her.

"Back to the eldest princess, Xiao Yan has come to say goodbye."

When Xiao Yuanzhen heard this, he smiled and asked, "This palace appreciates the laurels, and the people invited are all female dependents." It's inconvenient for him to come, so let's avoid it. ”

Yan Shuqin and Xiao Yuanzhen are already engaged, and the wedding date will be next month. It is common for prospective horses to come to see and please be safe. And most of the girls here have heard of Xiao Yan's literary brilliance, and they all want to see it.

Everyone secretly pouted Xiao Yuanzhen and said: "The eldest princess doesn't see him, but ask him to make two poems to help Yaxing!" ”

Xiao Yuanzhen couldn't resist everyone, so he ordered someone to prepare pen and ink, let him take it to the outer room of the dormitory, and ask Yan Shuqin to compose two poems to read.

She looked left and right, and smiled at Wen Hongyao: "He is your cousin, you take the pen and ink and go over to pass the decree." ”

Wen Hongyao could only step forward to take the pen and ink, and walked out of the dormitory.

Lu Tang suddenly thought in her heart, Wen Hongyao had already offended the eldest princess, and she must have known that she would be humiliated when she entered the palace today, and she came here with all her heart to see Yan Shuqin!

Lu Tang's heart moved, and while everyone was chattering, he silently got up and wanted to see the situation.

Xiao Yuanzhen saw her turn around, hurriedly stopped her, beckoned her to come up with her ear, and whispered: "Wen Hongyao is a person of temperament, and his thoughts are on his face." The last time Bengong saw her, he suspected that she was in love with Yan Shuqin. Go and help the shrine to see, if that is the case, the shrine will fulfill them! ”

Lu Tang had this intention, and said with a smile: "The courtiers also think so, thank you for the eldest princess for the eldest sister." ”

Wearing flowers and willows, I saw Wen Hongyao talking to Yan Shuqin with red eyes at the door of the walled house.

Walking in the palace, there should have been a little eunuch to lead the way, but they were probably sent away with money.

Lu Tang walked a few steps along the root of the wall, hidden behind the osmanthus bush, and listened to Wen Hongyao sobbing and whispering: "His Royal Highness the King of Jin is cold-blooded and cold-hearted, and he will not see me again from then on." The long history of his mansion also went to the mansion to teach my mother and me, and persuaded me to take the initiative to divorce him, so as not to embarrass His Royal Highness. My father's marquis is still there, and I am still a marquis, and he is so ruthless! Cousin, I'm afraid I won't be able to marry the Jin Palace, and I can only rely on my cousin from now on! ”

She tugged at Yan Shuqin's sleeve and cried so much that the pear blossoms brought rain to her delicate and infinite.

Yan Shuqin pondered for a moment and said, "Don't be anxious, cousin, I will arrange your affairs." You have to hold steady now and don't panic! ”

Wen Hongyao burst into tears and said urgently: "My father was grounded in the mansion and thought about it, it was extremely difficult for me to come out once!" Cousin, don't be perfunctory to me like this! ”

Yan Shuqin couldn't stop looking left and right, for fear that someone would hear it, so he had to nod and say, "Don't cry, you'll come out in two minutes." I ordered someone to wait for you here and take you to the Wenyuan Pavilion by the Imperial Garden. ”

Wen Hongyao cried and nodded.

Yan Shuqin took the pen and ink, swayed the text without adding points, and wrote two poems quickly.

Hearing their whispers, Lu Tang already had an idea in his heart, returned to Xiao Yuanzhen's side, and whispered in his ear: "Two moments later, Wenyuan Pavilion." ”

Xiao Yuan was really incredulous: "Are they crazy, dare to cheat in the palace?" ”

Lu Tang remembered that day, and saw the scene of the two cheating in front of the Yan family's mourning hall, and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Xiao Yuanzhen sneered: "This palace must do a good thing and fulfill this pair of wild mandarin ducks!" ”