The Moon Over Tang Dynasty

Chapter 123: Overwhelming power and sending reinforcements from heaven

Amidst the sweet sound of ringing, a group of people came out from behind the twelve-curved landscape screen set up on the south side of the hall. Eight maids wearing white shirts and green skirts were divided into two rows to lead the way. They all had graceful figures. , with a beautiful face, like eight white lotuses that have just bloomed.

After they lined up and stood on both sides of the main seat in the south, the figure of the eldest princess Linhai was revealed. She was also wearing a white Jiangnan gauze blouse with silver brocade piping. The sleeves were wide and low, making it look particularly elegant. She was also tied with a single-silk biluo skirt specially supplied by Shu. The skirt was made of colorful The silk thread is embroidered into a pattern of lotuses emerging from the water. The pattern is vivid, and the elegant fragrance of lotus seems to be blowing towards the face as the skirt flutters.

Probably because of the careful application of makeup, the eldest princess's originally smooth and white oval face looked a bit younger than usual. Her eyebrows were lightly swept, and a delicate green lotus flower was placed between her eyebrows. The woman who helped her out was young and beautiful, and her clothes were exquisite, but standing next to the eldest princess, she looked a little dull. Cui quickly walked over and stood on the other side of the princess.

 Everyone in the hall had already left the table to pay respects. When the eldest princess sat down, she said with a smile, "Please get up." Then they returned to their respective seats. Many people's eyes fell on the skirt of the eldest princess, and some looked at the unfamiliar woman who helped the eldest princess out. After a closer look, they found that her eyes were deep and her nose was straight, and she actually had the style of a barbarian girl. Those who knew the inside story immediately guessed her identity, and couldn't help but look at the Cudi who was sitting at the bottom of the second seat, but saw that she was also looking at the people around the eldest princess with some surprise, and suddenly felt a little more worried. Very sure.

At this time, Liuli was really surprised: after not seeing each other for more than a month, Hualu really seemed to have changed. This low-brow look was unprecedented, and even the edges and corners on his face seemed to be different. They have become a bit softer, but they are not as vivid and beautiful as when they were arrogant before.

Probably sensing something, Coral, who was kneeling behind the eldest princess, raised her head and met Liuli's gaze. A smile immediately broke out on Liuli's face and he nodded to her. Coral's brows frowned subconsciously, but she quickly lowered her head as if she remembered something. After a pause, she bowed slightly in Liuli's direction. Liuli looked away, lowered her eyes, and a wry smile appeared on her face.

 Which person in the hall is not sharp-eyed and careful? Seeing this scene, many people immediately exchanged meaningful looks with each other.

The eldest princess raised her eyebrows slightly and said with a calm smile, "On this festive occasion, all you ladies have taken the time to come and make the chaimen covered with light and the ponzus add color. It is these lotus flowers all over the lake. It used to be that these old ladies like me were facing me every day. A little listless, but now I feel that there are many more exciting opponents, and I am actually more effective in scoring. "

Changsun Xiang immediately replied in a clear voice, "What the eldest princess said is wrong. Originally, this white lotus was clearly outcast by you, so it was naturally listless. Now that she sees us, she feels more confident!"

　　A burst of laughter suddenly erupted in the hall, mixed with echoes of "exactly". The eldest princess couldn't help but shake her head and chuckle, "Xian'er, you're actually teasing me. Compared with your pretty face, I'm just an old ghost!"

Mrs. Liu also knelt down with a smile and said, "Eldest Princess Qi, are you making fun of us? You are still the old Pantu ghost. Then the world doesn't love Chang'e and only hopes to marry a Pantu ghost." ”

The eldest princess pointed at the two people and laughed and scolded, "You two little devils, you are getting more and more courageous!" She shook her head and sighed, "When people are old, they are also stupid, so who is your opponent? You should hurry up and serve the hibiscus cake. You are the smart talkers!”

A maid next to her immediately accepted the order and left. Not long after, the melodious music of harps, flutes and flutes floated outside the door. A musical instrument was playing in the court. Two teams of maids in green filed in, holding hands They were all holding delicate jade plates with lotus leaves. On the jade plates were blooming hibiscus. After placing the hibiscus on the table in front of everyone, everyone discovered that these hibiscus were actually pastries, but The colors and shapes are so lifelike that it’s hard to eat.

The eldest princess smiled and said, "This year's hibiscus cake uses some lotus root powder ground last year. Can you please taste it and see if it can still be eaten?"

Liuli was actually very curious in her heart. After seeing the people around her sighing in admiration for a while, she started to break off one or two petals, lowered her head and covered her mouth to taste it. She also broke off half of the petals and made a show. I sighed secretly: Fortunately, I ate well before going out...

The maids in green shuttled back and forth, and all kinds of exquisite dishes and snacks were served in front of everyone in an endless stream. Liuli only recognized the sesame-wrapped deep-fried dough ball called "Ju Sheng Nu", and the slow-burning honey. The "Sweet Snow" and camel's hoof soup made from Tai Ling noodles, but there were a few other items that she couldn't name, and she heard the eighth lady beside her asking Cen Niang in a low voice, "What's the name of this dish?" Cen Niang replied with a smile, "The dishes at the Furong Banquet are so unique that I don't even recognize them."

Immediately, the drinks were also served. The eldest princess raised her glass and dipped it into the armor bullet wine to greet the guests. Everyone received the wine, and then they received the wine one by one according to their seats and passed the wine. After one round, the atmosphere in the hall gradually became relaxed, chatting and laughing. The sound gradually rose. But the eldest princess suddenly said "Huh", glanced at Liuli, and turned around to ask Ms. Cui, "Didn't you say you asked the aunt to sit next to me? Why did you arrange her to be in the last position?"

Mrs. Cui smiled quickly and said, "My aunt is too humble. No matter what I say, I don't want to sit here."

The eldest princess looked at Liuli and said with a smile, "Auntie, why don't you sit down here? You sit so far away from me, but are you afraid that I, an old woman, will nag you?"

Liuli sighed in her heart and could only kneel down and reply, "I would like to ask the eldest princess to be able to listen to the princess' teachings. Liuli naturally wants it. She just knows that she is virtuous and incompetent, but she is not worthy of sitting next to the eldest princess, let alone He is not worthy of sitting on top of three sisters. How can he work for three sisters now because of Liuli?"

The eldest princess smiled faintly and said, "Then I'll set up a seat for you! Since I came last time to keep my promise, I just asked Atui to go to your place on my behalf and send things to you a few times, but... I haven’t seen you again, so I have something to ask you.”

The hall has gradually become quiet, and many people have an expression of watching a good show in their eyes - the eldest princess really does not like to see this Hu girl!

Liuli's heart sank slightly. This was tantamount to saying that she didn't know etiquette and had accepted gifts from the elders several times without thanking him. On such occasions, she could ridicule Cui Yuniang, but she could never refute the eldest princess. It would be even more inappropriate to give her another seat. According to etiquette, only those with the highest status or those with family members having a funeral could sit alone at the banquet. But if she were to sit in the first place now, the other three would have to move...

Seeing that the maid had already accepted the order, Liuli hurriedly left the table and stood up solemnly and said, "The eldest princess has taught you the lesson. The eldest princess first asked Madam Cui to send maids several times, and then she sent a post about the Furong Banquet early on the 12th. Come here, Liuli should have come to thank you for such kindness. She just thought that the Lotus Banquet was right in front of her. The eldest princess might be busier than usual, but she didn't dare to come and disturb her. It was indeed Liuli being too rude. Liuli would like to express her gratitude here. The princess apologizes." Then she bowed her head.

Linhai's eldest princess's eyes were slightly cold. This Kudisi was really generous. Although she spoke humbly, she unambiguously pointed out how many times she had sent her maid off, and she did it early on the 12th. The post is tantamount to telling everyone the mystery behind it! He could only smile and say, "That's all. It's hard for you to remember it so clearly. If I really performed such a grand ceremony, it would seem that I was asking for punishment. It was just a casual saying, just come and sit down quickly."

The maid who went to get the mat had already come out from behind the screen, and quickly spread a single mat next to the eldest princess's table. The eldest princess raised her head and was about to ask Liuli to come over - I don't think she dared to refuse. from! But I heard a slightly hoarse voice coming from the door of the hall, "Can my sister-in-law know how to pinch me? I just arrived at the door, but my sister-in-law has already prepared a table for me!"

Not to mention the eldest princess, everyone in the hall was shocked. They turned around and saw a woman wearing a white robe and long skirt, with half-white hair, but her face could not be said to be old or young. I don’t know when. Already appeared at the door. Her face was a little haggard, but her expression was quite leisurely when she spoke. The eldest princess's face changed slightly and she stood up, "Why is Yun Niang here?" Then she looked sharply at the maids at the door, "I didn't tell you earlier!"

Liuli was also in a daze, but she heard Ayan behind her step forward and whisper three words, "Princess Jing." Then she let out a long breath.

Liuli immediately understood the identity of the visitor: the former Princess Jing was none other than Pei Yunniang, the only biological sister of Lawyer Pei, the Duke of Hedong! More than two years ago, King Jing was killed by Changsun Wuji, and she was banished to Yeting. Her two sons died silently on the road to exile together with several other concubines of King Jing. Later, Lawyer Pei asked for help. When she arrived in front of Emperor Gaozong, she finally got a pardon and allowed her to return to the Pei Mansion. I heard that she was also the most beautiful and fierce woman in the clan, but she didn't expect to be like this now... Pei Yunniang laughed and said, "Sister-in-law." Don't blame these maids, I didn't allow them to report. Since my sister-in-law wants to punish them, why not punish them all to come and clean the yard for me. Anyway, my place is very deserted, and there are more people who are busy, so I just listen. I came here because there was a lot of excitement here today, but I didn’t expect my sister-in-law to have prepared a table for me.”

The eldest princess Linhai took a breath and felt very angry. Didn't Pei Yunniang usually hide in her courtyard of Hedong Palace and ignore everything? Why did you suddenly appear in your own courtyard today? Is this the same tone? Did someone say something to her? She was originally like a fiery person, but now her mind is even more obsessive and paranoid. The servants were so afraid of her that they probably drank her... Although I wasn't afraid of her, I couldn't talk to her in front of so many people. Fall out. He smiled hurriedly and said, "Mother Yun, come and sit down quickly. I didn't know you were coming, but this seat is reserved for Pei Shou's bride." He turned around and ordered the maid, "Bring another seat over here!"

Pei Yunniang walked slowly inside and said with a smile, "That's all, it's better not to take it. Sister-in-law, are you confused? Can this gift of a special table be used indiscriminately? It's okay for an unlucky person like me to sit alone at one table. She will take care of her. A bride is also sitting at a single table. People who know about it know that you are giving Pei Shouyue face, and you don't even care about whether his status as a bride is sufficient. People who don't know about it think that you want Pei Shouyue to die early! "

Even though the eldest princess was a deep-tempered person, her face suddenly became ugly when she heard these words. She sat Liuli next to her, and she wanted to "treat" her carefully with some good wine and good words. After all, she was a princess, and no one dared to pick on her etiquette, but what Kudi said just now When Pei Yunniang said this again, she almost slapped her in the face. However, given Yunniang's seniority and temperament, she could not easily suppress it! At the moment, I could only grit my teeth and put on a smile, "Yunniang, what are you talking nonsense about? It turns out that I just wanted to say a few more words to auntie, so I didn't think carefully."

Pei Yunniang said with a smile, "My sister-in-law also sometimes thinks poorly. This is the first time I heard about it. It's really fresh and interesting!" As she said this, she didn't look at the eldest princess's face that darkened, and she leisurely said Xian walked to the single seat next to her and sat down.

The eldest princess’s nails barely dug into her flesh. She immediately turned around and ordered her maids to serve Yun Niang wine, water, vegetables and fruits. After pausing for a moment, she turned to Liuli and smiled, “It’s because you are too honest. I told you to sit closer, but why did you sit so far away? I was confused and laughed at by Yun Niang."

Liuli was already in a daze watching the show: This Pei Yunniang is really her timely rain, but how could she talk to her princess sister-in-law like this? Hearing the eldest princess' smiling complaint, her heart trembled, and she hurriedly complained again.

Cui Cenniang, who was sitting in the first place, also stood up, "It turns out that this is Cenzhou's fault, but I didn't know that the auntie's seat was sitting inside." Then she turned to Liuli and smiled, "Logically speaking, you are the This is where our sisters-in-law should sit."

When Pei Baniang and the other daughter of the Pei family saw this situation, they could only stand up no matter how reluctant they were.

Liuli knew that there was no way to evade the matter, so she could only apologize with a wry smile and thank her again. She was about to move to the table when she heard Zhang Sunxiang snorted across from him and waved his hand as if to chase away a mosquito. He frowned and said, "Okay. It’s a banquet, but it causes trouble everywhere, bad mood, what a thing!”

Liuli pretended not to hear, but she saw Pei Yunniang, who was sitting peacefully on the single seat, suddenly raised her head, pointed at Changsun Xiang and said sternly, "What did you say? You are pointing at Sang and scolding Huai, do you think I can't hear it? This is actually me. I can come and leave whenever I want to my sister-in-law’s place, so who do you think you are?”

Changsun Xiang was stunned. Of course she was talking about Kudi, but Pei Yunniang said this as if she was the one she just scolded! How can this be defended? She had never had someone point at her nose and scold her like this. Her face suddenly turned red, tears rolled in her eyes, her lips trembled, but she couldn't say a word.

Liu secretly screamed in her heart that it was terrible, Zhang Sunxiang didn't know the importance of it. With such a big enemy in front of him, he still dared to lose his temper. I'm afraid this matter will be difficult to solve! He stood up hurriedly, with a smile on his face, "Madam, I misunderstood. There were indeed mosquitoes and flies that were annoying me just now. Xiang'er just yelled casually. She definitely didn't mean to offend Madam." Sun Xiang was busy and asked, "Hurry up and apologize to Madam. !”

Changsun Xiang didn't want to get up, but he saw that Pei Yunniang's expression had changed from furious to leisurely in the blink of an eye, "Oh? So it turned out that he was just scolding mosquitoes and flies, but this is my fault! I have seen more people than ever before. I have never thought that such a delicate little lady would yell and curse in the hall for a little mosquito, so she just thought she didn't like me, but she didn't expect that it was just because she didn't have a tutor!"

Changsun Xiang was so angry that he trembled all over and burst into tears. Mrs. Liu was also angry and angry, but speechless. Looking at Pei Yunniang's face that changed like a mask, she felt a little chilled and hurriedly held on tightly. Chang Sun Xiang held his hand and whispered, "Don't argue with her, she is just a crazy and rebellious person."

Such a change happened so suddenly that the eldest princess of Linhai was already a little stunned. Only then did she come back to her senses. She quickly turned to Pei Yunniang and said with a smile, "Yunniang, it is inevitable for a child to speak without restraint. Please forgive her." stop."

Pei Yunniang said calmly, "Since I have made it clear, I will not argue with such a little lady. She pretends to be deaf and refuses to apologize to me. Didn't I say nothing to her? She has no tutor and is young. It is inevitable to be self-righteous and ignorant of etiquette when you are in the chief position. If you argue with such a person, won't you lose the face of our Pei family in vain? "

Changsun Xiang couldn't bear it any longer, pushed the case to his feet, turned around and ran out, hiding his face. Liu quickly stood up and bowed hastily to the eldest princess, "I'm sorry, eldest princess, Xiang'er is a little uncomfortable. I'll take my leave first, I'll go see her, and then I'll accuse the princess later!" He said and hurriedly chased her out.

But Pei Yunniang said "Huh", shook her head and sighed, "Will it cost them their lives to accompany a crime party? Both of them ran so fast. I don't know who this lady is from, she is so rude. some!"

The eldest princess's hands were shaking slightly with anger - it was a small matter if Changsun Xiang ran away, but if she was humiliated so openly, what would the captain think when she went back and told him? Could it be that all his plans were completely messed up by this now half-crazy woman?

There was already silence in the lobby. Everyone was so shocked by this series of events that they dared not speak out. Some people secretly sympathized with Changsun Xiang, while others knew more about the inside story and were leaning toward the former Princess Jing, no matter what they thought in their hearts. , I dare not say a word at this time for fear of getting burned. Only Liuli, who had quietly sat at the head of the last table, felt as if she had been hit by a pie falling from the sky - with this great **** sitting in charge, she could just be a spectator at this banquet... Just thinking of Ayan's relieved words just now "Princess Jing," something suddenly came to my mind. Thinking of someone who was in the palace at this moment, I couldn't help but sigh deeply.

Everything that followed turned out to be calm. Everyone had another drink according to the rules. The eldest princess finally regained her energy. She glanced around the hall with a gloomy look. When her eyes fell on Liuli and Pei Yunniang, they were even colder. , lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, waved to a maid, and gave a few instructions in a low voice. When he turned back, a smile appeared on his face again, he raised his head and said loudly, "It's rare that the weather is fine today. Why don't you follow me to the garden for a walk?" Disperse?”

p.s.According to historical records, when King Li Yuanjing of Jing was re-titled and buried with a generous burial, he was already extinct.

On the fingers, it should actually be two chapters. I thought it was not good to break it in the middle, so I combined it into one chapter. So, with 8,000 daily updates, I set a record... The first update tomorrow may be late, alas.

Many thanks to my dear sandycheung, Mo Yue Lingxi, the one-eared cat and classmate Disordered Innocence. By the way, in fact, evaluation tickets are free after ordering over 10 yuan (and the voting page of Qidian is really easy to swipe. For example, my two two-star evaluations were all swiped by everyone. Nowadays, many Five three-star rating, I...) Alan continues to ask for all your support except reviews and votes.

 (End of this chapter)