Chapter 15: Is Your Highness going to drive away guests?
Jiang Jinshuang got up early on the day of the banquet.
Earlier, Chuntao came to report to her that Lu Xiao had been placed in a house on the outskirts of Beijing, and Jiang Jinshuang felt relieved.
If Lu Xiao was here today, she would still have some scruples and worry that she wouldn't be able to enjoy herself to the fullest.
The Yichun Banquet was held in the backyard.
A pavilion and tables were set up there, with a meandering stream of water to drink wine. In the center of the banquet were rockery rocks, with gurgling cold springs surging on the rocks and gurgling water.
——It is rumored that this cold spring was extradited by Princess Zhaoming in order to please Chief Pei, who spent a lot of manpower and financial resources!
Princess Zhaoming cherishes this cold spring very much!
"Your Highness, everything is ready," Chuntao walked to Jiang Jinshuang, "It's just..."
"Just what?" Jiang Jinshuang asked with a smile as she looked at the layout of the backyard with satisfaction.
"It's just... When I went out this morning, I saw many adults already dressed and carriages heading towards Xia Mansion."
Those officials and ministers usually avoided Jiang Jinshuang, but now that they had received invitations from others, they would naturally not come to her.
Jiang Jinshuang didn't take it seriously and just smiled lazily: "Don't worry, the banquet is ready, they will come."
Chuntao has always believed in His Highness, she said: "Yes."
As if thinking of something, Chuntao said doubtfully: "Your Highness, why didn't you see Young Master Yanjue this morning?"
Mr. Yan Jue has always followed His Highness and never strayed far away.
"He's gone to pick up distinguished guests."
——
Chang'an City, outside the city gate.
The south gate of Chang'an City is locked all year round.
Common people and even officials entering and exiting the city gate must use the side gate or the north gate.
The main south gate will only be opened when the emperor comes in and out. The ceremonial regulations are grand, and the following teams can line up from the south gate to the north gate.
The emperor has been ill in recent years, and large-scale activities such as autumn hunts and sacrifices to the country are all under the sole responsibility of the imperial master. The south gate has not been opened for two or three years.
Today, as usual, several guards guarding the south gate were checking passers-by and people.
From a distance, I saw a white jade carriage equipped with six horses, slowly driving towards the city gate.
The person walking in front of the carriage was dressed like a guard, with a bloody horse under his crotch, and he was tall and powerful.
Several guards looked at each other and stopped the carriage.
Except for the configuration of six horses, the visitor's ceremonial guard was not large. The carriage was hung with a cyan flag, with a striking white tiger embroidered on the flag.
Behind the carriage were dozens of men with swords at their waists.
The leader of the forbidden army just glanced at the guards and knew that each of them had killer-level martial arts.
Taking a step forward, the leader of the Forbidden Army said solemnly: "At the feet of the Emperor, the private soldiers stop."
The guard at the front of the carriage raised his head slightly, took a token from his waist and threw it to the leader.
The leader of the forbidden army just glanced at it, and the next second, he hurriedly knelt on the ground, not daring to raise his head!
"I've seen--"
The guard interrupted coldly: "Can we come in now?"
"Of course we can enter! Of course we can enter!" After the leader of the forbidden army finished speaking, he carefully raised his head and looked at the guard on the horse. "I would like to ask this gentleman, who is in the carriage..."
"Shut up." The guard interrupted coldly.
"Yes!"
The leader of the Forbidden Army did not dare to say another word, stood up in a hurry, and shouted loudly to the guard behind him who had not yet reacted: "What are you doing standing still!? Open the city gate quickly! Open the city gate wide!"
The south gate of the capital has not been opened for many years.
Today someone actually opened the main gate and swaggered into the capital with private soldiers! ?
Such news does not require a special person to report it, but it reaches the ears of everyone in the capital in just a few moments!
After the leader of the forbidden army ordered his people to open the city gate, he knelt down respectfully to welcome the carriage into the capital.
The carriage moved forward slowly.
"Stop." When the carriage arrived in front of the leader of the Forbidden Army, a clear and jade voice came from inside the carriage.
The guard walking in front immediately raised his hand: "Stop."
The carriage stopped steadily.
The leader of the forbidden army did not dare to raise his head, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.
The carriage's windows were made of brocade. It was said that only three brocades could be made a year, and even the emperor in the Forbidden City only got one of them.
It must be stored in a precious and important place and reserved for use as dragon robes during sacrifices.
But the owner of this carriage used the extremely precious brocade as window curtains!
——This can’t even be called “luxury”!
The glittering car curtain slowly lifted, revealing a slender white finger.
That hand is so well-kept, even more beautiful than a woman’s hand!
"I would like to ask Lord Forbidden Army, where is the princess palace?"
"Princess Mansion!?"
Check out the 16-9 book bar and see the correct version!
The leader of the Forbidden Army thought that he had heard wrongly.
——When a distinguished guest of this status comes to Beijing, shouldn’t the first thing he should do is go and see the emperor! ?
Why...are you mentioning the Princess Mansion?
"The 'Princess Mansion' that Young Master mentioned is the residence of Princess Zhaoming?" the leader of the Imperial Guard asked cautiously.
The man's clear and elegant voice came from the carriage: "Yes."
"Sir, please walk along Chang'an Street, pass the Moon Tower in front, walk three more streets, and turn south."
"Good work."
The leader of the Forbidden Army swallowed nervously and said cautiously: "Dare you ask me, sir... why are you going to the princess's house?"
"Didn't Lord Imperial Guard ask too much?"
Before the man in the carriage could speak, the guard walking at the front issued a warning in displeasure.
The leader of the Imperial Guard lowered his head when he heard this.
"Qianyao, it's okay," the man in the carriage smiled gently, but said to the leader of the imperial army, "I was invited to go to the princess's house for a banquet."
……
Jiang Jinshuang was a little unhappy.
Jiang Jinshuang thought about many possibilities as to who would be the first person to come to the princess mansion for the banquet.
But she never expected that it would be Pei Du.
——He was not on the list she made!
In the backyard pavilion, Pei Du wore a dark green robe. The cloud patterns on the robe were sewn stitch by stitch with gold thread, which was exquisite and expensive.
The man has exquisite facial features and long hair like ink. In the bright spring scenery, even just standing there, he is like a bright pearl, attracting the care of the breeze.
Behind him, Jing Mo held a wooden box and followed Pei Du respectfully without saying a word.
Jiang Jinshuang frowned slightly, looked at the handsome and pure man in front of her, and smiled: "Master Chief Assistant, are you in the wrong place?"
The man's eyes were wide and serious. He stood under the pavilion, bowed to Jiang Jinshuang, and said in a calm tone: "Nothing."
Jiang Jinshuang almost laughed angrily: "Master Pei, why don't I remember that my invitation was sent to your house?"
Upon hearing this, Pei Du handed a crimson invitation to Jiang Jinshuang.
Jiang Jinshuang frowned and opened the invitation.
When she saw the content on the invitation, she really laughed out loud this time.
She spread out the invitation and showed it to Pei Du: "Isn't the chief minister illiterate? Isn't the signature on this invitation Miss Xia Yurong Xia?"
When the man heard this, his deep eyes were calm.
"That's probably because Wei Chen got it wrong."
He turned around slowly and handed over the box in Jingmo's hand: "Wei Chen has brought gifts to the door. Does Your Highness want to catch up with the guests?"
(End of chapter)