Having seen many artificial beauties in modern times, Gong Zhuoliang's vision has been raised to a very high level, but the handsome man full of classic flavor in front of him really surprised him once.
But astonishing is amazing, Gong Zhuoliang didn't have any other thoughts, so when the other party looked towards him, Gong Zhuoliang was able to look back very naturally.
Because he didn't know the other party's identity, Gong Zhuoliang didn't rush to greet him, but the man seemed a little surprised by Gong Zhuoliang's attitude. After hesitating for a while, he clasped his right hand on his left hand and placed it on the lower side of his left chest, facing Gong Zhuoliang. Zhuo Liang bowed slightly.
"..."
Although there are some guesses about that person's identity, Gong Zhuoliang still has the feeling of being struck by lightning after seeing him performing a male version of the blessing ceremony. Is this person really Master Qiao's male favourite?
Different from the blessing ceremony in which a woman puts her hands on the left side of her body and then bends her legs slightly, if a man in this era becomes a wife and concubine to pamper someone, he will perform this kind of etiquette between bowing and blessing ceremony. Bow down instead of kneeling.
Master Qiao has Ming Qi's concubine, Gong Zhuoliang, who knows, but there is no man among them, and he has never seen any child molester around him. Looking at such a great beauty... But why have I never heard of the existence of this person
"If the young lady doesn't dislike it, how about drinking a cup of tea with the villain?"
The diameter of the small lake is only a dozen meters, and the small building is separated from Gong Zhuoliang's side by a small Z-shaped bridge, so the handsome man only amplifies the volume a little, and Gong Zhuoliang can hear it clear.
Because in this era, male concubines and male pets are also considered as house dwellers. Although they generally do not live in the same courtyard as female relatives, they do not need to strictly guard against male and female when they get along with each other on weekdays. Gong Zhuoliang saw someone coming out of the maid's room on the other side of the bank, so he generously accepted the handsome man's invitation, crossed the bridge and walked in through the decorative birdcage fence.
"There is such a Pian Pianjia young master in the mansion, I have never seen it before, dare to ask what is the young master's name?"
Guessing that the other party probably guessed his identity based on his clothes, Gong Zhuoliang started the topic with a smile, and sat on the upper chair under the gesture of the other party's respectful invitation, and then motioned for the handsome man to sit down too, and the one who heard the movement The little girl who came out to serve also walked in quickly, poured tea for the two of them, and quietly stood behind the beautiful man with her head down.
"Young Madam is too well-respected, and the villain cherishes it, the peace of peace, the cherishment of it."
Pingxi froze for a moment when she first heard Gong Zhuoliang's voice, but quickly covered up her abnormality by sitting down.
Most of the people Pingxi met were either confused by his skin, or hated and despised his appearance and identity. Today it is rare to meet someone who can look at him with such a plain and natural look. She took the initiative to invite her, but when she got closer and looked at the young lady, Ping Xi vaguely felt that the other party seemed a little unusual.
"I'm not afraid of pity's jokes. I was wandering in this garden alone today. I didn't want to get lost, so I came here. The maids couldn't find me for a long time. I'm afraid it's going to be out of control, so I won't bother you at this time. It's just that if you still want to come to Pingxi to drink tea in the future, will you be welcome or not?"
Because he didn't know the other party's situation, he couldn't talk casually. Gong Zhuoliang just said a few words of peace and politeness, and then got up to leave, but the more he looked at the person in front of him, the more he didn't look like a male favorite who served others with color. Although his appearance is bewitching, he doesn't have the seductive aura that is used to romantic affairs, on the contrary, he looks like a person with few desires, so Gong Zhuoliang's impression of him is getting better and better, and he thinks it's rare to see him in the sea of flowers Holding a piece of grass, I have found the same kind.
"I am so honored. In half a month, the fresh fruit wine brewed by myself will be opened. If the young lady is interested, you can come and taste it with the young master."
According to Pingxi's original thinking, he didn't want to have anything to do with the people in the house, but this young lady aroused his curiosity, so Pingxi uncharacteristically expressed his willingness to associate, even behind him. The little girls all showed a look of surprise.
"Then it's settled. At that time, we will come here to disturb Pingxi."
Gong Zhuoliang had intended to know each other, but now that Pingxi took the initiative to invite her, she immediately agreed. As for the other party's invitation together with Qiao Yingze, Gong Zhuoliang only thought that he was trying to avoid suspicion, and didn't think too much about it.
"The villain should be waiting for you, Xuehua, send the young lady off."
Pingxi stopped when she reached the edge of the cage, watching Gong Zhuoliang's figure disappear into the arch, with a thoughtful look on her face.
There was nothing wrong with that young lady's voice at first glance, but Ping Xi, who had played the role of Xiaosheng for ten years before, was on the same stage with a Huadan who was the best at singing female voices for ten years, and she was used to his male voice. She looks like she is serving others with female make-up, so when she hears Gong Zhuoliang's voice, she feels a little unnatural. Then, observing Gong Zhuoliang's body and behavior, ordinary people may think it is dignified and elegant, but Pingxi feels that it is more than heroic and not charming enough. It loses the natural softness of a woman...
Pingxi had doubts in her heart, and became more interested in this young lady. As for inviting the eldest young master to come with her, she also wanted to clear up her doubts—whether she was wrong, or the young master Juren just made a mistake. , actually recognized a man and wife
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Gong Zhuoliang followed the maid named Xuehua and only turned a few turns, and then saw the pavilion where she rested at first, and also saw Yuhua, Xuehua, who was anxiously turning around there and looking around. Following his gaze also seeing Yu Hua, he bid Gong Zhuo Liang his farewell and left.
"Young Madam, are you alright? It's all the servant's fault..."
As soon as Yu Hua saw Gong Zhuoliang, she trotted over, feeling nervous and annoyed. Normally, the young master and the young lady were served by sister Han Shu and the others, and there were not many opportunities for her to serve alone. It was rare for the young lady today Bringing myself by my side, but I made such a big mistake, I'm really stupid.
God knows that Gong Zhuoliang was nowhere to be found after Yuhua came back to fetch the cakes, so he was so anxious, he didn't dare to go back to ask his sisters for help, and he didn't dare to ask people casually, for fear that if the young lady just left for a while, he would make a big fuss and lose She hurt the young lady's face, and the young lady will dislike herself again in the future.
"I was just walking around, did you get someone looking for me?"
Gong Zhuoliang didn't mention the meeting with Pingxi, but he was worried that the little girl Yu Hua was not very stable, and it would be bad if she asked people to stir up any topics, but seeing that the garden is still quiet now, she didn't think so. tell someone.
"No, the maidservant didn't talk nonsense, and just thought that if I don't see the young lady for a while, I'll go back and ask Sister Wenshu to make the decision."
Yu Hua looked at Gong Zhuoliang's face and saw that he didn't look unhappy, knowing that she had done nothing wrong this time, she finally felt relieved.
"Well, well done."
Gong Zhuoliang nodded when he heard the words, Xindao Wenshu really taught people very well, even a straightforward and quick-tempered person like Yuhua could make her manage things properly.
At that moment, Gong Zhuoliang didn't say anything more, and went back to the yard with Yuhua, and saw that Qiao Yingze, who had been out mysteriously for a long time, had also returned, and was changing the plain cloth he wore when he left. Cloth robe.
"Sir, it's still very hot, what should you rush out of by yourself, what should you do if you have heatstroke?"
The weather at the end of August is still very sweltering. Although it is still in the morning, Gong Zhuoliang is sweating from the heat walking around in the yard, not to mention that Qiao Yingze has been running outside all morning. Even sitting in a sedan chair can't stop the heat. .
"It's almost done. I'll go out again tomorrow morning. In a few days, I can go to my grandmother to separate from the premise."
Qiao Yingze took off his sweat-soaked shirt, took a few sips of warm water from Gong Zhuoliang, and showed a relaxed smile on his fair and handsome face.
"I'm not in a hurry at this moment. Do you want to take a bath first, so that you can sleep in the afternoon and refresh yourself."
Gong Zhuoliang took out a set of clean clothes and put them beside the bed. Seeing that Qiao Yingze shook his head to indicate that he didn't need to take a bath, he threw a cloth towel with warm water and gave him a simple wipe, changed his clothes, and went to the outer couch together with Qiao Yingze to talk Yes, it's cooler there.
"Have you seen Pingxi?"
Hearing Gong Zhuoliang mention the name Pingxi, Qiao Yingze, who was squinting his eyes and being lazy, perked up, and turned his face to look at Gong Zhuoliang's expression.
"Well, in a secluded courtyard in the garden, who is he? Why does he live in a small building like a birdcage in the middle of the lake?"
Gong Zhuoliang leaned against Qiao Yingze and asked curiously. He felt that Pingxi was a person with a story. He didn't know what kind of identity he was, and how he became Master Qiao's male favorite. What a waste of money.
"He was originally an actor in the Prince's Mansion of Huaining County, and he was the best at pretending to be a young boy. He was called 'Shuang Xi' together with An Xi, who played a female role. What is most sought after by people is this pair of pity, they were also loved and protected by King Huaining as if they were his heart."
Seeing that Gong Zhuoliang's expression was purely curious and not obsessed like others, Qiao Yingze felt relieved and told Ping Xi's life experience slowly.
It’s just that he’s heard a lot about it, and he’s never seen it a few times, so he doesn’t know it very well.
"Since he was once favored by the Prince of Huaining, why did he come to Qiao's Mansion?"
When Gong Zhuoliang heard that the person was born as an actor, and was still very famous, he couldn't help being even more curious. Although Qiao's mansion didn't have an opera troupe, they would invite good troupes to sing a few performances during festivals and birthdays. Well, the actors Gong Zhuoliang has seen are all very glamorous, even those who sing male roles like Xiaosheng, and their behaviors are mostly feminine.
But the Ping Xi I saw today, apart from a bit of a disaster in appearance, gave people the impression that she was more like a layman with few desires.
"Father and the King of Huaining have been friends for more than ten years. He happened to work there before. When the grandmother of the King of Huaining passed away, he had to observe filial piety. For some reason, someone joined him in front of the emperor, saying that the filial piety period was still in the mansion. There was something about the theater troupe, King Huaining had no choice but to disband it, and gave away all the actors, among them Pingxi was given to his father, but his father had always disliked male sex, and he saw that the King of Huaining faintly wanted to recall him. Meaning, the mansion has always treated him as a guest, he is also a person who knows how to measure, and he rarely leaves his small courtyard, and the small building like a birdcage is also copied from Pingxi's residence in the Huaining County Prince's Mansion .”
Qiao Yingze narrated in a slow tone and softly, this incident was considered a commotion in the mansion at the beginning, even Qiao Yingze, who didn't care about other people's business, was almost clearly known by Han Shu and Qiao Ming's gossip.
Qiao Yingze still remembered that his mother wanted to use him to seduce his father and make him alienate the concubines and maidservants in the backyard. After all, men who can't bear children are much less of a threat than women who are bent on fighting for favor, and father's concubines and maidservants They were hostile and guarded against him for a long time. After all, the appearance of Mr. Ping Xi is really extraordinary, but after seeing that he has been peacefully out of the hospital, and his father has no contact with him, the backyard is just like this. Gradually calm down.
It's just the gossip of these elders, Qiao Yingze doesn't want to talk about it casually as a son.
"But Eunuch has been in Bocheng for four years, is there any news from King Huaining?"
According to Gong Zhuoliang's knowledge, Mr. Qiao was the magistrate in Bocheng who was re-elected once. This year is already his fourth year in Bocheng, so didn't Pingxi also stay in Qiao's residence for four years? As an actor, he is too old. If he is abandoned by King Huaining, what will happen to him in the future
"I don't know if there is any news from King Huaining. I just remember that his mother passed away before his twenty-seven months of filial piety was over. He has to serve another twenty-seven months. Count the days." , probably there is still one year left for filial piety."
Qiao Yingze also knew some things when Pingxi came here, but he didn't pay attention to it later, but the grandmother and mother of Huaining County had gifts at home when they went, so he remembered the approximate time.
"Cough... that's bad enough."
Gong Zhuoliang was a little unscrupulous and expressed a little sympathy for the county prince who had kept his filial piety for five years. At this time, Wen Shu knocked on the door to remind Gong Zhuoliang that it was time to go to the old lady's place, so the couple talked about The topic of Pingxi came to an end for the time being. Gong Zhuoliang told Qiao Yingze that after he agreed to Pingxi's half-month appointment, he went to the old lady's courtyard after finishing his makeup.
The next day, Qiao Yingze went out for another morning, and when he came back, he asked Gong Zhuoliang to report his illness to the old lady. Gong Zhuoliang saw that he looked mysterious, so he suppressed his curiosity and lied to the old lady. The danger was that Qiao Yingze fell ill due to heat stroke, so anxious that the old lady went to their yard to see her, and seeing that she was really pale and weak, she hurriedly waived Gong Zhuoliang's rules and asked him to take good care of her husband.
Accompanied by Gong Zhuoliang in the yard for a few days, Qiao Yingze, who was finally 'cured', went to the old lady's yard alone, and began to carry out the most critical part of his plan.