After Prince Zhong returned to Beijing, the first few days were dedicated to the emperor, and the next few days were dedicated to the royal family. Because he has no concubines and concubines so far, the only noble female family member in the palace is his own mother, Concubine Rou, and Concubine Rou, who was born as a palace maid, is still an orphan with no relatives and no family, so he finally doesn't need to waste any more money. Time to socialize with in-laws.
As for the other ministers and nobles, they are obviously not qualified enough for Prince Zhong to take the initiative to see him, and Prince Zhong’s Mansion, which has been closed because of the filial piety of the late emperor, is not something they can enter if they want to, so they entered the vacation stage after finishing their errands. His Royal Highness, Prince Zhong, began a free life of living in seclusion and occasionally inviting friends to dance and write. He really didn't talk about state affairs, but just talked about leisure.
And now the good friends with Prince Zhong are all his old friends when he was the prince, such as Gong Zhuoxiang, Nangong Xin, Lu Zijian, etc...
Qiao Yingxuan's study in the east mansion of Qiao's house, in front of the desk that is usually used as a decoration, Qiao Yingxuan in a plain indigo robe was staring at the invitation card in a daze. , Breathing seems a little quickened.
Since Si Shao is Prince Zhong's name, and tomorrow is his twenty-sixth birthday, since he is still in Xiaozhong, Prince Zhong has no intention of inviting wine to celebrate. The eunuch's friend had just had a meal, and this invitation was handed over to Qiao Yingxuan by the eunuch supervisor of Prince Zhong's Mansion. Because of Lu's friendship, he wanted to invite Qiao Zhuangyuan, his husband and wife, and Wu Tanhua to come to the mansion to get acquainted. Since none of the people invited were outsiders, Qiao Yingxuan didn't need to be nervous... But how could Qiao Yingxuan not Are you nervous
Ever since he found out that the person he met in the small building by the river was Prince Zhong, Qiao Yingxuan hadn't been to the riverside for a while, because he didn't know what to say when he met him, and he couldn't be as drunk as he was that night. Want to build a relationship with the prince and make friends? And if you can't meet it, it will be even more pitiful.
"My elder brother is the number one scholar, and my good younger brother is well-known, and now he is brother Xiang's own younger brother. It is reasonable for you to invite them, but you can bring along a pure martial artist like me... What is it?"
Putting the invitation on the table, Qiao Yingxuan continued to stare at the name on it with some hesitation. It wasn't that he underestimated himself. Today's loyal prince is no longer the fourth prince who was neglected back then. He is an ordinary third-class guard. Normally speaking, how could it be possible to get into the eyes of the prince? If it is for the sake of senior brother Lu, why didn't other senior brothers be invited.
"He is a prince, what can he do to me? This is not a bad thing."
At first, Qiao Yingxuan just thought that the man was close and wanted to get to know him better, but later he became convinced that he was the loyal Prince Si Shao who dared not climb high, so he broke his mind.
After making up his mind to go to the appointment, Qiao Yingxuan turned to worry about another matter. He took out the key to unlock the cabinet, took out a box, put it on the table and opened it. Inside was the See the white cloak that Si Shao put on Qiao Yingxuan.
"Do you want to pay it back?"
Habitually stroking the fine satin, Qiao Yingxuan thought to himself that if he returned it, maybe the prince had forgotten that he had such a cloak, and it seemed that he was seeking friendship. It's not an intimate relationship, but there is no reason to give it away.
"It's better not to pay it back... Let's see and talk."
After hesitating for a long time, Qiao Yingxuan still decided to talk about it after the banquet tomorrow. Anyway, he was walking upright and sitting upright, and he didn't have any intention of clinging to curry favor!
"Master, madam, please go over."
Qiao Yingxuan was putting away the box and locking it, when suddenly there was a boy's voice from outside the door, he answered and locked the box, turned around and left the study to go back to the dormitory.
"Sir, this gift list was prepared after discussing with grandma, can you see if there is anything else to add? There are also clothes for tomorrow."
Yang Yingmo, who was sitting by the couch and writing the gift list, saw Qiao Yingxuan coming in, smiled and stood up to meet him a few steps. After Qiao Yingxuan sat down in the place she had just sat down, she handed over the gift list on the couch table, and then Pointing to the dark blue robe next to him to show.
The robe is simple in style but of high quality. It was originally purchased after Qiao Yingxuan won the martial arts and at the funeral of the empire. Qiao Yingxuan wore it three or four times, so the clothes would not look brand new and eye-catching. Wearing it at this time to go to the Prince's Mansion is a good idea. It's decent without being too overt.
"fine… "
Qiao Yingxuan looked at Yang Yingmo who was beaming with joy, and then looked at the gift list in his hand and the clothes on the couch. He felt a little strangely uncomfortable, so he just responded lightly and said nothing else.
"According to my concubine, the prince's status is noble. Although this ceremony is in line with the rules, it is a little thin. Do you want to add three points?"
Yang Yingmo came from a noble family, so she is very proficient in the knowledge of visiting relatives and giving gifts. She used to prepare many gifts for the royal family and dignitaries when she was at home, but since she got married, it was the first time to give gifts to the prince's mansion in the name of her husband. It is more important than before.
Moreover, with Prince Zhong's current family and dignity, if his family's husband and wife can make friends with him, it will be of great benefit to him in the future.
"... Send someone to ask about the West Mansion, the two places should be comparable."
The more active Yang Yingmo was, the more bored Qiao Yingxuan felt. Remembering that his eldest brother was also invited by Prince Zhong, he reminded Yang Yingmo.
In the past, because Qiao Yingxuan was from the same family and was an official, and Qiao Yingze was only a son, so the West Mansion gave gifts at a slightly lower rate than the East Mansion, but now that Qiao Yingze has won the first prize, his official career status is even stronger After Qiao Yingxuan, it would be too light to give gifts according to the old rules, so Qiao Yingxuan thought it would be better to make the two sides equal, so that they can appear close, and there is no problem of who surpasses whom.
"Well, I know..."
Hearing Qiao Yingxuan mention this, Yang Yingmo pursed her lips, but there was nothing unusual about the smile on her face.
Faced with the current scenery of Xifu, Yang Yingmo was envious and somewhat disappointed, but she was not the kind of short-sighted and narrow-minded woman who couldn't write two Joes in one stroke.
"Well, mother hasn't had a good appetite for the past two days. I'll go there for dinner. You can go to grandma's with your younger brother and children."
After talking about this matter, Qiao Yingxuan got up and wanted to go to his mother's yard to stay for a while. Since his brother won the number one prize, his mother's mood has been unstable. Qiao Yingxuan knew that although she was still stubborn, she actually regretted it in her heart. , but some things don't just mean that if you go back on your word, you can pretend it never happened. Qiao Yingxuan can't tell her elder brother and good brother for her, so he can only coax her more.
"Well, my husband, my concubine's confinement is coming."
Mentioning her mother-in-law Yang Yingmo who went crazy from time to time gave her a headache, but she couldn't complain at all in front of her filial husband, but fortunately Qiao Yingxuan knew how to be considerate of her and would not let her go to her mother-in-law if nothing happened.
"That night, you should rest earlier, I will go directly to the study when I come back from my mother's."
Hearing Yang Yingmo's words, Qiao Yingxuan felt a faint sense of relief in his heart. He is really in a mess today, and he can feel more comfortable sleeping alone in the study.
Qiao Yingxuan now spends ten days a month staying in the palace on duty, and the rest of the day has to be seven or eight days, either staying at the house of friends and colleagues who eat and drink together, or going out of the city to ride horses and hunt directly. In Zhuangzi, apart from the few days when Yang Yingmo was not feeling well, he slept in the study room, and the husband and wife could only sleep on the same bed for five or six days a month...
For this situation, Yang Yingmo has the reserved duty of a noble girl, and she never asks for it, and Qiao Yingxuan feels more and more that she is just doing "routine work", the pleasure in the body is still there, but the heart is getting tired Understand.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX is not a day for rest and bathing on Prince Zhong's birthday, so the time is arranged after everyone is off duty. Although Qiao Yingxuan has rest these two days, it is not good for him to go alone too early, so he is at his home After coaxing the child for a long time, he went to his elder brother's house to coax the child for a long time. Finally, when it was almost time, he followed Qiao Yingze and Gong Zhuoliang to the Prince's Mansion to attend the appointment.
When Qiao Yingxuan and the others arrived, Gong Zhuoxiang and Lu Zijian had already arrived, and there were only a dozen or so invited guests, all of whom were young people, and most of them Qiao Yingxuan knew a little bit through Lu Zijian and his relationship. Eating, drinking and talking at a table, they are quite comfortable to get along with.
Taking advantage of the movement of pouring wine, Qiao Yingxuan secretly glanced at the person in the chair, Qiao Yingxuan thought to himself that he had already drunk a lot today, why these people still poured him so hard, he was really not afraid of annoying the prince.
"Ying Xuan, what are you thinking, go to toast, you are the only one missing."
Lu Zijian saw that everyone was paying respects to Qiao Yingxuan and he didn't move, he thought why this person is so reserved, he gets along well with Prince Zhong and knows that he is not on airs and is very easy to get along with.
"oh."
Lu Zijian's voice was not low, Qiao Yingxuan saw that the man's gaze was on him, so naturally he couldn't be bothered anymore, so he had to answer, got up and walked to the side of the main seat, and said a few words under the gaze of the man with a smile on his face Dry words of blessing. Prince Zhong still smiled gently when he heard this, and he was about to drink up the wine glass.
"Well, the next official has done it, you can do whatever you want, my lord... I feel uncomfortable when I'm drunk."
Subconsciously reaching out to stop Si Shao, Qiao Yingxuan felt his face heat up under the eyes of the other party's slightly drunken smile, and quickly withdrew his hand while drinking.
"I'm a little drunk, but the wine you toasted..."
Seeing Qiao Yingxuan's embarrassment, Si Shao's eyes became even more smiling, and he toasted his glass in the middle of the sentence, but then he had no intention of speaking again.
Qiao Yingxuan's already hanging heart trembled again, but the other party stopped talking and he didn't feel comfortable asking, so he took the opportunity of others talking to Si Shao and walked back to his seat, but after sitting for a while, he felt a little stuffy and uncomfortable. Feeling comfortable, he called the waiting maid over, and used a convenient excuse to slip out to get some air.
"...You guys just have fun on your own, and I will stay with you for a while."
From the corner of the eye, I caught Qiao Yingxuan leaving the seat. Si Shao moved his finger holding the wine glass slightly, and the wine glass fell on the hem of his clothes, leaving a wet stain. Si Shao greeted everyone, then got up and went back to the room to change clothes went.
Just as Qiao Yingxuan was led out of the hall by the maid, he saw the young eunuch who had sent him an invitation come over to salute him, and then sent the maid back, and he led Qiao Yingxuan out by himself. The eunuch wandered around to the door of a side room, and then Qiao Yingxuan went in to tidy up, but when Qiao Yingxuan came out again, he found that there was another person waiting under the corridor outside the house.
"...king, lord."
It is said that people look beautiful under the light, but now the person standing there under the light yellow lantern in a plain white robe made Qiao Yingxuan think that he saw the fairy in the painting, and when the person couldn't help laughing, Qiao Yingxuan It was only then that I realized that my behavior of staring directly at him was too rude, and I couldn't help but look away a little embarrassingly.
"He looks very smart, why does he always like to mess up?"
Si Shao took a few steps towards Qiao Yingxuan, leaned forward slightly to look at his face, and found that there were thin lines between the eyebrows on that handsome and charming face, which could be seen from frequent frowning.
"I'm sorry for your disrespect."
Seeing the other party getting closer and closer to him, Qiao Yingxuan either retreated or stiffened his back slightly, and his heartbeat seemed to be suddenly loud enough that he could hear it clearly.
"How old are you, how can there be so many worrying things, why don't you learn from your brother, he is not at all like a twenty-four, people will believe that he is not the best."
Tapping Qiao Yingxuan's eyebrows with his finger, Si Shao couldn't help comparing the man in front of him with the number one scholar at the table. In terms of appearance and temperament, Qiao Yingze recruited much more people than Qiao Yingxuan. I believe that if it wasn't for him That male wife's "natal family" is not easy to mess with, and there will never be fewer people who want to get Qiao Yingze's idea, but as far as Si Shao is concerned, he just thinks that Qiao Yingxuan looks more... cuter.
"Xiaguan... the prince also knows."
As if being turned into a stone man by Si Shao's finger, Qiao Yingxuan stood upright, looked down at the ground, and responded to Si Shao with a somewhat vague utterance.
What nonsense he was talking about that night Qiao Yingxuan was already confused, but at this moment he felt that Si Shao remembered everything, but his current behavior was just teasing himself, or...
"Your family gave me a gift on my birthday, but what about your own share? And what you left me before, you still owe me a gift in return."
Seeing Qiao Yingxuan's nervousness, Si Shao slightly stood beside him, avoiding the pressure from the front.
"I, Xiaguan, am not prepared..."
Hearing that the other party called me, Qiao Yingxuan's originally depressed mood suddenly improved, but after Si Shao said so, he inexplicably owed him two gifts, Qiao Yingxuan couldn't help touching himself in embarrassment, There is nothing that can be handed out to give away.
"Privately, you still stick to what those names are. Don't you have any jade on you?"
As Si Shao said, his eyes fell on Qiao Yingxuan's neck collar. That night by the river, when Qiao Yingxuan was drunk and opened his collar to breathe, he saw the red rope.
Both nobles and ordinary people like to wear jade next to their children when they are young, hoping that the jade can protect them from evil spirits and protect them. Si Shao himself has quite a few, and some of them are gifts from the emperor. The palace is not favored, but there is never a shortage of things that should be available to him.
"Oh! This... if the prince does not give up."
Qiao Yingxuan is now the prince, one password and one action. Hearing this, he hurriedly took out the unicorn jade pendant that he was wearing next to his clothes. And just as he took it off his neck, Si Shao had already taken it over there.
"This is your birthday gift to me, and I can't take advantage of you for nothing. This is what I have worn since I was a child. It is a return gift for you. As for the return gift you still owe me, remember it first, and I will talk about it later. "
As Si Shao said, he put Qiao Yingxuan's jade around his neck. After stuffing the jade pendant into his clothes, he took out another piece of jade from his sleeve, and put it on for Qiao Yingxuan who had been stupefied again. With a satisfied face, Si Shao turned around and left first.
Although the jade that Si Shao gave to Qiao Yingxuan this time was not the best he had ever worn, it was a gift from his mother and concubine, and the jade that Si Shao usually wore most often.
"Why does it seem..."
Touching the strange pattern on the jade pendant, Qiao Yingxuan suddenly remembered that exchanging close-fitting jade between men meant to 'make friends', or the meaning of 'making friends' in a very serious way, could it be that the prince... Putting aside those 'offensive' thoughts, Qiao Yingxuan floated back to the hall with his head full of question marks tied with hemp rope, but he didn't notice that the upward curve of the corner of his mouth became more and more obvious.
On the other side of the hall, Si Shao, who also just came back not long ago, continued to let them drink with a smile, but his eyes would always inadvertently linger on Qiao Yingxuan... No hurry, we have plenty of time.
Another thing worth mentioning, except for the opening round of wine and Qiao Yingxuan's toast, what the little Prince Si Shao drank was actually water mixed with wine, it was all water...