In the evening, the fifth prince and sixth princess all went back, and Tao Ti sent Linglong to invite Pei Yan over for dinner.
Not long after, Linglong replied, saying that Emperor Zhaokang held a small banquet in the Tai Chi Hall tonight, and asked the prince to come and accompany him, and he would return to the East Palace later.
After hearing this, Tao Ti said "Got it", then turned around and called a little eunuch to go to the dining room so that the dining room didn't have to prepare dinner. In the afternoon, she ate crispy chicken tenders and stewed red bean and taro with milk, and she was not very hungry at the moment.
But in order to prevent her stomach from being hungry again at night, she soaked some round-grained rice, planning to cook a pot of porridge later, and eat a bowl of porridge to pad her stomach.
The night life of the ancients was boring and quiet. Tao Ti played a few games of chess with Linglong, and then leaned on the soft pillow to read the storybook.
The soft and warm spring breeze blows from the half-opened window, making people feel hazy and drowsy. Just as Tao Ti's upper and lower eyelids were fighting wildly, there was some movement outside.
She nodded her head abruptly and woke up suddenly, but she was still a little dazed and called softly, "Linglong, what's going on outside?"
Linglong stretched her neck, looked out twice, and said, "It seems that His Highness is coming."
"Your Highness, oh... um? Your Highness!"
Tao Ti blinked hard, put the notebook aside, got up from the couch, and asked while bending over to put on her shoes, "What time is it?"
"Go back to the princess, it's just past Haishi."
"Haishi, that's nine o'clock in the evening..." Tao Ti muttered in a low voice, she originally thought that after the banquet in Tai Chi Hall was over, he would go directly back to Zixiao Hall to rest. Didn't expect him to come here at this point
She had just finished putting on her shoes when Fu Xirui walked in with Pei Yan on the other side.
Today Pei Yan is wearing an apricot-yellow brocade robe with four dragon patterns, a gold crown on his head, fastened with a hosta, this attire makes him more dignified and dignified. It's just that at this time, he was supported by Fu Xirui, his tall body was a little crooked, his footsteps were flimsy, like a majestic jade mountain that would collapse at any time.
Tao Ti was surprised, and hurried forward and said, "What's the matter?"
Fu Xirui explained, "Princess Concubine, Your Highness has had some wine tonight, and is probably a little drunk at the moment."
"Help him to sit on the couch." Tao Ti stepped back and looked at Pei Yan's handsome face with a bit of drunkenness. His peach blossom eyes were slightly open, and the pupils were dark, deep and blurred , like a bottomless vortex, people can't see his thoughts.
"You are not in good health, how can you drink?" Tao Ti said softly, walked to him, bent slightly, put her arms across his eyes, and took a soft pillow, "Cush it up, it will be more comfortable."
Pei Yan cooperated with her movements, and his usually clear voice seemed a little low and magnetic due to drinking, "It's all right, I just had a few drinks."
Tao Ti's bright eyes stared straight at his blushing face, and said with a frown, "Although a drink is enjoyable, but you...for the sake of your health, it's better not to drink. And you only have a few drinks, You can't even walk steadily, which shows that you don't drink very well, so you should drink less."
Hearing her words, Pei Yan's black eyes moved slightly, he tilted his head to look at her, and asked in a low voice, "Are you drinking?"
"Let's drink..."
"Did you drink well?"
"..."
Tao Ti poured a glass of warm water and handed it to him, thinking that I will not get drunk after a thousand cups. But she would definitely not be able to say that in front of Pei Yan, who knows if the original owner can drink well? After thinking for a while, she found a safer way to say, "Well, it's okay."
Pei Yan took the teacup and took a sip. The cup contained chrysanthemum and wolfberry tea. She didn't seem to like tea, but preferred various herbal teas.
"How do you feel now, how about I make you a bowl of hangover soup?" Tao Ti said and got up.
"Don't be so troublesome." Pei Yanyan held her sleeves, looked up at her, and said softly, "Don't go, stay with Gu."
This action, as well as the blurted words, made both of them stunned for a moment.
Seeing this, Linglong and Fu Xirui looked at each other, and bowed their heads consciously.
Tao Ti: Why are you refunding? Things are not as you imagined! !
She looked at Pei Yan with complicated emotions, his cold and handsome face was still facing her, those beautiful black eyes seemed to be dyed with a hazy light, gentle as water, with an irresistible charm.
For some reason, Tao Ti's cheeks gradually became hot, especially when his fingers were still pulling her sleeves, and the sentence "Don't go" just now...
At this moment, the man in front of him is like a little pet who is afraid of being abandoned, so pitiful and lovable.
In the past, Tao Ti would not have put the words "very pitiful and lovable" on such a tall man, but now—
She only felt that her heart was beating wildly, a little nervous, a little wanting to get closer, and also a kind of panic that she had never seen before.
"His Royal Highness, are you a little drunk?"
The voice trembled unconsciously, like a feather passing through the tip of the heart.
Pei Yan's deep eyes were dimly lit, and his thick eyelashes drooped slightly. He said softly, "Well, maybe."
Tao Ti looked at him, and the surroundings were quiet, with occasional sounds of insects singing in late spring.
"Your Highness, why... came here suddenly? I thought you would rest in Zixiao Palace tonight."
She asked softly, her eyes swept over his hand that was still pinching his sleeve, her mind was a little confused, he... is he drunk? Only then will such dependent small actions be made.
Just like the sixth princess, she also loves to pull her sleeves and call her sister-in-law obediently.
Pei Yan stared at her, and said slowly, "Gu heard that you sent someone to Zixiao Palace to invite someone, so I thought maybe you are looking for Gu for something?"
Tao Ti blinked her eyes, thinking that he was really amazing, she nodded her head, "I have something I want to ask His Highness."
"Um?"
"Actually, it's not a big deal. I just heard Xiao Wu talk about Lord Yu's 80th birthday today..." Tao Ti said as she raised her eyes to look at him, her bright eyebrows shining brightly in the candlelight, "I want to go?"
"Do you want to go?" Pei Yan looked at her, paused, and added, "If you don't like the excitement, you don't have to force it."
Tao Ti pursed her lips, thinking about it in her heart.
In the various social activities in the previous life, those who have a partner usually bring their partner to attend. If they go alone, outsiders will inevitably speculate whether there is a relationship problem between the two.
Although she didn't know what the rules of the ancient royal family were, but this Prince Yu, as a respected elder, and himself as a junior and a bride, should go to congratulate him, right
Just as she was thinking, Pei Yan's voice as cold as gold and jade came from her ear, "I hope you can accompany Gu."
A look of astonishment flashed across Tao Ti's eyes, and she raised her head, just in time to meet his pair of deep black eyes that looked over.
With a simple look, the anticipation and tenderness contained in it made her heart throb.
That look was simply irresistible, as if to refuse him would be to commit a heinous sin.
Tao Ti squeezed her fingers unnaturally, then nodded in a daze, "Okay."
Pei Yan's thin lips were slightly raised, with a warm smile.
...
After taking a bath, Pei Yan first went to bed to rest. Tao Ti didn't go to sleep immediately, but went to the small kitchen to scoop up a bowl of preserved egg and lean meat porridge.
The porridge soup is a broth made from chicken bones. Put the pre-soaked japonica rice into the pot, boil it on high heat, and stir it every once in a while, so that the porridge will be thick and fragrant. When the japonica rice is fully cooked, add preserved eggs and lean meat cut into small cubes, and turn to a simmer and cook slowly.
The aroma of porridge is not as strong as other foods, but as it boils, the fresh aroma from the casserole seems to have grown wings, and it goes straight into people's noses, evoking the nostalgia for the warm and soft taste on the tip of the tongue .
Before the porridge is out of the pot, add some salt, then add two drops of sesame oil, and stir it with a spoon. The steaming rice aroma mixed with the deliciousness of the chicken soup will make you crave it.
The moonlight melted, she held the hot, sticky and fragrant porridge, and ate it bit by bit.
The japonica rice is boiled soft but not rotten, the preserved eggs have a unique salty fragrance, and the lean meat is tender and smooth. After being fully stirred, the flavors of the three ingredients are perfectly blended, sticky and dense, and extremely delicious. After eating a bowl of porridge, the stomach is warm, and all the emptiness and worries are instantly dispelled.
Tao Ti put down the porcelain bowl that was eaten up, feeling that she was greatly satisfied physically and mentally, and said to Linglong and Fu Xirui in a happy mood, "There is still some left in the pot, if you are hungry at night, you can scoop it up and eat it. "
Linglong and Fu Xirui were startled, and hurriedly thanked each other.
Tao Ti rinsed her mouth outside, and then went back to the room to go to sleep.
Pei Yan should be fast asleep by now, she thought so, and walked lightly to the bedside.
Lifting a corner of the curtain, Pei Yan could be seen sleeping under the dim light, her movements subconsciously became lighter, and she crawled over from the end of the bed cautiously.
The quilt near him was warm, and she lay down gently, with the faint fragrance of Pei Yan lingering at the tip of her nose.
For some reason, his phrase "I hope you can accompany Gu" came to mind repeatedly.
The expression and tone of his words are so serious and sincere...
It's like... as if making a promise.
No, what are you thinking about! He just talked about going to Prince Yu's Mansion together!
Tao Ti closed her eyes, no longer thinking about those messy things, just sleeping peacefully.
Not long after, she fell into a drowsy sleep.
Hearing the steady breathing beside him, Pei Yan turned around slowly and looked at her with calm eyes for a while.
He kind of missed the feeling of holding her to sleep.
Soft, fragrant and very comfortable.
I want to, I really want to.
In a moment, he did the same.
Stretching out her long arms, she easily took her limp body into her arms.
The little girl groaned impatiently when someone moved her at first, and rubbed her little head against his muscular chest.
But soon, she found a comfortable angle in this warm and fragrant embrace, and fell asleep peacefully.
Pei Yan watched her series of small movements, slightly raised the corners of his lips, rubbed his chin against her heart, hugged her and closed his eyes.
next morning.
When Tao Ti woke up, the bedside was already empty.
She opened her arms and stretched her waist, and she slept very comfortably this time, she thought it was because she was full before going to bed—
"Eat and drink enough, all worries disappear."
The most reasonable words of their Taotie clan are still very reasonable.
After confirming that the princess concubine was going to accompany the prince to Prince Yu's mansion to celebrate his birthday, Linglong got busy back and forth—
"Master, when the time comes, will you wear this chrysanthemum-pattern light gold filigree gown with this sand-green floral skirt, or this Xiaying-colored half-arm honey-colored skirt?"
"Uh, whatever."
"Since it's the old prince's birthday banquet, this newly made water-red embroidered peach petal gown seems to be good. It's also festive to wear, and it matches your complexion..."
"Then this one?"
"Wait a minute, I remember that there is also a stone blue palace skirt that is not bad, I will compare it with you when I find it out."
Tao Ti, "..."
After choosing the dress, Linglong asked again:
"What about the bun, what kind of bun do you want to wear? At that time, there will definitely be many wives and ladies. I heard that the second princess will also go. She always likes to work hard on her dress. Go back to the princess and go to the nectar When the palace pays her respects, she intentionally overwhelms you, and you are considered the highest status among the female relatives at this birthday banquet, so you cannot let her steal the limelight."
"You can figure out what to do with the hair bun."
"The Crown Princess and His Highness have just got married, so they should wear a concentric bun, for a hundred years of concentricity, harmony and beauty."
Tao Ti, "... that's fine too."
During this period of time, Tao Ti obviously felt that Linglong was getting closer to her, and gradually talked more and more. Of course, this is undoubtedly a good thing, showing that she is gradually trusting herself.
But Linglong, who became familiar, seems to be very keen on pairing her with Pei Yan
Although nominally she and Pei Yan are indeed a couple, but Linglong often hears blessings such as "love is like honey", "raise the case with eyebrows", "the piano and the instrument are in harmony"... It's a bit strange and embarrassing.
The bun was fixed here, Linglong picked up the hair accessories and pearl hairpins again, Tao Ti accompanied her to choose for a while, then went to the small kitchen and continued to cook and eat.
A few days passed in the blink of an eye, and soon it was the day of Prince Yu's birthday banquet.
In the early morning of this day, the sky in the distance was still green with crab shells, Tao Ti was woken up from the bed by Linglong, and dragged to the Linghua mirror to dress up.
She couldn't even open her eyes in a daze, and she leaned lazily on the back of the chair, with her small face upturned, her eyes closed, and she just thought of herself as a mannequin, casually and exquisitely dressed.
When Pei Yan lifted the curtain and walked in, she happened to see her obedient appearance of "letting others do whatever they want".
He approached slowly and watched quietly for a while.
After Linglong put a thin layer of fine powder on Tao Ti, she picked up Mei Dai again, and was about to paint her eyebrows. Pei Yan stared at her two beautiful eyebrows, and unconsciously remembered the phrase "After makeup, ask your husband-in-law in a low voice." , the thrush is deep and light, and there is no time."
Not knowing where the interest came from, he suddenly raised his hand, signaling Linglong to give him Meidai.
Linglong was taken aback for a moment, but immediately came to her senses, and hurriedly gave Mei Dai to Pei Yan, and stepped aside with a ambiguous smile.
Tao Ti was still asleep with her eyes closed, completely unaware that there was a new person in front of her.
Pei Yan stretched his hand and gently held her small face.
His palm is big, and her face is small. The palm is like a small pillow, supporting her entire face.
Feeling the warmth of his palm, the corners of Pei Yan's lips curled up slightly, he bent over, his handsome brows and eyes were full of seriousness, and his movements were gentle and cautious.
The little girl's eyebrows are well-shaped, neither sparse nor dense, with a touch of jet black, and the tails of her eyebrows are slender and curved.
Under the eyebrows are a pair of big round eyes with obvious folds of double eyelids. Without makeup, the natural eyebrows and big eyes look pure and immature, as if they are not as good as hairpins. After putting on makeup, her facial features looked more refined, bright and charming.
After drawing the two eyebrows, Pei Yan admired his work and thought it was very good.
He raised his hand and pinched Tao Ti's soft little face, and said in a hoarse voice, "Little slob, wake up."
This gentle and patient coaxing made Linglong and other palace officials blushed, let alone Tao Ti.
As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw a face so beautiful that people and gods are jealous, and the retina was really shocked and enjoyed.
However, what is more impactful is the phrase "little slob" that floats into the ear...
The numb voice tapped her eardrums lightly, and Tao Ti felt a burst of electricity travel directly from her forehead to her tailbone. Her tail... oh no, she doesn't have a tail right now.
If she could turn back into a beast, she would definitely wag her tail at him now.
As soon as this thought came to her mind, Tao Ti's porcelain-like cheeks immediately blushed, ah, what a shame, how could I want to wag my tail at him, I'm not that perverted dog like Qiongqi!
"Your Highness, why are you..." Tao Ti stumbled and asked.
"Seeing Linglong dressing up for you, I came up with a whim and wanted to help you draw your eyebrows."
Pei Yan looked at her calmly, with self-blame in his brows and eyes, and said with lowered eyes, "Did Gu offend you? I'm sorry..."
Tao Ti came back to her senses, seeing his sad and guilty expression, she quickly waved her hands and said, "No, no, I'm just a little surprised."
As she said that, in order to comfort Pei Yan, she took a look in the mirror and boasted, "Your Highness, your paintings are beautiful!"
What Pei Yan drew for her were distant mountain eyebrows, eyebrows like distant mountains with black hair, skin like peach blossoms and smiling, this eyebrow shape matched Tao Ti's eye shape very well.
Tao Ti also showed it to Linglong, "Linglong, you are an expert in dressing up, tell me, don't your highness's paintings look good?"
Linglong glanced at it and said with a smile, "Yes, His Highness drew it with care, so it's naturally beautiful."
Seeing this, Pei Yan chuckled, put Mei Dai down, and said in a gentle voice, "Gu will wait for you outside first, so I won't bother you to get dressed."
"En." Tao Ti replied in a low voice.
After he left, Tao Ti pretended to be angry and glared at Linglong, "Why didn't you tell me when your highness came, hum, next time you can eat whatever is delicious!"
Linglong pursed her lips and said with a smile, "Your Highness and the Crown Princess Thrush eyebrows are a boudoir affair between husband and wife, how dare the servants disturb you."
boudoir fun...
Tao Ti's cheeks became hot again, she bit her red lips and stopped talking.
About half an hour later, Tao Ti finished dressing.
She was usually dressed in a simple and elegant attire, but now she was dressed up, not to mention the people of the Eastern Palace, even Pei Yan's dark pupils were slightly surprised when he saw her.
She is so beautiful, so bright, it is forgettable.
However, when he thought that other people would see her like this, he wished he could lock her in the golden room and let her beauty bloom day and night just for him.
Sensing Pei Yan's staring gaze, Tao Ti pinched the hem of her skirt nervously, and said softly, "Your Highness, my outfit...is it alright?"
"It's beautiful." Pei Yan smiled warmly, and immediately strode to her side, holding her hand naturally.
Tao Ti was stunned.
He, why did he hold hands suddenly? Is it time to start acting affectionately
Feeling the trembling of her fingertips, Pei Yan wrapped her palms tightly and said warmly, "Let's go, it's time to go."
"OK, all right."
Tao Ti's long eyelashes moved slightly, completely oblivious to the intensely surging dark light and plundering desire in the man's eyes.
—
Yanshoufang, Yuwangfu.
As the largest and most luxurious palace in Yanshoufang, Yuwang Mansion covers an area of 600 mu, including rockery ponds, garden pavilions, Buddhist halls, family temples, and thousands of houses. The layout is vast, luxurious and elegant. The main entrance of the palace is even more imposing, with bright vermilion, exquisite porch, and two stone lions staring coldly, majestic and majestic.
Since Sishi, there has been an endless stream of carriages parked at the gate, some with emerald green covers and bead tassels, some with black lacquer and flat tops, some with colorful glass, and some with purple covers and emerald curtains.
The mansion is even more lively, with people coming and going.
Prince Yu's status is very high, so it's not easy for ordinary guests to see him. Those who entertained guests were Prince Yu's son and several capable grandchildren, who were in charge of entertaining male guests in Chengtai Pavilion; the prince's concubine and granddaughter-in-law were in charge of receiving female guests, and a group of people gathered in Zhilan Courtyard.
Besides, when Empress Zhou heard that Emperor Zhaokang sent the prince to Prince Yu's mansion to celebrate his birthday, she naturally told the third prince, Pei Changzhou, to prepare generous gifts to celebrate Prince Yu's birthday as a show of filial piety.
When Pei Changzhou came, Pei Lingbi naturally wouldn't miss the commotion. One brother and sister prepared generous gifts, the other dressed up, and came to Prince Yu's Mansion ahead of the East Palace.
But the old King Yu got older, and his temper became more and more weird. Even if he knew that the prince and princess were coming, he didn't plan to see him.
Prince Yu had no choice but to put on a shy face, and explained to Pei Changzhou and Pei Lingbi in a good voice, saying that the imperial doctor had told the old prince to rest and not to see guests.
Pei Changzhou was unwilling to reconcile, and felt that this old prince Yu was a bit of a pedophile and didn't know how to flatter him, but after thinking about it, since he couldn't even see him, Pei Yan was destined to be rejected when he came later...
Thinking of this, he calmed down a bit, and smiled respectfully and benevolently, "Your uncle is polite, fourth uncle is an elder, if you want to rest, we as juniors naturally don't want to disturb you."
"Third Highness, follow me to the front hall for a cup of tea." The crown prince smiled all over his face, and then ordered his daughter Pei Simin, "Minmin, take your cousin to Zhilan Courtyard to play."
Pei Simin responded sharply, and leaned towards Pei Lingbi with a smile, "Sister Bi, let's go, sister Muyan from the Zhou family, and sister Juan from the Huang family are here."
Hearing this, Pei Lingbi raised her eyebrows and said, "Didn't Muyan suffer from spring ringworm a while ago, and now it's coming out?"
Pei Simin shrugged his shoulders, and smiled gloatingly, "You'll find out when you go and have a look."