Pingyang replied: "I've been here for a while. I saw you were busy, so I didn't bother you."
The two siblings saluted each other, Zhao Yue made a "please" gesture, and they sat down separately.
Pingyang waved to Grandma Chen. She came up with a beautiful wooden box and placed it on the table. Pingyang said, "I brought something good to Erlang today. Take a look."
Zhao Yue raised his eyebrows and reached out curiously to open the wooden box. What came into view was a wooden chessboard in a folded shape.
Perhaps due to age, the paint on the wood has been mottled and peeled off, making it inconspicuous.
He became somewhat interested, got up and carefully took out the chessboard.
The chessboard is extremely compact in structure and can be folded or extended. He opened it carefully, and the vertical and horizontal longitudes and latitudes of the years were completely presented to his eyes with the imprint of historical dust.
There was another wooden box in the wooden box, and Zhao Yue had already vaguely guessed the owner of the chessboard.
As expected, when he opened the wooden box and saw the stone chess pieces inside, the tiny cracks on them made him smile. He picked up a white stone, and the white stone showed the unique texture of the stone, which was still clearly visible even after three hundred years.
"This is Zhang Yanqi, where did sister get it?"
Pingyang said in surprise: "Erlang knows his stuff."
Zhao Yue was overjoyed and said: "Zhang Yan has been in trouble all his life. He is a real chess fanatic. He has an eccentric temperament and lives alone. He has an aloof and independent character."
Pingyang smiled at the corner of his eyes, "It seems that this piece of Yanqi has caught Erlang's eyes."
Zhao Yue raised her eyebrows, neither agreeing nor denying.
He originally thought that most of the things she brought into the palace would fall into his pocket, but Pingyang ordered Nanny Chen to carefully put Zhang Yanqi away without any intention of keeping him.
Looking at Nanny Chen's actions, Zhao Yue seemed puzzled, "Sister, what do you mean?"
Pingyang smiled and said: "If Erlang wants to get something, he should take the time to come to Pingyang Mansion."
Zhao Yue: "???"
Pingyang: "I am entrusted by others, not Zhang Yanqi's boss."
As soon as these words came out, Zhao Yue seemed to realize something, pointed at her, and said with a smile: "I understand, this is a deliberate bait for me."
Pingyang also smiled and asked curiously: "Is Erlang interested in biting the hook?"
Zhao Yue snorted, lowered her head and stroked her sleeves and said, "Sister, it's really interesting. Is it fair to contract an outsider to trick my own brother?"
Pingyang covered his mouth and said, "I didn't do it on purpose. I was actually entrusted by others." He added, "You also know that Zhang Yanqi is a rare treasure. Since he gave it away, he must have something to ask for."
Zhao Yue turned her head and looked at her, "Who wants me?"
Pingyang gave up and asked, "Are you going or not?"
Zhao Yue's lips curved slightly and she said deliberately: "Let me guess who found your way." He paused for a moment and said, "You stay in the Princess Mansion all the year round and rarely leave the house. I can ask you to come forward." , which shows that the personal relationship is very good.”
Pingyang held his chin with one hand and tapped his fingers lightly on the wooden box, "Let me ask you, do you like this Yanqi piece?"
Zhao Yue smiled but did not answer.
Pingyang: "It's really strange. You don't lack anything in the East Palace. I've never seen you have any hobbies. I never thought of buying you off with just a bad game of chess. It's really wonderful."
Zhao Yue shook her index finger at her, picked up the Liu'an tea presented by the maid, and said, "I don't necessarily want it."
Pingyang: "???"
Zhao Yue took a small sip and said, "Who said you are my eldest sister? I will sell you this face. I will come to your Pingyang Mansion the morning after tomorrow. Are you satisfied?"
Pingyang laughed, "I know you are a busy man, but don't try to trick me."
Zhao Yue: "What did I trick you into doing?"
After the two settled the matter, they talked about their daily routine for a while. Seeing that it was getting late, Pingyang went back home, and she naturally took Zhang Yanqi back.
In the evening, Zhao Yue seemed to think of something while eating. She sat there alone, thinking, and sometimes laughing.
Aunt Yu looked at Qi Qi and asked curiously: "Your Highness is in a good mood. Did something happy happen to you today?"
Zhao Yue came back to her senses and said, "It's nothing."
Aunt Yu didn't ask any more questions. Looking at his thoughtful expression, he looked like a young girl embracing spring, which showed that she was very happy.
After the meal, Zhao Yue went to the bedroom to sit for a while. He took out the mandarin duck jade comb he got at the spring banquet from the secret compartment of the bedside. He gently rubbed the fine teeth of the comb with his fingertips. He couldn't help but think of that longing picture in his mind. Thinking face.
There is no doubt that Mr. Cui is extremely intelligent.
He liked Zhang Yanqi very much.
He originally thought that she might not be so bold as to reach out to the East Palace, but now it seems that she is really brave. It is clear that King Qing's access is right under his nose, but she chooses the far away instead of the near, which shows that she is a bit stubborn in her bones.
It is really interesting to deal with such a woman.
The day after tomorrow was Xiu Mu, Zhao Yue got up early, and Eunuch Wei waited on him to practice his sword in the garden.
I sweated all over and felt refreshed.
The morning was slightly cool and the air was fresh. After practicing his sword, Zhao Yue tilted his head and looked at the early morning sky, then threw the sword to the servant aside.
Eunuch Wei gave him a clean towel, and he took it and wiped the sweat from his face.
The palace servants had prepared hot water for bathing. Zhao Yue threw the handkerchief to Eunuch Wei and went to the bathroom to take a bath without resting for a while.
When he came out of the bathroom, he was wearing a tunic and a robe, his hair was wet, and his fair and handsome face was stained with moisture, which made his lips red and white, and he looked like the innocent and elegant boy next door.
After all, he is young, handsome in appearance, tall and slender. He has been nourished by the golden spoon all year round, and has not experienced too many ups and downs. What is left is the natural delicateness of a noble prince.
That kind of squeamishness is common to most high-ranking nobles, because they are sheltered by their families and are well-raised.
The chamberlain wrung out his hair and applied facial oil to nourish his skin. Zhao Yue chose a plain white robe with dragon pattern.
The brocade clothes are exquisitely made, with the coiled dragon pattern embroidered with gold threads showing teeth and claws, which is exquisite and luxurious. The simple round-necked narrow-sleeved shirt looks strong and straight on the body, a jade belt is tied around the waist, and a piece of mutton-fat white jade is worn to standardize the manners.
The chamberlain had her hair tied into a bun. She was originally going to wear a jade crown, but Zhao Yue stood in front of the mirror and looked left and right, still feeling dissatisfied.
Jade Crown looks young, like a young boy.
Mr. Cui is six years older than him. In order to highlight his maturity and stability, he chose a futou to cover his forehead. As expected, he looked more majestic and calm than wearing a jade crown.
In fact, many times he felt a little resentful, hating his mother for giving birth to him a few years later. Otherwise, he would have gotten there first if there was no chance for Prince Qing.
After getting dressed neatly, Zhao Yue stood in front of the mirror and looked at himself. She was quite stinky. She felt that the man in the mirror was very handsome. He turned around and asked, "How do I look?"
The chamberlain flattered him and said, "Your Highness is so handsome and handsome that it will be extremely difficult to find a husband in the capital who can keep up with you."
Zhao Yue was very satisfied after hearing this. Most of the powerful people in Beijing were old men, so naturally they were not as handsome as him. There must be people who are more handsome and younger than him, but they definitely don't have the power.
With both looks and power, he didn't believe Cui would be so blind as to ignore him.
When the morning sun rose, the carriage from the East Palace drove out of the imperial city and headed for Pingyang Mansion.
Zhao Yue was sitting in the carriage, feeling in high spirits, like a girl in love with spring, full of expectations for today's meeting, because for him, this was the first time to meet Cui in private.
Although Pingyang was present, he chose to ignore it.
Then again, avoiding King Qing to meet Cui was really not a very good move, and it was a bit poaching, but who cares, it's not a shameful thing.
He thought confidently.
Arriving at Pingyang Mansion, Eunuch Wei helped Zhao Yue get out of the carriage, and the servants in the mansion knelt down to him.
Grandma Chen came to greet her personally.
Zhao Yue followed behind her with her hands behind her back, with a dignified demeanor and calm demeanor. Her walking posture was neither fast nor slow, showing nobility and grace.
Pingyang was already waiting in Yuqiong Garden. Zhao Yue came over and didn't see Cui Wenxi, so he was not in a hurry.
The two siblings saluted each other.
Entering the side hall for entertaining guests, separated by a summer lotus screen, the aroma of tea overflows inadvertently.
Zhao Yue was attracted by the fragrance of tea and couldn't help but look over, but she couldn't get a glimpse of it. His nose was sharper than that of a dog. He sniffed the tea carefully and asked, "Is this Biluochun behind the screen?"
Pingyang smiled and said, "Your nose is more sensitive than a dog's. You really are Biluochun. This year's new tea has just arrived."
Zhao Yue also laughed, secretly wanting to pry out what was going on, but was pulled back by Pingyang, "Don't look around."
After being pulled by her, he knew in his heart that the person behind the screen must be Ms. Cui, and he became serious and honest.
The two siblings took their seats and talked about their family affairs.
Behind the screen, Cui Wenxi pricked up her ears to listen to the two chatting. She came here early in the morning and was originally worried about where to start, but Pingyang gave her an idea. It would be safer to start the topic by making tea.
So Cui Wenxi cooked tea himself.
For noble ladies like them, the family attaches great importance to cultural edification. They are almost all involved in playing music, chess, calligraphy and painting, flower arranging, making tea, playing juju, playing female prostitutes, and taking care of the middle-class accountants.
Cui Wenxi has been trained by Cui's father since he was a child. Cooking tea is not a problem, but the female beauty is not good, mainly because he has no interest.
The tea drink during this period was boiled tea with a little salt added for seasoning, rather than the later Gaiwan tea.
The utensil used to serve tea soup is a tea cup, which pays attention to three boils.
Now the spring water in the tea cauldron has started to have bubbles as big as shrimp eyes. Cui Wenxi waited patiently until the bubbles in the bottom of the cauldron gradually enlarged and took on the shape of fish eyes. Then she scooped out an appropriate amount of fine salt from the teapot and added it. Enter the cauldron.
As the charcoal fire heats up, the bubbles in the fish eyes change again and connect into beads bit by bit. This is the "first boil" in making tea.
A water film formed on the surface of the spring water. Cui Wenxi used a bamboo spoon to skim off the film, and then took a gourd-made water ladle to scoop out an appropriate amount of spring water and put it into a cooked bowl.
The tongue of fire licked the bottom of the cauldron. She stirred the cauldron with a bamboo clip used for making tea. The spring water formed a vortex under the influence of the bamboo clip.
This is a good time to add tea powder.
The tea powder that has just been roasted, crushed and finely sieved exudes a rich aroma. The appropriate amount of tea powder is measured with a silver spoon and falls into the spring water. After a while, the tea aroma is completely stimulated and the aroma is overflowing.
She skillfully stirred the bamboo tongs, and the tea soup in the cauldron began to boil quickly. The second boil in the tea was formed at this moment.
The third boiling process of saving boiling and cultivating flowers is the key to a good pot of tea.
The spring water just poured into the cooked bowl with a gourd ladle is still half boiling. Putting it into the tea cauldron can cool down the boiling water very well, and the originally boiling tea soup suddenly becomes calm.
The tea preparation is completed.
Cui Wenxi placed the tea cauldron at the crossroads in a leisurely manner, and the next step of serving tea was also very particular.
People pursue the ultimate form of the tea soup in the tea cup. The foam, pastry and flowers should be of the best quality, with a few stars and flowers, the foam should be rich, and the soup should be silver and green.
Cui Wenxi carefully distributes each cup of tea so that the foam is even and there will be no difference in taste.
The maid presented the tea soup to the two people outside. The new tea was green in color, clear and fragrant in the azure tea cup.
Pingyang made a "please" gesture.
Zhao Yue first looked at the shape of the tea soup. It looked no different from the tea making techniques in the palace. He picked up the tea cup and tasted a little. The taste was sweet and mellow, making his mouth full of saliva.
Tea needs to be tasted carefully, and after savoring it for a while, he sipped a little more.
Cui Wenxi, who was behind the screen, also tasted the tea he cooked and thought it was very good.
Pingyang asked curiously: "How?"
Zhao Yue wanted to lure the man out and said deliberately: "The color and shape of the soup are very good, but the taste is slightly astringent and lacks a little heat."
As expected, Cui Wenxi behind the screen was unconvinced after hearing this. She dubiously took a sip of the tea soup and savored it carefully. It was obviously sweet and mellow, but why was it so astringent
No, she couldn't sit still and said: "Erlang said that the tea soup tastes a little astringent. Today I want to ask for advice. How can I make it sweet and mellow?"
Hearing her voice, Zhao Yue looked at Pingyang and said in surprise: "Who am I talking about? It's the Fourth Emperor's Aunt."
Pingyang didn't say anything. He only tasted the tea soup and said, "Erlang is so cunning. This tea tastes mellow. Where is the astringency?"
Cui Wenxi, who was behind the screen, laughed angrily, put his head out and said, "Have I been deceived?"
Zhao Yue stood up and saluted her, and she returned the salute and asked shamelessly: "Did Erlang deceive me?"
Zhao Yue grinned, while Pingyang covered his mouth and smiled.
He knew that she was probably embarrassed to raise the issue, otherwise she wouldn't have gone through such a big circle, so he simply took the initiative to clear the way for her, sat back and said, "Is the Fourth Emperor's mistress Zhang Yanqi?"
Cui Wenxi also sat on the chair and replied: "Yes or no."
Zhao Yue: "???"
He took the initiative to bring it up, which saved her a lot of embarrassment.
Cui Wenxi actually felt a little uneasy, so he considered it and said, "My father is a chess fanatic and loves to collect chess-related items. I got Zhang Yanqi from him."
Zhao Yue said "Oh" softly, and without asking any more questions, she picked up the teacup and took a sip.
Cui Wenxi couldn't tell what he was thinking and said cautiously: "It's really inappropriate for Zhang Yanqi to come to Pingyang Mansion today to find Erlang. Please don't take offense to Erlang."
Zhao Yue was secretly happy in her heart, but she deliberately asked: "I have a rest today, why didn't the four emperor uncles come with me?"
Cui Wenxi replied uneasily: "He has gone to another hospital and it is not convenient for him to go with me."
Zhao Yue said "Oh" again, raising her eyebrows and saying nothing.
Cui Wenxi didn't dare to look at him and wrung her handkerchief with some struggle. She was a housewife after all, so it was hard for her to bring up the matter of going out with him.
Pingyang didn't say anything at the side. Seeing that she was struggling, he got up and went out to call the maid to bring some cakes.
In the past, Cui Wenxi was calm and dignified, but now he was nervous and embarrassed, not at all as calm as usual.
Zhao Yue found it interesting and found the girl a bit cute.
Cui Wenxi glanced at him uncomfortably. Their eyes met and they looked away at the same time. She struggled for a long time before finally giving up and saying, "I have something to ask of you. I wonder if Erlang would be willing to help?"
Zhao Yue: "???"
Cui Wenxi made a gesture to Fangling, and Fangling took Zhang Yanqi and presented it to her. She said sternly: "I'm ashamed to say that it was not my turn as a housewife to intervene in this matter, but I feel sorry for my natal sister and don't want her." It's too far away from Beijing, so I dare to ask Erlang for a favor."
Zhao Yue pretended to be stupid and asked: "What do you mean by this?"
Cui Wenxi mustered up the courage and said: "The author Lang Feng is my natal brother-in-law. This year he will be sent to work in Yuntang County, Qianzhou. It will take April or May to leave Qianzhou and go back to Beijing. I have been close to my second mother since I was a child, and I can't bear to leave her." It's so far away, so I came here to ask Erlang for a favor. Can Feng Zheng be transferred closer?"
After hearing these words, Zhao Yue lowered his eyes and said nothing. He gently touched his palms and said meaningfully: "Does Aunt Four Emperors know what you are doing?"
Cui Wenxi said awkwardly: "I know, I am involved in politics."
Zhao Yue stared at her with a faint smile, "You know very well."
Cui Wenxi broke the jar and said: "And it's still a bribe."
This statement made Zhao Yue amused. He took a sip of tea and said, "Do you know the crime of bribing court officials under the law of my court?"
Cui Wenxi was silent, like a student who had done something wrong and was waiting for punishment from his master.
Zhao Yue found it interesting and started to tease her, so she deliberately asked: "This is your mother's family's business. Isn't the Duke's office thinking of something to ask you, the wife of the housekeeper, to come forward?"
Cui Wenxi continued to remain silent.
Zhao Yue continued: "It is taboo for women to get involved in politics. You and the Fourth Emperor's uncle are husband and wife. If you open your mouth to him, he will go to the palace to find the saint. Why do you go in such a big circle to find me?"
Cui Wenxi didn't like hearing this, like a cat whose tail was stepped on, he frowned and retorted: "Isn't Erlang pretending to be stupid on purpose?"
Seeing her change of expression, Zhao Yue shut up.
Cui Wenxi changed his previous embarrassment, stared at his fair and handsome face, and said: "You know that I am quarreling with Prince Qing, almost to the point of incompatibility, why do you think that I will bow to him and ask for this favor?"
Zhao Yue did not respond and chose to remain silent.
Cui Wenxi suddenly looked at him with a strange look. Now there was no one else in the hall except Fang Ling. She suddenly asked, "Why was Erlang hiding in the rockery that day in Yongning Mansion?"
These words stunned Zhao Yuewen.
Cui Wenxi stared straight at him and examined him. There was nothing wrong with a woman staring at a man.
Maybe she felt guilty, Zhao Yue couldn't help but feel panicked by her stare, and said uncomfortably: "I have explained this to the Fourth Emperor Aunt before."
Cui Wenxi didn't speak, just stared at him and tried to figure it out.
In order to cover up her guilty conscience, Zhao Yue did not avoid it. But the girl's gaze was really hard for him to resist, full of probing and cunning insight into people's hearts.
At a certain moment, his ears turned red in a very unpromising manner, and a little crimson was quietly stained, making the young man even more radiant.
Cui Wenxi didn't realize at all that his behavior caused him great psychological pressure, and asked: "Why are you blushing?"
After hearing this, Zhao Yue immediately touched her face. It was not red at first, but when she said this, she felt a little embarrassed and said coyly: "Nonsense."
In an instant, a little blush crept onto his face, and his peach blossom eyes were stained with embarrassment, and they were extremely bright.
That kind of squeamish coyness suddenly brought Cui Wenxi back to the scene in the rockery. At that time, he was also at a loss, as panicked as a deer in the forest.
Maybe that look made people feel insulted, and she suddenly understood why Yongning liked young and tender boys.
The clean and handsome man, who is as white as paper, is only eighteen years old, and his appearance is endearing, especially his shy and uneasy youthful appearance, which is really uncontrollable.
Hearing footsteps coming from outside, Cui Wenxi coughed dryly and looked away hastily.
Zhao Yue quickly sorted out her chaotic thoughts and quickly calmed down. In order to cover up his guilty conscience, he deliberately said: "Open it and let me take a look."
Cui Wenxi opened the wooden box as instructed, carefully took out the chessboard, stretched it out on the table, and took out the chess pieces from the box.
Ping Yang came into the room and said, "Everyone in the capital knows that Lord Zhen Guo likes to study Go. The Fourth Emperor's Aunt must have obtained the true inheritance. Why don't we use this piece of Yan chess to play a game with Erlang Shou to see who is better?"
Zhao Yue picked up the white pieces in the box with great interest, rubbed them gently and said, "I have rarely seen the Four Emperors playing chess."
Pingyang: "Let me tell you, the Fourth Emperor's aunt is the most proficient in chess, and the female celebrity is the worst. If Erlang doesn't believe it, you can compete to see who is more capable."
Cui Wenxi couldn't stand this high hat, "Pingyang, don't flatter me."
Zhao Yue glanced at her, "Earlier, the Fourth Emperor asked me to be a favor. I really like this chess piece, but it is really inappropriate to bribe court officials. As the prince of the country, if I know the law and break the law, I will inevitably be blamed. "
As soon as these words came out, Cui Wenxi's heart tightened, and he quickly stood up and confessed: "This is my negligence, please punish me."
Pingyang hurriedly smoothed things over, "Erlang, please don't scare Auntie Four Emperors. How can we women be as thoughtful as you in the officialdom?"
Zhao Yue tilted her head and asked: "The Fourth Emperor's actions are generally recognized as prudent. Have you really never thought about this?"
Cui Wenxi said calmly: "This is my negligence."
She was so frightened that she even changed her name.
The guy looked like a arrogant little lamb when he was blushing just now, but now he turned against him, but it made people fearful. No wonder Pingyang said that he was mean and cold-hearted, he really changed like the God of summer.
Fortunately, the guy didn't make things too difficult for her. He probably tried to bully her in order to get back the face that she had just made blushing and embarrassed.
"Since Aunt Four Emperors is willing to invite Zhang Yanqi, it shows her sincerity, but I can't accept this thing, for fear of ruining her reputation." He added, "It has been more than three hundred years since Zhang Yanqi was in the previous dynasty. Such precious things should be left in the hands of those who love chess. The Fourth Emperor is very good at chess. Why don't you compete with me today at Zhang Yan chess? If you can beat me, I will agree to your request. how about?"
Hearing this, Pingyang quickly responded: "That's good."
He immediately winked at Cui Wenxi.
Cui Wenxi was hesitant for a moment. She was somewhat partial to Go. It could be said that the descendants of the Cui family were all influenced by Zhen Guogong and were very specialized in chess. However, playing against Zhao Yue still made her a little embarrassed.
Now he obviously has a crush on Zhang Yanqi, but he doesn't accept it. As long as she beats him in the game, he can get what he wants, and it's a business without capital.
No matter how I thought about it, I felt like I was taking advantage of him. If his skills were inferior and he would lose miserably, it would be really shameful.
While she was thinking about how to deal with it, Zhao Yue asked enthusiastically: "Aunt Four Emperors, would you like to have a discussion with my nephew?"
Cui Wenxi came back to his senses and saw that half of the matter had been accomplished. He couldn't give up halfway, so he responded: "That's okay."
So Pingyang ordered people to clear up the place for the two of them to play chess.
The servant placed Zhang Yanqi on a short couch. Zhao Yue made a "please" gesture. Cui Wenxi went to the short couch and sat cross-legged on the couch. Zhao Yue lifted her robe and sat opposite her.
In Go, black plays first and white plays first. Zhao Yue handed over the leadership to Cui Wenxi in a gentlemanly manner. Without any hesitation, she took out a few black stones from the chess box and placed them behind her, then she held out her fist and asked him to guess the oddness of the chess pieces.
If you guess the chess piece in your hand correctly, you will get the right to make the first move.
Zhao Yue guessed the odd number.
Cui Wenxi let go of her left hand, with an even number in her palm. She smiled and said, "I agree."
Zhao Yue stretched out her hand to say "please", and Cui Wenxi put the chess pieces into the chess box, leaving a black stone on the chessboard, officially starting the fight.
No one expected that they would fight for two hours on this game of chess, not even bothering to eat lunch.
Zhao Yue has been ups and downs in the whirlpool of power since she was a child. She has a strong desire for control. On the surface, she is calm and calm, but in fact, she is planning everything. This characteristic is vividly displayed in the chess game.
However, Cui Wenxi is also a calculating person who never loses control and is as stable as an old dog.
Two men and women who have common characteristics but are worlds apart staged a battle of defense and conquest in this small square world. It can be said that it is the first time to peek into each other's inner character through a chess game.
Simply colorful.