People in Jianghuai became more and more panic-stricken. At this time, they felt that the chief minister was not comparable to the past. In the past, the big households were grouped together and supported by the forces in Beijing. It has always been only the chief minister who curry favor with them. Feeling uneasy and anxious, a piece of news that seems to be true and illusory has blown up the entire Jianghuai River!
When everyone's panic reached its peak and their eagerness to know the real situation reached its peak, half a month later, the chief envoy sent a letter to the Shuiyue Mountain Villa on the outskirts of Jianghuai Prefecture to host a banquet for the Liu and Li families. Zhu Jianghuai big family.
This time, the old cold legs stopped posting, the one who celebrated his birthday came back, and the one who married the younger one didn't want to marry. After receiving the post, he immediately dispatched and went straight to Shuiyue Mountain Villa.
On the ninth day of May, early in the morning, at the gate of Shuiyue Mountain Villa in Bieye, an official government office fifteen miles away from the capital of Jianghuai, the horses and horses stopped like dragons for several miles. , Drinking tea in the front hall early and waiting.
Among these sedan chairs, there is one that is quite conspicuous—it is a gold-roofed cart covered with emerald green cloth, and the fragrance is scattered everywhere it passes by. At first glance, one can tell that it is a sedan chair used by the female relatives of a wealthy family, which is not unusual at ordinary times. , now it looks abrupt on this occasion, and some people can't help but lift the curtain to take a look as the cars and horses pass by.
Someone recognized the sign of the Li family on the car, and gradually some people pointed it out. Everyone heard that the granddaughter-in-law of Li's family was originally a lady of the Dudu's Mansion of the Five Armies. After becoming a military commander, she has a very pungent style. Not long after she came, she got the support of Li Dashi, emptied the old uncle who was in charge, and took over half of the silk and satin business. I heard that her husband was not good enough. She has no interest, fights cocks and dogs all day long, and the new aunt of the Li family doesn't care, she lets her husband play around, and takes the power of the whole family inside and out, and even puts out a plan to seize the entire Li family, the second largest in Jianghuai, in her hands. Meaning, this was originally a rumor, but now that she was actually the one participating in the Li family, everyone became more suspicious—could the rumor be true
The banquet was scheduled for noon, and in the middle of the morning, all the guests had arrived and were waiting anxiously, when they suddenly heard the sound of an announcement.
"His Royal Highness King Chu is here..."
"Wait a minute, Mr. Wei, the chief envoy of Jianghuai, has arrived..."
Two announcements came, and the crowd was shocked. I didn't hear that His Royal Highness King Chu, who was in charge of the work in Baizhou, would also come to the meeting, so I rushed out to see it. At the gate of the villa, I knelt down on the ground, and I saw two people standing on top of each other. Carrying a big sedan chair, surrounded by the crowd, meandering forward one after the other.
Feng Zhiwei, who was in the sedan chair behind, was frowning slightly at this moment. She didn't know that Ning Yi would come today. She met Ning Yi on the way out of the Yamen. After Ning Yi heard about this Hongmen banquet, he immediately said This matter can be regarded as raising funds for him, so naturally he can't stay out of it and accompany him all the way.
Since it was nothing for him to come, with this powerful prince in charge, it would be more effective with less money.
Seeing that Ning Yi's sedan chair in front of him had just stopped, the curtain of the emerald green car parked in the caravan suddenly lifted, and the aunt of the Li family who stayed in the car and did not come out, Qiu Yuluo, the third lady of the Qiu family, , walked out with a straight back.
She applied light makeup and powder, her face was exquisite, her clothes were gorgeous but not coquettish, it was obvious that she had been well-groomed.
Feng Zhiwei stared at her, narrowing his eyes.
Naturally, Qiu Yuluo didn't know that it was her in the sedan chair at the back, and she walked up to Ning Yi's sedan chair calmly in front of everyone's eyes, bowed gracefully, and said shyly and generously: "Qiu Yuluo, a civilian woman, See Your Highness, and thank Your Highness for your kindness on the river..."
Feng Zhiwei's eyebrows moved imperceptibly.
Jiang Shang? Which river
Is it the Lijiang River that goes straight down from the middle of Beijing to the Huaihe River, or is it a branch river of a certain Lijiang River in the Jianghuai area
She was slightly absent-minded, and the black-covered boat in the river on a rainy night flashed in her mind... Then she came back to her senses, thinking that Qiu Yuluo's words sounded a bit ambiguous, help? If it's a helping hand, just say it well, why do you have a weird tone of voice.
The occasion and this act of Qiu Yuluo's appearance seemed a bit too bold. The king of Chu and herself had just arrived here, and before everyone had time to pay homage, she came out first as a woman. The spoiled young lady's habit, after marriage, she still hasn't restrained herself.
She got out of the sedan chair with a faint smile, and it was said that Qiu Yuluo's identity would strike up a conversation with the prince at will, so she didn't need to scold her, someone would stop her.
Unexpectedly, after she got out of the sedan chair, the surroundings were actually quiet. She saw Ning Cheng who was by Ning Yi's side opened his mouth, and after glancing at her, he suddenly shut up and turned his face away.
After another look, I realized where An Jing came from, because Ning Yi didn't speak, nor did he show any surprise, he just lowered his head slightly and looked at Qiu Yuluo.
From Feng Zhiwei's point of view, he couldn't see his expression, only saw that Qiu Yuluo's expression on the opposite side gradually began to change, not panic or embarrassment, but gradually shy and restless, with a faint blush on his cheeks.
A woman will only blush under a certain gaze from a man.
Feng Zhiwei watched with his hands behind his back, neither stopping nor speaking, but the gentry all around became uneasy, wondering what kind of game it was, when did this aunt of the Li family meet His Highness the King of Chu? From that tone, His Highness has ever helped her
It was a long time before Ning Yi spoke, speaking very slowly and simply: "No."
With such a light sentence, it was hard to tell whether it was an acknowledgment or a denial, and then he stopped talking, Qiu Yuluo hurriedly saluted again, stepped aside, and then everyone bowed to the two of them like candles: "See Your Highness, see Lord Wei! "
Ning Yi just casually raised his hand and walked ahead, showing the dignified demeanor of a prince, everyone retreated to the two sides, but Feng Zhiwei was completely different, smiling as he walked, and casually said: "This is Chen My master? You came back so soon after leaving the fortress? The scenery outside the fortress is beautiful. I heard that the snow season arrived early this year. I wonder how the price of rice on the grassland is now?"
"This is Mr. Liu? Hehe, I just had a drink with Brother Ling not long before I left Beijing. He also told me that the official affairs are complicated and he wants to retire early... If you return to your hometown, I will see your Beijing West Bieye It's not bad...”
"This is the young master of the Dao family, right? You are so young and promising. Where is your wife from Shannan? Why didn't you bring it? There are many beauties in Shannan, and Mrs. Ru must be beautiful, otherwise Mr. Dao wouldn't even be able to invite you to a banquet." I have to reject it... you think so?"