In the evening eight days later, Gao Shengtai held a "peony party" at his home to entertain the Song Dynasty envoys.
On this day, he greeted him at the door early, but he only saw the deputy envoy Chen Ke, leading a group of Song Dynasty officials. After asking, he found out that Wang Gui was not accustomed to the climate after arriving in Dali, and he barely managed to hold on for a few days.
fall sick.
Gao Shengtai expressed his condolences and regrets while respectfully welcoming Chen Ke and others into the mansion. Although the Gao family's home base is in eastern Yunnan, the head of the family has held the position of Prime Minister since the founding of the People's Republic of China. The Prime Minister's Mansion was naturally built to be majestic and brilliant. Once he entered,
The gate is a corridor paved with white marble that is more than twenty feet long. On both sides of the corridor are vast gardens with lights everywhere and the fragrance of flowers.
The main residence of the Prime Minister is at the end of the garden. It faces north and faces south. It is nine bays wide and four bays deep. It has double eaves flying ridges above and a palace-style gate with a white jade stone base below. There is a river running from east to west in front of the house.
There are four stone bridges with white jade railings. At this time, thousands of lanterns are blooming, and it is as brilliant as the Jiutian Palace, which is no less impressive than the Dali Palace.
"These wealthy locals really know how to enjoy themselves." Although the officials of the Song Dynasty were used to the prosperity of Bianjing, they were still deeply shocked by the magnificence of the Prime Minister's Mansion.
The guests sat down in the hall, one table per person. There were only cold dishes on the table, and there were no beauties to accompany the wine, and there were no female musicians to sing and dance. The officials of the Song Dynasty, who were accustomed to "there must be prostitutes when drinking", found it difficult to cheer up, thinking that this was called
What is the 'Peony Party'?
Gao Shengtai saw Ambassador Song's reaction, smiled slightly, and asked, "Are the flowers ready?"
"Already prepared," Zuo Zuo replied.
"Roll up the curtain." With his order, the curtains on the four walls of the hall slowly rolled up, revealing a flower curtain composed of thousands of peonies. The guests were immediately exposed to the world of flowers, without the need for wind.
The strange fragrance comes out and the whole house is filled with joy.
At this time, a group of women wearing white peonies on their heads and embroidered with white peonies on their collars came one after another, drinking and eating silk and bamboo. Dozens more women wearing red peonies on their heads and embroidered with red peonies on their collars sang "Peony Ci" and entered.
After drinking, he left. There were dozens of stunning women, several of them surrounding one guest, serving him tenderly and thoughtfully.
After the host toasted a glass of wine, the women who came in to drink changed their clothes. Most of the women with white hairpins wore purple clothes, those with purple hairpins wore goose-yellow clothes, and those with yellow hairpins wore red. After ten glasses of wine, the clothes of these women were similar to
The flowers were also changed ten times. The guests were all enchanting. Looking at the beauties and listening to the silk music, they all felt as if they were in a fairy palace, as if they were attending the Queen Mother's Yaochi banquet.
Chen Ke sat in the host and guest seats. Gao Shengtai was by his side and entertained him attentively. When he was full of wine, he asked with a smile: "How is the daughter of my family?"
Chen Ke gave a thumbs up and said: "Everyone is stunningly beautiful and enchanting."
"Let them wait at the Huili Hotel." Gao Shengtai said with a smile: "If the envoy does not dislike it in the future and is willing to take them back to the country, it will be their blessing. If he is not willing to take them back, he can leave some noble sons for me in Dali, and even more
It is our blessing in Dali."
"The prince is so generous, and the subordinates are moved." Chen Ke shook his head and smiled bitterly: "However, envoys are the dignity of the country, and we dare not indulge."
"Officials of the Celestial Dynasty are indeed different." Gao Shengtai said with a smile: "We can't do bad things with good intentions, so we won't force you. If you don't want a beauty, let's use a pearl instead." He handed over a gift list without leaving any trace.
.Chen Ke glanced at it, his eyes focused, and then he smiled playfully and said: "The prince's gift is too generous."
"I hope your Excellency can feel from this, our Gao family's respect and obedience to the Celestial Empire." Gao Shengtai said respectfully: "In addition to the envoys, there are also tributes and gifts. Please help me to present them to the Emperor and Prime Minister of the Song Dynasty.
.”
"Actually..." Chen Ke drew a circle on the gift list with his finger and said, "Master Gao should understand what is the best gift for an official family."
"This..." Gao Shengtai's smile solidified: "I understand."
"Tomorrow is the appointed day." Chen Ke said slowly: "Your Majesty is having a treat today. I'm afraid he has something to say."
"My lord is wise." Gao Shengtai said with a wry smile: "I'm ashamed to say that Nong Zhigao is really grinding the Tao."
"That's great." Chen Ke said with joy, "The Prime Minister is indeed a trustworthy person."
"But..." Gao Shengtai whispered: "When we went to get him, we found out that he had already escaped."
"Escaped?" Chen Ke frowned and said, "Did he know that someone from the Song Dynasty was coming?"
"Nong Zhigao actually bribed some officials in Dali."
"..." Chen Ke frowned and said after a long while: "The monk can't escape from the temple if he runs away. Please convey our request to the Prime Minister - allow the Song Dynasty army to enter Temo Road and wipe out the remaining troops of Nong Zhigao."
"I'm afraid this won't work..." Gao Shengtai looked confused: "Please ask the envoy to be accommodating." After saying this, he handed over another gift list.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, some things can be accommodated, and some things cannot be accommodated!" Chen Ke didn't even look at the gift list: "Nong Zhigao owes a lot of blood debts in the Song Dynasty, we must eliminate him!"
"We must closely monitor Te Mo Dao. As soon as Nong Zhigao comes back, we will capture him," Gao Shengtai said: "As for the Nong tribe of Te Mo Dao, they are all my people in Dali, not bandits. Please let them go."
Bar."
"The prince still doesn't understand. We can only punish the Nongbu severely. Then no one will dare to support or tolerate our enemies in the Song Dynasty in the future." Chen Ke said in a deep voice: "Don't worry, prince, we will only take the Nongbu and will not harass other places."
, and will withdraw as soon as possible after the Nongbu are eliminated."
"Can't you be accommodating?" Gao Shengtai's face turned ugly.
"So that the crown prince will know. The Song Dynasty must attack the Nongbu. This is decided by the officials and ministers of Bianjing. A small envoy under the official position is nothing more than a mouthpiece." Chen Ke softened his tone.
He said: "If the Gao family refuses to borrow the road, we will have no choice but to return home. But when the officials and ministers ask why the Gao family wants to protect the Nong tribe, how should the subordinates report back?"
This is a naked threat... If you don't agree to borrow the passage, in the eyes of the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, you are shielding the Nong thieves. When the Song Dynasty army forces their way into Dali, it won't just be a matter of dealing with the Nong tribe.
These days, the Gao family has found out that Guangyuan Prefecture has indeed declared itself a vassal to the Song Dynasty, and the road from Yongzhou to Dali is completely open. In Yongzhou City, there are indeed signs of a large-scale gathering of Song troops. This made Gao Zhisheng
The father and son were very worried. If the Song army got involved and the plan they had been planning for many years would be in danger of being ruined!
"Let me report it to my father and ask him to make a decision." Gao Shengtai said helplessly.
"Of course," Chen Ke said with a smile on his face, "But it must be done quickly. The lower official can afford to wait, but the army in Yongzhou City cannot afford to wait."
"I know." Gao Shengtai's smile was uglier than crying, and he wanted to tear this guy into pieces.
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After the business was finished, Chen Ke relaxed and enjoyed the songs and dances of the Gao family. The young officials also began to live wildly under the influence of alcohol and beauty. Many of them were still in the company of those enthusiastic white barbarian women.
At the invitation, we held hands and started dancing.
In the middle of the banquet, Chen Ke wanted to relieve himself, so under the guidance of two beautiful ladies, he came to the luxurious toilet in the backyard. This was definitely the most luxurious toilet he had ever seen in his life. He couldn't see clearly from the outside, but it was magnificent inside.
, the floor is paved with white jade, and the toilet is made of sandalwood with gold rim. There is even running water flowing from the celadon sink, which can not only wash hands but also cover up the sound when using the toilet. It is really high-end.
The two maids wanted to unbuckle his pants, but Chen Ke stopped him and said, "Some people are watching that I can't get out. You guys go outside and wait." The maids who have received strict training are as supple as water, and naturally follow his will.
, told him which was the silk cloth for wiping his lower body and which was the white towel for wiping his hands. He also lit a stick of incense for him, then quietly bowed and left.
"Brother, I want you to have a good time." Chen Ke unbuttoned his belt and sat on the toilet. He secretly made up his mind to build a luxurious hut when I return.
He was having a good time, when he suddenly heard a gust of wind, and his hair stood on end. Before he could react, he saw a silver hairpin inserted into the wooden barrel in front of him, with a piece of silk crossed on the hairpin.
Chen Ke took a closer look and saw four words written on the silk cloth, "Be careful on the way back." Then he looked back and saw that there was a ventilation hole the size of a bowl on the top of the toilet, through which the hairpin came in.
He silently pulled up his trousers, silently took out the hairpin, looked at it for a moment, then put it in his arms, pretended that nothing had happened, and left the luxurious toilet.
But he did not return to the banquet immediately. Instead, he stood in the corridor and thought for a long time, and then whispered a few instructions to the guards who followed him before turning back.
Returning to the table, Chen Ke saw Li Quan nodding towards him, which meant that the message had been conveyed, so he continued to play as if nothing had happened.
After the drum beat, Chen Ke said goodbye to his master. Gao Shengtai kindly asked him to stay, but he refused because he was ill and it was not appropriate to stay out all night. However, Chen Ke was open to others and announced that he was willing to stay.
Those who signed up could go back tomorrow, which immediately aroused cheers and most people signed up to stay.
The last ones to go back were only Chen Ke, Wang Shao, Song Duanping and Monk Xuanyu. Gao Zhisheng took them to the door and enthusiastically sent the Prime Minister's Mansion guards to escort them. Chen Ke was just polite and did not refuse.
After boarding the carriage, Chen Ke did not sit down. He lay directly on the floor of the carriage and covered his body with a shield. He seriously suggested to Song Duanping: "This is an ordinary carriage. You'd better be like me."
Song Duanping did as he was told, but laughed softly and said, "If it's a false alarm, we will be in trouble."
"It's better to be embarrassed than to lose one's life." Chen Ke chuckled and said, "I don't know what kind of god it is. It's so good that the rain knows the season, so spring will happen!"
