Some people want to eat chicken, but some people have stewed chicken in front of them but they can’t taste it and they boo and sigh.
Canglu County is located in a remote place, and there are no truly erudite scholars. Even if there are, they can't stay in a small place and have left long ago. Lin Shangpo is considered a very knowledgeable person in the county, so he also received the invitation
.
There was a mix of meat and vegetables on the table. Lin Shangpo picked up his chopsticks and put them down. He picked up the invitation card and looked at it again and again, as if he wanted to see the flowers. Finally, he took the invitation card and left the table, leaving his wife and daughter on the table.
The children were wandering by the bamboo forest outside the house.
Mrs. Lin quickly followed and asked: "The princess's invitation is something that no one else can get, so why are you so worried?"
Lin Shangpo shook his head and sighed: "The capital is the place where real celebrities gather, where learned people gather. The princess has never seen anything. There is no one who is proficient in poetry in this small place. Meeting friends with poetry is just an excuse no matter what."
Haven't you seen the recent news in Canglu County? Almost all the houses of wealthy families have been ransacked. The prince is clearly trying to make money. Our family is quite prosperous. With this invitation, I am afraid that if there is no good feast, there will be no good party.
ah!"
Mrs. Lin suddenly said nervously: "What should we do?"
Lin Shangpo sighed: "What else can I do? I'm being targeted, and I'm afraid I won't be able to run away..."
The Su Mansion, with its white walls and black tiles, is one of the few famous families in the county. The old man Su Dekang is also a famous and educated man in Canglu County. He studied in the capital in his early years. It is said that he was a classmate of a certain feudal official who is now a young official.
And my ancestor also served as a high-ranking official in the imperial court, and his current family fortune can be regarded as that of Yu Ze, the ancestor of Meng.
Last time, Su Dekang was among the people who came to welcome Shang Chaozong from afar. He originally went there in a carriage, but ended up watching a bloody scene, and finally walked back. A man of his age almost had to walk such a long way.
He didn't lose his life. Fortunately, he came back alive, and the Su Mansion was one of the few whose homes were not raided. There was no danger.
The housekeeper held the invitation in his hand and accompanied Su Dekang, who was walking on crutches in the courtyard, and asked: "Sir, what does this princess mean by making friends with poems?"
The crutch poked the ground, and Su Dekang snorted coldly: "What else could it be? It's just that the killing is too serious and I want to win people's hearts. I'm just pretending to show it to others!"
Butler: "Sir, should you go or not?"
Su Dekang thought for a while and sighed: "I am also in a dilemma! If you don't go, the lives of the whole family will be in danger! Go, this Yongping County Prince is clearly a rebellious minister and a traitor with evil intentions. Once the imperial army comes, he will definitely
If things fall apart, our Su family will be labeled as being in league with the traitors, and we might also be liquidated..."
As evening approached, there was a slight commotion in Canglu County due to the scattering of more than a dozen invitations.
Jing Mo Xuan and Lu Shengzhong stood at the door and offered their hands politely, finally dismissing the neighbors who came to watch the excitement.
The reason was naturally because of the invitation. People in the shops saw the officers and soldiers riding horses to deliver the invitation to Lu Shengzhong. When the officers and soldiers said that the invitation was from the princess, they naturally aroused a burst of surprise and onlookers.
After getting clean, he walked back behind the counter. Lu Shengzhong opened the invitation and looked at it carefully for a while. Finally, he put the invitation into his sleeve, as if nothing happened.
When night fell, he only lit one of the two lanterns at the door.
About half an hour later, a customer entered the shop and stayed for a while before leaving...
Early the next morning, when Niu Youdao opened the door, as expected, Shang Shuqing was already waiting outside.
"Good morning, Mr. Dao."
"Morning, Princess."
Without further ado, Niu Youdao opened all the windows to show the light, and then consciously sat in front of the dressing table.
Shang Shuqing also walked up behind him naturally and began to help him arrange his hair.
Normally, Shang Shuqing would say something every time she came here, but this time she remained silent until she helped Niu Youdao fix her hair.
In the end, Niu Youdao stared at the person in the mirror and asked, "Don't you want to ask something, Princess?"
Shang Shuqing asked, "Will Master Tao tell me?"
Niu Youdao: "Actually, I didn't hide it from you, the people doing the work are all your people."
Shang Shuqing: "But I'm still confused."
Niu Youdao: "I feel sorry for having to work so hard for the princess every day. How about asking the princess to watch a play later?"
Shang Shu blinked her clear eyes and said with a smile, "Okay!"
The golden light of the rising sun filled the forest. Looking at the foot of the mountain outside the city, those who received the invitation yesterday included some arriving in bullock carts, some in sedan chairs, and some on foot.
Lu Shengzhong came on foot, wearing a soft hat and looking around from time to time. He heard some news last night and knew that he was not the only one who received the invitation, so he relaxed his vigilance.
At this time, all those who had received the invitations were waiting in a long pavilion at the foot of the mountain. The visitors held invitations and greeted each other one after another. The county is only so big, and even if those who came were not familiar with each other, most of them had met each other in person.
Only Lu Shengzhong seemed to be a bit different. Everyone was very unfamiliar with him. When he learned that he was the new shopkeeper of Jingmoxuan, some people inevitably asked him where the original shopkeeper had gone. Lu Shengzhong naturally had a well-organized explanation.
While waiting, everyone had different expressions. Some were sullen and silent, some were solemn, and some were excited. The topic of discussion was nothing more than the princess's meeting with friends through poetry this time.
Lu Shengzhong didn't speak much, always had a smile on his face, and was polite to everyone. While listening to everyone's discussion, he was murmuring in his heart, making friends with poems? Wouldn't this be possible without my poems?
He could also understand why Shang Shuqing wanted to make friends with poetry. After all, Shang Shuqing was an unmarried woman, and it was unreasonable to see him alone as a man.
I just don’t know how to make friends with poems this time. He also prepared another of the two poems sent to him by Song Yanqing, which will definitely attract Shang Shuqing’s attention. I don’t know if Niu Youdao can
Show up. If you show up, is there a chance to make a move? If you make a move, can you escape safely?
Just as his thoughts were whirling, a private guard in plain clothes entered the pavilion, and with a smile on his face, he cupped his hands and said to everyone: "Thank you, distinguished guests, for waiting for a long time. I have been neglectful."
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter!" Some people were polite, while others were silent.
The guard did not hesitate and stretched out his hand to invite: "Everyone, if the princess invites you, please come with me!"
Everyone left the pavilion one after another, but they were told that the accompanying servants and transportation vehicles were not allowed to enter the mountain, and they had to go on foot. It was said to be the rules here, and everyone had no choice. Some things were not up to them, civilians, to make choices, so they had to abide by them.
Along the way, there were those who enjoyed themselves and praised the beautiful scenery, the beautiful scenery, the land of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, etc.
Su Dekang, who is much older, can't get up and down. Although the road into the mountain is not rugged and has no steps, it winds up slowly, which is equivalent to climbing all the way. Naturally, it is too much for him at his age. But in this case,
, naturally there are many people who respect the elderly, and there are younger people to support them.
Arriving outside the heavily guarded villa, we were already on the top of a mountain where we could overlook the entire county.
When everyone entered the villa, the man kneeling on one side of the door made many people mutter, wondering what mistake he had made, and he looked very haggard.
After everyone was brought to the main garden of the villa, the guard smiled at everyone: "Here is a private room for everyone to rest. There are pens, inks, papers and inkstones. The princess first asks you to leave your calligraphy treasures, poems and poems.
All are welcome, the time limit is half an hour, and the princess will come here after half an hour to meet with everyone and share their achievements."
Regardless of whether everyone agrees or not, a group of servants have come over, each asking one person to go with them.
Someone enthusiastically raised his hands to everyone and said, "Everyone, see you in half an hour!"
Lu Shengzhong followed the people into the depths of the garden, keeping secretly looking around from the corner of his eyes. He had been paying attention to the internal environment since entering the manor.
Where he went was a quiet little pavilion located deep in the garden. The servants took him into the pavilion, poured tea, asked him to help himself, and then withdrew.
Lu Shengzhong looked around the pavilion. There were teas and fruits, and there were neatly arranged pens, inks, papers and inkstones on the table.
I slowly walked around the small pavilion without touching any tea or fruit. I walked to the desk, put water in an inkstone, and slowly ground ink.
Just when he was about to leave another poem gifted by Song Yanqing, there was a sound of footsteps outside, and four people came in. A woman wearing a gauze hat; a middle-aged man holding a sword with white hair like silver frost and a calm expression.
; A young man with a slightly lazy demeanor came in and casually put his sword on the ground, followed by a tall young man with an indifferent expression.
With just one glance, Lu Shengzhong was able to identify several people. When Shang Chaozong arrived in Canglu County and entered the city, Lu Shengzhong met Niu Youdao in the crowd. Unexpectedly, he saw his target as soon as he arrived at the villa.
But he didn't dare to take action. The white-haired man holding the sword in his arms made his heartstrings tighten secretly, for fear of being caught.
As soon as he saw someone coming, Lu Shengzhong quickly walked around the long desk to perform the ceremony, and the Confucian scholar behaved in a decent manner.
Niu Youdao introduced Shang Shuqing with a smile, "Mr. Fang Ping, right? This is the princess!"
Lu Shengzhong hurriedly saluted: "I pay my respects to the princess!"
Shang Shuqing nodded and murmured in her heart, wondering what kind of show Niu Youdao wanted to see by inviting her here.
Niu Youdao stretched out his hand and invited Shang Shuqing to sit down after going to the case. He and Yuan Gang guarded Shang Shuqing, while Bai Yao quietly moved behind Lu Shengzhong, making Lu Shengzhong feel uncomfortable.
"I heard that Mr. Fang Ping's poems are good?" Niu Youdao asked again with a smile.
Lu Shengzhong said modestly: "I don't dare, I won't be able to reach the level of elegance."
Niu Youdao said with a smile: "I also wrote a poem, and I would like to ask sir for some advice."
Lu Shengzhong said politely: "I dare not give you advice, but I am willing to listen attentively."
Niu Youdao seemed to think about it for a moment, then continued to sing with a smile: "Once upon a time, the sea was difficult to deal with, except for Wushan, it was not clouds. I took a look back lazily on the flowers, half as a Taoist and half as a king... I wonder what this poem I wrote is like?"
"..." Lu Shengzhong looked at him in astonishment and thought to himself, does this want to pressure me to plagiarize it for myself?
Shang Shuqing also looked at Niu Youdao with some suspicion.