then Li Sao

He Mansion in the west of the city.

He Yuzhi was swinging on the swing in the garden and said: "Brother, didn't uncle always say that he would send me to the palace? I have never seen what the emperor looks like. Just let me go and have a look tonight."

He Yuzhi shook his head: "What's so interesting about the emperor, Zhi'er, do you really take uncle's words seriously?"

He Yuzhi swayed: "It doesn't matter if I take it seriously or not. The emperor has been on the throne for three years and has not yet accepted a concubine. Girls from aristocratic families in the capital are all looking forward to draft girls. Why can't I be curious? What's more, The emperor said that you can bring your family members to the Lantern Festival, so why don't you take me there..."

"Nonsense! Now anyone with a discerning eye can see that the emperor is rectifying the He family. The main family demolished and demoted, and we are left in the capital. The power of the He family is nothing. If you want me to say, uncle They are reluctant to part with the former glory, and they are still wishful thinking. Sending you into the palace? That is not making you a concubine, but making you a hostage!"

"Brother, you are really boring." He Yuzhi pouted and jumped off the swing, "I don't want to hear and don't understand your big principles. I just want to join in the fun. I don't care about the concubine. You said it too, our He family It’s no longer beautiful, and now there are too many daughters in front of me, and it’s not my turn.”

"As long as you know."

"So, why don't you take me to see it? If the emperor doesn't look good, I can go and see the lanterns in the palace."

The little girl was shaking her brother's arm to act coquettishly while talking, but He Yuzhi couldn't help her, so he could only nod reluctantly.Xin said that anyway, it should be nothing to do with being eight feet away from the emperor.

Seeing that he agreed, He Yuzhi cheered and was about to pick out clothes, walked two steps and turned back: "Brother, I remember you often mentioned an official surnamed Luo, does it mean that he always bullies you?"

He Yuzhi frowned: "Why do you ask this?"

He Yuzhi smiled slyly: "Hey, brother, you are a gentleman, and it's not easy for you to do it in officialdom. I, a little girl, can avenge you, just punish him."

He Yuzhi nailed a hairy chestnut on her forehead, and couldn't help laughing: "Don't worry about me, he is a first-rank official, and he doesn't care to bully a sesame official like your brother. I just don't like him. That's all."

He Yuzhi covered his forehead and looked at his brother's expression carefully, and said, "Brother, do you know that I and you are twins, and I can understand what you are thinking at a glance. You don't mean that you don't like him, you mean... ..."

"what is it call?"

"It's called envy, jealousy and hatred." He Yuzhi ran away after finishing speaking, laughing, "Don't deny it, you obviously want to ask others for advice, but you just put on a face that is against others. Brother, you can't do anything else, duplicity is the most important thing You're good at it."

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

He Yuzhi picked up the teacup as if to smash it, but of course he couldn't do it.Samsam withdrew her movements, brushed a few plum blossoms on the stone table with her cuffs inadvertently, and a wisp of fragrance wafted from her nose.

His face was blue and white, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

In the evening, He Yuzhi was sitting in the carriage, looking out through the curtain, while her brother was flipping through a book boredly.

Just as he was reading the libretto written by Young Master Xu, "The festive season is here, my beloved is coming", I heard He Yuzhi say, "I really want to see what that Prime Minister Luo looks like. Is he a strict old man? He is as fierce as uncle." Is he a corrupt official? Both his left and right hands are wearing big emerald finger rings?"

He Yuzhi sighed, closed the book, and tapped on his sister's head lightly: "What are you thinking about all day long in your head, and you even wrench your fingers, do you think he is a local rich man?"

"Why, if he is not a corrupt official, brother, why do you dislike him?"

"Corrupt official..." He Yuzhi thought for a while, "I really haven't seen him being greedy for anything. In fact, he looks quite elegant, his words are gentle and polite, and his expression has always been calm. He doesn't look domineering..."

He Yuzhi leaned over and giggled: "Brother, look at you, what do you say is not pleasing to others, I just said a few random words, you have been defending him for a long time."

He Yuzhi's complexion was complete: "I haven't finished yet! But that man...his actions made a gentleman despise him. He betrayed Emperor Jing for his own selfish desires, flattered the emperor, and secretly suppressed the courtiers. His advice Your Majesty never refuses to listen, you don't know, he has put in a lot of effort when our He family is where it is today!"

"Oh." He Yuzhi nodded angrily, "So he is such an old and cunning person."

He Yuzhi didn't want to say any more, he lifted the curtain of the car and propped his head to breathe, his eyes suddenly focused, and as the car drove forward, he turned his neck involuntarily to look.

"Brother?" He Yuzhi noticed his abnormality and asked, "What are you looking at?"

He Yuzhi came back to his senses, thought for a while, asked the groom to stop, pointed and said to his sister, "Hey, that's the treacherous Prime Minister Luo."

He Yuzhi looked back curiously, and saw so many people crowded in one place, how could he tell who was who.

"Brother, are you kidding me? It's a market peddler selling things. Why is the dignified Prime Minister there? Besides, even if he is there, you can see so many people at a glance?"

"I'm not kidding you. Didn't you say you wanted to see it? It will be dark at night, and we are too far away from him and the emperor, so we won't be able to see it clearly. Why don't you enjoy it now. That's it, white clothes, emerald tassels. "

"Let me see, let me see."

He Yuzhi stretched his neck to look, and sure enough, he saw a white-clothed gentleman among the many civilians. The man passed the money with his slender fingers, and his face gradually became clear in the white mist when the peddler started cooking.

"So young!" He Yuzhi couldn't help exclaiming, "Shouldn't the prime minister be a bad old man!"

He Yuzhi grabbed her by the collar and pulled her back into the car, and signaled the groom to continue on his way: "Okay, I'll take a look, Zhi'er, let me tell you, we can't mess with this person, so don't mess around."

"Understood brother." He Yuzhi quietly lifted the curtain and looked back, and saw the man with a smile on his lips, put something into his sleeve, glanced at them as if nothing, turned and got into the car.

She quickly withdrew her gaze and regained her senses in a daze.

He is obviously a very gentle person...

Glancing at her brother, she thought, it really wasn't a dislike.Maybe sometimes, the so-called people who are not gentlemen are even more admired, but most people in the world don't want to admit it.

----

Lanterns were lit in the palace, and various colored lanterns were hung on the corridor, surrounded by moon halo candlelight, making it feel rather hazy.Compared with the Yingying Huaishui River Lanterns during the Zhongyuan Festival, it has a different artistic conception.

Zhou Tang sat at the top, and He Yuzhi sat next to his elder brother to look hard, but it was still a blur, and he couldn't even see where his eyes were.

He Yuzhi told her: "The first person on the left is Taiwei Fang Jin, and the first person on the right is Prime Minister Luo Pingluo. These two people, how should I put it, are both enemies and friends. People who can't see through."

"Oh."

Not only civil and military officials came to the Lantern Festival banquet, but also gentle and charming female relatives, the daughter of the minister, the sister of the minister, the sister-in-law of the censor, everything that one expects to find, all of them are beautiful and charming.

He Yuzhi looked at so many beauties, and thought that none of them actually came to see the lantern, including her, all came for the first three people.The emperor, the Taiwei, the prime minister, the most powerful son-in-law in the dynasty, who doesn't want to get close?

When the banquet started, the ceremonial officials presented the year-old tributes of Xizhao, Nanlai and Beiling.

The tributes were extremely rich, including gold and silver, horses, cold black iron, amber incense, azalea jade, South Sea pearls, etc., all in a dazzling array.It could be seen that the emperor was in a very good mood, so he rewarded Fang Taiwei with a black gold bow and Prime Minister Luo with a piece of jade, and personally chose a black iron sword, and said loudly:

"Back when I was fighting in the northern battlefield, I had an inch snow sword. That sword was a gift from the most important person in my heart. I used it to kill more than ten thousand enemies, and I slept on it every night. Unfortunately, it broke in the end. In the battlefield, I couldn’t find it. After the world was settled, I always felt that something was missing around me. Today I finally remembered that it was the missing sword that reminded me to be prepared for danger. Therefore, I named this sword 'Inch Snow', and it is the Son of Heaven. Sword, seeing an inch of snow is like seeing me."

The people below shouted long live, thinking in their hearts: Oh, the most important person in the emperor's heart, who is that?

Zhou Tang was in high spirits, looking at Luo Ping's dazed expression, he couldn't help feeling a little complacent: Look, young master, I haven't forgotten your affection for me, as long as you accompany me like an inch of snow...

Luo Ping took a sip of his wine and avoided his gaze.

The envoys from Nanlai and Beiling came to see each other one by one, Zhou Tang replied about their friendship for a hundred years, and the ceremonial officer sang again: "Master Xizhao and His Royal Highness the Princess wish His Majesty the New Year."

When Luo Ping heard this, his body froze.Zhou Tang saw it, and remembered the relationship between Luo Ping and Xi Zhao, and his brows moved slightly.

Master Xizhao is over fifty years old, but he looks as young as a 30-year-old, with wide sleeves and windy eyes, and his eyes are like clouds pouring down, quite honest.Princess Xiangwan is even more stunningly beautiful, dressed in Xizhao's luxurious clothes, her complexion is as beautiful as snow, her eyebrows and eyes are somewhat similar to Luo Ping's mother, and her frown and smile are full of affection.

The national teacher saluted and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, Da Cheng will live forever, Xi Zhao wishes to be with Da Cheng from generation to generation. As a token of sincerity, my king ordered me to bring Princess Xiangwan to present to His Majesty. I hope that Your Majesty will show mercy and be with me Xi Zhao forever." It's a good relationship between Qin and Jin."

Zhou Tang's mind was blank. He had read the gift list, saying that the National Teacher would come to present the treasure of Xizhao in person, but he did not expect that this treasure was actually the daughter of King Xizhao.

None of the officials expected this, and there was an uproar.

Luo Ping sat in his original position and did not move, but if you look closely, you will find that the knuckles of his fingers holding the cup are a little white.

After a long while, Zhou Tang said: "The national teacher is invited, this matter is very important, please take the princess to rest first, and discuss later."

Master Xizhao glanced at Luo Ping who was not far away, said nothing, and retreated with Princess Xiangwan.Princess Xiangwan followed his gaze and looked at Luoping, a smile suddenly appeared on the corner of her lips.

After the banquet, the Zhenyang Hall.

"Little master, what did you just say?"

"Your Majesty, I believe that now that the world is stable and the people are healthy, it is time for Your Majesty to consider accepting a concubine. Princess Xiangwan came here with a mission of honor and disgrace for the country. Please do not make rash decisions that will damage the diplomatic relations between the two countries."

"Luo Ping!" Zhou Tang was furious, forced himself to suppress his anger, and looked at him in disbelief, "This is the first piece of advice you gave me after you became prime minister?!"

"His Majesty……"

"So what if I return this princess intact? He Xi Zhao can impress me? Yes, I forgot, your mother is from the royal family of Xi Zhao, so you are speaking for Xi Zhao!"

Zhou Tang was furious: "Anyone can persuade me to accept the concubine, but you can't!"

Luo Ping closed his eyes: "Your Majesty, you are a king, you can't stay out of marriage forever. Don't ignore state affairs just because you are angry with a minister, that minister will be a sinner of Dacheng."

"Who I like is my own business! It's not a state matter!"

"Yes, who your majesty likes is your own business, but whoever your majesty wants to accept as a concubine is a state affair." Luo Ping resisted the trembling of his voice, "I dare you, I implore your majesty to accept the princess Xiangwan, and at the same time accept a woman of great success For the concubine."

"One is not enough, who else do you want to push into my arms!"

"The daughter of the He family, He Yuzhi... um..."

With a crisp slap on Luo Ping's face, there were five red fingerprints.

Zhou Tang himself was dumbfounded: "Little master, I'm not..."

Luo Ping's tone was calm: "Although the He family is lonely, but the power is still there. A while ago, His Majesty vigorously cut off the influence of the He family in the court, which made them very disturbed. At this time, they are married to his family..."

"Little Master! Stop talking!"

"Being married to his family at this time can stabilize the hearts of the old ministers. And marrying Princess Xiangwan is also beneficial to both countries. Please think carefully, Your Majesty."

"Okay! I'll marry! I'll welcome both of them into the palace!" Zhou Tang was driven crazy.

"Your Majesty is wise."

Zhou Tang stroked Luo Ping's swollen left cheek with trembling hands, and the bright red blood oozing from the corner of his mouth: "Little master, I will listen to whatever you say. If you ask me to marry them, I will marry them. This is a state matter. Then you know Is there anyone I like?"

Luo Ping took a step back, knelt down in the room, and performed a deep respect for a monarch and minister, without saying a word.

When Luo Ping returned to the mansion, he heard Luo Xiaoan making noise and still refused to sleep.

He stepped into Luo Xiaoan's room, waved the servant away, hugged him and patted him gently: "Xiao An, be good, Daddy is back."

Xiao An nestled in his arms: "Daddy, Xiao An is hungry and can't sleep."

"Well, Daddy brought you something to eat. Look..."

Luo Ping took out a small porcelain cup from his sleeve, opened it, and inside was cold glutinous rice balls.

"Daddy forgot, go and warm it up for you before eating."

"No need, Dad, it's delicious."

Xiao An ate with big mouthfuls, raised her head and wanted to feed Luo Ping, but suddenly froze: "Daddy, your eyes..."

There are too many things in the eyes, and when they can't hold them, they overflow.

Zhou Tang saw a small porcelain cup at the place where Luo Ping knelt on him for a long time.

Open it, and there are cold glutinous rice balls inside.

Lee Kee Tangyuan.

The word "Li Ji" was written on the note he had someone bring him this morning.

The Lantern Festival many years ago was only celebrated by the two of them——

"Little master, I can't memorize this passage."

"Forget it, you've already memorized a lot, let's eat something first."

"what is this?"

"Li Ji's glutinous rice balls, ah, I forgot, they are already cold, go and warm them up for you."

"No need, master, it's delicious!"

Liji glutinous rice balls are stuffed with lotus seed paste, which is very similar to the taste of Xiaofuzi.

It would be great if I could wrap the little master in my mouth and eat it.

It would be great if I could melt this person in my mouth and swallow it in my heart.