There was a pavilion on the lake. Princess Taiping was sitting on a bamboo bamboo mat, her elbow propped on a table, her brows slightly furrowed.
This was the back garden of the Princess Residence. Princess Taiping's clothes were relatively casual, her hair was loosely tied up, she only wore a snow-patterned silk dress and her feet were bare.
The bamboo mat under Princess Taiping's body was lustrous like jade, it was taken from Qizhou where famous bamboos were abundant. It was as smooth as a bed of bamboo leaves, as cold as the scales of a crouching dragon, soft but tough, smooth and cool, it could be folded vertically and horizontally without changing shape. This kind of bamboo mat was worth at least a hundred gold.
When Qizhou's bamboo mat was first made, it was green in color, but as time passed and it was used, it gradually turned brown and then the color became darker and darker. The bamboo mat under Princess Taiping's body had already turned brown red, showing how old it was. This kind of bamboo mat could be sold for at least five hundred gold in the market.
However, this bamboo mat was one of Princess Taiping's dowry, an item used by the imperial court, its price was far beyond five hundred gold.
Outside the pavilion, the dark green lotus leaves were as big as jade plates, spread out layer upon layer, the lotus flowers drilled out between the gaps of the leaves, bright and glistening. There was a gentle breeze on the lake, gently stirring the lotus leaves and also brushing the belt on Princess Taiping's slender waist.
In the middle of the pavilion, there were very wide eaves extending out like bats. Not only could it shelter her from the rain, but it could also block the sun. It was supposed to be very cool, but it was noon at the moment, so it was still very hot. Therefore, a few basins of ice were placed around Princess Taiping's body.
The external steward Li Yi was sitting on her knees opposite her, reporting something to her, the internal steward Zhou Min was sitting beside her, from time to time she would pick up a silver mallet and knock a few times on the sparkling and translucent ice, making it crack and letting the coolness spread faster.
On the table in front of Princess Taiping was a cup of wine, as well as a plate of ice carved into the shape of a fish. Princess Taiping listened to Li Yi's narration, sometimes she would lazily pick up a silver clamp, pick up an ice fish and throw it into the glass, gently shake it, wait for the ice to melt, the wine cup would be suffused with a faint layer of mist, then she would pick up the wine cup and take a sip. Perhaps she had drunk a lot of wine, her fair and delicate cheeks had a faint blush.
After listening to Li Yi, Princess Taiping said: "Hmm! So far, how many of us have been caught in the crossfire? "
Li Yi quickly calculated in his heart and bowed. "Seven people, but their positions are not too high. The highest position is only a doctor."
Princess Taiping nodded and said, "Yes, the prime ministers and Wu Chengsi are worried that the neutral forces will join the other side, so they are trying their best to avoid dragging irrelevant people into the water. It's also ben gong's fault for always being a bit too careful. These officials' identities are hidden, so neither side knows that they are my people. As a result, they are implicated. "
Li Yi said carefully, "Yes! So, should we think of a way to rescue them? "
Princess Taiping sighed softly and said, "Save? How? They were all imprisoned on charges of corruption and treason. Mother was furious at the moment. Besides, I can't reveal my power too early. "
Li Yi said, "But … if this goes on, I'm afraid more and more people will be implicated for no reason. At that time …"
Princess Taiping said, "Yes! If this goes on, the foundation of the country will be shaken. They don't understand Mother's character. Mother is unyielding and would rather die in glory than live in dishonor. As long as you say that the court is full of treacherous officials, she would rather clean up the court. Even at the risk of serious damage, she still wants to regroup. If you want Mother to feel that the situation is out of control and take the initiative to pacify the situation, that is impossible. "
Hearing this, Zhou Min could not help but interrupt, "Princess, your servant thinks that now both sides are in a difficult position. If you want to pacify the situation, only Princess can come forward and mediate."
Princess Taiping slightly leaned her body and changed her other hand to support herself on the table. This movement caused her soft and thin spring dress to slip, revealing her white and alluring bosom. However, there was no one else in the pavilion. Li Yi was a eunuch who came with her when she was married. Princess Taiping had never regarded him as a man and did not care at all.
Princess Taiping did not hide and only giggled at Zhou Min. "Mother has always opposed me getting involved in politics. Ben gong's wings are not yet formed, so I cannot come forward at this time."
Zhou Min said, "If Princess cannot come forward, then what should we do?"
Princess Taiping's pair of beautiful red phoenix eyes slightly squinted and leisurely said, "Wu Sansi unexpectedly kept his composure this time. This is somewhat beyond my expectations. He does not have this kind of scheming mind. I think it was his five dogs who gave him the idea! Now that the Prime Ministers and Wu Chengsi are evenly matched, as long as one side loses, the situation will be pacified. As long as I think of a way to let Wu Sansi take action, the situation will be settled! "
Li Yi frowned and said, "Princess, since Wu Sansi has decided to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, will he be willing to come forward?"
Princess Taiping smiled and said, "I have my own way! You go and appease our people and tell them not to worry. In the imperial court tomorrow, there will be a sudden change! "
Li Yi nodded and said, "Yes!"
Li Yi stood up and retreated. At this time, a maid dressed in green rushed to the pavilion and said to Princess Taiping, "Princess, there is a General of the Left Yulin, named Yang Fan, who is here to see you!"
"Oh?"
Princess Taiping's eyes lit up and she sat up straight and said, "Quick, quick … Cough! Bring him to see me! "
"Yes!"
The maid dressed in green retreated. Princess Taiping glanced at Zhoumin and said, "Go and do your own things, there is no need to wait on me."
Zhoumin complied and retreated. Princess Taiping straightened her clothes and sat upright, like a white lotus, slowly floating on the water in the pond.
…
Yang Fan followed Princess Taiping's family to the backyard. This was the first time he came to Princess Taiping's residence. If it was not for the situation in the imperial court gradually getting out of control and he had no one to ask for help, he really did not want to come.
They had already left the front yard. As far as the eye could see, it was no longer a magnificent palace-style building. Here, there were trees, mountains, rocks, and pavilions hidden among them. Occasionally, a corner of a towering and imposing building could be seen. The style was really not comparable to an ordinary residence.
In front, a well-dressed manservant led Yang Fan past a red building in the forest. Suddenly, there was a burst of music coming from upstairs, followed by a few women's giggles. It was somewhat flirtatious, but also like a delicate gasp. Then, with a 'pa' sound, a wine cup flew down from the building and fell to the ground, smashing into pieces.
Yang Fan's figure flashed as he raised his head to look upstairs. He saw an enchanting woman in only her undergarments, giggling as she fled to the top of the building. She was followed by a disheveled man whose face was flushed red from drunkenness. He staggered over and pulled her back. Yang Fan looked over and saw two other beauties in spring clothes catching up to the man and supporting him.
"Prince's son-in-law, don't mess around, you have drunk too much …"
The voice floated down from upstairs. When Yang Fan heard it, he could not help but be shocked. This person was Prince's son-in-law, Wu Youji?
The Dragon gave birth to nine sons, each of them different. The princesses of the Tang dynasty were naturally jealous, but there were also gentle and delicate ones. Thus, whether a prince's son-in-law's life was good or not depended on which princess he married. Some prince's son-in-law married a gentle and virtuous princess. Not only could they live comfortably at home, they could also take in concubines if they wanted to. Some princesses were very jealous, so the prince's son-in-law had to be extra careful if he wanted to steal them.
However, no matter what kind of princess she was, a princess was still a princess. A princess had her own dignity, and a married woman had her own rules. No prince's son-in-law dared to go so far as to indulge in debauchery in the princess's residence, openly gathering a group of concubines to drink and seek pleasure, and brazenly challenging the princess' authority.
But now …
"Lang Jiang, this way please!"
The manservant in front was very calm, as if he was already used to this kind of scene. Yang Fan suppressed the doubts in his heart and followed the manservant away. The gentle wind carried the flirtatious laughter in the building to his ears, but he could no longer hear it.
Further back, there were even fewer pavilions, but the scenery of the mountains and rivers was even more lush.
The gardens of the Tang dynasty were mostly based on natural scenery, and not much decoration was done. Thus, as he walked through the forest, Yang Fan felt as if he was walking on a small mountain path.
In front of him, there was a maid dressed in green waiting on him. The manservant stopped and continued to be led by the maid. Not long later, they arrived at a sparkling lake.
There was a pavilion by the lake, and most of it was above the water. The windows on all four sides of the pavilion were wide open. The maid dressed in green indicated for Yang Fan to stop, and went to the pavilion to report: "Princess, Lang Jiang Yang has arrived!"
"Invite him in!"
Yang Fan walked into the pavilion and saw Li Lingyue dressed casually, and then looked at the grape wine on the table. He could not help but frown slightly.
Princess Taiping gently waved her hand and dismissed the maid. She nodded sweetly to Yang Fan and said: "Second Lang, please sit!"
In the pavilion, other than the table in front of Princess Taiping, there was only a table on the side where Zhou Min used to sit. Yang Fan did not bow and walked over in large strides. He sat behind the table and said in a deep voice: "Princess is so relaxed!"
Princess Taiping lightly smiled and said: "The summer is scorching, and the heat is very strong. I am a woman and do not need to worry about state affairs. If I don't relax here and enjoy the cool air, what else can I do?"
As she spoke, she took a glass cup and filled it with wine that was as red as snow. She also picked up two ice fish and gently pushed it to the side of the table. Her white jade-like hand gently gestured and said with a smile: "Please drink!"
The sparkling and translucent ice fish floated or sank in the dark red wine. Paired with the jade-yellow glass cup, it was truly a glazed bell. The amber was thick, and the wine droplets were truly pearl-red. Yang Fan didn't stand on ceremony. He stretched out his arm and took the wine cup. He tilted his neck and poured the entire cup of wine into his mouth. He swallowed it with a gulp and then chewed on the two ice fishes that hadn't melted yet.
Princess Taiping covered her mouth and laughed. She said: "Such good wine and such a way to drink it. It is really like a cow chewing on peony. Erlang, this wine should not be drunk like this. Come, let me teach you! "
In a very elegant posture, Princess Taiping gently stretched out two fingers to hold the glass cup, and slowly brought it to her mouth. She gently opened her sandalwood mouth, and slowly poured the bright red wine into her red lips. Then she put down the wine cup, and slightly opened her mouth to let Yang Fan see the shape of her lips and tongue.
Princess Taiping's tongue was like a leaf that was slightly curled up from both sides to the middle. The bright red wine was gently flowing on her tongue. Princess Taiping was afraid that the wine would overflow, so when Yang Fan could see it clearly, she curled up her tongue and pursed her lips, letting the wine flow into her throat.
After drinking this mouthful of wine, Princess Taiping smiled and said: "When the wine enters your mouth, stir it with your tongue and swallow it slowly. In this way, you can taste its mellow and fragrant taste and leave a fragrance on your teeth and cheeks …"
Yang Fan calmly said: "Your Royal Highness, I am not here today to ask you for advice on how to drink wine."
"Oh! You are right! "
Princess Taiping put her elbow on the table to support her chin. Her sleeves slid down, revealing her snow-white tender arm. On her wrist, there was a green jade bracelet, which contrasted brilliantly with her snow-white skin.
Princess Taiping held her chin and said lazily: "You are a busy man. Your official career is smooth sailing. You have more than ten shops in your family that make a lot of money every day. You are very busy every day. So, you are a busy man. Why did you come to see me today despite your busy schedule? "
Princess Taiping said. She winked at him playfully and innocently.
…
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