This was a private banquet, and the location was still arranged on a pleasure boat on Liujing River. However, this pleasure boat was exceptionally elegant, and did not have the exaggerated feeling of the red sleeves on the other side of the river. At this time, there was no rain or clouds on the river. The water was calm, and under the light breeze, the water rippled gently. Compared to the melodious sounds that could be faintly heard in the distance, the pleasure boat arranged by the second prince seemed to have an otherworldly feeling, like a lonely boat on the sea.
Fan Xian and Crown Prince Jing, Li Hongcheng, chatted and laughed all the way to the riverside. A guard pulled the horse, and the two of them extended a hand to each other, and then they boarded the pleasure boat. Fan Xian wore a smile on his face, but he sighed in the depths of his heart. This prince seemed to be an elegant person, but he did not know why he was not content to be a prince, and insisted on stirring up so much trouble in the Kingdom of Qing.
On the slightly wet wooden planks, Fan Xian's feet were about to step onto the side of the boat. Suddenly, the sound of strings being plucked came from the boat. There was no murderous intent, only a sense of purity and sincerity. The song gradually began.
"Leaving the green waters and green mountains, I came early to a bamboo fence and a thatched cottage. Wildflowers bloomed by the roadside, and wine was squeezed from the village trough, and we ate until we were thirsty. Drunk mountain children did not advise us, and yellow flowers stuck in our white hair. "
A smile appeared on the corners of Fan Xian's lips, and he walked in side by side with Li Hongcheng. Listening to this song, he became more and more curious about what kind of person this second prince was.
The bead curtain was lifted, and a young man dressed in green silk was sitting on a chair in a very strange posture. His head was slightly tilted, and his eyes were slightly closed. There was a very satisfied expression on his face, and he was listening to the singing girl in the corner.
Without asking, this young man was the second prince, born to the current Emperor of Qing and Lady Shu.
The Second Prince's sitting posture was indeed very peculiar. He was actually half-squatting on the chair, looking very much like a farmer resting in the fields. His green silk robe covered his legs, but what was even more peculiar was that looking at his intoxicated expression, his delicate facial features, and his whole body exuded a kind of elegant and peaceful feeling. It was as if he had long been tired of everything around him, and the past of the world was just a memory.
When Fan Xian saw the second prince, his first thought was: This man feels so familiar. His second thought was that this person was very tired, and his heart was very tired. His third thought was that this person's mind was very heavy. He believed in his ability to read people, but the situation was a bit awkward. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Crown Prince Li Hongcheng had already quietly picked a chair and sat down. He stood in the middle, looking at the Second Prince, not knowing how to greet him.
The other party seemed to be so engrossed in listening to the music that he forgot that he was a guest. Of course, with his identity, it was only natural for him to wait for a while.
The song finally came to an end. The female singer held her zither horizontally, bowed slowly to each of the three people in the hall, and silently retreated into the back room.
The second prince, who was squatting on the chair, seemed to be still immersed in the sound of the zither. He didn't come back to his senses for a long time. His eyes were still closed, and his right hand, suspended in the air, slowly moved to the side. He touched the plate of grapes on the table. Two fingers pinched the grape stem and picked up a bunch. He raised it high in the air like a child. He raised his head, opened his lips, and closed his teeth. Slowly, he bit off a verdant grape. He chewed twice and swallowed. His throat moved beautifully. It seemed that even eating grapes was a very enjoyable thing.
Fan Xian was not in a hurry. He looked at the prince with a slight smile. His eyes were calm, but he didn't let go of any of the other's small movements. He was trying to see what kind of person he was.
…
…
A moment later, the second prince sighed and placed the grape in his hand back onto the plate. Only then did he slowly open his eyes. He seemed to have just realized that the guest he had invited had arrived on the boat. A strange smile involuntarily flashed through his eyes. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly, and a somewhat bashful smile blossomed.
Fan Xian's heart jumped. That familiar feeling grew stronger and stronger.
The second prince looked calmly at Fan Xian standing in front of him. He suddenly opened his mouth and asked, "Since you've come, why don't you sit?"
Crown Prince Li Hongcheng sat to the side, smiling and drinking tea. He didn't say anything to help Fan Xian. Fan Xian returned a warm smile and bowed to the second prince. "Your Highness, if I don't bow, I wouldn't dare to sit."
The second prince looked at Fan Xian with a slight smile. "I didn't welcome you, so you don't have to bow to me."
Fan Xian smiled. "Your Highness doesn't need to welcome me. I have to bow to Your Highness."
The second prince smiled and shook his head. He wiped his right hand, which was stained with grape juice, carelessly on his green silk robe. "On this boat, there are only me and my brother Hongcheng, as well as your brother-in-law. There aren't any princes or officials."
Fan Xian chuckled and cupped his hands in salute. He didn't say anything more. He sat down in the chair across from Crown Prince Li Hongcheng. Since the second prince liked to play the role of a famous scholar, although he wasn't good at it, he could still sit in a sedan chair.
In reality, the conversation between the two of them didn't have any deep meaning. But Fan Xian still felt that it was very strange. Because the second prince spoke very slowly, and every time he opened his mouth, it was always half a beat slower than the average person. So when they spoke, it always felt as if the other person spoke suddenly. And what Fan Xian found even more interesting was that the more he looked at the second prince, the more familiar he felt. But he didn't know where this feeling of familiarity came from. He was very sure that it wasn't because of Wan 'er.
"I paid for this pleasure boat. What do you think?" The second prince seemed eager to know how Fan Xian felt about this pleasure boat. Fan Xian smiled bitterly. He then looked around at the decorations of the boat. He found that whether it was the layout, the green pots in the corners, or the paintings hanging diagonally, this pleasure boat didn't seem like a pleasure boat. It seemed more like a study. He couldn't help but shake his head and smile. "Your Highness, this pleasure boat is very quiet. It doesn't fit with the word 'flower'."
The second prince smiled lightly and raised his head to look at him. "Quiet is good."
Fan Xian suddenly felt that this kind of conversation was a bit boring and difficult. He was just about to turn his gaze to Li Hongcheng, whom he was familiar with, for help when he heard Crown Prince Jing's words ring out.
"I say, can you two not talk so tiredly?" Li Hongcheng smiled and interrupted.
The second prince chuckled and said to Fan Xian, "Do you see? Don't think that us royal children are boring people. Besides, you are already married to Wan 'er. We are family. In the future, you should see each other more often. "
Li Hongcheng laughed before Fan Xian could. "Our manor is one thing, but you are the second prince. You will be in danger if you go out."
All three of them knew that he was talking about Fan Xian's attempt on Niulan Street by a Northern Qi assassin on his way to the second prince's banquet a few months ago. The three of them looked at each other. Thinking of all the things that had happened a few months ago, they couldn't help but feel a strange feeling. They all laughed at the same time.
Once the laughter stopped, that matter was probably over. Fan Xian smiled bitterly. "Although the second prince didn't hold a banquet at Hongmen, to have a meal and have to take such great risks is indeed scary."
Hearing the words "banquet at Hongmen," the second prince and Li Hongcheng couldn't help but be slightly startled. They hid it well on their faces. Naturally, they had never heard of this story. But because of their noble statuses, they couldn't ask. The second prince smiled slightly. "Don't call me 'Your Highness.' You can call me second brother like Wan 'er."
Fan Xian's expression didn't change, but he felt that it was troublesome. If they were to get too close to each other … there seemed to be some problems. As if guessing what he was worried about, the second prince dropped his hands in front of his knees. Still half-crouching, he smiled. "You don't need to be too cautious. Wan 'er is the treasure of the palace. You must remember that you now have an older brother who is still playing on horseback in the West. I, the second brother, am still hiding in Hanlin Academy editing books. As for the third brother of the Crown Prince, you must get closer to him. Does having more relatives bother you so much? "
Fan Xian smiled. These royal relatives were, of course, the source of great trouble. He replied, "This is my good fortune. But it does feel a bit rude not to call you 'Your Highness.'"
The second prince smiled bitterly. "Go home and ask Wan 'er how she calls me."
…
…
After exchanging greetings, the banquet began. The table was filled with seasonal vegetables and exquisite side dishes. Fan Xian ate happily. He had long since drawn up a plan, so after familiarizing himself, he relaxed his mind. At the banquet, the three of them chatted casually about the past of the people in the capital and the works of the predecessors.
The second prince was indeed deeply influenced by Lady Shu. He was well-versed in the ways of literature, and he and Fan Xian got along quite well. Li Hongcheng, on the other hand, talked about the wonderful stories of women and cosmetics, and couldn't help but mention Count Sinan's glorious military exploits. Once men started talking, although the second prince and Fan Xian found it inconvenient to speak, the atmosphere became lively. Fan Xian, on the other hand, kept a low profile. He only talked about the stories of Danzhou and what he had seen along the way.
After the banquet, the second prince and Fan Xian both smiled and said their goodbyes.
The second prince didn't send them off. He continued to crouch in his chair. For a long time, he actually maintained this position without moving. He watched Fan Xian and Li Hongcheng's figures disappear from the door of the pleasure boat. Only then did he quietly sigh.
"Your Highness, what do you think of Sir Fan junior?" asked the disciple of the second prince's relative respectfully.
The second prince smiled slightly. "This brother-in-law is too cautious. He doesn't have any of the arrogance and wildness that the people of Qing have nurtured in their bones for decades. To tell the truth, I really wonder if the young Fan who went crazy with poetry at the banquet is the same person I met today."
Having said this, he habitually lowered his head and stretched his hand to the side to touch the bunch of green grapes. The disciple immediately knew that the second prince was thinking about some extremely important matters of state. Not daring to disturb him, he quickly and quietly left through the door.
After a long time, the second prince slowly raised his head. His eyes were filled with confusion. In reality, he wasn't thinking about any important matters of state. He was just thinking about the "Feast at Hongmen" that Fan Xian had mentioned at the beginning. He had read the classics with his mother when he was young, but he still couldn't remember what this "Feast at Hongmen" was.
"My brother-in-law is indeed very knowledgeable. It looks like I'll have to go back and do some research."
The second prince bit down on the green grapes in his mouth. The juice was incredibly sweet and sour.
(Note 1: Yuan Qu Lu Zhi was intoxicated by the east wind. Living in leisure … I am slowly recovering my spirit in leisure.)
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