Chapter 815: First Visit to the Palace
At two quarter past noon [12:30 noon], Sun Shaozong's carriage stopped just outside the gate of Prince Beijing's Mansion, and the voices of the gatekeepers were heard into the flower hall in the back house.
By the time he passed through the second gate under the guidance of the palace steward, Shui Rong and Wei Ruolan had already come out to greet him in person.
Even from a distance, he laughed and said, "Master Sun, why are you so late? You can ask Xiao Wang to wait at home!"
Sun Shaozong hurriedly took a few steps, and when he saw that he was getting closer, he stopped, clasped his fists and bowed, smiling bitterly, " What a coincidence! I took on a case this morning and finally dealt with it, but who would have thought that I would run into two groups of Taoists swearing in the street. I had no choice but to take another detour."
Wei Ruolan had been frustrated in the officialdom recently and had some thoughts of becoming a monk, so it was inevitable that she paid more attention to the affairs of monks.
At this time, I heard that two groups of Taoist priests were cursing at each other in the street, which did not look like they had left the world. I couldn't help but wonder, "Two groups of Taoist priests are cursing at each other in the street? What's the reason for this?"
"Oh!"
Without waiting for Sun Shaozong to answer, Shui Rong swung his moon-white robe sleeves and sneered, "It's because yesterday, Taoist Zhang from Qingxu Temple suddenly wrote a letter to the court, asking them to select Taoist disciples to go to southern Xinjiang to pray with the army, so as to avoid the poisonous miasma in southern Xinjiang as much as possible."
Wei Ruolan suddenly realized and couldn't help shaking her head and sighing: "I didn't expect these monks to also have the ambition to sacrifice themselves for the country."
After hearing his sigh, Sun Shaozong smiled and said, "Brother Wei is indeed a gentleman, but it's a pity that he thinks too highly of those Taoists. If they really wanted to serve the country, why would the two groups of Taoists curse at each other in the street?"
Shui Rong also sneered at the side: "This time Taoist Zhang has torn his face. I'm afraid there will be a serious fight between the northern and southern Taoist sects."
Wei Ruolan became more and more confused as she listened, and hurriedly asked what was going on.
It turned out that since the emperor began to seek divination from immortals two years ago, the status of Taoism has greatly improved.
But just as the saying goes, 'outside monks can chant sutras', although the Qingxu Temple in the capital city is quite famous, it is always in public view, so it inevitably loses its mystery.
Therefore, even though it is a local tyrant, it has recently been suppressed by Longhushan in Jiangxi.
The Taoist Zhang wrote to the court this time, requesting the selection of Taoists to accompany the army. At first glance, it seemed to be an act of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, but anyone with a keen eye could see that the focus of his memorial was actually the prefix "familiar with the geography and weather of the south"?
With this prefix, those who would be selected to serve in the army would naturally only be the Taoists from the south.
The southern Taoist priests, mainly from Longhu Mountain in Jiangxi, were naturally very dissatisfied with this, which led to the scene of quarreling in the street today.
"alright."
Shui Rong explained the whole story. Seeing Wei Ruolan shaking her head and sighing, he waved his hand impatiently, "Let's not talk about those bull noses. It's so cold, and Lord Sun has come here in the wind and snow. Let's go to the flower hall with me first and have a few cups of hot tea to warm up."
As he spoke, he walked up enthusiastically, hand in hand with Sun Shaozong, and entered the flower hall filled with spring.
Several women appeared in a flash and diligently took off the cloaks and fox furs for the three men. Sun Shaozong didn't pay much attention to it at first, but later when he saw Wei Ruolan bowed slightly, as if to pay respect to the women, he realized something was unusual.
These women were all in their early twenties, and their heads were covered with gold and jade. They were definitely not ordinary maids.
This is……
Sun Shaozong immediately remembered Shui Rong's habit of using concubines to entertain guests.
When Jia Baoyu came to the palace for a banquet, he fell in love with one of Shui Rong's concubines at the wine table, and then they had sex.
Later, when the concubine died, Jia Baoyu went to the palace in person to attend the funeral.
Seeing that the concubines had no intention of leaving after taking off their coats for everyone, but instead stayed gracefully by their side, Sun Shaozong sighed inwardly, but could only follow the local customs.
After all, using concubines to welcome guests is an ancient custom - didn't Su Dongpo in the Song Dynasty exchange his pregnant concubine for a horse to ride?
Moreover, there are so many princes and nobles with weird quirks these days that you are lucky enough not to run into one who uses a male lover to welcome guests.
Besides...
He had even slept with the princess, so what was there to be unbearable about being served by several concubines?
He didn't take it seriously at the moment and started chatting and laughing with Shui Rong and Wei Ruolan.
At this juncture, the topic naturally turned to the war in southern Xinjiang.
Shui Rong had also heard some rumors and curiously asked whether Sun Shaozong was going to go south to serve as a general.
Wei Ruolan was eager to try, and was quite willing to join the army - no, he was from the military, so he could only return to his original profession.
After chatting like this, Sun Shaozong began to have some doubts.
Logically speaking, it's already this late, and after a few pleasantries, the banquet should be set up. Why didn't the two people opposite mention it at all? It seemed like they were just wasting time by talking about irrelevant things?
This doubt was soon answered.
Shui Rong couldn't stand it anymore after talking for so long. He raised his chin to a concubine beside him and ordered, "Go outside and see if the princess has arrived."
When Sun Shaozong heard the word "Princess", he was startled.
But in a flash he calmed down again. If the truth had really been revealed, Shui Rong would never have been so enthusiastic just now...
etc!
Although it is not uncommon among princes and nobles to treat concubines as guests, does this also indirectly prove that Shui Rong may have a cuckold complex?
At that moment, there was something wrong with the look in Sun Shaozong's eyes when he looked at Shui Rong.
However, this idea was quickly rejected by Sun Shaozong.
Because even if Shui Rong has that kind of special hobby, it's not good to show it in front of his brother-in-law, right?
Why are you asking the princess to come out at this time?
Suspiciously glancing at the door, Sun Shaozong watched the concubine hunch her shoulders and dive into the snow. He turned around and couldn't help but stand up and ask tentatively, "My Lord, if the princess comes here, should I take shelter for a while?"
“Hey~!”
Shui Rong hurriedly grabbed his wrist and said sternly, "Now that you're gone, what's the point of the princess coming here? She came here today just to apologize to you, Lord Sun, in person."
Apologize in person?
I had already begged for mercy from a distance half a month ago, so why would I need to apologize in person?
However, after hearing Shui Rong's words, he felt a little relieved, thinking that Shui Rong had specially prepared this to win him over.
But then my heart was lifted again.
He was confident that he would not reveal any flaws, but Wei Ying did not seem to be very smart...
Just as the fifteen buckets were being moved up and down, there was already a flurry of footsteps outside. Then the door curtain rolled up to the left and right, and the concubine who was ordered to invite the princess came in first, followed closely by Xia Jingui.
This little hoof is here too?
For a moment, Sun Shaozong didn't know whether he should be happy or worried.
With Xia Jingui around, if Wei Ying really makes any mistakes, she can make up for it.
But the problem is, she has a history of interfering in the past, so can she honestly be an assistant this time?
At this time, a tall figure also came into view. She had a bun on her head and lightly swept eyebrows. There was a hint of frost and snow on her head and shoulders. She was graceful but also a little cold and arrogant, and there was a hint of haziness between her eyebrows.
Although she was no longer as dashing as before, she had become more charming and graceful, which immediately made the concubines in the room look pale in comparison.
Sun Shaozong had not sat down since he stood up, so he bowed to greet him.
Seeing the burly figure approaching, Wei Ying paused. Her legs hidden under the pleated skirt felt sore for no reason. Her feet hidden in the deerskin boots felt itchy and numb, as if something was wrapping around them inch by inch.
Before in the side hall, she had no idea how many times she had brewed her emotions, simulated how many times she would meet Sun Shaozong, and fabricated how many righteous words.
But when she really arrived in front of Sun Shaozong, all the preparations had disappeared. Her two cherry lips trembled, but she didn't utter a word.
Although this is mostly a psychological activity, the time of being in a daze is inevitably a bit long.
The situation seemed to be at a stalemate.
Shui Rong didn't think much about it at the moment, thinking that she was just too proud to lower herself to apologize - but if she kept delaying like this, it was hard to say whether he would notice anything.
"ah!"
At this moment, an innocent and reckless voice spoke before Wei Ying.
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Xia Jingui holding the half of her fruit in front of her chest . Her two expressive peach blossom eyes stared at Sun Shaozong without blinking, and she said excitedly: "I have heard that Lord Sun is of extraordinary stature and a man among men. After seeing him today, it is indeed... it is indeed..."
He had only said half of his words when his head suddenly dropped, revealing his blushing face to everyone's eyes.
This sudden incident made Shui Rong and Wei Ruolan a little stunned, and they thought in their hearts at the same time: It turns out that there are girls who like this type!
Sun Shaozong secretly praised in his heart: This little girl has really good acting skills!
After Xia Jingui's interruption, Wei Ying finally recovered a little. She gritted her teeth and calmed her mind. She bowed to Sun Shaozong and said, "I have offended Lord Sun a lot because of Brother Lan's matter in the past. Please, Lord, for the sake of the prince, don't bother with me, a woman."
As he said that, he stood up and walked around to Shui Rong, picked up his cup of tea, held it with both hands and raised it to Sun Shaozong: "Today I will use tea instead of wine, and apologize to Lord Sun first."
As he said this, he covered it with his sleeve and drank it all, including the floating tea stalks.
Sun Shaozong seemed to wake up at this time, waving his hands and saying: "I can't do it" and "I can't bear it".
"Why not?"
Shui Rong laughed at the side and said, "If it weren't for Lord Sun's impartial judgment, Lang Ge'er might have died unjustly in prison. Just based on this, the princess should compensate for this!"
As he spoke, he also bowed and said, "I am guilty of not disciplining myself properly, so I should apologize to Lord Sun!"
Seeing this, Sun Shaozong naturally dodged to the side in a hurry and refused again and again, but Shui Rong refused to get up and insisted on getting a word of forgiveness.
As the three of them were pushing each other around with genuine affection, someone suddenly burst out laughing: "In the past, I only heard that Lord Sun was a great hero, but today I see that he is actually a humble gentleman."
The person who interrupted was naturally Xia Jingui.
This was already somewhat rude, but her next move was even more bold.
Xia Jingui picked up the tea in front of Sun Shaozong with her scallion-white fingers, stared at him lovingly and said, "How about I toast you on behalf of my sister and brother-in-law and let this matter go?"
Having said that, he tilted his head back and drank the tea without even using his sleeves to cover his mouth.
Because she drank in a hurry, drops of light yellow tea flowed down her pointed little bus and slid into an indescribable place, which made everyone stare at her sideways.
This little hoof is really up to something again!
