Fenghou

Chapter 258 Birthday Banquet ([-])

It was already very late at night, the lights in the rooms of the two young ladies had been turned off, and the yard was extremely quiet, with singing insects and frogs playing one after another.

Chen Qing sat in front of the small table, silently rubbing a jade tablet, which became greasy due to wearing it for a long time.

He once cherished this jade tablet so much, could it be that it will never be with him in the end?

With a low sigh, Chen Qing hung the jade plaque back around his neck and put it in his lapel.

He looked up at the dark night sky outside the window, at this moment, he felt extremely lonely in his heart.

In the afternoon of the next day, Chen Qing came to Zhang Jun's mansion. Zhang Jun's mansion was not far from the West Lake, covering an area of ​​more than [-] mu. It is the largest house.

Today is Zhang Jun's mother's [-]th birthday. Hundreds of posts have been sent out a month ago. Zhang Jun is the most trusted minister of the government. After a while, even the emperor sent someone to send a congratulatory gift.

Chen Qing hired an ox cart, and it was hundreds of steps away from the mansion, when the ox cart stopped, the driver said to Chen Qing: "Officer, the front is blocked, I can only ask you to walk there!"

Chen Qing looked around, and saw that there were all kinds of carriages in the dark, blocking the street completely, and it was really hard to get through.

Chen Qing stuffed some money to the coachman, picked up the gift box and walked towards the gate of the house.

Today he is wearing a blue thin cloth shirt, a gauze cap on his head, a leather belt around his waist, and a long sword at his waist. He looks very refreshing and elegant. Although it is not as expensive as silk and satin, it is matched with his training on the battlefield. The fierce temperament exuded has a sense of coercion that is hidden but not revealed.

Holding a wooden box in his arms, inside is a white jade Guanyin, this jade Guanyin is the treasure of Cai Jing's mansion, Chen Qing specially picked out non-imperial items, so as not to embarrass Zhang Jun.

There were many guests standing in front of the gate, some were chatting and chatting, and some were queuing up for registration. Most of them were court officials and celebrities. Interestingly, most of them brought their family members with them.

In the past two years, this kind of gathering among wealthy families has become very popular. Today, the Li family celebrates their birthday, tomorrow the Zhang family gets married, and the day after tomorrow, the Wang family has a son. This kind of communication is an important means of accumulating and expanding contacts, and of course it is also an important occasion for children to date.

The Song Dynasty also paid great attention to the love match between men and women. Of course, this kind of love match is based on the basis of being in the same family. Often this kind of gathering has already fixed the circle, and basically they are in the same family. Then young men and women look for the other half they fancy. After the talk, they hit it off and are satisfied with each other, and the rest of the matchmaking, marriage proposal and other things are handled by the parents.

So the men and women who came to the party were all dressed up attractively, the girls were delicate and charming, and the men were handsome and elegant. When Chen Qing just arrived at the gate, he saw an acquaintance at a glance. He actually saw Wang Bo, Qin Hui's wife and nephew. .

Wang Bo also saw Chen Qing, his eyes suddenly showed shock, then he lowered his head, and squeezed into the gate in a panic. I was very afraid of Chen Qing's revenge.

Chen Qing snorted, ignored Wang Bo for the time being, and came to the registration desk.

"May I ask for the official's invitation?"

"I was invited verbally by Zhang Xianggong, there is no invitation card!"

It was a bit difficult to register the master of ceremonies, how can we do without an invitation card, so he asked Zhang Jun's staff next to him in a low voice, and the staff came over and asked with a smile, "Do you have any proof in the yamen?"

"Is this jade pei okay?"

Chen Qing took out the jade pei that Zhang Jun gave him yesterday, "This is what Zhang Xianggong gave to me."

The staff was surprised, this piece of jade was Zhang Jun's favorite, the suet was shiny, half of the red skin, and a line of words was engraved on the side, 'to Xiaoxiao in the evening rain', it was not ordinary at first glance.

The staff quickly cupped their fists, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please register in the Yamen."

Chen Qing wrote down his own name, 'Chen Shangyuan'.

He handed the wooden box to the staff, "This is my congratulatory gift, please accept it!"

The staff opened it and took a look, and their eyes were a little straight. Today is the old lady’s birthday, and gifts from guests are usually around tens to hundreds of gifts. If you have a good relationship, there will be a little more, but generally it will not exceed [-] gifts. After all, there are many such parties, and I can't bear too many gifts.

The staff are people who know the goods. The white jade Guanyin presented by Chen Qing is warm and delicate, as fine and white as fat. It is extremely rare. It is impossible to buy it without a few thousand coins, even if you have money.

The staff shouted with a trembling voice: "A white jade Guanyin statue, Chen Shangyuan congratulates the old lady on her birthday."

Chen Qing cupped his hands, turned and went into the mansion.

There was a lot of discussion at the door, "This young man is rich! He actually gave away such a precious Jade Guanyin."

"It must have been sent by the elders, it has nothing to do with this young man."

"Cai Jing also had such a white jade Guanyin in the past. He boasted that he was unique in the world. Now there is another one, which slaps Cai Jing in the face."

"Who is this Chen Shangyuan?"

"I guess I want to apply for a job from Mr. Zhang."

Chen Qing's gift-giving caused a small commotion at the gate, but he himself didn't know it.

There were too many guests, Zhang Jun's entire mansion was open except for the two dormitories, and the back house was also free to enter and exit. Generally, the atrium was dominated by officials, while young people went to the back house.

Everyone was very casual, no one greeted them. Of course, there were domestic servants and maids standing by to provide guide services at any time. They all carried lanterns, so you could tell at a glance.

"Excuse me, elder sister, where is the banquet hall?" Chen Qing asked a maid.

The maid blushed and asked, "What color is the invitation card, sir?"

"I don't have an invitation card, it's a verbal invitation."

"Here. Let me ask the steward. May I ask your son's name?"

"Chen Qing!"

"I see, please wait a moment, my lord."

The maid left in a hurry, and Chen Qing was a little depressed. The invitation card was very useful, and there was a number on it, which was related to his seat. Without the invitation card, he lost a lot of benefits.

Not long after, the maid came back and said with a frustrated face: "I'm sorry, I didn't find the seat for the young master, please wait a while! The steward will ask the master for instructions."

Chen Qing became even more depressed. It is estimated that Zhang Jun forgot about himself and gave such an expensive gift, not even a bowl of rice.

"Okay! I'll just walk around."

"Young master, let's go to the back house! There are many activities over there, and there are rewards."

"How to get to the back house?"

"My lord, please follow me!"

The maid took Chen Qing to the back house, and walked through a moon gate. Chen Qing's eyes suddenly opened up. How can the officials of the Song Dynasty enjoy it the most?
The back house is a large garden with gurgling rivers, small bridges, fish in rockery ponds, and various pavilions and pavilions. Chen Qing has been to Suzhou gardens. Suzhou gardens are in Ming and Qing style, with dense buildings, and various buildings are interspersed between them. Exquisite little scene.

However, the style of the Song Dynasty focused on mountains and rivers, and was more integrated with nature. Houses and nature are one. Atmosphere, the top of the hill is a pavilion.

"There is a pot-throwing competition in the big tent over there, you can participate!" The maid pointed to a temporary big tent on the grass and laughed.

"I see, thank you, big sister!"

The maid saluted and left. Chen Qing liked the scenery of the backyard very much, especially the forest scenery of the hills. He was actually in his own mansion. This feeling made Chen Qing very comfortable.

He simply walked slowly up the mountain along the tree-lined road. On both sides were towering trees, which were transplanted from nowhere. The huge tree crowns were intertwined, blocking out the sun, making the scorching sun even more shady. Occasionally a cool breeze blows, which is really refreshing.

There is a group of young people in the gazebo on the top of the mountain, there are about ten people, both men and women, seeming to be arguing about something, it is very lively.

Chen Qing walked to the gazebo and looked into the pavilion. The smile on his face froze suddenly. He saw Lu Xiu, wearing a pink long dress embroidered with mandarin ducks and wearing a ring bun. She was very pretty. She stood What are you talking to a fellow woman in front of the pavilion pillar?
Standing behind her was a tall and straight young man with fair skin and a handsome appearance, holding a folding fan in his hand. affection.

Chen Qing watched silently for a moment, then turned and walked down the mountain
In the pavilion, Lu Xiu was arguing with everyone, "I think the purpose of our poetry club is the most important thing. Without a purpose, it is like a person without a soul. Why do we write poems? Isn't it to boost everyone's anti-golden morale? One I do not agree to delete!"

"Miss Lu, if the Poetry Society has obvious political inclinations, it will be suspected of forming a party, so we don't need to write about it."

"No! This is the principle!"

Lu Xiu's attitude was firm. At this time, if she felt something, she raised her head and looked towards the mountain road. She seemed to see a familiar figure. Could it be
Lu Xiu hurriedly said: "Everyone, go on, I have something to do, come as soon as you go!"

She pulled up her skirt and chased out of the pavilion. The man behind her chased a few steps and said, "Miss Lu, I'll go with you!"

"No, I have a private matter." Lu Xiu refused.

Everyone laughed, and a woman joked, "Young Master Shen, I have a private matter!"

The young man's face suddenly became a little unnatural.

(End of this chapter)