After exchanging lives, I can't get rid of the binding cp

Chapter 350 Night Banquet in Qianjiao Garden (15)

People inside and outside the Fanghua Hall fell to their knees, and all the officials, both civil and military, kowtowed and shouted long live: "I respectfully wish your Majesty's peace!——"

Xiang Heng walked towards the main seat amid the respectful greetings of the officials. He bent down and sat down, waving his hands to avoid courtesy: "All my dear friends, please stay flat." He said, "This is just an ordinary night banquet. Please feel free and casual, and you will not be bound by the false etiquette of monarchs and ministers."

Even so, the distinction between monarch and minister was not casually set aside. Everyone said so, but in the end they were still respectful, and according to the rules, they sat at the male and female guests' seats respectively.

Lou Xiyue and Fu Guan said goodbye for the time being, and sat down with a considerable distance between them.

As soon as Lou Xiyue sat down, the wives around her came to pay their respects. Due to her status, Lou Xiyue had to be polite and polite. She held up the wine glass and took a sip, which was considered a toast.

"I heard that the princess is from the Ban family in Jiangnan. She got married that day according to the decree, which means she married far away from the capital. It has been quite a while since the princess arrived in the capital. I wonder if she can still adapt to the life in the capital?"

Lou Xiyue turned around and looked around, recognizing that the person speaking to her was Mrs. He from the Chang'an Marquis Mansion.

"It's okay." Lou Xiyue said, "Thanks to His Majesty's care, the prince has managed the house well, so there's nothing he can't adapt to."

Mrs. He smiled. road:

"That's good. The customs in the capital and in the south of the Yangtze River are very different. Besides, the princess' identity is here, and there are constant banquets of all sizes. I'm afraid that the princess will feel uncomfortable, so I talk too much. I hope the princess won't dislike me for talking too much. "

The other party's words were full of passionate concern, so naturally Lou Xiyue couldn't return a cold face.

So she responded with a smile: "No. It's me who should thank you, madam, for your concern."

Then, the two of them chatted politely for a few more words. The topic always revolved around the scenery of the capital, and Lou Xiyue also unexpectedly heard a lot of interesting things.

At this time, the sound of silver chopsticks hitting cups was heard from the host of the banquet. Everyone was silent for a moment, and then heard Xiang Heng say: "This time I invite all the ministers to the palace, but it is actually about something else. To tell the world."

After saying that, Xiang Heng paused for a moment and then said: "I believe that all my dear friends are doubtful. Today is not a festival, and the turmoil over the abolition of the crown prince has not yet been settled. Why should I invite all my dear ladies to the palace for a banquet at this time?" ?”

The emperor smiled and said: "This is because I have a big happy event that I need to tell you all about."

All the officials and wives looked at each other with confusion and confusion on their faces.

"I am willing to hear the details."

Xiang Heng suddenly sighed and said, "I don't have many heirs. A few years ago, the eldest son and the second son were killed by rebels. That year, Daxuan almost fell into irreversible civil strife.

"From then on, I only have the third, fourth and sixth sons left." When Xiang Heng said this, his eyes were full of sorrow:
"The sixth child is still young, just a half-old child; the fourth child... Although the fourth child is talented, his personality is indecisive and his methods are too soft. He is not the best candidate for the crown prince position."

After thinking about it, among Xiang Heng's children, Xiang Feng is the most decisive, courageous and strategic. Given time, he will definitely achieve something.

"It's just that I didn't expect that he would actually do something disobedient and rebellious. I feel deeply sad." Xiang Heng sighed helplessly and said: "I was afraid that there would be no successor to Daxuan, so I was worried about this for several days. "

A minister advised: "Your Majesty is in the prime of life, and the days ahead are long. Even now... the candidate for the prince can be chosen slowly. The fourth prince and the sixth prince are both talented people. I believe that with your teachings, Your Majesty, there will be success in the future." It’s done, Your Majesty, there’s no need to rush.”

Xiang Heng said: "Having said that, leaving the prince's position vacant is not an option. But fortunately, after a few days of thinking hard, I remembered an old incident."

Speaking of this, Xiang Heng smiled on his face. He said: "That happened many years ago... At that time, I had not yet ascended the throne, nor had I moved back to the capital from the fiefdom. At that time, wars continued between Xuanrong and Rongguo, and soldiers from Rongguo often came to the vassal area to cause trouble."

Someone recalled that year: "Wei Chen remembers that banditry was particularly severe in those years. Soldiers from Rongguo disguised themselves as bandits and sneaked into Daxuan territory, burning, killing and looting in Daxuan territory."

"That's right." Xiang Heng said: "The bandits are vicious and have repeatedly committed evil in my fiefdom, and even invaded my Prince Xiang's Mansion."

Hearing this, Lou Xiyue thought thoughtfully: "Prince Xiang's Mansion?" Mrs. He explained in a low voice at the side: "The Holy Emperor was named Prince of Xiang before he ascended the throne, and his fiefdom was far away in Suizhou. The princess is not old, You shouldn’t know what happened that year.” The old lady said:

"The bandits from Rongguo that year were particularly fierce and wanton. They intended to occupy Suizhou, led their troops to attack the Prince of Xiang's Mansion, and fought with Daxuan's two armies.

"The Holy One expected that they would attack at night, so he was fully prepared. However, the enemy was vicious and even threatened the Holy One with his youngest son, forcing the Holy One to retreat."

After saying that, Mrs. He sighed: "The Holy Lord cares about the people of the fiefdom, and there is no way he could just watch Suizhou fall into the hands of the enemy."

Lou Xiyue roughly understood: "So in order to protect the people, the Holy One sacrificed his own child?"

Madam He: "Other than that, there is no other way... After the war ended, His Majesty repeatedly searched for the child, but he could not find the child's whereabouts, and even his body could not be found."

Lou Xiyue: "I see." She had never heard of this story.

"Over the years, I only thought that my youngest son had died in the war that year, but I didn't expect..." Xiang Heng's face showed a recovered smile: "I didn't expect that there would be a day when father and son would reunite!"

"The Holy One means...that the little prince back then is still alive?"

Xiang Heng smiled and nodded: "Exactly. This is the purpose of my hosting a banquet for you all today." He motioned to the eunuch beside him: "Why don't you invite the fifth prince here soon?"

"Yes!--"

As soon as he finished speaking, the little eunuch who had delivered the message hurriedly ran out of the palace: "If you want to go back to your Majesty, His Highness the Fifth Prince is here!"

Then the eunuch shouted: "The fifth prince has arrived!——"

Everyone turned to look and saw a tall and tall young man in dark purple robes striding into the hall. The visitor walked in small square steps, and every step he took was firm.

When Lou Xiyue saw the other party's face, she couldn't help but widen her eyes in surprise——

Shangguan explanation? !

Is the person here Shangguan Jie? !

She couldn't help but look at Fu Guan in the distance, and the two looked at each other silently.

Lou Xiyue: What’s going on?

Fu Guan obviously didn't know either. But he only shook his head slightly, hinting to Lou Xiyue to stand still.

Lou Xiyue: "..."

Not only them, but also all the officials present were surprised. Everyone was talking a lot:
"Isn't this Lord Shangguan from Dali Temple?"

"I heard that Shangguan Jie is the newly appointed Secretary of Dali Temple. How could it be... what on earth is going on?"

"Could it be that Shangguan Jie is..."

Everyone looked at each other with disbelief in their eyes.

Just when the civil and military officials were in shock and confusion, Xiang Heng called Shangguan to his side. He put his arm around Shangguan Jie's shoulders affectionately and said, "This is my fifth prince, Xiang Jie."