Settled in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 248 Banquet with the Prince

The next day was the welcome banquet of His Highness the Crown Prince, and everyone in the Princess House was present.Princess Pingyang was waiting for the prince at the door early——

"Chenmei met the prince, did you rest well yesterday?"

As soon as the prince got off the carriage, Princess Pingyang greeted him.The prince said: "Thank you, sister, for your concern, but because the two things on my mind haven't been fulfilled, it's not a good rest."

Princess Pingyang's expression remained unchanged, only the line of her lips was slightly straightened, and she didn't say a word.The prince turned his head and looked at Princess Pingyang with burning eyes: "Why are you silent, sister?"

Princess Pingyang said: "My sister has nothing to say."

The prince said: "My sister told me yesterday that I am the eldest son of a sage, and it is only right for the prince. I thought that my sister supported me!"

Princess Pingyang did not evade, she looked directly at the prince, and said: "That's why the prince has no scruples to ask people to buy my subordinates! If the bribe fails, do you still want to ask someone face to face?"

The prince avoided Princess Pingyang's eyes that seemed to see through everything, and said, "My sister is going back to Chang'an. If you really value Ye Qing and Xue Lang, you should make plans for them as soon as possible."

Princess Pingyang was not annoyed, she just looked at the other party with cold eyes: "Scholar, you can be amiable but not robbed, you can be close but not forced, you can kill but not humiliate!"

The prince was choked up, and said embarrassingly: "It's because of my brother's love that I'm so eager, I didn't think carefully, my sister forgive me."

Princess Pingyang only said lightly: "Don't dare! The palace has prepared a banquet, the prince please."

The prince walked in front, and Princess Pingyang was two steps behind, and they went into the princess' mansion together.

Not only Xue Lang, but also Jiang Lin will attend this banquet.The banquet was held in the afternoon. Before leaving, Xue Lang told Lamei: "Close the window of my bedroom in a moment. Be careful when closing the window, so as not to touch my potted plants."

"Here, slaves are spared, please rest assured Dalang."

Xue Lang nodded, then tidied up his clothes and went to the banquet.

Xue Lang arrived neither too early nor too late. When he arrived, the prince and princess hadn't arrived yet, and Mrs. Fang was instructing the servants to serve wine——

This is the wine kept in the house, not made by Xue Lang.Since the crown prince didn't mention it, Xue Lang didn't intend to recommend himself.

After a while, people arrived one after another, and Mrs. Fang also instructed them to make preparations for the banquet.The civil and military officials stood on the left and right, waiting together to welcome the prince and princess.

"The prince is here with Princess Pingyang of Anguo!"

"I have seen the prince and Princess An Guo Pingyang."

Han Jin took the lead, and everyone saluted the prince and Princess Pingyang together.The prince smiled, and raised his hand as his duty: "You are welcome, I am very happy to be able to have a banquet with you today. Come, everyone, sit down. I hope you will not be restrained, drink freely, and share the joy together."

Everyone saluted: "Thank you, Your Highness."

Princess Pingyang just stood there coldly, not saying a word.Compared with the prince, it seems that the prince is the master.Xue Lang quietly raised his head to look at Princess Pingyang, saw her cold eyes, and then at the smiling prince, could it be that he was overthinking?

Only then did Xue Lang restrain his thoughts, and sat down on his seat——

The crown prince is high, so naturally he sits at the head, Princess Pingyang sits at the second seat, then the subordinates brought by the prince, and then the bureaucrats of the princess mansion. In such a row, Xue Lang directly retreated several seats.

Seeing this, the prince said: "Come here, Youyang, you are the Duke of the county, and the seat should be under Pingyang!"

As soon as these words came out, not only the servants of the Princess Mansion, but even Princess Pingyang looked at Xue Lang.Xue Lang groaned in his heart, and bowed to salute, "Thank you, Prince, for your attention, but at Weizeguan, there is only the counselor of the princess' mansion, and there is no county prince, so that's where I should sit. The prince appreciates it." The minister's heart, the subordinate's heart, but there is a distinction between public and private affairs, and there is a prioritization, how dare Xue Lang go beyond that, it is so rude!"

The prince said: "I know that Youyang has a clear distinction between public and private, and he is a man of both talent and virtue. However, today is a private banquet, and it is better to be casual. I heard that Youyang is good at drinking, so sit here and have a drink with the lonely king. A few cups."

Xue Lang was not happy in his heart and was waiting to refuse.Princess Pingyang: "Youyang, since the prince invites you, there is no need to perform the ceremony, just come and sit down."

Seeing Princess Pingyang speak, Xue Lang moved his feet and changed his seat to Wei Zheng's.The seat is even further forward than Han Jin, the long history.

After Xue Lang changed his seat, the prince raised his wine glass and said in a loud voice: "Today's banquet is both a welcome banquet and a farewell banquet for the lonely king. Due to his busy schedule, the lonely king will leave Weize Pass tomorrow. I am very happy that you all drink together, come, everyone, drink this cup to the brim!"

Everyone said in unison: "Prince, please!"

Everyone drank a toast, and the prince said again: "All of you here are the servants of Princess Pingyang's mansion. Pingyang is the sister of my mother and compatriots. In the past, I have been grateful to you for your help. As a big brother, I should thank you all. Yes, come, have another drink!"

Han Jin respectfully said: "Don't dare, this is the responsibility of the ministers, please, Prince!"

Everyone followed immediately: "Prince, please."

"Please!"

After drinking two cups in a row, Princess Pingyang was still injured and could not drink, so she only held a teacup and used tea instead of wine to deal with two cups.

After drinking two cups with everyone, the prince said with a smile: "Since you have drunk two cups of water and wine, you should also have some vegetables and food, so as not to hurt your health, everyone, please."

"Prince, please."

Xue Lang quietly glanced at Princess Pingyang, seeing her calm expression, and then at the smiling, long-sleeved and dancing prince, with his fists hidden under the desk, he couldn't help clenching——

Prince Jiancheng is the elder brother of Princess Pingyang, he is a prince, but his rank is higher than that of Princess Pingyang.It is true that the banquet should take the first place, but since the beginning of the banquet, relying on the name of being both the prince and the elder brother, he regards himself as the master, so that Princess Pingyang is not taken seriously... Xue Lang feels very uncomfortable!

His beloved princess, his boss who helped him wholeheartedly, and his friends who treated each other with sincerity, were treated like this——

Xue Lang looked at the prince with dim eyes, no smile on his face, only a serious look on his face.Looking across the crowd, Dong Sima, who was drinking and talking with the prince, was still smiling respectfully, Han Jin was as straight-faced as him, and so was Jiang Lin; Ma Sanbao had a faint smile on his mouth, and Ye Qing still had a poker face. , Can't see what's in his mind.

"Youyang."

The prince called him.Xue Lang said sternly: "The minister is here, what orders does His Highness have?"

The prince smiled, and said jokingly: "You Yang, you are too stubborn, my sister is silent, you have to stick to the principle even when you change seats, it is really boring. Today's banquet is a private banquet, why is You Yang like this? Serious? I heard that Youyang is good at drinking, since it is a private banquet, you should drink freely, there is no need to be so restrained. I want to drink with Youyang today, do I need an order from my sister?"

As soon as this remark came out, Princess Pingyang glanced directly at the prince, and was about to speak, when she saw Xue Lang clasping his fists and saluting: "Back to the prince, although Xue Lang is not talented, he still knows the word loyalty. Xue Lang works in the princess mansion, Anguo Princess Pingyang is my lord, obeying the lord's orders is the duty of a subject, and I dare not disobey."

The prince clapped his hands and praised: "Youyang is indeed a man with both ability and political integrity, and Pingyang did not misunderstand the person. However, such a talent is only limited to the princess mansion, which is a pity. Fortunately, Pingyang is going back to Chang'an. After Yang returns to Chang'an, I will definitely ask the sage to transfer Youyang to my East Palace."

Princess Pingyang paused the hand holding the teacup, her expression remained unchanged, she sat quietly, as if she was a beautiful doll, not saying a word.

Xue Lang was very tired in his heart, so he just said indifferently: "Thank you, the prince, for your attention. The so-called political affairs in his position, today's affairs will be completed today, and tomorrow's affairs... Let's talk about it in the future. Princess Pingyang has a great favor for me. Although Xue Lang does not Talent, but dare not forget the words of kindness and righteousness!"

The prince laughed dryly: "Youyang has a good character, so you should be able to explain it to me!"

"Don't dare, thank you, Prince, I'll do it first and respect you!"

Xue Lang raised his wine glass, drank it with a sip, the prince took a sip, and said with a smile: "You Yang is a good drinker, and you really deserve his reputation."

Xue Lang said: "The crown prince's praise is just a hobby of things in the cup. It's hard to be elegant. The minister is clumsy and can't speak. Everything is in the cup. The minister will toast the prince again!"

"Okay! This cup is for drinking."

The prince also drank a cup.

"His Royal Highness!"

As soon as the prince put down his wine glass, he met Dong Sima's flattering smile.Dong Sima said respectfully: "The crown prince led the army to suppress Liu Heita, commanded the troops well, and respected him in his humble heart. There are no words to express his respect. There is only a glass of water and wine. Congratulations to the crown prince for his great achievements in the Tang Dynasty. It is a respect for the humble staff to do first. "

The smile on Prince Jiancheng's face widened even more, as if he was pleased by Dong Sima's words, he had a drink with Dong Sima, and then started talking with him.

Xue Lang cursed in his heart, but quietly heaved a sigh of relief.

(End of this chapter)