"The gentle boat welcomes the guests as they come up from the leisurely lake. The wine is served in the pavilion, and hibiscus blooms on all sides."

It is unknown when the Furong Banquet started. It has probably been a custom in Xingyang since the Pre-Wei Dynasty, with a history of about hundreds of years. At that time, Xingyang was the capital of the Former Wei Dynasty, and its status was extraordinary. There are even records of emperors traveling west to visit the Furong Banquet.

Therefore, this custom has been preserved. After the overthrow of the former Wei Dynasty, the world was in chaos. Xingyang was not affected by the war because of its high walls and thick walls. The city generally maintained stability and peace, and the Furong Banquet was not stopped even during the most difficult times.

Every year in mid-June, when the lotus flowers in Qiujiang Pond are in full bloom, the most outstanding courtesans in Yonghe Square will jointly send out invitations, inviting celebrities and elegant people in the city to come to the building for a banquet. The tone of the banquet is mainly relaxed and leisurely, with poetry singing and word guessing.

most common

It is a pastime, supplemented by Qing courtiers sent from each building to play silk and bamboo music. The real highlight is in the evening, when thousands of lanterns are placed on the banks of the Qiujiang Pool, reflecting the pool full of delicate hibiscus, which complements the nine courtesan on the bank.

Extraordinarily enchanting.

The oirans came on stage one after another, performing their best performances, whether they were dancing, singing or singing poems, and their fragrant clothes were different. There were even oirans who splashed ink on the spot and painted the magnificent scenery of Lingzhou with their majestic brush strokes.

After being offered a fortune, the oiran donated the gold to health-preserving halls across Lingzhou, which became a legend.

Preparations for this hibiscus banquet held in the fifth year of Kaiping began as early as April. Everything was ready and all it took was a ray of east wind.

"The rustling east wind washes away the dust, and there is light thunder outside the Lotus Pond." In an exquisite and elegant manor in the east of Xingyang City, Chen Xizhi, wearing a bamboo-colored light lily skirt, stood against the railing and chanted softly.

Although Wang Pingzhang united with some nobles in Kyoto fifteen years ago to wipe out the Chen family with thunderous means, it was impossible to completely eliminate the Chen family's power in various places in Daliang. Chen Xizhi escaped from Kyoto under the protection of a few loyal subordinates and wandered around the world.

For more than ten years, it has grown while gathering the power of the Chen family. The eight hundred tigers in the Hengduan Mountains were the Chen family's manpower deployed throughout the state capital, and no one except Chen Xi knew about properties like the manor in front of them.

How many more are there?

This was the rich legacy left to her by Chen Qingchen, who was willing to help the world through business.

A middle-aged woman appeared in the corridor, looking at Chen Xizhi's much thinner back with complicated eyes.

Her name is Leng Ning, Tao Hua's mother, and she was Chen Qingchen's maid back then.

After coming to Lingzhou for more than a year, she watched with her own eyes as Chen Xizhi colluded with various forces and turned this place into the second Hengduan Mountain. She didn't know why the other party never concealed himself. Maybe it was trust or temptation. Later,

is more likely.

Leng Ning gradually became tired of this kind of life, and Chen Xizhi did not send anyone to keep an eye on her. If she wanted to leave, she could leave at any time, but no matter how much she missed Peach Blossom, she still refused to escape. Back then on the Qishui boat, Pei

What Yue said to her was a very important reason, and of course there was also a bit of reluctance towards Chen Xizhi.

In any case, this is the only bloodline of the Chen family, and she is also the girl she has watched grow up.

Chen Xizhi did not look back, but knew that Leng Ning had arrived. She asked softly: "Are the arrangements over there ready?"

"yes."

Leng Ning responded, stepped forward and said, "Girl, why are you so anxious to scare off the grass?"

Chen Xizhi smiled, turned around and asked, "Aunt Leng, do you think I am being carried away by hatred?"

Ling Ning looked at the face that seemed to be outlined with a brush, and felt a little dazed for a moment, as if he saw the young lady from back then.

The two look similar, but their temperaments and personalities are very different. Chen Qingchen is gentle yet tough, while Chen Xizhi is cold and charming with a bit of indifference.

With a flood of thoughts in his heart, he smiled lightly and said with a cold face: "The girl must have deep meaning in her actions, but I didn't see it."

Chen Xizhi turned around and sat down by the railing, raised his head slightly and looked at Leng Ning, with a touch of sarcasm in his eyes: "It doesn't mean anything, I just gave Pei Yue a big gift, I think he will like it. I heard that he was in

He lived a miserable life in Dingguo Mansion. After he left the mansion, he was stared at by Ye Qi. He was also busy with trivial matters in Yongzhou and had no time to look for flowers and flowers. So I thought of letting him taste the beauty of the world."

Leng Ning forced a smile and said: "Girl, aren't you worried that Miss Ye's family will come from Kyoto to cause trouble for you after knowing this?"

Chen Xizhi's eyes narrowed slightly, and then he smiled and said: "Ye Qi has been independent since she was a child, and she has always been out of tune with ordinary people. At that time, besides me, you were probably the only one in the mountain who could say a few words to her. Such a heart-to-heart comparison.

How ridiculous is it that a tall woman would willingly be his housekeeper just because she met Pei Yue once."

Leng Ning originally wanted to say there was nothing wrong with this, but she was afraid of angering Chen Xizhi, so she could only agree: "Maybe Miss Ye's family is just fulfilling her father's marriage contract."

Chen Xizhi shook his head slightly and said: "It's just an excuse. This time I sent the stunning beauty out not only to give Pei Yue a little sweetness, but also to make him have no time to care about him. Doesn't he like the truth? Just let him find out slowly.

"

She stood up and looked at Leng Ning, and said in a weird tone: "Actually, those reasons are not important, they are just incidental. What I don't understand is why Aunt Leng didn't notify Pei Yue?"

Leng Ning looked as usual and asked: "What does the girl mean by this?"

Chen Xizhi smiled and said: "I left this matter to Aunt Leng, and I had planned to be known by Pei Yue. After all, before you left Kyoto, you went to Luliu Village to find Pei Yue. I thought you had changed

I have become his eyes and ears, and now it seems that the bait I gave you this time is not enough to make you rebel."

The condensed arms tensed subconsciously.

Chen Xizhi didn't take it seriously when she saw this. Even though the two swords were not at hand at the moment, she was still calm and composed: "Don't worry, Aunt Leng, I won't kill you."

Leng Ning said with a complicated expression: "I don't know what the girl is talking about."

"Oh."

Chen Xizhi chuckled lightly, turned around and exposed his back to Leng Ning's eyes, and said calmly: "At that time, Pei Yue threatened you with peach blossoms? It is indeed like his style, full of petty ambitions. I have been observing it for more than a year.

You, although you didn't really betray me and the Chen family, I know in my heart that you are no longer the Aunt Leng who carried me on your back and ran for your life."

After all, there was a hint of loneliness.

The past can only be mourned, but the past cannot be recalled.

Leng Ning's voice trembled slightly: "Girl——"

Chen Xizhi still didn't look back and raised his hand to interrupt her: "Finally, I'll call you Aunt Leng. You didn't betray my information to Pei Yue, which makes me feel less sad. After so many years together, I have already regarded you as my wife.

Relatives treat it. It's just a matter of this world. Nine out of ten people don't get what they want. You can't leave the peach blossoms behind, and Pei Yue and I will definitely be separated in life and death. If you are caught in the middle like this, it will only happen to everyone.

Something I don’t want to see.”

She paused slightly, her chest rising and falling, obviously her mood was not as calm as she appeared.

As if she didn't want Leng Ning to speak, she continued to speak very quickly: "Since you haven't betrayed me, then you can leave. Taking advantage of Pei Yue's lack of time and distraction, you go to Kyoto to pick up the peach blossoms, and then return to Southern Zhou Dynasty to spend time.

Live a peaceful life. I still have some people left in Kyoto, and they will help you. Just don’t kill anyone this time, otherwise Ye Qi will definitely keep chasing you with his temper."

Leng Ning said with difficulty: "Girl, I have never thought of betraying you."

Chen Xizhi shook his head and said, "Let's go before I change my mind."

Two lines of clear tears slid down Leng Ning's face. Looking at the woman's thin and lonely back, she took a deep breath, then leaned over and saluted Chen Xizhi to say goodbye.

Listening to the sound of condensed footsteps coming from near and far, Chen Xizhi silently looked at the calm water in front of him and suddenly laughed sarcastically.

As if he was laughing at himself.

"After all, we have come to this day when we are all separated from our relatives. All this is thanks to you."

"You came in time and didn't delay the many gifts I prepared for you."

"Who told me to be a very stingy woman?"

"Who will die if you don't die?"
Chapter completed!