If Emperor Yao really wanted to grant a marriage, he would not ask her for her opinion. At the Hundred Flowers Banquet, the ladies from various families competed for beauty, all forces colluded in advance, and the empresses in the harem tested her openly and secretly. In the end, which of them got what they wanted?
Si Yiluo is the sword of Emperor Yao, and Xiang Xiao is the prince's son. The two of them must never be entangled.
"Your Majesty, when I was ten years old, I defected to the Marquis of Xiping and joined the army. I fought side by side with Prince Xiang. I only have a feeling of being a comrade, not a man or a woman. I hope the Emperor will tell you clearly!"
The girl looked serious, and Emperor Yao stopped joking.
"That's all, I won't tease you anymore. You should go back earlier. I asked He Yan to fully cooperate with you on Gong Xichun's case. We must bring the real culprit to justice!"
Si Yiluo raised his hand.
The flaming clouds outside the palace burned half of the sky red, and the red palace walls in front of you circled a fiery red sky and earth.
Si Yiluluo felt like she was surrounded by blazing flames. The wind blew her body into sweat, and she walked down the steps tiredly.
"Master Si."
Wei Heyan's voice came from behind her. She turned around and saw Wei Heyan standing on a high place, surrounded by fiery red sky light.
Then... he walked towards the golden ground from the sky.
"I have some clues about Gong Xichun's case. Let's find a place to talk."
While handling official duties, Si Yiluo's mind was clear. She said hello and the two of them walked side by side outside the palace. They had walked this road countless times in their previous lives. Every time they walked side by side, her mood was different.
.
"where are we going?"
…
Two carriages stopped in front of Tanchun Tower at the same time.
"Supervisor, Mr. Si, the shop is gone and the room is empty..."
The shopkeeper was about to cry when he saw Wei Heyan and Si Yiluo. Business was good today, and even the regular private room was occupied. They couldn't afford to offend any of the guests who came today!
Shen Moran got off the carriage, saw Si Yiluo, and said excitedly: "Master Si!"
Zhou Zhan bowed his hands to the two of them, and Si Yiluo returned the gesture. Wei Heyan simply ignored him and walked inside.
"If the Governor and Lord Si don't mind, you can come with us..."
Zhou Zhan's invitation was left behind, and Si Yiluo gave it up.
"Your Highness, please."
The shopkeeper of Tanchunlou trotted to the front to take Wei Heyan to the private room. When the three of them arrived, Wei Heyan was already sitting at the main seat and listened to the shopkeeper's announcement of the names of the dishes.
He ordered a few dishes, picked up the tea cup and took a sip.
The shopkeeper hurriedly asked several other people for their opinions. According to their power, he asked Si Yiluo first.
Si Yiluo gave in humbly and said: "The guest follows the host as he pleases, how can a lowly official overshadow the guest and usurp the host..."
"Sir, you are very polite. I don't go out often. I have only heard of the reputation of Tanchun Restaurant, but I don't know how the food is. I'd better order it, Lord Si."
"This official is a rough man and doesn't pay attention to food and drink. Your Highness..."
Wei Heyan suddenly said in a strange tone: "His Royal Highness King Zhan needs a light diet. The dishes I ordered just now are just right. Since Mr. Si is not particular about it, let's have a portion of Tanchunlou's signature dishes!"
The atmosphere in the private room was so awkward that Zhou Zhan could only drink tea to cover it up.
Wei Heyan's attitude... if it was said to be humiliating, Si Yiluo didn't feel much of it. He was the King of Han and Zhou Zhan's imperial uncle. If the elders had a casual attitude towards the younger ones, they could get away with it.
Si Yiluo and Shen Moran looked at each other, and their eyes fell on Zhou Zhan's face out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't see any difference in his expression, but gave him an apologetic look.
Zhou Zhan smiled and shook his head, indicating that he didn't care.
Wei Heyan looked at the facial expressions of the three people and let out a light chuckle.
Tan Chun Lou serves dishes very quickly.
The first dish was steamed mutton. Wei Heyan covered his nose with his fingers in disgust, while Zhou Zhan held his chopsticks but did not move them.
Shen Moran looked at the two of them and gave Si Yiluo a chopstick.
"The steamed mutton in Tanchunlou is soft and glutinous in the mouth. Please try it, Mr. Si."
The second dish was smoked meat. The meat was very white in color and looked...not very appetizing.
Shen Moran copied a chopstick and gave it to Si Yiluo.
Cured goose, wonton chicken, and fried pork ribs were not the dishes of Wei Heyan and Zhou Zhan. One by one, Shen Moran copied these dishes into Si Yiluo's bowl naturally.
She didn't think anything was wrong.
Wei Heyan's fingers covering his nose fell on the back of his hand, tapping them repeatedly. Zhou Zhan looked from Shen Moran to Si Yiluo, holding the teacup in front of his lips.
"This dish is good, Mr. Si, please try it."
Si Yiluo didn't have to pick up the food herself, she just felt sorry in front of Zhou Zhan. She raised her eyes to observe the expressions of the two of them. Wei Heyan immediately regained his disgusted expression, and Zhou Zhan lowered his eyes and concentrated on drinking tea.
"Sorry for the wait!"
The shopkeeper brought the vegetarian dishes that Wei Heyan ordered alone to the table. Zhou Zhan and Wei Heyan put down what they were doing almost at the same time and started picking up the dishes with their chopsticks.
Si Yiluo's extended chopsticks fell on the steamed vegetables, and he hesitated to put them in Wei Heyan's bowl and put them on his own plate.
Shen Moran naturally helped Zhou Zhan with the soup and vegetables.
Looking at Wei Heyan's confused look, Si Yiluo was probably the only one who felt embarrassed anyway.
After the meal, Zhou Zhan and Shen Moran were going to put out river lanterns. Shen Moran invited her, but Wei Heyan didn't say he was leaving, so the four of them walked to the lake together.
The streets are full of vendors selling river lanterns, and there are many people by the lake.
The guards cleared a space.
The guard bought a river lantern.
"Master Si, come together!"
With Si Yiluo there, Zhou Zhan found that Shen Moran no longer said anything that pleased him, and even invited Si Yiluo when he was holding two lotus lanterns and preparing to be with her.
He groaned softly and handed the lamp to Si Yiluo.
"Excuse me, Sir Si."
Si Yiluo had no choice but to take the lamp and walk to the river, light one and put it directly into the lake.
"Make a wish quickly!"
Shen Moran made a wish devoutly in front of the lantern, and Si Yiluo accompanied him silently. He looked back and saw Zhou Zhan, who was tall and tall, and Wei Heyan, who was leaning on the willow branch, and breathed a sigh of relief.
Will the two of them become rivals?
The four of them have different missions, and there may not be such a harmonious relationship in the future.
"Aluo, my wish is that we both have a good ending."
Shen Moran's eyes were bright, reflecting the lights on the lake. Si Yiluo looked back at Zhou Zhan and Wei Heyan who were waiting on the shore again. It might not be destined to have a good ending...
"Let's go back."
The two parties went their separate ways.
Si Yiluo rode on horseback and felt the excitement of the lights on the street. He put aside the charming thoughts that he had just had. When he arrived at the door of his house, he remembered that Wei Heyan said there were clues about Gong Xichun's case.
She was annoyed for a while, then turned around and saw that Wei Heyan had gotten off the carriage and his figure disappeared from the door frame.
She threw the reins to the servant and strode through the door.
"I'll try again! I heard that everyone has three chances! I only used it twice!"
The courtyard was also very lively, with a group of people gathering together. Si Yiluo heard Yu Mo's voice as soon as he entered the door.
"What are you doing?"
Er Qiao ran over.
"Sir, some young men are throwing needles into the water to beg for luck!"
Si Yiluo frowned, a man begging for cleverness?
Nothing wrong?
Yu Mo rolled up his sleeves and threw the needle on the water again. Then he lay on the water and carefully watched the reflection of the needle in the water. The light of the half-moon in the sky was cast on the bottom of the water.
A very shallow shadow curved into a semicircle.
"It's done!"
Yu Mo jumped up happily.
The custom of throwing needles during the Chinese Valentine's Day is during the day, so they gather here at night...