Tang Ji didn't eat much for lunch and wandered around the palace all afternoon. He was already so hungry that his chest pressed against his back. He thought that there would be a lot of delicious food at the banquet, but it turned out to be just snacks. It was better to call it a tea party.
I couldn't help but rub my growling stomach and asked Princess Ling'an: "Do you have food to eat?"
Hearing this, Princess Ling'an was startled for a moment, then she touched her lips and sneered: "Yes, in the side hall, Xiaoqin, why don't you bring some food for Mr. Tang."
But before the maid named Xiaoqin could make a move, Tang Ji stood up first: "No, I'll go by myself."
Jiu'er also swallowed his saliva and stood up.
"Okay then." Princess Ling'an replied, asking the maid behind her to lead him the way, and then turned and left.
Tang Ji took two steps, looked back at Li Yu, and asked casually: "Do you want something to eat?"
Li Yu quickly shook his head and refused. This kind of banquet was held just to facilitate the scholars and students to chat, make friends, discuss studies, eat some cakes, and drink some wine to fill their stomachs. Who would eat staple food? Tang Ji was so embarrassed.
He couldn't afford to be embarrassed by such a face.
But only a quarter of an hour later, he was holding the chicken drumstick in his left hand, chopsticks in his right hand, and his mouth was full: "It tastes so good!"
Regarding this, Jiu'er pursed her lips, slightly unhappy, because Li Yu ate all the food she brought.
Tang Ji had long been accustomed to this guy's shamelessness and was too lazy to care. He focused on the young men in the center of the lobby. It was said that while he was going out to get food, two groups of people quarreled over a poem, so he threw a few young men into the room.
The tables were put together for a poetry contest, which added a touch of fun to this boring banquet.
But before he had even finished half of the bowl of rice, the battle had come to an end. The three people on the left were clearly outmatched and were quickly defeated.
The tall and thin man standing in the middle on the right chuckled disdainfully: "You still want to compete with me with this little strength?"
The three people on the left gritted their teeth and stared at Xu Xingting, but thinking that they were inferior to others, they finally let go of their hands helplessly.
The other students were discussing the content of the poetry competition just now.
"The wind is blowing in the willows and the light smoke is in the fishing, and the drizzle is in the willows and the boats are painted. I can come up with such verses in a short time. Xu Xingting really has some attainments in poetry."
"This 'Falling leaves and flying flowers are like a dream in the end, and the little lotus flowers are like rain and the rain is like sorrow' is also good."
"Hey, even Yu Chun's poems can't compare to Xu Xingting's. The three of them would be humiliating themselves if they competed!"
"..."
Behind the crowd, Li Yu asked while eating: "Tang Ji, how does this guy compare to you?"
Tang Ji raised his eyebrows slightly. If he was simply competing with himself, it was unlikely that the other party would lose, but if his super cheat was included, it would be almost impossible for the other party to win, so he chose to shake his head and not answer.
But Jiu'er, who was feasting on the side, didn't care so much and said subconsciously: "My uncle must be better than this guy named Xu!"
I don’t know whether it was because her voice was too loud or the people around her were talking less. This sentence spread instantly, and everyone’s eyes also focused on the three of them. Several people sitting nearby heard Princess Ling’an’s words.
Li Yu didn't say anything more after calling him, but the students sitting far away murmured in a low voice.
Xu Xingting, who originally planned to sit back and drink, also stopped and walked over. He looked at Jiu'er, whose face was stained with oil, and said in a cold voice: "What did you just say?"
Seeing this posture, although Jiuer did not give in, he also leaned towards Tang Ji.
Tang Ji also raised his hand to protect the little girl and smiled calmly: "I'm sorry, the little girl spoke so freely. I hope you will forgive me."
"Haha, since this little girl said that this brother is more powerful than me, why not ask him to compete with me?" Xu Xingting snorted coldly after finishing speaking.
Hearing this, Tang Ji raised his brows slightly. It had only been three months since he last wrote a poem. He really didn't want to violate his conscience and steal other people's poems. Besides, there were many state-level scholars and knowledgeable talents present today.
If he released a few eternal songs, it would probably hurt their self-confidence. The provincial examination was approaching, and it would be bad if it caused them to perform abnormally. Without any hesitation, he refused directly: "Let's forget it."
After saying that, he lowered his head and continued to eat.
Seeing this scene, Xu Xingting couldn't help but laugh out loud: "What? Don't you dare? Oh, I understand. Everyone here is discussing poetry and policy. It's just the three of you eating hungrily here. Isn't that right?
I heard that Princess Ling'an's mansion is holding a banquet, come in and have some food and drinks!"
The two scholars sitting aside couldn't help but look at him, saying in their hearts that Xu Xingting was too brave. One of these two is a prince and the other is a court official, but they are both existences that you, a scholar, cannot afford to offend. They quickly stood up and said to him.
Back away.
Li Yu put down his chopsticks, hummed softly, and sighed: "Hey, you are still a student. With this kind of virtue, you are destined to achieve nothing even if you enter the court!"
Xu Xingting couldn't help but remember that Yu Chun said the same thing about him some time ago, and he couldn't help but pointed at Li Yu and roared: "Who do you think you are, how dare you point fingers at me."
"Song Xiao, slap your mouth!" Li Yu wiped his hands with a handkerchief, then poured a glass of wine and drank it.
Immediately, Song Xiao, who was standing aside, quickly stepped forward.
Seeing this, Xu Xingting took two steps back: "What are you doing? This is Kyoto City, under the emperor's feet, do you still want to hit me?"
But as soon as he finished speaking, Song Xiao slapped him in the face.
"Crack!"
Xu Xingting was slapped directly to the ground, and a crisp sound lingered throughout the lobby.
Song Xiao said coldly: "How dare you insult His Highness Prince You? It would be a good thing if I didn't kill you."
Hearing this, Xu Xingting's eyes widened instantly, he quickly got up and knelt on the ground: "You, Your Highness, I, I don't know..."
Before he could finish his words, Li Yu interrupted and replied: "You don't know me, and this is your first offense. This time you just slapped your mouth, but next time it won't be that simple!"
The main reason was that this was Princess Ling'an's banquet, and he didn't want to make things worse, and he would have to let the other party clean up the mess by then.
Just at this time, Tang Ji finished the food in the bowl, felt his stomach and burped. He suddenly felt that the atmosphere here was a bit dull, so he stood up and said: "After eating and drinking, let's go out for a walk. I guess
It won’t be long before the banquet ends.”
Li Yu didn't reply, but also stood up.
Jiu'er didn't forget to tear off the other half of the chicken leg in the bowl, hold it in his hand and nibble on it.
"Eat less, you will become a ball!"
"Slightly, slightly, slightly~"
Looking at the retreating figures of the three people, everyone in the lobby breathed a sigh of relief.
Xu Xingting exhaled two breaths. No wonder he saw Princess Ling'an walking towards this direction just now. He thought it was some scholar who pleased the princess, but he didn't expect it to be Prince You. Fortunately, the other party didn't care and raised his hand to wipe his forehead.
Breaking into a cold sweat, he realized that everyone was talking about him in low voices. He couldn't help but turn his eyes slightly and coughed twice, trying to smooth things over: "Ahem, His Highness Prince You actually sat with that kind of timid and cowardly person who likes to talk nonsense.
Together, no wonder I didn’t recognize you."
But as soon as he finished speaking, a voice came out from the crowd: "Mr. Xu, the crime of talking about court officials behind their backs is not light!"
