In the afternoon of that day, the sound of silk and bamboo orchestral music filled the courtyard of the front hall of General Wei's Mansion.
There was not a celebration banquet at the house. Qin Liang had left Beijing for several months before returning to Luoyang. Everyone was just here for a visit. Relatives and friends arrived one after another, and there were more and more people. Qin Liang asked people to serve dried fruits and wine, and called home. Singing, singing and dancing added to the fun, and it soon became very lively. It was like a banquet.
Princess Jinxiang's family and her brother Asu are here. Most of the people are in the nearby pavilion hall, drinking, talking and laughing while enjoying the songs and dances; some women stay in a nearby room to eat and chat. .
Walking up the stone steps to this pavilion, there is a hall in the front, and there are doors and houses on the east and west sides. Several women are in the house on the west side. Through the wooden windows, they can also enjoy the program in the middle hall. .
For example, Qin Liang's sister-in-law Zhang was in the hall next door. Of course Princess Jinxiang didn't go there, and her daughter-in-law Lu was also in the west room.
That's fine. My daughter-in-law, Ms. Lu, and Ms. Zhang seem to have some embarrassing past issues, so it would be easier if they weren't together.
However, Mrs. Lu had just met Linghu Yu’s wife, also named Zhang, and the two were talking and laughing. The musicians were playing through a wooden window, and the sound was quite loud. What were Mrs. Lu and the other two talking about? Princess Jinxiang also Can't hear clearly.
Princess Jinxiang walked around the house for a while, came to a big bed in front of the screen, and sat down on it. This square piece of furniture was originally a large seat.
There was an armrest on the edge of the bed. Princess Jinxiang gently put her arm on it, and she suddenly felt uncomfortable. The wood of the armrest was large and sleek, but the front end was tilted upward. The wood was very hard, and it felt hard to put her forearm on it. People don't know how woodworking makes things, and they don't consider practicality at all.
On the wooden table in front, there was a celadon plate with ice cubes and watermelon in it. The watermelon had been peeled and cut. Princess Jinxiang picked up a piece and put it in her mouth. It was indeed cold and comfortable. This watermelon is very good. , the juice was very abundant, she didn't pay attention, watermelon juice overflowed from the corners of her thick red lips, she casually wiped it with her fingers.
At this time, Qin Liang came to the platform outside. When he walked to the door, several women stood up and bowed.
Qin Liang returned the greeting with a smile: "Madams, you don't have to be polite, just be casual. Don't mind if you don't greet me well. The people here today are all relatives and friends, not outsiders. There is a dance performance next door. You can go and sit. My sister-in-law is also in the hall."
People responded one after another, "Thank you, General Qin, for your hospitality."
Qin Liang waved his hand and said: "My relatives and friends just need to move around more."
He walked inside, came to a door, opened the wooden door, turned around and said to Princess Jinxiang: "This room has a back door. Your Highness can go to the back of the pavilion to relax."
Princess Jinxiang walked over and saw that there were indeed stone steps here, and there were cloisters and pavilions in the distance. There were no officials or servants walking around on the north side of the pavilion, so it looked quite clean.
At this time, Qin Liang took out a handkerchief from his sleeve pocket and handed it over calmly. Princess Jinxiang was slightly startled when she saw Qin Liang gently pointing at the corner of his mouth with his finger.
Princess Jinxiang was suddenly enlightened. She quickly took the handkerchief and gently turned sideways to wipe her lips carefully. Maybe it was because she had just eaten watermelon and the spilled watermelon juice was not wiped clean.
She held the handkerchief and walked out of the wooden door before reaching out and giving it back to Qin Liang. She couldn't help but look at him carefully and said, "Thank you Zhongming for reminding me." The handkerchief had a clean and pleasant smell, just like what Qin Liang gave to Princess Jinxiang. It felt like he always carried a handkerchief and was a very clean person. But Princess Jinxiang immediately remembered what happened yesterday and the scene she saw on the street. Qin Liang was wearing iron armor and riding a tall horse as he passed through the street. The strong and majestic figure has a sense of oppression without anger and self-power.
And Qin Zhongming is obviously not a good guy. Guanqiu Jian led troops to attack Gongsun Yuan and conquered the Goguryeo Kingdom. He was by no means an ordinary person. What's more, Youzhou Jingqi was good at fighting... but he was still no match for Qin Zhongming. He was defeated in one battle. Defeated!
At noon, her brother Asu went to the He family's residence and invited Princess Jinxiang and others. She originally didn't want to come. However, she remembered her experience of kneeling down and begging the Sima family, and how He Jun was kidnapped from home by Tingwei's people. Princess Jinxiang felt that she could get some kind of comfort by keeping in contact with people like Qin Liang.
This time Qin Liang came back with troops to put down the rebellion, Princess Jinxiang's impression of him had indeed changed a lot.
Qin Liang pointed to the north and said, "That's the gate tower of the inner residence. Your Highness has been there once."
Princess Jinxiang looked at his face faintly and responded: "I know. Last year Zhongming held a grand banquet at his residence, and the banquet hall for the ladies was also behind the pavilion."
"Your Highness remembers it well." Qin Liang smiled and walked up the stone steps.
Princess Jinxiang followed him unconsciously and walked down the steps of the mansion together.
She usually lives in seclusion, and even to see male relatives of the He family, He Jun and others must be present, but at this time she did not resist taking a walk with Qin Liang.
It may be that Qin Liang's generous and enthusiastic attitude infected her; it may also be that the mansion is built on a high platform, and the two of them can get along with each other openly and openly outside the house.
Qin Liang turned his head and took a look, and then said: "This mansion was built by Cao Zhaobo. It has all kinds of housing facilities. It has hardly been renovated since I moved in."
Princess Jinxiang said casually: "It's a pity that Cao Zhaobo can't keep his things."
Qin Liang's mouth immediately revealed a forced smile, and his eyes seemed meaningful.
He Yan was a person who often visited Shuang Mansion at the beginning, and Qin Liang also served as Cao Shuang's vassal, so it was normal for Princess Jinxiang to feel this way.
Qin Liang asked: "When this was the General's Mansion, has His Highness been here before?"
Princess Jinxiang shook her head and said, "It has never happened before."
Qin Liang looked at the top of the platform and said, "In the past, Cao Zhaobo usually met with his colleagues in the hall of the palace."
Princess Jinxiang nodded lightly. She knew that her late husband should go there often, but Qin Liang did not say it explicitly.
Qin Liang continued: "Actually, there is another place where Cao Zhaobo and others often meet. I will take your highness to see it."
Since it was a place where officials met and discussed matters, it should be a spacious and bright place, so Princess Jinxiang didn't pay much attention. Unexpectedly, Qin Liang took her under the foundation of the palace and stood at a secret entrance, which was an underground cave.
It was quite spacious inside, but there was only one thick door and no windows. Against the sunlight outside, the inside looked pitch-black.
Princess Jinxiang said in surprise: "Is this a meeting place?"
Qin Liang said: "It must be that Huan Fan often came here before. Your Highness will know after asking him. Come in and have a look." Princess Jinxiang walked into the door hesitantly. The atmosphere in this place was not very circulated and filled with A strange smell.
Qin Liang closed the door gently! Princess Jinxiang hurriedly took a step back and said, "What is Zhong Ming going to do?"
Qin Liang's eyes became a little fiery and he said in a deep voice: "Ever since I first met Your Highness, I can't forget the wonderful scenery I saw. But that time, His Highness mistakenly thought that he was going to be coerced by me. I don't want to I had no choice but to endure it when I treated His Highness like this, and because of this, I seemed to have developed an obsession."
The atmosphere in the air suddenly changed. Princess Jinxiang's face turned red and she said in a trembling voice: "There are so many people outside."
Qin Liang said: "This place is very dense. After closing the door, you can't see or hear anything outside."
Princess Jinxiang was so nervous that she felt suffocated, but she still shook her head hesitantly and said: "We really shouldn't do that kind of thing."
Qin Liang's eyes brightened a bit, and he actually said: "I like to do things that I shouldn't do the most."
"You..." Princess Jinxiang raised her head and looked at him, speechless for a moment.
Qin Liang came close to her hair and said softly: "The first time we met, it was just a misunderstanding. But last time at the clan brother's family banquet, we got close to each other. It should be your love and my wish. Why should we always give up halfway? It makes me sad. Have you been thinking about it?"
When Princess Jinxiang heard this, she gradually felt a little shaken. What Zhong Ming said seemed to make sense. She took off her clothes and showed him the first time. Last year at Qin Lang's house, there was only a layer of cloth between them. What? Innocence was long gone, and she suddenly felt like breaking the jar.
Her tone also changed, "You don't mind my age either."
When Qin Liang heard this, he gently put his hand on her shaved shoulders, and then tentatively stroked her neck with the back of his fingers, "Your Highness's skin is like jade, without any wrinkles, and it is still radiant."
Princess Jinxiang's skin is very white, not the kind of delicate and soft skin, and is indeed very smooth. Her eyes are full of resentment, and they have a blurry look at this time, which encourages Qin Liang. His other hand Having reached her belt, Princess Jinxiang reached out subconsciously and grabbed Qin Liang's palm. She took a deep breath, and her whole body seemed to be tense.
Qin Liang's voice said: "Take off your clothes and put them away first to prevent them from getting wrinkled. It is not convenient for Your Highness to change clothes here."
Princess Jinxiang exhaled a long breath, and gradually let go of Qin Liang's hand. She sighed softly: "Just this time, I can repay Zhongming for being kind to my family. Please don't make it public."
Qin Liang said: "Don't worry."
It was already afternoon, and it had been sunny for most of the day. The weather was actually very hot, but it was very cool in this underground cave. After a while, Princess Jinxiang's skin came into contact with the cold air, and she actually felt a little cold in this midsummer season. .
There was an inexplicable panic in her heart, that kind of fear, just like her resistance to Wu Shi San.
She remembered that when she met Qin Liang for the first time and was hugged by him from behind, she recalled the touch at that time countless times, and the messy things lingered in her mind. The last time she returned from Asu's house After that, she often couldn't sleep. Even when her late husband was still alive, Princess Jinxiang didn't think about those things for countless years. It was actually okay not to think about it. If she got involved in this, wouldn't she be in trouble with herself? ?