Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons

At this time, Wen Jiao was drinking with Princess Xiangyang.

Princess Xiangyang was the second daughter of Emperor Gaozu of Tang and the elder sister of the current emperor Li Shimin. She was married to a noble minister and her every move was so dignified that it made people feel proud and noble: "Mantangjiao, you are so rude. In the past few months since you returned to Chang'an, everyone has been inviting you to come out for a gathering, but you refused to go out. Half a month ago, Prime Minister Yin asked for the title of Lady of Guichuan County for you, and everyone wanted to congratulate you, but you actually said you were sick and refused to see anyone. We old sisters have made a bet in private that whoever can invite you, the great hermit, to come out will host others to enjoy the flowers."

"I was really sick at that time. I had a stomachache." Wen Jiao laughed dryly.

In fact, she didn't want to see anyone at all. In the Tang Dynasty, women's imperial edicts usually came from their husbands and sons. The reason why she was able to get the imperial edict of a third-rank county lady was because Yin Kaishan loved his daughter and was afraid that she would be looked down upon after the divorce, so he tried his best to ask for a title for his daughter. Emperor Taizong Li Shimin understood the feelings of his subjects and was touched by Yin Kaishan's love for his daughter. He felt pity for Yin Wenjiao's rough experience. Anyway, it was just an imperial edict, which didn't cost much public money for the court, so he approved it with a simple stroke of the imperial pen. Wenjiao really didn't have much interest in the Zhaiyihuashu, which was awarded as a third-rank imperial edict.

Is it glorious to receive an imperial edict because of people's sympathy for a failed marriage?

With a heavy heart, she accidentally broke her arm while practicing swordplay. She couldn't lift her whole arm, which looked very unsightly. Wen Jiao took the opportunity to avoid seeing the guests. When questioned at this moment, Wen Jiao could only laugh: "Besides, let the princess win first, isn't it good?" After saying that, she raised her neck and drank the Lanling wine in the cup. This wine was brewed by soaking turmeric, and its color was like gold. After drinking, the strong aroma lasted for a long time, and the alcohol content was not high. For Wen Jiao, who often accompanied her father to drink in modern times, it was as refreshing as a beverage.

"What the hell." Princess Xiangyang said coquettishly, "You girls are so arrogant. You will make fun of me all the time. I have been very worried about organizing this flower viewing banquet. Let's not talk about other things. Just look at these guests. Can you not choose them without thinking?"

She was referring to the male guest at the opposite table. Tang Dynasty customs were unrestrained, and mixed banquets for men and women were common. Because the princesses also had the influence to interfere in political affairs, in order to advance in their careers, many talented men tried their best to get into the princesses' banquets, and tried their best to win the princesses' favor. Judging from the color of their clothes, many of the guests invited by Princess Xiangyang this time were such talented men. And this was not the only criterion for inviting guests. There were also many princes and nobles with bright and luxurious clothes, elegant young men from aristocratic families, and even a few young Taoists wearing Taoist robes.

All the guests have only one thing in common, that is, they are handsome.

Following the words of Princess Xiangyang, Wen Jiao took a quick look and saw some gentle and handsome, some heroic, some beautiful as a beautiful woman, and some with a proud and extraordinary bearing. It was dazzling, not to mention the noble ladies present were in high spirits, and the maids serving tea and water beside them also blushed and their hearts were beating fast.

For a moment, Wen Jiao had the illusion that all the handsome young men in Chang'an were selected by Princess Xiangyang.

She looked away and found Mingxin beside her looking dazed and dazed. There, under the peach tree, sat a young man wearing a crane cloak. He might not be as elegant and beautiful as the other men present, but he had a crystal-like clarity and purity. The fallen petals were scattered, and a few of them swayed and fell on his shoulders. He raised his hand to brush them away, his movements indescribably leisurely and elegant.

Wen Jiao showed little interest.

Princess Xiangyang continued, "I even took three rocks from the rockery in my father's palace. I've been so tired lately. Every time I look in the mirror, I feel my face has turned yellower. You are like me, who stays at home and keeps your face plump and bright, not much worse than a 17 or 18-year-old girl. How do you maintain your appearance? Do you take any secret medicine?"

"Maybe it's because I've been learning sword skills these days, which has cleared up all the meridians in my body, so I look more energetic." Wen Jiao said.

"Do you believe her? I think she is naturally radiant after divorcing the bad man." Princess Fang Wan of Han said while eating melon seeds. She is the daughter of Fang Xuanling, and is close in age to Yin Wenjiao and Princess Xiangyang. They have been close friends since childhood. Even though they got married later, they still talked to each other without any taboos. "When we sisters were in the boudoir, we talked about the husbands we wanted in the future. She insisted that she wanted a scholar. As long as he was talented, whether he was from a royal family, aristocratic family, a noble family, or a poor family, in her eyes, it was all the same. What happened? She found a champion. He was talented enough, but he was useless. He was short-sighted and had a black heart. We suffered for more than ten years in vain, and in the end, we still divorced."

Princess Xiangyang rolled her eyes at her and said, "What are you doing bringing up these old things?"

Princess Han threw down a handful of melon seed shells and said, "I'm not bringing up the past. I just want Mantangjiao to remember this lesson. I heard that the old lady is looking for a son-in-law for you again? You must learn from your mistakes this time and don't be fooled by a man who looks good on the outside but is actually rotten on the inside. At worst, we are still here, and if you like someone, at least come to us for consultation. We promise to investigate for decades and even find out what was grabbed during the "Zhuazhou" ceremony."

It would have been fine if she didn't mention this. As soon as she mentioned this, Wen Jiao became worried: "You all know? To be honest, I came out today just to avoid my mother."

She turned the luminous cup in her hand around and around, her face full of worry, "I don't want to get married at all. Chen Guangrui broke my heart."

The second half of the sentence was false, and it hurt Yin Wenjiao's heart, but the first half was true. After all, she was just a college girl who had just graduated in her early twenties. She felt uncomfortable being asked to marry, have children, and become a mistress, and to marry a man from the Tang Dynasty whom she had never met. Besides, marrying a man without feelings was no different from breeding a pet.

Princess Xiangyang saw that she looked miserable, and fearing that she would recall the past unhappiness, she quickly said, "Did I hold this flower-viewing party just to let you talk about these things? Hurry up and show me the show. This is a specially invited juggler from India. If you don't cheer, I won't give him any reward."

After saying this, he clapped his hands, and a red-haired Hu man with blue eyes walked in proudly and stood on the embroidered carpet. He was about nine feet tall. He roared like a lion, and tore his clothes to the sides with a snap. A lion suddenly jumped out from his chest!

Live!

lion!

Wen Jiao sat up straight unconsciously.

The Hu people's clothes lost their support and deflated like the skin of a snake without an owner, and scattered on the ground.