Prince! The political conspiracy is not a play, the show is real

After the commotion in Zhuzhengtang last time, although Shi Yiqian did not tell anyone else, he was secretly arranging Taoyao's marriage in full swing.

Girls cannot be kept at home when they grow up, so Tao Yao has to find a suitable family to marry as soon as possible, otherwise, who knows what kind of trouble may arise, and in the end she will not be able to marry anyone.

However, what he valued most was not the reputation of the Shi Mansion - but the fact that he had raised Tao Yao, his adopted daughter, for eighteen years, and she had to be of some use.

Half a month later, Taoyao's injuries were almost healed and she was finally able to get out of bed and walk.

Because it was almost New Year's Day, the house was decorated inside and out. Festive red lanterns were hung all over the yard, and there were lights and decorations everywhere. Even though there was snow in the yard that could not be swept clean, it still looked lively and not desolate at all.

Tao Yao looked at the festive scene in the yard and felt particularly comfortable. She picked out a bright red cloak from the closet and ran to the back garden for a stroll.

After the commotion in Zhu Zhengtang last time, the servants in the Shi Mansion seemed to have changed their attitude towards Tao Yao a lot. In the past, everyone treated Tao Yao as if she were air, but now, wherever Tao Yao went, people would bow and nod to her respectfully, and then run away in a hurry after the bow, as if they had encountered a ghost in broad daylight.

This is also good - Tao Yao thought, strolling alone in the big garden, quiet and comfortable.

There is a lotus pond in the back garden of Shi Mansion. The pond is wide, but only lotus flowers are planted there, so the scenery in the pond is only beautiful in spring and summer.

It was winter now, and the pond was filled with withered lotus leaves and dead leaves, looking scorched. The water was as dark as thick ink, and not a single koi fish could be found. The pond looked extremely lifeless and dull.

There is a small pavilion on the bank of the pond. Inside the pavilion is a stone table. On the table is a zither left by someone. The zither is elegantly carved, and the tassels are inlaid with white jade double fish pendants, which looks extremely expensive.

Tao Yao walked over and looked at the zither on the table curiously, wondering, "Who is so careless as to leave such a valuable zither behind?"

After saying that, he couldn't help but stroke the strings a few times out of curiosity. The sound was beautiful. Even someone like Tao Yao who didn't understand music could hear it sound so good just by plucking it a few times.

"Young lady, do you also know the piano?"

A voice came from outside the pavilion. Tao Yao raised his head and looked in the direction of the voice. He saw a man wearing a dark blue plain silk crane cloak walking towards him.

The man was about thirty or forty years old, dressed modestly, but one could tell he had an extraordinary bearing, not like an ordinary person - during this New Year's holiday, those who came in and out of the Shi Mansion were all people who came to pay New Year's greetings, so this man should also be Shi Yiqian's friend.

When he stepped into the pavilion, Tao Yao bowed respectfully.

"No, no, I don't know how to play the piano. It's just that I rarely see such a fine piano, so I couldn't help but be moved and couldn't help but play it a few times."

Tao Yao thought for a moment, not knowing how to address the man in front of her, and smiled embarrassedly.

"Is this violin yours, sir? I'm sorry to bother you."

The man nodded, stepped forward, stroked the zither, and said, "Just now I was looking at this place from a distance. The vast water and sky were one color, the scene was vast, just like a black and white ink painting of a landscape.

But as the mist surged, I suddenly saw a bright red color among the withered lotus leaves and dry water. I suspected it was the Koi Fairy, so I hurried over. And then I saw it, and it was indeed me.

Tao Yao looked down at the red cloak she was wearing, and suddenly realized that the "koi fairy" he was talking about was herself. She couldn't help but smile shyly and said, "Sir, you really know how to joke."

After saying this, the man sat down at the stone table.

He raised his hand to play the zither, and the sound of the zither flowed out from the strings as thin as shark silk, like heavenly music.

The sound of his piano was not as charming and carefree as the one he heard in Chunfeng Tower that day, but rather a kind of clear, detached and free-spirited sound.

Tao Yao couldn't help but be intoxicated by the music. Although she was wearing a cloak, her figure still looked thin. She leaned lightly against the railing, like a withered peach petal in late spring, floating and resting there helplessly.

In the distance, there is a vast expanse of water. Taoyao's crimson figure blends into the landscape, making this light landscape painting less monotonous.

When the song ended, the man brushed his sleeves, picked up his zither and stood up: "Today, with the girl by my side, even the boring scenery is interesting."

Tao Yao felt that this man was very eloquent and knew how to speak in a way that would please others. She said with a smile, "Sir, are you a businessman?"

A trace of surprise flashed across the man's face, and he said, "The girl is really gifted with a pair of discerning eyes."

Tao Yao waved her hands: "I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it."

"I think the girl looks familiar, but I wonder if..."

Before the man could finish his words, Tao Yao had already jumped over the railing and really jumped out of the pavilion and the painting like a light koi carp. She disappeared in an instant, leaving the man in the pavilion looking at her back from afar, as if thinking about something.

As dusk fell, Huai Ling came to Tao Yao's room carrying several clothes and jewelry boxes and announced, "Second Miss, the master ordered me to dress you up nicely today so that the whole family can have a New Year's dinner."

"New Year's Eve dinner?" Tao Yao wondered. "It's not even New Year's Eve yet, what are we eating?"

Huai Ling shook her head, also looking puzzled.

"Never mind, as long as there's something delicious, who cares about so much else." Tao Yao touched her empty stomach. "Today I'm going to find a way to secretly take some cakes, dumplings, and the like during the banquet, hide them in my pockets, and bring them back to eat. Huai Ling, pick out a dress for me with the most and largest pockets!"

Huai Ling's smile was a little forced. She said, "Second Miss, the dress has been chosen according to Master's wishes. The tailor made it specifically for your figure."

"New clothes!?"

Tao Yao was surprised and curious as she snatched the dress from Huai Ling's hands. She looked at it from left to right and found that it really suited her figure and the style was beautiful. It didn't look like a dress that suited her at all.

"The sun is rising from the west? Why would they make me new clothes tailor-made? It won't be the same as before, giving me a slap in the face for every piece of candy!"

Tao Yao hurriedly stuffed the clothes back into Huai Ling's hands and said anxiously, "Huai Ling, I'm going to ask you a few questions. Just answer them truthfully."

Huai Ling nodded, not knowing why: "Yes, Second Miss."

"Today, besides my father, have you met anyone else?"

Huai Ling shook her head. "Everyone in the mansion is busy decorating the house for the New Year. Everyone is very busy. Apart from the master telling me to dress up nicely for the second young lady to have the New Year dinner, no one else has summoned me."

"Have you ever met the eldest lady? Did you see what clothes she was wearing today? Does it look like this dress?"

Huai Ling shook her head. "I didn't see the eldest lady today. Oh, by the way, it seems the eldest lady went out with the mistress today. She said she wanted to pick out some gold and silver jewelry for the New Year."

Tao Yao breathed a sigh of relief, "Then it seems that there is no mischief behind this dress."

Tao Yao picked up the dress again and examined it from side to side for a moment, then said hesitantly, "But no matter how I look at this dress, I just don't like it."

"Second Miss, what are you talking about?" Huai Ling touched the new dress carefully and said, "The style, material and workmanship of this dress are both extremely fine."

"It's very good. But don't you think it's a little different from the clothes we usually wear?"

Following Tao Yao's advice, Huai Ling carefully examined the dress and nodded, "Indeed, it doesn't look like the craftsmanship of a tailor in Beijing. It looks more like the workmanship of Jiangnan."

Tao Yao touched the clothes with regret and said, "Although the clothes are nice, their origins are a little mysterious. I can't wear them."

Tao Yao threw the clothes aside and said, "Huai Ling, find me an old dress to wear. Put this one in the closet for now."

Huai Ling nodded and replied, "Yes."