The crowds are surging, the traffic is busy, and the streets and alleys of Lin'an are still so prosperous. At this time, in front of the famous Ruyi Square of Lin'an's famous Goolan Courtyard, a group of people came. The leader was a middle-aged man of thirty-five or sixteen years old, this man was of medium stature, with a white face and a black beard, and he was a scholar, but he was quite imposing when he raised his hands and feet, and he was an official. However, Lin'an is now the capital of the Great Song Dynasty, and at the feet of the Son of Heaven, there are many officials, big and small, so it is not strange.

At this time, a middle-aged woman in her forties came out of the Ruyi Workshop, with pearl hair. As soon as he saw the visitor, he said, "Lord Tang, it's really unfortunate that you came today, Miss Yan Rui has already made an appointment with someone else, and she really can't find time to meet your lord." ”

Lord Tang was quite disappointed and said: "This official has been on business in Jiangxi for several months, and as soon as he returned to Lin'an, he came to see Miss Yan Rui, and it was really unfortunate that she made an appointment with someone else. ”

The middle-aged woman heard the dissatisfaction in Lord Tang's words, but she had seen a lot of dignitaries and nobles, so she naturally knew how to deal with it, and said with a slight smile: "Lord Tang, what you are talking about, you can't hide it, this is not as good as before, this is the prince and grandson who ask to see Miss Yan Rui every day. Today is indeed a long time ago to make an appointment with others, if Lord Tang is not good, I will take you in to have a look. ”

Master Tang hurriedly said: "Then there is no need, since Miss Yan Rui has made an appointment with someone else, then I will come to visit Miss Yan Rui tomorrow." As he spoke, he waved his hand and followed by someone who came over with four brocade boxes, "This is a gift I gave to Miss Yan Rui when I came back from Jiangxi this time, it is a little bit of my heart, and please transfer it to Miss Yan Rui on my behalf." ”

The middle-aged woman said, "This is easy to do, I will definitely bring it to Lord Tang." As he spoke, he called a few servants, took the gift box, and took it in.

Master Tang had no choice but to leave with the servant, and after walking more than a dozen steps, he couldn't help but look back. Suddenly, I found that there was another person at the door of Ruyi Fang. He couldn't help but stop and take a closer look: "Isn't this person Yang Yan?" ”

I saw that the middle-aged woman in the door came out again, asked Yang Yan a few words, and immediately let Yang Yan in. Lord Tang thought in his heart: Could it be that Yan Rui's guest today is him? It turned out that this Lord Tang was Tang Zhongyou, who had met Yang Yan in the Xie family restaurant last year. However, at that time, Yang Yan was just beginning to emerge, and Tang Zhongyou did not have a deep friendship with him. However, it was at that banquet that Tang Zhongyou met Yan Rui, who had just arrived in Lin'an at that time, and was immediately fascinated by Yan Rui's erotic art, and he didn't want her. Later, he often invited Yan Rui alone. even occasionally revealed that she was willing to accept Yan Rui as a concubine, but Yan Rui was noncommittal about this.

In February this year, Tang Zhongyou was appointed to promote the official affairs of Changping salt tea in Jiangxi, and later in the Northern Expedition of the Great Song Dynasty, he has been staying in Jiangxi. It was only now that he was transferred back to Lin'an. specially brought a generous gift to see Yan Rui, then Yan Rui has become the most popular prostitute in Lin'an after half a year's hard work, and it is much more difficult to see her than half a year ago.

The four brocade boxes are large and small, long and square, and they are different. Yan Rui casually opened a brocade box, which contained a superb inkstone and an ivory brush. Yan Rui looked at it for a while, and was noncommittal, covered the box, and went to open the second box.

This box is the smallest, but only half a foot square. After opening the lid of the box, it was filled with a pearl, the size of a duck's egg, crystal clear. Even Xiao Yun, the maid on the side, couldn't help but say, "What a big bead." Yan Rui picked up the pearl with three fingers, held the pearl in the palm of her hand, only to feel that the jade was smooth in her hand, looked at it for a while, and then put the beads back in the box.

Xiao Yun couldn't help but be curious, and said, "Girl, let's see what is in the other two boxes?" ”

Yan Rui smiled, picked up a slender brocade box casually, opened it, and there was a jade flute inside. Two feet long, the whole body of jasper, is actually made of the best jade, but there are a few points of vermilion near the mouthpiece, red as Danxia, but also reflect the jade flute verdant. The body of the flute is engraved with the two seal characters "Bizhu", which is probably the name of this flute.

Yan Rui is proficient in music and rhythm, and when she sees such a jade flute, she naturally likes it. I couldn't help but pick up the jade flute, put it to my lips, and gently blew a few notes. I only feel that the sound is clear and pleasant, and there is a feeling of being around the beam for three days. It can be seen that the sound quality of this jade flute is very good, not only the appearance is good-looking.

Xiao Yun looked at the last and largest brocade box and said, "Girl, let's see what's in this?" ”

Yan Rui smiled: "What are you anxious about?" The box won't grow wings and fly again. As he spoke, he put the jade flute away and opened the last brocade box.

This brocade box contains a six-stringed yaoqin, three feet long, all made of paulownia wood. Inlaid with gold edges, inlaid with beautiful jade. Yan Rui put on the strings and tried to play a short piece of music, and the sound was like a bell, echoing endlessly. Obviously, this is also an extremely rare instrument.

Xiao Yun said with a smile: "This Lord Tang is so generous, he actually sent such a valuable gift." ”

Yan Rui smiled and said, "Valuable, do you know how much these gifts weigh?" ”

Xiao Yun said: "It's worth about six or seven thousand? Tens of thousands of money? ”

Yan Rui couldn't help but laugh and said, "Tens of thousands? That's the value of that pearl. The Fang Duan inkstone and the Nayou ivory pen are worth about five or six thousand yuan. The rarest thing is this jade flute and yaoqin. Not to mention the exquisite production, the sound quality is also good. It can be said to be the best of musical instruments. The value is only tens of thousands. If you meet someone who really knows the goods, even if you spend 100,000 yuan to sell it, it is not surprising. ”

Xiao Yun's mouth was wide enough to fit a duck egg. After she followed Yan Rui to Lin'an, because Yan Rui was both beautiful and artistic, the prince and grandson, and the dignitaries often gave some expensive gifts to please her in order to win her favor. But at most, it's only worth hundreds or thousands. It's the first time I've received a gift worth tens of thousands of dollars like this.

Yan Rui looked at the jade flute and Yaoqin for a while, and finally carefully put the two instruments back into the brocade box. Then he said to Xiao Yun: "Put these boxes away, Lord Tang came that day, return them to Lord Tang." ”

Xiao Yun was stunned for a moment, and wondered: "Why do you want to return it to him." ”

Yan Rui smiled faintly and said: "If you give heavy gifts, you must ask for help." I don't want to get into trouble. So I can't take this gift. ”

Xiao Yun didn't seem to understand, but she still carefully put away the four boxes.

At this time, someone reported, "Miss Yan Rui, the Lord Yang Yanyang you said has arrived." ”

When Yan Rui heard this, she immediately stood up and said happily: "Okay, I'll pick him up in person." Say don't go.

Xiao Yun wondered in her heart, she had never seen Yan Rui welcome a guest like this. I didn't hesitate to put down all the invitations for today and wait for him. Who is this Yang Yanjing, she has seen many people come to the door with generous gifts to beg Yan Rui, including many of them are officials of the court, rich and noble kings and grandsons, and Yan Rui has never been flawed with words. only looked at Yang Yan differently.

After a while, Xiao Yun saw that Yan Rui brought a young man, about twenty years old, of medium stature, dressed in linen clothes, and the only ornament was the sword he wore at his waist. Except for a pair of eyes that were black and shiny, there was really nothing out of the ordinary. If Yan Rui hadn't told her in advance, she would never have thought that this person was General Xiao Yang, who everyone was talking about in Lin'an City recently. Suddenly, Xiao Yun had a strange idea in her heart: Yan Rui refused to accept Tang Zhongyou's generous gift, probably because of this Yang Yan.