The night was already deep, and Zhao Shi was still in the study, leaning lazily on the master's chair, gently rubbing his painful temples with his fingers.
The anger is hard to get rid of, and there is no sleepiness.
Zhao Shi had endured a huge temper in the Ming Mansion. According to his temperament, he would not have tolerated such a thing. He even thought about smashing the jade crown in front of her on the carriage.
She still didn't have an attack when it came to the end. Mingzhu was not very courageous to begin with. If he showed his true feelings in front of her, the little girl might be frightened to the point of getting sick again.
The only time Zhao Shi was angry with Mingzhu was a long time ago. At that time, she had just entered the house and was still naive. Just realizing that he was as easy to fool as outsiders said, I put down my body and said a few nice words to him, then secretly stole the token from him, and while he was going to court, he escaped with his maid in an open and honest manner. .
Mingzhu is also smart and knows how to dress herself in rags when she escapes. When Zhao Shi led people to catch up with her, she was about to leave the city gate.
Without saying a word, Zhao Shi threw her into the carriage with a cold face and almost threw her on the bed.
She shrank in fear.
Zhao Shi saw her evasive movements, and his anger naturally grew stronger. He grabbed her ankles and pulled her out, uttering a few threats in a low voice.
She was so frightened that she didn't resist. A high fever broke out the next day, and I didn't recover from the illness for less than half a month.
Zhao Shi settled down and wrote a few words. When he raised his head again, the sky outside the window was getting brighter.
He changed his clothes and went into the palace to pay New Year's greetings.
Sheng Ling stayed in the palace these days and went to Fushou Palace to pay his respects early in the morning. Her drunkard's intention is not to drink, but her main purpose is Zhao Shi.
Sheng Ling sent people to check on the girl Zhao Shi was raising in another hospital before, and only got the news this morning.
"Princess Princess, my subordinates have found out the details of that girl."
Sheng Ling narrowed her eyes and said, "Tell me."
"I heard that she is a concubine of the Ming family, named Mingzhu. Her mother was born in a brothel and was a good prostitute, and her father was the minister of the Ministry of Rites."
The attendant continued: "This Miss Ming seems to have learned a lot of tricks from her mother. The prince only saw her once and then brought her back to the mansion."
Sheng Ling became angry when she heard this. She knocked the teacup in her hand hard on the table, causing tea to splash everywhere. She said with a cold face: "Brother Prince, I have never seen any tricks before. It must be more than that simple."
The attendant hesitated and then said: "What the princess said makes sense. I heard that Miss Ming's appearance and figure are not inferior to those of Yangzhou Skinny Horse."
Sheng Ling asked: "Where is she now?"
"Going back to the Ming family's mansion to celebrate the New Year."
Sheng Ling sneered, "I understand, get out."
After this new year, Sheng Ling must go and meet this well-mannered Miss Pearl in person. She wants to see if she is as beautiful as a fairy and can seduce the prince's brother who has always been unmoved by beauty. of fascination.
Seeing that the princess was very angry, the little maid stepped forward to calm her down and said, "Princess, you don't have to take her seriously. As far as I'm concerned, she's just a whim of His Highness. If you interfere, I'm afraid His Highness will be unhappy."
Sheng Ling's face turned cold, "You don't know, Brother Prince is not someone who likes to have fun at all."
You can't tell, it's just sincerity.
Sheng Ling's personality followed that of her mother, being willful, arrogant, and extremely paranoid. Zhao Shi doesn't have to love her, and she can be his good wife, but she can never accept someone Zhao Shi really likes.
"Is it possible that I can't deal with a young lady of low status?"
The little maid didn't dare to persuade him any more.
Sheng Ling has brains and is smart, so of course he won't really do anything to Mingzhu until the prince brother completely dislikes her. But she must let Mingzhu know what dignity is and let her recognize her position.
The little maid next to her saw the viciousness in the princess's eyes and silently sweated.
While Sheng Ling drank a cup of tea, Zhao Shi went to Fushou Palace to pay New Year's greetings to his grandmother.
He said a few auspicious words and sat for a while. Before leaving, Zhao Shi was entangled by Sheng Ling.
The princess seemed to be a different person in front of Zhao Shi. Her smile was bright and not annoying at all, "Brother Prince, I didn't even have time to ask for a red envelope from you last night. You can't run away today."
She specially wore a bright red outfit today, stood under the bright yellow sunshine, looked charming, and took the initiative to reach out to him.
Zhao Shi winked at the guard behind him, and the purse was immediately in Sheng Ling's hands.
Sheng Ling didn't really want the money. The expression on her face became stiff. After collecting the purse, she said, "I'm really bored staying in the palace all the time. Can the prince brother take me to ride a horse?"
Zhao Shidan said: "If you really want to ride a horse, I can ask the deputy to take you to the racecourse."
Sheng Ling couldn't help but laugh. She was thick-skinned and didn't back down even after being rejected. "Brother Prince, aren't you free?"
"No."
"It's not too late for Ling'er to go when you are free." Sheng Ling raised her head proudly and said triumphantly: "Even my father is full of praise for my equestrian skills. I will definitely let you open your eyes when the time comes." Let’s compete with you.”
Sheng Ling considers herself to be the sweet girl of heaven, possessing all six arts and the ability to be complacent and proud. She had heard her brother say before when she was still in Xiangyang that Zhao Shi was not only good at writing, but his equestrian skills were not inferior to those of military commanders.
Sheng Ling had already competed with him, and if she defeated him, she would be able to impress him.
She didn't believe that Zhao Shi really could not like her.
Zhao Shi had a dull expression on his face, "I'm not good at riding and shooting, so I can't compare to you."
"Brother Prince, there is no need to be modest." Sheng Ling felt that Zhao Shi's cold look made her feel like she was holding back her breath.
The two of them were talking as they passed a verandah. Zhao Shi obviously had no intention of going with her, so he turned a corner and left.
Sheng Ling looked at his back and stamped her feet, feeling angry and sad.
When he got back to the palace, he threw something, and the maids couldn't stop him even if they wanted to.
Several glass bottles were broken, and I finally stopped when I was tired from throwing things.
After the little maid cleaned up the mess in the house, she couldn't help but persuade her: "Princess, don't be angry. In a few days, the imperial decree conferring marriage will be sent to Xiangyang. Sooner or later, you will be the crown prince."
The people in the palace had already calculated the auspicious zodiac and decided on the date of the wedding. At this time, the marriage decree was already on its way to Xiangyang City. There will be no more changes after the marriage is granted.
Sheng Ling was still angry.
The little maid then persuaded: "Princess, if you think about it this way, even if His Highness the Crown Prince gives Miss Ming a title in the future, she will never be able to get past you, and her life will depend on your face. When she falls out of favor, you Dispose of it however you want.”
Sheng Ling gritted her teeth and said, "I won't let her have an easy time."
She took a deep breath, thinking that she felt much better, "What you said makes sense, the days are still long."
"It's good if the princess can think like this."
After Mingzhu ran away from Zhao Shiqi, she felt no psychological burden and had an extra bowl of rice on such a good day as the first day of the new year.
The third master of the Ming family was dismissed from his post and had no face to go out. He vented his anger on Mingzhu, convinced that she must have offended His Highness the Crown Prince and that's why he was implicated.
Mr. Ming wanted to settle the score with her aggressively, and was ready to scold her to vent his anger.
Uncle Ming grabbed his collar and slapped him, "You are confused!"
Mr. Ming was stunned by the slap, "Brother, why did you hit me?!"
"What do you want to do? I used to just eat and die while working. Why am I still so brainless after I get home? Forget it, you're so stupid." Uncle Ming pointed at his nose and scolded him.
Mr. Ming's face hurt, "I have lost my official position, but it doesn't mean I am no longer qualified to teach my niece a lesson, right?"
Uncle Ming poked his forehead with his finger and said, "Is Mingzhu still your niece now? She belongs to the prince now! Not only you and I can't touch her, not even her biological father and mother can touch her."
Mr. Ming was frightened. After a while, he muttered softly, "Isn't the prince tired of her already?"
"I'm so fed up that she can still come to Ming's house from time to time? Can she still have secret guards guarding her everywhere? Use your pig brain!"
After Uncle Ming finished teaching his brother a lesson, he went to the backyard and called all the restless girls in the family to the front hall.
Mingru and Mingyuan were also among them.
Uncle Ming slapped the Eight Immortals table with force, and the loud sound made several delicate girls tremble in fright.
"I usually don't have time to take care of things in the backyard, but you guys have some ideas. No one is allowed to cause trouble for Mingzhu in the future."
Mingyuan was not convinced after hearing this, "What is she..."
Uncle Ming looked at him coldly, and Mingyuan was so frightened by this look that she didn't dare to say anything.
"If there are still some of you who want to provoke her and bully her, don't blame me for asking your mother to punish you."
Uncle Ming's temper was quite scary. A group of young ladies who were usually fearless held their breaths and kept silent.
Uncle Ming warned them that they had to restrain themselves even if they didn't want to restrain themselves.
As soon as he left, Mingyuan had something to say: "Sister, Mingzhu won't complain to the prince, right?"
Mingru looked unhappy and asked with a sneer: "What do you think?"
Mingyuan thinks it must be.
Mingru doesn't want to say anything now, she just wants to be alone for a while.
Ming Yuan was angry and said: "The prince is too kind to her. A vixen is a vixen, and her ability to seduce men is really good."
It was cold in spring, so Mingru rubbed her heated brows and said, "Shut up first. I'm so annoyed."
On the other side, Mingzhu only felt that she was much more awake these days. She had neatly packed the baggage for her run and hid it in the cabinet. Then he gave Arou some money, asked her to book two carriages, and asked the coachman to keep it secret.
A Rou was puzzled at first, "Miss, why do you want to invite two carriages?"
Mingzhu smiled slyly, "When Zhao Shi finds out that I have run away, he won't know which carriage I took."
"But miss, there is only one direction out of the city."
“After passing the city gate, there is more than one place to go.”
What A Rou is most worried about is that the young lady cannot get out of the city gate. Last time they were blocked at the last gate.
Mingzhu looked at her and said, "Arou, I won't take you with me this time."
Ah Rou lowered her face and said, "Miss, don't you want me anymore?"
Mingzhu shook her head, "No, I hurt you last time. If we are caught again this time, Zhao Shi will definitely not let you off lightly."
"I'm not afraid."
"But I'm reluctant." Mingzhu held her hand and frowned, "Be obedient, okay?"
Ah Rou almost burst into tears. She looked at her with tears in her eyes and nodded, "Miss, you must run far away."
The prince is about to get married, and her young lady must be feeling sad. If he could leave the capital and live a peaceful life for two more years, he would be able to forget about the prince, and he would not be sad about these things.
Mingzhu smiled: "Of course I will."
She had made complete preparations this time. Lu Yin and Shen Deed had been stolen from Zhao Shi's study.
Speaking of this matter, Mingzhu suffered a serious crime.
Although Zhao Shi wanted to have sex with her on the bed nine times out of ten times when he went to the other courtyard, which seemed to be a serious desire, he was very principled and would never mess around with her in his study.
In order to seize the opportunity to get married, Mingzhu really risked her life and went to his study in the middle of the night to apologize.
Zhao Shi asked her to grind.
She was absent-minded and even knocked over the tea cup on the table. Her clothes were already thin, but became more transparent after being stained with water. Her chest rose and fell, and her waist was so thin that she could hold it with just one hand. She blushed and took the initiative to go Hook him.
His Royal Highness stood under the candlelight and said seriously, "Go and change clothes."
Mingzhu was shameless and hooked his finger.
The man paused for a moment, then silently pulled out his hand, "Don't make trouble here."
Mingzhu was anxious at the time, so she closed her eyes and sat on his lap, tilted her neck up and kissed the corner of his mouth.
The man's breathing became heavier. Unable to withstand her carefully planned teasing, he turned his back on her guests and bit her lower lip.
The two of them had a mess in the study. Mingzhu sneaked out of bed while he was asleep, found her body deed in the drawer, folded it and hid it in her chest, and then returned to the bed.
In the second half of the night, she was so excited that she couldn't sleep. She was idle and bored, observing the face of the man next to her.
The more I look at it, the better it looks.
But why does such a good-looking person have to be so domineering
Ah Rou brought hot water to Mingzhu. After washing her face, she went to bed and got ready to sleep.
Before going to bed, he counted the days on his fingers. There were still fourteen days left before the Lantern Festival. On that day, Zhao Shi had to go to Changtai Mountain to burn incense and pray for blessings. There were so many people and so many eyes, so it was best to fish in troubled waters.
Mingzhu has begun to dream about the good days after she runs away. She is going to open a pastry shop in Jiangnan, do a small business to make some money, and then find a good man who will love his wife without half-heartedness.
Give birth to a son and a half daughter and live an ordinary life.
Mingzhu slowly fell asleep and had no dreams all night. Only when it was almost dawn, she had the same dream as before.
She seemed to be possessed by a nightmare, and returned to the other courtyard that had trapped her for several years, like a wandering spirit looking at the courtyard that had been withered for a long time.
The flowers and trees in front of the window seemed to be dead. There are no flowers in spring, no leaves in autumn, and bare branches all year round.
Zhao Shi seems to have been living here all the time, and he still looks the same as before. His emotions seem to be still weak, and there is always no emotion on his face. His sadness, joy and anger are all hidden deep in his heart, and they are tightly restrained.
Mingzhu looked at him sitting in front of the window, looked at his obviously thin and slightly sad side face, and felt that he was very haggard, getting more haggard every time.
In this hazy dream, Mingzhu watched Zhao Shi's every move and listened to his low cough.
The man picked up his coat and gently put it on his shoulders. He got up to write in the middle of the night. The cold wind blew in through the cracks in the window. He covered the corner of his mouth and coughed again.
The handkerchief in the open palm was stained with blood red.
The candlelight flickered, and the man suddenly raised his head. His eyes seemed to be looking in her direction. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief and asked softly: "Is that you?"
Mingzhu was startled, and without thinking, she turned around and floated out of his study.
I was very tired from running, as if someone was chasing me behind me.
Then Mingzhu woke up.
After waking up, my limbs were tired.
She really doesn't want to have this kind of dream anymore! All kinds of running in the dream will make you very tired when you wake up.
Biying opened the door curtain and came in with hot water.
Mingzhu was listless and let out a long yawn. She asked: "Biying, is there any more effective temple in the capital? I want to ask for a talisman to ward off evil spirits."
Biying asked: "Girl, are you having nightmares again?"
Mingzhu nodded: "Well, I'm tired."
Biying thought for a while and said: "Only on the sixth day of the lunar month can we go to the temple to offer incense."
These days, it is only open to members of the royal family, and no one else can enter.
Mingzhu whispered, waving her hands casually, "Forget it then."
Biying helped her wash up and had breakfast delivered to her. Mingzhu glanced at the dishes on the table and was a little surprised, "Why is today's breakfast so rich? Didn't the people in the kitchen make things difficult for you?"
She had never had such good food at home before.
Biying shook her head: "No."
"really weird."
Mingzhu had just finished breakfast here when Mingru asked someone to deliver a message to her, saying that Princess Xiangyang had sent a message and invited her and the ladies from the noble family of Haoying to come to the palace to enjoy flowers and tea.
It's said to be an invitation, but actually she has to go even if she goes, and she has to go even if she doesn't.