At the transition between spring and summer, the weather is clear and the breeze is blowing, bringing bursts of fragrance.
Sheng Wenlin stood under the corridor without walking for a long time. His posture was loose, tall and lean, and his fingers that had been curled up unconsciously slowly loosened.
Sheng Ling didn't know why he was absent-minded, so she urged him: "Cousin, it's time to go."
Sheng Wenlin came to his senses and replied calmly: "Yes."
After a long silence, he said to her as he walked: "I know you have an old grudge with her, but today is the princess's birthday banquet. You know what you should and shouldn't do."
His cousin also has many tricks. She is not a person who can swallow her anger and will retaliate, not to mention that it was such a big deal that her engagement was annulled in the first place.
Sheng Wenlin's suggestion was not selfish at all. The capital is not Xiangyang, and it has not reached the point where it can be lawless.
Sheng Ling was not convinced, but she still had to show off her skills. She said to her cousin, "I have promised you so many times, why doesn't my cousin believe me?"
"Your mother wrote to me a few days ago, asking me to take good care of you."
"My mother-in-law is really worried."
"I think you have stayed in the capital long enough. It's time for you to return to Xiangyang."
Mentioning this, Sheng Ling's expression turned ugly, and her bright eyes swept over, causing ripples of silk, "I've lost such a big face, I don't want to go back, I will definitely be talked about."
Sheng Wenlin also understood her discomfort, and patted her head gently. After all, she was his sister, and he still felt sorry for her, "No one in Xiangyang city dares to talk to you."
Sheng Ling said: "They don't dare to do it on the surface, but they must be secretly trying to do it to me."
"No one will dare to say anything in front of you."
"Then I don't want to go back."
"It's up to you." Sheng Wenlin didn't pay much attention to her affairs. It was not his turn to interfere.
After passing through the corridor and turning a corner, Sheng Ling went to the princess palace.
The hall was bustling with activity, and people who were on good or bad terms had to huddle together and talk with faces on their faces.
The little girls all dressed themselves delicately today, and dressed themselves up beautifully, with a hundred flowers in full bloom.
Sheng Ling's eyes swept around.
Mingzhu stood next to the princess and changed into a thin apricot skirt. The belt perfectly outlined her slender waistline. Her plain makeup could not block her charming appearance. She stood there quietly and made other people look like they were fat. Popular fans.
In full view of everyone, Sheng Ling walked over to talk to Mingzhu, "Miss Mingzhu left really fast just now. I didn't even have a chance to talk to you."
Mingzhu has not yet made a sound.
Zhao Xin stood up first to block her, "If you have anything to say, just say it here."
Zhao Xin also talked about the incident between Mingzhu and Sheng Ling. To be honest, she really couldn't stand Sheng Ling's behavior, as if she was too noble. But in front of her brother, her expression changed, and her disgusting arrogance turned into ashes.
At that time, Sheng Ling's marriage to her brother had only just begun, so she couldn't help but deal with the people in her brother's courtyard. No wonder her brother wanted to break off the engagement.
Sheng Ling stood opposite them and said in a low voice: "I want to apologize to Miss Mingzhu for what happened before. The last time was because of me. I hope you don't hold grudges against me."
Mingzhu couldn't figure out what was causing Sheng Ling to suddenly become so polite and kind, which she was not used to.
Zhao Xin was also stunned. She didn't think Sheng Ling could be so generous. Not only did she not care about it, she also apologized voluntarily.
It's no good thing when the sun comes out.
Sheng Ling sighed and said, "It doesn't matter if you can't get over it for a while."
Mingzhu said nonchalantly: "Your Majesty, you're welcome."
Zhao Xin deliberately separated the two of them. She took Mingzhu's hand and said, "I'll take Mingzhu to the Imperial Garden for a walk."
Fortunately, Sheng Ling didn't say anything about following him.
After Zhao Xin said that, she really took her hand and went to the imperial garden. The palace maid had already decorated the pavilion in the imperial garden, and the fragrance of fruits and melons was on the table.
Zhao Xin ran so fast that Mingzhu couldn't keep up with her, and the two of them almost bumped into someone.
Zhao Xin suddenly stopped, looked up, and suddenly became much more well-behaved, "Cousin."
Song Huaiqing frowned, "How old are you, why are you still so reckless?"
"Not paying attention to the road ahead."
Zhao Xin was about to introduce her cousin to Mingzhu, but she was still talking.
Mingzhu seemed to have met him before, and she was polite and polite, "Mr. Song."
Song Huaiqing wore moon-colored clothes today, feeling like a breeze blowing on his face. He frowned slightly and nodded: "Miss Mingzhu."
The sense of proportion is just right. Being distant and gentle doesn't mean much, but it doesn't make people feel looked down upon either.
Song Huaiqing didn't want to say harsh words to an outsider. He turned to look at Zhao Xin and said in a stern tone, "Be careful when you walk next time. It doesn't matter if you bump into others. Don't fall yourself."
Zhao Xin's left ear goes in and the right ear goes out.
Song Huaiqing's eyes turned to the pearl next to her, but they didn't stay there for long, and looked away calmly without any emotion.
Zhao Xin actually didn't want these two people to bump into each other at all. She was afraid that her cousin would be prejudiced against Mingzhu.
These children of aristocratic families have a feeling of being alienated from others thousands of miles away. His cousin's appearance and family background were good, and people from a lower family background liked to pay attention to him since he was a child. Over time, he felt disgusted.
But now it seems that it is better than she imagined.
Zhao Xin held Mingzhu's arm affectionately and said, "I won't waste my cousin's time."
"Where are you going?"
"Go see Xia He."
"The lotus hasn't bloomed yet, why are you going to see it?"
"You can also look at the lotus leaves."
When Zhao Xin talked about this, she remembered the lotus leaf rice that Mingzhu cooked for her last time, and she had to swallow her saliva.
Song Huaiqing asked: "Have you asked your brother?"
"He can't control me."
"You brought his people, why can't he control you?" Song Huaiqing looked gentle and patient, reminding: "I just came out of the study room with your brother, if you don't send them back, after today He’s going to settle a score with you.”
Mingzhu gently tugged on her sleeve, lowered her voice and said in her ear: "What your cousin said makes sense."
"Okay, then I'll take you back first."
The lotus leaves in the garden can no longer be seen. The sun sets over the mountain, and the gorgeous afterglow falls in bunches along the gaps in the tiles. Looking at the sun, it was only more than an hour before the dinner party.
Mingzhu still walked slowly. When she returned to Zhao Shi's bedroom, people were already waiting in the room.
"Have you met Zhao Xin?" he asked.
Mingzhu looked at his face. His eyes were dark, and the ends of his eyes and brows were relaxed. She picked up the tea cup at hand and took two sips of tea to quench her thirst. She nodded: "I see."
Zhao Shi held her waist with one hand, looked down at her eyebrows, stretched out his fingers to touch her eyebrows, "Is there anyone making things difficult for you?"
Mingzhu paused, "No."
Sheng Ling didn't seem to be embarrassed by her, because she complained after a few weird words, which was quite pretentious.
Mingzhu was still worried about something, holding it in her throat. She didn't know whether she should open her mouth or not.
The man let go of her waist and changed his body in front of her. He was straight and moon-colored, clear and elegant, with a tall and tall back, as upright as bamboo.
He tied up his belt and looked at the woman's increasingly silky facial features. Her eyes were round, and there was an elusive childishness in her charming face. Her small face was soft and felt quite good when pinched.
He seemed to like her more and more, and he couldn't bear to look away from her.
This is not a good thing for Zhao Shi.
Zhao Shi clenched his fingers harder, "What are you doing?"
Mingzhu was held in his arms and forced to absorb the cool rosin from his body. After hesitating for a long time, she still couldn't be indifferent, "Your Highness, Wei Chiyu and I... really have nothing to do with each other."
So he didn't have to deliberately make things difficult for Wei Chiyu.
It was because she knew Wei Chiyu was a very good person that Mingzhu was afraid that what Jiang You said would be true. If jail was not enough, she might lose her life.
Even if Mingzhu's love for Wei Chiyu's men and women is not that deep, it is still difficult to forget him. The girl in my memory was devoted to treating her well. Almost all the hard-earned money was spent on her.
Zhao Shi's mouth sank and he didn't say anything for a long time.
"What did you say?"
"It's nothing, I just know that he is going to Changzhou to take up a post, and I am very happy for him."
He saw that there was really no other emotion on her face, and he didn't feel very relaxed in his heart. When she asked about it, he still cared about it, "I won't kill him."
"Yes. I know His Highness always keeps his word."
Zhao Shi held her hand tightly and never let go.
There seemed to be a sarcastic look in his eyes, and he didn't know whether he was mocking her or himself. How could she look like she didn't care at all? To say so is to deceive oneself and others.
Zhao Shi led her outside. It was a bit cold after dark, and the night was more exposed in late spring. Water mist hit her face, and her eyelashes were wet with water drops, making her look attractive.
Along the way, neither of them said anything.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince appeared at the dinner party with his concubine, and everyone couldn't help but glance over there. She was really beautiful, and she stood beside the Crown Prince obediently, like a little fairy.
The onlookers had different thoughts, and the man took this opportunity to take a second look in secret. The jealousy in the hearts of the little girls was annihilated. Even though she was beautiful, she was stuck in the quagmire and lost her glory.
Mingzhu was sitting at a table with a group of little girls she had barely seen before. She didn't feel embarrassed, so she picked up her chopsticks and picked out her favorite dish.
The other people on the table didn't use their chopsticks. Instead, they picked up their wine glasses and toasted her two glasses of wine.
Mingzhu drank four or five glasses of wine in a row, and the ends of her beautiful eyes were filled with spring color. Her head was swollen, her body felt warm after drinking the wine, and she still felt hot when the cold wind blew.
Sheng Ling came over at some point and said, "Miss Mingzhu is drunk, why don't you help her to rest quickly."
Mingzhu is not that intoxicated, but she was really confused after drinking tonight. The palace maid took her to the vacant room in the side hall, helped her take off her clothes, and helped her get on the bed.
After going out, the little palace maid closed the lock on the door.
There were more than one or two drunk people at the banquet. Song Huaiqing almost escaped from the palace, feeling dizzy and a little vomiting.
He took a nap and woke up.
When Song Huaiqing came out, he ran into Sheng Ling. He was somewhat fond of her, but he didn't show much pride and couldn't talk openly to her.
Sheng Ling looked at him and asked the palace maid to take him to the side hall to rest.
Song Huaiqing nodded and said good things.
The night was so dark that if it weren't for the dim light of the lantern, he wouldn't be able to see the road in front of him clearly. After closing the door, Song Huaiqing saw several painful sobs coming from the bedside.
He sobered up immediately.
When Zhao Shi came to look for Mingzhu, no one said he had seen it.
"She drank some wine and went down to rest first."
"Which room?"
"I don't know either."
"Where is the palace maid?"
"I don't know which little palace maid led the way." The voice of the person who replied became lower and lower, and he gradually closed his mouth under the cold gaze of His Highness the Crown Prince.
Zhao Shi's eyes looked at them without any emotion, like a knife hanging above their heads, ready to fall at any time.
A weak voice suddenly rang out, "I saw Miss Mingzhu going to the side hall to rest."
The dark and cold mist in Zhao Shi's eyes gradually dissipated. He breathed a sigh of relief and took long steps towards the side hall.