Mingzhu was stunned by the question, and the hand holding her waist tightened, and the man's clear voice fell on the top of her head, "Tell me."
Mingzhu whispered in a low voice. She had no confidence in telling lies, "I miss my sisters at home."
Zhao Shi stood with his backlight, his face like transparent white jade, he said quietly: "Don't you have a bad relationship with your sisters at home?"
He had a gentle voice and a gentle expression when he spoke, but the words coming out of his mouth were a bit sharp.
Mingzhu didn't expect him to say such a sentence, her tone was as usual, but maybe it was because she was fragile and pretentious, and she always felt that she could hear a hint of mockery.
What Zhao Shi said was not entirely true. Her sisters who were her direct descendants did not like her very much, but her relationship with the other concubines who were her aunts' concubines was pretty good. They often get together to lace up and embroider purses. She sneaks out to meet Wei Chiyu privately, and her two sisters will give her a break.
Mingzhu said shamelessly: "Your Highness may have some misunderstanding. I have a very good relationship with several of my sisters."
Zhao Shi naturally didn't believe it. He had checked thoroughly about her situation at home earlier, but he had never heard that she had any particularly close sisters at home.
Zhao Shi remained silent for a long time. Mingzhu was panicking in her heart, but she didn't want to miss the good opportunity. She bit her lower lip, her ears and cheeks turned red one by one as she lied, "I met Sister Mingru today. She said that everyone in the family misses me. , Your Highness, please do me a favor and let me go back and have a look."
Zhao Shi pursed his lips and looked calm, as if he was thinking about what she said, but also seemed not to be moved by her words.
Mingzhu's slender arms took the initiative to hug his neck, stood on tiptoes, and kissed the corner of his mouth, "I haven't been back for more than a year. I really miss home."
Zhao Shi was silent for a while and said slowly, "Don't push yourself too far."
Today he made an exception and sent back her unruly maid.
Mingzhu's face turned pale, knowing that Zhao Shi would not agree to her so easily. She was not intimidated by Zhao Shi's cold voice. If she couldn't do it today, she would bring it up in two days.
Zhao Shi is a soft-spoken person. She has a better attitude and can always give herself a chance to go out once or twice.
In her previous life, the pearl was too obedient and cowardly, so she didn't dare to resist him, nor did she dare to get too close to him, so she acted coquettishly and showed her goodwill towards him, and she was trapped in this small courtyard for five years.
The ends of Mingzhu's eyes were red, and she looked pitiful and soft at the same time. The dark eyes were as beautiful and clean as glass beads.
Zhao Shi stood by the window. His face was exquisite against the backdrop of the crabapple tree outside the window pane. He stared at her with his lowered eyes. He seemed to sigh unbearably. He loosened his fingers and gently rubbed her eyes with his fingertips. "It's getting late, let's take a shower and rest."
Mingzhu clenched her fingers and hummed softly.
Hot water has been prepared in the bathtub behind the screen, and the water is covered with a thick layer of petals. The water vapor is creeping and blurring the vision. Mingzhu leaned against the tub, her white body hidden under the water. After bathing and washing herself, she didn't get up. She waited until she had to come out, then slowly dried her body and put on her clothes.
She walked out from behind the screen with bare feet, white and rosy, as if she had put on a light peach blossom makeup. Her long hair, as smooth as satin, spread lazily on her back, making her face appear smaller.
The man sat in front of the desk, the light of the long candle reflected his calm profile, holding a book in his hand, lowered his eyes, heard the voice, slowly raised his eyelids, and glanced at her, for a few seconds Finally, the Adam's apple slid up and down, "Put on your socks."
Mingzhu's toes are round and really cute.
She doesn't like to wear socks or shoes after taking a bath on weekdays. She steps directly on the newly laid blanket with her bare feet. She doesn't get dirty and doesn't feel cold.
A little girl will feel shy if her feet are looked at. Even if this person is physically close to her.
Mingzhu curled up on her toes, climbed onto the bed, and hid under the quilt.
Zhao Shi stood up slowly, raised his hand to pick up the lampshade and put it on the candlestick. The flame of the long candle was immediately extinguished. He slowly walked to the bed and sat down on the bedside, holding a pair of clean socks in his hand.
"Put your feet out."
Mingzhu shook her head, "It's uncomfortable to sleep with socks on."
Zhao Shi lowered his head and remained silent. His cold fingers got into the quilt, held her ankles, and pulled them out gently. He put her little feet on his legs and put on a pair of white socks.
Mingzhu was dissatisfied and complained, but she didn't dare to kick off her socks blatantly in front of him.
Zhao Shi stood up again, unfastened his belt, took off his shirt, and then blew out the two bedside lamps.
The man's slightly calloused fingertips rubbed the back of her neck and landed on her delicate back, gently soothing her trembling body, "Don't shake, go to sleep."
Mingzhu really couldn't cope with him, so she slept past the hour again the next day. I woke up slowly after being exposed to the sun for three days. I was very hungry. I ate two bowls of porridge before I regained some strength.
Mingzhu's complexion has been rosy these past two days, and her eyebrows are filled with the soft and hot spring breeze. She was already beautiful, but now she seems to have become even more beautiful. Her every frown and smile make people unable to take their eyes away.
Biying told her that the prince had left Wangyue Pavilion this morning. After saying this, she added, "I don't know if His Royal Highness will come over in the next few days."
If His Highness the Crown Prince makes an engagement in the future, he will definitely not have many days to come to Wangyue Pavilion.
Biying couldn't help but look at Miss Mingzhu. Seeing that she looked normal, she had to admire her for being able to keep her composure. On the other hand, I feel sorry for her. Miss Mingzhu is much prettier than Miss Mingru, and her personality is much better than Miss Mingru. Except for her humble background, she is better than Miss Mingru in every aspect.
However, His Royal Highness the Prince attaches great importance to etiquette and family status.
At this point, Miss Pearl loses.
Mingzhu had nothing to do, so she began to count her little treasury. It was embarrassing to say that she only had more than 20 taels of silver. This amount of money was not enough for her to travel to Jiangnan.
Mingzhu looked at the broken silver on the table and sighed. From the first time she escaped with A Rou and was caught, Zhao Shi never gave her a penny of silver. The rewards she received on weekdays were precious treasures that were worthless and useless. .
Ah Rou cooked a pot of scented tea for her and after serving it on the table, she hesitated to speak.
Mingzhu sat in the sun and drank scented tea. She felt sleepy due to the sun, so she lazily took a nap against the pillow.
Ah Rou looked at the girl's peaceful little face and felt really uncomfortable. Although she has been doing hard work in the woodshed for most of the past six months, she is very popular and has gained a lot of information.
Ah Rou understands her young lady, she has a kind and soft heart, and if she treats her a little bit well, she will remember her for the rest of her life. His Highness the Crown Prince was quite good to the young lady before. Although the young lady refused to admit it, Ah Rou also knew that the young lady was already attracted to His Highness the Crown Prince. She had stayed up for two long nights to make a peace button before the Prince's birthday. Someone sent it over.
It's a pity that I paid it by mistake. His Highness the Crown Prince only liked her appearance.
"Miss… "
"Huh? What's wrong?"
The pain was both long-term and short-term. Ah Rou said cruelly, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wants to marry Miss Ru."
Mingzhu smiled, "I know."
Yesterday, Mingru came to her door in person and told her about this matter.
Ah Rou added, "Miss, why don't you beg the prince and ask him to let you go."
Now that she is going to marry and have children, it would not be good to spread the word about having an extra wife. In the future, her young lady will also find it difficult to live in the capital, so it is better to let her go.
Mingzhu sighed softly and said perfunctorily: "Yes. I will beg him."
She wouldn't, and she knew Zhao Shi wouldn't agree at all.
Ah Rou saw her perfunctory behavior and mistakenly thought that she was reluctant to leave the prince, so she became even more annoyed with the prince.
Ah Rou didn't dare to tell her the conversation she heard in the rockery. She was afraid that the young lady would be upset. Anyone who heard the man they loved belittle his own origin would not feel very good.
Ah Rou said something in front of Mingzhu, "Miss, the prince is not as good as Mr. Wei at all."
Wei Chiyu's family is poor, but he is very good at dealing with people. Even though she was poor, she would often buy expensive snacks for her young lady. The money she earned from copying books was used to buy hairpins and bracelets for her young lady.
She finally managed to get ahead, and used all her belongings as a betrothal gift. She made three letters and six rites to marry her young lady to be his wife, but the prince interfered with her.
Ah Rou felt like vomiting blood just thinking about it.
Mingzhu's expression paused, "It's useless to talk about this now."
A Rou said: "Master Wei won the Jinshi. If the young lady successfully married him back then, she would have lived a good life."
Mingzhu raised her eyes and asked, "Has he passed the imperial examination?"
Arou nodded.
very nice. Mingzhu felt happy for him from the bottom of her heart. Wei Chiyu treated her well before, but she had no fate with him.
Mingzhu couldn't help but ask a few more questions: "Then has he moved?"
Ah Rou shook her head and replied: "No, I still live in the back alley."
After Mingzhu asked for the answer, she began to feel disappointed. She lowered her face and said melancholy: "I haven't had time to return the jade bracelet he gave me."
It was a relic left to him by his mother and was given to her as a betrothal gift.
When the engagement was broken off, the Ming family returned the dozens of boxes of betrothal gifts intact to him. Only the jade bracelet that had been put on her hand had no chance to be returned.
As the sun went down, someone sent word from the front that the prince had gone to court.
Mingzhu's heart skipped a beat, wondering why he came here again? She quickly shut up, unable and daring not to mention Wei Chiyu's name in front of Zhao Shi.
Zhao Shi seemed to be in a good mood. This morning he was invited by a friend to go to a teahouse in plain clothes. He accidentally bumped into the eldest daughter of the Ming family who was disguised as a man and left the house.
The scholar in the teahouse is making pairs.
Mingru unexpectedly managed to win several difficult pairs in a row, making her stand out. She was extremely surprised when she saw him. She bowed and begged in a low voice, "Your Highness, please don't expose me. If my father finds me sneaking out, he will definitely teach me a lesson."
Zhao Shi promised her not to tell anyone.
Mingru laughed, "Then thank you in advance, Your Highness."
Zhao Shi hummed casually, and Mingru sat down beside him without permission and ordered a cup of tea.
Zhao Shi did not chase her away, but took a sip from the cup and said, "You are right."
Mingru was very humble and said, "The prince is full of praise."
After it was over, Mingru took the first step.
Zhao Shi felt that the eldest daughter of the Ming family behaved in a measured manner, with just the right size, not overstepping the bounds and not being rigid. She indeed had the air of a lady.
Prince Cheng smiled and shook his head, "You, the future concubine, are quite interesting. You are such a wonderful person."
Zhao Shi put down his tea cup and knocked it on the table, "Be careful with your words and actions."
Prince Cheng smiled again, "Is it possible that you don't want to marry her?" Then he continued: "If you don't want to marry, no one will force you to marry her. I really envy you. You make your own decisions about your marriage, unlike me. It’s up to you who you want to marry.”
Zhao Shi didn't seem to be listening carefully. He sat for a moment and then stood up, "I'll leave first. Sit down slowly."
On the way back home, he passed by the pastry shop. Zhao Shi stopped the carriage and asked someone to pack a few bags of fragrant, soft and sweet snacks.
He remembered that Mingzhu seemed to like eating these sweet and greasy pastries.
After Zhao Shi returned to the other courtyard, he did not go to Mingzhu's house first, but went to the study room to study and practice calligraphy.
The pastry was sent to Wangyue Pavilion by the guard.
Mingzhu was flattered, but she would not be moved as easily as before. She put the bag of pastries aside and continued playing with the newly delivered flowers and plants.
Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye. Mingzhu stretched and glanced at the table unintentionally. After a few seconds of silence, she said to Biying outside: "Throw away the pastries on the table."
Biying walked in with a white face, lowered her head to cover her face, her calves were shaking, and her voice was trembling: "Girl..."
Mingzhu explained: "It's cold. I don't want to eat it. Just throw it away. Don't be afraid. He won't know."
Biying raised her pale face and opened her mouth. Her throat felt like a handful of dirt had been stuffed into her throat. Her lips were twitching. She was too nervous and frightened to speak.
Mingzhu was about to ask what happened
The cold, tall and thin man crossed the threshold and walked in with a natural expression. The room became extremely quiet. After a long silence, Zhao Shi spoke in a calm voice: "Why are you still standing there? Didn't you hear what she said?"
Biying knelt down directly, her body shaking into chaff.
Mingzhu frowned. It wasn't a big deal, but Zhao Shi seemed very angry.