Imperial Capital, Imperial City, Xuanming Palace.
Emperor Xingping looked at his niece Princess Qingxin who was not far away. Her eighteen-year-old golden branches and jade leaves had fully revealed her national beauty and heavenly fragrance passed down from her biological mother. Even though she was only wearing plain clothes at this moment, with a round and unadorned jade hairpin, sitting there quietly, she was still so beautiful that people couldn't help but admire her.
Such a beauty, no matter in prosperous or troubled times, is qualified to win the legend of beauty and disaster.
Unfortunately…
First it was the Shen family, then the Su family, and now it was Huo Zhaoyu. Either they were in the filial piety period when it was convenient to contact them, or there were capable enough women in the backyard to keep an eye on them. Even though Emperor Xingping tried every means, he couldn't find an opportunity.
However, the candidates he has looked for twice recently were both insufficient.
Wei Xinyong has his own ambitions and has no intention of getting married.
Shen Shuming was fascinated by this peerless appearance. Unfortunately, the elders behind him had already planned for him and might not be willing to let him do whatever he wanted.
Emperor Xingping believed that even if his niece was given a child, it would not be difficult for her to get ahead with her favor. The problem was that no matter how weak the Wei family was, it was not dead yet. The princess rushed to be a child for a noble descendant... This is called the Shen family. How can I hold my head up in the future
The more you lose face, the more you need to keep this last bit of face.
Although Emperor Xingping hoped to save his wealth and life with the help of this beautiful niece, he also knew that although Qingxin was beautiful, he did not have a palace that matched her beauty. Compared with those Israeli concubines, her only advantage is that she is a princess, a real princess.
Without this identity to increase her worth, even if she could be favored for a while with her beauty, she would not be able to achieve anything in the end.
It's just that although the Wei family still exists, it's no different than if it didn't exist. How long can Qingxin retain her status as a princess
It is really impossible to rely on this niece to save his life.
Emperor Xingping thought about it again and again, and felt that it was impossible not to listen to that suggestion.
He stroked his beard gently and said softly to Qingxin, who looked a little nervous and frightened because he had been looking at her in silence for a long time: "I have something I want you to do."
Princess Qingxin has long lost the arrogance she had when she was a child. Although she is not very close to her uncle who has restored her status as a clan daughter, she instinctively knows that it is best not to disobey him. Although Emperor Xingping has been a puppet since he came to power, she, as a princess, deserves nothing more. Although she didn't know what Emperor Xingping wanted her to do at this moment, she still said cautiously: "Yes."
"Look for an opportunity to give this letter to Shen Shuming." Emperor Xingping took out a letter he had prepared a long time ago from his sleeve and said, "Bring a message with him and ask him to soak it in water and read it again after reading it. "
Princess Qingxin stood up and took the letter, and found that it had been sealed. She pursed her lips and asked tentatively: "Uncle, what's in this letter?"
She knew that Emperor Xingping was afraid of Huo Zhaoyu after all, and Huo Zhaoyu was quite dissatisfied with the fact that the Xiliang army would not consider returning to Xiliang until after Shen Zangning's wedding.
At this juncture, Emperor Xingping wanted to hand over an unread letter to Shen Shuming... She was really worried.
She knew how ruthless her brother-in-law was.
Is it any wonder that someone who could do such a vicious thing to Su Xiu Ming, who had always treated him favorably and trusted him, would do something to the children of the Shen family? Even Huo Zhaoyu's only biological sister married into the Shen family. When the imperial capital was destroyed, the Shen family arranged for her and Shen Zang Ning to hide in a secret room.
But, how much does Huo Zhaoyu care about this sister? There is nothing that cannot be given up these days. Didn't Xu Zongwen send all his sons and nephews to the imperial capital as hostages
Qingxin was in a mess, and she was worried that she would be involved in this matter. She knew that Huo Zhaoyu and Anji both knew what Wei Changfeng had said. Huo Zhaoyu had not seen her since arriving in the imperial capital. She had no chance to apologize to her brother-in-law... Anji did come over to question her and even beat her.
That time Emperor Xingping came over to smooth things over, but Qingxin knew that as long as there was another reason, Anji would not let her go.
Anji tried every means to come down to Huo Zhaoyu in order to live a stable life and stay away from the messy affairs of the royal family.
But she dragged both her and the consort back...
"You don't have to worry about it." Emperor Xingping said calmly, "Just remember it. If Anji asks you what you wrote in the letter, just say that the world is uneasy now and you hope to find a stable home. Do you understand?"
Princess Qingxin said calmly: "If it is a letter like this, my niece can write it herself."
"Do you really think Shen Shuming will favor you?" Emperor Xingping took a deep look at this niece who is more than beautiful but not very intelligent, and said, "Do you think the Shen family will agree?"
"He said he would ask his aunt... My niece and Shen Zangning were very good in the past." Princess Qingxin said with some lack of confidence.
When she said this, she remembered that when Shen Zangning left the cabinet, although she was invited to congratulate her, after the two met, they no longer had the cordiality they had when they were teenagers, and they even had nothing to say...
Emperor Xingping said calmly: "Have you forgotten who your fourth sister-in-law is? She is Shen Zangning's sister-in-law! Our royal family has done this kind of wrongful generation thing a lot, but their noble clan prides itself on etiquette. You will never do it! Based on this alone, it is impossible for the Shen family to let Shen Shuming marry you. Besides, Shen Zangning is just a daughter of the Shen family. What do you think about the marriage of Shen Shuming, the eldest son of the Shen family? "How much room can she have to talk?"
"..." Qingxin was silent.
Although she is not smart enough, she also knows that Da Wei is like this. If she does not take advantage of her youth and beauty to find a reliable husband, once Da Wei dies, there will definitely be no good end waiting for her.
But Wei Xinyong is not moved by her beauty, and Shen Shuming is moved but may not be able to pass the Shen family's test... What should she do
After a moment of stalemate, Emperor Xingping softened his tone and said, "Am I going to hurt you again? You silly boy, although our uncle and nephew's lives cannot be said to be completely connected now, I can rely on you. , it’s only you!”
Qingxin glanced at Emperor Xingping in confusion and said, "My niece is so scared, how can she be the emperor's uncle to rely on?"
"There was Zhen Mi in ancient times. Qingxin, your appearance may not be worse than that Zhen's." Emperor Xingping said kindly, "So don't be afraid. I will still count on you in the future!"
Qing Xin bit her lip. She felt that there was something in Emperor Xingping's words. He was not necessarily just suggesting that she should imitate Zhen Mi. But there was no obvious clue as to what it meant, so he simply asked: "Please ask the emperor for advice, this letter?" Emperor Xingping had just said that Shen Shuming might not be able to do this, so would this letter change anything
Strangely enough, Qing Xin had never thought of Shen Shuming as her choice, because she also knew that Shen Shuming was her fourth sister-in-law's nephew. Emperor Xingping mentioned it before...
"There are many things that are not beautiful if you know them." Emperor Xingping looked at her and said, "You don't know anything, and even if something happens, it won't have much to do with you. If you knew it, it would lead to disaster. For this reason, you You shouldn’t understand. In short, if I want to harm you, do you think it’s necessary to go to such trouble?”
But you want to use my words... This thought rolled through Princess Qingxin's heart, but she couldn't say it out.
The overly affluent life when she was young and the sudden decline after the sudden change made her lose her once proud and domineering attitude and the courage to resist. At least now she still has enough food and clothing. Once she fell out with Emperor Xingping... Princess Anji was disgusted again. She, she didn't know what would happen to her
Especially when Emperor Xingping told her clearly that under normal circumstances it would be impossible for Shen Shuming to pay homage to her. Because the two are not of the same generation.
So she could only tell herself that she believed in Emperor Xingping: "The Wei Dynasty will fall sooner or later. How many of the kings who have perished have a good ending? The emperor is counting on my beauty. When the time comes, who can he cling to who is powerful enough to help him?" The idea of interceding will definitely not harm me."
She walked out of Xuanming Palace with low eyebrows. Princess Qingxin looked at the palace palace looming between the lush vegetation and recalled her childhood with regret.
She was still young at that time, and she was walking in the wide and gorgeous corridors with her small stature. But wherever she went, she could only see people shorter than her. Some of those who once prostrated themselves on the ground and looked up to her are no longer alive, and some have stepped forward to take charge.
The imperial palace was still called Wei Palace, but it didn't last long.
Princess Qingxin suddenly remembered that this palace was not actually built by the Wei Dynasty. The previous great dynasty spent all their efforts to build a magnificent and huge palace, but it was said that it belonged to the Shen family within a few years...
Now that the Shen family is in decline, there seems to be no injustice in losing it to others.
But why was he born at this time
Thinking of the imperial sister Linchuan and Lingxian... Princess Qingxin couldn't help but look up at the beam above her head.
But after hesitating for a moment, she still held the letter and staggered away.
"Perhaps I deserve to be alive at this time, right? The imperial sisters like Linchuan and Lingxian have the courage to die for justice. Anji has a capable consort, and she is also very capable. But I don't have Anji's talent, but I don't dare to imitate Linchuan. ..." Princess Qingxin thought sadly, "Even if I know that I will probably be given to someone by the emperor's uncle, and I will live my whole life as a lowly person, I still... still want to live!"
"Soak it in water? Is there any secret message?" Shen Shuming sent everyone out and opened the letter sent by Palace Maid Hu alone in the room. After reading the sad and plaintive words of heartfelt words, he sighed in his heart. Thinking of the palace maid's solemn advice, my heart moved slightly, "Does Qingxin want to elope with me?"
The boy who was only sixteen years old had been idle before. Although Shen Shuming knows etiquette and morals well, there are times when he likes to try to violate these rules.
He dipped the letter into the water with excitement: "It's okay to elope. A woman like Qingxin dares to do it. What do I have to be afraid of?"
He knew that his uncle and aunt were guilty of Dafang. Even if he really eloped with Qingxin, it was impossible for the Shen family not to deal with the aftermath for him.
And even if they are caught, the most they will receive is a beating. The other consequences will be borne by the Shen family.
What's more, neither Shen Lianshi nor Shen Zangfeng, the two main people who disciplined him, could really beat him to death. He is Shen Zangli's only son. If he beat him up, how will the two uncles explain to their father and brother underground in the future
Since the consequences were not serious, Shen Shuming moved an embroidery stool with great interest, sat by the basin and carefully observed the handwriting that gradually appeared in the gaps between the original letters...
At this time, he didn't know how much he would regret doing this after a while.
At that time, if he was given a chance to never read this letter, he was willing to pay any price, even if it meant losing his soul.
It's a pity that in this world, there are always some mistakes for which there is no chance to repent. (To be continued)