The atmosphere of the New Year is everywhere in the capital. Red lanterns are hung in front of every house, and festive couplets are pasted. A two-horse carriage with a red lacquer canopy passed through the street, and several children in scarlet padded jackets held firecrackers, lit them, and threw them under the wheels of the cart with a smile on their faces.
Before the firecracker exploded, a small stone flying from a distance knocked out the sparks.
Several children looked at each other, you looked at me, I looked at you, no one knew what was going on.
It was noon when Wei Luo and Zhao Jie returned to Prince Jing's mansion, and the steward took care of the mansion in an orderly manner. Even though no one lived in it for more than a month, the house was still the same as when they left. . After Wei Luo and Zhao Jie had a hasty lunch, Wei Luo went to the clean room to take a shower, changed into clean clothes, and then fell asleep on the bed. The journey was tiring, and she hardly had a break to rush the journey. She was really tired, but she didn't complain much.
After Zhao Jie washed and washed, he looked at Wei Luo's sleeping face, leaned over and kissed her forehead, then turned and went to the study. He called Yang Hao and Manager Wang, asked about the recent events in Shengjing City, and dealt with some official business. He raised his head and looked at the sky outside. It was already time to light the lights. It's time to go to the palace for a family dinner.
Zhao Jie went back to the room and woke Wei Luo up, "Little guy, wake up."
Wei Luo was drowsy, and didn't want to wake up at this moment, so she let out a "huh" reluctantly, tucked her head into the quilt, and acted like a kitten. Zhao Jie couldn't help laughing, it was rare to see her so pitiful, so he lifted the quilt on her head, leaned over to enclose her small mouth, and kissed and kissed again and again. Wei Luo was so blocked by him that she couldn't breathe, she pushed him away with both hands, and now she was fully conscious, she asked angrily and helplessly, "What are you doing?"
Zhao Jie pinched her small face, only to feel that it felt very good, smooth and tender, "A certain little thing is acting like a baby and refuses to get up. Since my husband can't wake her up, I have to use this method."
Wei Luo sat up slowly, brushed her long hair around her shoulders, and stopped messing around with him: "Go and call Jin Lu and Bai Lan in."
It was just past You hour, and there was still an hour before the palace banquet, so it was not too late. Sitting in front of the bronze mirror, Wei Luo combed her hair. She just woke up feeling a little tired, so she took a cotton pad and sprinkled a thin layer of pearl powder refined from jasmine flowers on her face. As a result, her spirit and complexion improved a lot. She went behind the screen to change her clothes again, and half an hour had passed, when she turned around, she saw Zhao Jie was leaning against the mullion door, smiling at her with folded arms.
Wei Luo walked up to him, and asked with a somewhat uncomfortable face, "What are you laughing at?"
Zhao Jie scratched her nose, then took her hand and walked out, "Ah Luo who laughs at me is getting more and more beautiful, I dare not even look at it."
Wei Luo followed behind him, feeling that this man was really good at talking about love. Thinking about how dignified he was when he didn't express his love to him before, he not only accompanied her to put the river lanterns but also gave her a squirrel waist ornament, now, it would be nice to count on him to be honest.
When we arrived at the palace, we came all the way to the Taiye Pool.
The family banquet was held in the Shengxue Building in the heart of Taiye Pool. Because it was a family banquet, the court ministers and nobles were not invited, only the emperor's heirs and relatives and nobles were invited. Wei Luo and Zhao Jie came to the Jiuqu Bridge, and saw the brightly lit and magnificent Shengxue Building in the distance, the palace servants and maids busily shuttled back and forth with melons, fruit and snacks. Promptly saluted: "See His Royal Highness Prince Jing, and see His Majesty Prince Jing."
Walking into the Shengxue Building, many people have already arrived inside, besides the eldest princesses, there are also princes and princesses, all of them with happy faces and splendid clothes. Perhaps it was infected by the atmosphere of the Chinese New Year, without the usual restraint, they were very happy to look at, and some thick-skinned ones even started to ask for red envelopes from the eldest princesses. atmosphere. Wei Luo subconsciously took a look, and only Princess Pingyang and Princess Anyang came to the family feast, but Princess Gaoyang was nowhere to be seen. It's not surprising when you think about it, what happened to Zhao Xuan's family, her husband had just been executed, and she had to wear mourning for three years, so she couldn't participate in such an occasion.
The Ninth Prince Zhao Chen and the others saw the figures of Zhao Jie and Wei Luo, with surprise on their faces, they walked over from the crowd: "Brother Emperor, when did you come back from Tongzhou? I also made a bet with Brother Seventh and Eighth Emperor, Said that you would definitely not be able to come back, but unexpectedly, you rushed over at the last minute." He turned around, and immediately put away his hippie smile when facing Wei Luo, and said politely, "Second Emperor's Wife."
Wei Luo smiled and nodded, "Ninth Brother."
Among these princes, only the Ninth Prince had the best relationship with Zhao Jie and dared to joke with him. The other princes were more or less afraid of Zhao Jie, so they only stepped forward to greet him sternly, and did not dare to make jokes like Zhao Chen.
When Wei Luo came, he prepared several red envelopes and gave them to the unmarried princes below. For the unmarried princesses, Wei Luo also prepared gifts. Those little princes who dared not approach because of Zhao Jie's majesty saw Wei Luo smiling and couldn't help wanting to get closer to her, so they tiptoed forward to receive the red envelopes, and said with a bright smile, "Thank you, Second Sister-in-law!"
Wei Luo stroked the top of the Twelfth Prince's head. The little guy was only eight years old. He was born with red lips and white teeth. Wei Luo said, "You're welcome, let's go play."
In this way, more people like Wei Luo begged for the red seal. It's not because Wei Luo's red seal is so special, because this couple is really interesting, usually they dare not make fun of Zhao Jie, but now that Wei Luo is present, it's different, it greatly satisfies them freshness. What's more, on the night of the two of them's bridal chamber, Zhao Jie closed the door mercilessly, and they didn't even have a chance to make a fuss in the bridal chamber, so they let it go during the Chinese New Year.
After a while, all the red envelopes prepared by Wei Luo were distributed.
The princes thanked Wei Luo and Zhao Jie one by one, and they smiled more honestly. It was rare for Zhao Jie to show a little warmth, and said in a soft voice: "There is no need to be too polite." After finishing speaking, he led Wei Luo to the front and saluted the two eldest princesses, "Second Aunt, Third Aunt."
Both Princess Pingyang and Princess Anyang had met Wei Luo before, and they were no strangers to them now. Wei Luo stepped forward and said a few words to the two of them, and they each gave Wei Luo a red envelope. Afterwards, Wei Luo saw several princesses and gave them presents, and then saw Zhao Liuli standing behind the red lacquered pillar embossed with cloud and dragon patterns and beckoning to her. Wei Luo found an excuse to escape, and asked, "Why didn't I see you just now?"
Zhao Liuli was wearing a red Su embroidered short jacket with a pattern of butterflies today, and underneath it was a dark green "Jade Girl Presents Her Birthday" cloud and dragon pattern double-knee and horse-faced skirt, and a moon-white cloak was draped over it, looking a bit embarrassing. When Wei Luo came up to her, she whispered, "The second aunt and the third aunt openly discussed my marriage just now. I had no choice but to hide behind."
Wei Luo glanced back, she didn't expect the two princesses to be such warm-hearted people. She turned her head and asked Liuli, "Didn't you tell Queen Chen? Did Yang Zhen hear from you?"
Zhao Liuli shook her head, raised her two slender eyebrows, turned around and leaned on the railing, and said with her chin resting on the railing, "I plan to wait for brother Yang Zhen to come back before I tell my mother. He should not be able to write letters in the army, and even if he did, he wouldn't be able to." I don't know how he is doing now."
Wei Luo thought for a while and said, "I'll go talk to your brother later to see if he can find out how to contact Yang Zhen. If there's news about Yang Zhen, I'll enter the palace and tell you when the time comes."
Zhao Liuli was overjoyed, and hurriedly hugged Wei Luo's arm and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law Huang treats me so well."
Speaking of which, Zhao Liuli was one year older than Wei Luo, and the name "Sister-in-law of the Emperor" was really easy to pronounce.
After saying this, Zhao Liuli looked around and saw no one around, so she leaned into Wei Luo's ear and said, "Ah Luo, do you know about Li Xiang?"
Wei Luo blinked, "What can she do?"
She has been in Tianchan Mountain these days, and she doesn't know much about Shengjing City. So when Zhao Liuli asked such a question, she really couldn't tell.
Zhao Liuli said again: "I heard that Li Xiang went to Daci Temple to offer incense a month ago. For some reason, there was an accident. He was robbed into the mountain and stayed in the mountain forest all night..." After a pause, he felt a little creepy Said: "Half a leg was eaten off by a wild beast."
Wei Luo opened her eyes wide, "Really?"
Zhao Liuli nodded seriously, shivering whenever she thought of that scene. "It was my mother who told me. It sounds too scary. Today, my father ordered someone to send me a tonic. Princess Gaoyang didn't show up. It is said that she stayed at home with Li Xiang. Li Xiang has been looking for death and life for a month. I calmed down." Even if the tonic is given, what is the use? That leg can't come back either, and he will be a useless person from now on, Zhao Liuli thought sympathetically.
After hearing this, Wei Luo didn't feel much, nor did she feel sympathy. After all, Li Xiang has always hated her bitterly, she is not so noble, and can repay hatred with virtue. Just a little curious, listening to Zhao Liuli's words, it seems that someone deliberately harmed Li Xiang? Who on earth has such a big enmity with her
Just thinking about it, the emperor and empress came.
Emperor Chongzhen and Empress Chen came side by side, and after a closer look, Concubine Ning Guifei followed behind. Today, Empress Chen is wearing a double-breasted large-sleeved shirt with four-fold wishful cloud patterns woven in red, and a double phoenix Yilong Yanju crown on her head. She is dressed dignifiedly and elegantly, with a majestic beauty of her own. Compared with Empress Chen, Concubine Ning's bright red embroidered skirt with four seasons patterns is a bit petty.
Everyone bowed their knees and saluted. Emperor Chongzhen and Empress Chen sat at the head of the long red sandalwood table, and waved their hands: "Get up. Since it is a family banquet, there is no need to pay so much attention to red tape, as usual."
Everyone sat down in order, Wei Luo sat next to Zhao Jie, with the third prince and the third concubine beside him.
The family banquet went smoothly. Emperor Chongzhen first questioned the little princes about their study results this year, and then asked about what Zhao Jie had seen and heard in Tongzhou. Zhao Jie's answer was impeccable, and it could be seen that Emperor Chongzhen was very satisfied. Halfway through the banquet, when the atmosphere was high, Concubine Ning Gui was silent, out of tune with the noise around her.
Emperor Chongzhen took a look and asked, "Why is Concubine Ning so sad? Why are you unhappy?"
Concubine Ning put down the golden wine glass, stood up and bowed her body, and said: "The concubine has disturbed your Majesty's elegance, it is the concubine's disrespect." Her eyes are red, a woman in her thirties, well-maintained, looks like she is still in her twenties How old is it. "It's just that when I think of such a lively occasion, Zhang'er can only stay in the mansion alone, with no one to accompany me, my heart is very sour."
Emperor Chongzhen lowered his eyes, and the smile on his face did not change, but he asked intriguingly, "Concubine Ning misses the fifth child?"
Concubine Ning Guifei saw that he was not angry, so she boldly asked: "Your Majesty wanted to confine Zhang'er for three months, and now it has been almost two months. I wonder if you can forgive him in advance? Let him live a peaceful life. year."
Emperor Chongzhen hadn't spoken yet, maybe he was considering her request.
In this room, Empress Chen stood up with a calm face, and said to Emperor Chongzhen: "The concubine is not feeling well, and I'm afraid I won't be able to watch the new year with Your Majesty. Your Majesty is slow to use it, and the concubine will retire first."