Zhao Jie stopped his pace, turned around slowly, and looked at Zhao Zhang calmly.
Zhao Zhang didn't realize it, and continued to express his opinion: "Song Hui is about to win the crown. If he can get the marriage gift from his father, it will not only show his father's respect and corporal, but also win the loyalty of Zhongyi Bofu's family. Wouldn't it be the best of both worlds..."
He has his own ideas, and the abacus is very delicate. If Song Hui could be the number one scholar in high school, according to the relationship between the House of Zhongyi and Concubine Ning, Song Hui would definitely be on his side. He arranged the marriage between Wei Luo and Song Hui, and Song Hui was grateful to him and would definitely serve him loyally. Besides, with Wei Luo's relationship, would he still worry about not being able to win the British government? This is a clever plan that kills two birds with one stone.
It's a pity that he counted everything correctly, but he didn't count Zhao Jie's thoughts on Wei Luo.
He talked eloquently there, and Zhao Jie listened expressionlessly.
It wasn't until he finished speaking that Zhao Jie asked unhurriedly: "Fifth Brother is so concerned about the marriage of Uncle Zhongyi, what is your plan?"
Zhao Jie came out so bluntly, which made him slightly astonished, his face was suffocated, and he quickly returned to normal. Zhao Zhang raised the corners of his mouth and smiled calmly, "Second brother is worrying too much, what can I plan? It's just for the sake of my father's reputation, so I just mentioned it casually."
Zhao Jie sighed slowly, raised his brows, and his whole person's aura became fierce. Although he didn't show any anger, he gave people an indescribable sense of oppression, "For the honor of the emperor? I don't think it's that simple. The fifth younger brother has been walking around diligently with Uncle Zhongyi recently, and now he still wants to take the British Is the duke's mansion also drawn in?" His thin lips were smiling, but an imperceptible cold light flashed in his phoenix eyes: "If this king remembers correctly, the fourth young lady of the British duke's mansion is not yet ready, and the fifth younger brother is too hasty. "
Zhao Zhang's face changed, all his thoughts were guessed by him, and he was said mercilessly, leaving him speechless for a moment.
Emperor Chongzhen's expression became subtle, and he tightened his hand holding the Zihao Xuan brush, staring at the two with chaotic and sharp eyes.
After a long time, he asked Zhao Zhang, "Old Five, what happened?"
The emperor most taboos the prince to form cliques with the ministers and conspire against the court in private. That would make him feel like his son couldn't wait to replace him before he died. Therefore, even if Zhao Jie and Zhao Zhang really wooed the minister, they never let him know, and they all acted extremely secretly. Now that Zhao Jie said so, he had to be more vigilant towards Zhao Zhang.
Zhao Zhang panicked, quickly lifted his brocade robe and knelt down, "Return to Father, there is no such thing."
Having said that, it was true that he had privately contacted Uncle Loyalty, Song Baiye. Not only contacted, every visit is registered in a booklet. The booklet contained a list of all the ministers who had dealings with him, and it was originally just to keep evidence, just in case, but unexpectedly, it has now become his deathbed.
He hid the book secretly, and no one knew it except himself. Zhao Jie's tone was so firm just now, did he know something
Zhao Zhang was very disturbed.
Both of them have their own fans, and Zhao Jie never left any clues when he contacted the ministers below. His whereabouts are uncertain and elusive. Even if Zhao Zhang wanted to find out his handle, he couldn't find any trace.
From this point of view, Zhao Jie is one move higher than Zhao Zhang, and Zhao Zhang is at a disadvantage.
Emperor Chongzhen's face softened a little, and he thought about it: "Since there is no one, I will be more peaceful in the future. As for Song Hui's marriage, let's discuss it after the palace examination..."
After all, he waved his hand and signaled the two to leave.
Zhao Jie and Zhao Zhang walked out of the imperial study one after another and walked towards the palace gate.
Xuandemen gate.
Holding the reins in hand, Zhao Jie got on his horse and ordered Zhu Geng beside him in a low voice: "Find a way to get Lao Wu's booklet, copy a copy, and send it to the king. Remember to act in secret and not be discovered by anyone."
Zhu Geng has been with him for so long, and now he finally has something difficult for him to do, so he readily agrees, "Don't worry, my lord, my subordinates will definitely do a good job."
British government.
It started to rain lightly that day, and the rainwater hit the glazed tiles of the verandah and fell into the soil. The rain is not heavy, but there is a continuous posture. Wei Kun went to the Imperial Academy, Wei Luo washed up, changed into a moon lily sky blue ice gauze small-sleeved shirt, tied a honeylo skirt underneath, and wore high-soled shoes, and walked towards the study.
The study is located behind the main hall in Pine Garden, where Wei Kun works. Usually Wei Luo seldom comes here, if it wasn't for Jiang Miaolan's portrait today, he probably wouldn't set foot here either.
There was no one at the door of the study, so she pushed open the mullion door and came to the back of the black lacquered case with mother-of-pearl inlaid with fine cloud patterns. Last time she saw Wei Kun put the painting in the bookshelf at the back, she tried to find it, and she really found a portrait sealed in a nanmu brocade box in the deepest part. She took it out, untied the red silk and slowly unfolded it. The woman inside was exactly what she saw last time—
Apricot face peach cheeks, brows with a smile.
Is this her mother
Wei Luo stared at it for a moment, then looked down, looking for other clues in the painting. It's a pity that she looked back and forth many times, but there was nothing on the painting, only a vague seal and a poem. The poem was in Wei Kun's handwriting, and it was probably filled in when the love was strong and gluey, and Wei Luo's teeth were sore when he saw it.
She found nothing, so she had to put away the painting, put it back on the bookshelf, and left the study.
Back at the main hall of Pine Garden, there was a maid in a blue dress who had been waiting for her for a long time. Seeing her appear, she hurriedly came up to her and said, "Miss Si, you are back."
Wei Luo tilted her head, not knowing why, "Is there something wrong?"
The servant girl kept nodding her head and said embarrassingly: "Someone is coming from the palace, I invite you to the palace!"
She was slightly startled, and subconsciously asked, "Princess Tianji invited me?"
"It's not Princess Tianji." The servant girl shook her head and continued, "It was the empress who invited you into the palace."
Empress Chen
This is even more puzzling. Ever since she stopped being Zhao Liuli's companion, she hadn't seen Queen Chen's face for a long time. Every time she enters the palace, she goes directly to Chenhua Palace and rarely goes to Zhaoyang Palace. Now that Empress Chen specially invites her to enter the palace, is there something important
Although Wei Luo was taken aback, he didn't delay. He went back to the room and asked the golden thread to recomb the lotus bun, put on the water essence hairpin and jade hairpin, and took out a pair of turquoise gold earrings from the dowry, put them on, and then sat down. On the carriage entering the palace. The carriage drove steadily towards the palace, and stopped at the gate of Qingxi Palace half an hour later. Outside the gate, there was a nun in an autumn-scented pijia waiting for her.
Wei Luo got off the carriage and followed her to Zhaoyang Hall.
There is a long verandah in front of the gate of Zhaoyang Hall. After walking through the verandah, you finally come to the gate of Zhaoyang Hall. Wei Luo walked into the hall with her head down, bowed her knees to Empress Chen in front of her, and said, "Your servants join the empress."
Empress Chen was wearing a green woven satin jacket with golden makeup, cloud shoulders, sleeves and long sleeves, and a yellow woven skirt with golden clouds, dragons and sea patterns. She sat in a purple nanmu rose chair, looked her over, and said with a smile: " Get up, let Bengong take a good look at you."
Wei Luo straightened up, raised her eyes and looked up.
Seeing this, her body froze suddenly. Gein, the person sitting next to Empress Chen is none other than Zhao Jie!
Zhao Jie was wearing a brocade robe with black and green persimmon stalk pattern, resting his chin on his hands, and looked at her with a smile.
She froze for a moment, quickly looked away, and sat in the rose chair under Empress Chen in an orderly manner. It's a pity that this position is not very good, she is facing Zhao Jie who is opposite, and she can meet his gaze as soon as she raises her head. But he didn't know how to restrain himself, and his jet-black pupils looked at her from time to time, which made her feel a little uncomfortable.
Why is Zhao Jie here? Was it the queen's intention to pass her into the palace, or his intention? Is there something urgent
When Wei Luo was puzzled, Empress Chen took the lead to answer her doubts: "Soon to be Liuli's 15th birthday ceremony, I need a supporter to help preside over the ceremony that day. After much deliberation, I couldn't find a suitable candidate. When Changsheng mentioned you, Bengong remembered that you are about the same age as Liuli, and you are like sisters, so you are really suitable." At last, he looked at her with a smile, "I wonder if you would like to be there?"
Wei Luo tilted her head and subconsciously asked, "Longevity?"
Empress Chen covered her lips and smiled: "This is Yu'er's nickname. I have been used to calling it since I was a child, but I forgot to change it for a while."
Oh... Wei Luo raised her eyes and looked across, only to see a slight change in Zhao Jie's face. I didn't expect such a majestic person to have such a cute nickname, which is really incredible.
She thought for a while, then nodded and said, "Since it's Liuli's Jiji ceremony, I'm definitely willing to be there. It's just that I haven't been a fan before, and there are many things I'm not familiar with. I'm afraid I'll be in a mess..."
Empress Chen said that this is not a problem, and comforted her softly: "There are many preparations before the ceremony. When you come to the palace often, there will be special praises to teach you how to do it. You don't have to be afraid."
Wei Luo was relieved now, nodded to meet the Queen's gaze, smiled slightly and said, "Okay, then I will have to worry about you, Empress."
She knows the rules and is a very pleasant girl. Empress Chen had seen her when she was a child, and now that she had grown up, she never expected to be so beautiful. When she came in just now, Empress Chen was taken aback.
Empress Chen is used to seeing beauties, and there is no one in the harem who has a first-class appearance. Even Gao Danyang from Zhen Guogong's Mansion and Li Xiang from Ruyang Prince's Mansion are well-known beauties in Shengjing City. They each have their own characteristics, and they thought they were already very beautiful colors, but when they saw Wei Luo, they suddenly felt that they were a little inferior, obviously not good enough. The little girl was born just right, her eyebrows were like emerald feathers, her muscles were like white snow, her waist was like a string of plains, and her teeth were like shellfish. Coupled with a soft and pleasant voice, it is not an exaggeration to say that she is a stunner.
Empress Chen recalled the past, the snuff bottle with famille rose and gold flower patterns, and couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "Time is really unforgiving, when you and Liuli were still so young..." She raised her head and made a short height comparison in mid-air, "It's all grown up now."
Wei Luo bent her lips and said with a smile, "But Empress Empress is still the same as before, nothing has changed."
This small mouth is so sweet, there is no woman who does not like to hear such words. The smile on Empress Chen's face deepened, and the look in her eyes became more loving, "You child... I have always been very grateful to you in my heart. Back then, Liuli refused to drink medicine, and only you could cure her. Now Her good health is probably due to your credit. I called you into the palace this time because I wanted to say thank you to you."
Naturally, Wei Luo didn't dare to bear it, so she quickly said no: "The Empress has spent a lot more time than I have..."
One sentence made Empress Chen's eyes flush.
How much thought she has put in for Zhao Liuli these years, probably only she knows. Sometimes I couldn't sleep at night, and worried that Liuli would be seriously ill when I woke up. During that time, I was terrified every day, and I didn't know how to get here. She was quite moved by this, but fortunately Liuli is now sensible and can take care of herself, and Yang Zhen is by her side to protect her, so she is very relieved.
Empress Chen looked at Wei Luo differently, and felt that the more she looked at her, the more she liked her. This is a considerate and sensible girl, and she spoke from the bottom of her heart. She asked Madam Qiu to take out a red sandalwood embossed brocade box, and brought it to Wei Luo, saying, "I don't have anything else in this palace. This mask was given by my mother when I entered the palace, and now I can pass it on to you."
Inside the box is a set of golden silk and hibiscus heads, with seven transparent rubies inlaid on it, which is priceless at first glance. What's even more rare is Empress Chen's kindness. As soon as Wei Luo heard about the origin of this prestige, she was a little afraid to accept it, and refused: "My daughter..."
Empress Chen made a serious face on purpose, and threatened: "If you don't accept it, then you won't accept my gratitude."
How could she have thought that way? Wei Luo was a little wronged, so she had no choice but to accept it, and said sincerely, "Thank you, Empress."
After saying this, Empress Chen left her behind and said a few more words. Her words were polite and her expression was gentle. It didn't look like a queen talking to a courtier's daughter, but rather like an elder talking to a junior.
About an hour later, Wei Luo saw that it was late, so she got up to leave. Empress Chen didn't keep her. After all, it was raining outside, and it would be difficult to walk any later. She was worried that she would get caught in the rain, so she asked Mother Qiu to send her out of the gate of Qingxi Palace with an umbrella.
At the same time, Zhao Jie had just covered the small bell with ink, dusted off his robe and stood up, saying: "Mother, there is something in the son's house, so I have also gone back."
Empress Chen had no doubts, she nodded her head and said: "I remember you didn't bring an umbrella when you came? You wait for a while, and Mother Qiu will bring the umbrella before you leave."
He nodded in response.
Not long after, Madam Qiu came out of the warm pavilion, holding two umbrellas, one for Wei Luo and one for Zhao Jie.
Zhao Jie took the two umbrellas, stood under the verandah, and said to Mother Qiu: "You go back, the king and the fourth girl are on the way, just in time to send her out of Qingxi Palace."
Mother Qiu didn't think much about it, she nodded in agreement, glanced at Wei Luo, turned around and walked back.
But why didn't she think about it, when did Zhao Jie take the initiative to ask for a girl
Wei Luo looked at the back of Mother Qiu leaving, feeling a little helpless.
Zhao Jie looked down at the little girl and walked past her: "Let's go."
Wei Luo had no choice but to follow along with her skirt. They were walking on the veranda, and there was the sound of dripping rain outside. The raindrops fell on the ground and splashed on the veranda, bringing waves of moisture.
Zhao Jie's footsteps were not fast, probably because he was taking care of her footsteps, and he always walked ahead in a calm manner, neither talking to her nor looking back at her.
Finally arrived at the end of the corridor, the road ahead is the way out of Qingxi Palace. Wei Luo quickly chased after him, stopped three steps away from him and said, "Brother Jing Wang, give me an umbrella."
As she spoke, she stretched out her hand, and her small, white palm stretched out in front of him, not polite at all.
Zhao Jie stopped, turned around to look at her, then looked at the distance between them, slightly raised his lips, and jokingly said: "Standing so far away, how can I give it to you?"
After thinking about it, she had no choice but to take a step forward and move closer.
Unexpectedly, he still didn't give her the umbrella, stared at her for a moment, and then slowly bent down. His dark eyes met hers, very close to each other, the distance between them was only a finger.
Wei Luo backed away subconsciously. He looked at her motionless, with his thin lips slightly parted, and asked word by word:
"Are you avoiding me?"