The time was reversed to two hours before the banquet.
In Ganlu Palace, Empress Zhou looked at Pei Changzhou with a calm expression, "Don't be blindsided, you have to take a long-term view. If you can get married with Dingbeihoufu, it will be beneficial to you and not harmful!"
Pei Changzhou clenched his fists, very unwilling, "Mother, you also saw Xu Wenchan last time in the autumn hunt. She was born so dark, her waist was thicker than mine, her voice was loud, and her manners were vulgar. You can speak of tenderness... How can such a woman be worthy of being my imperial concubine! To put it bluntly, I would feel uncomfortable sleeping in the same bed with her!"
Empress Zhou frowned, "It's not as exaggerated as you said. I think that girl looks pretty and has good features. It's just that her skin is darker. If you take care of it, it will turn white."
When Pei Changzhou saw that Queen Zhou was still talking towards Xu Wenchan, his face turned green again, and he gritted his teeth, "I don't want to marry her! There are so many beautiful ladies in Chang'an, why did the queen mother just choose her for me! "
Empress Zhou snorted coldly, "There are so many beautiful ladies in Chang'an, which of them is as strong as the Marquis of Dingbei? He holds 500,000 forbidden army talismans and has a high reputation in the northwest. The influence in it is also no small matter, it is highly valued and trusted by your father..."
She picked up her teacup and took a sip, then analyzed, "Don't mention it for the time being, Dingbei Hou, just say that there are seven sons in the Xu family, none of whom are cowards, and all of them are brave and resourceful generals. If there is a war in the future, they may The generals of the family can hold up half of the sky! What dissatisfaction do you have with such a capable Yue family?"
Pei Changzhou frowned with thick eyebrows, "It's not that my son doesn't know what your mother said, but..."
"But what's the matter. Miss Xu is the jewel held in the palm of Marquis Dingbei. If she becomes your imperial concubine, Marquis Dingbei's mansion can't fully support you?"
Speaking of this, Queen Zhou gave him a sideways glance, "As the old saying goes, marry a wife and marry a virtuous man. Don't always look at your face and figure, but whether your wife and family can help you. When you sit in that position smoothly, then you I don't care about you if you choose a concubine according to your will. You have to listen to me when it comes to marrying a real wife."
Empress Zhou's words were well-founded, and she acted both hard and soft, which really shook Pei Changzhou's mind.
He thought about it in his heart, raised his eyes and asked, "Queen, are you sure this marriage will work out? That Xu Wenchan has frequent contacts with the Crown Princess, and the Crown Princess probably speaks ill of us in front of her a lot."
Empress Zhou said indifferently, "Women, obey your father at home, and obey your husband when you get married. As long as she marries you, if you coax her gently and carefully, won't your heart be on your side? Besides, marriage It's a big matter, the order of the parents, the words of the matchmaker, as long as your father bestows a marriage, how can it be her turn, a little girl, whether she is happy to marry or not."
Pei Changzhou was startled, and then suddenly realized, "Mother, are you planning to..."
Empress Zhou pursed her red lips, her beautiful eyes narrowed, "First test the wind in front of your father, see his reaction, and play by ear."
She took a deep look at Pei Changzhou, with a kind expression on her face, "Changzhou, you have to trust your mother, everything arranged by her mother is for you."
Pei Changzhou silently nodded solemnly, "My son knows."
But he secretly thought in his heart, if he married, he would marry, and when he sat on the dragon chair and became the emperor, if Xu Wenchan lived in peace, he could still give her the status of queen. If you are restless, it is not difficult to control and abolish the queen.
...
Let's talk about the banquet, Xu Wenchan was stunned, holding a piece of melon in his hand, he didn't know how to react for a moment.
The seven elder brothers and six sisters-in-law of the Xu family were also stunned. Yesterday, the mother was still complaining about the marriage between the seventh brother and the younger sister. Unexpectedly, today, the Empress Empress fell in love with their younger sister. Overwhelming
Dingbeihou and Mrs. Hou were stunned for a while, and soon came back to their senses. After the couple exchanged glances, Mrs. Hou smiled and said, "The empress, the little girl is stupid, how can I afford such praise from the empress, my wife should be Mother, I feel ashamed to hear it."
"Mrs. Hou, don't be too humble." Empress Zhou smiled kindly, and beckoned to Xu Wenchan lightly, "Come on, Wenchan, come to Ben Gong and let Ben Gong take a closer look."
Xu Wenchan, "..."
It was very sudden.
But the queen had spoken, so she had no choice but to bite the bullet and step forward, respectfully saluting the empress and Princess Jingyang.
Empress Zhou took her hand with a smile, showed a very satisfied smile, praised a few words, and then turned to look at Emperor Zhaokang, "Your Majesty, this child is a blessed one, honest and well behaved, neither arrogant nor rash. I don't know How does His Majesty feel?"
Xu Wenchan panicked, her hands were shaking.
Fortunately, Tao Ti and Qing He were sitting on the left and the other on the right, which at least gave her some strength, otherwise she really wanted to roll her eyes and poke her over.
Seeing Xu Wenchan's trembling shoulders, Tao Ti couldn't help biting her lips, and tightly clutched the brocade skirt.
She had to find a way, she couldn't see A Chan jumping into the fire pit.
But how? She can't jump out and shout: I am against this marriage, can I
Just as she was racking her brains, a warm and cool hand held her hand.
Tao Ti raised her eyes slowly, and met Pei Yan's black eyes as calm as a deep pool, and he told her with his eyes: Don't panic.
Tao Ti frowned, still nervous: Don't panic, don't think about it, if His Majesty really grants the marriage, then Achan's life will be ruined!
Pei Yan pretended to help her tidy up the pearl hairpin, leaned closer to her ear, and said softly, "Let's just wait and see."
His warm breath sprayed on the side of her neck, itching like a spring breeze.
Inexplicably, Tao Ti also calmed down a bit, nodded to him, and continued to stare at him.
Emperor Zhaokang glanced at Xu Wenchan calmly, a thought flashed in his indifferent eyes, and he pondered, "Well, the father of the tiger has no dog daughter, and he has the demeanor of the Marquis of Dingbei."
Xu Wenchan, "..." I feel that you are implying my ugliness, and you have the evidence.
Suddenly, there was a "puchi" laugh from the audience, as if he couldn't help but spit out.
Who is so presumptuous
When everyone looked around, they saw that it was Young Master Xie who was beside Qinghe county lord.
Seeing that everyone's eyes were attracted to him, Young Master Xie suppressed a smile, closed his eyes and said to Emperor Zhaokang, "Uncle, forgive me."
Emperor Zhaokang glanced at his nephew indifferently, and didn't care about him, he just focused his eyes on Dingbeihou, and asked deeply, "Xu Aiqing, I want to be your in-law, what do you think?"
Marquis Dingbei was about to get up to answer, but was stopped by Emperor Zhaokang, so he sat down, his burly figure was as straight as a steel plate, and his voice was like a loud bell, "Your Majesty loves me so much, I shouldn't refuse. However, my daughter is dull and stubborn, with an arrogant temper. She is not a good match for His Highness the Second Highness. Please also ask Your Majesty and the Empress to find another good wife for the Second Highness."
The seven elder brothers of the Xu family also straightened up and looked at Emperor Zhaokang in unison, with the same attitude as Marquis Dingbei.
Emperor Zhaokang looked at the reaction of the Marquis of Dingbei's mansion, and thought a little inappropriately. The Marquis of Dingbei looked at a rough and reckless man, but he taught his sons very well. Caring for a younger sister is really rare in a big family with a large population. On the other hand, his own heirs...
In the royal family, intrigues and intrigues, how much brotherhood can there be
He didn't make a sound, and everyone was worried.
Empress Zhou was unsure, fearing that Emperor Zhaokang would not agree, she hurriedly added, "Dingbeihou's words are really polite, I think your family smells the cicadas well. Could it be that you don't like my emperor's son, that's why you said that Bar?"
The Marquis of Dingbei choked.
Empress Zhou said again, "Your Majesty, my concubine heard that Wen Chan has always been on good terms with the Crown Princess, and they are as close as sisters. If she can marry Changzhou, wouldn't it be more beautiful for them to be sister-in-law in the future?"
At this time, Zuo Xiang's wife, Mrs. Liu, also came out to help, her tongue was full of flowers, and she really praised Xu Wenchan several times.
Xu Wenchan was dumbfounded: She didn't even know she was so good!
Now the situation on the field is very clear. Empress Zhou is very fond of Xu Wenchan, the daughter-in-law, but the Dingbei Houfu is not willing to marry. Emperor Zhaokang's attitude is ambiguous and inconclusive.
At this time, Princess Jingyang spoke lazily, "Queen, although the marriage of children is mainly arranged by the parents, the two children must like each other and each is willing. No matter how much you like Miss Xu, it is not you who live with her after all. , if you want me to say, you also have to ask the wishes of the two children."
Empress Zhou's eyelids twitched, and she smiled mischievously, "Yes, that's the reason."
She winked at Pei Changzhou, and Pei Changzhou understood immediately, Shi Shiran got up, and sincerely expressed his admiration for Xu Wenchan.
Tao Ti couldn't help but sneer in her heart: the scumbag's love talk is still the same as before, disgusting.
When Pei Changzhou made it clear, Empress Zhou looked at Xu Wenchan eagerly, "Wenchan, what do you say?"
Of course Xu Wenchan didn't want to, but Queen Zhou's aura was too strong, staring at her so hard that her heart trembled.
Seeing such a big scene, she stammered and held back her words, "My daughter, my daughter thinks that the Second Highness is a dragon and a phoenix, my daughter... I have no ink, and my conduct is mediocre..."
Seeing her struggling to hold back her words, another person stood up in the field, cupped his hands and bowed to Emperor Zhaokang and Empress Zhou, "Uncle, aunt, and nephew have something to say."
Seeing Young Master Xie appearing out of nowhere, Queen Zhou's expression was subtle, Emperor Zhaokang raised his eyebrows, "Say it."
Young Master Xie took a deep look at Xu Wenchan, and bowed his hands solemnly, "Actually, my nephew also likes Miss Xu, but he was just timid and never found a suitable opportunity to show his heart."
Xu Wenchan's heart skipped a beat: Come again? There is no end! !
She looked incredulously at the young master Xie who was as cold and bright as the moon, her eyes widened, and she asked silently: "Brother, we don't have much friendship, so there is no need to sacrifice your life."
Princess Jingyang was also taken aback. She had a good impression of Xu's brothers and sisters, that's why she defended the little fat girl, but protection is protection, and it doesn't mean that she wants to get along with her own son!
She looked at Young Master Xie reproachfully, "Yun Shi, don't mess around."
Xie Xiaogong said, "Mother, I didn't mess around."
Princess Jingyang frowned.
On the other side, Tao Ti was also shocked by this sudden reversal.
When she came back to her senses, she moved closer to Pei Yan and muttered in a low voice, "I've never heard Mr. Xie have such thoughts about A-Chan? Your Highness, do you think he is helpful or what?"
Pei Yan looked at her sideways, and smiled slightly, "Who can tell clearly about feelings."
Seeing him smiling, Tao Ti narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "Your Highness, do you know something?"
Pei Yan's thin lips parted slightly, "Yun Shi accidentally mentioned Miss Xu in front of me once, saying that she is very interesting and different from other girls."
Tao Ti clicked her tongue, if Qing He and Brother Xu Qi, A Chan and Grandpa Xie were all successful, then the Zhou family made all the effort to make wedding clothes for others during the trip to Zhuyuan Villa, it would be really ridiculous.
While she was thinking wildly, Emperor Zhaokang, who had been silent for a long time, said, "I don't want to mess with mandarin ducks, I will put this matter aside for the time being and talk about it later. Today is the Mid-Autumn Palace banquet, everyone is lively, eating and drinking well, Have a good time."
Empress Zhou was startled, and wanted to say more, but Emperor Zhaokang gave her a look, and she closed her mouth knowingly.
Emperor Zhaokang asked Xu Wenchan to return to his seat first, and Xu Wenchan responded tremblingly. As soon as he turned around, his legs became weak, he staggered, and almost fell.
This moment—
Young Master Xie subconsciously leaned forward, his brows were furrowed with worry.
Pei Changzhou had a straight face, although he also frowned, but it was contemptuous.
The reaction of the two was caught in the eyes of Emperor Zhaokang, and he had a conclusion in his heart.