As expected, she cupped her hands and said, "There is no urgent palace business ahead. I will go back to the Imperial Concubine's Court to recopy the documents. When Lord Nan comes, we can present them to the Emperor."
The long street was so wide and empty that he could see it clearly. He followed her for a long distance. Xinghe walked with a thunderous look on her body. The prince chased her with his hands down and argued with her. As a result, the girl raised her fist and hit him... Xinghai, who was looking at the distance, felt a sudden twitch in his heart, fearing that she would anger the prince and something bad would happen again. But the prince was hit by that blow, as if it was a cotton ball, without any splash. Finally, they walked away and entered Cheng'en Gate, and he could no longer see her.
Before he could finish his words, Xinghe turned around and left with a sullen face. The prince hurriedly chased after him. Xinghai stood there in a daze, not understanding what they were talking about.
When Dequan entered the room, he saw such a warm and beautiful picture. The window in the study was half-open, and a few feet of sunlight leaked in from the window drawer, illuminating the southern kang. The apricot-yellow endless-lined pillow and the chain-lock brocade cushion set off the scorching atmosphere. The pearl-like noble and the orchid-like female official, one sitting and the other leaning softly beside her legs, when the chicken-cat-like ghost-like erhu music came to an abrupt end, the East Palace restored its peaceful and prosperous glory. Such a situation, such a peaceful life, working there, all reveal comfort and perfection.
Yes, of course, but the one he likes cannot be crowned queen for the time being.
She sat lazily on the footrest, leaning against him and looking at the slightly opened window. The wind blew the curtains, and the golden curtains clasped against the top window frame. The old people said that if it is sunny on the winter solstice, there will be no good weather on the first day of the first lunar month. On the other hand, if it rains on the winter solstice, there will definitely be a sunny first lunar month.
The two smiled at each other and reached a consensus. The prince felt that everything was going in a good direction. However, the scar on her face still made him feel uncomfortable. He stroked it tenderly, as if he could smooth it out by rubbing it a few more times.
This guy is just so unpopular sometimes. Last time he met her mother, and this time he wants to meet Xinghai. But she can't refuse. Anyway, if he doesn't go, his spies are everywhere. Instead of learning from others, it's better to let him be there.
Xinghe thought he should advise him, "It's enough for a person to master one or two musical instruments in his life. You can play the guqin, so why do you need to learn the erhu?"
"What other festival traditions do you have in Jiangnan?"
What should they talk about next? Talk about the festival? Talk about dumplings? None of them were appropriate. Xinghai said, "I don't have anything else to do. I just came to check on Xinghe's injury. It doesn't look serious. I can explain it to you when I go back." After saying that, he was about to bow and leave, but was stopped by the prince.
The light from the window shone on the snow-white skin. After a night of rest, the redness and swelling had faded, but the faint bruises were still there. He rubbed it gently with his fingertips, "Is this good? How brave are you? Nian Shikuan, this dog slave, really has the guts to do such a dirty thing. Wait two more days, after the winter solstice, we can settle the new and old grudges together."
The prince turned around, smiling but with fierce eyes, "Have you forgotten? Think about it again? It just so happens that I've recently become addicted to being a matchmaker. After the winter solstice, I'll find a good girl for him and arrange a marriage for him. Tell him to wait for my good news."
The prince smiled knowingly, "That's true. Girls are not like boys. It's not nice to drink too much. But that's the rule at home. It's different in the palace. Tomorrow is a festival, there are no such taboos. Can I treat you to a drink? Osmanthus wine, have them prepare it early. Should it be in the East Palace or the Corner Tower? You have the final say."
Xinghe nodded and said she believed it. She was the candidate in her mind. The two Zhaoyi, one on the left and one on the right, were originally on an equal footing, but the one in Fengchu Palace was too good at grabbing power. For the past eight years, the position of the Right Zhaoyi in the palace has been awkward. Who wouldn't be holding back a grudge? When there is a huge disparity in power, one has to endure it. Once the status is reversed, there will be something to talk about. Of course, the prince was concerned about the fact that she had no children, and she was satisfied with the fact that her family was in decline. As the prince said, a queen without support could basically not pose a threat unless she could give birth to a prince one day. However, with the age of the Right Zhaoyi, the hope was slim. Although she was two years younger than the Left Zhaoyi, it was too difficult to get pregnant after she was thirty-five.
Xinghai said hello and thanked him repeatedly. He had wanted to tell Xinghe some things in private, but since the prince was present, he said in a different way: "Prince Jian and Princess Xialing came to my office for Gao Shaoqing's case. They still want me to find a solution. Please be flexible. I didn't agree to this matter. The man was beaten and the anger was vented. What else do they want!" He turned to the prince and said, "Please ask the Military Control Department to close this case as soon as possible. Once the dust settles, everyone will be at peace."
What kind of posture is the best for raising a glass? The prince suddenly realized that he had never studied this. He and Xinghe could only maintain this kind of relationship for now, because he couldn't talk about the future with her. If he did, she would just deliberately distance herself from him. But the superficial relationship didn't prevent him from releasing his charm. If she fell in love with him, and even made a small mistake... He thought to himself and almost laughed out loud.
After hearing this, the prince sighed and said, "You are really a wicked man."
The prince waved his hand, "Anyone who dares to act rashly around me is against me. Don't worry, she is in front of me. There will never be a next time for such a thing. Please also tell my wife at home, asking her to rest assured."
She quickly leaned forward and said, "Everything is fine."
Xinghai smiled coldly after hearing this. Even if they really wanted to kill her, even Zuo Zhaoyi wouldn't dare to do so.
"We'll have dumplings tomorrow." She said like a child, full of joy for the festival. The winter solstice is as important as the New Year, and it has been a long time since I felt this way. In the past, I was always tense. Families outside the palace reunited, and those who worked in the palace gathered together to eat hotpot. It was not like being with family, so I had to be careful about what I said. This time, thanks to Zuo Zhaoyi, those slaps knocked her reckless heart away. She calmed down and thought that she was indeed too open before, and some things should be slowed down. Once she slowed down, she couldn't help being lazy and wanted to celebrate the festival well.
The pampered prince only knew the ready-made food on the table, and had never seen how chickens and ducks were prepared. Those folk snacks were not presentable, and no one dared to put them in front of the master.
Xinghe looked at him fearfully, not knowing what he was going to do next. Xinghai saw the look in his sister's eyes and thought there was something to it, so he answered with extra care, bowed and said, "General Lou is the descendant of Lord Mu. He joined the army at the age of seventeen and was transferred back to the capital two years ago. He is now serving under me as the General of the Right Guard."
The prince was unsure, "I'm on leave today, what are you busy with?" He stood up and put the erhu into the ebony box, raised his hand and waved, "Come here and let me take a look."
Xinghe was about to roll his eyes. Here he comes again. He has no idea what is causing his aversion to Lou Yueting. As for Lou Yueting, he has always worked under Xinghai. He is a calm person and doesn't like to stand out, so he doesn't have many chances to be noticed by the prince. In the final analysis, the bad thing is the title of "childhood friend". The prince's tyranny is really amazing. He can't tolerate her having friends other than him. But a person's fate cannot stop at the few years after entering the palace. She always has childhood memories that will accompany her throughout her life, and even take them to the earth.
He guessed confidently: "Fennel!"
As soon as I heard him, I knew he had never eaten it. She smiled and said, "In my hometown, we eat watermelon in the summer. After eating, we scrape the pulp clean and peel off the outer layer of the rind, leaving the white part. Then we beat it with salt and put it in a jar to press it down. After half a month, a thin layer is left, which can be used as pickles. The rind dumplings are made with that. It can taste the summer in winter. It's my favorite."
What is "working in cahoots with each other"? This is probably what they are like. When the goal is the same, there is no distinction between you and me. The friendship of sharing the same hatred and the same enemy is really warm. It would be great if it could continue like this, the prince thought secretly. The Su family should not have such great ambitions. In the future, relying on the Queen Su's position, they can become a rich and noble relative. It's a pity that some things are difficult to go back after they have started. For example, the mastiff raised in Shangsiyuan, after tasting the taste of raw meat, disdains cooked food.
The prince hummed and nodded slowly, "He and Niuniu are childhood friends, and I am a childhood friend of a childhood friend. Although our relationship is a little distant, there is at least a thread connecting us. I see that Niuniu has been talking about him a lot recently, saying how good their friendship was in the past, and how Yueting took care of her. Now he is quite old, and there is no one around him who cares about him..."
The prince was very surprised. "Using watermelon rind to make dumplings? They are so crunchy when you bite them?"
She leaned on his knees and said there was no hurry. "It's too easy to deal with him. It was Empress Zhaoyi who beat me. Guess what makes her most uncomfortable right now?"
The prince felt that the two of them seemed to be ten years younger. Apart from those conspiracies, there was no one else in the world who could talk about boring topics with him. He used to like her secretly, figure out her ideas, and study her rules of conduct, but he never knew what she liked or disliked. It seems that people still need to get along with each other more. After getting along for a long time, you can discover many things that you have overlooked before.
After leaving Lizheng Hall, head north, pass through Yichun Palace Gate, and bypass Bafeng Hall. Each palace gate in the palace city has two access control gates. The north gate is outside Xuande Gate. When the palace family or the family members of the palace come, they must hand in a sign there and then ask for permission from the higher level one by one.
When the prince heard that it was a member of the Su family, he did not express anything special. He just asked, "Did Lord Su hand in the sign alone? Was there anyone else, such as General Lou?"
So being a man is not easy, how could she understand his painstaking efforts! The erhu has to be played, and the person also swings with the rhythm, back and forth... As long as the waist is good, life will be good. Although he is skilled in archery and horse riding, he is not short of this little bit, but just like a rich man making money, no one will complain about having too much money. His waist skills are great, which will come in handy in the future. He can toss around in this small space for two or three hours a day. After the wedding in the future, she will be so happy!
The prince agreed, "It just so happens that I also have something to say."
This was an opportunity to take sides. Regardless of whether it was true or false, at least he said two words that did not conflict with his position. The prince smiled and said, "The document has been handed over to Niuniu. We will pick a time to deliver it to the emperor."
He sighed deeply, "In your opinion, who in the harem is most suitable to be the queen?"
"The assorted dumplings we make at home are the best. We have all kinds of flavors." She counted on her fingers, "Vegetarian, pork and leek, celery and beef... Oh, and there's also fennel stuffing. Guess which one I like best?"
Xinghe stared blankly, and after careful recollection, she had never said these words in front of him. She hurried to clarify: "Master, I didn't..."
Although the status of the Su family siblings is not ordinary, they still have to abide by the rules. They came from the south and saw a man who had taken off his armor and was only wearing a crimson robe wandering at the palace gate from afar. Su Yujin was an ordinary person, but he gave birth to a pair of outstanding children. It was a blessing. The prince was sighing, and Xinghe beside him quickened his pace and finally ran. He sighed softly and wanted to follow, but finally gave up because of his status. He muttered in his heart that even if she met her brother, he still couldn't help but feel a little jealous.
“No, no, no…” She waved her hands repeatedly, “Such a relaxing and relaxing activity cannot be disturbed. It just so happens that I am tired of watching, so I came out to stretch my muscles.”
She was a little embarrassed. "Thank you, thank you. Things that can be seen but not touched are the most annoying. The intrigues among women in the palace, the life-and-death struggles are no less than those in the court. Zuo Zhaoyi has been rampant in the harem for many years, and how many people hate her to the core. If we suppress her, the happiest people are not us, but the concubines in the harem who cannot hold their heads high."
But they haven't broken the window paper between them yet. Even though he is secretly thinking about it in his heart, he dare not show it in front of her.
Dequan walked briskly and stopped outside the landing mask. His heart was filled with warmth and his voice was soft. He said, "Master, Lord Su, there is a nameplate on the north gate. It belongs to Lord Su Xinghai of the Privy Council. He wants to see Lord Su."
As a result, his "Niuniu" made the Su family brothers and sisters look at each other in bewilderment. Xinghe didn't know where he got her nickname from, and Xinghai didn't know the relationship between the prince and her. He suspected that the two children had been together for a long time and had really developed feelings for each other. He wanted to ask Xinghe, but because the prince was present, he couldn't speak. He could only focus on her face and frowned and said, "Mom got the news and was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot. How are you now? Is it serious?"
She looked at him with curved eyebrows and eyes, "Master, do you have anyone you like?"
The prince was quite polite to his future brother-in-law, but in his eyes, all the men of the Su family were born rebellious, and they could not be lump together with Xinghe. He tucked his hands under his sleeves and said, "I'm worried about Niuniu, so come along with me. You don't have to be afraid of my presence, just chat about your things."
She looked up at him, her eyes shining with gold in the gentle sunlight.
The calls from the court and the public to establish a queen were too loud to be ignored. After his father had a sincere talk with him, he agreed to the imperial edict the next day when he was in court, and the edict was issued after the winter solstice. The emperor was serious about his words, and he couldn't put it aside just because he couldn't establish Zuo Zhaoyi. At this time, even if he had to pick someone at random, he had to fill this hole.
"After this, you should learn your lesson. You are on duty in the East Palace, not a maid in the North Palace. You don't need to be called at any time." She bowed to the prince, "Xinghe is sometimes impetuous. It is not easy for her to gain a foothold in the officialdom or the palace. Fortunately, Your Highness protects her, so she can still be safe and sound today."
Xinghe stood up, straightened his clothes and said, "Master, please allow me to go see my brother! I think my family is worried because of the big commotion yesterday. I will go and tell him I am safe and ask him to tell my mother so that she won't worry."
Of course, not having a son is the most important condition. Xinghe pondered for a moment, "How do she get along with the master?"
Xinghai saw his sister was getting anxious and confused, but since the prince said so, he had to obey: "I have always said that he was too diligent in his work and delayed his lifelong event. Now that the prince is acting as a matchmaker, it must be right. I will go back and give this good news..."
She knew he did it on purpose, so she accepted it with a smile, "It's to prevent her from becoming the queen. But she has been used to being a Zhaoyi for many years. Even if she doesn't become the queen, she is still the head of the imperial concubines. The princess has committed a misdeed, and at most she will be stopped from becoming the queen. Given the emperor's temperament, he will never demote her... What can really make her miserable?" She blinked, "It's someone she fears, who climbs over her head and completely cuts off her idea of becoming the queen."
He knew she was not sincere. The erhu was played so badly that even he couldn't stand it. She was very proud of herself for not scolding him. Just wait and see, she would find an excuse to leave next.
It must be nothing serious. Xinghe said, "Don't worry, mother. I'm fine. It's just a loss of face. Who doesn't suffer in the palace? I hope my life is not taken away."
He was unhappy. "I have my own intentions for everything I do. If you can't figure it out, you're just stupid." He twirled the bow in his hand and adjusted the ponytail hair on it. "Did you receive the documents from the Military Control Department? Are all the details of the case clearly written down?"
He just smiled and said, "I heard the master teacher playing "Autumn Moon over the Han Palace" the other day. It sounded so sad and I felt quite emotional. So I thought about learning it myself. It would be great if I could improve it and make it more cheerful, not so sad."
This is true. It is something that can be seen but not touched, and it can really make people tired. The prince really knows her too well. He doesn't need her to say it. He can see at a glance what evil she is up to.
The prince stroked her hair with one hand and said with a smile, "It's not important how we get along. What's important is that the You Zhaoyi's family is weak. She has no one to rely on when she reaches this position. She can't sit still without someone to support her. Now she has to find a backer. She has no children, and I have no mother. As long as I show goodwill, she will definitely climb on the ladder. Do you believe it?"
The prince thought it was a good idea and asked, "Can you drink?"
He glanced at her and said, "So, I am the one who disturbed Master Su from work?"
He gave her a dose of reassurance, "Keep calm and settle the case of the princess's mansion. I will then signal the cabinet to urge the emperor to appoint a queen. If the emperor is unable to choose a queen and is in trouble, I will take the opportunity to advise him. I am not 100% sure, but I can still have 70% to 80% confidence."
Xinghe's movements were inevitably restricted because there was someone following behind her. She called him brother, and Xinghai turned around and was naturally happy to see his sister, but when he suddenly found that the prince was accompanying him, he had to restrain his enthusiasm.
Today's weather is very good, the day before the winter solstice, the sun is shining brightly, but the prince said, "I'm afraid it will rain on the first day of the new year."
There was no need to guess such a simple answer. But the prince shook his head and said, "I can't guess it."
Xinghe suddenly remembered that she had not touched alcohol for the past two years and had almost forgotten the taste of alcohol. She was tempted and nodded shyly, saying, "I'll drink less. I'm afraid I'll get upset and won't be able to get up the next day."
He stepped forward and examined his sister's face first. Fortunately, it was nothing serious, and he breathed a sigh of relief. After the brother and sister had a chance to talk, there was an important person in front of him who needed to be paid homage. Xinghai swept his sleeves to salute him. The prince finally came to the door. He was gentle and polite, and extended his hand to support him. "Master Su, there is no need to be polite."
So Xinghe was thinking about her wine, and the prince was thinking about the date with the beauty tomorrow night. He had to drink a few cups less at the big banquet tonight, so that he could show his ability to get her drunk later...
The prince smiled so harmlessly, "Don't be afraid, if you can't get up, just sleep. I can pack up and go to court by myself, so you don't need to see me off."
"You two families are on good terms. Do you think your ancestors have had a friendship?"
Xinghe said of course, but she didn't forget to be modest, "I just can't drink too much. My mother won't let me. She says it's unbecoming of a girl to drink too much."
“No,” she shook her head, “It’s filled with watermelon rind.”
Xinghe said: "Drink Dongyang wine, which is brewed when the osmanthus flowers bloom, and dig it out on the winter solstice for everyone to drink together." Of course, drinking is not the only activity during festivals in Jiangnan, but she loves to drink it, so the impression is particularly deep.
"General Lou serves under Lord Su?"
Such a good master is hard to find in the world. Are you afraid of delaying work by drinking? Now there is nothing to do, so you can drink to your heart's content.
Xinghe sneered, "It's not the same as before when it's too happy. Master, what's wrong with you lately? You always do weird things."
Now Xinghe was so angry that he was out of control. He was doing bad things again!
Dequan looked at Xinghe's expression and didn't understand what the prince meant. He answered truthfully, "The imperial guards only kept the ivory token of the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, and they thought that Lord Su came alone."
Xinghai bowed more and more, "Yes."
She said, "I took a quick look at it and it is well written. But I haven't had time to think about it in detail. I'm afraid there are omissions and it would be bad if the emperor found out. I wanted to read it through twice, but I have to listen to you play the erhu first."
He picked one at random, "How about You Zhaoyi? She is only one character different, has a high position, and has no son."