Married to the East Palace for the second time

Chapter 26: Bait

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She was convinced by her rogue tone.

Unexpectedly, Yongning taught her his experience in a serious manner, and said plausibly: "If you don't want to follow the path of the fourth child and want to get this thing done, you have no choice but to take the path of the East Palace.

"Let me tell you, an unexperienced young man like Erlang is the easiest to deal with. As long as you have a thicker skin and act like a gangster by taking advantage of your status as the royal aunt, he will probably let you go in order to send you away quickly. of."

Cui Wenxi couldn't laugh or cry, "Is it true or not?"

Yong Ning: "Why am I coaxing you? Have you forgotten his reaction when we made fun of him at the spring banquet? After teasing him a few words, his face turned red like a shrimp, which shows that he is a thin-skinned person. If you are shameless If you go to collect debts and act like a gangster and are unreasonable, he will probably not be able to resist you, and he will find you annoying and want to send you away."

This move sounded really inappropriate. Cui Wenxi frowned and said, "If he tells the queen about this, how can I hold my head high and behave like a human being in the future?"

Yong Ning: "I'm afraid he won't tell me. If he tells me, I can ask him why he agreed to the favor at that time. If he agreed and then regretted it later, how can he be a monarch in the future?"

Cui Wenxi: "..."

She wanted to say something else, but suddenly she heard the sound of a gong on the stage. Yong Ning hurriedly got up and walked towards the stands, saying, "I've shown you the way, don't mention your trivial matters anymore, let's watch the show."

Cui Wenxi responded. She picked up the tea bowl and took a sip. Surprisingly, she found it quite delicious. She couldn't help but praise: "This Liu'an tea is very well prepared."

Yongning said proudly: "The tea that that boy makes is no worse than the one in the palace."

Cui Wenxi pursed her lips and smiled, "How much money did you spend to buy it?"

Yong Ning turned to look at her, "Don't try to stab him out for me. I don't dare to bring him back to my house right now and keep him outside for fear of being beaten to death by Da Lang's unfilial son again."

Cui Wenxi didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "I think you are just like Shiro."

Yong Ning: "Who said that you can't support your appearance when you are a widow?" After a pause, "If you are not convinced, you can still support yourself. Anyway, no one will restrain you after divorce. You can do whatever you want. Why do you need to accept a man?" Angry?"

Cui Wenxi stood up and walked to sit next to her. His eyes fell on the stage and he shook his fan. "Your suggestion is a good one. Who doesn't like young and beautiful men? It's fun to tease them. Why don't you?" It will cause trouble for you, just like raising a puppy. When it is happy, you will coddle it, and when it is unhappy, you will throw it away. He does not dare to bite you, for fear that you will not want him."

Hearing these words, Yongning was quite surprised, "I didn't expect you, Cui Changyue, to be quite understanding."

Cui Wenxi glanced at her sideways, "We are all people who have been here before. I just have more respect than you. It's not like only men can do that kind of thing."

Yongning smiled and pointed at her, "I just like your uninhibited look. A saint is depraved. If you let go of your dignity, what man can bear it?"

The two of them were chatting about the topic of face to face, and suddenly heard the maid come to report that Yuan Wulang from Xibohou's family had come to pay a visit.

Yongning frowned and said, "Why are you here to join in the fun?"

Cui Wenxi had also heard of Yuan Wulang's reputation. He was a well-known playboy in the capital, and he was also an expert in eating, drinking, prostitution and gambling. He got the young man who made the tea just now from him.

Yong Ning gave her face, waved her hand impatiently, and the maid retreated.

After a while, Yuan Wulang came into the box to pay his respects. He said with a coveted smile, "Junior Yuan Yunzhi pays his respects to the eldest princess." Seeing Cui Wenxi beside her, he hurriedly said, "It turns out that Princess Qing is also here. I, this junior, pays my respects to Princess Qing."

Cui Wenxi ignored him and disdained to associate with such rats.

Yongning asked: "What are you doing here, kid? Could it be that you have fallen in love with another girl from another family?"

Yuan Wulang hurriedly responded: "Don't dare, don't dare. With the eldest princess here, Wulang doesn't dare to cause trouble."

Yongning sneered.

Yuan Wulang secretly glanced at the girl sitting next to her.

Yongning was over forty, while Cui Wenxi was only twenty-four years old. She was gentle and beautiful, with a dignified and noble air all over her body, and an aura that could not be blasphemed.

But the more girls like this, the more they capture men's hearts.

Now I heard that the girl is making peace with Prince Qing. Once she loses their support, it will inevitably make them, those prodigal sons who like to steal sex, worry about her. Today I took a sneak peek and found that her elegance and charm are really heart-wrenching.

Yong Ning was a veteran in love, and she had already seen through his dirty thoughts, and said in disgust: "Get out of here if you have nothing to do, don't bother me here."

Yuan Wulang did not dare to offend her, so he smiled and said, "If the eldest princess has any instructions, just send her. Wulang will be downstairs."

Yongning waved impatiently, and Yuan Wulang retreated respectfully.

After he left, Cui Wenxi said with disdain: "My sister is hanging out with these rats. She has really lost her status."

Yong Ning: "You really think I'm attracted to you, but you're just doing it for the sake of the Xibohou Mansion." After a moment, "Did you see the way that bastard peeked at you just now?"

Cui Wenxi frowned and did not answer.

Yong Ning: "In the future, if you lose your support, dandies like them will always find ways to steal. I'll see how you can defend yourself."

Cui Wenxi lowered his head and said nothing.

Yong Ning continued: "The world is dangerous. Even if you have the backing of the Duke's government, unless you live in your natal family, if you stay outside, there will always be trouble. Besides, there are still these wealthy dudes, and the powerful people in Beijing are intertwined. If you put them They are hurt, and they may bite you back, scold you for being a prostitute and seducer, and make you suffer without telling you."

Cui Wenxi said calmly: "This world has always been like this to girls."

Yong Ning: "That's why I admire you for having the courage to reconcile with Shiro. We girls will obey our father at home, our husbands when we get married, and our sons after our father dies. We will always be dependent on you.

"Take me, Yongning, for example. I am still the eldest princess. After my husband died and I became a widow, I still have to be disciplined by my son. Having two faces is like shaking the sky. They show me their faces all day long and tell me not to do anything. happy."

Cui Wenxi smiled and teased: "Didn't you drive King Wenxuan out?"

Yongning straightened his back and said, "Yes, if he doesn't like living in my own mansion, just get out. But something went wrong at the banquet at home last time, and the boy asked his daughter-in-law to straighten the rules in the mansion for me. It makes me afraid to return home."

Cui Wenxi was amused and said, "Your mansion is really in a mess and needs to be reorganized."

Yong Ning curled his lips, "I'm leaving my words here today. After you and Shiro reconcile, if you live outside, you will probably not be at peace."

Cui Wenxi: "Then I will raise a few more vicious dogs and build the walled courtyard higher."

Yongning joked: "Invite another door god to stick it on the door to ward off evil spirits."

At this time, Lady Miaoyin on the stage was singing loudly to scold the heartless man. Yongning stretched his neck and said: "Look, we are about to beat the heartbroken man."

Cui Wenxi also craned his neck to watch.

Many people on both sides looked at them secretly. Both men and women seemed to be curious about her, Princess Qing.

Cui Wenxi could only choose to ignore it.

Along with the sound of the gong, Lady Miaoyin below began to angrily beat the heartless man.

Yong Ning watched with great interest, but Cui Wenxi felt quite bored. He had something on his mind and had no intention of watching the show.

She didn't take a nap at noon, so she felt a little sleepy, so she stopped delaying and said to Yongning, "I'm a little sleepy, so I'll go back first."

Yongning didn't hold back, she still wanted to tease Xiao Langjun, "Then please do as you please."

Cui Wenxi stood up and bowed to say goodbye. When he walked to the door, he suddenly said: "Sister, if I annoy the prince by playing tricks on him, just say it was you who taught me."

Yongning didn't look back and spat: "How dare you!"

Cui Wenxi covered her mouth and smiled, "Let's go."

Yongning: "Get out."

After leaving Qiuyue Pavilion, Fang Ling helped her go downstairs. When she walked to the front hall, Yuan Wulang came forward again and saluted the master and servant: "Hello, Princess Qing."

Cui Wenxi glanced at him sideways, nodded politely, and left without even bothering to say a word.

Yuan Wulang stared straight at the slim figure. He had a hobby and was not interested in young children. He just liked women, especially those with unique charm.

Seeing Ms. Cui's graceful and graceful appearance, he couldn't help but swallow his saliva, his heart was itching unbearably. If he could have a taste of that woman in this life, it would be worth dying.

After returning to Prince Qing's Mansion, Cui Wenxi took a nap for a while. He was obviously very sleepy, but he couldn't fall asleep. His mind was filled with what Yong Ning had said.

"If you don't want to take the path of the fourth child and want to get this thing done, you have no choice but to take the path of the East Palace."

What she said was indeed true. If you want to get things done, only those in the palace have the right to speak.

Today's saints care about almost nothing, and all the power is in the hands of the East Palace. Even if King Qing comes forward, he has to get the prince to nod.

But she was a woman and had never dealt with the prince.

Even if there were interactions, it was mostly when the ladies from the back house saw him when they got together, and at most they only exchanged a few words. Their attitudes were polite and distant, and the rest of them had almost no communication.

Now it is really difficult for her to go to the prince to ask for favors for her exile.

She was so thin-skinned that she didn't know where to start.

Secondly, it is within the scope of government affairs to go outside. She is a woman, but she interferes in government affairs rashly. This is very taboo. Even if he came forward, it would have to be from Prince Qing or the Duke of Guo, not her Cui family at all.

Thinking of this, Cui Wenxi couldn't help but feel as big as a bucket.

She tossed and turned and couldn't sleep. She felt bored, so she simply sat up and called out impatiently: "Faang Ling?"

Fang Ling, who was outside, responded, opened the door curtain and came in. Cui Wenxi said, "I'm hot."

Fang Ling got a fan to fan her, and Cui Wenxi changed to lie on the beauty's couch. Only then did she get some peace and fell into a deep sleep.

Later in the evening, she woke up from half-awake and half-dream. There was no one in her bedroom. She looked out through the window and saw that it was almost dusk.

She was confused for a moment.

Not sure whether it was the setting sun that affected his mood or other reasons, Cui Wenxi looked at everything in the room blankly, suddenly feeling bored.

She had never been so troubled in the past, and Yongning's words were like a curse, causing her to enter a dead loop again.

If she went to seek help from Prince Qing, she would have no choice but to bow to him. But if you ask for the East Palace, it seems to be quite difficult.

But she really wanted to get this done, but she really didn't know what to do.

Cui Wenxi felt her head hurt a little. She sat up irritably and waved her fan lazily, remembering the young and elegant face of Prince Zhao Yue.

She actually had a good impression of the boy. He was self-denial and courteous, acted appropriately, and he also solved her two difficulties.

But when she thought about that time when they were close to each other in the rockery, she was so embarrassed that she felt ashamed. That was almost the most embarrassing time in her life, but she was bumped into by an old man, which was really embarrassing.

Not only that, the two of them were crowded together at that time.

Ordinarily, as a modern girl, she would not be in such a situation where men and women were on guard, but the situation at that time was really embarrassing, and they were still aunt and nephew, so it was inappropriate for them to be crowded together.

Thinking of this, Cui Wenxi later realized that something was wrong. What was he doing hiding in the rockery

Although the explanation Zhao Yue gave her at the time was reasonable, when she thought about it carefully, she still found it a bit strange.

Cui Wenxi didn't want to delve into the cause and effect because he couldn't see directly.

She had something to hide in her heart, so she only ate a little of her dinner and then gave it up.

Seeing that she had a bad appetite, Fang Ling frowned and said, "My wife hasn't had a good meal for two consecutive meals. It's not good to go on like this."

Cui Wenxi said listlessly: "I'm annoyed."

Fang Ling didn't say anything. It was rare that she had ever seen her so upset. It was obvious that she had encountered a problem.

I don't know how long it took before Fang Ling stopped talking and said, "Madam, please don't forget that the second lady said yesterday that she didn't want to embarrass the lady."

Cui Wenxi looked at her but said nothing.

Fang Ling continued: "As long as the lady does her best, everything else will be up to chance."

Cui Wenxi lowered his eyes and said seriously: "I backed down before I even tried my best."

Fang Ling: "???"

Cui Wenxi took her hand and said, "Please give me some advice. Should I go all out and be shameless?" He added, "Yongning showed me the way. Only the palace has the say in this matter. She asked me to go to the East Palace." Please.”

Hearing this, Fang Ling was surprised and said: "My wife is crazy. The exposure involves political affairs. That is something only husbands can do. You are a back-house girl, but as Princess Qing, you have reached out to the East Palace. It is appropriate." ?"

Cui Wenxi said: "I just felt it was inappropriate, so I hesitated."

Fang Ling said anxiously: "Madam, please don't be confused. If you can't control it, just leave it alone." After a pause, "This servant is timid. Even if Madam holds the title of Princess Qing now, she is just a wife of the back house. The East Palace can cover the sky with one hand. Power is a battlefield for men, how can you deal with them?"

Cui Wenxi held his chin with one hand and seemed to be deep in thought.

Fang Ling was afraid that something would go wrong with her, so she quickly advised her, "Madam, please listen to this slave. Don't get involved in this matter. You can't do it."

Cui Wenxi was quite unwilling, "I have already regressed before I even tried."

Fang Ling: "This is different. If the lady goes to seek favors from Queen Ma, she still has to give it a try. But the person you are looking for is the Prince of the East Palace. How can an aunt meet her nephew in private?"

Cui Wenxi looked at her and said without giving up, "What if a third person is present?"

Fang Ling was stunned.

Cui Wenxi continued: "I will go to Pingyang Mansion and ask Pingyang to coax the prince out."

Fangling: "..."

As if he had found a new idea, Cui Wenxi's eyes flashed with a cunning light, and he said: "Tomorrow I will go to Pingyang Mansion to coax her to help. We usually have a good personal relationship, so she will probably agree. Come down."

Fangling: "But..."

Cui Wenxi gently touched his palm and said thoughtfully: "Don't say it anymore. If I give up without trying this, I will always feel upset in the future."

Fang Ling shut up and said nothing.

After much thought, Cui Wenxi felt that she could find the prince through Pingyang's network. Even if it didn't work out in the end, Pingyang would be there to smooth things over so that she wouldn't lose face.

After making up her mind, she was no longer so worried. She was in a good mood and had an appetite. Fang Ling then asked the kitchen to deliver food.

So Cui Wenxi went to Pingyang Mansion again the next morning. At that time, Pingyang was feeding the koi in the pond.

The huge mansion was empty. She had been pregnant when she was young and had no heirs. Her husband-in-law also died of illness. She couldn't leave alone for a long time, which made her feel lonely and bored.

When she learned that Cui Wenxi was coming, she was quite happy and made a gesture to the maid.

Aunt Chen on the side said: "Now that Princess Qing is making peace with her, she probably won't be happy in Prince Qing's mansion. It would be better if she stays in the mansion to spend more time with His Highness."

Pingyang threw away the last bit of fish food in his hand and said quietly: "Sometimes I really envy her, she can pick it up and put it down."

Grandma Chen sighed, not knowing how to comfort her.

Later, Cui Wenxi's master and servant were brought over by the domestic slave. After Pingyang washed his hands, he wiped his hands with a handkerchief. When he saw the two figures, he smiled and said, "What kind of wind brought the Fourth Emperor's aunt here?"

Cui Wenxi came all the way and said: "We can't open the pot at home, so come here in Pingyang to have something to eat."

Pingyang was amused.

The two of them saluted each other under the pavilion.

Pingyang was dressed in plain white, and she looked dull and without any vitality. Cui Wenxi said with disdain: "You are such a good princess. You are sad about spring and autumn all day long. Your life is more difficult than that of an ascetic. It's really not true." Like words."

Pingyang said lazily: "I don't want to move."

Cui Wenxi looked at the apricot blossom forest not far away and pointed with the fan, "Let's go over there for a walk. I have something to say to you."

So the two of them walked towards the apricot blossom forest.

The white apricot blossoms are in full bloom, and the lush branches are surrounded by layers of flowers. The pink and white intersect in the flower forest, creating a quiet and beautiful scene.

The two people, one red and one white, slowly walked into the elegant scenery, and the picture suddenly became lively.

Seeing that her expression was not good, Cui Wenxi asked: "But is she sick?"

Pingyang: "I'm not sick, I just have no energy."

Cui Wenxi said venomously: "I am not cursing you. If you continue to be depressed like this, I might ask the queen to give away the white-haired person to the black-haired person. That would be sad."

Pingyang glanced at her sideways, "If I were as heartless as you, I don't know how happy I would be."

Cui Wenxi said rudely: "You are just being pretentious. You live in fine clothes and fine food every day, but you still regret spring and autumn. You don't know the sufferings of the world. When will I take you to the market to see the girls there, so that you can see how they live their lives? of."

Pingyang curled his lips, as if he didn't want to bring up this topic, and asked: "You don't go to the Three Treasures Hall for anything, why do you want to come to my place today?"

Cui Wenxi said shamelessly: "Yongning showed me the way."

Pingyang: "???"

Cui Wenxi picked an apricot blossom casually and said, "Yesterday I went to Changyin Pavilion to look for her and asked her to do me a favor. After hearing this, she asked me to come to you and said that you could handle this matter."

Immediately explain the problem he encountered to her in detail.

After hearing this, Pingyang laughed angrily and spat: "My aunt is the most unreliable. Things like being sent abroad are political affairs. She asked you to find the prince. Isn't it nonsense?"

Cui Wenxi said seriously: "Every political matter has been predetermined. As long as you have connections, the quota can be changed. I just feel sorry for my sister. It's not easy to come back after being sent to Qianzhou. Sometimes I want to She can't even say a word about herself."

Pingyang immediately understood what she meant, "Aunt Four Emperors wants me to make a connection and coax Erlang to come to the house, right?"

Cui Wenxi nodded, hugged her arm affectionately, and put the apricot blossoms she had just picked into her bun. "To tell you the truth, I have hesitated about this matter. I am just a housewife, and I usually spend time with the prince." I rarely interact with you, and I don’t know how to ask for favors, but I don’t want to follow Prince Qing’s path, so I came to you shamelessly.”

Pingyang tilted his head and supported the apricot blossom, "Is it good for me?"

Cui Wenxi said "ouch" and said with a cheerful smile: "Auntie, if this thing comes to pass, from now on, as long as you shout, I will be here at any time, how about it?"

Pingyang said disgustedly: "You and your aunt teamed up to cheat my grandma, and you still have the nerve to ask for favors."

Cui Wenxi covered her mouth and smiled, "I didn't take anything at the time. I felt it was unkind and I couldn't imitate Yongning. I'm thin-skinned, so I casually asked for favors to make the queen feel at ease. I never thought that by chance, I would encounter the issue of being released to the outside world. The head knew that I was having a quarrel with Prince Qing, so he kept it secret from me because he didn't want to embarrass me. Otherwise, why would I have gone through such a big circle? He just wanted to keep my sister in the capital."

Pingyang: "You really put a lot of effort into it."

Cui Wenxi: "Hey, after all, she is a biological sister of the same mother. It's better to have a small relationship, why would she be willing to suffer outside?" He added, "As the eldest sister, I don't have the ability to protect her, so you called me like this in vain. My sister for many years.”

Pingyang said coquettishly: "Don't pretend to be pitiful in front of me."

Cui Wenxi shamelessly poked her arm and said secretly: "How about Pingyang, just take pity on me and coax the prince to come to the house?"

Pingyang didn't answer. The two of them walked in the apricot blossom forest. Their bodies were similar and they blended in with the apricot blossoms everywhere.

A slight breeze swept by, and the white petals fell into their hair. The scene was extremely beautiful.

I don't know how long it took before Pingyang said: "It's okay to coax Erlang to come, but you have to throw bait for him."

Cui Wenxi was a little confused for a moment, "He hasn't seen anything in the palace, where can I find bait?"

Pingyang tilted his head and looked at her, "Erlang is an old man. He is busy with government affairs all day long, so it is not easy to coax him out of the palace. Since you want him to do things for you, why don't you let him come back empty-handed?"

Cui Wenxi kept silent.

Pingyang continued: "I can help you make the connection, but you have to find your own bait to coax him out."

Cui Wenxi: "Then what does he prefer?"

Pingyang thought about it and felt a little embarrassed, "I really don't know."

Cui Wenxi: "..."

After spending a long time with Pingyang in the house, Cui Wenxi suddenly remembered on his way back home in the afternoon that he had a Go game in his collection.

The game of Go has a long history. It was played by Zhang Yan, a famous chess sage in the previous dynasty, and it accompanied him almost all his life.

Later, after Zhang Yan died of illness, the relics were scattered among the people. After several twists and turns, they fell into the hands of Cui Pingying.

My father is very knowledgeable in chess skills and has a lot of chess records or Go games in his collection. Cui Wenxi thought that there was no shortage of anything in the East Palace, so he went directly to the Duke's Mansion with the mentality of giving it a try.

Cui Pingying felt a little sad when she learned that her daughter came to ask for Zhang Yanqi.

Seeing his reluctance, Cui Wenxi smiled and said, "If dad can't let go, that's all."

Cui Pingying couldn't help it. His daughter was already so busy. It would be outrageous for him to hold her back, so he asked tentatively: "Whose path is Yuanniang going to take?"

Cui Wenxi did not hide anything and replied: "Prince."

As soon as these words came out, Cui Pingying couldn't help but be stunned.

Cui Wenxi explained roughly that Cui Pingying was reluctant to let Cui Wenjiang go to Qianzhou to eat ashes. In the end, he struggled and hesitated for a long time before gritting his teeth and giving up.

It would be better for such a precious thing to fall into the hands of the prince than to fall into the hands of an ignorant merchant.

So Cui Wenxi sent Zhang Yanqi to Pingyang Mansion, and Pingyang made the connection to enter the palace. She first went to Changchun Palace to visit Queen Ma. The mother and daughter talked about their daily routine for a while, and then went to the East Palace.

Zhao Yue was busy at the Political Affairs Hall at that time, and came back late in the afternoon. She was surprised to see Pingyang waiting for him for a long time, and asked curiously: "When did sister come here?"