After a while, Prince Qing was invited into the side hall by Fang Ling. When he came last time, he was angry, but this time he was a little embarrassed.
Fangling sent someone to serve tea.
After a while, Cui Wenxi entered the side hall and was as polite as ever. He saluted him and said, "Your Highness."
Zhao Chengyan silently looked at his ex-wife. She seemed to have not changed at all, but she seemed to have completely changed. She was no longer so familiar and intimate, and what was left was just strange and alienated.
I don’t know how long it was before Zhao Chengyan’s Adam’s apple rolled and he said in a slightly embarrassed tone: “Are these Japanese girls okay?”
Cui Wenxi looked at him gently and replied: "Thanks to His Highness, all civil and military officials in the dynasty are poking at the backbone of our Cui family and scolding Cui Pingying for his inability to teach his daughter."
Zhao Chengyan felt quite embarrassed, "Yuan Niang..."
Cui Wenxi said rudely: "I just don't understand how your highness came to my Cui family so shamelessly, huh?"
Zhao Chengyan lowered his head and said nothing.
Cui Wenxi looked him up and down. Maybe he was having a hard time, his body had lost a lot of weight, his energy was not good, he was sick, and he was very shocked to think about it.
"I've heard about the scandal between you and Yan Lan. What do you mean by your coming today?"
Zhao Chengyan struggled to say a few words, "In the past, I was the one who couldn't help you."
Hearing this, Cui Wenxi smiled coldly, covered his mouth and said, "Why can't you forgive me?"
Zhao Chengyan said sadly: "We promised to be together for the rest of our lives, but we got separated halfway. It's me, the bastard, who easily broke our promise and trapped you in an unfair place."
Cui Wenxi said softly "Oh" and said calmly: "It has already been turned over, and there is no point in mentioning it again."
"Yuan Niang..."
"Is Your Highness here to reminisce with my Cui family today?"
"Yuan Niang, do you still blame me?"
"What do I blame you for? Life is too long. When I was young, I was ignorant and longed to use my own will to bind others. I expected others to treat me the same for decades. This is unrealistic. Don't you think so? "
Zhao Chengyan didn’t know how to answer.
Cui Wenxi said calmly: "Later, when I got older, I realized that people have to rely on themselves to stay awake. Instead of placing hope on others, it is better to cultivate yourself well. You see, you taught me a lot of truths. It’s not easy either.”
Zhao Chengyan's lips moved, wanting to say something, but he finally endured it.
Seeing his frustrated and desolate look, Cui Wenxi lost the interest in stabbing him. She originally wanted to stab him a few times, but now she felt uncomfortable. What was the point of taunting and scolding him like a shrew
There is no better way to kill than to kill one's heart. Now that he has experienced the pain, let him continue to remember her goodness.
She must be as dignified and generous as before, speak softly, and don't scold him and make him forget about it, regretting that he didn't get what he asked for.
This is the best revenge.
The kind that pokes holes in the heart.
As expected, her calm attitude did make him feel slightly relieved. He was no longer as embarrassed as before, and a faint expectation grew deep in his heart. "I came here today to say I'm sorry to you."
When Fang Ling came to serve tea, Cui Wenxi made a gesture and she quietly withdrew.
"You are not sorry for me. Everyone has his own difficulties."
Zhao Chengyan rubbed his sleeves anxiously, "You still blame me in your heart. After all, I was really a bastard back then."
Cui Wenxi looked at him with sympathetic eyes, "Your Highness, the prerequisite for complaining is love."
Zhao Chengyan was stunned.
Cui Wenxi picked up the tea cup and said, "You overestimate me, Mrs. Cui. I am a very selfish woman. I don't care about anyone but myself."
These words really embarrassed Zhao Chengyan, and he looked a little excited, "What about the prince?"
Cui Wenxi was stunned, thought seriously for a while, and replied: "He is more responsible than you, and he doesn't mess up when things happen. When he knew that I was in a difficult situation, he didn't scold me or ask me to understand his difficulties, but he did it for me." Clear all obstacles, you understand?”
Zhao Chengyan's expression was a little complicated for a moment.
Cui Wenxi continued: "That boy is much more interesting than His Highness. It is well known throughout the capital that my Cui family is barren. He came to provoke me, but he had already thought of a way out for me. He followed the example of his great-grandfather. If there was no heir, he would leave from the Zhao family. Do you think it is interesting for him to be adopted and inherited in the clan?"
Zhao Chengyan twitched the corner of his mouth and said embarrassedly: "How can a saint agree?"
Cui Wenxi: "This is the difference between you and him. In his rules of conduct, it is only whether he can do it, not who allows it, do you understand?"
Zhao Chengyan was silent.
Cui Wenxi still didn't want to let him go, and said deliberately: "You and I have been married for seven years. I don't know if you can have children, but I, Mrs. Cui, can. Do you believe it?"
Zhao Chengyan’s expression changed slightly.
Cui Wenxi said slowly: "I took away a child last year, who was Zhao Yue's son, so as long as I am willing to enter the East Palace, Your Highness, you can't stop me from climbing a high branch, do you understand?"
Zhao Chengyan seemed to be shocked by the news and said in shock: "Don't try to trick me!"
Cui Wenxi: "What did I trick you into doing?"
Zhao Chengyan said emotionally: "I don't believe it, I don't believe it."
Cui Wenxi laughed and said calmly: "You can give birth to a different girl, why can't I give birth to a different husband?"
These words choked Zhao Chengyan, who was greatly stimulated, "That is the crown prince's seed, from now on..."
Cui Wenxi showed sympathetic eyes again, "Look, you and I have been married for seven years, but you don't even know what my temper is. Do you think I will be happy that mother is more valuable than son? Or maybe I gave up on your future in Prince Qing's Palace like I did before. Looking for death?"
Zhao Chengyan: “…”
Cui Wenxi said calmly: "Wake up, Zhao Silang, you don't even know the temperament of the person you used to sleep with, why would you bring shame on yourself by coming to Cui's house today?"
"I… "
"Don't hide your little thoughts in front of me. I've done my best to show you dignity today. If you have anything else to say, I'll listen."
Zhao Chengyan was speechless for a moment, and all the ideas in his heart were useless.
He originally thought that this woman would curse as loudly as before, but he never thought that she was extremely graceful. While leaving him with enough dignity, she also stabbed him deeply, and stabbed him with the most disdainful attitude. Yes, but he couldn't blame her for being unkind.
Facing Cui Wenxi's pitiful and sober eyes, Zhao Chengyan felt ashamed and could no longer sit here, maintaining the remaining dignity and saying goodbye.
After sending him out of the house, when Cui Wenxi returned to the wing, Fang Ling said, "I thought the lady would scold him bloody."
Cui Wenxi said calmly: "Why did I scold him? Someone outside was already scolding me for me. I have to be steady and open-minded to let him understand that losing me, Ms. Cui, is the most regretful thing he has ever done in his life. Let him beat his chest and regret every time he thinks about it."
Fang Ling said with a smile: "If you ask for something but don't get it, that's called killing someone and killing your heart."
Cui Wenxi held her head high, "Yes, I just want him to look at me decently and not even bother to scold him."
She did indeed kill someone and punish her heart. After Zhao Chengyan returned, he locked himself in the room and was immersed in the memories of the past.
He had many things to say to her, but when she gave him the chance, he could no longer say a word.
In front of her calmness, he was completely defeated.
She seemed to have never been embarrassed, even if she reconciled with him, she never lost her composure.
Even when he learned about her and the prince's affairs and went to question him, she never showed weakness. Instead, she showed her fangs arrogantly and fought back with the strongest attitude.
Sometimes he hated her for her strong sobriety, but sometimes he admired her wise calmness. She, Ms. Cui, is aloof and arrogant from head to toe. No matter where she is, she can face everything calmly with her head held high.
Zhao Chengyan buried his face in his hands silently, feeling a huge blow both physically and mentally. Especially when he heard her disdainfully saying that she had given birth, he was even more embarrassed to the point of shame.
If what she said is true, it means that he, Zhao Chengyan, is sterile.
The more he wanted something, God just took it away from him. It was really too cruel to him.
At a certain moment, Zhao Chengyan felt gloomier than ever before, as if he no longer had any hope in life.
Prince Qing's Mansion has been in the spotlight these days. This fact has really caught people's attention, and the rumors can't be suppressed.
Although Zhao Chengyan was hit hard, he still had a ruthless spirit in his heart and vented his resentment on the gambling house because it was an inducement.
Ma Yucai used the money he gave him to gamble, but now he has to get back every penny.
The gambling house couldn't afford to offend them, so they had to return them all.
Not only that, Zhao Chengyan also wrote a memorial to express his dissatisfaction with the gambling house, believing that its impact was huge and harmful and should be cleaned up.
The saint received the memorial presented to him with mixed emotions.
Queen Ma also felt embarrassed.
The couple sat together and talked about the affairs of Prince Qing's Mansion, neither of them knew what to do.
Zhao Junqi stroked his beard and said: "At first I thought Erlang was too ridiculous, but now it seems that the fourth child is even more ridiculous than him. Why do you think our Zhao family does so many ridiculous things?"
Queen Ma rolled her eyes and said, "It's passed down from our ancestors."
Zhao Junqi: "..."
Empress Ma continued: "Yesterday, Erlang told me about his request to marry Mr. Cui. I didn't know how to refute him for a moment. Previously, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty impeached him for being unfair and well-founded. Now everyone is embarrassed by the fourth family. What do you want me to say about that little thing?"
Zhao Junqi also said awkwardly: "Ms. Cui was wronged."
Queen Ma also said: "She has been married to the fourth child for seven years, but she was able to have a baby, but the fourth child couldn't. What do you think..."
Zhao Junqi covered his face silently, "You can make the decision regarding Erlang's affairs, I won't get involved."
Empress Ma frowned, "What do you mean I have to make the decision?" She added, "Marriage is a major matter. Parents order the matchmaker. Are you his biological father, or you should take the lead."
Zhao Junqi said hopelessly: "You know I want to resign. He said that as long as I allow him to do so, he will let me be the boss of the job and I won't have to take care of anything."
Empress Ma poked his forehead and said, "Promise!" and added, "Thanks to you for having such a son, otherwise your Zhao family's empire would have been given away to others long ago."
Zhao Junqi clasped his hands and said confidently: "That's probably what he owed me in his previous life, and he will repay the debt in this life."
Queen Ma: "..."
How shameless!
No, Zhao Junqi showed Zhao Yue the memorial presented by King Qing, saying that gambling houses should be rectified nationwide.
Zhao Yue didn't say anything, he just said: "I, Daliang, have issued an order prohibiting gambling. Since the Fourth Emperor's uncle has been deeply affected by it, I will agree to it and start rectification from the capital."
Zhao Junqi pointed at him and said, "You kid, don't take pleasure in others' misfortunes."
Zhao Yue pursed her lips and smiled and defended: "I'm not gloating, but this is really shocking. A shrewd man like Uncle Fourth Emperor was fooled around by a country girl. Who would believe it if the news spread?"
Zhao Junqi also found it incredible and gossiped: "Didn't he investigate such an important matter before returning to Beijing?"
Zhao Yue: "If you ask me, who should I ask?"
Zhao Junqi pointed at him and said, "Don't be as confused as your Fourth Emperor uncle."
Zhao Yue said angrily: "What the hell did dad say?" He then said, "I hope that Mrs. Cui will be honored based on her son, and others will not be surprised."
Zhao Junqi couldn't look straight and said: "Look at the potential of your ideas. You are usually very clever, but now you are stupid. I will summon Cui Pingying into the palace for a cup of tea and see how he reacts."
Zhao Yue grinned, "Dad, don't forget, if Duke Zhen Guo could make the decision, where would he be when Cui decided to reconcile with the Fourth Emperor's uncle?"
Zhao Junqi: "..."
Zhao Yue: "Dad, it's better not to interfere. I will coax her into the palace." He added, "I am asking for it willingly and sincerely want to live with her. In the next few decades, every day If you are busy with government affairs and the back home is restless, it will be called a physical and mental exhaustion."
Zhao Junqi: "This is what you said, I don't care about anything."
Zhao Yue took the memorial and said, "It would be better if you and my mother don't hold me back."
So Beijing issued a notice to vigorously rectify the gambling houses. The gambling house that had previously forced Ma Yucai to kill the chicken and show it to the monkeys implicated the Ruyang Prince's Palace behind it and was fined a lot of money.
King Ruyang was so angry that he beat his chest and stamped his feet.
Zhao Yue took advantage of her free time to go to Changlingfang. At that time, Cui Wenxi was pruning a pot of flowers on the porch. When the maid informed that the prince was coming, Cui Wenxi got up and washed his hands.
Zhao Yue entered the courtyard and Cui Wenxi greeted him. He stepped forward and took her hand and said, "Hasn't Yuen Niang been out of the house recently?"
Cui Wenxi pinched him and said, "Isn't it true that you ask questions knowingly?"
Zhao Yue pursed her lips and smiled, looked at her and said: "A few days ago, the Fourth Emperor's uncle sent a memorial to rectify the gambling houses in Beijing. It can be seen that he was tricked."
Cui Wenxi said angrily: "Look at you gloating about misfortune."
Zhao Yue secretly asked, "Has he come to see you?"
Cui Wenxi snorted coldly and asked deliberately: "So what if I looked for it?"
Zhao Yue stared at her for a while, "This is forcing me to go back to my old career."
Cui Wenxi: "..."
The two entered the side room to talk. There was no one else there. Zhao Yue put his arms around her waist and asked seriously: "Why did the Fourth Emperor come to you? Do you want to ask for your forgiveness?"
Cui Wenxi narrowed his eyes and pinched his chin frivolously with his index finger, "Guess."
Zhao Yue curled her lips and nuzzled her coquettishly, "Yuan Niang, please don't show off to him, I won't allow it."
Cui Wenxi was amused by his arrogant look, and had to admit that this man was really interesting, "He is here to apologize, how can I kick him out?"
Zhao Yue was dubious, "Didn't you scold him until he was bloody?"
Cui Wenxi: "Why am I scolding him? There are so many people scolding him outside. I, Mr. Cui, are not missing."
Zhao Yue: "Then I don't care. If he dares to come next time, he will force me to go back to my old business."
Cui Wenxi pinched his face, and Zhao Yue let her twist it into weird shapes. She kissed him on the spur of the moment and said: "That day, King Qing asked me if I still complained about him. I said no, because there is no more love. , so there will be no more resentment. I told him that I am an extremely selfish girl who will only love herself in my life. Are you afraid of a girl like me? "
Zhao Yue did not answer but asked instead: "I am also a husband who is extremely afraid of trouble. I don't want to spend my time guessing my heart. Are you afraid of Yuanniang?"
Cui Wenxi gently stroked his lips, "The girl's family needs to be coaxed." He added, "Your mother-in-law, have you ever coaxed her?"
Zhao Yue laughed and said, "Coaxing is different from guessing. I like getting along with you because you can make me feel at ease. You can tell me about anything. The rest I choose by myself, whether to advance or retreat, right or wrong, I don't care." There is a chance to deal with it, but guessing is scary."
Cui Wenxi said nothing.
Zhao Yue said seriously: "I have no requirements for Yuanniang. I just want you to be honest with me. Don't leave me confused and at a loss."
Cui Wenxi raised his eyebrows and said, "It depends on whether you are a human or a ghost."
Zhao Yue made a "tsk" sound, "So, I have to work hard to be a good person." After a pause, he asked, "What is Yuan Niang's attitude towards me?"
Cui Wenxi didn't answer but asked: "What does Erlang want to hear?"
Zhao Yue: "I want to hear you tell me whether my appearance is enough?"
Cui Wenxi was amused and stretched out her fingertips to carefully outline his eyebrows, "Erlang's skin is naturally very good. I like it very much."
Zhao Yue's eyes lit up, "What's my temper?"
Cui Wenxi said objectively: "Nature is also good, calm and steady, not messy when things happen, and responsible."
Zhao Yue didn't like this comment, "Don't say I'm a good person."
Cui Wenxi: "..."
Zhao Yue: "I just want to ask you whether you feel comfortable and casual getting along with me."
Cui Wenxi thought for a while and said: "Sometimes I am still a little scared. For example, the night when I broke Yuan Wulang's hamstring, the official power was quite high."
Zhao Yue: "..."
He held it in and said seriously: "If I don't become fierce, I won't be able to suppress others." He added, "The civil and military officials in the entire dynasty are all elderly old men, all of them are full of knowledge and have great eloquence. If I can always be nice and pleasant, , they might think I’m easy to control.”
Cui Wenxi covered his mouth and said, "How did you fool them?"
So Zhao Yue told her some interesting things in the court. Not only did he tell them vividly, but he also made some gestures, including some of her brother's words, which made her laugh out loud.
In the past, Prince Qing would never have mentioned it to her, as if it was a taboo.
But not Zhao Yue. He would share with her some aspects of his life and the things or people he met in a harmless way. He would never look down on her or think she didn't understand just because she was a woman.
From him, she experienced a different kind of pleasure.
They would gossip about Prince Qing's embarrassment this time and analyze why he caused today's predicament. They would also gossip about the trivial life of the emperor and empress in the palace, as well as some of Emperor Wu's actions, and express their opinions.
Both of them are extremely calm and rational people and have a lot in common. Sometimes Cui Wenxi will see her own shadow in him.
Relatively speaking, she still likes the other person to be smart, because it is not too tiring to get along with a smart person. He can quickly understand your wishes and respond, instead of just talking to each other and leaving chicken feathers all over the floor. .
But they didn't get along for long. It would be hypocritical to say how much she likes Zhao Yue.
But it is true that she likes his skin and interesting soul. He is much more interesting than Prince Qing. It is no wonder that Emperor Wu chose him as his successor.
Cui Wenxi admired the responsibility and handling skills shown by the boy. His sincerity and protection made her feel a sense of security in the midst of the storm.
In an era like this, it takes a lot of courage to get married again, but Zhao Yue's stability gave her that courage.
A person who knows how to protect you, respect you, is smart and knows how to advance and retreat, is willing to welcome you into the second half of his life by "asking for marriage", and waits patiently when you hesitate, instead of forcing him, which shows his sincerity.
Cui Wenxi is not afraid of him at all. Perhaps it is because when a person reaches a certain level of strength, he will be tolerant and understanding.
That kind of broad mind is fully reflected in Zhao Yue. It was inherited from Emperor Wu and is full of wisdom and the power of insight into people's hearts.
See through human nature without contradicting it.
Zhao Yue's self-cultivation is undoubtedly extremely high, which is also the result of the labor of the great scholar Chen Ping.
Now the fruits of this labor have fallen into the hands of Cui Wenxi, and being able to have ideological exchanges with him, although sometimes there are limitations of the times, is mostly a pleasure of collision.
New and old, exploration and questions, there is always endless fun.
Cui Wenxi is a realistic person to the extreme. When she meets a man who is compatible and interested in all aspects, she will not imitate the chaste and fierce woman.
Just as Empress Ma said, all the girls in the capital are staring at Zhao Yue's delicious cakes. She is not a fool. If he is willing to remove all obstacles for her and show full sincerity to invite you to the urn, she will not Tossing around pretentiously.
What's more, the other party is still a fresh young boy, full of life, rich and powerful, and has character. It is her Cui who takes advantage of him.
Even if she takes ten thousand steps back, if there is a conflict between the two in the future, she still has the option of being the Queen Mother.
Marriage must have a purpose, either for people, money, or profit.
This is the awareness that a mature woman should have. She is responsible for herself and others. How can love alone last long? After all, it is good to be a sober and self-aware woman for the rest of her life for decades.
Many days later, when Yongning asked Cui Wenxi for an outing, he mentioned Prince Qing's scandal and asked her how she and the prince would end.
Cui Wenxi looked at the blooming mountain flowers in the distance, let the wind blow his clothes, and smiled: "What would you do if you were me?"
Yong Ning said: "The fourth child is really unseemly. He did some stupid things on his own, but he put the shit basin on your head. If I were you, I would have to enter the East Palace even if I was angry. I would make him ashamed to death."
Cui Wenxi pursed her lips, "Then don't I have to call you aunt from now on?"
Yongning: “…”
Needless to say, I’m really not used to it.
Cui Wenxi added: "I have to call Sister Pingyang, your aunt, Queen Ma... are you used to it?"
Yongning scratched his head and said seriously: "I and Pingyang should be fine. After all, you are much younger than us. It's just that my sister-in-law is probably not used to it. My sister-in-law has become a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law."
Cui Wenxi grinned and said deliberately: "I still have to call Prince Qing and the fourth uncle." He paused and said, "I feel much younger all of a sudden."
Yongning: “…”
You are simply poisonous. If you don't look up all the time, he probably has no shame in staying in the capital anymore.