Yaohua Palace, backyard.
There are long corridors, pavilions, rockery and flowing water, waterside pavilions, terraces, lotus ponds and gardens.
The princess and her family lived here.
A palace maid named Xiaohe brought Luo Qingzhou and Miss Qin Er into the courtyard.
In the courtyard.
Nangong Xueyi, wearing a plain white dress, was holding a vase and picking flower branches.
At this time of year, winter plum blossoms are in full bloom.
"Sister Xue Yi."
Miss Qin Er called out softly and walked over.
When Nangong Xueyi saw the two people, a smile immediately appeared on her face, as beautiful and charming as the blooming snow plum in her hand.
"Why are you here?"
She put the plum blossoms into the vase in her hand and came over with a smile.
Miss Qin Er took her hand and said with a smile: "I came to see you. By the way, I brought you the remaining story from last time."
Then he turned around and said softly, "Brother Qingzhou."
Luo Qingzhou hurried over with a thick stack of rice paper in his hand.
Nangong Xueyi looked at him and said in surprise, "Wei Mo, you are so generous that you brought your brother Qingzhou here. In this case, I will not only read the story from last time, but also keep him here for at least three days and three nights."
Miss Qin smiled and said, "As long as Brother Qingzhou agrees, Weimo has no objection."
Luo Qingzhou quickly handed over the rice paper in his hand and said, "Princess, please read these first. After you finish reading, I will help you write other stories."
Nangong Xueyi looked at him deeply, took the rice paper, was silent for a moment, and said: "Meijiao is practicing martial arts in the backyard, you go."
Luo Qingzhou said: "I will go and pay my respects to the princess first."
Nangong Xueyi smiled and said, "No, just let Wei Mo go. Mother is in bed, it's not very convenient."
Luo Qingzhou understood, nodded, and went along the corridor to the back.
Nangong Xueyi brought Miss Qin Er into the house.
The maid made tea.
Miss Qin Er asked with concern: "How is my aunt's injury?"
Nangong Xueyi sighed softly: "The injury is not serious, His Majesty came here personally to help treat it. It's just... Mother is upset..."
Miss Qin Er was silent.
"Let's go in and talk to her."
Nangong Xueyi put down the vase, took her hand, and went into the inner room.
Luo Qingzhou went down the corridor.
After passing through a round door, a faint floral fragrance wafts into your nose.
On the empty lawn of the garden.
A tall girl in a white shirt and black skirt, with a high ponytail, is holding a long black whip and practicing whip techniques.
Under the orange morning sun.
Her pretty cheeks were covered with glistening beads of sweat, and a few strands of hair at her temples had already been soaked with sweat and stuck to her cheeks.
As she moved lightly, the ponytail behind her danced happily, and the black ribbon knot fluttered around her slender waist. The peaks tightly wrapped by the snow-white clothes, the slender waist and the straight back formed a moving arc.
When the pair of long and straight beautiful legs were raised, the black skirt bloomed like petals.
She is still so charming.
However, the former ease and pride seemed to have disappeared from that pretty face, and now there was a heaviness and determination instead.
Luo Qingzhou stood under the big tree and watched silently.
“Swish!”
After a moment.
The whip shadows flying all over the sky suddenly condensed into one and flew towards him.
Luo Qingzhou did not move.
He just tilted his body slightly and dodged it.
Nangong Meijiao stood in front of him holding a long whip, her towering chest heaving, her hair at her temples fluttering gently, and she looked at him expressionlessly.
Luo Qingzhou also looked at her silently.
After a while.
Nangong Meijiao snorted coldly and said, "Why don't you say anything? Do you think I'm a lost dog?"
Luo Qingzhou walked closer to her, stretched out his hand, and wanted to hold her little hand.
But she suddenly dodged, tears suddenly welling up in her eyes.
Luo Qingzhou was silent for a moment, then said, "Princess, if you are not used to living here, you can move to the Qin Mansion. Everyone in the Qin Mansion will welcome you."
Nangong Meijiao's eyes were filled with tears, and she sneered, "Everyone welcomes me? Are they pitying me?"
Luo Qingzhou didn't say anything else.
He knew how she felt at the moment, so he let her vent whatever emotions she had.
The tears in Nangong Meijiao's eyes suddenly rolled down.
"Ever since your Qin family had a close relationship with the princess, my father has told me many times that the palace cannot take sides... Even after the princess ascended the throne, my father still said this. He originally hoped that we would be neutral like the other palaces, after all, the princess is a girl... But, because of me..."
She choked with tears, "Luo Qingzhou, do you know? Before the eldest princess got married, she called me to the palace and told me that she could marry her husband... I didn't want to be a dowry, so I didn't agree, but I was very conflicted... After she ascended the throne, she said this to me again, and she told me that she already knew your identity... I knew that if I hesitated any longer, I would never have another chance in the future... So I made up my mind, and then told my father and mother that I liked you and wanted to marry you..."
At this point, she squatted on the ground, her face full of tears: "Father and mother discussed it all night, and the next day, father went to court, and then tried his best to help the princess and win over other princes... Then, this happened..."
"It was me, I killed him..."
At the end of her speech, she burst into tears.
Luo Qingzhou squatted in front of her and held her in his arms.
"Woo woo..."
The crying continued for a long time.
Gradually, she lost her strength, leaned into his arms, and became quiet.
A long time passed.
She said softly, "I don't blame you... Mother told me that father also thinks that the eldest princess is the most suitable candidate for the emperor, except that she is a girl. Father approves of the eldest princess in his heart, but he is afraid of letting down the late emperor and ancestors, so he has been hesitant."
"I am his daughter. He made up his mind for me. Mother said he was very proud... Mother also said that when he saw the strategies you gave to the princess, my father was very excited and told her that the princess would definitely win this time..."
"Father also praised you, saying that you are a genius..."
At this point, she suddenly laughed again: "It's a pity that father doesn't know that the genius he praised is actually Chu Feiyang, who I told him that I would marry no one else... If father knew that the two geniuses are actually the same person, I wonder what his expression would be... He would definitely be proud and happy for me."
She leaned in his arms, smiling and talking, but tears were flowing silently.
"Brother Qingzhou, can I call you Brother Qingzhou now? If my father is still alive, he will be very happy to see that Your Majesty used your strategy to defeat the seven kingdoms without a fight..."
Luo Qingzhou hugged her tightly.
Slowly, her voice became quieter and quieter, and finally, she fell asleep in his arms.
Luo Qingzhou slowly picked her up.
Turning around, he found Miss Qin Er and Princess Xue Yi standing at the round gate, looking at him quietly.
Nangong Xueyi quickly whispered, "Follow me."
Luo Qingzhou held the princess in his arms and followed behind her.
After placing the princess in her room, he was about to leave. Nangong Xueyi whispered, "Don't leave. Just sit here and wait for her to wake up. Wei Mo and I still have to go to His Majesty."
Miss Qin Er said softly, "His Majesty summoned us. Brother Qingzhou, you should stay here and accompany Sister Meijiao for a while."
Luo Qingzhou nodded.
Nangong Xueyi took Miss Qin Er away and helped him close the door.
Listen to the footsteps gradually fade away.
Luo Qingzhou looked at the girl who was sleeping on the bed with tears on her face. Thinking about the scene that night, he slowly clenched his fists in his sleeves.
Inside the body, at the root of the thunder spirit, three streaks of lightning flashed continuously.
He went over and helped her draw the curtains.
Then, he walked to the carpet in the corner of the room, sat down, took out the spiritual liquid, and dripped it on his palm.
Then, he entered a state of cultivation.
Outside the window, the morning sun slowly rose to mid-sky.
After the morning court session, Nangong Huoyue returned to the study in Yaohua Palace.
Not long.
Yuewu's respectful voice rang out from outside: "Your Majesty, Princess Xueyi and the second young lady of the Qin family are here."
Nangong Huoyue put down the memorial in her hand and asked, "Where is he?"
Yue Wu said, "In Princess Mei Jiao's room at the back. Princess Mei Jiao cried for a long time and fell asleep, so he stayed there."
Nangong Huoyue was silent for a moment, then said, "Let them in."
After a moment.
The door opened, and Nangong Xueyi and Miss Qin Er said respectfully at the door: "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Nangong Huoyue said in a gentle voice: "Xueyi, Weimo, come in."
When Miss Qin Er heard the name, she was slightly startled and walked in with Princess Xueyi.
"No need to be polite, sit down."
Nangong Huoyue's expression was gentle and her tone became soft, making people feel like they were in a spring breeze.
While Miss Qin was still hesitating, Nangong Xueyi had already pulled her to sit down and said softly, "Wei Mo, this is not the main hall, don't be so reserved."
Miss Qin Er said softly, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Nangong Huoyue looked at her soft, weak, beautiful and lovely appearance, smiled slightly, and said: "Wei Mo, have you felt better since coming to Kyoto?"
Miss Qin Er said: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am much better now."
Nangong Huoyue smiled and said, "Master must love you very much, right? I heard that in order to find medicine for you, he left many calligraphy works in Jinchan Temple and Qingyun Temple that are worthy of being passed down through the ages."
Although Jinchan Temple and Qingyun Temple had kept this matter tightly sealed, she still had a way to find out.
Miss Qin Er said softly: "Brother Qingzhou really loves Weimo."
Then, she sighed softly, glanced at the books of "Dayan Etiquette" and "Marriage Law" on the table, and said sadly: "It's a pity that Wei Mo is too weak to serve him well. Wei Mo feels very guilty. I have been thinking about finding a good wife for Brother Qingzhou..."
As soon as these words were spoken, the room suddenly became quiet.
Nangong Xueyi on the side suddenly said, "Wei Mo, don't say that. You are his legitimate wife. Even if he marries another one, she can only be a concubine. No matter how beautiful she is or how good she is at serving others, she has to call you sister."
Nangong Huoyue glanced at her and said, "Wei Mo, you and Mr. haven't had your wedding night yet?"
Miss Qin Er whispered, "Not yet. Wei Mo is ill and cannot have a wedding night for the time being, so I am anxious to find another wife for Brother Qingzhou. Wei Mo cannot fulfill her responsibilities as a wife, and she feels guilty towards Brother Qingzhou, so even if she is a concubine, she is willing..."
Nangong Xueyi frowned slightly and was about to speak, but Nangong Huoyue suddenly said, "That won't work. The Great Yan Etiquette and the Marriage Law both stipulate that a legal wife is always a legal wife unless they divorce or divorce. How can she become a concubine? Weimo, don't worry, you will definitely get better. As for finding another... wife for the master..."
After a pause, she picked up the "Da Yan Li Fa" from the table, frowned slightly and said: "I called you here today to discuss with you about revising the regulations on marriage between men and women in the "Da Yan Li Fa". Last time I was a guest in the Qin Mansion, I heard your words, which were very inspiring. I think we should indeed strive for some marriage freedom for women."
"Those things like parents' orders and matchmaker's words really need to be revised."
"As for the rules regarding wives and concubines, I also feel that they are a bit too harsh. If there is true love between the man and the woman and both parties are willing, I think that the rules should not be so rigid... The rules that concubines are like slaves, concubines can be divorced at will, or even exchanged or given away, as well as one wife and multiple concubines, all need to be revised."
As soon as these words came out.
Nangong Xueyi was the first to clap her hands, and said excitedly and angrily: "Your Majesty, Xueyi has wanted to tell you this for a long time! We women are also human beings, how can we be so humble in marriage? Let all those ridiculous rules that treat concubines like slaves and that concubines can be given away or exchanged, go to hell!"
Nangong Huoyue looked at Miss Qin Er.
Miss Qin II bowed her head slightly and said, "Everything is up to your majesty. Wei Mo also feels that many of the rules in the etiquette are indeed a bit harsh and need to be revised."
A smile appeared on Nangong Huoyue's face.
"However, the current etiquette is already deeply rooted and deeply rooted in people's hearts, so we can't rush the reform. When the time comes, we can start with the families in the inner city of Kyoto and see the results first."
She said again.
Miss Qin Er couldn't help but glance at her.