After the archery competition was over, Emperor Xuande led the eldest prince and the second prince away, and Guo Boyan accompanied him.
Watching the holy chariot leave, Guo Xiao saluted the third and fourth princes, lowered his eyes and said, "Your Highnesses, please, I will retire."
Zhao Heng nodded, and the fourth prince looked at Song Jianing and asked him, "You guys are going back to Changchun Palace? Just in time, I'm going to see the mother-in-law too, let's go together."
The fourth prince is from Concubine Hui, and Concubine Hui's Xianfu Palace and Changchun Palace are next to each other. This excuse is justified.
Guo Xiao had no choice but to nod and ask him to go first.
The fourth prince went straight to Song Jianing and asked enthusiastically, "Your name is Jianing? How old are you?" They were so close that the corners of the luxurious robe touched Song Jianing's skirt.
Song Jianing is the daughter of a small family in the south of the Yangtze River. Now a prince is so friendly and enthusiastic to her, she is flattered and nervous, naturally, she will answer whatever people ask, bowing her head and saying: "Go back to your highness, I will come over. It will be eleven after the end of the year."
The Fourth Highness heard this, looked at Princess Duanhui unexpectedly, and said with a smile, "It's not like that, I thought you were younger than Duanhui."
Song Jianing clenched his cuffs, not knowing how to respond.
Princess Duanhui didn't like to listen to it. Although she was only nine years old, she knew that the more tender a woman was, the better, so she glared at the fourth prince angrily: "Fourth brother's eyes are so hard to use, those arrows just now were all blind. Are you blind?" She was obviously more tender and cute than Song Jianing.
The fourth prince ignored her and just lowered his head to look at Song Jianing. Seeing that Song Jianing's blushing face was tender and tender, it was prettier than the newly opened peach blossom petals, and he couldn't help pinching it. Song Jianing's reaction was a tad slower. After being pinched, he covered half of his face in embarrassment, neither Xun nor grievance, his head dropped even lower.
Guo Xiao frowned and said solemnly, "What do you mean, Your Highness?"
The fourth prince touched his head and grinned: "It is said that Jiangnan women have delicate skin and are made of water. I will try it." Guo Boyan, the Duke of Wei, continued to marry a widow as his wife and brought a daughter. He had heard of it before. , so I know that Song Jianing grew up in Jiangnan.
"Then is it tender or not?" Princess Duanhui asked with more enthusiasm, her tone was full of contempt for Song Jianing, as if Song Jianing was just a little palace maid who could let them judge.
Song Jianing actually understood that the fourth prince was just naughty and ignorant to pinch her, without any malicious intentions, but Princess Duanhui's words embarrassed her, her face flushed red at first, and then quickly turned pale again. The fourth prince was heartless and just about to answer when Guo Xiao suddenly stepped over, stretched out his hand and pulled Song Jianing behind him, and said coldly to the fourth prince and Princess Duanhui, "Jianing is my fourth sister, Please look at the face of the duke's palace, your two highnesses, and don't be contemptuous."
In Guo Xiao's heart, his stepsister is an outsider, and he can bully him, but outside, his stepsister is also a younger sister, and he can't tolerate bullying.
The fourth prince is favored on weekdays and has a distinguished status. He is not afraid of Guo Xiao, but he has no intention of belittling Song Jianing. He quickly said: "Misunderstanding, I really don't mean that, that is..." Realizing his mistake, the fourth prince bent over , sincerely apologized to Song Jianing: "Cousin Jia Ning, it was my fault just now, you shouldn't pinch your face, I promise there will be no next time, will you forgive me once?"
Song Jianing nodded and explained in a low voice, "I don't blame His Highness..."
Before he could finish speaking, a cold gaze came from above his head. Song Jianing knew it was Guo Xiao without even looking, so he couldn't help shrinking his neck.
She was afraid of Guo Xiao, but Princess Duanhui was so angry with Guo Xiao that tears welled up in her eyes, and she complained aggrievedly: "Cousin, what kind of younger sister is she? "It's a rule for the palace maid and eunuch to call her His Royal Highness, and her favorite cousin shouting like that, that's life, and it's more sad than reprimanding her village woman!"
Guo Xiao had some scruples towards the fourth prince, and towards Princess Duanhui, he directly reprimanded: "I am your cousin, and Jianing is your cousin. If you treat her as an outsider, you will not recognize me."
"You, you, I'll go tell my grandmother!" He defended Song Jianing again and again, Princess Duanhui was angry and jealous, gouged out Song Jianing, wiped her eyes and ran away, running so fast, her bright red skirt undulating in the wind, Like a red flower. Song Jianing stared blankly at Princess Duanhui's back, and then looked at Guo Xiao's tall and straight back next to him. While worried about Princess Duanhui's complaint, a little doubt appeared in her heart.
Don't you mean childhood sweethearts? Why is Guo Xiao so indifferent to Princess Duanhui
"The princess is young and ignorant, which made the third prince laugh." The fourth prince was the one who made a mistake. Guo Xiao didn't need to be polite, and only said to the third prince who had been silently walking on the other side of the fourth prince.
Zhao Heng shook his head slightly, indicating that he didn't mind, then looked ahead and continued to walk unhurriedly. His biological mother, Concubine Xian, has long since passed away. Usually, Zhao Heng basically has no chance to go to the harem, and he has no need to go. However, after coming out of the martial arts field, he had a certain way to go with Guo Xiao and others, so he left together.
Princess Duanhui left, and took away the little unpleasantness just now. The fourth prince returned his attention to Song Jianing, ignoring Guo Xiao's cold face, and continued to approach Song Jianing and asked coaxingly, "Cousin Jia Ning, I am the fourth prince, you can call me fourth cousin in the future."
Song Jianing nodded perfunctorily.
The fourth prince excitedly shoved her: "Call now." It was the same as when Guo Fu and Guo Shu wanted to hear Song Jianing call his brother.
Song Jianing didn't know if this was in line with the rules. Although she wanted to keep a distance from Guo Xiao, now she could only look at Guo Xiao, her nominal brother, for help.
Guo Xiao shook his head indistinctly, with a hint of warning in his eyes.
Song Jianing understood, bowed his head and declined: "His Royal Highness has a noble status, I dare not overstep it."
The fourth prince glanced at Guo Xiao and guessed that Guo Xiao was the stumbling block. He hummed, then remembered another thing, and asked Song Jianing strangely: "Just now, why did cousin Jianing choose my third brother?" He can understand that the brothers and sisters are familiar with each other, and he is convinced to choose the most burly and sturdy eldest brother, who has the greatest chance of winning, but the beautiful cousin is partial to the third brother, and he is not convinced!
This…
Song Jianing secretly glanced at the third prince.
Zhao Heng's face was indifferent, he walked on his own, as if he hadn't heard the conversation between the two.
Song Jianing was worried. She definitely couldn't tell the truth, but if it was false, she couldn't think of a suitable reason. After all, today was the first time she saw the four princes, so it stands to reason that they should be treated equally. After racking his brains, he couldn't come up with it, Song Jianing lowered his head and pretended to be stupid, pursing his mouth and didn't speak. The fourth prince looked anxious, and he just urged the beautiful little cousin, but did not notice that Guo Xiao and the third prince also slowed down, and the three young men were following Song Jianing's snail-like footsteps in unison.
"Good cousin, tell me, me, I will give you New Year's money for the new year." The fourth prince tried his best to ask.
Song Jianing almost laughed out loud, pursing her red mouth. She is not short of money, does the fourth prince regard her as a money fan
Her almond eyes were bright, and she became more and more seductive and teasing. The silver didn't work, the fourth prince pinched his chin and caught a glimpse of the silk flower on Song Jianing's head, he suddenly picked the pink silk flower, turned around to the third prince, and said with a smile, "Cousin Jia Ning told me, I Give the flower back to you, or the flower will be mine, and I will reward the little palace maid!"
Song Jianing touched the bun, and made sure that the hair was not messy, so he didn't worry, it was just a silk flower, and it was gone without it.
The fish didn't take the bait, and the fourth prince who was fishing was so anxious that he could not bear it, his eyes slanted and fell on the face of the third prince, and then he understood at a glance, and suddenly realized and said with a hint of sourness: "I see, our four brothers, The third brother is the best looking, is cousin Jianing in love with my third brother?"
Twelve or thirteen-year-old boy, who doesn't know what it's like, but knows that he's making fun of this kind of thing.
Zhao Heng and Guo Xiao frowned at the same time, and at the same time observed Song Jianing secretly.
She was framed by the fourth prince in front of the third prince and accused her of liking someone else. Song Jianing's face flushed red. She quickly glanced at the third prince.
She is not Princess Duanhui, she does not have the confidence to speak loudly as Princess Duanhui wants, her voice is thin, her face is red, and her watery almond eyes glanced at the third prince nervously several times. The girl looked anxious and angry when her heart was broken.
Zhao Heng finally found the answer. It turned out that the fat girl bet on him to win because she liked his face.
Women attach importance to their appearance, and they will go to great lengths to dress up to attract the people they like, but for a man, because his face is liked by women, it is not something to be proud of. It happened that there was a fork in the road ahead, Zhao Heng did not say hello, and led his people away. To the fourth prince, he is the elder brother, to Guo Xiao, he is the prince, and he is qualified to leave without saying goodbye.
He left so suddenly that Song Jianing only had time to see the indifferent profile of the third prince. Misunderstanding that the third prince was run away by her anger, Song Jianing's heart was completely cold, and the cold air came one after another. She "likes" the third prince with such an identity, which is no different from a street beggar who misses the young lady of a wealthy family. It is strange that the third prince is not angry.
The stepsister's face turned pale again, and Guo Xiao sternly said to the fourth prince: "Your Highness, please be careful, my sister is young and has no selfishness towards your Royal Highnesses."
Concerning his own reputation, Song Jianing regained his senses, finally found an excuse, and said with a blushing face, "The emperor asked me to choose, I was too nervous. The first thing I saw when I looked up was His Royal Highness, so I chose him."
It turned out that the simple fourth prince immediately believed it, and came over with satisfaction, wanting to help Song Jianing put in beads.
"Don't worry, Your Highness." Guo Xiao raised his hand and snatched the bead flower domineeringly and politely.
The fourth prince was a little unhappy, seeing that Guo Xiao didn't like him, he suddenly lost interest, smiled at Song Jianing, and left.
Song Jianing heaved a sigh of relief, this fourth prince was really annoying.
"Is what you just said true?"
A familiar cold question came from above her head. Song Jianing raised her head and met Guo Xiao's scrutinizing gaze. She was stunned before she responded, and then she hurriedly emphasized in a low voice, "I really don't like the third prince." She just wanted to bet on the third prince. Let the future emperor be happy, although the three princes are indifferent from beginning to end.
Her almond eyes were clear, and only his figure was reflected in it. Guo Xiao believed it for the time being, leaned over, and helped her arrange flowers with a calm face.
The young man's cold and handsome face was in front of him, his black eyes were as ruthless as cold pools, but he was doing something that was not in line with the coldness. It was a beautiful spring holiday, Guo Xiao took her out to enjoy the flowers, the peach forest was like a rosy glow, she followed behind him aimlessly, walking on and on, the man turned around under a peach tree, and he didn’t know when he was in his hand. One more flower. He told her not to move, and he helped her with the hairpin.
Song Jianing's eyes were dazed, the days that he had forgotten in his previous life, now that he recalls it, he has no feeling...
"It's best if you don't like it, he's a prince after all, it's not something you can imagine." Guo Xiao warned in a low voice in his stepsister's ear after he arranged the flowers.
Song Jianing blinked, her misty almond eyes regained clarity, she smiled obediently in the face of Guo Xiao's cold gaze.
She is not even worthy of being a concubine for the prince of the country, how dare she covet the future emperor
Without Guo Xiao's reminder, she will also keep her identity in mind. In this life, it is enough to marry an honest man who is devoted to her.