Chu Jinyao grew up so big, and never thought that she would enter the palace one day.
Immediately, she thought that she would spend the rest of her life in the palace, and suddenly felt dark in front of her.
In fact, it is the best plan to spend half your life in the palace. There have been so many princes throughout the ages, how many of them can successfully become emperors.
Chu Jinyao immediately scolded herself, bah, what are you thinking, you can't curse the prince like this!
Just as Chu Jinyao went to Zhao Lanhui's banquet, no one was willing to accompany her into the palace this time. Mrs. Chu originally planned to go with her, but the father-in-law who came to deliver the decree said with a smile that the Empress had only invited five girls.
Come on, there is nothing to say now, Chu Jinyao can only follow the father-in-law into the palace in a serious manner under the watchful eyes of everyone.
This time, Chu Jinyao didn't wear a delicate and elegant red dress as she did when she went to Zhao Lanhui last time. She changed into a light blue dress.
Chu Jinyao entered the palace with her father-in-law, and the carriage of the Marquis of Changxing could only go to the gate of the palace. Chu Jinyao handed over the famous letter, and after receiving a reply from the palace, she got off the car and walked with her father-in-law.
Walking on the road, she didn't dare to look around, but she was deeply shocked by this. Along the way, Zhu Zhuo Biwa, carved beams and painted buildings, high eaves, sitting on the ridge of the ridged beast with its teeth and claws. The people who came and went kept their heads down and walked in a hurry. Walking on the palace road, there is no need to emphasize that Chu Jinyao has already felt the pressure of a solemn and dignified imperial power.
Here is the entire empire, the supreme center of power.
The official residences of the whole country should not be higher than the Fengtian Hall, and the number of door nails should not exceed the imperial city. The scholars all over the world have been studying hard for more than ten years, just to be able to enter this palace one day.
Realizing this, Chu Jinyao couldn't help but feel numbness running across her back. She became more and more solemn, and walked carefully towards the Queen's palace step by step.
After arriving at the Kunning Palace, the father-in-law who sent the message stopped, turned around and said, "Miss Chu, let's go inside and report to the maiden, please wait here for a while."
Chu Jinyao responded naturally: "It's natural, father-in-law please do it."
The father-in-law who brought Chu Jinyao into the palace smiled at her, threw the whisk, and then bent over to go in.
And when he left, he didn't believe it for a long time.
Chu Jinyao stood outside the palace with her eyes closed. Several palace maids and servants came and went, but the eunuch who reported the letter early on did not come out.
There was no shade in this place, the sun was shining directly on Chu Jinyao, and sweat gradually broke out on her forehead. But Chu Jinyao kept enduring it, she stood where she was and didn't move a step.
Chu Jinyao didn't know how long she waited until the sun moved, and a palace maid finally came out of the magnificent Kunning Palace. The palace maid is not young, and the corners of her eyes have already crept into subtle wrinkles, looking like an aunt in charge. The aunt said to her, "Miss Chu, the maiden was talking to a few princesses just now. She didn't care about you for a while, and made the girl wait for a long time. Miss Chu won't blame me, right?"
"How could it be." Chu Jinyao said quickly, "Since the mother is busy, how dare I disturb me? I just waited outside for a while, so I don't mind."
The steward aunt smiled. She glanced at Chu Jingyao vaguely, stepped aside and said, "Miss Chu is really sensible. The lady is already inside. Come with me, girl."
Chu Jinyao was led into Kunning Palace by the steward's aunt. Kunning Palace is worthy of being the queen's residence, it is extremely vast and spacious. Chu Jinyao was guided by someone, passed through the screen, and after a few partitions, vaguely heard greetings from behind the gorgeous curtain. Chu Jinyao immediately understood that the queen was inside.
Chu Jinyao didn't look up, and immediately saluted the people inside: "See the Queen Mother, the Queen Mother Chitose."
There was a slight rubbing sound in the first song, but there was no sound to wake her up for a long time. Chu Jinyao had been trained by her mother for a long time, but at this moment her body was not moving, and she still maintained Wanfu steadily.
Whether the person sitting above was satisfied or not, she said lazily: "So this is the fifth girl of Chu. When the prince mentioned it a few days ago, I still wondered whose girl this is, so she could The prince was tempted. Looking at it today, she is indeed a beauty."
"Empress Niangniang praises me badly. Niangniang is the mother of a country and the head of a hundred flowers. In front of you, she is like a firefly fighting for glory with the sun and the moon. How can a minister and daughter dare to praise her."
Xiao Qi smiled softly: "It turns out that he can talk, get up."
"Thank you, Niangniang." After Chu Jinyao thanked her, she slowly stood up. Taking advantage of the opportunity to get up, her eyes swept the room imperceptibly.
She was a little surprised when she saw it this way. It turned out that there were so many people sitting inside. Being surrounded and sitting in the middle is naturally the famous Xiao Qi, since she entered the palace, the grace has not declined for more than ten years, and what is more, she can persuade the saint to intervene in the situation of the previous dynasty, which is really a powerful role. Son.
In the past, Chu Jinyao only heard of Xiao Qi in folklore, but now that he saw the real person, he knew that the rumor was true. Queen Xiao Qi is indeed a beauty. Her cheeks are about the size of a palm, her eyebrows are delicately groomed, and the corners of her eyes are pointed. Queen Qi is not the radiant beauty that Chu Jinyao imagined, but a little beauty with delicate features and aura.
In fact, only such a "spiritual" beauty can seduce the emperor for more than ten years.
There were a few young women sitting next to Xiao Qi. Seeing that their hair buns were girls who had not left the cabinet, coupled with their gorgeous clothes and expensive headdresses, Chu Jinyao could easily guess their identities.
Probably this is the younger sister of His Royal Highness, the princesses of the Dayan Dynasty.
Chu Jinyao was suddenly curious, who did the prince look like? Looking at these princesses, they all have soft and fresh looks. Why is the prince so sharp and beautiful
After recognizing the identities of the remaining few, Chu Jinyao did not dare to delay, and immediately saluted the princesses: "I have seen Her Royal Highness."
Among them, the princess with the most beautiful eyebrows and the most gorgeous dress turned her head and was talking to another princess, ignoring Chu Jinyao. Another round-faced princess nodded slightly and smiled, and said to Chu Jinyao: "Please get up quickly, you will become our sister-in-law in a short time. Wouldn't it be a disorder of honor if you salute us again?"
"How dare you. I'm only a white person now, and I don't dare to be presumptuous."
The round-faced princess smiled and said, "Okay, I can't tell you." She looked at the other two princesses who were talking to herself, and still said softly: "The future sister-in-law is here, why don't you come over and talk? "
The other two princesses, mainly the beautiful princess in the red dress, were more restrained. She was dressed in bright red, with a golden phoenix embroidered on the corners of her clothes, so gorgeous that she could almost burn other people's eyes. This princess was sitting next to Xiao Qi, her expression was arrogant, her eyes were undisguisedly sharp, and now she was looking at Chu Jinyao unfriendly.
The round-faced princess ignored the red-clothed princess' disobedience. She pointed to the people and introduced them one by one: "This is the second princess, whose name is Qin Yan, and this is the third sister Qin Zhuang."
After speaking, she smiled slightly and said, "I'm Qin Shu."
Only then did Chu Jinyao put these people on the account one by one. It turns out that the princess with a round face and a friendly look is the eldest princess Qin Shu; the beautiful and arrogant princess in red is the second princess Qin Yan, who is also the daughter of Empress Qi; The one who spoke was Qin Zhuang, the third princess, who was only one year behind the second princess.
This is a bit subtle. It seems that the mother of the third princess was pregnant with the dragon seed during Xiao Qihou's pregnancy. No wonder the third princess looked a little afraid of the second princess. Just like just now, the third princess had the heart to talk to Chu Jinyao, but the second princess was pulling her on purpose, and she didn't dare to resist.
The emperor had three sons and three daughters. Today, Chu Jinyao was lucky to have seen all three princesses.
Chu Jinyao and the three princesses greeted each other, and Xiao Qi sat on the side with a smile and watched silently, not knowing what she was thinking. After a few of them finished speaking, Xiao Qi smiled and said, "Sure enough, there is only one thing to say between the little girls, you have been in front of me for so long, how can I see you live like this? Fortunately, the girls of the Chu family. You will be able to enter the palace soon, and when the time comes, you won't have to hold back with me to make fun of you."
These words had a very strong sense of temptation and threat, and no one here dared to respond. Chu Jinyao pretended to be terrified and lowered her head, and hurriedly pleaded guilty, while the other three princesses hurriedly acted like a spoiled brat with Xiao Qi. After a while, the atmosphere eased up.
Xiao Qihou pretended to helplessly tap the foreheads of the three princesses: "You guys, you will say good things to coax me." Then she looked at Chu Jinyao, who was terrified, and smiled softly: "We will soon become a family. People, why are you scared to do this? People who don’t know think I’m a man-eating monster, to actually scare a pretty girl like this.”
Chu Jinyao still lowered her head, her voice trembling: "I dare not."
After Xiao Qi seemed to be finally satisfied, she smiled and said, "Why are you being so polite? Stop standing, come and sit."
Chu Jinyao looked flattered and sat down tremblingly. She was sitting on the round stool, and only then did she feel the coolness on her back.
She was so nervous just now that she didn't even realize that her back was sweating, and she actually wet her underwear.
Fortunately, it was a false alarm, and Chu Jinyao breathed a sigh of relief. It seems that showing weakness is right. She guessed that the prince's temper is unlikely to give Xiao Qi a good face, so no matter what position Xiao Qi has, she prefers a cowardly and manipulative crown princess with a low family background.
Of course, Chu Jinyao knew that His Royal Highness the Prince was a good person, and she would stand by the Prince no matter what. However, the problem is that the prince and the queen are stepchildren and stepmothers. There will be no problem if the prince contradicts Xiao Qi, but the courtiers still think that the prince is righteous and bloody, but Chu Jinyao and the queen are daughter-in-law and mother-in-law. If she dares to contradict the queen...
I am afraid that the prince will soon be able to change to a new wife.
Therefore, Chu Jinyao could only maintain the balance carefully, not only to help the prince, but also not to annoy Queen Qi.
Chu Jinyao thinks that she has no superb scheming or superb acting skills, so she does not dare to try difficult strategies such as double-sided flattery and cooperation between the inside and the outside. She can only pretend to be cowardly, pretend that she does not understand, and will never be on the same level as the Queen. .
After Chu Jinyao sat down, Xiao Qi asked, "You just came to the capital, are you still used to it these few days?"
"Thank you for your concern. It's arranged by the elders. Everything is fine."
Arranged by the elders... Really so obedient? Xiao Qi asked again: "I heard that you are about to reach your hairpin?"
Chu Jinyao was taken aback, did Xiao Qi even know this? She immediately thought of the previous Baoqing County Lord, and she knew it. It seemed that these big men in the capital knew herself far better than she imagined.
After Xiao Qi looked at Chu Jinyao's expression, he said slowly, "Bao Qing told me last time that he was looking for a very beautiful person, and when he saw it today, he really deserved his reputation. I have chosen several days. I met your people today, and I want to bring you into the palace as soon as possible, so that I can talk with me. Baoqing can’t always be in front of me, and the eldest princess is going to kiss me. It was half empty all of a sudden. Fortunately, you're coming in, and it's comforting to see such a green girl in front of you."
However, after hearing Xiao Qi's tone, Chu Jinyao didn't think she was really comfortable.
Chu Jinyao just smiled shyly, as if she didn't know how to reply, she just said over and over like a wheelie: "The niangniang is wrong."
After Xiao Qi tutted softly in her heart, this girl is too good at speaking, there are only a few sentences back and forth. But it's better to be quiet. Those who can talk and talk are mostly tossing. There are too many clever mouths in the palace, and there is no need for another one. It's not as good as Chu Jinyao, who is quiet and obedient while watching.
Xiao Qi was secretly surprised that Qin Yi had been making trouble for so many years. When choosing a concubine, why did he suddenly choose such a worry-free one
After Xiao Qi was still not convinced, he continued to test: "The more I see you, the more I like it. I can't wait to bring you to the palace tomorrow. When I look back, I will tell the sage and let him urge the Ministry of Rites and the Qin Tianjian. , hold a big wedding for you and the prince as soon as possible."
After Xiao Qi, is this showing off her influence on the emperor? Chu Jinyao wanted to tell the queen not to rush her, but she couldn't, so Chu Jinyao had to bow her head and let her elders decide.
Xiao Qi smiled and looked at Chu Jinyao's shy look, and suddenly changed the subject without warning: "The two maids I gave you, are you still used to them?"
Chu Jinyao was taken aback and said reservedly, "The two maids are very good, responsible and rigorous."
"How did they treat you?"
"Mammy is responsible, and the ministers and daughters benefit a lot."
"That's good!" Xiao Qi said with a smile. "Seeing that you are about to enter the palace, I am afraid that two maids are not enough. So, you can bring four maids back from me, and let them serve you in your daily life."
Still give? And it's four? Chu Jinyao was really surprised this time. It was already very troublesome for just two maids. The queen actually gave her four maids? Is the queen planning to put all the people around her on stilts
Chu Jinyao felt troubled, she smiled and showed a grateful expression: "Thank you for the grace of the Empress, but I already have six maids by my side, and you can't use what you gave me, but you have failed the empress's kindness and wasted it in vain. The talents of the four palace maids and sisters. The maiden has a good heart, but I am also a condescend when I take people away, and the maiden who also harmed me has no one to use here. Serve."
"It's just four palace maids." Xiao Qi said with a smile, "I have people here, you don't have to worry about that. Instead, it's you, there are only six maids by your side. You are the future crown princess, and the people who serve you can't be. There should be a hundred people, you have wronged yourself too much. Use these people first, and I will arrange for you later. "
Chu Jinyao's scalp was numb when she heard it, and she wanted to try to refuse, but suddenly found that Xiao Qi was looking at her with a smile, and her eyes seemed to be probing.
Is the queen still testing? Chu Jinyao's heart froze, she immediately retracted the words she was about to say, lowered her head and smiled: "The maiden is so nice, then I will thank the empress first."
Xiao Qi was satisfied after hearing the words. She took Chu Jinyao's hand and patted the back of her hand affectionately: "You will be my daughter-in-law in the future, and I will be no different from my daughter. Of course I will give you consideration."
Chu Jinyao sighed inwardly, and could only answer with a smile.
When Chu Jinyao entered the palace, she was alone, and when she left the Kunning Palace, she was followed by four beautiful palace maids like flowers and jade.
The eldest princess retire along with Chu Jinyao. After walking out of Kunning Palace, the two walked for a while. When they passed a small garden, the eldest princess stopped and invited Chu Jinyao in to enjoy the flowers.
Of course Chu Jinyao agreed. The two walked slowly. After the eldest princess introduced a few famous flowers to Chu Jinyao, she suddenly said with a smile and a sigh, "You are even younger than me, and the wedding ceremony hasn't passed yet."
Chu Jinyao couldn't answer these words, and could only laugh awkwardly. The prince is four years older than her, and now Chu Jinyao will be fifteen, while the prince is only nineteen. In fact, the two of them are not very old, why are they said by the eldest princess, as if they are so different.
The eldest princess looked at Chu Jinyao, and continued, "Brother the crown prince specifically told me to take care of you more. How about I go to be your admirer when you get married in a few days?"
The princess is a fan? Chu Jinyao was stunned for a moment, and immediately agreed: "Thank you princess, I am honored."
The eldest princess pursed her lips and smiled, and the matter was settled. Today, the eldest princess came out specially for this matter. Sure enough, after speaking, the eldest princess and Chu Jinyao stood for a while before returning to the palace.
And Chu Jinyao continued to lead people out. Lines are everywhere in the palace. Obviously, looking at today's situation, the eldest princess is on the side of the prince.
In fact, the eldest princess didn't ask Chu Jinyao if she had likes, she said it in a positive tone. Chu Jinyao sighed in the bottom of her heart, to put it bluntly, she is still a royal, and even a gentle princess would not discuss it with anyone.
The carriage of the Marquis of Changxing had been parked outside the palace gate, and Linglong and the driver waited in the carriage for a whole afternoon. Linglong was eager to see through her eyes, and she managed to see Chu Jinyao's figure from the palace gate. Linglong was very excited, but in the next instant, she was stunned.
Linglong asked blankly, "Girl, who are these?"
"The empress is sympathetic, this is the maid she gave me."
Linglong's expression was obviously at a loss, Chu Jinyao motioned her not to say anything, take someone to the car first, and then discuss everything after returning to the house.
When it was late at night, the two maids from the queen and the four maids of the day went to bed. While making the bed for Chu Jinyao, Linglong whispered, "Girl, those four palace maids dressed up so enchantingly, I always think they are impure."
More than her impure mind, the empress's intentions were only made clear. Chu Jinyao sighed and said, "Persimmons are going to be soft, but the Queen does not dare to refuse, nor can she refuse because of me, so this is from me, to force the East Palace with eyeliner."
"Girl, what should I do?"
"What can we do? Let's take one step at a time. We can't move them now. After entering the palace, we will solve it slowly." Chu Jinyao said, "Besides, we may not be the defensive side. Since we are human, we always have our own. If we use it well, there may be a chance of contradicting. How did you memorize that sentence? Doubt in doubt, compare it with inwardness, and don’t lose yourself.”
Linglong looked at her in surprise, her expression was too obvious, Chu Jinyao couldn't help but touched her face: "Am I right?"
Linglong sighed, "Girl, you've been following the devil these days, and you're endorsing when you're free. It's enough to learn the rules every day. You're not going to take the jinshi exam, so you don't need to force yourself like this."
Chu Jinyao thought of Qi Rong, who was familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics, and Zhao Lanhui, who went to school with his brothers. He felt that the road ahead was difficult and dangerous, and he was thirteen years behind others! Chu Jinyao shook her head, but still insisted: "This is what my second brother taught me. He said that if I want to enter the palace, it would be more effective to look at the thirty-six strategies first."
Linglong just wanted to sigh. She could only look into Chu Jinyao's eyes solemnly, not knowing whether she wanted to convince Chu Jinyao or herself: "Girl, you are lucky, and you will have a good life in the future."
Chu Jinyao laughed after hearing this: "I hope."
She has no foundation, no family backing, and she has to carefully toss between the prince and the queen to survive. Now, without waiting for her to enter the palace, the queen has rewarded four beautiful maids and wanted to share her favor. In the future, it can be predicted that there will never be fewer women in the East Palace.
In fact, I can't say that. She may not be valued by the prince, so how can she share the favor
Chu Jinyao is very at a loss about her future life. She is grateful to the prince and wants to be a generous, obedient and conscientious concubine, but what kind of woman does His Royal Highness want? Does he really need such a concubine
As the wedding date got closer, the anxiety in her heart became heavier. Without waiting for Chu Jinyao to notice, her wedding ceremony arrived.
And the news that Chu Jinyao could actually make the eldest princess come out of the palace to praise people immediately became a sensation. The people who praised at the wedding ceremony were usually friends or sisters of women. It was obviously a very honorable thing to be able to invite the princess.
This seems to be a signal that on March 16th, there were many people watching Chu Jinyao's wedding ceremony. Zhao Lanhui Xu was out of a neutral attitude and did not rashly agree to Chu Jinyao. But when she saw that Chu Jinyao invited the eldest princess, Zhao Lanhui was surprised, and immediately decided to give Chu Jinyao face and come to support in person. And Zhenbei Houfu Xu received the will of Xiao Qi, and the two sisters of the Qi family also arrived on the same day. Several of the most honorable ladies in the capital have to come to watch the ceremony, and the other ladies smelled the wind, and naturally they were not far behind, and came to the door one after another.
On her fifteenth birthday, Chu Jinyao's greatest achievement was not to put up her hair in a bun, but to meet many people who she never dared to imagine before.
In addition to many women from the imperial family such as county lords and county lords, she also met the legendary granddaughter of the literati, the granddaughter of Mr. Fan, the chief assistant of the cabinet. When someone else introduced her to her, Chu Jinyao almost thought she was dreaming.
It's really amazing, how could Chu Jinyao in the past think that one of his birthdays can surprise so many people.
Fan Shoufu's granddaughter and Zhao Lanhui, Qi Rong, etc. are not in the same circle. After all, one is a civil official and the other is a royal family. Although the two groups are friendly in face, they may not look down on the other in private.
However, at Chu Jinyao's wedding ceremony, the two of them were very friendly, which gave Chu Jinyao the face of the future crown princess.
Chu Jinyao had the biggest birthday in her memory. The highly respected royal lady made her hairpin, the eldest princess of the royal family stood beside her and praised her, and all the girls around were from the family of Zhongming Dingshi. The future life seemed to slowly open a corner to her, allowing Chu Jinyao to see what a strange world she was about to enter.
After Chu Jinyao's wedding ceremony, more and more people in the courtroom mentioned the wedding of the crown prince. As a crown prince, Qin Yi became famous early because of his bad temper. At the age of sixteen, he shot and killed the queen's favorite maid before the ten thousand army. At the age of seventeen, he was thrown to the border. At the age of eighteen, he resisted the decree and led the army to attack the Tatars. , Up to now, he is only nineteen, but all the civil and military officials feel that Qin Yi has been wandering in front of him for too long, and he should have married a long time ago.
In April, the prince's wedding was sent to the cabinet, and Fan Shoufu and several other patriarchs jointly invited the emperor to host the prince's wedding. This memorial was soon heard in the sky, and the emperor, in the early morning of the day, personally gave an instruction to the Ministry of Rites: "When the crown prince has grown up, the wedding should be held. The Ministry of Rites will meet the Hanlin Academy to investigate and discuss."
The Minister of Rites immediately agreed, and then half of the courtroom began to function.
The prince's wedding is imminent.
The author has something to say: next chapter preview: big wedding
"Doubt within doubt, compare it with one's inner self, and not lose oneself." - From "Thirty-six Strategies".
"When the crown prince has grown up, the wedding should be held. The Ministry of Rites and the Hanlin Academy will investigate and discuss to hear." - From "Ming Xianzong Record"