Only Chu Ning and Zhao Yu'e were left in the Liangyi Hall.
Only then did Zhao Yu'e straighten up slowly, looking at her with a strange look on her face, and after a while, she sneered and said, "My lady really makes people look good."
In the past, she only thought that the Chu family had been a princess for two years under the protection of the crown prince because of her beauty and her good manners. Even when she was abandoned by her husband, she was still willing and uncomplaining, and she was a weak and incompetent woman.
Unexpectedly, today, this useless woman suddenly appeared beside the emperor.
You must know that she had spent a lot of time before, but she had never been able to get the emperor's favor, so she had to make a desperate attempt and turned her attention to the prince. It turned out that the emperor was not as cold and ruthless as he seemed on the surface, but it was something else.
It's just that I don't know what the emperor's favor for the Chu family is for, whether it is pure love, or just to make the prince dissatisfied.
She didn't have the time to speculate for a while, but realized that even though she became the Crown Princess, the Chu family's status was still higher than hers, and she felt a little unhappy.
She is also the daughter of an aristocratic family. Even if the family is in decline, one is still high above, while the other is always pushed by others. This world is so unfair.
Chu Ning heard the yin and yang in her tone, and didn't feel angry, she just said lightly to her: "Okay, although I'm your elder now, I don't have anything to teach you, I just hope that you will sit as the crown princess today. position, don’t regret it in the future.”
Zhao Yu'e's expression changed, as if she felt that she was mocking herself, and she immediately said coldly: "Lady Lao cares, it's just that I am different from the lady and will not be pushed around by others."
After speaking, he didn't stop for a long time, and then turned to leave after salute.
Chu Ning calmly looked at the back of her leaving, sighed softly, got up again and went back to the Ganlu Palace to have breakfast with Cui He.
…
In the Taiji Hall, the ministers have arrived.
Xiao Kezhi took the prince into the hall, boarded the throne, and cooperated with the ceremonial official to complete the final ceremonial process, announced that the crown prince had completed the dowry, and accepted the congratulations from everyone.
When everything was over, when everyone was about to withdraw, he said to stop: "Qings, wait a minute, taking advantage of the wedding ceremony in the East Palace today, the crown prince and the crown prince also entered the palace to meet, I have one more thing to announce to the ministers. ."
The ministers retreated for a while, and couldn't help looking at each other in twos and threes. When they saw the same doubts in the eyes of others, they had to suppress the suspicion in their hearts and returned to their positions, waiting for the emperor's next words.
Xiao Yu was the only one who froze suddenly after hearing this. He couldn't restrain himself from looking up at Xiao Kezhi on the throne. His left hand under his cuff couldn't help shaking slightly. He couldn't think of anything else to announce at this time, except for the matter of the future.
Sure enough, when the hall was quiet again, Xiao Kezhi's eyes swept across the faces of the ministers one by one, and his voice solemnly said: "Previously, the ministers have repeatedly mentioned that I have passed the age of weakness, and I should start a family and establish a family. I have thought about it for a long time, I deeply believe it, and because of the sincerity of all the ministers, I decided to establish the empress immediately, and now, the Imperial Academy has drafted a decree, which will be announced to the world in the afternoon."
Everyone was silent, completely not expecting that the emperor would stand up without warning, and they had never even heard of who the queen was.
One of them hesitated and took the lead to ask: "Dare to ask Your Majesty, which noble girl do you want to appoint as your queen?"
Xiao Yu, who was under the steps, became more rigid, and his pale face lowered. The rest of the people also stopped and watched, waiting with bated breath.
Just listen to Xiao Kezhi said lightly: "I want to make the wife of the Chu family the queen."
"Chu family?"
"Which Chu family?"
"Could it be the one who practiced in Guanli?!"
Everyone thought about it, the courtiers surnamed Chu in the court had long been implicated in the case of Chu Qianyu, or were demoted or dismissed. The "Ms. of the Chu family" in the emperor's mouth was the only one who came to mind after leaving the East Palace. The Chu family who practiced in Guizhen View.
That one, but the former crown princess, is the emperor's niece!
Xiao Kezhi looked at the suspicious appearance of the ministers, and nodded affirmatively: "Yes, it is indeed the lady Chu."
When the words fell, there was an uproar in the hall. Dozens of courtiers looked in the direction of the silent Xiao Yu one after another. Seeing him bowing his head, they looked back and forth between the uncle and nephew.
"Your Majesty, the Chu family is the daughter of a criminal minister, and she was once-and-a woman's crown of Taoism.
"Yeah, I'm afraid this matter will arouse the discussion of the whole world, please think twice about it, Your Majesty!"
…
Several courtiers made remarks one after another, causing everyone to agree.
Xiao Ke had anticipated the meaning of the courtiers long ago, but he listened patiently at this time, not panicking at all because of such a one-sided scene.
After everyone's words stopped for a while, he nodded and said: "Zhu Qing's meaning, I understand in my heart, it's just that it's my marriage, and what I like in my heart is the Chu family. Besides, I know that you are all concerned about her past. She is a crown princess, and her identity is a bit sensitive. But now she is no longer a family member of the Eastern Palace, but a female crown in the Taoist sect. The female crown has returned to the ordinary world, and it is not uncommon to marry and have children in the civil society and even the royal family."
As he spoke, he suddenly paused and turned his eyes to Xiao Yu who said nothing: "And now the prince has also married another, and has nothing to do with the Chu family anymore. Prince, am I right?"
Xiao Yu froze in place, only to feel the sight from all directions as if cold arrows were pierced at him, making him tremble even when breathing.
But in the eyes of the public, he couldn't vent the pain and anger accumulated in his heart, he could only squeeze his fingertips, grit his teeth, bowed his head, covered his twisted face, and said warmly: "Your Majesty said very much."
The ministers were speechless for a while.
I don't know who suddenly whispered: "Your Majesty has always been informal, and it is reasonable to be like this today. It is better than always leaving the back seat and continuing, continuing as before..."
Yes, the emperor is decisive in political affairs, but in matters of men and women, it is not absurd for a day or two. After all, the Chu family has left the East Palace, and she is barely considered a woman of innocent origin, which is better than the previously rumored married husband, Singer dancers and others...
After thinking about it like this, everyone felt that it was not as unacceptable as it was at first, and even the voice of discussion gradually became smaller.
When Xiao Kezhi saw this, he knew that the matter was here, and it was basically settled. For the rest, they liked to talk about it, so they would talk about it for the time being, and it will pass over time.
"Okay, that's it for today's ceremony. Everyone, please step back. If you have any political affairs to discuss, you can stay and discuss later." He said solemnly and waved to the crowd.
The courtiers hesitated for a moment, then bowed and saluted, and they all withdrew. There were only a dozen officials from Zhongshu Province and the Sixth Division in the hall, and they wanted to discuss political affairs.
…
In the Ganlu Palace, after Chu Ning had breakfast, he took Cui He and two other maids from the Ganlu Palace to Guizhen View.
She didn't use a chariot, but wore a hat to block the scorching sun above her head, and admired the scenery as she walked.
She was in Guizhen View for the past few months. Although she was not grounded, she only walked around one or two nearby palaces. When she came out today, she must take a good look at the scenery along the way.
Many of the attendants who passed by on the road had not heard of the changes in the night, but when they saw the two maids in front of the royal family, they all widened their eyes, saluted hesitantly, and looked at her back for a while. , before discussing leaving.
Chu Ning was accustomed to this kind of attention, he nodded at them with a smile, and continued walking without haste.
After arriving in Guizhen View, she took off her hat and watched a few people pack her things.
Dozens of gorgeous dresses of various colors and styles in the cupboard have not been worn yet, and the dazzling jewelry in the make-up tutu has not been touched.
She subconsciously stroked the red jade bracelet that was still on her wrist, and then looked down at the red dress on her body, and then she remembered it.
So many clothing and jewelry, by no means can be prepared in a day or two. When did he start ordering people to do these things for her? Two months ago, or three months ago
His intentions were clear long ago.
"Keep these as they are, and send them to my bedroom." She pointed to the clothes and jewelry Xiao Kezhi had prepared for her, and instructed the maid who was cleaning up.
Several people responded "here" and put the box and cage alone.
She didn't have many things, most of them were clothing and other items, and other daily utensils did not need to be taken away, so it was only half an hour later, and she had already arranged them properly.
She asked the maid in front to take the box away in a car, and she continued to walk slowly with Cui He.
The speed of rumors spreading is always extremely fast. After less than half an hour, the attendants who met again seemed to have known the change in her identity, and the gestures and tone of the salute were several times more respectful.
Cui He was a little uncomfortable, but Chu Ning dealt with it calmly. She thought that people are like this, so there is no need to be demanding. Now that he is out, he can be more free and easy, and he can relax himself.
"Let's go to Linhu Hall to see."
She loved the lotus pond in Linhu Hall for ten minutes, and when she passed by today, she also wanted to go in and have a look.
Compared with a few days ago, there are more pink and white flowers in full bloom in the lotus pond. They stand high and sway in the wind. Under the scorching sun, they still have a bit of calm and elegance. Follow the irritability in your heart and calm down.
Her preference for Lian comes from her mother who died young.
Mother's boudoir name has the word "lotus", and her favorite flower during her lifetime was also lotus. My father always said that as long as I see Lian, I can think of my mother.
She can't remember her mother's appearance anymore, and she can only feel the tenderness and care belonging to her mother in a few fragments in her memory.
Chu Ning was looking around in the pavilion, and was in a trance, but suddenly felt a sudden discomfort, such as the feeling of awning on his back from behind.
Her heart tightened, and she turned around subconsciously. Sure enough, she saw Xiao Yuzheng standing there silently a few meters away from the pavilion.
Even in the scorching sun, his pale face was still thin and gloomy, and on his thin cheeks, a pair of gloomy eyes were staring at her.
She was a little chilled, but she still straightened her back, stood in the pavilion, looked at him under the steps, and asked lightly, "At this time, the prince doesn't go to the government office, why is he still staying in the back garden of the palace?"
There was no one around except Cuiwei, but the tone of her voice was no longer as gentle and submissive as in the past. It fell into his ears, like a cold knife with a layer of ice in winter, and like a torch mercilessly thrown into the lamp oil, At the same time that his heart was cold and painful, an angry flame burst out.
"I never dreamed that there would be this day - Aning, why on earth did you betray me?"