Shen Xihe's face was calm, with a faint smile still on the corner of his lips: "Don't rely on what you hear when you know someone; don't trust someone easily when you know someone."
When you know a person, don't rely on hearsay, and when you identify a person, don't trust him/her easily.
Although she was not as bad as the rumors said, she was not as gentle as Madam You Wu saw.
"Your Highness the Crown Princess's words are very true. Wu Niang is frank by nature and did not mean to offend me. Please forgive me, Your Highness." Madam You San stood up and gave Shen Xihe a very clumsy bow.
Shen Xihe could see that Madam You San was a stubborn woman. She probably had never learned any women's etiquette. At most, she had just done some last-minute cramming before coming to the palace for this audience.
"It's not a big deal. Since you are coming to see me, you must want to know what kind of person I am. If you come here rashly and violate any taboos, it is bound to make people unhappy. This is also a good intention." Shen Xihe was not so petty and did not feel that such behavior was offensive to him.
Madam You San's expression relaxed and she pulled her sister to sit down.
"Your Highness the Crown Princess is kind and virtuous. No wonder His Majesty ordered you to be in charge of the harem. It is our luck." Suddenly a soft voice complimented.
This was a plump and beautiful girl, with skin as white as jade, round and smooth, wearing a goose yellow skirt, with gentle brows and bright eyes, very much like a sea yellow that Shen Xihe had admired not long ago, a kind of plump beauty that was pleasing to the eye.
Shen Xihe knew that she was An Zhengyi, the daughter of Protector General Andong. Protector General Andong had many wives and concubines, and eight sons, both legitimate and illegitimate. Only this daughter, although born out of wedlock, was doted on by the whole mansion.
An Zhengyi met Shen Xihe's gaze, revealing flattery and respect.
Shen Xihe smiled at her without changing his expression.
For some reason, she always felt that An Zhengyi had an inexplicable courtesy towards her, a courtesy that the other girls did not have at all. It seemed that she and An had no connection at all.
After chatting with them for a few more words, Shen Xihe sent them away. She didn't take An Zhengyi's constant flattery to heart. Whatever his purpose was, it would be revealed sooner or later.
At night, Shen Xihe arranged a welcoming banquet and prepared some singing and dancing according to His Majesty's instructions.
"First, the Turks invaded, then the Xiangguo Temple was assassinated, and now the drought in Dengzhou has affected hundreds of miles." Emperor Youning suddenly spoke in a heavy tone, "Unfavorable things happen one after another, I think it's time to use a happy event to offset it."
After three rounds of wine, the emperor seemed to be in high spirits. No one knew whether it was a spur of the moment decision or not. Many people were very curious about the happy event that His Majesty mentioned, but they did not expect that Emperor Youning would grant marriage to Xiao Changying and You Wenjun in public.
You Wenjun seemed to have known what was going on for a long time, and without any hesitation, he stood up with his father and bowed to Emperor Youning to express his gratitude.
Only Xiao Changying seemed to be completely in the dark, and was frozen on the spot by Emperor Youning's sudden marriage proposal.
Xiao Changqing's eyes flashed with surprise, but he reacted quickly and said to his stiff brother at the next table with a smile: "Are you overjoyed? Why don't you thank His Majesty?"
Xiao Changying finally came back to his senses. He subconsciously wanted to look at Shen Xihe, and his neck moved slightly, but his reason restrained him. If he looked at Shen Xihe at this time, who could he hide his thoughts from? How would others view him and Shen Xihe