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Did it fall? It fell to Sister Qiao's side."
"Oh, Sister Qiao, could you please pick it up?"
The Seventh Princess suddenly realized and spoke in a seemingly casual tone.
Qiaochu was startled and looked down at the bracelet next to the embroidered shoes.
Shangguan Jinghong's eyes were still as calm as before, just a little darker. He was about to take a step with her arm in his, when the emperor slowly said from behind, "Qiao Fei, isn't that thing with you?"
Qiaochu smiled in her heart, thinking it was just a drama. If she could endure the danger of miscarriage and anger caused by kneeling for a long time, then what kind of grievance could she not endure at this time? She moved her aching body, but Shangguan Jinghong was faster than her and had bent down to pick it up.
Hearing the whispers and laughter of several princes, Qiaochu cried out in feigned pain. Shangguan Jinghong was startled and looked up at her. As soon as he looked up, she immediately bent down to pick up the bracelet and walked to the Seventh Princess.
The princes stopped laughing and looked at her in astonishment. She handed the bracelet to the Seventh Princess, "Here, sister."
The Seventh Princess frowned and stretched out her hand to take it, but was suddenly pulled away by a strong force. Qiao Chu still smiled softly and watched calmly as the rope broke and the sandalwood beads scattered.
The Seventh Princess's expression changed immediately, and she asked, "Sister Qiao, this was given to me by the Emperor and my master's mother when I got married. How could you tear it up?"
Qiaochu did not argue, but just apologized. Although the Seventh Princess's performance was poor, it seemed to be exactly what the emperor wanted. The emperor watched coldly with a smile on his face.
"Oh, Sister Qiao, why don't you help Seventh Sister-in-law pick it up? Seventh Sister-in-law is pregnant and has difficulty moving..." It was still the Tenth Princess who spoke in a delicate voice, and the Sixth Princess also frowned and echoed softly.
Could it be that she was not pregnant? Qiaochu shook her head and smiled. Just as she was about to pick it up, her body froze immediately and she could not move at all. Shangguan Jinghong came over at some point and pressed her acupoints...
He leaned down again quietly.
Qiaochu felt a soreness in his eyes and nose and closed his eyes.
…
As I walked out of the bedroom, the laughter of those people seemed to still be clearly heard behind me.
Qiaochu walked with the help of the man and spoke in a low voice.
"I'll just pick it up. This will definitely get out tomorrow. Aren't you stupid?"
Suddenly, I was touched by Shangguan Jinghong's cold eyebrows.
"Why didn't you do what I asked you to do?"
As soon as he left that place of right and wrong, his anger burst out completely.
She knew he was distressed, but she didn't expect him to get so angry.
"I know you want to protect me, but I don't believe you haven't noticed it. For some reason, your father hates me very much, much more than before. If you princes who have the ability to seize the throne had not had children, he might not care so much about the other princes. He summoned the Seventh Princess to warn me that even if I had your child, he would not cherish it. My child is worse than the Seventh Princess's. Not every begging is useful, such as the last time outside the Golden Palace. But your life and death are all in his hands. If I pretended to faint just now, it would be even more difficult for you in the future. If he punishes me, he will at least feel relieved—"
"You should know the rules of the royal game better than anyone else."
The two stopped on the road, the night was hazy, and the lights of the palace were dim in the distance. She looked at him, held his arms, and lowered her voice to tell him what was in her heart.
Shangguan Jinghong only blinked when she said, "I don't believe you didn't notice it," and then ignored her. He pulled her arm off, squatted down, and said coldly, "Shut up and come up."
Qiaochu smiled bitterly, but said nothing more and climbed onto his back.
The two walked along the way without saying a word, except that she was a little uncomfortable due to hunger, and when she gently stroked her belly, Shangguan Jinghong also groaned softly, probably because her hand was hitting his back...
However, he had his principles towards her, and she had her love for him, and for a moment, neither of them could compromise.
The palace was dusty, so they had to clean it before they could sleep there. If Shangguan Jinghong was alone, he could stay there for the night. There were no slaves or servants in the cold palace, and no tools. After Shangguan Jinghong carried Qiaochu back, he went outside to find a eunuch to clean up.
Qiaochu was sitting inside, and soon she heard a terrified sound coming from outside. She was startled and went out to take a look, only to see six or seven eunuchs kneeling in front of Shangguan Jinghong. They all had pale faces and looked at Shangguan Jinghong tremblingly. One of them had his right hand hanging down, and he looked painful, his whole body trembling and shaking. That hand... looked like it was broken.
It was done by Shangguan Jinghong.
"Jinghong, stop!"
She walked to the front and angrily said, "Are you crazy? How can you take advantage of these people?"
Shangguan Jinghong paused for a moment after hearing this, and then glanced at her slowly, then laughed at himself. The corners of his mouth were still slightly smiling, but his eyes were still cruel and bloodthirsty. "Why, are you guys free now? When will the food be brought over? How do you plan on cleaning?"
"Yes, yes... I'll do it right away."
"Leave two people here, and distribute the rest as you see fit."
Several eunuchs kowtowed and climbed up from the ground. Two people helped the eunuch with the broken arm and were about to leave, but were stopped by Shangguan Jinghong in a stern voice.
Everyone was shocked and frightened, and finally they gathered their heads together to discuss the matter. Three or two left, while the other two huddled aside, not daring to speak.
Qiaochu then understood Shangguan Jinghong's intention. She felt guilty but didn't know how to speak. He was also a proud man, but he was not as proud as Shangguan Jingcong. He had been poor since childhood and didn't have the capital. Now he had lost his power and the eunuchs also bullied him.
He even had to use this method to ensure that they would act according to his wishes. Otherwise, even if they were scolded, they might not come back.
Shangguan Jinghong saw that she seemed to be hesitant to speak, and laughed softly, asking, "Speak up, why don't you speak? Don't you have something to say to me? Are you blaming me for being cruel or something? Go ahead, Qiaochu!"
"Or do you simply don't believe that I can protect you? I'm just a coward who even slaves look down on." He paused abruptly, his eyes full of sneer and mockery.
Qiaochu felt a pain in her heart as if it were being stabbed by needles. Suddenly, she heard footsteps outside the door. She was startled and looked over, only to see several people slowly walking in.
Among them, one has eyebrows like moths and green hairpins, and wears green and gorgeous clothes, and the other has eyebrows like swords, and wears white clothes as graceful as snow. They are Concubine Zhuang and Shangguan Jingcong...
"Eighth sister-in-law."
That crisp childish voice—
Qiao Chu was stunned and looked down, only to see Xiao Jiuer being led by a nanny, looking at her with excitement and eyes rolling. He wanted to pounce on her, but glanced at Shangguan Jinghong seriously, then frowned and stood there obediently.
Concubine Zhuang frowned slightly and looked at the two of them, her eyes seemed to contain something deep.
"Why don't you give the things to my brother and sister-in-law?"
Shangguan Jingchong gave a light rebuke, and several maids behind him immediately stepped forward, one of them holding a food basket and handed it to Shangguan Jinghong. The others held wooden buckets, brooms and other things, and when they saw Shangguan Jingchong's eyes, they were about to go into the hall.
"stop."
Shangguan Jinghong said indifferently to stop them, and then bowed to express his gratitude, "Mother, mother and ninth brother, please go back. This place is dirty, please don't dirty your clothes. Ninth brother will be getting married tomorrow, so it's better for you to rest as early as possible tonight."
Concubine Zhuang's eyes were sharp, and she was about to speak, but Shangguan Jingcong smiled and said, "Mother, let's go back."
"Brother Eight, Sister-in-law Eight, see you tomorrow." He said with a smile, his eyes passing over Shangguan Jinghong, finally gently falling on her.
His eyes were very deep, yet without any ripples, like the deep sea at its calmest.
Shangguan Jingcong, with such a restrained gaze, is now a different person from when they first met.
But it’s always a good thing. It’s always a good thing for people to mature.
"Thanks."
Qiaochu had mixed feelings; she really didn't expect to see him here at this moment.
Actually, it’s no wonder. He came to see his mother on the eve of his wedding.
Before that, he should have had dinner with the Seventh Prince and his entourage.
I don’t know if it was his idea or Concubine Zhuang’s who came here after hearing the news.
She didn't know that this man, who was about to get married tomorrow, was also an extremely important man in her life.
I only remember the candlelight in the house and the brilliant stars in the sky. That night, when he came back from outside, she was in Shangguan Jinghong's arms...
After Shangguan Jinghong left, he still stood at the gate and asked with a smile, "Qiaochu, am I really not capable of this?"
She smiled at him silently and ran back to the house quickly under the starry sky.
…
During these days with Shangguan Jinghong, she would occasionally think of him. More often, he was in her heart.
As a treasured memory.
At this moment, she was grateful.
There was a smile in Shangguan Jinghong's eyes, but there was a cold look in his gaze.
"You're welcome, sister-in-law."
Shangguan Jingcong responded softly, helped Concubine Zhuang over and left.
Only Shangguan Jinghong, who was quietly measuring with tools in his hands, and the maids who left tremblingly, and Xiao Jiuer who was reluctant to leave, were left behind.
She waved to Xiao Jiuer, who glanced at her and left obediently with the nanny.
Something hard was stuffed into my hand, and a cold voice said in my ear, "Eat first."
The man walked into the hall with a swift figure. Qiaochu looked down at the food basket in his hand and felt a pain in her heart. She thought he would not take it down like he threw away those cleaning tools, but she did not expect him to keep it.
"Let's eat together."
She called out, wanting to tell him something from her heart, but Shangguan Jinghong suddenly turned around and said with a deep smile, "Eat? Eat these things? Qiaochu, what do you know? You know nothing!"
Qiaochu was slightly startled, and suddenly an anxious voice came from outside the door, "Eighth Master, please come with us quickly. Lord Xia Haibing just asked to see him. After the emperor had a secret conversation with him, he became furious and said he wanted to see you."
…
Amid the noise, Qiaochu followed the eunuchs from the palace into the inner hall, but she was filled with panic. She did not sleep all night, and Shangguan Jinghong did not return all night.
Last night, Mo Cunfeng, who came to take Shangguan Jinghong away, asked about the whereabouts of Lao Tie and the beauty, but he didn't know where they had gone.
Therefore, when she stepped into the wedding hall, the people in Prince Xia's mansion looked at her as if they were watching a fun event, but she seemed not to notice.
She realized that the plan had failed.
She didn't know what would happen next, she only knew that everyone would come over soon. What should she do
348
According to the marriage customs of the Dongling royal family, when a prince gets married, he first goes to the woman's house to pick up the bride, then returns to the mansion for a wedding ceremony presided over by his eldest brother. The bride is then sent to the bridal chamber, and the prince greets all the guests. When everyone is drunk, the brothers and sisters, along with the young men and women of famous families, enter the bridal chamber together to watch the newlyweds drink the wine and exchange cups, and make a fuss in the bridal chamber.
The next day, the prince and his new concubine entered the palace to pay homage to the emperor and empress.
In this dynasty, the wise king and the crown prince presided over the affairs together. The crown prince's status can be seen from the fact that he respected his elders.
However, the Emperor attached great importance to the marriages of the Crown Prince, Prince Ning, and Prince Rui, and attended them in person.
Today, King Xia does the same.
It was like a dream. Today, when she left the palace, the carriage passed through the streets, and colorful lanterns were hung. The people watching along the way and outside the palace were like a tide, just as lively as the day of her wedding.
However, just like the day of her wedding, Qiaochu did not feel the slightest bit of joy.
As we walked in, we found that the banquet had been arranged in the beautiful courtyard of the Xia Palace.
The stewardess, the many eunuchs sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the servants of the palace gradually stopped their postures and stayed in the courtyard.
The guests were standing on both sides of the hall, one side was for the royal family, the other side for the officials and their families. They were in an orderly manner, very different from the crowded and noisy atmosphere of ordinary people.
Everyone was waiting for the arrival of the Emperor, the Crown Prince and King Xia.
Princess Yinping's home was not here, so King Xia went to the inn to pick up his bride.
The prince and his wife have not arrived yet.
The emperor came from the palace in a sedan chair with a ceremonial guard.
At this moment, in Prince Xia's mansion, pairs of "happiness" characters were hung in gold in the hall, red silks and pearls were spread on the walls, and it was not messy, but it was bustling with people.
Qiaochu stood on the side of the royal family.
She did not get too close to Ning Wang Peilan. Peilan once winked at her secretly. She understood that he wanted to get some space to talk, but it was an extraordinary time and there were many people here, so she quickly closed her eyes and refused.
Upon seeing this, Prince Ning's brows furrowed even more. Opposite him, Zong Pu did the same. Even the usually lively Qin Dongning quickly glanced at her, then pursed her lips and said nothing. She did not laugh and smile with the other rich girls like her sister Qiuyu.
She knew that they were worried about the news that she and Shangguan Jinghong had entered the palace. Moreover, the most important thing was
, Shangguan Jinghong did not show up at this time, and at the same time, she was more worried about... Lang Xiang was
No, none of Lang Linling and the people from Prince Rui’s Mansion showed up!
Did something happen at Prince Rui's Mansion? !
Will Prince Ning and the others know
She recalled Shangguan Jinghong's attitude last night and was worried about Shangguan Jinghong. She didn't even eat a grain of rice. At this moment, she was physically and mentally exhausted and worried, and her head was dizzy.
But now all she could do was wait for the emperor to come and get a glimpse of his attitude before making any plans.
Suddenly, a burst of firecrackers rang out in my ears, and the noise of excitement came from the courtyard. People came in one after another.
It turned out that the prince and his wife were in front, Chunfeng Caining was behind, and the bridesmaid supported the bride and Shangguan Jingchong to walk in.
Shangguan Jingcong, wearing a dark black robe, a dark purple jacket, and a hat with a red gold flower, passed by her.
He and Yinping walked to the center of the hall and stood still.
Just waiting for the Emperor to arrive.
Yinping was wearing a bright red wedding dress with gold thread and embroidered phoenixes, which was extremely gorgeous. Although she had a wedding veil on her head, her posture was graceful and elegant. Standing together with King Xia, she and Yinping were undoubtedly a pair of beautiful women.
Today is another great occasion, and the scene is as eye-catching as that of the Crown Prince and his wife.
The nobles, the elites, the men and women, all envied him.
The officials of the Imperial Court bowed and congratulated him from afar, and he smiled in response.
Everyone greeted the prince, who smiled and let them stand.