Shen Yue made a lot of trouble in the Qiushui Garden for a while, but unfortunately this time Chen Rouqiu seemed to be determined, she was indifferent even if she begged, and even got angry and would put her under house arrest if she said that she would make trouble again, Shen Yue was really in her heart. She panicked, but Chen Rou Qiu ignored her, and when she left Qiushui Garden, her whole body was a little angry and anxious.
However, she saw a few people walking out of Caiyun Garden. The blue-clothed girl at the head saw her and was stunned for a while, then stepped forward and said, "Second sister."
Shen Yue glanced at the woman and said "um", but her attitude was a little cold.
This woman is none other than Shen Dongling, the concubine of the second room. Before Shen Dongling was crushed to death by Ren Wanyun, she would not leave the courtyard all year round, and even the servants in the Shen residence did not recognize her. Since Ren Wanyun's death, Shen Gui was diagnosed with no more children, and Shen Dongling became the only bloodline of the second room. But even so, Shen Yue treated her gently on the surface, but in reality, she looked down on Shen Dongling's background. Even if it is blood, it cannot change the fact that Shen Dongling is a prostitute. If it was said that Shen Yue was jealous and resentful towards Shen Miao, she did not hesitate to despise Shen Dongling.
However, Shen Dongling seemed to have never seen her cold eyes, and still smiled and said: "I plan to spin a few pieces of silk to make silk cloth. A few days ago, I saw my aunt talking about the current pattern. I happened to draw a few patterns, second sister. Can you ask for some?" There was a hint of flattery in his words.
"No need." Shen Yue said.
Being left out like this, Shen Dongling still said with a good temper: "That's all, I originally thought of making a few for the second sister."
Shen Yue was a little impatient, at the moment she was all worried about Chen Rou Qiu's choice of a son-in-law, how could she care so much. But seeing Shen Dongling lowered her head, revealing a section of pure white neck, her heart skipped a beat. She withdrew her hand and looked at Shen Dongling carefully.
Shen Dongling and Shen Yue were only half a year apart in age. If the original daughters of the Shen family were Shen Qing Dafang, Shen Yue Yali and Shen Miao Qingxiu, all three of them still had the unique temperament of a direct daughter, then Shen Dongling had a kind of concubine. Feminine beauty. At the beginning, Wan Yiniang was the star of the troupe. Since she was a Hua Dan, she always had a bit of beauty. Shen Dongling didn't look like Shen Gui, but she was almost like a slap in the face with the young Wan Yiniang. With big eyes and a pointy chin, she looks like a protruding concubine. However, compared to those arrogant and domineering aunts, Shen Dongling kept her brows down and pleasing to the eye all day long, without arguing or making trouble, but she suppressed her aunts a bit.
But after looking at her carefully, she is also a pretty girl who has grown up with a girl in my family.
Shen Yue's heart suddenly moved, she took the initiative to take Shen Dongling's hand, and said with a smile: "I won't let you do it for me, just because I'm afraid of tiring you. You are a serious lady in the manor, not an embroiderer in the embroidery workshop. Mother, what's the point of doing these needlework all day long."
Shen Dongling was stunned for a moment, and seemed surprised that Shen Yue was suddenly so intimate, her face flushed slightly, and she was a little flattered: "Second sister is serious, I don't have anything else to do on weekdays, my aunt asked me to do needlework, so I did some. No. It's in the way." Concubine Wan seemed to have been repressed by Ren Wanyun for too long, and now she has turned around, and her favorite thing to do is to do embroidery work in the yard. Shen Dongling just followed her temper.
Seeing Shen Dongling being so well-behaved, the smile in Shen Yue's eyes grew even stronger: "You should also change your temperament, be honest, and it's a good thing to love embroidery, but how can there be a young lady who does embroidery all day. I'm going to the jewelry store to pick up some jewelry, you can go with me, there are some new styles this year, maybe you like it, if you like it, I'll give it to you."
"This..." Shen Dongling waved her hands in a panic, "No way..."
"Aren't you being polite to me?" Shen Yue pretended to be angry: "You and I are always the closest sisters. If even you have to be like this, what's the point of doing this sister?"
Shen Dongling was a little overwhelmed, but she didn't know how to answer Shen Yue's words. Seeing this, Shen Yue smiled slightly, patted her on the shoulder gently, and said, "The third sister is still so timid, but she has a heart-wrenching temper. It's done, I still have some things, so I won't talk to you anymore. Tomorrow, let the maid go to Caiyun Garden to find you, and go to the jewelry store with me." But there was an unquestionable tone in his words.
Shen Dongling nodded and accepted.
After Shen Yue and his party gradually walked away, Wu Mei, the maid next to Shen Dongling, said, "What does this second lady mean? It's hot and cold for a while, but it's so good, why did you suddenly remember to invite the girl to the jewelry store?"
Shen Yue was naturally indifferent to Shen Dongling, but her enthusiasm at this moment alone was indeed suspicious.
"She's trying to please me in a different way." Shen Dongling looked at Shen Yue's back, which she gradually lost sight of, and smiled: "I think I'm a good buy, she wants me to rely on her to trust her, and she wants me to help in the future. No matter how busy she is, it will be much simpler."
Wu Mei was shocked when she heard the words: "Then what should I do? These two young ladies are clearly ill-intentioned and want to take advantage of the young lady. If the young lady is caught, what should I do?"
"It doesn't matter," Shen Dongling smiled happily: "I'm happy to help with this, just like she gave me jewelry. You have to hand over good things to others. I'm not a saint, so there's no reason not to." She said: " It's just that she is short-sighted."
Shen Yue, who was walking towards the Qiushui Garden, had a heavy gaze, and her mind was filled with the weak and submissive appearance of Shen Dongling just now. The same fair lady, the same youthful age, and the daughter of the Shen residence... For no reason, Shen Yue had an intuition, and winning over Shen Dongling might have a great effect on herself in the future.
…
While Shen Yue was making a fuss, someone was moving flowers outside, at the gate of the west courtyard of Shen's house on the other end. The bustling voice seemed to be a bit lively. Shen Wan passed by the gate of the West Courtyard when he happened to hear a woman exclaiming: "Miss, be careful!"
Shen Wanxun looked over and saw a young woman moving a very heavy pot of flowers and plants to the stage. It was probably because the pot in her hand was so heavy that she almost hit her foot. The mammy next to her breathed a sigh of relief, and the woman turned around and smiled at the mammy, with a smile like a flower.
Shen Wan's footsteps stopped.
The woman was wearing a blue-green pair of feather gauze clothes, an emerald garland skirt, a lily bun, and an agate hairpin on her head. There was a thunderstorm last night, and the sun came out this morning. She was not born. The allure of the country and the city can only be regarded as beautiful, but the sunlight dries the sweat on her forehead into crystals, and because of the sweat, her face turns a little flushed, and there is an indescribable beauty.
Everyone has a love for beauty. Although Shen Wan is not good at women, it does not mean that he is indifferent to beauty. There was only one woman in his backyard, Chen Rou Qiu. Although he was in love, he would always feel a little boring for a long time. Now, seeing this beauty and heaven and earth, lively and fragrant, naturally can't help but stop.
It's like appreciating a painting or a poem that he likes. At this moment, Shen Wan has no other emotions. He was not very enthusiastic about men and women. The woman also seemed to notice that someone was looking at her, turned her head, saw Shen Wan, was stunned for a moment, and then walked over.
She walked in front of Shen Wan, neither embarrassed nor shy, and saluted generously: "Third Master."
Shen Wan glanced at her, suddenly realized her identity, and said, "Miss Chang."
Chang Zaiqing had only seen Shen Wan once, that was when she first came to the Shen residence. In the evening, Chen Rouqiu took her to Rongjing Hall to salute Old Shen Furen. The lights were dim at night, and everyone was thinking about the day, but Shen Wan didn't pay attention to Chang Zaiqing. I didn't expect to see it up close, but she was a rare beauty with great temperament. Thinking that Chen Rouqiu and Chang Zaiqing seemed to be very friendly, her attitude became more cordial.
"What is Miss Chang doing?" Shen Wan asked with a smile.
Chang Zaiqing looked back at the flower terrace at the entrance of the courtyard, and smiled, "It rained last night, and many flower branches were soaked by the rain and damaged by the wind. I'm 'bandaging' with them."
"Bandaging?" Shen Wan was a little curious and asked, "How to bandage the flowers?"
Chang Zaiqing smiled slightly: "The third master is looking at it."
Shen Wan walked to the flower stand to look at it, and he really saw the scattered flower branches, some wrapped in cloth strips, and some with potion-like things, but they were carefully manipulated and neatly arranged. There were some scissors and strips of cloth around, and a flower was about half folded, but it was picked up again.
"You have a heart." Shen Wan sighed, "It's rare to be willing to work hard." In the thunderstorm last night, flowers and plants must have been damaged, even a flower-loving person like Chen Rouqiu, it was a pity that after a while, those flowers and plants were also damaged. The flowers were taken out and thrown away. The flowers and plants that have been destroyed are no longer as good as they used to be, and they are also annoying to keep. I never thought that Chang Zaiqing would treat these flowers and plants attentively, not only did they not throw them away, but they were "wrapped up".
"Flowers and plants also have life." Chang Zaiqing smiled and said: "Since you say that you are a flower lover, you can't forget your original intention when you encounter such a thing. People. They keep saying that they love flowers and plants, but they can't even do this." Chang Zaiqing said heartily: "Besides, it's just a matter of hands, to please others and yourself, why not do it?"
"It's a good person to please others." Shen Wan looked at Chang Zaiqing full of admiration: "Miss Chang is the real elegant person, it's me who is vulgar."
"The third master is wrong." Chang Zaiqing joked: "Everyone is a layman, and I am also selfish. If I take good care of the flowers and plants, I will feel much more at ease living in the mansion in the future. I can always do something. ."
Shen Wan smiled happily: "Miss Chang is too worried, even if Miss Chang can't plant anything, no one in the Shen residence wants to drive you away."
Chang Zaiqing also laughed: "Then I would like to thank the third master." She suddenly remembered something and looked at Shen Wan: "Speaking of which, I accidentally played a game of chess yesterday, but I couldn't solve it. I asked the third lady to help me take a look, but the third lady seems to be busy today, I heard that the third master is also a master of chess, can you give Zai Qing some pointers?"
Thinking of something again, he smiled and said, "I can make tea for the third master. The third lady may have told you that the tea I brewed is very delicious."
Her attitude was down-to-earth, and if she refused, it would be rude to Shen Wan. In the end, he used tea as a condition, to show a bit of playfulness. Shen Wanlue pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "It is better to be respectful than to obey!"
The two of them went to the stone table in the garden and started to play the game. During the game, they also chatted casually. Shen Wan was surprised to find that Chang Zaiqing not only had outstanding chess skills, but also dabbled in the astronomical surface when talking to him. Moreover, the long-term knowledge is a matter of the DPRK, and even a word or two can be inserted. Shen Wan has always admired talented people, and didn't pay much attention to women's beauty. In the backyard, Chen Rouqiu was the only one who favored Chen Rouqiu, but it was because Chen Rouqiu was proficient in chess, chess, calligraphy and painting, and she was an out-and-out talented girl. But Chen Rouqiu had a bad point, because he came from a scholarly family, and occasionally he would put on airs and look like he was arrogant. If it was once or twice, it would be fun. People who lived in the same place every day would inevitably feel that Chen Rouqiu would be too petty and care a little.
Chang Zaiqing is very different. She is also a very talented woman, but Chang Zaiqing does not have the arrogance and aloofness that big families have, but is quite hearty. In bright and delicate, very empathetic. When talking to her, it seemed to be full of fun, which made people feel very sympathetic. Unconsciously, Shen Wan's gaze towards Chang Zaiqing became more and more admirable, and the time he lingered on the other side became longer and longer.
Zhao mama watched from a distance with a hint of joy in her eyes. But he quietly instructed the maid to take good care of the courtyard gate and not let anyone else come in.
…
This is the case, inside Ming Qi's palace, today is also very lively.
In order to entertain the two guests from Qin and Great Liang, the prince specially hosted a banquet. The prince and princess of the Qin state were present, and Prince Rui of Great Liang also took the post, accompanied by the nine princes of Ming Qi.
The prince's condition is getting worse now, which is an uncompromising fact. Because of this, even the King of Chu and King Xuan, who followed the prince, were a little shaken. In the past two years, the power of the prince has been gradually replaced by the power of other princes. Almost everyone acquiesced to the fact that the prince would not sit for too long in this position. The prince himself probably realized that in the past two years, he has rarely participated in political affairs. It is not that he does not want to participate, but that there are too few people who follow him.
On the other hand, Zhou Wangjing's two brothers and Li Wang's faction became more and more prominent. Li Wang Zilai is because the smiling tiger has both sides and has a large number of followers. Brother Zhou Wang, it is by virtue of his mother concubine Xu Xianfei. The two factions are now at an incomparable battle, and they look like they are trying to see each other.
The most secure one was King Ding Fu Xiu Yi. King Ding has also participated in court affairs for the past two years, but most of the court affairs he participated in were very pleasing, and it seemed that he deliberately showed that he had no ambition. It's all trivial matters. Despite this, Emperor Wen Hui was very satisfied with him, and because of the neutrality and safety he showed, no matter whether it was the prince, the king of Zhou, or the king of Li, he did not deliberately suppress him. .
On the contrary, King Ding is the safest person.
In the hall, the prince smiled and raised his glass to invite: "Everyone has come from a long way, you should really celebrate."
Huangfu Hao sat down on the crown prince, raised his cup and touched the crown prince with a gesture, and said with a smile, "Thank you crown prince for your hospitality."
Next to Huangfu Hao sat Princess Ming An. After being imprisoned by Huangfu Hao for a few days, Princess Ming An was finally released. Today, she is also dressed up in full clothes, looking at the purple-robed youth sitting opposite her with affectionate eyes.
It's a pity that Luo Hua was intentional and ruthless, Prince Rui covered his face with half a mask, but he didn't even glance at her at all. But he didn't look at the prince, but stared at the wine cup, not knowing what he was thinking.
The prince smiled and asked, "Why doesn't Prince Rui drink alcohol? But alcohol doesn't suit your taste?"
Prince Rui hooked his lips and said, "I'm not feeling well, so I shouldn't drink alcohol."
Almost unabashedly slapped in the face. Although this Prince Rui had been mysterious and unpredictable since he came to Ming Qi, and his attitude could not see the clues of what it was like to treat Ming Qi, his etiquette was complete. Today, everyone present couldn't help but come up with an idea, Prince Rui of Great Liang seemed a little unhappy.
But it's all right, who messed with him again
The Crown Prince was a little embarrassed, and Fu Xiu Yi said, "Since that's the case, His Royal Highness Prince Rui will replace the bar with tea. Come and serve Prince Rui tea."
Fu Xiu Yi opened his mouth and took the Prince's words. The Prince's expression became better, and he was a little grateful to Fu Xiu Yi. The rest of the princes all agreed with Fu Xiu Yi's words. Although Prince Rui had a great background, no one was willing to be humble in front of other countries. Fu Xiu Yi's stubborn and rude words made Ming Qi's face.
Huangfu Hao looked at Prince Rui inquiringly, but Princess Ming An looked at Prince Rui with some worry, and said, "Is Your Highness Prince Rui okay? But what's wrong? Would you like to ask the imperial physician to come and take a look?"
Hearing this, Huangfu Hao lowered his face and gave Princess Ming An a fierce look. Princess Ming An is usually arrogant, but now she is showing her obsession with Prince Rui in front of so many princes in Ming Qi, isn't she rushing to show people a joke? Besides, Huangfu Hao was a man himself, and men knew the thoughts of men the most. Prince Rui looked at Princess Ming An and was clearly a little impatient. If this Prince Rui is generous, that's fine. If Prince Rui has a bad temper, he is really tired of Princess Ming An, and even the entire Great Liang has no good impression of Qin, and he will be the only one who suffers.
Prince Rui ignored her words, and instead looked at the last person in the opposite seat. Everyone noticed his gaze, and they looked at it, but it was Prince Ding Fu Xiuyi.
Among the nine princes, Fu Xiu Yi was the most docile one, but at this moment, Prince Rui looked at him alone, and the eyes of the princes changed a little when they looked at Fu Xiu Yi. Fu Xiu Yi was also calm and did not appear flustered by Prince Rui's gaze, he and Prince Rui looked at each other.
Prince Rui suddenly laughed and said, "I heard about the ninth prince's young talent before he came to Ming Qi, but now that his reputation is well-deserved, I wonder if there is a marriage match?"
Everyone did not expect that Prince Rui would suddenly say such a sentence, and their expressions suddenly became strange. Fu Xiu Yi was also stunned for a moment and replied, "Not yet."
King Zhou laughed, he sat next to Fu Xiu Yi, patted Fu Xiu Yi on the shoulder, and said, "We Lao Jiu are the only brothers who have never married a concubine, why, Prince Rui is also interested in Lao Jiu's marriage. ?"
The lips under Prince Rui's mask were hooked, and he said leisurely: "There are also many princesses of the right age in the Great Liang Palace. When this prince sees the ninth prince, he feels like a good match, and he wants to marry Qin and Jin."
As soon as these words came out, the expressions of everyone present changed drastically.
What Prince Rui meant by these words actually meant that he wanted to be in-law with Fu Xiu Yi. If it is true as Prince Rui said, marrying a princess of Great Liang, the meaning behind it is not only one more concubine, but also more help from Great Liang. If the gentle attitude towards Fu Xiu Yi before was because Fu Xiu Yi had never expressed his interest in the throne, then what Prince Rui said at the moment made everyone unable to look at Fu Xiu Yi with the same eyes as before. Because once Fu Xiu Yi married Princess Great Liang, he would become the most powerful contender for the throne!
Fu Xiu Yi tightened his hand holding the wine cup, and looked at Prince Rui calmly.
Is it really just as it said on the surface, do you want to marry Princess Great Liang to yourself? Fu Xiu Yi didn't think so.
Prince Rui is not helping him, but harming him!
Fu Xiu Yi always upheld the view of keeping a low profile and keeping a low profile. Until the last moment, he should not show his cards. Although Prince Rui's conditions were heartwarming, if he really had such good intentions, Fu Xiu Yi would never want to bring this up in front of all the princes right now. It was just a sentence, and the princes looked at him with eyes full of caution, almost pushing him to the cusp of the storm.
No matter how excited he was, it was impossible to agree. Fu Xiu Yi clenched his teeth. For some reason, he felt that this Prince Rui, who had never met, seemed to be full of hostility towards him, otherwise, he wouldn't have put his words lightly into such a difficult situation.
He was wary of Prince Rui in his heart, but with a sly smile on his face, he said, "Thank you for your kindness, His Royal Highness Prince Rui, but I have no idea of marrying a wife now."
"Oh?" Prince Rui's lips twitched: "But the ninth prince already has a woman he likes, so he doesn't want to? This prince doesn't want to do things like smack the mandarin ducks. If that's the case, he won't force it."
"His Royal Highness is joking." Fu Xiu Yi cupped his hands: "It's just that I haven't really thought of it yet."
Seeing that Fu Xiu Yi rejected Prince Rui's proposal neatly, the expressions on the princes' faces became better. But after what happened just now, there was no longer any reassurance for Fu Xiu Yi. Today, Fu Xiu Yi refused, who can guarantee that he will change his mind in the future? The matter of the throne is a natural temptation. The nine of them still want to fight for it. Why do they think that there will be a pure-hearted saint in the royal family
"It's strange." Prince Rui seemed to be very interested in Fu Xiu Yi alone, and he didn't let him go just because Fu Xiu Yi rejected the proposal. He smiled, but said, "The ninth prince is not married, nor does he have someone he likes, why don't you want to think about it. This prince sees that the ninth prince is also a handsome man, is it because there is no girl who loves you on weekdays?"
As soon as these words came out, King Cheng, who had always been a bit rambunctious, laughed and said: "His Royal Highness Prince Rui doesn't know anything, but there was a girl who was in our Ming Qi, but there is a girl who loves us, and everyone who loves it knows it."
“Is it Shen Miao!” Before King Cheng could finish speaking, Princess Ming An hurriedly interrupted him. Princess Ming An had heard the rumors about Shen Miao and she laughed a lot at the beginning.
"So the princess also knows?" King Cheng was a little surprised.
"Shen Miao's infatuation with His Highness Prince Ding is known to the Qin Kingdom, so it is not unusual." Princess Ming An gloated. As long as there was something that would make Shen Miao humiliated, she was always willing to get involved.
“That’s right.” Cheng Wang smiled and said, “His Royal Highness Prince Rui may be unaware that this Shen Miao is the daughter of the mighty general, the one who competed with Her Royal Highness the Princess at the tribute banquet that day, you have also seen it.” He sighed, "Thinking back then when Shen Miao was still young, she spent all her days trying to find Lao Jiu, and she was not ashamed and directly told Lao Jiu about her love. She also made needlework and cakes for Lao Jiu. Learning to play the qin, learning to write poetry... tsk tsk, I really did a lot of things." Although King Cheng said that, there was a malicious insult in his words, as if he were watching a joke.
"At the tribute banquet that day, she was quite graceful." It was Huangfu Hao who spoke. Speaking from outside rumors and hearing it from someone who knows the inside story are two different things. Huangfu Hao was also a little surprised, in the Qin State Mansion, at the tributary banquet, Shen Miao did not appear to be such a compromised person. Make needlework, make pastries…. Huangfu Hao only felt very strange when he thought about Shen Miao's cold eyebrows towards Princess Ming An. He joked: "The ninth prince is really hard-hearted."
"Miss Shen was young at the time." Cheng Wang continued: "Who would have known that two years later, she would turn out to be so beautiful. And she was stupid and cowardly, but now she can't see the shadow of the past at all. Among the young ladies in the capital, there seem to be not many who are better than her." Cheng Wang smiled: "I knew this earlier, why was Lao Jiu so ruthless in the first place, and let down the grace of the beautiful woman in vain, you know it's too late to regret it now."
Princess Ming An sneered: "This Miss Shen is also a wonderful person. As a girl, she is not ashamed at all, so she just chases after her directly. It's really difficult for her, making needlework, making cakes, every day. Follow along....It's so 'considerate'."
Knowing that Princess Ming An was dealt with by Shen Miao at the tribute banquet, she was not happy with Shen Miao. The princes just smiled and did not speak.
It was Fu Xiu Yi who shook his head lightly and said, "Miss Shen is a good person, everyone, please don't make fun of her. No one can afford to ruin her reputation."
"Lao Jiu, you are too serious." The King of Chu said with a smile: "You don't want someone else, so it's hard not to allow others to want it. If we hadn't already had concubines, I would have been willing to marry Miss Shen!"
"Not bad!" The princes agreed.
"Indeed," Huangfu Hao smiled, "If I were the ninth prince, I would definitely marry her."
Princess Ming An was extremely unhappy. She looked at Prince Rui and found that Prince Rui didn't joke around with the crowd. Instead, his eyes were quiet and his heart was overjoyed, and she asked, "Does Prince Rui think so too?"
Prince Rui paused.
All eyes turned to him.
The masked young man played with the wine cup and said lightly, "Make needlework for men, make cakes, learn to play the piano, learn to write poetry..."
Princess Ming An said: "That's right, it's just immoral, and you can laugh generously!"
"Such a good girl," Prince Rui said with a smile, "Unfortunately, this prince also wants it."