It's another annual sacrificial meeting, and the common people and dignitaries in Shangjing gather at Baiyun Taoist Temple to pray for the good weather in the coming year.
Shen Yuanqi was walking in the peach blossom forest in full bloom, when he heard the familiar laughter ahead, he paused, turned around and left.
"Master Shen, wait for me!" Princess Nine hurried to catch up, followed by two maids carrying food boxes, "Master Shen, the peach blossoms are in full bloom here, and the scenery is pleasant, why don't we sit down and eat something?"
She raised her small face, her dark and bright eyes were full of the joy of seeing her sweetheart. The two maids immediately took out cloth towels and spread them on the soft grass, and took out the refreshments from the food boxes one by one and arranged them neatly.
"Come and sit!"
Shen Yuanqi was still hesitating, but Princess Nine had already dragged him to the ground, seeing that he was sitting in a slightly awkward position, she pursed her lips and smiled cheerfully.
"This green tea cake was newly developed by the chef of the Imperial Dining Room. It's sweet but not greasy. It melts in your mouth, and your mouth is full of tea fragrance. I like it. Master Shen, you should try it too." Princess Nine Twisted a piece of light green pastry and fed it to Shen Yuanqi's mouth, with a look of anticipation on his expression.
Shen Yuanqi couldn't help but sigh in his heart. Although the ninth princess grew up in the deep palace, her temperament is very simple, and she always pours out her heart and soul to those who care about her. She has no other means, and she doesn't know how to induce the other party to fall in love with her. The only thing she can do is to give all her favorite things to the other party. She loved to eat, so she sent delicious pastries to Shen's residence from time to time, which made Shen Yuanqi quite distressed.
Very early on, Shen Yuanqi imagined what kind of wife he would marry in the future. The other party must be virtuous and capable, gentle and submissive, and tactful in dealing with things. He works hard in the court, and his wife will help him with housework and stability in the back house. The Nine Princesses did not match his vision at all, but they possessed the most commendable quality—sincerity.
Who doesn't like a sincere person? Having experienced so many betrayals and tribulations, Shen Yuanqi longed for a simple life and simple feelings. It's not that he doesn't love the Ninth Princess, but she is the emperor's direct sister, and her status is unattainable. Although he is a second-rank official servant, he was born in a merchant and was sold as a slave. No matter how he thinks, he is not worthy A proud girl like Princess Nine.
In order not to add to the sadness, he could only suppress the longing in his heart, waved his hands and said, "Princess, you can eat by yourself, I don't like sweet and greasy pastries, please don't send someone to deliver food to the lower official's mansion in the future box."
Ninth Princess was stunned, and forced a smile, "So you don't like cakes. Actually, I don't like cakes either, and I won't eat them again. Then what do you like? I'll see you off instead."
She stretched out her fingertips and unconsciously messed up the pastries arranged in the shape of petals, with a very depressed expression.
"Back to the ninth princess, I don't have any other hobbies, so I dare not bother the princess to worry about it." Shen Yuanqi couldn't bear it, and added, "I have brought the pastries, it would be a waste not to eat them, and I will spend a couple of yuan to accompany the princess , I still have to discuss important matters with my colleagues after eating, so I have to go first. The princess doesn’t have to send things to my house in the future, and I’m afraid that I won’t be able to bear the blessings of the next official.”
How could Princess Ninth not feel such an obvious refusal attitude? She blinked her wet eyes and murmured, "You, will you accompany me to finish the pastry before leaving?"
Shen Yuanqi hesitated for a moment before nodding, "Yes."
The Ninth Princess picked up a piece of pastry and grinded it bit by bit with her teeth. After grinding for a long time, the outer layer of meringue was not worn away. According to this way of eating, even if the sun goes down, this pastry will not be finished.
Shen Yuanqi wanted to laugh a little, but he restrained it just as the corners of his mouth rose. The girl in front of her is so innocent and beautiful, she should be married to the most outstanding man in the big man, but he is not a humble scholar with no background.
Ninth Princess slowly licked the puff pastry with the tip of her tongue, and her wet eyes were fixed on the young man's handsome face, as if the other party was the fine wine that accompanied the meal, and she was already drunk before drinking, and two blushes quietly appeared on her cheeks.
Shen Yuanqi felt hot all over from her look, feeling like he was sitting on pins and needles, he was hesitating whether he should leave, when he saw his servant rushing over, and said, "Master, Master Wu is looking for you."
"What's the matter?"
"I don't know, I said that I have something important to discuss with you." After the words fell, he saw Princess Nine and quickly knelt down to salute.
It was a random excuse, but he didn't expect someone to cooperate so much, Shen Yuanqi heaved a sigh of relief, and immediately got up to leave. When he was far away, the ninth princess ate the pastry in two or three bites, and rubbed her red eyes vigorously.
"I want Master Shen to be my consort, and I ask Brother Huang to grant me a marriage." She stood up with a determined look on her face.
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Half a year ago, Yu Xiang successfully gave birth to the eldest son of the Duke of Yu's mansion. Because he inherited all the advantages of his parents' appearance, the baby had the strength to capture all the women of the whole man when he was still in his infancy. Huai Li refused to let go no matter what, even Yu Xiang sent someone to ask for it, she would complain and scold her, and she repeatedly urged her grandson to submit a memorial to ask for the title of son for the little great-great-grandson.
Before the full moon, he became the eldest son of the Duke of Yu's mansion. This speed is unprecedented, which shows how much the Yu family loves the baby.
At this time, the old lady took her little great-great-great-grandson to the dojo to watch the sacrificial ceremony, leaving Yu Xiang to socialize with a group of ladies. Mrs. Xue pulled Yu Xiang to the side hall, and asked, "Your elder brother is already in his twenties, and he doesn't even have anyone who knows the cold and the hot around him. Have you ever done anything for him?"
Shen Yuanqi neither takes concubines, nor is he willing to marry a wife. He is already in his mid-twenties, and he can be considered an old leftover man in a big man. However, Yu Xiang is not an ancient person, and she never worried about him, so she smiled and said, "If he wants to marry, he can marry, or if he doesn't want to, what should I do for him? It's a matter of fate, of a mutual love, and you can't force it." .”
"You can't say that. Men start a family first and then start a career. Once they have a family and children, they can live comfortably and have a bright future." Mrs. Xue had a smile on her face, but she looked at Yu Xiang with a cold look, and her heart was halfway. Brother and sister, they don't have much affection, otherwise, how could they be so indifferent to their elder brother, and don't think about how much Shen Yuanqi did when the Yu family fell down, he is really an ungrateful white-eyed wolf.
Yu Xiang noticed the change in her expression, but she didn't take it seriously. She raised her eyebrows and asked, "Madam is right. Since Madam asked, there must be a candidate, right? Tell me quickly, so I can help elder brother take care of it." palm eye."
Mrs. Xue finally showed a satisfied look on her face when she saw her on the road, "I did help him to see a girl, she is my niece, who just turned 1 this year, not only has a gentle temperament and a beautiful appearance, but also has some talents. Yuan Qi must be very speculative. I brought her here today, and it's over there at the dojo, why don't you go and have a look?"
Hearing that the other party was Mrs. Xue's direct niece, Yu Xiang's eyes glowed coldly, and she was about to say no, when she heard a distraught voice at the entrance of the palace, "No! Mr. Shen is my son-in-law, and he cannot marry anyone else!"
The two turned their heads immediately, only to see Princess Jiu pouted with her waist in her waist, glaring at Mrs. Xue viciously.
Mrs. Xue was taken aback, and stammered, "Yuan, when did Yuan Qi become a son-in-law? Why don't women know?"
"After today, I will go back to the palace and ask the emperor to make an order." The ninth princess walked up to Mrs. Xue, looked down at her with both nostrils, imitated the majesty of the queen mother and the emperor's wife, and reprimanded, "You are so brave. , even dare to snatch this princess’s son-in-law! Whose family do you belong to, report your name quickly!”
No matter how stupid the Ninth Princess is, she was raised by the empress and the crown prince, her awe-inspiring aura is beyond ordinary people's ability to bear. Mrs. Xue was so overwhelmed by her that she looked at Yu Xiang for help.
Yu Xiang smiled and patted the ninth princess, and introduced, "This is Mrs. Xue, my elder brother's adoptive mother. Back then, Mr. Xue was kind to my eldest brother, so please don't argue with Mrs. Xue for his sake." .”
"It turned out to be you." The nine princesses stopped pouting, and retracted their raised jaws, looking at the sweet nine princesses again.
"Madam Xue still has something to do, I'll see her off. The princess will wait here for a while, and I'll discuss my elder brother's marriage with you when I come back." Deliberately emphasizing the pronunciation of the last two words, Yu Xiang took a deep look at Princess Jiu , helped Mrs. Xue, who had been pardoned, to go out.
The two of them walked to the corner, and Yu Xiang whispered in her ear, "My elder brother remembers your kindness. He has taken care of your Xue family all these years, and he has never felt any embarrassment. But you are a villain Du Junzi's belly always thinks that my elder brother and you are frequenting the family property of the Xue family, so he is guarded everywhere, and from time to time he will stab his heart with sneering words. These are nothing, my elder brother can bear it, and I can bear it Yes, but you actually took our tolerance for granted, and now you are plotting against him. If you marry your niece, my elder brother's inner house will be in your hands. Is the surname Shen or Xue? To tell you the truth, my tolerance for you has reached the limit. If you dare to use any tricks, I can destroy the family property of your Xue family with just a flick of your little finger. You can do it yourself Bar!"
Mrs. Xue's bones began to tremble when she heard this, and she couldn't recover when Yu Xiang walked far away. Over the years, Shen Yuanqi has been respectful to her, and even Yu Xiang has been polite and supportive to her, which made her forget how vengeful and rampant this man was when he was not married.
Although Xue's family business is big, what is it compared with Yu Guogong's mansion? Fighting against Yu Xiang is like shaking a big tree, not to mention involving a nine princesses.
A gust of cold wind blew by, Madam Xue finally came to her senses, suppressed the fear in her heart, and ran away with her niece as if fleeing.
Shen Yuanqi heard the declaration of the Ninth Princess in Leiyin Hall, and he couldn't tell what it was like in his heart, it was like eating dozens of catties of honey, the sweet teeth were a little weak, knowing that it was impossible but still couldn't help but look forward to the future.
Emperor Chengqian, who had just succeeded to the throne not long ago, needed to win over a group of capable people with no deep background for his own use. In addition, Shen Yuanqi's style was upright and his inner house was clean. After several considerations, he finally fulfilled the nine princesses.
The ecstasy and gratitude in Shen Yuanqi's heart are beyond words. Compared with Yu Pinyan, his brother-in-law, he wholeheartedly treats the nine princesses, and truly achieves a lifetime of a couple.