The eldest princess and Li [rebirth]

There was another small room at the end. Lu Shi lit the candle on the table, and there was a blueprint on the table, and handed it to Chu Ran: "Your Highness, you can see it clearly. The construction started a few months ago. I'm just afraid If it disturbs the Princess Mansion, it will stop, if His Highness agrees, I will continue, if not, then shelve it."

Building this secret passage means that the relationship between the two has gone further. Chu Ran is very clear about what the secret passage is for. She doesn't need to look at the drawings to know that the secret passage is not wrong.

She fell into a slump, such shady feelings would be very difficult to hold on to, and the world is unpredictable, if she is found out, everything will end.

Chu Ran held on to the blueprint, but didn't look at it. There was a war between heaven and man in his mind. Lu Shi was not in a hurry, and slowed down: "Your Highness can reply to the minister before the crown prince's birthday. When you enter the palace on these days, don't talk about government affairs. , Pick yourself up first."

"If you pick it clean, you can only rely on the prime minister?" Chu Ran couldn't help but sarcastically, she couldn't live on others.As a princess, she has her own pride and dignity, and living by others is tantamount to trampling her arrogance under her feet.

Lu Shi seemed to know what she said, and took all her emotions into his eyes.

Young people have a deeper yearning for emotions, and even bring their own imaginations, which will slowly fade away over the years and lose their original hope.She doesn't know Chu Ran's feelings for her. From her previous life, she can also see that she does have feelings. She has been groping around the edge, and was finally implicated by the world. The relationship is almost a thorn in her heart.

Now that she is still young, the edges and corners have not been worn away. She is thinking that in this life, she does not want the world to wear away her edges and corners. It is best for such a natural Chu Ran.

She said: "If your Highness thinks that I am unreliable, after we get married, I can entrust you with all the affairs in the prime minister's mansion, and you can intervene in the affairs of the court if you want, and I need to let my people do it."

In short, whatever you do, I can help you.

Lu Xiang's conditions were very attractive. Chu Ran's claim that he was not tempted was a lie, and she pursed her lips and did not answer because of the deep entanglement in her heart.

In the cramped space, the sound of shallow breathing was extremely clear. Lu Shi slid his fingertips across the table, stained with a lot of dust, and said: "The repair of the Prime Minister's Mansion will take two months, and this can be used to deceive people's eyes and ears. Your Highness thinks about it." You can continue to work, if you don't agree, can you think about who you will marry?"

The matter of retiring the engagement is under Lu Shi's control, as long as she let go, this marriage will end here.Taking a step back, if she agrees to divorce, who should Chu Ran marry?

There are not a few people who are talented and handsome in the court. They are worthy of the princess, and their status must not be bad. If they look up at the court, someone must love the princess.

Military generals will never dare to honor the princess, only civil servants.Not the Huo family, not the Lu family, and Chu Ran would not agree to the rest of the people who wanted to marry. Since she gave up the prime minister, she would not choose another useless family.

Thinking about it layer by layer, there are very few people who can match the princess.Even if the princess values ​​those with high authority, His Majesty may not agree. He needs to balance the power, and the prince cannot recruit all civil servants and military generals.

This is taboo.

Chu Ran never figured it out, and it was because Lu Shi was too dazzling that other people couldn't get in her eyes. When Lu Shi left, she would find that there was no one in Yingdu who was more suitable than Lu Shi.

Once she divorces, her life will be in His Majesty's hands. At that time, the queen will stop her, and if she marries someone who is not her lover, she will be sent to marry her more likely.

Lu Shi put all the benefits and twists and turns in front of her, let her think for herself, put the blueprint in her hands, and didn't care about the rest.

After coming out of the secret passage, it was already dark outside, and Chu Ran lost his mind.

Axiu set up dinner, but Chu Ran didn't leave directly, staying to have dinner with Lu Shi.

It was extremely hot in summer, so Axiu first filled half a bowl of mung bean soup for the two of them. It had been cold for a long time and there was no ice, so it was just right to use at this time.The mung bean soup suits Chu Ran's taste and is sweet and delicious. After drinking half a bowl, she felt so sweet in her heart that she frowned.

Lu Shi glanced at her, bent his lips and said, "His Royal Highness returns home, pay attention to diet, and pay attention to leaving scars."

The word leaving a scar made Chu Ran look up. She didn't pay much attention to the scar, as long as it wasn't on her face, it didn't matter to leave a scar.After being reminded by Lu Shi, she felt a slight disgust, and said displeasedly, "So what if you leave a scar?"

She suddenly changed her face, which surprised Lu Shi. When she lifted her eyelids, she saw her disdainful expression. He understood, and said, "Just remind your highness, don't be too sensitive. I left the ointment brought back from the northwest, your highness." You can try."

Chu Ran didn't respond, she couldn't use her left arm very hard, she picked up the shrimp with her right hand, and only regretted putting it back into the bowl, she could see that she couldn't eat it.She lowered her eyes and stared for a while, then said: "Your Highness is not suitable for seafood, and the wound is prone to inflammation."

There was buzzing in her ears, Lu Xiang cherishes words like gold on weekdays, why is he a little noisy today, she glanced at her, and said: "Why has Lu Xiang changed his temper today, he is very noisy."

After being reminded by her, Lu Shi carefully recalled that what he said just now was related to the wound, which seemed to be offensive, so she said helplessly, "Your Highness is obedient, so why do you need to talk too much."

Chu Ran raised her eyebrows, ignored her, and lowered her head to chew the food in her mouth.

After eating, Lu Shi ordered someone to pack the wound medicine, and told Chu Ran to pay attention to the deterioration of the wound after returning home. A little carelessness in summer would make the wound worse.

She ignored her, but Lu Shi always felt that her temper was a bit more rebellious, as if she was deliberately against her, maybe it was an illusion.

After Chu Ran returned to the mansion through the side door, Lu Shi left for the Lu mansion through the main door.

Lu's mansion is a few streets away from Xiang's mansion, she went there in a hurry, and Marquis Runan was not at the mansion, so she went directly to the backyard to meet the old lady.The Lu family had never been separated, but the concubine's brother had already moved out of the mansion when the old Hou Ye died.

When she entered the mansion, Mrs. Hou Zhang came out to greet her. The two met at the gate of the old lady's courtyard. Mrs. Zhang did not dare to rely on her status as the eldest son, so she saluted her and said with a smile, "Why is the prime minister here?" , Master Hou is not here, I will accompany you to see your mother?"

Mrs. Zhang has a sense of propriety and acts with restraint. Ever since Lu Shi moved out, the relationship between sister-in-law and sister-in-law has faded a lot, especially in the past few years when siblings would almost argue when they met.After Lu Shi made his obeisance to the chancellor, the Marquis of Runan did not dare to take the prince again.

The two entered together, and the old lady was tasting tea. When she saw Lu Shi's sudden visit, she was puzzled: "Is there something wrong with the prime minister?"

She spoke coldly, Zhang's eyelids twitched in shock, and hurried out to smooth things over.

Lu Shi nodded and said: "Princess Xinping is about to reach the age of Ji, and when the time comes, I will see my mother go to the queen to make a kiss with him."

"No, don't even think about it." The old lady refused directly, her brows and eyes became a little cold, and Mrs. Zhang didn't dare to interrupt.

The Lu family almost disapproved of this marriage, and the old lady wished she could call off the engagement right away. After hearing these words, she almost hated her and cursed, regardless of Mrs. Zhang, "Look at Princess Xinping's appearance, after so many years, have you ever been married?" I walked through the gate of Lu's house and turned a blind eye to you, not to mention, you were injured, did she ever come to visit, such a vicious woman, what do you want?"

Hearing this, Lu Shi's expression remained the same, and he said: "The princess is respectful, so why should she bow to you, what is she doing at your door? I have been injured for many days, and I have not seen my mother to visit. In the same way, do you also have a heart? Vicious?"

The old lady was trembling with anger, "I'm vicious? I gave birth to you and raised you for more than ten years. You said I wouldn't visit you? You left a few days after you fell off your horse. Could it be that I chased you?"

"What mother said is very true. You didn't go after her, but the princess went." Lu Shi raised his head and stared at the old lady, his eyes were deep and displeased.

She has been in a high position for many years, she is not angry and pretentious, and she is frightening at a glance.Mrs. Zhang was too frightened to speak any more, and stood quietly aside.

"What's so good about her?" the old lady said angrily.

"Mother be careful, Princess Jingui of the Tian Family, is it the way to be a minister if you slander her like this?" Lu Shi said.

The old lady was so angry that she couldn't speak. She was used to domineering and bossing her around on weekdays, so she smashed the teacup and scolded: "Since you came to ask for help, you have to behave like this."

The coldness in Lu Shi's eyes dissipated a little, and he said, "If mother goes, I will transfer my second brother back to Yingdu City."

The old lady raised a man and a woman under her knees, and the second elder brother that Lu Shi said was brought from the concubine's room. It has been a long time and the relationship is very close.Hearing Lu Shi's words, she was stunned and said, "Can you really bring him back?"

"Try mother." Lu Shi said.

After saying that, she turned and left, and the old lady hesitated there alone.Mrs. Zhang followed Lu Shi out and said, "Prime Minister, do you want to see Lord Hou?"

She was afraid of Lu Shi, a woman with such means, no woman in the house would dare not be afraid, and what she said just now pierced the old lady's heart, and she touched the main point.

The old lady hated Lu Xiang, and she could not let her make decisions about the marriage, and she even chose the princess, which almost implicated the entire Lu family.

Lu Shi didn't stay, and left after saying a few homework words.

When Marquis Runan came back, Lu Shi had already left for half an hour, and he was calmer than Zhang Shi when he heard about the argument between the mother and daughter.Today is different from the past, King Heng seems to be prosperous, but in fact he has been hated by many generals, and his future is bleak.

Lu Xiang wanted to marry Princess Xinping, and he didn't want to object. The brother and sister had been together for many years, and he knew her heart and decisive nature, so how could she be influenced by others.

****

Yun Mengze was in the palace, taking advantage of His Majesty's good mood, King Heng hosted a banquet and invited Xinping and others.There are several boats parked on the lake, which can be borrowed to cross to the palace on the opposite side.

From a distance, the lake surface is not turbulent, and the light reflected by the sun is very dazzling. Standing by the lake, King Heng is talking to Ling Yi about interesting things.

The crown prince was sick and did not come. King Heng is the eldest and also the most respected. He is dressed in a broad robe, has a burly figure and is very handsome.

Chu Ran came late, there was only one boat on the lake when he came, Ling Yi had left early, and King Duheng was there, he called Chu Ran to come closer: "You are a little late, but wait, wait for Prime Minister Lu."

"Why is Prime Minister Lu here?" Chu Ran was surprised, what was King Heng's intention?

King Heng glanced at her, and said slowly, "Prime Minister Lu was invited by Lingyi. There is nothing wrong today. There are still many people on the island. What is Xinping panicking about?"

Chu Ran sighed silently, pretended to be innocent, and said, "Just curious."

After the two finished speaking, Lu Shi came from a distance, and after saluting the two, the three boarded the boat.

The boat can accommodate five or six people. King Heng sat by the side, while Lu Shi and Chu Ran stood outside the cabin. Chu Ran sat down informally and brushed his hands gently over the water.

She was young, so it wouldn't be strange to act childishly like this.

Lu Shi looked at the island that was getting closer in the distance, with the corners of his eyes slightly upturned.After a while, Heng Wang came out from inside, and she reminded faintly: "If Heng Wang takes a few steps forward, the boat will lose its balance."

Heng Wang was embarrassed, and said: "This king came out to look at the scenery, I didn't think of this."

Lu Shi was silent, and Chu Ran never turned around. Heng Wang felt bored, and retreated silently, keeping his eyes on the two of them.

Along the way, the two of them had never exchanged words, not even a look in the eyes. King Heng looked at it for a long time and found it boring. Both of them didn't care much about each other, so there was no need for him to do anything.

After approaching the island, the surrounding area becomes more and more refreshing, without the heat of summer, the island is full of greenery, fresh flowers and plants, and the faint mist has not dissipated yet, making it a fairyland.

Chu Ran got off the boat first, looked around, then stopped at the same spot, and said after King Heng got off the boat: "Brother Heng Wang has something novel, otherwise it would be no fun to drink so dry."

These words came from Chu Ran's mouth, which surprised King Heng. When did she get so greedy for fun?Chu Ran's mind was spent on the court, and the prince gave advice behind his back, how did he change his mind?

He thought for a while, and said: "How do you want to play, the concubine is still here, and His Majesty will come over in a while."

Chu Ran glanced at him, and it seemed that His Majesty loved King Heng very much these days, otherwise why would he come here.She pretended to smile and said: "Brother Heng Wang is thinking too much, I will just say it casually, and besides, we came back from the south, the scenery there is very beautiful, and this Yunmeng Lake has lost some of its color."

When she said this, Heng Wang only thought that she was having fun outside and was thinking about it when she came back. He said with a smile: "I'm afraid today won't be as you wished. It's very cool here. It's very good to escape the heat in summer."

The two brothers and sisters talked while walking, halfway through, King Heng suddenly turned around, and said apologetically: "This king is greedy for the scenery, and forgot that Prime Minister Lu is still there, it's my fault."

He pretended to look at Chu Ran, as if he was blaming her for ignoring Lu Xiang.

"It's okay, the scenery here is really good." Lu Shi said, she looked at the girl walking in the distance, slightly startled, and leaned over to salute: "Your Highness."

Ling Yi walked briskly, took Lu Shi's arm without thinking, and said affectionately: "Prime Minister, there is a good Liubo chess over there, let's try it, okay?"

Liubo chess is different from ordinary chess pieces and has a complex design.

Chu Ran didn't know, she didn't care about it, and she didn't bother to study it. Watching the two go away, Heng Wang said: "Can Xinping go and see?"

"Also." Chu Ran didn't shy away from it, and went with King Heng.

When entering Qingliang Hall, the chess game has already started.

Ling Yi is delicate and pretty, with bright black eyes, and Lu Shi on the opposite side is serious. The two have different temperaments, and the picture is extremely harmonious.Chu Ran glanced at it, then picked up a cup of sour plum soup and drank it.

But Heng Wang said: "You two are having a good time, why don't we just sit and be bored, why don't we make a bet, okay?"

Ling Yi's eyes lit up, and he said, "Brother, what do you want to give me?"

"Don't talk too early, Prime Minister Lu may not necessarily lose, I'll bet on Prime Minister Lu." Heng Wang patted Ling Yi's head, and there was laughter all around, Ling Yi blushed and stuck out his tongue.

When they talked about betting, Chu Ran had already finished a cup of sour plum soup, and there were a few cups left beside her. When she was about to drink again, she subconsciously looked at Lu Shi.

When he raised his eyes, he found that Lu Xiang was staring at her with cold eyes.

Chu Ran put back the iced sour plum soup in his hand, and looked away from it.

That look was fierce.

She still misses Lu Xiang who was gentle in the secret passage yesterday, she didn't feel anything in the past, but now she suddenly feels uncomfortable after seeing Lu Shi who treats her tenderly.

Everyone else is betting, but she is the only one who is struggling with sour plum soup, feeling depressed, staring down at the sour plum soup in the cup, and cherishing what she can't get.

After a while, Heng Wang called her: "Xinping, who do you think will win?"

Chu Ran turned sideways, glanced at the two of them inadvertently, and said quietly: "I didn't bring any gold and jade today, I'm afraid I don't have the money to bet, Brother Heng Wang will play by himself."

She was very depressed in her heart, and being said by Heng Wang added a bit of bitterness, and the injury on her shoulder was aching.

Seeing her like this, other people just thought she wanted to drink sour plum soup, and they didn't care. Only Heng Wang chased after her: "Xinping, is it possible that the jade pendant on your waist is not jade? If you gamble with your jade, who will win?"

The jade around Chu Ran's waist was given to her by the previous queen on her birthday, and King Heng saw it. She squeezed her jade tightly and refused her: "My aunt gave it to me. Brother Heng Wang don't want it!" just kidding."

Ling Yi held her chin and said: "Sister, don't be stingy, I will give it to you if I win it, how about it?"

Chu Ran had doubts. If she didn't respond, she didn't know how to praise her. After hesitating, she took off the jade pendant and handed it to the palace man beside her, saying: "Then Lingyi wins, remember to return it to me."

After joking around, Lu Shi still stared at the board, as if thinking about how to move.

Seeing that the two were not talking or joking, Concubine Xian sighed in her heart and dragged Chu Ran out for a walk.

Just as Chu Ran had this intention, she took her hand and walked to the corridor. The scenery outside was beautiful, with lush trees covering most of the sunlight. The two of them walked in the forest, going deeper and deeper.

Concubine Xian has three princes under her knees, she is now eight years old, just at the age of fun, he has to go to school today, but he hasn't come here yet.

Chu Ran was about to meet her today, so in case someone followed, he walked all the way to the depths.The forest covers the sky and the sun, and there is no way to hide people around. She first said: "The queen is generous, how can I treat my empress well?"

Concubine Xian paused, stopped, and said, "What does Your Highness mean?"

"I went to the south of the Yangtze River this time to play, and I saw a lot of rare objects, and the storytelling in the teahouse was also very exciting. Madam, you know, I stayed in the teahouse for seven or eight days, and I went to listen to books every day." Chu Ran said.

"Your Highness is young, and it's common for him to love to play." Concubine Xian knew what she meant, so she joked.

Chu Ran touched the rough bark on the tree trunk, smiled, and said: "I heard a story. There was a rich family in the local area who raised two sons. They came from the belly of the first wife and the concubine. She treats the son as her own, and she will satisfy whatever the concubine's son asks for. Gradually, the concubine's son becomes idle and illiterate, and the rich man is so angry that he gives all his property to the son born by his wife , and don’t give a penny to the idle son.”

The story was very short, but Concubine Xian's face turned pale when she heard it, and she squeezed her cuffs tightly. She tried her best to maintain a smile on her face, "His Royal Highness's story is very nice, it's, very, beautiful."

She was a little incoherent, but Chu Ran didn't care, and walked out of the dense forest.

When they returned to the hall, there was a lot of excitement in the hall, and when they entered, they saw Lu Xiang holding her jade pendant in his hand, and the corners of his lips curled slightly.Seeing her, Ling Yi was frustrated for a while: "Sister, I lost, your jade pendant was given to Lu Xiang, you go and get it back?"

Chu Ran is not good at chess, let alone the more complicated Liubo chess. She refused with a smile: "I'm not very good at it. Since Lu Xiang won, I will give it to Lu Xiang. I have no ability to win it back."

In her words, she hinted that Lu Xiang would return the jade pendant to her, but Lu Xiang didn't even raise his head, her face was slightly red and slightly embarrassed.

Hengwang smiled, "Xinping is here, let Lingyi win it back for you."

"It's not very interesting, it's better to play other things. I see the coolness in the forest outside, which is just suitable for throwing pots." Chu Ran directly refused, turned around to look, and there was no shadow of Concubine Xian. Presumably, she couldn't stand the excitement and went back to the palace. went.

The banquet still needs to wait for Emperor Chu to come over, even if it is singing and dancing, it will not work.Heng Wang asked someone to arrange, Ling Yi never pulled Lu Shi again this time, but dragged Chu Ran away.

Lu Shi stayed in the hall alone, just when the palace servants came to clean up and wanted to remove the sour plum soup, she waved her hand to signal the palace servants to go out first.

She sat down and took one, it was no longer iced, but when she picked it up, there was a pool of water stains on the table, which showed that it was really cold just now.

With injuries on my body, I still want to drink two cups, I really don't care about my body.

Her mouth was dry, so she took a drink, and the waiter in the outer room invited her to the dense forest.

The dense forest is the place where Chu Ran talked with Concubine Xian just now, she left the palace after finishing her clothes, and there was no palace person to guide her way when she went there, so she wanted to call someone to guide her way.

There are many trees on the island, and many rare birds are raised, some of which occasionally fly out from the forest.

After waiting for a while, no one from the palace passed by, so he simply went back to the palace to wait, but was suddenly caught by someone on the way back, and was directly dragged into the strange palace.

There was a rapid breathing sound in the ear, followed by an impatient voice: "Lu Xiang, return the jade pendant to me."

With his heart beating violently, Lu Shi leaned against the palace door, and after recovering, he said, "Your Highness should know, I won this."

Chu Ran didn't know what she was thinking, and said angrily, "I'll exchange the other with you, okay?"

The doors and windows in the hall were closed and the light was dim. Lu Shi stared at her flushed face and said, "Your Highness is so reckless, are you afraid of being discovered?"

"No, that Xiang Hengwang throws pots with others, and no one will care about you and me except him. Where did you put the jade pendant?" Chu Ran was used to playing around with her, and after a few months of getting along, he no longer sticks to it. Due to the etiquette and anxiety in her heart, she reached out and wanted to touch her cuff.

It was silent outside, and both of them lowered their voices.

Seeing her making a move, Lu Shi grabbed her restless hand and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, don't mess around."

Chu Ran didn't care about her, and wanted to break free from her hand, saying: "You are playing chess with Ling Yi, why do you use my things as a prize."

Lu Shi was not as strong as Chu Ran, and she was almost about to break free. She pressed her back against the palace door, unable to retreat, feeling helpless, and said, "I'll give it back to you."

Chu Ran calmed down immediately, and most of the grievances in her heart dissipated. She lingered on her cuff, touched her white and slender arm, and quickly let go of her hand: "You, you pay me back first."

The two got very close, Chu Ran's hot breath sprayed on Lu Shi's eyelashes, she took a deep breath, took it out of her sleeve pocket and gave it back to her.

After winning the jade pendant, Chu Ran was determined and raised her eyebrows, but when she looked up, she saw Lu Shi's eyebrows froze. She felt unreasonable again, and said guiltily, "I'm sorry, I'll go back and choose a piece of Hetian jade for you, that one is better."

Lu Shi glanced at her, but did not answer.

When it is angry.

When Chu Ran saw her angry, the scene in her dream flashed through her mind.However, Lu Shi in the dream was calm and patient, and it was the first time she was angry, so she coaxed in a low voice, "Don't be angry."

Lu Shi rubbed his hands, but did not answer.

Chu Ran was in a hurry, so she wanted to look at her wrist, but she reached out and found nothing. She was a little anxious, but there were hurried footsteps outside, followed by a voice, "Has anyone seen Lu Xiang?"

Chu Ran looked around the interior of the hall. There were eight screens inside. She pulled Lu Shi and hid there.Lu Shi, who was pulled by her, couldn't keep up with her footsteps and stumbled. Fortunately, Chu Ran supported her quickly.

The two committed themselves behind the screen, but the sound outside was louder. Chu Ran ignored that this was the only way to go to the dense forest. She stuck to Lu Shi tightly, and didn't feel the heat when she was anxious, until someone pushed the door in.

The light in the hall is much brighter.