Queen's Road in the Red House

After the empress dowager read the list of gifts, she ordered the palace staff to bring one of the congratulatory gifts from Nan'an Palace.

It was a pot of jade tree bonsai, with emerald as leaves and white jade as branches.

The Queen Mother put on the tortoiseshell mirror and looked at it: "It's very delicate, it's emerald leaves pierced with extremely thin gold threads." The autumn wind blew outside the window, and the leaves on the yushu trembled slightly, just like real leaves.The Queen Mother couldn't help becoming interested: "Go to the library and get more coral beads, colored glass beads, emerald beads, and pearls that go through the eyes."

Then ask Daiyu to sit together at a square rosewood table with the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea.

There are many skeletons of pearl hairpins on the table, all of which are semi-finished products.

On the high table next to it is an ebony and begonia-style openwork box full of pearl hairpins.

The empress dowager took out a lotus hairpin made of pink tourmaline beads and compared it to Daiyu's hair: "I like to wear pearl hairpins for fun on weekdays, and I am also idle at noon today. You little girl has a flexible mind and is just right Come and think of some new tricks with me."

The maid next to her changed two silently, and quickly tidied up the tools on the table.It can be seen that he is proficient in this way and specially accompanied the empress dowager to do handicrafts.

The empress dowager thought for a while: "Go to the side hall and invite girls from the Zhou family and the Zhen family."

After a while, Zhou Ling and Zhen Ran arrived.

After the empress dowager made this announcement, all the orders in the side hall also understood that the positions of two princes and concubines had already been determined by default.It's no wonder that among all the aristocratic women in Beijing, there is only Zhen Ran, a daughter from Jiangnan.

Some people who came here for the prince and concubine changed slightly.

This opportunity is immediately reduced by half!

Xue Baochai followed Mrs. Wang Ziteng with a calm and dignified expression: she also understood the matter.It's just that she knows in her heart that the prince and concubine is not a position she can take, so she doesn't care.

On the contrary, it was the fact that Daiyu was with the Queen Mother just now, which made her feel like a stone was pressing down on her heart.

"Baochai, when the banquet starts, go find Miss Lin and say a few words. Haven't you lived together in Jia's mansion for several years? It's always easy to talk between sisters. Look at the girls who entered the palace today, there are not a hundred There are also eighty, if you want to show your face, the best way is to let the Empress Dowager order you to come forward at the banquet, not to praise you, just mentioning you a little bit will have inexhaustible benefits."

Baochai felt that there was a lot of suffering: if she had known today, she would have been a fool more than a month ago to offend Daiyu because of Xiangyun!

Seeing her silence, Mrs. Wang Ziteng thought she was a little girl with a temper, so she gently pushed her: "Baochai, this is for your own good. My aunt has also experienced the rivalry between sisters, and she bowed her head to beg for help." It’s uncomfortable. But when you grow up, you’ll know that it’s the most unworthy thing to delay your own future just because of a gamble!”

Baochai hurriedly said, "Thank you, Auntie, I understand."

At this time, the eldest concubine of Xining Palace came to talk to Mrs. Wang Ziteng, so she put down Baochai and started talking about the past.

--

Zhou Ling and Zhen Ran meet the Empress Dowager again.

The empress dowager was very interested: "There is no need to be formal here in this palace, please sit here." She naturally has a magical charm, and her words are convincing for no reason.

Daiyu watched the two girls go from tense to relaxed.

Zhou Ling's muscles and bones are smooth, with a pair of beautiful almond eyes, looking bright and lively, which reminds people of pink and delicious peaches in summer.

She first asked Daiyu's name and age, and then called Sister Lin affectionately.

Zhen Ran is completely different from Zhou Ling.

The Zhen family is the emperor of the earth in the south of the Yangtze River. As the noble daughter of the Zhen family, she lives a better life than the princess, as if she has never lowered her head with arrogance.

Although she was born extremely beautiful, she carried a kind of loneliness.Even in front of the empress dowager, she was just observing the etiquette and had no intention of flattering her.

The empress dowager ordered someone to bring two picture albums, one was flowers of various colors, such as peony fragrance, rose condensation, autumn chrysanthemum frost, winter plum and snow, etc., and the other was a variety of auspicious patterns, such as Pixiu, reeds, geese, bats and other animals, or Chinese characters such as Fu Shou Lu are numerous.

"Choose the shape you like and ask them to fold out the outline with gold, silver and copper wire, and then you can wear beads."

Zhou Ling's eyes widened, and she turned over two pages with relish, and then she shared the pages with Daiyu in embarrassment: "Sister Lin, you choose first."

Then he said crisply: "I only opened my eyes here with the Queen Mother. I have stayed with my father in northern Xinjiang for these years, and I have never seen such a game."

The empress dowager smiled: "Then what do you usually do?"

Zhou Ling replied with a smile: "The courtiers can ride horses and throw pots, they are better than men." After speaking, she was a little uneasy.It is said that Jingzhong requires women to be chaste and quiet. If she learns from these men, the Queen Mother will not dislike her.

However, the queen mother just nodded gently: "That's very good. When I come to Shou'an Palace another day, I will throw some pots, but I can get four or five out of ten."

Zhou Ling's eyes lit up: "Okay, next time the minister will accompany the empress to throw the pot."

Then he lowered his head to choose patterns with Daiyu.

Zhou Ling chose a five-petal peach blossom in full bloom, while Daiyu chose a dewy hibiscus.Seeing that Zhen Ran was still flipping through another booklet slowly, Zhou Ling passed the message to her and asked, "What does Sister Zhen's family like?"

Stretching out her head, seeing Zhen Ran's eyes rest on a wild goose, she smiled: "It turns out that my sister likes wild geese, and wild geese are loyal birds, which is a good omen."

Zhen Ran's eyes were as cold as a pool of water in winter: "No, I don't like wild geese, I like eagles or stags." Then he closed the album: "It's a pity that there are none here."

Zhou Ling: ...

Daiyu handed over the book at hand: "Then sister Zhen, what kind of flowers do you like?"

Zhen Ran was very courteous and took it over to say thank you.But he didn't even open it: "I don't like flowers. When they bloom, they will thank you. It makes people look miserable."

For a while, no one spoke.

Zhou Ling frowned, and quietly pulled La Daiyu: "This man is so difficult to speak, he is really lonely."

Daiyu couldn't help but sigh with emotion. In the Rongguo Mansion, she had an evaluation of "I am proud of myself, and I have no dust in my eyes". Many little maids said behind their backs that she was not easy-going.But now that he saw Zhen Ran, he knew what it meant to be bad, and he didn't even give the empress dowager face.

But she is so cold, and it's not because she doesn't know how to behave presumptuously, so that people can't say anything.

The empress dowager turned a deaf ear to it, as if these girls were friendly, or she didn't care if they fought on the spot.She just put a few pearls together and carefully made the white rabbit's tail.

Or a court lady next to her said softly: "Miss Zhen, this servant can fold a stag, can I fold one for you?"

Zhen Ran didn't refuse this time, instead, she nodded immediately, "Please trouble me, sister." Then she specially emphasized: "There must be antlers, and stags have very majestic antlers."

Daiyu saw that she didn't seem to be throwing the field, but she seemed to really like the stag.

Zhou Ling suddenly said from the side: "It turns out that sister Zhen likes deer antlers, next time I will bring you a few boxes of deer antlers! If you don't like pieces, I will bring you whole ones. There are so many of these things in Beijiang. yes."

Zhen Ran's face and eyes immediately turned cold.

Daiyu: ...all of you are really good at talking.

--

Royal Garden Plum Garden.

Xin Hongcheng smiled and said, "Second brother, good morning."

The second prince's face was cold, a gust of wind seemed to be able to blow off a layer of ice.

His gaze shifted from Xin Hongcheng to King Rui who was standing with his hips akimbo.

The second prince saluted and said: "Uncle Rui, you are our brother's close relative and elder, and you were originally a stable and noble person for a lifetime. But the fourth brother has pulled you to catch me this time, isn't it pulling you and Princess Zhengui into it? The private affairs between us brothers, have you been injustice?"

King Rui frowned: "What are you talking about, I brought him here."

Xin Hongyuan choked.

Xin Hongcheng slapped his hands: "Second brother's tongue has always been able to turn black and white, I have learned it many times."

Xu Ying next to her was startled when the two of them appeared, and she finally came to her senses, let out a short scream, and then covered her face with her sleeve.

King Rui pointed at her: "What's the use of covering your face now, why did you go so early!"

Xu Ying couldn't help crying again.

The second prince gave her a cold look: "It's all the fault of this woman, she must have met him in private to cause this accident!"

He turned to look at Xin Hongcheng: "Fourth brother, the festival between you and me is a matter between the two of us. But if you make a fuss about today's matter, it will ruin the reputation of the Xu family girl and harm her. life."

Xin Hongcheng's eyes were full of unyielding sharpness.

King Rui said foolishly: "Why did he ruin the reputation of the girl from the Xu family? It's obvious that you met her privately. You are quite good at pushing others. If I have your ability, I won't be punished by my father all these years." The emperor chased and beat him."

The second prince's heart sank.

Why is King Rui so persistent? Just now, he did not renew his old relationship with Xu Ying. Instead, he swung his sword to cut off the thread of love, and prepared to marry the girl from the Zhen family wholeheartedly. King Rui should be on his side.

His puzzlement only lasted for a moment, and he immediately got the answer.

King Rui pointed at him and said, "It's just a man like you who wants to marry my cousin, you're dreaming! She's the best girl in the Zhen family, and I hugged her when she was born! She won't To marry you, she wants to marry an infatuated man like her cousin me!"

Xin Hongcheng coughed.

The previous few sentences were nothing more than that, King Rui's last sentence, which claimed to be an infatuated species, really shocked him.

After hearing these few words, Xin Hongcheng suddenly realized: "Uncle Rui Wang, so you didn't discover this incident by accident today, but you deliberately followed my second brother?"

King Rui nodded: "Yes. However, after going to Beijing, she met me once. She said she didn't want to marry into the palace, but everyone in the family forced her." King Rui grabbed Xin Hongcheng as if complaining: "I'm going to beg my father Emperor, I was beaten out when I went to beg my mother and concubine. Even the emperor called me a dog and a mouse. But it is my cousin, how can I be a dog and a mouse? So I have been following you, the second brother, trying to catch His fault."

Then he pointed at Xin Hongyuan and shouted: "So don't try to argue! I know everything from the eunuch next to you receiving a letter from a maid to the time you asked him to lead Miss Xu over. I don't allow you to marry Ranran. , you just follow me to the imperial court—the imperial decree of marriage has not been issued, and there is still time for everything!"

The second prince's face was ashen.

Xin Hongcheng stretched out his hand: "Second brother, please. My brother is willing to testify for you."

His eyes flicked across the girl who was crying helplessly at the same place: If it spreads and people know, probably this Miss Xu really has to die to preserve her family's reputation and her sister's future.

So Xin Hongcheng said: "Second brother, you don't want to make a big fuss about this matter. Let's talk about this matter in front of the emperor's grandfather and father. The girl from the Xu family proposes marriage to you, which is the best of both worlds."

Sure enough, Xu Ying's crying became much quieter.

Xin Hongyuan knew that today's affairs could not be good, and cracks finally appeared on his gentle and suave face, and there was a bit of ferocity in his smile.

"You can pretend to be a good person! Heh, in fact, you are just afraid that I will marry the Zhen family!"

Xin Hongcheng spread his hands: "Second brother can do whatever he says."

King Rui didn't like to hear their brothers playing games, so he kept urging: "Hurry up and clarify this matter, in case the imperial brother is happy today, his head gets hot and he sends out the imperial decree of marriage, it will be broken!"

Xin Hongcheng wasn't worried: after all, this was a flower viewing banquet held in the name of the Empress Dowager's birthday, and it wasn't a talent show. Unless the emperor's brain was hit by a stone, he would never do anything about marriage on the spot.It is estimated that it will take ten days and a half months before the imperial decree is promulgated.

Although everyone knows what's going on inside, the fig leaf is still needed.

King Rui was impatient, and commanded the confidant eunuchs who had already prepared, and took Xu Ying to Mingzheng Palace in a sedan chair, and he must not be seen or robbed.

And he himself stayed behind, like Xin Hongcheng and the two humming the second general, personally pressing the second prince to go to the imperial court.

The second prince knew that the situation was over, so he didn't struggle.Even the voice calmed down, but the words he uttered were even more chilling: "Fourth brother, today you ruined my marriage, but you have to remember, you will pay for what you give!"

Xin Hongcheng stopped.

Suddenly, he thought of an extremely bold idea.

If this idea works, maybe I don't have to regret it for the rest of my life.

He turned his face to the side and showed a ostentatious smile towards the second prince: "Second brother, you are overthinking this. The emperor has always favored me. Who is this flower viewing banquet for? You don't understand, do you?" Your marriage is ruined today. From now on, you will not only lose the support of the Zhen family, but you may also offend Concubine Zhen Gui. But I am different from you. My father will choose for me a woman with many in-laws from her mother's family who has real power as the concubine .”

Under the eyes of the second prince wanting to eat people, Xin Hongcheng continued to walk slowly, and said in a very awkward tone: "Not only the main concubine, but also the side concubine. My side concubine must also be born noble.

But second brother, have you ever thought that Xu Yushi is only from the fifth rank, and his daughter becomes your main concubine, what will happen to your side concubine?You can't be born better than the main concubine, haha, do you think your side concubine will be the daughter of the seventh-rank chief official, or simply the daughter of the ninth-rank official department secretary?

I'm sorry, second brother, I forgot, the official position of secretary has been abandoned as a idle position since our father ascended the throne. "

The second prince's most important thing is status and family background. Xin Hongcheng deliberately poked his heart with every sentence, which really made him so angry that his heart, liver, spleen and lungs hurt.

The main reason is that these hypotheses mentioned by Xin Hongcheng are likely to become reality!

Xin Hongyuan suddenly turned around and grabbed Xin Hongcheng's collar.

King Rui who buried his head on his way and ignored what they said was taken aback: "Wow, don't fight now, okay? After this matter is over, you go to my house. There are eighteen kinds of weapons. You can fight I won't even care!"

Xin Hongcheng had never seen the second prince lose his temper so much, he raised his hand to remove the second prince's hand: "Second brother, why bother, you win the king and lose the bandit, you have to admit it if you lose."

Then he didn't tidy up his skirts, just crumpled like this.

Xin Hongcheng pointed to his collar: "Uncle Rui, Uncle Wang, you just saw that he grabbed my collar and wanted to hit me."

King Rui still needed Xin Hongcheng to testify, so he immediately nodded madly: "I saw it, and I will tell Brother Huang in a while that Xin Hong was hit by you and me, and became angry from embarrassment. Half dead."

Xin Hongcheng: "Well... there is no need to exaggerate like this, forget it, let me tell the story."

King Rui said that you do what you want: "You come, you come, Brother Huang listens to you, not to me."

As the two sang together, the second prince's eyes turned red with anger.

He looked at Xin Hongcheng's silhouette that resembled Emperor Xuanhe, and he was mad with hatred: He really liked Xu Ying, she was gentle and beautiful and devoted her whole heart to him, but he couldn't marry her, otherwise, what would he use to compete with Xin Hongcheng? !

The emperor's father was partial to this point, and Xin Hongcheng had the Zhong family and the Yang family, but the emperor still didn't think it was enough, and wanted to find famous and noble daughters for him in Beijing to help him even more!

No, even if his in-laws with the Zhen family are ruined, he will never watch Xin Hongcheng get his wish!

--

Just when the western clock on the table struck eleven, a female official from Shou'an Palace hurried in and whispered a few words in the Empress Dowager's ear.

The Empress Dowager's expression was as usual, but her gaze moved across Zhen Ran's face calmly.

--

Xin Hongcheng, who came out of Mingzheng Palace, still smelled of ambergris.

Just now he told Emperor Xuanhe about everything about the plum garden, and beside him was King Rui's slapstick, looking for death and blessings, the emperor was furious.

This time, he has personally brought the Second Prince and King Rui to meet the Supreme Emperor.

The ending has been decided, and Xin Hongcheng is not going to follow him to add insult to injury: Ever since he entered the palace, the Supreme Emperor's attitude towards him has been a little elusive, it's better not to go at this time.

Xin Hongcheng did not return to Wende Palace, but went straight to Ruyi Hall.

Today, there is a flower viewing banquet in Shouan Palace, and dozens of painters have been sent out to paint for this grand event in the huge Ruyi Pavilion.

The Ruyi Pavilion, which is usually crowded, looks particularly deserted at this time.

Xin Hongcheng knew the way, and went straight to his old acquaintance, the old painter Zhang.

Old painter Zhang had a serious psychological shadow because of Xin Hongcheng pretending to be a little eunuch, and now his hands tremble when he hears something about viewing flowers, so he didn't go to Shou'an Palace today, but stayed to guard the Ruyi Pavilion.

Not only that, since what happened last time, he has been preparing to retire and return to his hometown. Now that the approval documents have come down, he can pack his bags and return to his hometown in three days.

In the future, I will hold the title of painter of Ruyi Pavilion in the palace and teach students among the famous families in my hometown, so that I can live a leisurely and rich life.

Xin Hongcheng has a relationship with Master Zhang. Two days ago, he heard that the old man was going to retire and return to his hometown, so he specially ordered Anthurium to send 100 taels of silver as a gift.

After all, concubines in the harem don't ask people to paint for rewards every day. Most of the painters live on meager salaries, and they don't have much money.

But Xin Hongcheng didn't come here today to say goodbye to painter Zhang.

Old painter Zhang smashed the teacup on the ground with trembling hands, and the goatee also trembled. He said in disbelief, "Your Highness, what are you talking about?"

Xin Hongcheng repeated patiently: "The night before leaving the palace, help me with something. At that time, you will pretend to be drunk and find an opportunity to reveal in front of artist Tao or artist Yin that I once dressed up as a girl for Jianlin. The matter of the little eunuch of Ruyi Hall."

Old painter Zhang finally confirmed that he did not have auditory hallucinations, and shouted straight up: "Your Highness, I still want this old life!"

Xin Hongcheng smiled: "For your money, add another 500 taels."

Old painter Zhang suddenly stopped shaking: "This minister is willing to do things for His Highness!"

He was about to retire from the palace, so he could run away after saying these two drunken words, and it was worthwhile to exchange 500 taels.

Xin Hongcheng's smile deepened: "In addition to this, you have to 'accidentally' reveal that a sketch of Miss Lin's silhouette that I drew was missing. And I happened to come to the Ruyi Museum to select paintings that day."

Old painter Zhang was stunned: "Your Highness..." Where did he get the courage to imply that the prince was a thief and stole his painting?

Xin Hongcheng put a finger in front of his lips: "This sentence is worth 1000 taels."

Old painter Zhang's eyes showed that he was desperate: "This humble minister takes orders!"

The author has something to say: the weekend is here, and I will add another one at noon tomorrow~