sick princess

As the saying goes, before soldiers and horses move, food and grass go first.Even if Emperor Zhaode had made up his mind to send troops to crusade against the King of Yunnan, it would not be something that could be done overnight with lip service.

If so, even the slightly alert people in the palace could feel that the recent atmosphere is dignified, which is different from the past.

As one of the courtiers most trusted by Emperor Zhaode, Concubine Zhou's elder brother got the task of delivering food and grass as he wished. In Emperor Zhaode's view, it is not difficult to win the King of Yunnan. This battle, It's just for people to take some credit for nothing, so he put his own people into the team as much as possible, in order to let the group of people under him get some credit.

Of course, Emperor Zhaode was not completely out of his wits. In an irrelevant position, he was naturally assigned to a relative, but to assist the prince, or the generals who assisted him in the battle, it was still necessary to use people with real talents and real learning.Shi Mohuai's drunken life and dreams led to the loss of several cities in the north. He has not forgotten that if the general is not good enough, it is easy to capsize in the gutter.

According to Emperor Zhaode's original intention, Emperor Zhaode would naturally be willing to use the Lan family father and son.But An Guogong is now guarding the west, and he can't leave. Although Lan Chengyu looks like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, he is unstoppable, but he has been to a limited number of places and he is not familiar with the terrain of Yunnan.Yunnan is mountainous, with a different climate and geographical location from Beirong.

When Lan Chengyu fought Beirong, he made a dangerous move and won, but it doesn't mean that he can also have an advantage when facing the King of Yunnan.

After thinking about it, Emperor Zhaode appointed an old future who had fought many times with the former King of Yunnan to assist him and the prince, and decided that once the war started, Lan Chengyu would lead the army to support him at the border.

It was in such an atmosphere that Baoluo spent her 14th birthday.

Originally, according to the degree of favor she received, when it was her birthday, the palace would definitely make a big fuss and make a lot of fun.However, Emperor Zhaode is now fully focused on how to defeat the King of Yunnan in one fell swoop and completely depose the hereditary King of Yunnan, and he is not in the mood to think about other things.

Naturally, Baoluo also took the initiative to ask for a reduction in her birthday expenses. According to her words: "It's not a full-year birthday, so there is no need to make a fuss. Why don't you save the money and send it to the border. Give it to the ordinary people who have been hit by disasters, and let them remember the goodness of the father."

Baoluo never forgot to earn a good reputation for Emperor Zhaode. When Emperor Zhaode heard this, he was quite moved, and patted Baoluo's head: "You child, why do you always think about me, and don't think about yourself at all?" Think about it? Although after several wars, the money in the national treasury is a little tight now, but I will not be short of your flowers, what you want, just buy it, don't save money for me."

Baoluo looked at Emperor Zhaode with a smile: "But—I don't want anything. As long as the father can bring back victory and peace, it is the best gift for my son."

Emperor Zhaode was stunned, and couldn't help but patted her hand: "You child, you are so well-behaved that it makes people feel distressed. Could it be that you are a roundworm in my stomach, talking about what I like to hear?"

"If it's possible, I would rather be a roundworm in the stomach of my father." Baoluo made a face at Emperor Zhaode, causing Emperor Zhaode to scratch her nose: "In this way, I can be a roundworm at any time." Knowing what your father is thinking, you can solve your father's worries and problems in time."

"With this son and daughter, what can I ask for!" Emperor Zhaode pointed to Baoluo and said with emotion to Eunuch Liang: "People outside always say that I dote on Baoluo too much. All the sons and daughters combined are not as filial as Baoluo alone, so how could I not spoil her?"

Eunuch Liang echoed with a smile: "What the emperor said is that the emperor is kind, and the princes and princesses below are all filial. It is really a blessing for the royal family. Even in the past dynasties, such a situation is extremely rare."

Emperor Zhaode laughed out loud when he heard the words, and Baoluo pursed his lips as well, a sarcasm flashed across his clear black and white eyes.

"Next year, when you reach Jiji, your birthday, I will make a good plan for you." Emperor Zhaode said to Baoluo.

Baoluo lowered her head and made a gesture of joy: "Thank you, father."

In this way, Baoluo's birthday passed in a low-key manner.

On the day of her birthday, Empress Xu only set up a small table of dishes that she cooked herself in the palace. She, the prince, and Baoluo sat down and had a simple meal.The process was plain and boring, and there was nothing to repeat, but it made Baoluo feel very warm, at least, better than the prosperous and grand birthday party full of intrigue in previous years.

Baoluo feels that celebrating a certain day really doesn't depend on the form.

If you can be with the people you like and the people you are close to, you will be very happy.

For many people outside the palace, this may be an ordinary daily life, but for Baoluo, mother and son, it is extremely precious.

Baoluo was not in good health, so he offered tea to the prince instead of wine.The prince will travel far away soon, and this can be regarded as practicing for him.

"Brother Prince is going on an expedition, so you must be careful. I always feel that Concubine Zhou and those who are determined to win the position of Brother Prince will not let go of this opportunity. Brother Prince is outside, so there must be guards and secret guards by his side at all times. Watch out, don't put yourself in danger alone."

The prince nodded: "I know. As I said, I want to protect my mother and sister. If I can't even protect myself, how can I fulfill my original promise? Sister, don't worry. I still cherish it. Besides—"

He lowered his voice: "This time, the royal father and eldest sister's son-in-law are also going on an expedition, and I will not be left alone. If some people want to do something to me, they'd better weigh it carefully. If they accidentally hurt me and me The people in the same company... It's not my fault."

When Baoluo and Queen Xu heard this, their eyes widened.

Presumably, this news should only be known to a few people.

With a slight roll of Baoluo's eyeballs, she guessed what Emperor Zhaode was up to.

"When you put it that way, I'm starting to look forward to those people doing some little tricks—Father usually indulges some people very much. If the knife is not stuck on him, he just doesn't know it hurts." Baoluo said in a low voice. .

The prince did not smile.

Empress Xu looked around worryingly, and whispered to the prince, "You don't need to tell me and your sister about such things. Be careful that there are ears on the wall. Although there should be no problems in my Fengyi Palace at present, there are few It's always safer for one to know."

No matter when, Empress Xu always thinks about the prince and Baoluo.

The prince gave a low "hmm".He didn't intend to reveal more at first, he just said this to make Baoluo and Empress Xu feel at ease.He had already expected that there might be a twists and turns during the expedition.If they didn't say hello to Baoluo and Queen Xu in advance, the mother and daughter might not know what to worry about when the time comes.

……

Besides the crown prince and Queen Xu, some people also remembered Baoluo's birthday.Although Baoluo didn't plan to make a big deal this time, they still sent congratulatory gifts.

For example, those concubines who wanted to cling to and curry favor with the Central Palace lineage, such as Concubine Zhou and Concubine Feng De who had always done a good job of saving face, and the Seventh Prince also sent things to express their gratitude to Baoluo.

"Since my mother and concubine left, Sister Huang has helped me a lot, and I remember it in my heart." The Seventh Prince said to Baoluo, and when he said this, he also showed some sincerity.

Although it is difficult for him to get close to people and trust them, he is not ignorant of good and bad, so he naturally knows that Baoluo has some genuine concern for him.

Because he has devoted all his energy to contemplating Emperor Zhaode and Concubine Zhou these days, and because Baoluo is getting older, he no longer goes to study in the study room. Fire.Compared with other princes and princesses, the relationship between the Seventh Prince and Baoluo is considered good, but not so good.

However, it can be seen that the gift from the Seventh Prince was thoughtful.

Baoluo looked at the side in his hand and saw that it was a small animal that he wove himself. He could almost imagine how the Seventh Prince made this little thing out of the heavy homework and rushing to work.

Even people with all kinds of thoughts in the palace sent gifts. As Baoluo's best friend, Lan Chuyan was naturally not to be outdone.

Soon, she also came to the door with her own gift.

What she gave to Baoluo was the needle and thread she made herself, and a very fine mandarin duck stone. A thread was threaded on the mandarin duck stone, which was just right for hanging around her neck.

"It's nothing more than needlework, why did you still give me the Yuanyang stone?" After the item was in Baoluo's hands, Baoluo looked at Lan Chuyan puzzled.This mandarin duck stone looks very rare, and I don't know how hard the Lan family went to find it. It seems that the Lan family wanted to find a good marriage for Lan Chuyan.Why did Lan Chuyan give her the mandarin duck stone?

"Why, you are not happy to give you something?" Lan Chuyan pouted, looking unhappy.

"You gave me something out of your own kindness. How could I be unhappy? I just think that you should keep this mandarin duck stone for yourself."

"It's not that you're unhappy, you just keep it. I gave you this stone in the hope that you will have a good marriage."

Baoluo couldn't help but be moved by Lan Chuyan's heart: "Then I'll keep it."

But, I don't know, where is her marriage?For these, she has long since given up hope.

Baoluo stared blankly into the distance, a boy's smile and the string of beads he put on her inexplicably appeared in her mind... Although she couldn't tell whether she liked Lan Chengyu or not, but When you are with him, that kind of joyful emotion cannot be faked.

I am afraid that such pure feelings will never exist again in the future.

Lan Chuyan watched Baoluo hang the mandarin duck stone around her neck, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Actually, my stupid brother found this mandarin duck stone for me. He gave it to me, and I saw it immediately." I think it is very suitable for you, so I will give it to you again..."

When Baoluo heard this, the hand stroking the Yuanyang stone trembled suddenly.