(This is a story about a female lead focused on survival and a manipulative, utterly dark male lead. It's a happy ending with some self-indulgent elements from the author. If you find anything ...
Is Chapter 46 hinting at my being noisy?!
When Zhao Mingzhu and Gu Qingheng arrived at Shoukang Palace, they only heard the old empress dowager's kind voice.
"I haven't seen you for many years. Xun'er has grown a lot taller."
The next moment, Zhao Mingzhu heard Princess Jingning muttering behind her:
"It's been eight years, it would be strange if I hadn't grown taller."
Zhao Mingzhu couldn't help but look back at her. Jingning smiled when she saw her looking over and asked, "Has the Emperor's sister-in-law met the Third Emperor?"
Zhao Mingzhu shook her head: "I forgot what he looked like." There was no such person in her mind at all.
After the three of them entered, they said, "Grandson and granddaughter-in-law pay their respects to the Imperial Grandmother."
The old queen asked them to stand up and then ordered someone to give them seats.
Zhao Mingzhu looked at the man opposite. He was wearing a black brocade robe and his face looked 70% like Gu Qingheng. He also looked over, but his eyes were full of provocation.
"Your Highness, it's been so many years since we last met that I almost forgot what you looked like."
Gu Qingheng sat down and poured tea, calmly saying, "It doesn't matter if you forget. Prince Jing will remember it if he looks at it more."
"Hmph." Gu Xun curled his lips.
It's still the same face, which makes people unable to help but tear off that hypocritical face, just like his bitch mother.
After Zhao Mingzhu sat down, she lowered her head and picked her hands. Anyone with enough experience could see that there was a discord between Prince Jing and Gu Qingheng.
It doesn't matter, just don't involve her.
"What is my sister-in-law thinking about?" Prince Jing suddenly said.
Zhao Mingzhu: “…” What you fear will come true.
"I'm thinking your title is excellent. It must have been carefully chosen by our father, who placed great expectations on you."
Zhao Mingzhu raised her head and smiled slightly, her eyes full of innocence.
Princess Jingning burst out laughing, and Prince Jing raised his voice:
"What do you mean? Are you implying that I'm noisy?!"
Zhao Mingzhu was surprised: "Why is the prince so anxious? Does he think that the title given by the emperor is not good, or what?"
Prince Jing was speechless and could not say that his father was wrong. He glared at Zhao Mingzhu with a gloomy face.
Gu Qingheng pushed the magnolia soft cake in his left hand in front of her and said before the old empress dowager could defend Prince Jing:
"Princess, please give it a try. The pastry chef in the Imperial Grandmother's palace is from Jiangnan."
Zhao Mingzhu understood what he meant and knew that it was enough. She cooperated and picked up the pastry and ate it slowly.
"Okay, you're so grown up, why are you still like a child? Xun'er, sit down." The old empress dowager glanced at Zhao Mingzhu and saw that Gu Qingheng was protecting her.
This is somewhat unexpected.
At this time, the eunuchs outside shouted that His Majesty had arrived, and several people stood up: "Your son pays homage to the emperor."
"Everyone, get up. Today is a family dinner, so don't be restrained." Emperor Jingyuan looked at these children and realized that time had passed quickly and he had grown old.
"Where is Zhaohua?" she asked as Emperor Jingyuan saluted the empress dowager.
Today is the first time that Gu Xun and his sister return to Beijing. This family dinner is very important, but Gu Yu has not come yet.
The Empress Dowager looked unhappy. Emperor Jingyuan said, "The child had a rash last night and a high fever this morning. I have already checked on her. She is indeed unable to get up, so I will not let her rest."
Emperor Jingyuan sat in the main seat: "These children will have plenty of opportunities to meet in the future."
The old empress dowager initially thought that Gu Yu was unwilling to come, but after hearing that the emperor had personally visited him, she understood that he was really ill.
Just as Emperor Jingyuan thought, she only had these two grandchildren, so he could just turn a blind eye.
The palace maids all served the dishes in their hands one by one in unison. Emperor Jingyuan looked at Gu Xun and asked him some questions.
Then he asked Jingning, "Is Yanyan used to this trip?"
Princess Jingning bit into the braised meat and swallowed it. "Father, I'm fine. I'm eating well and sleeping well."
Prince Jing said coldly: "He vomited all over the carriage along the way. It's so disgusting."
Jing Ning's face froze and she blushed: "Royal brother, we are having dinner, please don't affect our appetite."
She looked from the Empress Dowager's frown to Zhao Mingzhu who was eating quietly across from her, but the other party seemed not to hear her.
"This prince has been like this since he was a child. Don't the Royal Grandmother and the Royal Father know that they need you to be a good person here."
After hearing this, the old empress dowager put down her chopsticks, sighed softly, and remembered that the child was expelled to the imperial mausoleum at a young age.
Emperor Jingyuan gave a dish to appease his innocent daughter who was angered:
"Well, delicious food should not be wasted, let's eat."
After so many years of estrangement, it is a rare opportunity to get together.
Zhao Mingzhu strolled alone in the imperial garden. After dinner, Emperor Jingyuan and his two sons went to the imperial study.
The Queen Mother obviously only wanted to be close to her granddaughter, so she left tactfully.
In front of him was a large clump of peonies, with birds occasionally chirping. Zhao Mingzhu said casually, "
The orioles and swallows are in full bloom in spring, and the flowers and willows are so beautiful. "
At this time, Princess Jingning caught up with her: "Sister-in-law, wait for me."
Zhao Mingzhu turned around. She was accompanying the Empress Dowager, so why did she run out by herself?
Perhaps understanding Zhao Mingzhu's doubts, Princess Jingning smiled and said:
"The Imperial Grandmother is old after all, and she has gone to rest. Jingning thought it would be boring to be alone, so she came to find you, the Imperial Sister-in-law."
When she smiled, she was free and easy, showing eight teeth, which was indeed different from the girls in the capital.
"So the princess wants me to visit the garden?"
Zhao Mingzhu was a little embarrassed. She was planning to find Gu Yu, but it seemed that this brother and sister were on different sides from Gu Qingheng and his sister.
Princess Jingning took out a spring-colored ice bracelet from her sleeve, pulled Zhao Mingzhu's hand, and forced her to put it on.
She admired it and said, "Good things should be matched with beautiful women." She was very satisfied with the wearing effect of the bracelet.
Icy skin and wrist bones, a touch of spring color.
Just as Zhao Mingzhu was about to take it down, she said politely, "The princess's people have already sent a copy to the East Palace. How can we ask for another one?"
But Princess Jingning took a step back and said indifferently:
"Don't be so formal, sister-in-law. Just think of it as a bribe."
She blinked and said, "Jingning will have to rely on the emperor's sister-in-law and sister to help me integrate into the academy."
After she finished speaking, she turned and left. When Zhao Mingzhu tried to chase her, she had already disappeared.
Zhao Mingzhu thought about it, turned around and went to find Gu Yu first to find out more about what kind of person Princess Jingning was.
Then decide what to do with the bracelet.
In Changle Palace, Gu Yu stood in front of the lotus pond, not knowing what he was thinking.
"Guess who I am?"
Gu Yu's mouth twitched: "Pigs, dogs, cows, horses, chickens, ducks, and geese."
Zhao Mingzhu let go speechlessly: "Then you are quite knowledgeable, knowing so many animals that have become spirits."
"Why didn't you give us a message when you were sick?"
"I'm pretending."
Gu Yu turned around and saw the bracelet hooked on her index finger. Gu Yu's eyebrows jumped: "Did she give it to you?"
Zhao Mingzhu then mentioned the bracelet: "Princess Jingning? Yes."
Gu Yu stretched out her hand, Zhao Mingzhu put it in her hand, and the next moment the bracelet was smashed to pieces.
Zhao Mingzhu thought instantly, there was no need to think about how to deal with it.
"You don't like her?"
Gu Yu remained silent and did not answer the question. He pushed Zhao Mingzhu out of Changle Palace.
"Why?"
Zhao Mingzhu looked at the door that was suddenly closed. What happened? At least tell her the reason.