As the chief eunuch of the Taiyang Palace, Liu Zhongbao was always careful in his words and deeds. Even the civil officials who were always picky about the eunuchs rarely criticized him.
The Emperor chose Miss Ming to be the Fifth Prince's princess consort. What he was attracted by was not Miss Ming's character and appearance, but her identity as a Miss Ming.
It is said that the emperor's heart is unpredictable, but the emperor is also a human being. When it comes to his favorite children, he always considers them a lot and paves the way for them.
The door of Ming's house was wide open, and he saw a girl in a flower-collared skirt standing next to the minister's wife. The girl was like the tender buds on a willow branch in early spring, full of vitality. Especially her eyes, like a clever cat under the moonlight, attracting people's sympathy.
"Madam, Miss." Liu Zhongbao bowed respectfully, and when he looked up, he saw the little girl from the Ming family kneeling to return the greeting. In her twinkling eyes, there was undisguised curiosity and an innocent smile.
Liu Zhongbao winked at her and smiled back.
Jiuzhu covered her mouth and smiled secretly. She turned around and saw that her mother and sixth brother were not paying attention to her. She quickly put her hands down. She was that well-behaved little girl again.
Seeing that Liu Zhongbao did not bring an imperial edict, Shen welcomed him into the main hall and ordered the servants to prepare fruits and snacks: "I didn't know that you would come today, my husband is still in the Ministry of Rites and cannot come to greet you. I hope you will forgive me."
"You are too polite, Madam." Liu Zhongbao took a sip of tea and said in a friendly tone, "Mr. Ming is loyal to the emperor and loves the country. He is dedicated to his duties. It is a blessing for Dayu to have such a good minister. Even Your Majesty often praises Mr. Ming."
"I am here today to run errands for your majesty and the Imperial Concubine." Liu Zhongbao smiled kindly, as if he was an old man who was very friendly with each other. "Since the Fifth Prince and your daughter got engaged, your majesty has been very busy with government affairs and has not had the opportunity to see Miss Ming. Tomorrow is the Imperial Concubine's birthday. Your majesty is concerned that Miss Ming has just returned to the capital and is worried that some things may not be fully prepared, so he asked this old servant to bring some things over."
Shen smiled and thanked: "Thank you, Your Majesty and Your Majesty, for your kindness."
"It's fine if Madam and Miss don't mind." Liu Zhongbao raised his hand, and the palace servants came in one after another, carrying, lifting, and picking up things, and soon the entire main hall was filled to the brim.
Looking at the things filling the room, Shen couldn't help but wonder how poor their family was in the eyes of the royal family that they needed financial support from their future in-laws every other day.
There were all kinds of items, including gold and silver jewelry, silks and satins, books and paintings, pens, ink, paper and inkstones, musical instruments, chess, and jade articles, and even toys that unmarried girls would like.
"Your Majesty learned that the young lady has made great achievements in painting, so he specially prepared the best paints, paper and pens for her." Liu Zhongbao opened one of the boxes, which was filled with small boxes of paint.
Ming Cunfu, who was sitting next to him, couldn't help but reveal an envious look.
"And these calligraphy and paintings." Liu Zhongbao opened another large box filled with scrolls: "Keep them for the young lady to enjoy."
Shen thought of the paintings her daughter made in her spare time, then looked at the paints and famous paintings, and let out a long sigh in her heart.
"Thank you, Your Majesty and Your Majesty, I like it very much." Jiuzhu's eyes lit up when she saw the box full of pigments.
"As long as the young lady likes it." Liu Zhongbao looked at Shen and suddenly asked, "I remember that Lord Ming's ancestors also inherited the title?"
"My ancestors once had a baron of the lowest rank. I am sorry to make you laugh." Shen smiled and said, "But my husband and the child's uncles have already left the Lingzhou family tree and established their own family. The glory of our ancestors should not be mentioned anymore."
"Madam, you don't have to be modest. Nowadays, when people in the world mention the Ming family, they naturally only think of the Ming family in Beijing. What does it have to do with others?" Liu Zhongbao smiled: "What the ancestors can do, how can the descendants not do it? Maybe they can even surpass them."
Without waiting for Shen to speak, Liu Zhongbao stood up and said, "I have the Emperor's orders and dare not stay any longer. I will take my leave now."
"It's lunch time, please have some tea and food before leaving." Jiuzhu tried to persuade him to stay.
"Thank you for your kindness, young lady. Next time if I have the chance, I will definitely taste your delicacies." Liu Zhongbao smiled and bowed to Jiuzhu, "Please come to the palace early tomorrow, young lady. Her Majesty misses you very much."
"Your Highness misses me very much, too." Jiuzhu knelt down and returned the greeting: "I will definitely go to Mingyue Palace early tomorrow to pay my respects to Your Highness."
Shen: “…”
My dear, you probably don't know that there are some words in this world that should not be taken seriously, and they are called polite words.
"That old servant will welcome the young lady in the palace." Liu Zhongbao led the palace servants away, and Ming Cunfu quickly escorted them to the door.
"Mr. Ming, please stay." Liu Zhongbao looked up at the plaque on the gate of Minister Ming's residence, smiled and said, "Please rest assured, His Majesty and His Majesty like Miss Ming very much."
After seeing Liu Zhongbao off, Ming Cunfu was puzzled. Did the former manager make such a trip just to give Jiuzhu a gift? As for the matter of the horse farm, he didn't even ask or mention it?
People say that the royal family is suspicious. What are they suspicious about?
What happened today was not royal at all.
Jiuzhu didn't know how suspicious the royal family was, but now that she had a lot of paint, she was very happy.
She thought she could paint a picture of thousands of miles and mountains, but unfortunately, before she even started her painting plan, she was persuaded by Shen to go back.
She wants to try on the palace dress, jewelry and shoes she will wear when she enters the palace tomorrow.
"No mistakes can be made in any way." Shen rarely spoke to Jiuzhu in a serious tone. She looked in the direction of the imperial city and said, "Jiuzhu, when you step into Mingyue Palace tomorrow, in the eyes of others, you will not only be the daughter of the Ming family, but also the future Princess Chen."
Jiuzhu stared at Shen in a daze.
"Don't be afraid." Shen smiled and stroked her daughter's head, her movements extremely gentle: "Mother will always help you."
"Don't be sad, mother." Jiuzhu looked at the smile on Shen's face. Although her mother was smiling at this moment, she knew that she was sad because her mother's eyes were full of her.
"My daughter is not afraid." She squatted in front of Shen seriously, not letting her miss the slightest expression on her face: "The sage Lao Tzu said: True words are not beautiful, beautiful words are not true. Good people do not argue, and those who argue are not good. People's hearts are complicated. My daughter may not be able to see through their hearts, but my daughter knows how to protect herself. Don't worry, I'm smart."
"Yes, our Jiuzhu is very smart." Shen smiled, "There is no girl in the world smarter than you, right?"
"Yes." Jiuzhu nodded.
"You, you." Shen was helpless and amused. Which smart child would say that he was smart? Just like a drunk person would never admit that he was drunk.
She held her daughter, whom she had found with great effort, in her arms, with a determined look in her eyes.
The candlelight was as dim as a bean. Sun Caiyao listened to the wind outside the window, but she could not even feel the coldness on her fingertips.
Tomorrow is the birthday of Concubine Su Guifei of Mingyue Palace, but in her dream, the birthday was over before it even began, and the entire Mingyue Palace was hung with mourning clothes.
Everyone said that Concubine Su was crazy. As an elder, she set up a mourning hall for the younger generation.
She only remembered the strips of white silk in her dream, entangled with the autumn wind in the cold night, cold and penetrating.
"Miss, it's time to go to bed."
The fingertips that had long been frozen trembled slightly, and when Sun Caiyao came to her senses, she found that her back was soaked with cold sweat.
Before dawn, Jiuzhu climbed out of bed and sat in front of the bronze mirror, waiting for the maids to help her dress up.
She is going to meet the Fairy Lady today, so she must dress herself up beautifully.
"Miss." Chunfen yawned and looked out the dark window: "Did you get up too early today?"
"I promised Eunuch Liu that I would go see the queen early today." Jiuzhu smiled at Chunfen and the maids and said, "Thank you for your hard work, sisters."
spring equinox:"……"
My dear lady, there is no need to take polite words so seriously.
In Mingyue Palace, Concubine Su got up and dressed. The palace maids brought her a box of jewelry. She picked out a few pieces and suddenly picked up a dragonfly-shaped lotus hairpin and said, "This hairpin will suit Jiuzhu very well."
He handed the hairpin to the female official: "Put it in a box and wait for Jiuzhu to come, then you can secretly give it to her."
There were many female guests at the banquet, so it was inappropriate to give only the nine-bead jewellery as a present. But if I didn't keep such a beautiful thing for my future daughter-in-law, would I give it to an outsider?
"This pair of earrings has fresh colors, and my daughter will look best wearing them. I'll keep them for Jiuzhu as well." Concubine Su picked out a bunch of things, preparing to leave them for her future daughter-in-law.
The female official was hesitant to speak, "Your Majesty, putting so many things together will make the target too obvious, and it will be difficult to deliver them "secretly".
"Liu Zhongbao said that Jiuzhu will come early today. You should arrange for someone to go to the palace gate to pick her up. There are many female relatives entering the palace today. She has just returned to Beijing. I am worried that someone will be wronged by her."
At this point, Concubine Su had already imagined someone bullying Jiuzhu: "Send two more female officials of high rank, and go now."
Female personal officer: "..."
Your Majesty, the family of civil officials is the most polite and considerate when speaking, but they are very methodical when doing things. How could the Ming family let their daughter enter the palace so early and leave behind the bad reputation of being a flattering concubine?
However, seeing the serious look on the queen's face and the box full of jewellery, the personal maid did not dare to discourage the queen's interest: "Your Majesty, I will go to the palace gate to welcome Miss Ming in person."
If she went, she could find an excuse to cover it up, at least not to disappoint the Empress too much.
"Okay." Concubine Su nodded: "I trust you the most."
The personal maid left the room and ordered two palace maids of high rank to follow her.
"Aunt Xiangshun, who are we going to pick up?" The palace maid was puzzled. With the status of a queen, who is worthy of being personally welcomed by Aunt Xiangshun?
"No talking." Xiangshen said expressionlessly, "Just do your best to fulfill the Majesty's orders, and don't ask any more questions."
"Yes." The palace maid didn't dare to ask any more questions and followed Xiangshen obediently.
"Isn't this the scented silk from Mingyue Palace?" On the palace road, Concubine Ning sat on the sedan chair and said, "Today is the birthday of Concubine Gui. Why are you here instead of serving Concubine Gui?"
Xiangshen knelt down and bowed without saying anything.
Concubine Ning lowered her eyelids and said, "It's the birthday of the Royal Concubine. I'm afraid that my unpromising nephew will disturb us, so I ordered him to stay at home. I wonder if the Royal Concubine is satisfied?"
Xiang Jun knew in her heart that Concubine Ning was still resentful about sending the young master of the Zheng family to Princess Qi for "teaching".
She bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, Madam, for your understanding of justice."
Concubine Ning's expression changed slightly, but she forced herself to swallow her anger.
Mingyue Palace, from top to bottom, will die sooner or later because of this arrogant temper.
Let's wait and see.
After seeing off Concubine Ning who was trying hard to suppress her anger, Xiangshen came to the palace gate and stood still. It was still early, and the palace gate was silent except for the guards on duty.
Xiang Xian lowered her eyelids slightly and stopped looking forward. She was not surprised by this result.
Suddenly, the sound of a carriage was heard in the distance.
She suddenly raised her head and looked into the distance. Her mind told her that even if a carriage came, it might not be Miss Ming, but she still held a glimmer of hope in her heart.
The carriage stopped in front of the palace gate. The driver placed a footstool in front of the carriage, and the first to get off were two maids.
The curtain of the carriage opened, and a girl wearing a wide-sleeved palace dress and a lily-like bun walked out.
She raised her head, met Xiangshen's eyes, and smiled innocently: "Aunt."
Xiangshen's hand hanging in front of her belly trembled slightly. She walked up to the girl and bowed: "Hello, Miss Ming."
"I'm not late, am I?" Jiuzhu pointed to her head and said, "It took me half an hour to comb this bun."
"The young lady is very beautiful today." Xiangshen reached out her hand, held Jiuzhu's arm, and said respectfully: "The queen is looking forward to the young lady's arrival, so she sent this servant here to welcome you."
The palace dress was complicated, so Jiuzhu didn't dare to walk too fast: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for caring about me. I am sorry for causing you trouble."
"I'm not tired." Xiang Xian smiled, "As long as I can pick up the girl, I'm glad."
"Little girl from the Ming family, stand there and don't move."
There was the sound of horse hooves behind him. Jiuzhu heard the familiar voice and turned around to see Prince Chen riding a horse towards him.
The horse ran to Jiuzhu, and the king pulled the reins, jumped off the horse, and his cloak fluttered in the air, showing his extraordinary momentum.
"Your Highness." The shawl on Jiuzhu's arms swayed slightly in the wind caused by Prince Chen's dismounting. She looked up at him.
His Highness is so tall, he seems to be half a head taller than her.
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