12. Serving Tea
◎Since ancient times, deep love is hard to find, and deep love does not last long◎
"The Queen has set the date for the marriage and the betrothal gifts for the third day of next month. After that, the concubines will offer tea to His Highness. Twenty days later, on November 23rd, the wedding ceremony will be held. It's really just a formality. The necessary gifts have been agreed upon. This incident happened suddenly, and the envoys from the mother country will probably arrive before the end of the year."
"Who was sent?" Rong Qianyu listened to the wedding arrangements indifferently.
Rong Pan replied, "It's the second son of the Minister of Rites. Wen Xiaqing, the Vice Minister of Rites, is the chief envoy, and two others in charge of diplomatic affairs are his deputies. They're traveling with a total of 128 people, and they've brought gifts for the princess and the crown prince's wedding. They'll depart soon and arrive in time for an audience before the first month of the year."
Wen Xiaqing?
When she heard the name, Rong Qianyu's originally dim eyes suddenly lit up. What was he doing here? He didn't know much about diplomatic affairs.
"It is said that... Lord Wen specifically requested it."
"What is he doing here? He's causing trouble!"
"Lord Wen has good intentions." Rong Pan knew her concerns and explained.
When Rong Qianyu mentioned him, she had some expectations in her heart, thinking that they would probably never meet again in this life, so it would be nice to have a thought about him.
I thought he was a clear-headed person, but I didn't expect that he would do such a stupid thing in the heat of the moment. I was reluctant to leave Japan, but today I feel a little resentful towards him.
Kindness?
She didn't take it seriously. "He shouldn't have come with good intentions. What can he do? What can he change? Old Master Wen's legs and feet are not in good condition in winter. He is not at home to serve his father, but has to come here to stir up trouble."
I had a bright future, but I had to do it for her... Why bother?
If she had not married into the Great Zhou, perhaps the two of them could have been together. They had been very close to each other in the past, and had a childhood sweetheart relationship.
Rong Qianyu lost her mother at a young age, and Wen Xiaqing became one of the few people in her life who was worthy of her trust.
Wen Xiaqing was born into a noble family and once sincerely wanted to move on, but how could she be worthy of the eldest son of a distinguished family? How many women yearned for this talented and romantic man from Rong State.
All the kindnesses she had received in the past would never be returned in this life. She recalled the unique happy times she had in the palace.
That day she was wearing a plain white satin dress with floral patterns and only a carved hairpin on her head. The overall look was very simple and elegant. In March, the peach blossoms were in full bloom. The clusters of petals on the tree were like red clouds. When the wind blew, the pink and delicate petals fell down. The woman under the tree was as bright and charming as the petals.
"Brother Xia Qing, come and push me!" At that time, she was still a carefree little princess.
"Princess, be careful, don't fall!" Wen Xiaqing protected her behind her.
"I'm not afraid, you'll protect me if I fall!"
The happy days of her childhood did not last long. She had thought that her whole life would pass like this, with her childhood sweethearts, but she was still a legitimate princess.
A princess who is not favored at all, a princess whose father hates her and whose mother died early, leaving her with no one to rely on.
On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, during a palace banquet, Rong Qianyu was anxiously looking for Wen Xiaqing. "Brother Xiaqing, please don't come here anymore. I'm going to the Great Zhou to marry next month."
"Your Highness..." He felt something was wrong and changed his words, "Qian'er..."
That was the first time Wen Xiaqing had ever called her Qian'er. Perhaps all that had been his responsibility before, and a princess was a princess, and he wouldn't dare overstep his bounds.
At this moment, it was only Qian'er. Wen Xiaqing called her and cried like rain. She met you in the most brilliant and dazzling time, and she will never be able to walk out of this gentle dream in her life.
Even if he had the courage, he couldn't break the rules. Wen Xiaqing also knew that this moment had finally come, but his heart was still stuck in the past and didn't want to wake up.
Regardless of whether they had ever truly loved each other, at this moment, all words seemed empty and helpless.
Since ancient times, deep love is hard to find, and deep love does not last long.
From the moment the imperial edict came down, Rong Qianyu deeply understood that she had no control over herself. Some things seemed to be destined, and once decided, it was difficult to turn back.
She pushed Wen Xiaqing away, and the tender look she used to give him was gone.
"We should avoid suspicion and avoid ruining your career. Your father doesn't want you to be so depressed."
"Qian'er, let me find a solution. This trip will lead to a sea of fire and swords. Not to mention how the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou treated you, even the notoriously sinister and vicious Bingbi Xue Jiming is not someone you can easily deal with."
"What can I do?" Rong Qianyu was fully aware of the current situation and offered him hope without intending to destroy him. "What can you do? Can you get the Emperor to retract his decision? Do you have a better solution?"
"I can!" Wen Xiaqing said firmly.
He can’t…
Rong Qianyu looked at him with tears in her eyes and said, "You shouldn't be so impulsive. You clearly have no other options, so why do you insist on doing this? What will the outcome be? Brother Xia Qing, don't do this for me. You deserve a better woman, but I can't."
As the memories come back, my nose can’t help but feel a lump in my throat. If life could always be like the first time we met, why would the autumn wind paint the fan with sorrow?
"Lord Wen is indeed deeply in love." Rong Pan was deeply moved.
"Don't talk about this in the future, otherwise both you and I will be in danger." Rong Qianyu warned. If this matter were to be known by the people of Da Zhou, her position as the Crown Princess would be in danger.
"Is the envoy from Rong Kingdom coming? Yes, the engagement was hastily arranged, and even if they travel day and night, it will take until around the first month of the year."
Qingyun poured tea for Xue Ji and said, "I also heard that the leader of this delegation is the second son of the Minister of Rites of Rong State."
"So what?" Xue Ji asked impatiently.
"He seems to be familiar with Her Royal Highness the Princess." Qingyun didn't dare to say much about his master's right and wrong. When the two looked at each other, Xue Ji suddenly understood.
He suddenly became interested. "Oh? An old acquaintance, or an old lover?"
"The spies reported that they seem to be childhood sweethearts."
"Interesting, this princess has a childhood sweetheart." Xue Ji drank the tea in one gulp, very interested. He had found out about Rong Qianyu's past and seemed jealous. His tone was strange and his expression was flustered.
"Sir, do you want to investigate further?" Qingyun asked tentatively.
"No need for that. Since the time has been set, the Imperial Household Department can just work with the harem to arrange the matters. There's no need to do this."
"yes."
"By the way, Cui should enter the palace today."
"Yes," Qingyun replied, "The princess asked for it."
Xue Ji poured the tea himself, brushed off the leaves in the cup, and drank another cup of tea. "It's hard for her. She has such a high spirit, but she can really keep her composure."
If Fu Hua could settle this matter for her, he would probably think better of it and they wouldn't be as hostile as before.
But for some reason he always felt indignant in his heart. He was clearly seeing the princess all alone, and now all this was because of that kneeling back then. He was willing to help her over and over again just because he found it interesting.
But now, his heart was moved by her every smile and frown, and because of Cui Rumei's matter, he had been worried with her for many days. In the past, he never asked about the harem, nor would he personally go to mediate for anyone, nor would he still be resentful because of a kitten's playmate.
"What can I do if I can't hold it? It's really difficult for Your Highness the Princess."
"Go down." Xue Ji said with a worried look on his face.
"yes."
"Wait a minute!" He called Qingyun back.
"What else do you want, sir?"
"Go check on that childhood sweetheart, what's his background, what's his purpose, why is he here?"
If this matter is not investigated thoroughly, I am afraid I will not be able to sleep peacefully for the next few days.
On the third day of November, Weixuan Hall was decorated with red silk, red lanterns and red carpets. A heavy snow had just fallen a few days ago. The red plum blossoms and white snow merged into the cold sky, and the snowflakes danced lively.
The etiquette officer recited the ceremonial words as boxes of betrothal gifts were delivered to Weixuan Hall.
"The two families are united in marriage, a bond that will last a hundred years. The Eastern Palace, as a couple, has appointed Hui Eastern Palace, and will follow the proper etiquette. There are gifts that are not shy, and I dare to ask for the betrothal gifts. The main gift is a pair of wild geese from the Great Wall, and there are numerous secondary gifts. There are also bundles of silk, jade, gold, silver, silk, and ten pieces of various cloth. There are also three kinds of animals, four kinds of fruit, four kinds of candies, and two kinds of rice, each ten pounds. There are also various kinds of seafood, tea, gift boxes, and other betrothal gifts, totaling one hundred and thirty boxes."
Nanny Fang was reading the gift list while Rong Qianyu, wearing a red long dress, was sitting in the house, watching the boxes being brought into the yard one by one.
Yuanqing and Yujie were so happy that they couldn't stop grinning. "Did you hear that, Princess? There are so many boxes. I want you to say that the Queen is really good to you."
"One hundred and twenty boxes, more than we brought here. I wonder if he is going to marry me or the Princess of Rong."
Looking at these objects, some of which she didn't even recognize, she couldn't help feeling a little lonely. Everyone wants to be with someone for life, but she doesn't have that blessing.
She murmured to herself, "All this is for Princess Rongguo, not for Rong Qianyu." But now, it doesn't matter.
"The princess will have to serve tea to the concubines of Cui and Liu later." Rong Pan said.
"What rank did the Queen Mother say to give them?" Rong Qianyu asked.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wanted Cui to be a concubine, just like Consort Tan Liangdi, and Liu to be a maid. The Empress disagreed, so they both became talented women first."
"He is obviously biased." Fu Hua was always obviously biased. She didn't ask for his favor, but he never took her seriously.
Yuanqing combed her hair and said, "Princess, I went out and saw Cui. She was dressed simply, but her eyes and eyebrows showed that she was not simple. Compared with Liu, she seemed more shrewd."
"Tan Liangdi and her, who do you think is better?"
Yuan Qing thought for a moment and replied, "Tan Liang Di is smart, knows how to judge the situation, and never reveals her thoughts. But she looks different. It's because she relies on the Crown Prince's favor that she seems to be spoiled and shrewd enough to look down on others."
She is more thoughtful than Rong Pan and more calm and understanding than Yu Jie. It is true that the situation is stronger than the person. Even if Cui Rumei is just a decorative vase and a useless thing, she is still a person who is protected and favored by others.
Compared with her, Tan Lu is only cautious and good at judging the situation.
"When Lord Xue told me that day, I realized I had hit a dead end. Women should be smart, but they should also pretend to be deaf and dumb."
She used to care too much about true love, but the imperial family is the most heartless. Love is just icing on the cake, but without it, it is like walking on thin ice.
Therefore, you must be more careful. One wrong step may lead to a complete failure.
"Why should we pretend to be deaf and dumb? Should we let her bully us?" Yu Xie retorted.
"Don't have the intention to harm others, but be on guard against them. The harem is like a battlefield. Whoever loses patience first, whoever reveals a flaw first, will lose. I'll just do my part. Have the two of them arrived yet?"
"Your Highness, we have arrived."
"Let's go and meet the Crown Prince's beloved one."
Surrounded by the crowd, Rong Qianyu came to the side room and finally saw Cui Rumei.
They both knelt and saluted the Crown Princess, wishing her a long life. Liu Chunyan was still wearing a palace maid's official dress, which was a bit gray, suggesting she had worn it for a long time. The plainly dressed woman next to her was Cui Rumei. Her clothes were brighter than Liu Chunyan's, but it was still the attire of ordinary people, so there was nothing wrong with it.
"Everyone, get up," Rong Qianyu said from the middle seat, "I haven't officially married yet, so I really can't bear the title of Crown Princess."
This was her first meeting with Cui Rumei, and she was more beautiful than a flower, a natural beauty like a painting. Her beauty was so radiant, even in coarse linen, without makeup, it couldn't hide her stunning beauty. No wonder the prince loved her so much. With her appearance, she was unforgettable, and she must be someone every man would splurge on.
But as soon as he opened his mouth, he compared himself with Tan Lu.
"Your Highness, what are you saying? We naturally treat you as our own sister and will serve you and His Highness the Crown Prince well."
Her look made Rong Qianyu a little unhappy. Why bother saying all these polite words? It was like playing the lute to a cow in front of her.
Why work so hard?
"Are you the Cui family that the prince has been thinking about?"
"That's right." She smiled very flatteringly and bowed to Rong Qianyu again.
Rong Qianyu didn't give her face and politely retorted immediately. "I have no shortage of people to serve me. You are a man of etiquette, and you should serve the Crown Prince well."
Cui Rumei's eyes were large, and it was obvious that she was looking at him with a little thought. "Thank you for your guidance, Princess."
"Please have tea, Ms. Liu!" said the etiquette officer.
"Your Highness, please have some tea."
When Liu Chunyan was compared with Cui Rumei, the difference was immediately apparent. Cui was a gorgeous flower, while Liu Chunyan was just an ordinary, nameless little flower.
"I, Liu Chunyan, offer tea to Her Royal Highness the Princess."
"Please serve tea, Cui!"
The etiquette officer brought tea to Cui Rumei, but she didn't rush to give it to Rong Qianyu. "Sister, this tea is scalding hot, be careful."
Rong Qianyu also had a pleasant expression, not showing the slightest displeasure. She had indeed taken Xue Ji's words to heart. "Hold it steady, not tilted, how could you possibly burn me?" She said, reaching out to take the teacup.
"Your Highness!" Cui Rumei held the teacup tightly, "Hold it carefully."
"I will naturally hold on to this position and sit firmly. You can rest assured."
The two of them held onto one end of the teacup, neither willing to let go, and the stalemate lasted for a long time. Rong Qianyu exerted a little force, took the teacup, and drank it all in one gulp.
"You'll fall hard from heights, Your Highness, please hold on tight."
Rong Qianyu glanced at her and felt disgusted and uncomfortable. It seemed that what Xue Ji said was right. She was indeed a coward who treated people differently according to their taste.
She leaned over and replied in a seemingly considerate manner, "Then you'd better stay away. I'm afraid that if I really fall one day, I'll hurt you first, and the prince will be heartbroken."
【Author’s words】
The part about the betrothal gift was referred to in "Book of Jin·Record 11" and "History of Ming·Record 31"
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