Qi Yuning said: "Lu Yun is the first child after all, but this is not the first time Shen Nian has given birth. If Lu Yun is wrong, Shen Nian's fault is not small either."
Lu Baozhu was even more surprised and asked: "Qi Yuning, what medicine did you take wrong? Why are you talking so strangely today?"
Qi Yuning said softly: "Someone else took the wrong medicine."
Shen Nian's hand trembled, and she saw Qi Yuning's eyes looking at her. Shen Nian felt her heart beating very fast and was full of panic.
Shen Nian took Han Ge'er from Lu Yun's arms and calmed down a little.
Seeing Lingling looking at the lake with longing, Qi Yuning carried Lingling to the lakeside, took off Lingling's shoes and socks, and asked the maid to hold Lingling and step in the lake. Lingling had a lot of fun in the clear and cool lake water.
If there was no maid to support her, Lingling would probably be able to swim around in the water to her heart's content.
Qi Yuning didn't dare to let Lingling play in the water for too long, fearing that Lingling would catch a cold. He carried Lingling, who was reluctant to leave, back to the room. Lingling still felt a little unsatisfied.
Just as Qi Yuning was about to look at the account book, Xiaoman came in and said, "Princess, the princess wants to see you."
Qi Yuning said: "Let her in."
When Shen Nian entered, she did not bring Han Ge'er with her. When she came in, she bowed and said, "Sister-in-law."
Qi Yuning asked the maid to leave and said, "Sit down."
Qi Yuning poured a cup of tea for Shen Nian, and Shen Nian took it with both hands and said repeatedly: “Sister-in-law, what you said by the lake just now…”
Qi Yuning asked: "What?"
Shen Nian held the teacup with both hands, but felt that what she was doing was secret and no one would know, so she hesitated to speak.
Qi Yuning saw that Shen Nian was having trouble speaking, and said, “Shen Nian, I have a piece of advice for you. You and I both know what you did, but for the sake of the Lu family’s reputation, I will just pretend that I never knew about it.
There is some selfishness in this. First, I still hate Lu Yun. Second, your biological parents are both heroes of the Qi Family Army. I will give your parents a favor. However, your parents' reputation will not allow me to indulge you again and again. If you do something stupid again, I will not cover it up for you. "
Shen Nian said repeatedly: “Thank you, Princess.”
Qi Yuning said: "Cherish the person in front of you now, and don't make the same mistake again."
Shen Nian replied, “Yes.”
…
This year's Dragon Boat Festival palace banquet was also very lively. After all, it was the first Dragon Boat Festival palace banquet after the new emperor ascended the throne.
Qi Yuning carried Lingling to the palace banquet and saw many unfamiliar faces.
There was a lovely girl beside the Empress Dowager, who looked to be about fifteen years old and was somewhat similar to Zhou Jiayun.
Qi Yuning asked Lu Ze who was standing beside her, "The little sister next to the Queen Mother looks very familiar. She seems to be somewhat similar to Concubine Zhou."
Lu Ze said: "She is Zhou Jiayun's cousin."
Qi Yuning looked at Lu Ze deeply and said, "The Zhou family hasn't given up yet? Isn't it time for Mr. Zhou to retire at the age he is old enough?"
Lu Ze said, "I heard from His Majesty that the Queen Mother was bored in the palace and asked her niece to come and keep her company. The Zhou family didn't have any intentions this time. I heard that this little Miss Zhou has arranged a marriage with the Chu family in Jiangnan."
Qi Yuning said: "Jiangnan Chu family? Never heard of it."
Lu Ze said: "The Lingzhou Shen family, Mingzhou Yang family, Yangzhou Chu family, Chang'an Ning family, and Jinling Sun family are known as the five great families. They have been rich for nearly a thousand years. The Shen family and the Ning family are the most well-known. The Yangzhou Chu family is very low-key."
Qi Yuning said: "Shen Jialin wants to enter the court, and the Chu family is planning to marry into the Zhou family. It seems that these noble families are ready to make a move..."
Lu Ze said: "Those who claim to be a thousand-year-old family have actually had no one in the court for nearly a hundred years. They say they are a hidden family, but in fact they have not been in the court for a hundred years. Without power in the court, it is difficult for them to maintain their former wealth and splendor.
Nowadays, when it comes to these aristocratic families, it’s just these self-righteous children of the aristocratic families who respect each other. As they gradually decline, they naturally think of ways to fight for power so as not to be suppressed by the newly emerging aristocratic families.
When my grandfather was alive, the imperial power was great, and they didn’t dare to show up easily. Now that the little emperor is young and the imperial power is slightly declining, they want to show up..."
Qi Yuning said, "They dare to think so. Dasheng is not the previous dynasty. Since the founding emperor of Dasheng established the imperial examination system, it is no longer the case that only children from aristocratic families can enter the court. They still want to enter the court and seize power. It's simply a dream."
Lu Ze smiled and said, "So they are thinking of an alliance. When your fourth uncle was able to marry the Ning family's daughter, it was because the Ning family had the intention of entering the court. When the Sun family married their daughter to the King of Jin, they also got some positions. Now that the Zhou and Chu families are forming an alliance, it is difficult for them to keep this intention."
Qi Yuning listened to the twists and turns and looked at Lu Ze and said, "You must be very tired in charge of state affairs."
Lu Ze said: "Yeah, very tired."
Qi Yuning complained in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "I've never seen you complain of being tired these past few nights."
Lu Ze held Qi Yuning's hand under the table and smiled, "How can you feel tired if Lingling has brothers and sisters as she wishes?"
Qi Yuning spat softly, "You are so dishonest."
At the Dragon Boat Festival palace banquet, after the singing and dancing, there is a rice dumpling shooting competition.
His Majesty was the first to shoot arrows at the rice dumplings. He shot two arrows but missed both, feeling a little frustrated.
Qi Yuning walked behind Xiao Zhaojie and said, "Your Majesty, can I shoot the zongzi with you?"
Seeing that it was Qi Yuning, Xiao Zhaojie nodded and said, "Okay."
Qi Yuning helped Xiao Zhaojie to adjust the position of the bow and arrow, pulled the bowstring, and the arrow shot at the zongzi. Xiao Zhaojie said happily, "Thank you, Sister Princess."
Qi Yuning said: "Your Majesty, you don't have to thank me."
Qi Yuning felt a pair of eyes looking at him. When he looked up, he saw Miss Zhou beside the Queen Mother smiling at him. Qi Yuning also smiled at her.
At first glance, Qi Yuning knew that this little Miss Zhou was different from her cousin.
"Princess Chen is really capable!" Zhou Jiamin said with a smile, "She is truly the daughter of a general!"
Qi Yuning handed the bow and arrow to Miss Zhou and said, "Why don't you ask Miss Zhou to shoot a zongzi with an arrow?"
Zhou Jiamin took the bow and arrow from Qi Yuning, put the arrow feathers on the string, and shot towards the hanging zongzi. One arrow hit the zongzi.
Everyone praised her, including Qi Yuning. She was good at archery, which she learned from hunting when she was a child. The children of the Qi family must know how to shoot arrows. Unexpectedly, little Miss Zhou, who was born in a family of civil officials, was not inferior to her in archery skills.
"Good arrows!" Lu Baozhu clapped her hands, "It's rare to see a girl in Shengjing City with such archery skills."
Lu Yun said from the side: "Sister, do you know how to compliment others? Who can compliment someone by saying "good arrows"?"
Lu Baozhu glared at Lu Yun and said, "If you don't know how to talk, you can shut up."
Lu Yun snorted softly.
Ever since Qin Yuli passed away, Lu Baozhu felt that she didn't have many playmates around her. Now, this little Miss Zhou is really to her liking.
In less than half an hour, Lu Baozhu became good friends with Zhou Jiamin. She found Qi Yuning and said, "Qi Yuning, Jiamin's archery skills are really amazing. I haven't hunted for a long time. Why don't we go hunting in Chang'an before the dog days of summer? We can come back in July."
Qi Yuning said: "I will discuss it with Lu Ze. Lingling is still young. I am not like you, a lonely person who can leave whenever he wants..."
Lu Baozhu said: "Take Lingling with you. Lingling loves going out to play."
"How can I take Lingling with me to the hunting ground? If I really want to go to Chang'an to hunt, I will have to leave Lingling in Shengjing. I will discuss this with Lu Ze later.
Qi Yuning hadn't gone hunting for a long time, and Lu Baozhu's words made her itchy. Especially after Lingling was born, she never rode a horse so freely again.
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