Chapter 90 IF Line (1): Crown Prince Brother
In the warm spring of March, the weather is pleasant and the scenery is beautiful.
In the east wing of the Wenhua Hall, Crown Prince Xiao Qi'an, dressed in a dark blue python robe, had a cold expression and a pine-like posture. His slender, jade-like fingers slowly and methodically traced a page of scripture.
A short while later, a burst of laughter suddenly came from outside the silent palace gates. The servants looked at each other and cautiously looked at the Crown Prince's expression. Sure enough, they saw that His Highness the Crown Prince's brows were slightly furrowed.
Everyone serving here held their breath and dared not make a sound, for fear of disturbing His Highness the Crown Prince's peace. It was truly audacious of someone to dare to make a fuss in the Wenhua Hall.
The Crown Prince put down the book in his hand and asked De Shun beside him, "Why is it so noisy?"
De Shun had already learned that today was the day Princess Xuanhe and Princess Wanning's companions were to enter the palace, so he told them the truth.
"His Majesty and His Majesty were worried that the two princesses would be lonely in the palace, so they selected six noble ladies from prominent families to come into the palace to accompany them in their studies. I suppose the girls are playing with the princesses right now."
Xiao Qi'an was not interested in these things, but he heard De Shun muttering to himself, but dared not say it aloud.
"I'm also looking for a wife for you while I'm at it."
Xiao Qi'an: "..."
In fact, he has had the ability to read minds since childhood. All those who harbor evil intentions and speak sweet words but harbor daggers are like blank sheets of paper in front of him, with nowhere to hide.
The thoughts of those below were naturally heard clearly.
Upon learning of his father and mother's purpose, the Crown Prince sighed inwardly.
He bore the heavy responsibility of governing the country and had no interest in personal relationships. Although his father and mother did not say it, they felt that he was too serious and rigid. They were quite concerned about his choice of a wife, as if he would be a lonely man for the rest of his life if he did not marry.
To correct his taciturn and unsmiling nature, he not only brought his two younger sisters to study at the Wenhua Hall so they could ask him questions at any time, but now he has also brought along a group of study companions...
Hearing the laughter outside, the crown prince pressed his temples, where the veins were bulging.
He got up to return to the East Palace, and when he reached the corridor, he saw several young girls in colorful dresses admiring flowers and chasing butterflies in the garden.
De Shun gently cleared his throat.
The noble ladies looked in the direction of the voice and saw a man standing under the high eaves of the palace. He was dressed in a dark blue python robe with dragon and phoenix patterns, and he was aloof and elegant, as firm and independent as a solitary pine tree. Looking at his face, he was cold and stern, with sword-like eyebrows and phoenix eyes. His thin lips were pressed into a sharp curve. Even without saying a word, his indifferent and aloof aura made people dare not approach him.
Leading the group was Cai Yishu, the second daughter of Grand Secretary Cai Heng. Upon seeing the Crown Prince, she gracefully bowed and said, "This humble woman greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."
The daughter of the Minister of Rites beside him also bowed and said, "Your Highness, may you enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
Princess Xuanhe greeted him sweetly, "Greetings, Crown Prince."
Princess Wanning, elegant and well-behaved, said, "Greetings, Crown Prince."
The crown prince nodded slightly.
Beside her, a little maid holding a butterfly net hadn't even had time to put it away before hurriedly following Princess Wanning to pay her respects: "Crown Prince Brother..."
Before he could finish speaking, the Crown Prince frowned.
Everyone cast surprised glances their way.
The girl in the pink dress realized what she had said, her face flushing red with embarrassment, and her tongue stammered nervously, "I...this humble woman misspoke, it was Your Highness the Crown Prince..."
The Crown Prince took in her reaction, a faint chill settling between his brows.
"Oh dear, if I were her, I'd just kill myself by smashing my head against a wall."
"Don't you have any shame?"
"Aaaaaah, where's the ground I can crawl into?!"
The Crown Prince frowned and said in a deep voice, "You may all rise."
He did not wish to linger and stepped out of the Wenhua Hall.
The noble ladies watched the Crown Prince's departing figure, each with their own thoughts.
His Highness the Crown Prince of Da Zhao has always been aloof, dignified, and respectful. His appearance and abilities are impeccable. Unfortunately, he is not interested in women and is overly serious and strict in his dealings with others, which makes people feel intimidated.
The noble ladies knew perfectly well that their selection to be the princess's study companions was actually a way for the Empress to give them an opportunity to get to know the Crown Prince.
The position of Crown Princess is certainly tempting, but what would it be like to face such a cold, aloof, and unromantic husband every day for decades to come? So, although many people are eager to take the position, most are still afraid.
Princess Xuanhe broke the silence with a single sentence: "Yun Kui, don't worry about it. That's just how the Crown Prince is. He treats everyone the same way and won't hold it against you."
The little girl in the pink and green floral dress was none other than Sheng Yunkui, the only daughter of Marquis Wu Ning. Upon hearing this, she nodded and said, "Yes, yes."
Anyway, this isn't the first time she's embarrassed herself in front of His Highness the Crown Prince; she'll get used to it.
Princess Xuanhe continued, "We just agreed that at the end of the month it will be the Empress Dowager's 40th birthday, and foreign envoys will be coming to the court to offer their congratulations. We'll sit together then and have a good time..."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Every month on the 5th and 10th, the Crown Prince would go to Kunning Palace to dine with the Empress, and today was no exception.
The Empress looked at her son, who sat upright and never smiled, and even when eating with his mother, he followed royal etiquette in a very formal manner, eating no more than three bites of food and no more than five flavors. She sighed slightly in her heart.
"Did you see Wan Ning and Xuan He's companions who came to the palace today?"
The Crown Prince intended to remind the Empress of the rules of not speaking while eating or sleeping, but he refrained from doing so and put down his chopsticks, saying, "Hmm."
The Empress smiled and asked, "What do you think?"
The Crown Prince said, “It is understandable that the Empress Dowager would choose study companions for her sisters to enter the palace because she was afraid that they would be lonely. However, it is inappropriate to set it up in the Wenhua Hall, as it would affect the lectures of the Grand Tutor and the scholars.”
Empress: "Hmm, anything else?"
"Furthermore," the Crown Prince paused for a moment, recalling the pinkish-green figure in his mind, with a face like a kitten, "I don't know about the others, but the daughter of Marquis Wu Ning is the most unruly and uneducated. How could she be fit to be the princess's study companion?"
The Empress said, "The Marquis of Wuning has only one daughter. When Lady Sheng gave birth, she almost had an accident. This only daughter was naturally raised with the utmost pampering. Although she is slightly lacking in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, she is still very clever, witty, and adorable. I like this girl very much. What, do you think it's inappropriate?"
"Most importantly, your father believes that as long as she is alive, Xuanhe's grades will not be at the bottom, which can at least save some face for the royal family."
Crown Prince: "..."
The Empress seemed to have discovered something and asked with great interest, "You saw all six of them today, but you only asked about her. Could it be that..."
The Crown Prince frowned slightly and interrupted, "Mother, please be careful with your words."
The Empress sighed helplessly.
She and Emperor Jingyou had only this one son, whom she raised from childhood according to the standards of a crown prince. He lived up to expectations, becoming well-versed in classics and history from a young age, possessing keen insight and keen observation skills. At a young age, he solved several long-standing major cases and handled all kinds of trivial government affairs in an orderly manner. He also had a particular fondness for studying military strategy. At the age of sixteen, he led 50,000 soldiers and defeated 300,000 strong Northern Wei troops, making him a model crown prince praised by all the civil and military officials.
Over time, he developed a rigid and aloof personality, his mind filled with nothing but politics and military strategy. He was strict and unapproachable, and even his two younger sisters dared not get close to him.
The Empress herself often blamed herself for placing the heavy burden of the nation on his shoulders too early, which had raised him to the other extreme. She wondered what it would be like for him to live a life of mutual respect and courtesy after he got married.
She and Emperor Jingyou were very confident in the Crown Prince's abilities, and could even hand over the throne to him at any time. However, as parents, they also hoped that he could be happy and have a wife who could be harmonious with him for the rest of his life.
Hearing his mother's heartfelt words, the Crown Prince remained silent for a moment before saying, "I have no particular requirements for the Crown Princess. I just need her to be dignified and virtuous. Mother, please take care of that for me."
The Empress wanted his attitude, but she was also afraid that he could do anything.
Fortunately, the birthday celebration is approaching. At that time, the ladies of the court will be invited to bring eligible young women to the palace for a selection, so that a suitable person can be chosen as soon as possible.
March 28th is the Empress's birthday.
Emperor Jingyou and his empress were deeply in love, so the six palaces were left empty as he loved only her, which became a legendary tale.
In preparation for the Empress's fortieth birthday, the Imperial Household Department began preparations at the beginning of the year. Tonight, the Fengtian Hall is decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations inside and out. Thousands of peonies are in full bloom on both sides of the longevity patterned brocade carpet, creating a magnificent and beautiful scene. The glass palace lanterns illuminate the entire hall with a golden and resplendent glow.
By mid-Shenshi (3-5 PM), the palace gates were already filled with carriages and horses, including those from the Marquis of Wuning's residence.
A young girl in a light red ruqun embroidered with four auspicious symbols stepped off the carriage first, followed by a young woman in a light green jacket with a floral pattern.
The mother and daughter went to Fengtian Hall. Lady Wuning reminded her daughter, "Today His Majesty, Her Majesty, and envoys from neighboring countries are at the banquet. They will be sitting next to the princess. Do not cause trouble or make noise. When you see the envoys from Xiliang, do not whisper or talk about them. Do you understand?"
Yun Kui nodded and assured her, "Mother, I know everything. I'll just quietly eat and do nothing else!"
Lady Wu Ning sighed softly. Princess Xuanhe was playful and just like her daughter. She didn't know what His Majesty and the Empress were thinking, that they had chosen her daughter to enter the palace as a study companion. On such a grand occasion as today, Princess Xuanhe still insisted on having her daughter by her side to play. Lady Wu Ning was afraid that she would cause trouble.
"And another thing," Lady Wu Ninghou recalled what her husband had mentioned today, that His Majesty and the Empress intended to select a Crown Princess from among the eligible young ladies who entered the palace today, "If they encounter His Highness the Crown Prince, they must bow respectfully and not make a fool of themselves again."
She still remembered when her daughter entered the palace at the age of five, when she was still very young and called the Crown Prince "handsome little brother." At that time, the Crown Prince's face turned as dark as an overturned inkstone. When she was ten, she secretly drank fruit wine at a palace banquet and fell asleep in the flower bushes. In the end, it was the Crown Prince who found her. The little girl was fast asleep and even drooled on the Crown Prince's sleeve. In short, the past was too painful to recall.
She didn't ask her daughter to bring glory to the family or be favored by the Empress and the Crown Prince; she only hoped that her daughter would stay in her place and make things easier for others.
The mother and daughter entered the Fengtian Hall. Most of the officials and women had already arrived. Princess Xuan waved to her from afar, "Yun Kui!"
Yun Kui bid farewell to her mother and happily skipped over.
I never expected that Princess Xuanhe's seat would be so close to the front, not far from the Empress's throne.
However, not everyone can sit next to the princess. Xuanhe mainly wanted to make it easier to talk to her girlfriends. Yunkui was not the dignified and composed type, and she got along best with her, so naturally the best seat was reserved for her.
Yun Kui had only been sitting down next to Princess Xuanhe for a short while when she suddenly felt short of breath and a chill ran down her spine.
Looking up, she saw the Crown Prince slowly approaching, dressed in a dark gold python robe. His tall and imposing figure slowly sat down beside her, exuding an undeniable majesty.
Yun Kui: "..."
Nobody told her that the empty seat next to her belonged to the Crown Prince!
However, she still remembered her mother's instructions and obediently got up and bowed: "This humble woman greets Your Highness."
The crown prince glanced at her, and then heard the voice in her heart that was completely different from her obedient appearance.
"Oh no, I won't be able to eat dinner tonight."
"With His Highness the Crown Prince's handsome face, just looking at him for a couple of seconds is enough to make you feel full."
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Here it is! The "if" storyline is about the male and female protagonists having both parents. The character settings will be a little different from the main story. It's a story of marriage of convenience that blossoms into love. Little Sunflower still has the familiar formula. Those who are interested can continue to support it! [heart][heart] If it's not what you expected, that's okay too. See you in the next book!
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