Chapter 52 Why is it darker than me?
"Tomorrow, you and Liu Si go to see the princess return to the capital. Tell me when you come back." Although Shen Lingshu couldn't go in person, she could let Zhuxin and the others go.
"No, I have to serve my master." Zhu Xin quickly shook her head. She also wanted to watch the fun, but serving her master was the most important thing.
"I'll take this bird's nest to Aunt Hua to have a look." Zhu Xin took the bird's nest and went to show it to Aunt Hua. She was worried about eating something without Aunt Hua's inspection.
…
At daybreak, Concubine Fang got up early, changed into bright clothes, and sat in a carriage, braving the cold wind. She stood at the city gate with the prince to welcome Princess Lingzhao back to the capital.
With all the civil and military officials standing behind him, it was a glorious sight, but...
Concubine Fang sat in the carriage, watching Princess Lingzhao riding back to the capital with Prince Lin. Princess Lingzhao's first words upon seeing her rang in her ears: "How come Concubine Fang is even darker than me, who has been practicing in seclusion in Lingtai Mountain for years?"
"Concubine, you are not black, really, not black at all."
Nanny Gui quickly spoke to comfort her, saying, "Perhaps the princess herself is not white, so she thinks everyone she sees is black."
"Really?"
Concubine Fang touched her face. Although it was not as white as that bitch Shen Lingshu's, it was not dark either, right?
"right."
Nanny Gui nodded against her conscience. In terms of fair skin, the concubine definitely had no chance of winning.
Not to mention Shen Lingshu, whose skin was whiter than snow, even Aunt Li and Hai were slightly whiter. Concubine Fang's skin was the normal skin color of a woman.
"That's right. Princess, you can't find many people with the same skin color as this in Kyoto. No wonder you always say others are black when you see them." Concubine Fang was comforted instantly.
In the Prince Lin's Mansion and the Orchid Courtyard, although Shen Lingshu was at home, news from outside came in waves.
Princess Lingzhao, dressed in red, rode back to the capital on horseback, and Prince Lin and many officials greeted her at the city gate.
The Imperial Guards led the way, and Princess Lingzhao's ceremonial guard was even larger.
The people lined the streets to welcome them. Even without seeing it with her own eyes, Shen Lingshu could still feel that the scene was very lively. She said, "Zhu Xin, let's paste the windows today."
"Replace the window paper with new ones to give it a fresh look and welcome the New Year, and then cut some window decorations to dress it up."
As Shen Lingshu spoke, she immediately took everyone to paste windows together. She was arranged to do paper-cutting activities even though she was pregnant.
After replacing the old window paper and pasting new one on, the room became a little brighter.
Add festive window decorations and the New Year atmosphere is already there even though it’s not New Year yet.
The imperial palace.
"Your son pays his respects to the Emperor."
Princess Lingzhao was dressed in a red riding suit, with her hair tied up high, looking heroic and very different from the girls in Kyoto.
"Okay, Lingzhao has grown up."
The emperor looked at Princess Lingzhao. Perhaps because she had been growing up in Lingtai Mountain, her skin was not very white, but her sunny and healthy complexion made her look very energetic.
Concubine Shu smiled and said, "If my sister were still alive, she would definitely be delighted to see the lively and lovely Princess Lingzhao."
"If the Queen Mother were still alive, would the Imperial Concubine really be happy?" Ling Zhao looked at Imperial Concubine Shu innocently and cutely.
The smile on Concubine Shu's face froze.
"Ling Zhao." The emperor spoke in a deep voice.
"Father, I miss Mother and Concubine Hui." Princess Lingzhao squatted in front of him, looked up at him, and expressed her longing.
"Lingzhao, I'm sorry for having wronged you over the years." The emperor's stern face instantly turned into one of guilt.
Concubine Shu looked at Princess Lingzhao again, her eyes flashing, and she said jokingly: "Your Majesty, the princess will be twenty-one after the New Year. It's time to find a suitable husband for her."
"Yes." The emperor heard that because of Concubine Hui's death, Princess Lingzhao had to observe mourning for another three years, which delayed her for three years.
"Father, I have a favor to ask."
Princess Lingzhao raised her head. When the topic of marriage came up, she wasn't shy like an ordinary woman. Instead, she raised her head and said seriously, "My future consort will be the one I will spend my life with. I want to choose my own. I beg your permission, father."
"Pick it yourself?" Concubine Shu was shocked, and her hesitant look seemed to say: It's the parents' orders and the matchmaker's words, how can you choose it yourself?
Ling Zhao raised his head, hoping and pleading, "This son also wishes to have the same love and affection as Father and Mother."
"good!"
The emperor agreed. Ling Zhao glanced at Consort Shu with pride, then immediately said happily, "Father, this is the amulet I obtained for you at Lingtai Mountain. I asked a master to bless it on the 49th day of the seventh month. May your holy body be healthy and live a long life."
"Okay, Lingzhao is thoughtful." The emperor was very happy holding the amulet, and the father and daughter spoke tenderly.
Seeing the emperor smiling happily because of Ling Zhao's coaxing, Concubine Shu's face darkened.
At the palace banquet, Concubine Fang sat below, watching this scene, thinking to herself: Princess Lingzhao is favored, it seems that I have to build a good relationship with the princess in the future.
"Father, how come I haven't seen my elder brother?" Princess Lingzhao's words instantly made the lively palace banquet silent. Not only the concubines in the palace, but even the court officials who came to the welcoming banquet fell silent.
Concubine Fang: “…” No, why does Princess Lingzhao only support the deposed crown prince and not the prince?
The prince is also the princess’ biological second brother!
Why can’t the prince be the crown prince?
The emperor saw everyone's reactions and was filled with anger. When the prince was first deposed, many people pleaded for him. Now, half a year had passed, and apart from the second son and Ling Zhao, who still remembered the prince?
The emperor's eyes were cold as he said, "Your elder brother did something wrong."
"Father, my elder brother did something wrong and should be punished, but..."
Princess Lingzhao knelt down and said, "I believe that my elder brother is innocent. I beg you, father, to forgive him."
"I also believe it."
Prince Lin Chu Cong also knelt down and said, "I also ask your Majesty to thoroughly investigate the assassination of my eldest brother."
Princess Lingzhao knelt forward and said with deep emotion, "Father, ten years ago, when you were ill, my elder brother kowtowed nine times in three steps on Lingtai Mountain to pray for your blessing. How could my elder brother do such a thing..."
Princess Lingzhao paused, choking with sobs, and said with tears in her eyes, "Brother must have been framed."
Because of the conflict in fate, he was not raised by his side since childhood. Looking at her face which was somewhat similar to the late queen and listening to her choked sobs, it seemed to bring him back to the past. Chu Chen used to be a filial child.
"Lingzhao, you two brothers are of one mind. I am very pleased."
The emperor reached out his hand to help her up, and seeing that the court officials didn't even dare to plead for mercy, he said, "Investigate, thoroughly investigate the case of the deposed crown prince."
"Thank you for your mercy, father. I believe that my elder brother must be innocent." Ling Zhao had tears in his eyes but a smile on his lips.
When Concubine Shu heard about the reinvestigation of the case of the deposed crown prince, a vicious flash flashed in her eyes. How could the deposed crown prince, who had been suppressed with great difficulty, be allowed to make a comeback?
Concubine Fang was heartbroken. Can the prince still become the crown prince?
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