Chapter 45 Intersection
Life in the temporary palace was much more leisurely than in the imperial palace. Chan Zhen simply exempted the concubines from paying their respects every day, unless there was a dispute among the concubines and they asked her to make the decision. They rarely saw each other on weekdays, and spent more than a month in peace.
The medicinal food had been stopped a long time ago. Perhaps because of the strange taste he had experienced, Chan Zhen had a particularly good appetite recently, and his cheeks, which had become thinner due to the bitter summer, had gradually become rounder.
There is a royal orchard on Mount Zhongnan, where carefully selected tribute fruits are offered to the Minguang Palace every day. Most of them go to Chanzhen, and palace maids such as Luzhu also get some.
Among them, Chan Zhen's favorite was the green apricot, sweet yet tart, juicy and mouth-watering. The orchard had figured out her preference and had been sending her green apricots for three days in a row. Seeing her fondness, His Majesty gave her his share, but instructed Lu Zhu to watch over the Imperial Concubine and make sure she didn't eat too much.
The Princess of Xuanyang County came to visit Mingguang Palace today. Seeing the emerald green fruits on the table, her teeth tingled. "Don't you think it's sour, Your Majesty?"
"I think it's fine," Chan Zhen gave an awkward smile. The royal tribute fruit wasn't as sour and astringent as the commoners', and it was much better than the apricots she'd tasted before. It was just that Princess Xuanyang was of noble birth, having grown up with Princess Yu Zhen, so she was probably used to all sorts of delicacies.
Seeing that she didn't seem to like green apricots, Chan Zhen asked Lu Zhu to bring up some other fruits.
When Lady Xuanyang saw that the imperial concubine had taken out the precious lychees to entertain the guests, and the palace servants seemed to be accustomed to it, she had a deeper understanding of the imperial concubine's favor and became more polite in her words.
"Of course, as long as Your Majesty likes it." She took a lychee from the bowl. Nowadays, it takes a lot of manpower to transport lychees from Lingnan to the capital. I'm afraid the palace only got less than a hundred lychees. It seems that most of them are with the imperial concubine.
Chan Zhen was not very familiar with Princess Xuanyang, and had only met her once before at Princess Yuzhen's place. She was shocked by Princess Xuanyang's sudden visit today. She was obviously of the same age as Princess Xuanyang, but she didn't know what to talk about and could only look at her in confusion.
After a while, she finally asked, "I heard your mother has been feeling unwell lately. Is she feeling better now?"
The Princess of Xuanyang County also relaxed a little and said, "I heard from home that my mother can now go down to the countryside freely. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."
"Well, that's good. I saw that the princess copied a lot of scriptures that day. God should see your filial piety and let your mother recover soon." Chan Zhen took a quick glance that day and noticed the scriptures copied on the table in Princess Yuzhen's meditation room. Many of them were prayers for good health. I think they were written by Princess Xuanyang for her mother.
Princess Xuanyang seemed a little embarrassed: "This is all I can do for my mother. I also want to thank my aunt for inviting the imperial physician to come to my house."
Zen Zhen could see that she had a simple mind and was a noble lady who had grown up in pampering, which made her a little envious.
"The County Lady and the Princess have a very good relationship."
The Xuanyang County Princess's face was full of energy. "When I was a child, I was weak, so my aunt took me in and cared for me for a while. My aunt was afraid that I would die of illness, so she asked His Majesty to grant me the title of County Princess. She also chanted scriptures and prayed for me every day, which helped me gradually recover. In my heart, I also treat my aunt as my own mother."
After she finished speaking, she looked at Chan Zhen, a trace of longing in her eyes: "I envy you very much, Your Majesty, for being treated so lovingly by His Majesty."
Hearing this, Chan Zhen felt a little shy, but then a sweet feeling welled up in her heart as she recalled His Majesty's gentle gaze. Princess Xuanyang reached her marriageable age last year, and yet there was still no word of her being engaged to a young man. With Princess Yuzhen around, Princess Xuanyang needn't worry about finding a good husband. However, judging by what she said, she might already have someone in mind.
"The county lady is outstanding in talent and appearance, and has a noble status. She will definitely find a loving husband." Chan Zhen sincerely wished.
The Princess of Xuanyang frowned and sighed softly, "If it is really as your Majesty said, that would be great."
Chanzhen was a little curious about what kind of person could make such an outstanding woman like her look so depressed, but she didn't have a close relationship with the county lord, so she didn't continue to ask questions.
Princess Xuanyang didn't remain depressed for long, and soon regained her smile: "You are such a kind person, Your Majesty. No wonder His Majesty likes you so much. I will come to play with you more often in the future, okay?"
Chan Zhen was caught off guard by her grasping both hands. He met her enthusiastic gaze with some surprise, a warm feeling welling up in his heart. She hadn't had many friends since childhood, and had rarely interacted with people her own age. After entering the palace, she had only been close to her own maids. Lu Zhu and the others treated her with more respect than affection, making it difficult for them to interact as equals. However, the Princess of Xuanyang was the first person of her generation to be so enthusiastic towards her.
She nodded: "If the county lady doesn't mind, then of course it's fine."
The Princess of Xuanyang County smiled widely and said, "Then I'll go tell my aunt. Next time I go down the mountain, she's not allowed to stop me."
Zen Zhen watched her hurriedly say goodbye to him, then ran out in ecstasy, leaving her standing there with a puzzled look on her face, wondering why she was so happy.
Lu Zhu smiled and explained to her: "The county lady is lively by nature, it would be a good thing for the queen to have more contact with her."
The Empress is obviously a little girl herself, but sometimes she is too quiet. Except when she is cheerful in front of His Majesty and the familiar palace maids, she is always reading and writing quietly by herself at other times, which makes people feel a little distressed.
Chan Zhen looked in the direction where the Princess Xuanyang had left, his eyes filled with longing. Who wouldn't like such a lively, cheerful, and noble woman?
…
When his Majesty came in the evening, she happily shared the story with him.
"I really don't know what kind of man can be worthy of a woman like the county lady."
Seeing her so excited that she almost jumped up, Chen Dingyao leaned over and pulled her into his arms, whispering in her ear, "I think Chan Zhen is the most outstanding woman in the world, no worse than anyone else."
Chan Zhen shyly raised her head in his arms and glared at him softly: "Your Majesty, is this considered a case of beauty in the eyes of a lover? I personally think I am far inferior to the Princess of Xuanyang."
But she was always delighted to hear these words from His Majesty.
Chen Dingyao brushed the messy hair away from her face and put it behind her ears. "My words are golden and I never lie."
Zenzhen blushed slightly and leaned against his chest lovingly, "Your Majesty always knows how to coax me."
She had been used to feeling inferior since she was a child, and thought that she was just as her father said, and could only be a concubine who used her beauty to seduce men and was not allowed to be seen in public. However, His Majesty said that she was better than anyone else, which made her realize that she was not humble at all, and that she could be so noble.
Chen Dingyao patted her shoulder gently: "Xuan Yang has a cheerful personality. There's nothing wrong with you having more contact with her, but..."
Zenzhen looked up at him in confusion, "But is there something wrong?"
"Do you know who Xuan Yang likes?" Chen Dingyao kept the question in suspense.
Zen Zhen frowned and thought, "Since Your Majesty said so, this person must be someone I have seen before..."
She suddenly remembered that when she was with Princess Yuzhen last time, Princess Xuanyang had asked about the gift that His Royal Highness Prince Jin had given her. She was surprised and asked, "Could it be His Royal Highness Prince Jin?"
Chen Dingyao nodded slightly.
"But doesn't His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin already have a princess?" Given Princess Xuanyang's background, it would be impossible for her to marry His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin as a concubine.
"When I was choosing a princess for Yunyi, Yuzhen asked me for this, but I refused." Chen Dingyao said lightly.
Zen Zhen asked in confusion, "Why?"
In her opinion, Princess Xuanyang and His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin were of equal status, and were a perfect match in terms of talent and appearance.
Chen Dingyao did not hide it from her: "I intended to make Yunyi the crown prince, but Xuanyang's personality is not suitable for being the mother of a country."
Hearing this, Chan Zhen was somewhat disappointed: "The county lady is so outstanding, but His Majesty thinks she is not suitable to be the Queen Mother. Then I..."
Is His Majesty coaxing her with words, but actually feels in his heart that she is not worthy of the position of Queen?
"You're different." Chen Dingyao interrupted her and said firmly, "Yun Yi's situation is different from mine. I like you, but Yun Yi has no such feelings for Xuan Yang."
He once asked Yun Yi for her opinion. Yun Yi frankly admitted that she only regarded Xuan Yang as a sister and had no romantic feelings for her. Yun Yi accepted the princess he had chosen without any objection.
Yun Yi has always been tolerant. Like him, he was willing to do anything for the imperial power. His only resistance to him was because of Chan Zhen.
In his previous life, he was also surprised to hear that Yun Yi was deeply devoted to and doting on a concubine. He was dissatisfied with this, believing that Yun Yi had betrayed the original intention of his education. The king's heart was unfathomable, and Yun Yi had exposed his weaknesses so clearly before even wielding sufficient power. At the same time, he was curious about the woman who could have captured Yun Yi's attention. So he did not stop Concubine Shu from summoning the woman to the palace under the pretext of admonishing her. Little did he know that this was the beginning of his own downfall.
It turns out that if you really like someone, how can you restrain yourself from seeing her, pampering her, and giving her the best things?
He was once dissatisfied with Yun Yi's inability to control his desires, but he did not expect that he was actually no different from him. In front of that woman, they both failed miserably.
But he has one advantage over Yun Yi: he holds great power and can pamper her without any scruples.
Chan Zhen didn't know what he was thinking, but he was worried about Princess Xuanyang: "But the Princess doesn't seem to have severed her friendship with His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin."
Chen Dingyao tapped her forehead lightly: "Xuan Yang will figure it out."
In her previous life, Xuan Yang also let go of Yun Yi and chose to marry someone else.
Zenjin nodded reluctantly.
The county princess was so proud and passionate, she hoped she would never become humble for a man who did not love her. The red sun should hang high in the sky, not be dragged into the deep pool.
When he saw Princess Xuanyang again the next day, Chan Zhen could not tell from her cheerful smile that she was trapped in love, and he felt a little relieved.
Xuan Yang was chatting with her and even told her a lot of secrets among the nobles, which made her exclaim in surprise.
"...That Minister Lin actually fell in love with the concubine his son brought home, and even resorted to any means necessary to snatch her away from his son. How shameless!"
Zenzhen felt nauseous and his chest felt tight.
"And what happened next?"
Xuan Yang snorted, "After this incident got out, Minister Lin resigned and returned home. I heard that the concubine couldn't stand it anymore and committed suicide."
Zen was so upset that he wanted to vomit, muttering, "What did that concubine do wrong?"
"She's right, but who can blame her for being so lowly? Minister Lin is at least somewhat powerful, so those insults shouldn't just be directed at the weakest." Xuan Yang sighed, then noticed her grim expression and a bit anxiously said, "Your Majesty, I'm not talking about you."
Zenzhen felt dizzy and chest tightness, and only after seeing her anxious expression did he try to suppress it.
"It's okay, I don't blame you."
At this time, Luzhu came to report.
"Your Majesty, Consort Shu has invited all the concubines to go boating and admire the lotus flowers. Would you like to go?"
Chan Zhen shook her head subconsciously. She had no friendship with Concubine Shu, and she could sense that Concubine Shu actually disliked her a little. She was probably sending someone just to inform her, after all, she was the nominal head of the harem.
The Princess of Xuanyang's eyes lit up: "Why not? Your Majesty, let's go and see. The lotus flowers are blooming beautifully now."
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