Chapter 55 Chapter 55 The Crown Princess.
After the polo match, the girls went to the golden tent to pay their respects, with Sheng Puzhu standing at the head.
The Queen sat upright, a graceful smile on her face. "Today's polo match, the ladies were so brave and heroic. This is very gratifying to me."
After she said that, she raised her hand towards Choi Sang-Gong beside her.
Cui Shanggong understood and walked in front of everyone holding a vermilion lacquer and gold-painted tray.
Nineteen mutton-fat jade pendants were neatly placed on the plate, and beneath each pendant was a piece of rice paper cut to about two fingers wide, with the name of each woman written on the paper.
Sheng Puzhu lowered his eyes and glanced over. The mutton-fat jade reflected the candlelight in the tent. It was skillfully carved by the craftsmen into various styles of plum, orchid, pine and bamboo. The only three different ones were specially strung with vermilion tassels. They were respectively mandarin ducks embracing each other, magpies holding branches, and swallows heralding spring.
Lady Wei from the Shangshu Ling family was like a pair of mandarin ducks embracing each other, the girl from the Weiguo Duke's family was like a magpie holding a branch, and the last Liang Yan Announcing Spring was given to a little girl from an unknown Bo's family.
The Queen's half-smile swept across the faces of the ladies, and a hint of interest gradually appeared in her eyes. "The reward I give you today is not a very valuable thing. I just hope that all the ladies can achieve their wishes and seek good omens."
Everyone received the jade pendant and bowed again to express their gratitude.
The Queen's smile deepened as she looked at Sheng Puzhu again. She couldn't help but smile and said, "Madam Sheng, although we were defeated today, we are still honored."
"Your Majesty, thank you for your kind words." Sheng Puzhu lowered her head, her tone still neither humble nor arrogant.
After coming out of the big tent, Xie Qingshu couldn't help but have red eyes. She tightly grasped Sheng Puzhu's sleeve and said helplessly, "Sister-in-law."
"Hold it back."
"Don't lose face for your daughter from the Xie family." Sheng Puzhu looked normal, but her voice was fierce.
Xie Qingshu was so scared that her shoulders trembled. After taking a deep breath, she managed to force back the tears.
At this time, Sheng Puyao and Xie Lingyi came over. With just one glance, Xie Lingyi guessed why her usually spoiled fourth sister looked so aggrieved.
I'm afraid that after the rewards in the big tent just now, the Queen has already hinted at the candidate for the Crown Princess.
The Crown Prince was of noble status, and rumor had it that his body was not as strong as that of an average man. Even if her fourth sister did not have the surname Xie, from the Empress's perspective, she was definitely not suitable for the position of Crown Princess.
When the prince chooses a wife, perhaps the girl's family background is not the first choice, but the girl's character, temperament, and whether she can be tolerant are not only required to be able to share the prince's worries and be considerate, but also to put the prince first in everything.
As for other things, the girls' health must be the first priority, which is why the Laba Winter Hunt is chosen. In such a severe winter season, only girls with strong bodies have the strength to participate.
"Sister-in-law, I want to go back and wipe my face." Xie Qingshu said in a low voice.
It’s better to go back, so as to avoid any more impoliteness.
Sheng Puzhu did not stop her, and her voice returned to its usual gentle tone: "I'll let Naidong accompany you. Don't wander around, calm down, and take a nap if you're tired."
"Yeah." Xie Qingshu nodded. Her pretty little face looked listless, like an eggplant hit by frost.
On the polo field, girls formed teams in groups of three or four. The neighing of horses was mixed with the enthusiastic cheers of the men. I don't know who scored the goal, but the girls were in high spirits and celebrated.
The polo field in Dongjiao Villa is located on the south side of Beimang Mountain, 300 miles away from Chang'an City. It has a flat terrain and is surrounded by mountains on three sides. The pasture is surrounded by a low wall built with wooden stakes. The front faces the golden tent, and there is a high platform in front of the tent for nobles to watch.
The forest at the back is the royal hunting ground, which is usually guarded by imperial guards and outsiders are not allowed to enter without permission.
The sun was about to set at this time, and people came out of the forest deep in the hunting ground on horseback one after another. There were many prey hanging on the saddles, but most of them were pheasants, hares, or red foxes with shiny fur.
Sheng Puzhu felt stuffy after staying in the tent for too long, so she took her two sisters out for some fresh air. Standing on tiptoe, she looked up at the sky, where the clouds were stained with layers of golden light by the setting sun. Suddenly, she asked, "My second sister must be a very good polo player, right?"
Xie Lingyi was stunned for a moment, then her eyes curved slightly: "It will be better than Fourth Sister."
Sheng Puzhu recalled the time when he learned horseback riding from his father as a child and said seriously, "Then, when we go hunting in winter next year, sister, can we team up? Or after spring, can we go to Princess Duanyang's farm? She has a polo field there, too."
Xie Lingyi's heart was filled with loss. She blinked and nodded her head vigorously.
As the two were talking, they heard a burst of orderly horse hooves coming out of the woods.
Although the leader was tall, he was slightly hunched. He wore a red and yellow robe with a round collar and narrow sleeves, a military cap on his head, and had a serious look on his face. It was obvious that he was a very handsome man when he was young.
Sheng Puzhu reacted immediately, and hurriedly pulled Sheng Puyao and Xie Lingyi, lowering his eyes and retreating away.
The setting sun melted gold, the snow in the forest was trampled into mud by the horses' hooves, and the saint rode on a tall horse, followed by a group of court officials.
Xie Lingyi saw Xie Juyuan. When their eyes met, Xie Juyuan nodded to Xie Lingyi with rare satisfaction. Xie Lingyi did not look at him, but hid behind Sheng Puju.
"Your Majesty, we have hunted a white tiger in the forest today." An eunuch had already run to the main tent and knelt down breathlessly to report to the queen.
The Queen stood up and went out to greet him personally: "Your Majesty is brave and valiant, and God bless Dayan."
The sage sat on his horse, surrounded by courtiers. At that moment, he felt as if he had grown ten years younger. He stroked his beard and laughed heartily, "Those who excel in hunting today will be generously rewarded."
"Bring it up here, so you ladies can see it. This is the white tiger I hunted myself."
The imperial guards carried the long-dead white tiger and placed it in the most conspicuous position in the polo field for everyone to watch.
Sheng Puzhu stood in the crowd with curiosity in his eyes.
The white tiger's skin was incomplete, and various scars made it look hideous. The most fatal arrow had pierced the tiger's body, and the tail of the arrow had a special bright yellow mark.
But the white tiger was huge, and the arrow that shot into the tiger's eye only penetrated less than one-third of the way. Under normal circumstances, it would probably not have taken the white tiger's life.
Sheng Puzhu couldn't help but frown, and his eyes gradually became serious.
The injury inside the eye socket doesn't seem right, unless there is a more fatal wound.
She moved her gaze downwards, and suddenly saw a very inconspicuous black arrow at the position of the white tiger's heart. The feather arrow had been completely embedded in the chest cavity, but it was covered by the fur and was basically not noticed.
Sheng Puju's eyes were so focused that a heavy gaze fell on her without any disguise.
Subconsciously, she raised her almond-shaped eyes and met the man's meaningful gaze.
Xie Zhiyan was still looking at her, his eyes were cold, like the snow deep in the mountains, and even more like the endless night. He stood silently not far behind the saint, his broad right hand loosely grasping the hilt of the knife, his thin lips pressed into a straight line, seeming a little inhuman.
Under his deep brow bones, his pupils seemed to be hidden in the mist, and were particularly unclear.
The two looked at each other, but in an instant, they looked away at the same time.
When the saint was about to dismount, a eunuch had already knelt down, with his hands on the ground and his back straight, like a suitable footstool.
The ministers nearby offered to help him, but the sage waved his hand and refused: "I am in my prime, even hunting a white tiger is no problem. Why make such a fuss about something as trivial as dismounting a horse?"
The saint raised one leg, but his body swayed uncontrollably. The court officials did not dare to breathe until a pair of cold white hands stretched out from mid-air.
"Uncle, let me hold the inkstone and help you."
Xie Zhiyan stood straight, his expression unclear, and his voice was gentle and restrained.
The saint did not speak for a long time. After a while, he stretched out his arms to support the hands and finally stepped firmly on the young eunuch's back.
Next comes the end-of-year sacrifice.
The white tiger, rice, millet, sorghum, wheat and beans were offered as tribute to hundreds of gods, mainly the god of agriculture, in order to pray for a good harvest in the coming year.
After the sacrifice, the prince lit lanterns and prayed for blessings, giving thanks for the good harvest this year and praying for good rain and wind in the coming year.
When everything was over, the sky had completely turned into inky black.
The sage rewarded each prefecture with a plate of roasted meat, which was a musk deer hunted by the prince himself in the forest.
The big tent was bustling with people toasting each other.
Although the saint had many concubines, he was not lustful. He and the queen were married since childhood. Since the prince came of age, he stopped thinking about staying in the harem and focused more on state affairs. He was considered a wise ruler.
Sheng Puzhu ate a small piece of musk deer meat and couldn't help but look at Xie Zhiyan, who was approaching the emperor in a black robe.
He was tall and broad, with the light coming from the side, casting a sharp shadow on the tip of his straight nose, clearly outlining his facial features and making his expression seem even colder. The hand holding the wine cup was slender and beautiful, giving her the illusion of coldness, just like his always cold body temperature.
Sheng Puzhu clearly didn't drink any alcohol, but she seemed to be drunk. Her eyes were glued to him and she couldn't bear to look away.
It was not until late at night when the sage returned that everyone bowed and left the Golden Tent one by one.
Dou and Madam Sheng got along very well on this trip and walked hand in hand in front, while Sheng Puyao and Xie Lingyi walked slowly at the back. They secretly tasted the wine and counted the stars in the sky while drunk.
Nanny Du, with a group of maids, followed at a distance.
The East Suburb Villa is very large. At night, the wind blows from deep in the mountains, bringing a biting chill.
Xie Zhiyan walked beside Sheng Puzhu, and neither of them spoke, like a strange couple with a bad relationship.
"Zhu'er, I'll take Puyao in first." Zhuang greeted them, and soon Dou also brought Xie Lingyi into the small courtyard where they lived with the Wei family.
The surroundings became increasingly quiet. Princess Shoukang's courtyard was second only to the Queen's residence, so it was a long way to go.
Sheng Puzhu was wearing the same Hu clothing she wore during the day, and Xie Zhiyan's cloak. The two ladies walked side by side, their sleeves swaying slightly with their steps, touching each other from time to time, making a slight rubbing sound.
"Madam, did you enjoy yourself today?" Xie Zhiyan asked softly in a deep and powerful voice.
"Yeah." Sheng Puzhu bit her lip, her heart beating faster, and she admitted softly.
At this moment, their sleeves collided again, and his fingertips suddenly scraped across her soft palm. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, her fingertips felt hot, and her hand was held tightly by Xie Zhiyan.
With very light movements, his palm with thin calluses caressed her sensitive fingers and slowly pressed in.
"My dear..." Sheng Puzhu exclaimed softly. She was about to pull her hand away, but he covered it with his sleeve and clasped their fingers together.
"It's dark and the road is long, madam, don't fall." Xie Zhiyan looked straight ahead, walking up the stone steps as usual, but his fingertips exerted a little force, as if playing with a piece of exquisite jade, pressing against her soft skin inch by inch, his movements sometimes light, sometimes heavy, but he had no intention of letting go.
Sheng Puju felt that he was getting closer, and the cold breath completely enveloped her. The tips of her ears felt hot, and her steps gradually became uncontrollable, and she walked slower and slower.
Xie Qingshu cried as she walked, but she didn't dare cry out loud. She covered her eyes with her sleeves. Whenever she met someone, she would pretend that she was blinded by the wind and sand, and look up at the sky as if nothing had happened.
Until she returned to the courtyard, she closed the door and cried in the room for a long time. Just when she calmed down, she heard someone outside the courtyard say that Miss Wei San had won the favor of the Queen Mother and would probably be married to the Crown Princess soon.
Xie Qingshu cried even more sadly.
She lived in the same courtyard with Wei's third wife. She might cry again when she saw people. Xie Qingshu was afraid of being embarrassed. After thinking for a long time, she could only take Naidong and squat in front of Sheng Puzhu's courtyard.
It was getting dark and no one came back. Xie Qingshu was hungry and tired, with a piece of cake hidden in her arms. She thought about it and generously gave half of it to Naidong.
Naidong was not polite and took it and ate it.
Xie Qingshu felt even more aggrieved, thinking that her eldest sister-in-law's maid did not coax her at all.
In the dark night, the noisy sounds stopped and Xie Qingshu was shivering in the night wind.
Before Sheng Puzhu could free her hand from Xie Zhiyan's palm, she heard a pitiful voice in the wind calling her, "Sister-in-law."
Shaking like a ghost...
She was almost frightened to jump up on the spot, if Xie Zhiyan hadn't been so strong.
Sheng Puzhu lowered his eyes and looked over, relying on the dim light of the lantern.
Tsk.
Xie Qingshu sat in front of her yard gate, sobbing like a poor puppy.
With a helpless sigh, he asked her seriously, "Have you given up today?"
"Yeah." Xie Qingshu just nodded, hiccups one after another, and couldn't speak for a long time.
"Then are you still fighting?"
Xie Qingshu shook her head like a rattle and managed to utter a few words: "No, once is enough."
"Sister-in-law, I was wrong, but Qingshu doesn't regret it."
"Since you know your mistake, when you return home, go to the ancestral hall to accept your punishment." Xie Zhiyan, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke.
He did not blame, but just stated the result calmly in a cold voice, which seemed so inhumane.
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