"One day, I will tell you." Shi Mingyue did not answer his question directly because she could not say anything at the moment.
Fu Yueli had always been reluctant to force her. Although he didn't understand why she suddenly said such strange things today, in his opinion, these things were not her concern at all. He finally agreed with her: "Yes."
The next day, the entire Xiangwang Mansion was decorated with red silk and hung with big red lanterns. All of this was to welcome the arrival of the new princess.
Most of the guests had arrived early and were waiting in the hall. The Emperor and Concubine Cen were also there. Soon, a bustling noise could be heard from outside the hall. The bride had arrived. Everyone's eyes turned to the hall and saw Fu Baiheng, dressed in his wedding attire, looking dashing and high-spirited. Beside him, the bride, her face radiant and charming beneath the tassels of her golden phoenix crown. Each of them held one end of a red hydrangea and slowly entered.
Shi Mingyue was already feeling sleepy from not sleeping well the previous night, but when she saw the bride and groom come in, she perked up. Wasn't this scene exactly the same as when she married into Prince Ling's mansion last year?
After the newlyweds finished their wedding ceremony, Huo Qiurong was sent to the bridal chamber, while Fu Baiheng accepted everyone's toasts at the banquet.
Shi Mingyue saw that Huo Qiuwen was also here today, so she secretly winked at her, and the two of them left together.
The Prince of Xiang's mansion was huge. Shi Mingyue walked arm in arm with Huo Qiuwen along a small gravel path, occasionally encountering one or two maids and servants. When they were alone, she said to Huo Qiuwen, "Now that your sister is marrying the Second Prince, you don't have to marry him either."
"Well, thank you for the idea. I couldn't go anywhere if I pretended to be sick. Mother wanted to take my second sister and me to the palace to speak to Concubine Cen, but I couldn't go, so my second sister did. Concubine Cen was very pleased with her, and she probably didn't want her son to marry a sickly woman like me."
Shi Mingyue said worriedly, "You don't have to marry the Second Prince now, but what if your grandfather, parents arrange another marriage for you in the future?"
Huo Qiuwen shook her head slightly and said helplessly, "I don't understand why women have to marry men. I told my mother that I didn't want to get married, but she actually scolded me for being a traitor and told me not to say it again, otherwise if my grandfather or father heard it, they would punish me." When she said this, she couldn't help but kick a stone on the ground, then looked at Shi Mingyue and said, "Tell me, is this really a traitor?"
Shi Mingyue was speechless for a moment. She had never thought about this problem, but if a woman did not get married, the pressure she would face would be enough to crush her.
"What is treason?" Suddenly a female voice came from the other side of the garden.
Shi Mingyue and Huo Qiuwen looked towards the source of the voice in surprise, and the person who spoke was Xu Ziling.
Xu Ziling slowly walked over and said, "First of all, I want to make it clear that I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation. I was just here basking in the sun, and you were just being too loud."
Shi Mingyue felt bad. Xu Ziling had heard their conversation and knew Huo Qiuwen was feigning illness to avoid marrying the Second Prince. What if she told the Second Prince?
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about your conversation." Xu Ziling noticed Shi Mingyue's mood and quickly expressed her attitude. She looked at Huo Qiuwen with a look full of admiration: "You did the right thing. I think as long as a woman has a brain, she would never want to marry the Second Prince. As for the question you just asked her, I want to tell you that what the elders call treason is simply that you didn't act according to their wishes. In fact, they are not necessarily right. They say it's for your own good, but in fact, they have no regard for your wishes at all."
"Filial piety is the principle of heaven and the righteousness of earth. What's more, parents love their children not for the sake of reward. Don't say that anymore." Shi Mingyue interrupted her. What Xu Ziling said was simply fallacy nowadays. If Huo Qiuwen really listened to it and did something, the only one who would be hurt would be Qiuwen himself.
Xu Ziling said leisurely, "Princess Ling, don't be anxious. I didn't instigate Miss Huo to be unfilial. It's just that people should have the opportunity to choose their own destiny and there's no need to be trapped by other factors." After she said that, she nodded to the two of them and walked away.
Huo Qiuwen stared at her back in a daze. Shi Mingyue touched her arm and said seriously, "Don't listen to her nonsense. Tell me if you have anything to say. Don't act on your own."
Huo Qiuwen suddenly smiled, patted the back of Shi Mingyue's hand and said, "I'm not that stupid. Who is she?" It was the first time she met the other person.
"She's the Second Prince's physician," Shi Mingyue sighed. Although she had just refuted Xu Ziling's words, he actually had a point. It's just that women these days are bound by their status, and there are too many factors that restrict them. A lady from a prominent family like Huo Qiuwen is too naive, a canary dependent on her family. Right now, she can't fly out of her cage. If she insists on flying, she'll be bruised and battered.
After the wedding banquet, Shi Mingyue returned home with Fu Yueli. As night fell in her study, she pondered: Among the ministers she had met today, which one was worth considering? The Zhao Kingdom no longer strictly adhered to the previous dynasty's three ministries and six departments. The Zhongshu and Menxia departments had been combined into a single institution, the Zhongshu Menxia. The Shangshu Department, which originally oversaw the six ministries, was directly controlled by the emperor, and therefore the six ministries were solely accountable to him.
The Secretariat includes the Left Prime Minister Xie Qichang and the Right Prime Minister Wang Hui. Xie Qichang is a scholar with a smooth personality. He seems to remain neutral for now, while Wang Hui is obviously a member of the Second Prince's party. He and Fu Baiheng had a great time drinking at the banquet yesterday.
As for the others, Shi Mingyue wrote down the names and information she knew one by one. Until someone knocked on the door, she hurriedly put away her things and ran to open the door for Fu Yueli.
"Why aren't you sleeping yet? Are you reading in the study?" Fu Yueli asked curiously.
Shi Mingyue nodded and followed his words, "Yes, I forgot the time while reading. I'm going to bed now." Then she pulled him out of the study.
Two days later, Lu Lingyan and Lu Lingjing arrived at the palace. After arranging their accommodations, Fu Yueli went to the Huo residence to attend classes, leaving Shi Mingyue to entertain them alone.
After dinner, Fu Yueli still hadn't returned, so Lu Lingyan went out alone. Shi Mingyue didn't know where he was going, but Lu Lingjing knew exactly. She said disdainfully, "He must be going to see his confidante." She specifically emphasized the word confidante.
Shi Mingyue could only smile awkwardly, while Lu Lingjing asked the maid to fetch the gift she had brought. The maid quickly brought back an ebony box, which Lu Lingjing opened to reveal a pale pink pearl necklace.
"Grandma asked me to bring this to you. Try it on."
Shi Mingyue was a little surprised. This pink pearl necklace must be worth a lot of money. Lu Lingjing picked up the necklace and was about to put it on her when Fu Yueli's voice came from outside the door: "Let me do it."
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