Chapter 212 Entering Beijing
After the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, Yuan Ziyu's name once again shocked the circle of noble ladies in the capital.
Because Yuan Ziyu's magic tricks completely shocked the empress dowager and Emperor Wen of Qi, Emperor Wen of Qi issued an edict on the spot: allowing folk craftsmen like magic tricks to open schools and teach openly.
Such a decree is equivalent to recognizing the status of folk artists. You must know that these folk artists have always been regarded as the lowest livelihood because they have never been liked by officials and nobles. Very few people are willing to learn these things. Even if they want to learn, they only learn a little bit of the basics from others in secret, and they are afraid of being seen by others and becoming a handle for everyone to laugh at.
In this way, those folk artists can impart their skills openly. As a result, for a long time to come, the development of folk skills will gradually climb to the top, leaving behind countless precious heritages for future generations.
Of course, this is all later.
Nowadays, when the mistresses of each family admonish their daughters behind closed doors, they add one more sentence: Look at Miss Yuan Er, she is very good at pleasing the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, you must learn from her!
Families with sons of marriageable age could not help but sigh in regret. Why was this versatile Miss Yuan Er destined to be married off so early to the son of Marquis Xuanping?
On the morning of the second day after the birthday banquet, when all the officials were waiting outside the main hall, many of them came forward to congratulate Yuan Qifeng: "General Yuan, congratulations, it's incredible that you have a daughter!"
Yuan Ziyu's actions yesterday also made Yuan Qifeng and Liu turn their worries into joy, and they felt extremely proud from the bottom of their hearts.
At this time, Yuan Qifeng was congratulated by his colleagues and was naturally very happy.
Yuan Qifeng proudly twirled the black jade ring on his thumb and said with a smile, "Of course, of course. I've only learned a few tricks occasionally, so I don't deserve such praise!"
The officials blinked their eyes as they looked at Yuan Qifeng, who was grinning from ear to ear. With such words and such a smug expression, how could he deserve a beating?
Someone noticed the black jade ring that Yuan Qifeng was constantly playing with, and his eyes suddenly lit up and he said, "General Yuan, your ring is very nice. It seems that General Yuan is also an elegant person!"
Black jade is rare, so naturally the black jade ring is also expensive. The ring that Yuan Ziyu bought for Yuan Qifeng was made of top-grade black jade.
Yuan Qifeng smiled when he heard this: "I'm just a rough man, how could I understand these things? This was bought by my daughter You'er. She said her shop had made a profit, and she wanted to buy us a gift, and she wouldn't let us refuse. So, since she bought it, of course I have to take it with me. I can't let my daughter You'er down!"
Hearing these words, the officials felt their hearts choke again!
Show off, really show off...
At this moment, a eunuch came out to announce the start of court. The officials suppressed their bitterness and envy in their hearts, but they all wondered when their own daughters would be able to show off like this in public...
The residence of the second prince Xuanyuan Xiao.
Xuanyuan Xiao sat upright behind the desk, looking at the person in front of him.
"If there is something, can't you just send someone to secretly send a message? Why do you have to come to the capital by yourself? If someone sees you, you'd better know what I will do." Xuanyuan Xiao's voice was different from the usual clear voice, with a hint of gloom.
"Second Prince!" The man bowed hurriedly and said, "Because this matter is of great importance, I have no choice but to come to see you personally. I was really worried about sending someone to deliver the message. Don't worry, Second Prince, no one has discovered my whereabouts."
"What's the matter that requires you to come here in person?" Xuanyuan Xiao frowned and asked in a cold voice.
"Second Prince, I have discovered that someone is investigating the Su family's past!" the visitor said hurriedly in a low voice.
"What!" Xuanyuan Xiao sat up straight when he heard it. "Do you know who is investigating the Su family?"
"I don't know!" the man quickly replied, "The person who was investigating the news was very secretive. I had someone investigate for a long time but couldn't find out what was going on. I was afraid they would find out, so I didn't continue investigating. However, I suspect that the person who was investigating the news was from the capital."
"From the capital?" Xuanyuan Xiao narrowed his eyes and asked softly.
"Yes!" the man said, "However, this is just my own guess. I haven't found out the details yet."
"Hmph!" Xuanyuan Xiao snorted coldly, "You don't know anything, yet you come to the capital on your own. What are you trying to do? Can I help you investigate?"
"No, no!" the visitor said hurriedly, "It's just that I was thinking that the people who were investigating the news were most likely from the capital, and now those two are also in the capital. Second Prince, do you think they might have sent people to investigate?"
"They?" Xuanyuan Xiao lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, then gave that person a cold look: "You mean..."
"Yes!" The man nodded hurriedly, then slashed down fiercely with his hand: "Second Prince, do you want to..."
"Humph!" Xuanyuan Xiao snorted coldly: "Stupid!"
"But, Second Prince, if what happened back then were to be revealed, the consequences would be..." the man said anxiously.
Xuanyuan Xiao slammed the table. "Do you know the consequences? Are those two so reckless? If they act without full preparation, what will happen? Do you know? If you come to the capital without permission and are discovered, what will happen? Do you know what the consequences will be?"
Xuanyuan Xiao was furious, but his voice was not loud; it just made people feel cold in their hearts.
The man was so frightened that he fell to the ground. "Second Prince, I was wrong! I was wrong. I will never act on my own again!"
"Hmph!" Xuanyuan Xiao narrowed his eyes, a murderous intent flashing across them. He then took a deep breath and said calmly, "Alright, get out of here quickly and don't let anyone discover your whereabouts. Also, if anyone finds out anything about what happened back then, you know the consequences!"
"Yes, yes, I'll go back right away!" The man shuddered, a layer of cold sweat breaking out on his back. He kowtowed hurriedly and said, "Second Prince, don't worry. I will definitely erase all traces and prevent that person from finding out anything."
"Yeah!" Xuanyuan Xiao nodded with some satisfaction.
"I...I'll take my leave!" The man bent his body and carefully left Xuanyuan Xiao's study, then left the mansion through the back door without anyone noticing.
It was not until he left the city gate that he breathed a sigh of relief. He secretly regretted his own actions and hurriedly left the capital and started his journey home.
In the Yichun Palace within the imperial palace, Concubine Zhao had already broken several teacups.
Shao Hong advised from the side: "Your Majesty, please calm down!"
"Calm down?" Concubine Zhao narrowed her eyes and looked at Shao Hong. "How can you ask me to calm down? You saw how Yuan Ziyu tried to please the Queen Mother. Who can't see his purpose?"
"But, Your Majesty!" Shao Hong said, "I heard that Miss Yuan Er is already engaged, and her fiancé is the son of the Marquis Xuanping. I don't think she has any other thoughts, right?"
"Hmph!" Concubine Zhao snorted coldly, "She's just a marquis' wife at best. How can she compare to the head of the harem?"
After hearing this, Shao Hong said nothing more!
Concubine Zhao narrowed her eyes and thought carefully about how to completely cut off Yuan Ziyu's possibility of entering the palace as a concubine.
However, before Concubine Zhao could come up with a solution, a piece of news came: Tuoba Hun, the eldest prince of Chi Le, was about to enter the capital!
(End of this chapter)
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