Here, Chu Qingluan fled from the palace for the first time. She almost ran out of the palace.
"Your Highness? What's wrong with you?" Seeing this, Zhixia hurried forward and supported Chu Qingluan.
"What's the matter with you? Why are you so pale?"
Zhixia had followed Chu Qingluan for many years, but this was the first time she saw such an expression on her face. It was as if she was hit by some important news.
Chu Qingluan shook her head and sighed, "Nothing, let's go back home."
She didn't want to tell Zhixia the news at the palace gate, otherwise, she would be more shocked than herself.
Zhixia keenly sensed something was wrong and hurriedly helped her into the carriage.
"Your Highness, drink some water to calm your nerves."
Zhixia handed over the warm glass cup and carefully observed her master's expression, "But what did His Majesty say to you?"
Chu Qingluan took the cup and paused, then sighed, "My father wants me to marry both Xie Yunqi and Pei Yuan at the same time."
After saying this, Zhixia's eyes almost popped out.
"What?!" She suspected that she had heard it wrongly, "Two adults, together? This..."
"Isn't it ridiculous?" Chu Qingluan smiled bitterly.
"The Xie family has a good reputation for a hundred years, and Xie Yunqi is the chief civil official. Pei Yuan is loyal and courageous, and is the commander of the army. How can he accept such humiliation? What's more..." She herself had divorced.
It’s ridiculous to think about it.
Zhixia was shocked, but soon calmed down and looked at Chu Qingluan strangely. She whispered:
"Your Highness, why do you have to belittle yourself? Perhaps General Pei and Lord Xie would be more than happy to receive this."
In Zhixia's eyes, her princess was good in every way. Her talent and strategy were much better than that stupid prince. The future of the Great Chu could only be hoped for if it was in the hands of the princess. So she understood and agreed with the King of Chu's approach.
"What are you mumbling about?"
Zhixia said this in a very low voice, and Chu Qingluan didn't hear clearly, so she asked again.
"Ah, well, Princess, since His Majesty has said so, will you still attend Miss Jiuge's piano recital the day after tomorrow?"
Chu Qingluan pondered.
Zhixia added: "I think it's okay to go. His Majesty has allowed you to choose a consort anyway, so I can take this opportunity to see what the two adults think. But as for the Crown Prince and the Imperial Concubine..."
Chu Qingluan understood that once this news spread, the Crown Prince and Concubine Xie would not sit idly by and would definitely try to sabotage her husband-selection banquet.
After all, the prince's party certainly doesn't want her to successfully marry and expand their own power.
"The prince will definitely not sit idly by." Chu Qingluan said.
"What should we do? Should we still go to the piano concert?"
Chu Qingluan pondered for a moment, and suddenly said, "Since we are going to do it, we might as well do it in a lively way. Tell everyone later that I want to send invitations to all the daughters of officials of the third rank and above in the capital who are of marriageable age. Say that I have recently obtained a lost musical score from the previous dynasty, and invite everyone to appreciate it together."
Since this is a blind date in disguise, how can she go alone?
Naturally, this muddy water needs to be stirred up a bit so that some things can be revealed.
Zhixia understood and her eyes lit up.
In this way, the piano concert would have a reason, would not appear deliberate, and would also provide an opportunity to see the character of the ladies from each family.
If the prince can win over court officials, why can’t the princess make friends with the apple of their eye?
"Your Highness is wise. I will draw up a list right away and tell Miss Jiuge the good news." Zhixia was eager to try.
"It's just that General Pei..."
"Report——"
Before Zhixia could finish her words, the voice of the guards was heard outside.
"Princess, Mr. Xie was assassinated near the Anxiang Tower and was shot by a poisonous arrow! General Pei has captured the assassin! He has now been sent to the Heavenly Prison."
Chu Qingluan and Zhixia stood up at the same time after hearing this.
"Is Second Young Master Xie okay?" Chu Qingluan asked.
The guard replied, "Second Master Xie is fine, he was only slightly injured, and he has returned to the Xie family. General Pei asked me to tell Your Highness that the prison is filthy and you don't need to set foot there. When he has any news, he will report to you as soon as possible."
"Go tell General Pei that I'm waiting for his news at the Princess's Mansion."
"Yes!" The guard took the order and left.
——
That night. Princess Mansion.
When Pei Yuan arrived, he had already changed into new clothes. He made sure that there was no smell of blood on his body before he stepped into the princess's mansion.
"The princess has been waiting for a long time. General, please follow me."
Zhixia was leading the way with a lantern in hand, but she couldn't help but sneak a glance at the tall figure behind her.
Under the moonlight, Pei Yuan's outline was clear, his profile was tense, his hair was neatly tied up, his sword-like eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and his handsome face, which was usually as cold as frost, was now coated with a layer of soft light by the moonlight, like a thousand-year-old black ice meeting the warm spring sun, quietly rippling with light.
When passing the Nine-Curved Corridor, Pei Yuan suddenly stopped and asked, "Princess...are you ready for dinner?"
Zhixia was startled. She didn't expect that his first question would be this. "Your Highness is so angry that he has no appetite..."
As soon as Zhixia said this, she regretted it. General Pei didn't know about the piano meeting yet. If she accidentally let it slip, General Pei would definitely be sad. So she quickly made amends:
"Don't worry, General. I have asked the kitchen to warm up the bird's nest porridge."
Pei Yuan frowned slightly, and quickly took out an oil-paper bag from his arms: "Osmanthus cake from Wang Ji on West Street, she...the princess used to love it the most."
Zhixia took the oil paper package and the pastry was still warm.
"General, you are very thoughtful. Please go in first. I will bring it to the princess in a moment."
When Pei Yuan entered the room, Chu Qingluan was copying a painting. When she heard the knock on the door, she said without even looking up:
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