Chapter 17
When Zhao Fangyu saw the beautiful face he had missed for so long, he felt happy.
Although she was dressed simply today, her complexion was much rosier than before, and her eyes were brighter. Looking at Liang He's sweet and innocent face, Zhao Fangyu involuntarily took a step forward.
Zhang Pianran, who was traveling with Fu Jinxi, also came over. She had already seen Zhao Fangyu, and when she got off the carriage, she noticed this elegant young man.
At this moment, she thought he had noticed her as well, and wanted to get to know her. When Zhao Fangyu approached, Zhang Pianran's face had already turned red, her hands kept twisting her handkerchief, and her steps also stopped.
But she didn't expect that he was here to look for Fu Jinchu. Moreover, it seemed that he knew Jinchu's cousin.
Fu Jinxi, who was beside her, was also a little shocked when she saw the second son of the Zhao family coming to find Liang He, but she didn't say anything. Although the second son of the Zhao family was not her target, she felt bad when she saw him coming to find Fu Jinchu.
When Fu Jinwan saw Zhao Fangyu, she was no longer so shocked. Looking at the appearance of the second son of the Zhao family, she thought of the invitation and looked at Zhao Fangyu for a while.
When Zhao Fangyu saw Liang He, he was so delighted that he forgot to greet the other female members of the Fu family. However, he still remembered the etiquette and walked forward again, "Zhao greets Miss Fu, Miss Fu, and... this girl."
Zhao Fangyu paused when he saw a strange face.
"Second Master Zhao. This is my cousin, Zhang Pianran." Fu Jinxi explained.
"Hello, Miss Zhang." Zhao Fangyu said to Zhang Pianran.
Then, he said to Liang He, "It has been a long time since we last met. I am very happy to see Miss Fu Er today." Zhao Fangyu looked at Liang He with a very intimate tone, but he was still two steps away from Liang He.
Liang He's impression of him was expanded to include another word: self-disciplined and polite.
"Mr. Zhao. It's been a long time since we last met." But he didn't miss her. Liang He felt that if anyone should miss her, it would be Fu Jinchu.
However, Zhao Fangyu did satisfy her fantasy of a gentle and refined gentleman: gentle and graceful, polite but not pedantic.
Zhao Fangyu felt a little disappointed when he heard Liang He's only two faint replies. Just as he was about to say something to Liang He, he heard his servant running over and calling him over.
"Second Young Master, the eldest young master is asking you to come over." Fu Jin said in a low voice.
After hearing this, Zhao Fangyu looked over at Zhao Fanglu and saw people around him walking towards him. He knew that his elder brother wanted to introduce some people to him.
Zhao Fangyu was afraid that his elder brother would urge him to leave, so he said goodbye. "My brother has something to ask me, so I'll leave first."
Liang He looked at Zhao Fangyu's reluctant eyes, frowned, felt guilty, and then pretended to look away while looking at the scenery.
As soon as Zhao Fangyi left, Fu Jinxi asked, "How did second sister get to know the second young master of the Zhao family? And the second young master of the Zhao family is obviously very special to you." Zhang Pianran, who was next to Fu Jinxi, heard this and suddenly raised her head and stared at Liang He.
She finally found a man she liked, but he was interested in her cousin Jinchu. Zhang Pianran was not convinced, she felt that Fu Jinchu was not worthy of him. If it were her eldest and third cousins, she would think it was natural.
Liang He didn't know what Zhang Pianran was thinking when she stared at her. If she knew, she would definitely complain about her in her heart: If Zhao Fangyu fell in love with her, it would not be reasonable for Zhang Pianran to do so.
It seems everyone in this world believes that beautiful people should have everything beautiful. They should have a wonderful family, and their looks, partners, and talents should all be proportional to their appearance. This makes sense, but it's not entirely true.
The choices made in this world vary, and each has its own reasons. Who can say for sure? And who can dictate them?
Liang He listened to Fu Jinxi's pointed words and didn't take them seriously. She replied gently, "It depends on fate."
Then she took Fu Jinwan's arm and walked forward, and Fu Jinwan let her lead him.
Fu Jinxi looked at Liang He who was walking away with Fu Jinwan, and her face darkened a little, but immediately returned to her normal, gentle and calm look.
After Liang He had left for a while, Zhang Pianran asked Fu Jinxi, "Is the young master of the Zhao family interested in Cousin Jinchu?" Zhang Pianran now truly felt the prosperity of the capital. She wanted to become a leader in the capital and stay there. This was her mother's purpose in returning to the Fu family, and it was also her goal.
"Yes. But it's not that easy to get into the Zhao family." Fu Jinxi had heard and seen a lot. These wealthy families value the word "legitimate".
When Zhang Pianran heard this, his eyes dimmed.
Fu Jinchu may not be able to enter the Zhao family, so what about her?
——
The flower show was held inside the imperial palace, something Liang He hadn't anticipated. It felt like a beauty pageant for the emperor. With the addition of men, it became a large-scale blind date.
Along the way, Liang He met many palace maids and eunuchs, and together with Fu Jinwan, he got to know some young ladies from official families.
The so-called acquaintance means that we exchanged names and told each other my father's official position. That was considered an acquaintance.
As soon as the Si hour arrived, the music suddenly stopped.
A woman in a bright red dress was supported by someone and walked over to the open-air pavilion that had been decorated long ago, and then slowly walked to the main position.
As soon as the people saw the bright red dress, they guessed that it was Princess Jingrou, and the laughter and chatter of the noble ladies stopped.
When Princess Jingrou saw the young ladies from various families who were as delicate as flowers and the energetic young men, she couldn't help but sigh for her past self and thought of her long-deceased husband.
The maid adjusted her skirt and helped Princess Jingrou sit down. Princess Jingrou looked at the quiet people, smiled slightly, and said, "I invite you all to appreciate the flowers because I feel it is a pity that there is no one to appreciate the whole garden. But today, in addition to enjoying the flowers, if we can help a good marriage be brought together, that would also be a happy thing."
Princess Jingrou did not shy away from stating directly the purpose of her flower show.
"Okay, this is a place for you young men and women, I won't disturb you." Princess Jingrou looked at these upright young men and thought of Lu Niannan who had become a monk. If he were here, he might have a group of good friends of the same age as them, reciting poems and composing couplets together.
As soon as Princess Jingrou left, the sound of music began to play, and the sound of discussion also rose.
Liang He looked around, trying to find where Song Ji was.
The system received the message and informed her, "Xiao Hezi, Song Ji has been called to the imperial study."
"The Emperor has called him away? I'm afraid he won't be back for a while." Being called away suddenly by the Emperor at this time must be something urgent. Liang He couldn't help but worry.
——
At this time, in the imperial study.
"Hahaha, my dear Lord He, your chess skills have improved again. I am ashamed of myself." The emperor laughed.
"Compared with Your Majesty, I am still far behind." He Juesheng said modestly.
"Tell me, you have something to say this time when you come to deliver chess pieces to me?" The emperor stared at He Juesheng for a while, then turned around, picked up the teacup, took a sip of tea, and asked.
"Nothing escapes your majesty's eyes. This time I do have something to say." Then, He Juesheng walked down the stairs and knelt down.
"What do you mean, my dear minister?" The emperor remained calm when he saw the prime minister he had appointed kneeling in front of him.
"Regarding the matter of General Song, how will the Emperor handle it?"
"Are you talking about Song Ji's marriage?" The emperor touched the black chess piece, then came over for a while and put it back.
The sound of chess pieces colliding echoed in the study, and the whole room seemed unusually quiet.
"Yes." Although He Juesheng was kneeling with his head lowered, his voice remained calm, as if he was in control of the victory.
"If Song Ji marries into the Xu family, the prince's power will inevitably become stronger and stronger. How can the second prince fight against the prince?" He Juesheng knew that the emperor wanted to choose the future crown prince from among the other princes, not the current crown prince.
"He Juesheng, are you sure you're not doing this for your own selfish reasons? Oh, you're almost thirty, and you're still thinking about a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl?" The emperor knew what He Juesheng was thinking. Although he didn't necessarily think He Juesheng would marry into the Xu family, he certainly didn't think Song Ji would marry into the Xu family either.
At least, He Juesheng is his.
"I am doing this for the Emperor's consideration."
"snort!"
"So you need me to grant you a marriage? Let Miss Xu marry you?" The emperor walked up to He Juesheng and helped him up with both hands.
Hearing this, He Juesheng felt that he had persuaded the emperor.
"No. It's a marriage arranged for Song Ji." He didn't want Xu Yin to marry him unwillingly.
The emperor pondered this, walked to the table, and then asked, "You want me to arrange a marriage for Song Ji. I guess you've already decided which girl she will be with, right?"
"Your Majesty is wise. I think the young lady from the Fu family is quite good."
"Fu Changzheng's daughter?" The emperor thought for a moment, "Which one?"
"The second young lady of the Fu family."
The Fu family had several daughters. The granddaughter of Lord Yuan, the legitimate daughter of the Fu family, was not an option. However, a concubine's daughter was also inappropriate. The emperor's arrangement, allowing the patron saint of Chu to marry a concubine's daughter, was different from Song Ji marrying himself. If someone seized on this and thought the emperor was intentionally limiting Song Ji's power, and let the people know that he had disappointed them, then what would become of the emperor's prestige and image?
The second daughter of the Fu family, although a concubine, was also a legitimate daughter, which was just right. Moreover, He Juesheng had planned it a while ago and had people spread the story of Song Ji saving Liang He. He even invited a storyteller to tell the story of a hero saving a beautiful woman. They became a couple, which was also a good story.
"I agree." The emperor waved his hand and called the eunuch in and summoned Song Ji to the imperial study.
When Song Ji learned that he had been summoned by the emperor, he was also surprised, but he still followed him. When Song Ji arrived at the imperial study, he was about to go in when he saw He Juesheng coming out of the imperial study, and he understood a little.
"Greetings, General Song." Because his conspiracy had succeeded, He Juesheng's face was unusually gentle, without his usual indifference and terror.
"Greetings, Prime Minister He." When Song Ji saw He Juesheng, he roughly knew that the emperor asked him to come here, which might be related to this person.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." Song Ji entered the imperial study, saw the emperor, and was about to pay his respects when he was stopped by the emperor.
"Lord Song, you have worked hard recently. You have been a great hero in repelling the enemy for the Chu Kingdom and its people. This gift is unnecessary."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I wonder if Your Majesty has any instructions for me to come here?" Song Ji was puzzled. Has the fact that he has been getting close to the prince's people recently been discovered?
The emperor only knew that the Xu family was close to the prince, but he didn't know that Song Ji was no longer neutral and had chosen the same path as the Xu family.
"My dear Song, don't be nervous. I called you here because I want to have a casual chat with you." The emperor shook his sleeves and asked, "Your Excellency attended Jingrou's flower show today. Did you meet a girl you liked?" Although he had already decided to arrange a marriage for Song Ji, he also wanted to test who Song Ji wanted to marry.
Smart people don't say anything.
"I have no plans to get married for the time being." Song Ji knew that the old emperor was trying to trick him.
"Oh, how can that be? My dear General Song, you are not young anymore and it's time for you to get married. Otherwise, I will be sorry to General Song." The emperor was very satisfied with Song Ji's answer.
"Song Ji's life is tied to the sword. If the girl becomes a widow, I will always feel guilty about her." What Song Ji said was true. As long as there is war, his life may be lost at any time. Following him, she will only live in fear like his mother.
"Okay, my dear Lord Song, if you meet a girl you like, I can make the decision for you." Looking at Song Ji's bright eyes, the emperor patted Song Ji on the shoulder.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Song Ji saluted the emperor again.
"Okay, back off."
"yes."
Looking at the receding dark red figure, the emperor narrowed his eyes and said to the person beside him, "Eunuch Zheng, grind the ink."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
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