What Murong Lanxin knew was indeed not good. She also told An Qingran which concubines in the harem had good relationships and that they were all planning to please the emperor. They took turns making soups and pastries to send to the emperor, but who would have thought that the emperor actually issued an order that the women in the harem were not allowed to go to the front court, and except for summons, they were not even allowed to leave the harem.
When she mentioned this matter, An Qingran began to worry. Although Dongfang Jin had promised her that he would not marry anyone else in the harem, even the emperor could not make all the decisions on matters in the palace. There were ancestors above him and censors below him. If someone forced Dongfang Jin to marry, would he not marry?
If I marry her, the harem will start fighting again. I don't know what kind of person she will be. Or, it's possible that my appearance will age and I will fall out of favor, just like the concubines now who can't even see the emperor...
Thinking of this, I looked in the mirror and felt sad.
Just as she was feeling sad, she saw Dongfang Jin in the mirror. His face was full of joy. He was holding a red painted wooden box with carved patterns in his hand and placed it on the table in front of her: "Take a look..."
An Qingran didn't understand what was going on. She opened it and saw a hairpin with a golden phoenix holding a string of red jade beads, which was luxurious and eye-catching.
She said puzzledly: "You know I never wear such dazzling gold... Isn't it a gift for me?"
"Why not?" Dongfang Jin picked up the hairpin and gestured towards An Qingran's temples, left and right, with great interest.
An Qingran smiled.
He held her black hair again: "You have to tie up your long hair for me..."
When he said this, there was emotion shining in his eyes.
An Qingran just remembered that she was going to be a 15-year-old woman soon. She guessed that was why he bought the hairpin so eagerly.
"I'm sorry to have wronged you. I'm afraid your coming-of-age ceremony will be simpler."
An Qingran understood that because of the Queen's recent death, the palace would probably not be able to hold any major wedding ceremonies in the next three years.
Is it almost time for you to reach marriage age?
When An Qingran heard him say this, she suddenly felt something in her heart and her face turned red...
Dongfang Jin was moved when he saw her expression. He hugged her and kissed her softly, as if it were feathers or willow catkins: "Qingqing, you will be my wife..."
Dongfang Jin's voice was filled with tenderness, which made An Qingran's heart sink involuntarily. At this moment, she no longer thought about anything else and let him take her heart to "fly" together...
Dongfang Jin began to prepare for An Qingran's coming-of-age ceremony.
The days are busy and fulfilling.
Finally, the day arrived.
The sky is clear and the catkins are flying.
An Qingran finally tied her hair into a bun, with the hairpin that Dongfang Jin had carefully selected inserted in her hair.
An Zhongtao and Lian Jinyu arrived at the East Palace early. Entrusted by the Crown Prince, they attended An Qingran's coming-of-age ceremony.
Needless to say, the gifts they brought were An Mingchen. The most important one was An Qingran. This little guy could already run all over the place. As soon as he got off the ground, he rushed straight to An Qingran. It was just cold so he was wearing too much. So he fell down after just two steps. He grinned but didn't cry. Instead, he got up again. At this moment, An Qingran took a few steps forward and hugged him in her arms and kissed his little face. An Mingchen called her sister but reached out to pull the hairpin. Dongfang Jinshou said anxiously, "Don't pull it. I tied your sister's hair well... Call me brother-in-law!"
He reached out and took An Mingchen over. An Mingchen recognized him, but was immediately attracted by the golden crown on his head and forgot about the hairpin. However, he was determined not to call him brother-in-law.
An Qingran watched Dongfang Jin and An Mingchen playing with a smile on her face. At this moment, Lou Wanyue and Dongfang Ruoxue also came with gifts. The young sisters hadn't seen each other for a few months, but it felt like years. When they met, they were especially affectionate, hugged each other, and chattered non-stop.
Lian Jinyu looked at her daughters' decent and gentle behavior, feeling both relieved and sad. Her own sisters were not as good as them. The saying that sisters have deep love in this life was an irony to her.
Dongfang Ruoxue pulled An Qingran's sleeve and turned around a few times: "I haven't seen you for a while. You have grown taller and more beautiful. The water in this palace is nourishing."
"Yes. Time flies. A year has passed in the blink of an eye. You are the happiest and most joyful person here. Qingran, you will be the mother of the country from now on. No one can surpass you. When we meet again someday, I'm afraid I'll have to kneel down and pay my respects to you."
"You are saying this to tease me now, but if that day really comes, will you no longer want me as your sister?" An Qingran said with a pout.
Then Dongfang Ruoxue said something, and there was another burst of laughter.
Dongfang Jin was holding An Mingchen and inviting everyone to join him. When An Qingran saw clearly what An Mingchen was holding in his hand, he almost burst out laughing: What he was playing with in his hand was Dongfang Jin's jade belt?
Looking at his waist, it was indeed. Fortunately, the waist of his prince's robe fit well, so it didn't look ugly without the jade belt.
An Mingchen was having a lot of fun pulling the jade belt, and it flew straight towards Dongfang Jin's eyes when he swung it. An Qingran wanted to pull it but it was too late. Dongfang Jin tilted his head and avoided his eyes, but his neck was hit with a bang, which scared An Zhongtao so much that he immediately came forward to apologize. Even Jin Yu was panicked, but Dongfang Jin waved his hand, didn't care at all, turned around and walked into the house to greet the guests.
Everyone attended the banquet. During the banquet, the emperor sent gifts. Although they did not publicize it, most people in the palace already knew that An Qingran had reached the age of marriage. Consort Xian also sent gifts. Other concubines also sent cakes and other things. An Qingran had two drinks and went to the next room to chat with Dongfang Ruoxue and Lou Wanyue. The three of them talked and laughed, and time passed quickly. Dongfang Ruoxue was thirsty and did not want to trouble others, so she went out to find water. An Qingran was about to follow her out, but at this moment, a palace maid came and knelt down when she saw An Qingran and said, "Crown Princess, I am here on behalf of Prince Dongfang to invite you to the Qingming Palace to see me."
"Qingming Palace?" An Qingran was stunned for a moment. That place was a bit remote. Could it be that Dongfang Run was here to celebrate her coming of age? It was interesting that the gift was not sent here.
Lou Wanyue came over at this time, with a surprised expression on her face. An Qingran looked at her and said with a smile: "Prince Dongfang is looking for me, you go with me."
Lou Wanyue felt that she should be polite and tactful, but what she said was: "Okay."
The two of them walked out of the East Palace while everyone was having fun.
As soon as they left the palace gate, the little palace maid who had brought the news just now flashed away quickly and disappeared. An Qingran looked at her and sighed, "Fortunately, I know how to get to Qingming Palace. There are also people in this palace who are so impatient..."
"She must have other things to do. I think Prince Dongfang just picked someone to do the job. It's good enough that she came to deliver the letter." Lou Wanyue said with a smile.
In fact, An Qingran really hoped that Dongfang Run would come to the palace so that she could let Lou Wanyue and Dongfang Run meet.
She has always felt that these two people are a good match, and she would be happiest if they were together.
An Qingran thought of this and glanced at Lou Wanyue, smiling wickedly: "You seem to know the prince very well..."
Lou Wanyue blushed when she heard this: "You are so mean, what are you talking about? I am just speaking the truth."
"Yes, I'm just speaking the truth. Otherwise, what do you think I'm talking about?" An Qingran pretended to be stupid.
Lou Wanyue's face turned even redder, and she punched An Qingran unwillingly: "You are so annoying."
"Really? Do I really hate it? I'll talk to the prince later about this young lady from the Lou Mansion..."
"Qingran, stop teasing me, otherwise, I won't go..." Lou Wanyue pretended to stop.
An Qingran pulled her hand and said, "Let's go quickly. If Prince Dongfang can't wait and leaves, we won't be able to receive any gifts..."
Lou Wanyue stopped talking and walked quietly beside An Qingran. No one knew what she was thinking, but her eyes were moving and her face was full of spring.
Qingming Palace is located in the northwest corner of the imperial palace. Normally, no one comes here. This was the cold palace of an abandoned concubine. An Qingran knew this place thanks to Murong Lanxin's big mouth. She once told her that the concubine there died miserably. After that, the palace became empty, and only someone would clean it occasionally.
An Qingran found it strange that Dongfang Run would choose such a place, but then she realized that maybe he was just trying to avoid suspicion.
The two of them arrived at the Qingming Palace and walked through several rooms but did not see Dongfang Run. An Qingran finally pushed open the door of the main room and smelled a burst of fragrance through the screen.
An Qingran pulled Lou Wanyue around the screen and saw Dongfang Run leaning on the bedside. Hearing their voices, he forced a smile and said, "You...you are here..."
An Qingran looked at him and felt something in her heart. She pulled Lou Wanyue to sit down and said, "What's wrong with you? Why did you ask me to come here?"
"Didn't you ask me to come here?" Dongfang Run tried to stand up, but his legs went weak and he fell on An Qingran and the others' table, spilling the tea on their table. An Qingran and Lou Wanyue stood up when they saw this. An Qingran asked him what was wrong and reached out to help him, but her legs went weak and she fell on Dongfang Run. Lou Wanyue came forward to help him when she saw something was wrong, but she fell into Dongfang Run's arms instead. When their eyes met, Lou Wanyue's muscles and bones felt even weaker and she was completely out of strength.
"Oh no, there's a smell of aphrodisiac." An Qingran used the last bit of her strength to stand up, took only two steps, and collapsed on the ground again, staring at the screen at the door, gritting her teeth. She knew it in her heart, but couldn't say anything...
Lou Wanyue lay quietly in Dongfang Run's arms. At this moment, she felt that she was closest to happiness. Even if hell was just a line away from her, she was willing.
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