Wang Xipei looked back at the two people still arguing, having argued all the way to the Lantern Festival last year. Since she had nothing else to do, she wrote with a flourish: "Longevity Roll, Wan'an Pastry, Wanfu Cake, Double Happiness Cake, Ruyi Cake, Happy Cake..."
The little palace maid guarding the stage: Is this really not just to make up the numbers?
Wang Xipei had just received a box of snacks when a big black dog came running towards her, looking up at her. The man and the dog looked at each other, and the girl realized: This is a cunning dog, isn't it just here for the snacks?
After thinking about it, she picked out a piece for it, then thought again that she couldn't let it get away with it, so she took a piece herself. The big black dog finished a piece and looked at her again. She had no choice but to give it another piece and eat one herself. There were ten pieces in a box, very delicate and small, each piece was the size of a bite or two. One person and one dog, split it 50-50. After the big black dog finished eating, he still didn't leave. Wang Xipei had no choice but to squat down to show it the box. It was gone.
The big black dog understood and walked away. Wang Xipei stood up and was stunned when she suddenly felt a pair of eyes staring at her. She looked up and saw that it was Tang, the favorite concubine of Duke Xiang, about whom she had just heard the gossip. Next to her stood her daughter Ye Qiu.
Wang Xipei felt that the look was strange, and she felt a little panicked. She turned and walked away quickly. After she left, the Tang family member's eyes were still following the figure in a trance. Her daughter said something to her, and then they turned and left.
Not long after, Emperor Mingzheng, who was about to leave early, walked over slowly. Compared with the marriages of his two sons, he was more concerned about the marriages of his two younger brothers, Prince Qing and Prince Yu. Compared with his biological brother, Prince Guanghuai, who was born of the same mother, these two younger brothers seemed to be his biological relatives. They had loved and worshipped him as their eldest brother since childhood. Later, when the situation was so chaotic, these two younger brothers always firmly supported and followed him.
They should have discussed marriage a long time ago, but in the chaotic situation, the two younger brothers who matured early understood that marriage might be targeted by many people with ulterior motives, and if they were not careful, it would change the direction of various forces. If they could not be sure that the marriage would become a help in the chaos, it would be better to stay still.
Later, the overall situation was initially settled, but various messes needed to be cleaned up. After several rounds of reshuffles and struggles, Emperor Mingzheng had few trustworthy people at his disposal. His two younger brothers had helped him pacify the south and the north, and conquer the east and the west. Now Prince Qing was 32 and Prince Yu was 31, both of them were still unmarried. They were given titles of prince and had their palaces opened, but there was not even a person in charge in the palaces. This time, Emperor Mingzheng was determined to arrange their marriages.
Emperor Mingzheng walked towards them with the gait of a dragon and a tiger, a flash of bright yellow, accompanied by Eunuch Wang. Everyone stopped where they were, heads lowered, waiting for Emperor Mingzheng to pass. Even the two girls, Rong and Tang, fell silent at Miss Li's signal and stood in line.
Wang Xipei, walking far ahead, was unaware that the emperor was behind. She was struggling with a spider on her shoe. She was a brave woman, not afraid of caterpillars, katydids, cicadas, spiders, or the like. When out enjoying the maple leaves, other girls were afraid of insects, but she was the one who stood in front, protecting them and taking care of the insect monsters.
The spider on her shoe seemed to be arguing with her, even looking up at her. She wanted to pick up a branch and pry it away, but she realized the imperial garden had been completely cleared of dead branches and leaves. So, should she shake it off?
From a distance, Emperor Mingzheng seemed startled at the sight of this figure. He approached step by step. Wang Xipei was shaking off his shoes and gently extending his foot. After all, he was attending the Spring Festival Banquet.
The foot swung lightly a few times, then stopped to look. The spider was still there, and it raised its head as if looking at her.
Wang Xipei: ...a little angry.
She shook it again, and the big black dog suddenly ran over again, bit and gnawed her shoes, and ran away towards Emperor Mingzheng opposite.
Wang Xipei turned and looked up, meeting Emperor Mingzheng's gaze. The emperor was momentarily lost in thought. Eunuch Wang, standing beside him, flicked his whisk twice. In the distance, two young eunuchs suddenly appeared from the front and back of the road, leaving no one able to pass through this section.
Wang Xipei was surprised but she was quick-witted. Although she had lost one shoe, she hid her foot, which was only wearing silk stockings, behind her back, tapped the ground lightly, performed a proper salute, and then stood with her head lowered.
Emperor Mingzheng reached out to take the shoe out of the big black dog's mouth, but the big black dog held on tightly and refused to let go. It seemed to look at the emperor in anger and ran away.
Emperor Mingzheng looked at Wang Xipei with a slight embarrassment, only to find that she was standing there properly. He asked, "Who are you from? What's your name?"
Wang Xipei thought it was over, even if it was embarrassing, she still had to bear the consequences. She still behaved properly on the surface: "I am Wang Xipei, my father is the Prince's Grand Tutor and the Minister of Revenue."
It turned out that she was the daughter of Shangshu Wang and the sister of Wang Suwen.
Emperor Mingzheng nodded. Wang Daxi had already given the order. A little palace maid brought a few pairs of new shoes and helped Wang Xipei to try them on. After she was done, she bowed to Emperor Mingzheng again and apologized.
Emperor Mingzheng left only after he saw that she was dressed, and the road blocking restrictions in front and behind also quietly retreated.
Emperor Mingzheng returned to his palace, only to find the big black dog lying there with the embroidered shoe beside it. He was furious. How could Dahei's parents be so loyal and obedient, yet so fierce and skilled in fighting? They would follow his orders, even if it meant facing mountains of swords and seas of fire. But Dahei... cheated people for food and drink all day long, and even stole the girl's embroidered shoes... Alas!
I thought of the little girl today and stared out the window in a daze for a while: they look alike, so alike, even similar when we first met.
Back then, when a group of little girls were playing a game of kicking keys, she didn't want to lose at all costs, and she tried to catch the key from every angle. With one powerful kick, the key flew over, and her embroidered shoe also flew in front of him. He reached out and caught it... How old was she then? How old was he?
Many years passed like this. Emperor Mingzheng felt a little moved. After all, who doesn't have some regrets in their youth?
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