029

Tang Feiyan and her husband had been trying hard to win over Princess Baocheng, so when the princess urged them, Tang Feiyan came immediately.

"Sister-in-law, you haven't been in the capital for the past two years. I'm afraid you don't know where the Moon Worship Platform is. I'll take you there."

Chu Yin felt a little guilty for playing dumb while drunk, so she said to Lu Jingzhuo, "Your Highness, I will go to worship the moon first."

The two left side by side.

Lu Jingzhuo didn't even have time to ask questions about the doubts in his heart.

I've never seen anyone sober up so quickly!

He stared at Chu Yin's back closely until she disappeared.

There was a strand of hair stuck to my sleeve and was suddenly blown away by the wind.

It was about two feet long, black in color, and looked extremely soft. It must be Chu Yin's.

She leaned against him for a moment.

The smell seemed to permeate the robe, with a faint orchid fragrance.

Looking up at the bright moon like a jade plate, the words she had just said when she was drunk came to her mind.

Random words.

Thinking back carefully, that little bit of doubt disappeared with the wind.

If she wasn't drunk, she wouldn't have said "waiting for him" or "missing him". They weren't going to break up, so why would she "miss him"? Besides, was there any need for her to pretend to be drunk in front of him? He had been trying to cooperate, so she didn't need to use "coquettishness" to hint.

She woke up quickly, probably because she was not really awake, but her aunt urged her to go and worship the moon.

She has always been jealous of her aunt.

Just like that time when I had my period, I endured the pain and still went out to receive guests.

Lu Jingzhuo frowned slightly and looked in the direction of the Moon Worship Platform.

When ordinary people burn incense to worship the moon, the incense sticks are just three thin ones inserted in the stove. But in the palace, they use incense sticks that are tied into the shape of a pagoda. When they burn, the smoke is extremely fierce, with billowing white smoke and the fragrance filling the garden.

Fruits, various snacks and six candles were displayed on the table.

Tang Feiyan stood at the back and said, "Sister-in-law, please lead the worship."

Chu Yin had the highest status, so she washed her hands in the silver basin held by the palace maid, and then burned incense and worshiped.

Tang Feiyan and Jiang Yuyuan followed.

Chu Yin made a wish, one for her family to be healthy and her husband to be loving, and the other for the prosperity of Vietnam and the peace and stability of the country.

Chu Yin knew what Jiang Yuyuan would pray to the Moon Goddess without having to guess.

Tang Feiyan stared at the girl's pious posture and whispered, "She must be looking for a husband of her dreams, but I wonder which family she will marry into."

Chu Yin brushed off the cigarette ash on her sleeves and said, "Sister-in-law, since you care so much about her, then you can stay with her. I have to go see Er'er and Zhen'er." Today's banquet lasted too long, and the two children fell asleep in the middle and were taken to the side hall.

"Okay, I won't send my sister-in-law off."

Seeing Chu Yin walking further and further away, Tang Feiyan glanced at Jiang Yuyuan who had just stood up and said, "Miss Jiang, why did you take so long to make a wish? My sister-in-law couldn't wait any longer... Could it be that you have someone you love?"

Jiang Yuyuan's eyelashes trembled slightly: "No, I am praying for my cousin's uncle and aunt."

This was a bit too obvious. What little girl wouldn't talk about her life when she was worshipping the moon? But Tang Feiyan wasn't interested in this: "Let's go, let's go find Princess Baocheng." She was doing all this for a purpose.

Jiang Yuyuan agreed.

Chu Yin was halfway there.

The path was lined with osmanthus trees, the flowers were fragrant, and the air was sweet as if it were smeared with dessert.

Not far away, a figure was walking forward, with golden dragon patterns glittering on its robe.

Chu Yin paused.

"It seems to be His Highness." Lian Xuan said.

"It must be His Highness, look at the clothes!" Honeysuckle smiled, "Crown Princess, His Highness is here to pick you up."

She knew it was Lu Jingzhuo right away, but she didn't think about the reason why he came here.

Pick her up?

Why?

Chu Yin was confused.

That face gradually became clearer. Under the light of the palace, it was so handsome that it made her heart flutter. She was about to speak when she heard him ask, "Are you really awake?"

Chu Yin became alert. Could it be that he suspected that she was pretending to be drunk?

Indeed, I was not careful enough.

But he just wanted to get close to him, so he didn't have time to think it over. As a prince, he shouldn't be so calculating, right?

But Chu Yin still restrained herself and said, "Well, I'm almost awake."

Sure enough, he is still drunk.

Lu Jingzhuo said, "It's just moon worship. If you don't want to go, you don't have to force yourself. Could it be that auntie is forcing you to go?" His voice was slightly deep. "I told you before, but it seems you didn't listen at all."

Was it the time when Princess Baocheng came to the Eastern Palace?

Chu Yin's eyes widened slightly.

He actually thought that he was afraid of Princess Baocheng, so he pretended to be sober.

"...I'm not actually very drunk."

Would she act like this and talk nonsense when she wasn't drunk? Lu Jingzhuo reached out and touched her cheek: "It's still hot."

She just gets drunk easily, which doesn't mean she gets drunk easily.

Otherwise she won't drink.

As the Crown Princess, how could I really get myself drunk and lose my manners in front of so many people?

She only lost her composure in front of him.

But Chu Yin felt a little sweet in her heart. He came to pick her up, and he blamed her for sacrificing herself for Princess Baocheng. It was all a manifestation of his concern for her.

Is it true that he actually likes her a little bit?

But Chu Yin didn't dare to ask riskily, in case it turned out to be not the case, she would be embarrassed again.

Because this may just be his responsibility as a husband.

"Your Highness, I will remember your words this time. I will never force myself in the future."

Lu Jingzhuo hummed: "Let's go."

The moonlight shone from the side, overlapping the two figures.

As they walked, their sleeves touched each other. Chu Yin felt a little itchy, and looked forward to him holding her hand again.

But even when he reached the Kunning Palace, he still couldn't find it.

Emperor Jianxing's voice came: "Jing Zhuo, where have you been just now? Come here."

Lu Jingzhuo left immediately.

Chu Yin went to the side hall to see the child.

I met Lu Jingrui at the door. He was sitting leisurely on a rattan chair under the eaves.

"Sister-in-law," he stood up, "Er and Zhen were sleeping soundly. I just went to see them."

"Really?" Chu Yin stopped and said, "Then I won't go." After a pause, she said, "Have you been sitting here for a long time?"

"No, I came here after my elder brother left... Did my elder brother go to pick you up?"

He just saw the two of them appear at the same time.

Unexpectedly, his cold-tempered elder brother would actually go to pick up Chu Yin.

If Chu Yin has a place in Lu Jingzhuo's heart, then he must get closer to her.

"Your Highness thought I was drunk," Chu Yin sat down beside him, "Your Highness is not here, you can also talk to my second brother. I think my second brother is the most gentle."

"My second brother is always by our father's side, so I'd better not go." Lu Jingrui smiled slightly, "Last time my eldest sister-in-law sent me water chestnuts, I haven't thanked you yet, you are really thoughtful."

"How can this be considered thoughtfulness? The Queen Mother is weak and His Highness is busy. As the eldest sister-in-law, I should have taken care of you. I have failed in my duty... Third brother, if you need anything in the future, just let me know."

"Eldest sister-in-law is like a mother"? Lu Jingrui understood what she meant and said hurriedly, "But you are also weak, how can I disturb you?"

Chu Yin said: "I have been practicing martial arts and I have gotten much better. In a few days, I will go to learn horse riding."

"Oh? Are you going to learn from big brother?"

It seems that his riding skills are really good, and both my mother-in-law and Lu Jingrui recommend him.

"I asked a lady-in-waiting to teach me. Your Highness wants to listen to the lesson and not disturb him."

But even though my brother attends classes, he still finds time to practice horse riding and archery. So it can't be considered a nuisance if he teaches her at the same time, right?

Lu Jingrui was a little confused.

Clearly, the eldest brother went to pick up the eldest sister-in-law just now, and they seemed to be getting along well, so why didn’t he teach her how to ride?

He actually couldn't understand what was going on between this couple.

I heard Chu Yin ask, "Third brother, do you know how to ride a horse? You are not usually in Chunhui Pavilion, but are you practicing these?"

Lu Jingrui immediately showed a guilty expression: "I am stupid by nature. I am not like my elder brother who knows everything. I usually just read some leisure books... I dare not learn horse riding because I am afraid of falling off the horse. I am not as brave as you, sister-in-law!"

There was no mention of an injured arm.

Indeed, the more he endured, the more guilty his mother-in-law and Lu Jingzhuo would feel.

If he shouts it out so that everyone knows and gets sympathy from everyone, the matter will actually be diluted.

Maybe she should find an opportunity to expose this matter and give his arm a proper "healing".

On the opposite side, Tang Feiyan and Jiang Yuyuan also returned to Kunning Palace at this time.

Princess Baocheng smiled and asked, "Have you made a wish?"

Without waiting for Jiang Yuyuan to answer, Tang Feiyan said, "She has been wishing for a long time. I believe that in addition to praying for you, Aunt, she also wished to marry a man of her dreams... Why didn't Aunt help her get engaged? Is there really no good candidate?"

"Do you think I don't want to? She always says there's no one suitable, and I'm worried too."

"Aunt, I just want to stay in the Marquis' Mansion and fulfill my filial duty..." Jiang Yuyuan looked at Emperor Jianxing, "Your Majesty, you heard it at the beginning. Aunt said it would take a while, but it's only been a month now."

The girl was very anxious, and Emperor Jianxing said with a smile: "Shanhui, you have a cousin you like, why are you in such a hurry to marry her off? Why not keep her for two more years?"

Princess Baocheng threw her sleeves and said, "Really? I did it for her own good, but she didn't appreciate it. She was just imagining nonsense! Yuyuan, don't regret it. You are a filial old lady, and you are not afraid of becoming an old maid."

"I am willing to become an old maid. I will accompany my aunt all my life."

Princess Baocheng sighed.

Tang Feiyan saw this and whispered to Lu Jingchen, "How about we act as matchmakers and find a suitable young man to marry her?"

This way, we will be able to form an alliance with the Xuanning Marquis's Mansion, and we won't have to worry about pulling Princess Baocheng along.

"I have a cousin who is very handsome..."

It was rare for his wife to come up with a good idea. Lu Jingchen smiled and squeezed her arm, whispering, "Let's talk about it when we get home."

Before I knew it, it was already late at night.

Lu Jingzhuo came to the side hall, picked up the two sleeping children, and returned to the East Palace with Chu Yin.

Celebrating the festival was more tiring than family dinners. Chu Yin felt a little sleepy and yawned with her hands covering her mouth.

I glanced sideways at the two children, who were sleeping soundly on their father's lap.

When can she...

What's wrong with that?

She just stopped being coquettish, but was she not allowed to lean on him when she fell asleep? They were husband and wife.

Chu Yin closed her eyes and turned towards Lu Jingzhuo.

His shoulders sank slightly.

Lu Jingzhuo turned his head to look at his wife's calm face.

Did he really drink too much? He actually fell asleep in the car.

Of course he didn't push her away.

The night wind blew, and the corners of the man's mouth slightly raised.

Two days later, the riding and archery uniforms were delivered from the Shanggong Bureau.

It is of the right size and well-made. Chu Yin is very satisfied.

All that was left was to pick a mount.

Last time I went to the warehouse, I had to ask my father-in-law. All the horses in the Yumaguan are Yuma horses, so naturally I have to ask for permission. Fortunately, Emperor Jianxing was not stingy and was not reluctant to give even a horse to his daughter-in-law. He agreed immediately.

Chu Yin quickly invited Yu Sizhang to come with her to the Yumaguan to select horses.

The military officer's daughter was heroic, with a straight figure, long eyebrows and bright eyes. Chu Yin inexplicably felt that she looked familiar.

Yu Sizhang bowed and said, "It is my humble honor to be able to teach the Crown Princess."

"Can you look after horses?"

"A little while, but since the Crown Princess is going to the Horse Guards, there are experts in horse selection there."

"Okay, let's go."

Chu Yin invited her to ride in the car.

She looked familiar from the front and still a little familiar from the side. Chu Yin asked curiously, "When did you enter the palace? How old are you?"

"My Lord, I entered the palace four years ago, at the age of twenty."

She was the female official selected by the previous emperor.

Chu Yin nodded: "You can leave the palace in one year."

Yu Sizhang nodded: "Yes."

Chu Yin hesitated for a moment and asked, "Have we met before?"

"My dear Princess, you probably haven't seen me before, and this is also the first time I see you."

So where did this sense of familiarity come from? Chu Yin became more and more confused.

The eunuchs of the Yumajian had received the notification and were already standing at the gate to welcome the Crown Princess.

Seeing two figures coming down, they knelt down in unison to welcome them.

Yu Sizhang said, "Who knows how to judge horses? Please help the Crown Princess pick a horse that is gentle and of medium size."

The head of the Horse Guard, Guo Taijian, said hurriedly: "I am here to serve the Crown Princess. Please come in, Crown Princess."

This was also the first time that Chu Yin had visited the Yuma Prison in two lifetimes.

The imperial chambers in this palace were truly extraordinary and magnificently built. Above the lacquered green door hung a jade plaque inlaid with gold lettering, which read "Twelve Horses", meaning that there were twelve horses inside.

But Eunuch Guo did not take her to see it, but went into the next chamber, where a jade plaque read "Eight Beauties Picture".

Eunuch Guo explained, "These eight beauties are like ladies from the imperial court, with elegant and quiet personalities, just right for you." He opened the door and showed Chu Yin, "Look, each of them is as beautiful as a flower, I'm sure you'll like them."

Describing horses as "beautiful as flowers" is really...

But Chu Yin really saw it and was surprised.

This horse was indeed well-bred. Not only was it fat and strong, but at first glance it was also colorful, just like the brocade fish in the celadon jar in the East Palace.

Chu Yin was not an expert, so he told Guo Taijian and Yu Sizhang: "You guys pick, I'll take whichever horse you pick."

The two stood and looked at it, and pointed at a short red horse with fur like brocade and said, "This one is the best."

It must be good if we agree.

Guo Taijian said, "This horse is called 'Chixia'. Take a look at it. Doesn't it look good? Don't underestimate it. It can travel a thousand miles a day. It is as fast as the shadow of the aurora. It is a heavenly horse and a rare breed in the world."

Chu Yin asked, "What kind of horse does His Royal Highness the Crown Prince ride?"

Guo Taijian said: "Zhao Yebai is taller and bigger than your Chixia."

Chu Yin nodded: "Send it to the racecourse at the end of tomorrow afternoon."

"Yes, I've made note of that," Eunuch Guo bowed, "I respectfully send the Crown Princess off."

Chu Yin and Yu Sizhang took a car back.

Just like when she came here, she still felt that Yu Sizhang looked familiar, but she just couldn't remember where he was.

This feeling made her feel a little uncomfortable.

It feels like a ball of twine stuck in my heart, making me feel very uncomfortable.

She rubbed her temples and frowned all the way.

Until she got out of the car and walked into the yard and saw her daughter.

The little girl was asking the palace maid to play shuttlecock for her to see.

The shuttlecock is decorated with beautiful feathers, which look colorful in the sunlight.

The knot in Chu Yin's heart suddenly loosened.

It turns out that Yu Sizhang is my daughter's future mother-in-law!

No wonder it looks familiar.

She had met Yu Sizhang when she turned into a ghost, but she was the wife of Duke Song at that time.

Yu Sizhang was 21 years old when she left the palace. It was not easy to find a suitable husband at this age. Perhaps it was by chance that she met Duke Song who remarried, so she married into the Duke's Mansion. Chu Yin was moved that in her second life, she could meet her mother-in-law so soon!

She was delighted, but also a little panicked.

She was afraid that if she did something wrong it would affect her daughter's marriage.

Or treat it with a normal attitude?

Let's get along with each other as we should, and after we learn how to ride, we can go our separate ways.

No, it can’t be too ordinary either.

She must not let Yu Sizhang have a bad impression of her, otherwise what would happen if Yu Sizhang became the wife of the Duke's Mansion and asked her stepson to stay away from her daughter? Fu Yue and her daughter were truly a perfect match, and they were in love with each other.

So she still had to be a little more enthusiastic so that Yu Sizhang would feel that she was gentle and amiable, but not too much.

Chu Yin decided to strike the right balance.

Since she is the future mother-in-law, then of course she has a relationship with Lu Jingzhuo.

That night, she couldn't help but mention it to him.

"I have met Yu Sizhang. I will learn horse riding from her tomorrow."

Lu Jingzhuo was not surprised: "Since everything is ready, let's learn it."

In the past, Chu Yin might be angry at him for not teaching her, but now her attention is on her "mother-in-law": "Your Highness has not seen her, but this Yu Sizhang is really good. He is not only good at riding, but also good at horse selection. Eunuch Guo is an expert at horse selection, and Yu Sizhang actually chose the same horse as him. I think, if she teaches me, I will be able to learn it quickly..."

She was full of praise and looked very excited, which was very different from usual.

Lu Jingzhuo glanced at her, feeling puzzled.

Chu Yin had always wanted to teach him, and only asked the female official when she was rejected. He really didn't expect that she would be so happy and excited.

You haven't even started learning yet, but you've already exaggerated!

Lu Jingzhuo: I don’t understand…