Princess Zhenguo was silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "It was the negligence of the subordinates. Since there is no flute, let's forget about it."
Mu Zhuohua still looked at Liu Yan in astonishment. She didn't have time to look back and collided with Liu Yan's deep eyes. She hurriedly lowered her head and dared not look at Liu
Yan. He didn't want to play with Miss Sun.
He knew clearly what Princess Zhenguo and even the Queen Mother had arranged, but he didn't want to, and even Princess Zhenguo couldn't force him.
No one thought that Liu Yan would do this, and Liu Chen was also shocked. He knew that Liu Yan had no feelings for Sun Yunyun, but his uncle was usually the most gentle and friendly. He would do such a shameless thing to a weak woman who was infatuated with him. This made him feel - so admired!
If he had this courage, he would not come to this Hongmen Banquet today.
The atmosphere on the field suddenly condensed, and the noble ladies held their breath and dared not speak. In the end, Princess Roujia spoke to ease the atmosphere, awarded the phoenix tail harp to Sun Yunyun, and said a few polite words to save her face. Everyone was slightly relieved.
By this time, the meal was almost finished, and the Princess Zhenguo said, "It's rare that it didn't snow today, and the plum blossoms in the garden are in full bloom. Many of the girls here are from Jiangzuo and have never seen the scenery of the royal villa. I'm tired and can't walk anymore. Jiaojiao will sit with me for a while, and your majesty and Yan'er will take them for a walk in the garden."
After the Princess Zhenguo finished speaking, the others secretly looked at Liu Yan's expression, fearing that he would refuse again, but Liu Yan just paused slightly and nodded in agreement.
Sun Yunyun's face suddenly looked better.
Liu Chen wanted to refute like Liu Yan did before, but he saw the Princess Zhenguo's eyes killing him. The awe of the imperial aunt was engraved in his bones. He pursed his lips, swallowed the words of refusal, and stood up unwillingly and said, "Then the imperial aunt has a good rest."
Mu Zhuohua froze there, neither standing nor sitting, and looked at Princess Roujia for help.
Princess Roujia laughed and said, "Zhuohua will stay and talk with the royal aunt."
Liu Yan looked at Mu Zhuohua, but Mu Zhuohua's eyes were on Princess Zhenguo. She smiled and said, "It is my honor to talk with the eldest princess."
There were fewer people in the room, and it became quiet.
Princess Zhenguo and Princess Roujia laughed and talked about the performances of the noble ladies just now, comparing which one was more outstanding. They wanted to ask Mu Zhuohua's opinion, but saw that she looked a little dazed.
"Zhuohua, Zhuohua."
Princess Roujia called her twice, and she came back to her senses.
"What are you thinking about, so absent-minded?" Princess Roujia asked curiously.
Mu Zhuohua smiled and said, "It's nothing. It's just that the piano music
played by the ladies just now was too lingering." Princess Zhenguo said, "The girl from the Sun family is indeed outstanding in both character and appearance. She is a perfect match for Yan'er. She was chosen by the late emperor for Yan'er before his death. Naturally, I want to fulfill their good wishes and put my mind at ease."
Princess Zhenguo sighed and said, "Now I am the only elder in the Liu family. You young people don't want to get married, so I, an old man, have to step in. Don't mention Your Majesty and Chen'er. Jiaojiao, you are the one who worries me the most."
Princess Roujia held Princess Zhenguo's hand dependently: "Imperial aunt, I want to accompany you for the rest of my life..."
Princess Zhenguo patted her hand and sighed, "How many years do I have left to accompany you? I just want to find a good man who can accompany you for the rest of your life in the remaining few years."
In such a harmonious and touching atmosphere, Mu Zhuohua was just an outsider. It would be awkward to sit there for too long, so she found an excuse to leave.
She was wearing a fur coat and walking slowly in the forest garden. The red and white plum blossoms complemented each other, and the air was filled with a refreshing cool fragrance. Mu Zhuohua was walking leisurely, and suddenly heard hurried footsteps behind her. She looked back and saw Yelu Zhen's maid walking towards her anxiously.
"Greetings, Lord Mu." Lanzhu bowed to Mu Zhuohua, "Has Lord Mu ever seen my princess?"
Mu Zhuohua shook his head.
Lanzhu bit her lip and said embarrassedly, "Can you trouble Lord Mu to help find my princess? I am not familiar with this garden. If you see my princess, tell her that it is time to take medicine."
Mu Zhuohua nodded in agreement. Lanzhu breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Thank you Lord Mu first. I will go over here to take a look." Lanzhu
said and walked into the left fork. Mu Zhuohua was just strolling around, so he took the right fork to look for her.
Unconsciously, she arrived at the place where the hairpin poetry meeting was held that day. Mu Zhuohua raised her eyes and saw the pavilion in the garden.
She vaguely remembered the scene of the poetry meeting that day. At that time, she thought that she could pretend to be Liu Yan's tone to write a poem under an anonymous name. Others would think that the poem was written by Prince Ding, and they would definitely flatter her, and finally slap the faces of those tribute scholars who boasted of their poetic talent. Unexpectedly, Princess Roujia actually asked her to sing a poem. She was secretly happy. When she read her own poem, she deliberately paused and looked at Liu Yan.
Liu Yan met her look for help, and seemed to understand his meaning immediately. He deliberately shook his hand and splashed the water, so that this movement attracted the attention of others. After Mu Zhuohua finished reading the poem, she listened to everyone's praise, and glanced at Liu Yan with joy and pride. The latter glanced at her very quickly, and the smile at the corners of his lips and eyes was both helpless and doting.
When Mu Zhuohua thought of this, she couldn't help but curl up the corners of her lips, but then the smile slowly faded and turned into a light sigh.
At this time, a light sound came from behind the rockery, interrupting Mu Zhuohua's thoughts. She frowned and looked behind the rockery, and asked softly: "Who is there?"
There was silence behind the rockery for a moment, and then a man's voice was heard.
"Mu Qing's house!"
Mu Zhuohua was startled, and took two quick steps. After going around the rockery, she saw Liu Chen hiding alone in a narrow space. He knelt and sat on a protruding rock. He was relieved when he saw Mu Zhuohua.
"Your Majesty, why are you here?" Mu Zhuohua asked, "Didn't the eldest princess ask you to..."
Liu Chen frowned: "Chattering, it's so noisy."
Mu Zhuohua laughed and said, "How could Your Majesty not like such a delicate and gentle girl?" Liu Chen was also curious: "Why do I like delicate and gentle ones?"
Mu Zhuohua choked when asked, and said slowly and hesitantly: "Of course not necessarily... Some men like beautiful and bold women, or pitiful women, or innocent women..."
Or like his father, it doesn't matter what kind of personality she has, the most important thing is that she is young and good-looking.
Liu Chen didn't know what kind of woman he liked, but he knew that he felt annoyed when he saw women who had intentions towards him.
"Those women are pretentious and look the same, what's so good about them?" Liu Chen took a sip of wine and said sullenly, "I have watched them for so long, but I can't remember any of them. I only remember the daughter of the Minister of Personnel, the granddaughter of the Minister of Rites, and the Privy Councilor also sent his niece. Is this the harem or the previous dynasty?"
"The harem of the previous dynasty cannot be completely separated. Your Majesty marrying me is a grace." Mu Zhuohua comforted him in a gentle voice, "Your Majesty is young and promising, they just admire you simply, not necessarily out of sheer ambition."
Liu Chen seemed to feel relieved after hearing what Mu Zhuohua said, but at this moment, footsteps and voices were heard outside. Liu Chen was startled, and before he could think about it, he pulled Mu Zhuohua, who was standing outside, in and hid behind the narrow rockery.
Mu Zhuohua widened her eyes in surprise, but saw Liu Chen staring at her and shaking his head. Mu Zhuohua sneered and covered her mouth in understanding.
Liu Chen was relieved.
There were a few girls walking outside, and they could be seen a little from the gaps in the rockery, but their faces could not be seen.
"Your Majesty said he was going to see His Majesty, but how come
he disappeared?" "This garden is too big, and we don't know where Your Majesty went."
"Is Your Majesty hiding from us?"
"Alas... I heard from my father that Your Majesty is not very willing to marry a woman from aristocratic family."
"Why? Does Your Majesty have someone in his heart?"
"I have never seen Your Majesty get close to any woman. Even the servants around him are eunuchs, not maids."
"Your Majesty hates women so much... Could it be that..."
"Be careful with your words! Do you want to die!"
It was unknown which noble lady said the taboo words. The other people were afraid of being implicated, so they hurriedly walked away, and the outside suddenly became quiet.
Liu Chen was furious when he heard it, but he heard a suppressed laugh coming from the front. He looked down and saw Mu Zhuohua covering her mouth, but her eyes were curved and bright, full of laughter that could not be suppressed.
"Mu Zhuohua!" Liu Chen frowned and shouted in a suppressed voice, "What are you laughing at?"
Mu Zhuohua immediately stopped smiling, but the corners of her eyes were still wet, with evidence of her guilt.
"Your Majesty, please calm down!"
Liu Chen said angrily, "You didn't believe their nonsense and think that I have a homosexual tendency."
Mu Zhuohua said seriously, "Your Majesty, if I believed it, I would not dare to laugh now."
Mu Zhuohua's words made Liu Chen not know whether to be angry or happy...
Mu Zhuohua looked at Liu Chen's handsome face who was sulking, and comforted him with a smile, "Your Majesty, please calm down. People in the world are prejudiced. They always think that men should get married when they are old enough and women should get married when they are old enough. If they don't get married, they must be disabled or have someone in their hearts. Your Majesty, please forgive their ignorance."
Liu Chen nodded in agreement, "Yes, this is prejudice, but... don't you agree with this idea?"
Facing Liu Chen's curious and inquiring gaze, Mu Zhuohua said honestly, "Your Majesty, everyone has their own aspirations. If it does not violate conscience and the laws of the State of Chen, whether to get married should be decided by themselves."
"Aren't all women in the world looking forward to being together for the rest of their lives?" Liu Chen asked curiously.
Mu Zhuohua's eyes dimmed slightly: "I think, being alone for the rest of my life... is also good."
Liu Chen usually saw Mu Zhuohua, who was either generous and generous, or in high spirits. It seemed that this was the first time he saw a gloomy look in her eyes. Although she said that being alone is good, if she really felt it was good, why would she show such an expression?
Mu Zhuohua was immersed in her own thoughts and did not notice Liu Chen's inquiring eyes. She sighed softly and said: "Your Majesty does not like women who cling to you. Little do you know that there are few ways left for women in this world. They have been taught to be like this since they were young. They must be good at piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, have a little knowledge of poetry and songs, manage the household well, be beautiful and intelligent, so that they can find a good husband, have children for him, manage the housework, serve the mother-in-law, and take concubines for him, and raise the children he has with other women, so as not to get a reputation of being jealous and vicious. Ordinary women are like this. , it is even more difficult for women from aristocratic families. The price of fine clothes and delicious food is far greater than ordinary people imagine. "
Mu Zhuohua's words touched Liu Chen a little, but did not completely change his mind: "Since they don't want to climb up, why can't they study and take the imperial examinations like you, and become officials in the court?"
Mu Zhuohua glanced at Liu Chen with a smile: "Your Majesty, my path is not easier than theirs. I remember that at the beginning... Your Majesty also looked down on me."
Liu Chen, who was exposed to the truth, coughed lightly in embarrassment: "I just didn't understand you at the beginning..."
"Everyone chooses a different path and a different way of survival." Mu Zhuohua smiled faintly, "A melon falls from a tree and breaks, an apricot falls into the mud and rots. Different people have different paths. They have their own winding paths, and I have my own single-plank bridge. Your Majesty is the Majesty of the people of the world, and everyone longs for your pity. Why don't you share some of your kindness with those poor women, so that their paths will be easier and they don't have to rely on men to survive?"
Liu Chen had never thought of Mu Zhuohua's words. In the past, he only had wars and killings in his mind, expanding territory, establishing unprecedented merits, and becoming an emperor of the ages. Mu Zhuohua read a lot of books, and had knowledge of astronomy and geography. No matter what he said, she could cater to his preferences and make him happy and benefited. But what she said today was something he had never thought about and didn't want to think about. She knew he didn't like to hear it, so she wouldn't say it, but now she really said it... He still listened to it.
Perhaps her gentle and soft voice was too beautiful. Liu Chen lowered his head and stared at her gentle and melancholy eyes. Some indescribable emotions surged in his heart, making him feel sour and a little happy.
Liu Chen's throat was inexplicably dry. He stretched out his hand to her and shouted in a slightly hoarse voice: "Mu Qingjia..."
Mu Zhuohua was about to answer him when he heard a voice from outside calling softly: "Prince..."
Mu Zhuohua turned her head suddenly, and Liu Chen's outstretched hand touched her gauze hat, which was swept to the ground. The hairpin tilted, and her soft long hair scattered on her shoulders.
A faint sweet-scented osmanthus fragrance spread in the winter month, lingering at the tip of Liu Chen's nose. He subconsciously reached out to grab it, but he didn't catch the fallen gauze hat, but caught the scattered long hair, which was thin and soft, like a handful of green smoke, falling into Liu Chen's palm and his heart.
The hairpin fell to the ground, and with a crisp sound of "snap", it broke into two pieces.
The sound also startled the passers-by outside.
"Who is it!"
Liu Yan's voice came from outside. Mu Zhuohua subconsciously took a step back and bumped into Liu Chen's arms behind him. Liu Chen was still holding her long hair absent-mindedly, and felt a soft and fragrant body bumping into his chest. He naturally reached out to hold her shoulders.
When Liu Yan walked behind the rockery, he saw such a scene. He was stunned for a moment and forgot to speak.
Sun Yunyun was a step late. Seeing the two people sticking together behind the rockery, her pupils shrank in fear. She immediately lowered her head and whispered, "Your Majesty!"
Liu Yan's eyes moved from Mu Zhuohua's scattered long hair to her arm - Liu Chen's hand gently rested there.
His throat tightened and he said
in a hoarse voice, "What are you doing?" Liu Chen heard the severity and anger in Liu Yan's tone. He felt inexplicably unhappy. After all, he was an emperor. How could the emperor's uncle speak to him like this in front of Mu Zhuohua?
He didn't know that Liu Yan was looking at Mu Zhuohua.
Mu Zhuohua had come to her senses. She took a step forward and left Liu Chen's arms, bowed her head and said, "Your Highness."
Liu Chen's arms suddenly felt empty, and his heart was inexplicably empty. He frowned and said, "I was impatient to deal with those noble ladies, so I hid here. Unfortunately, I was discovered by Mu Qing's family, so I kept her here to talk."
Liu Yan clenched his fists tightly in his sleeves. A thought that frightened him weighed heavily on his heart, and his voice became a little hoarse.
"Your Majesty is willful. Doesn't Lord Mu want to advise you?"
Mu Zhuohua's long hair fell on her shoulders, and her eyes fell on the broken hairpin at her feet. In this situation, if she spoke, it would be wrong to say anything. So she just lowered her head in silence. She knew that Liu Yan was looking at her. Maybe he had already fabricated a crime for her in his mind, but it didn't matter. She was just a passerby who was innocently implicated. It was enough to have a clear conscience.
"Uncle, I know." Liu Chen looked at Mu Zhuohua's lowered head, feeling a little irritated, "Mrs. Mu, your hairpin is broken, go to my sister and borrow one."
Mu Zhuohua then moved, saluted Liu Chen, bent down to pick up the hairpin and gauze hat on the ground, saluted Liu Yan again, and then turned and left.
Liu Chen's gradually blurred voice came from behind: "Uncle, don't blame her, she just advised, but I didn't listen..."
Mu Zhuohua clenched the broken hairpin in his hand.
Mu Zhuohua returned to the yard and found that Yelu Zhen had returned. Lanzhu was serving her medicine. Seeing Mu Zhuohua coming in, Lanzhu knelt and saluted, "I'm sorry to bother you, Lord Mu. I found the princess in the garden."
Mu Zhuohua smiled and glanced at Yelu Zhen absent-mindedly.
Yelu Zhen held his cheek with a smile as he watched Mu Zhuohua leave, and whispered, "I didn't expect it to be so smooth..."
Lanzhu lowered her voice and said, "The princess asked me to lead Mu Zhuohua to Liu Chen's hiding place, but even so, it doesn't mean Liu Chen will like Mu Zhuohua."
"He will like her sooner or later." Yelu Zhen seemed very confident, "Liu Chen doesn't care about a woman's appearance. Mu Zhuohua is the only woman he looks at differently. A woman that Prince Ding likes must have something special. We just need to create more opportunities for them. Besides... Prince Ding was irritated, wasn't he?"
Knowing that Mu Zhuohua's hairpin was accidentally broken, Princess Roujia didn't ask much, and took out one of her own white jade hairpins to give to her, and asked Man'er to help Mu Zhuohua comb her hair again.
"It's incredible that the emperor's uncle would do such a thing today." Princess Roujia sat aside, watching Man'er combing Mu Zhuohua's hair. "But it's not hard to understand... Although he is gentle and seldom gets angry, he is actually very opinionated. It is very difficult for others to persuade him to back down from something he has decided on."
Mu Zhuohua smiled slightly and said, "The prince is not an ordinary person."
"Back then, my father was worried that he would be in danger on the battlefield, but he insisted on going, and no one could stop him." Princess Roujia sighed softly, "It's rare that Miss Sun is so infatuated with the emperor's uncle, but since the emperor's uncle is willing to accompany her to the garden, there should be some turning point in this matter." Mu Zhuohua finished tidying up, talked and laughed with Princess Roujia for a while before leaving the inner room. The people in the garden had already dispersed, and Mu Zhuohua realized that Liu Chen had also returned to the palace, and she was the only one left in the villa.
"His Majesty seemed to be angry and left in a bad mood." The servant reported, "The eldest princess was a little tired, so she went back to the inner room to rest, let the ladies go on their own, and asked His Royal Highness the Prince of State to send Miss Sun back to the palace."
Princess Roujia was slightly surprised: "The emperor's uncle sent Miss Sun back?"
The servant said respectfully: "Yes, Miss Sun came in her own carriage and was escorted back by the guards of the Prince of State's Palace."
Princess Roujia smiled and said: "I didn't expect the emperor's uncle to have such a heart of sympathy for women. It seems that this good thing can be accomplished."
Mu Zhuohua stood aside and smiled slightly.
"It's getting late, I'll send a carriage to take you back." Princess Roujia turned to Mu Zhuohua and said.
Since Mu Zhuohua got into trouble last time, Princess Roujia has paid more attention to this.
"Thank you, Princess. I have asked my family to pick her up." Mu Zhuohua smiled and said goodbye.
Princess Roujia no longer insisted after hearing this, and asked Man'er to send Mu Zhuohua to the door. When she saw Guo Juli driving a carriage to pick her up, she went back to report with peace of mind.
Princess Roujia was pinching Princess Zhenguo's shoulders, and asked with a smile: "I just heard that His Majesty was angry, who made him angry?"
Princess Zhenguo snorted coldly and said: "He was angry with his uncle, who made him meet the ladies, but he hid and didn't see anyone, and got angry after his uncle said a few words."
"He is now the emperor, so naturally he doesn't want to be preached." Princess Roujia smiled, "But the uncle is the same, he rarely says harsh words to His Majesty."
"Your Majesty is willful." Princess Zhenguo sighed, "He is the king now, how can he still follow his own temper? If the king has no offspring, the country will not be stable. The Queen Mother wants him to marry a noble lady from an aristocratic family, but I don't have this idea. As long as he likes the woman, I will make the decision for him no matter what her background is."
Although Princess Zhenguo was born into a noble family, she had never had any family background. Even when she got married to the leader of the martial arts world, Fu Qingfeng, it was she who took the initiative. Princess Roujia's biological mother was just a lowly maid. At that time, Emperor Zhaoming was only the
crown prince. He liked this maid and gave birth to his eldest daughter with her, but her status did not allow her to become a princess. Queen Mother Zhou made the decision for Emperor Zhaoming to marry a concubine who was not from the Zhou family, so as to gain the support of the Zhou family. Princess Zhenguo was straightforward and generous by nature, and she also did not like the customs in Dingjing, so she lived in Jiangnan and did not return to the court. She held Princess Roujia's hand and said softly, "Jiaojiao, you came to my great-aunt when you were three and a half years old. My great-aunt treated you like her own flesh and blood. I only hope that you can meet someone you truly love and let him take care of you for your whole life instead of my great-aunt. If you have a crush on someone, just tell me. No matter who it is, my great-aunt can find you one."
Princess Roujia was moved and slowly knelt in front of Princess Zhenguo, gently placing her head on her lap, just like she relied on her as a child. "Grand-aunt, Jiaojiao doesn't want to get married, she just wants to be with you for the rest of her life."
"What will you do if my great-aunt leaves..." Princess Zhenguo stroked her head lovingly.
She remembered that Emperor Zhaoming was still the crown prince at that time, and he married a daughter of the Zhou family as the crown princess. The wedding banquet was extremely grand, and as an aunt, she naturally had to come. That day, Dingjing was full of joy, but Liu Ju avoided everyone, held a beautiful girl in his arms, and came to her.
Princess Zhenguo only has one son and one grandson. She has always wanted a daughter or granddaughter, but she has never been able to do so. She fell in love with this beautiful and well-behaved baby at the first sight of Jiaojiao. She took the baby from Liu Ju, stretched out her chubby little hands to hug her neck, not afraid at all, and looked at her curiously with her big black eyes. After a long time, she called her "Imperial Grandma" in a baby voice.
Her heart melted at that moment.
Later, she learned that the biological mother of this child had just passed away, and her biological father was going to marry another noble lady as the Crown Princess. In this mansion, her existence was particularly difficult and embarrassing.
Without waiting for Liu Ju to speak, she said first: "I'll take her back to Taoyuan Villa."
Liu Ju showed a look of gratitude in his eyes, and reluctantly let go of his daughter's hand.
When Jiaojiao first came to her, she always had trouble sleeping. She often woke up from nightmares in the middle of the night and cried for her mother. She felt sorry for her because she had lost her mother and father, so she accompanied her to sleep every night until the little girl grew up . Only her great-aunt was left in her eyes and heart. She was no longer afraid of the dark and cried, but she still often stared blankly alone.
But in the eyes of Princess Zhenguo, she was still the little girl who needed to be taken care of. Four years ago, she returned to Dingjing, and somehow was made the decision by Queen Mother Zhou and Emperor Zhaoming to marry Xue Xiaotang. She didn't know what kind of person Xue Xiaotang was, and then she heard that Xue Xiaotang died on the battlefield. The little princess who she loved as her eyeballs got married inexplicably and became a widow inexplicably. At that time, she was so angry that she almost entered the palace with the sword of Zhuxie, but Qingfeng stopped her.
Qingfeng said that not all princesses can be as lucky as her.
Princess Zhenguo was silent for a long time, and could only sigh with heartache.
Being loved is the princess's luck, being sacrificed is her fate.
This time she went to the capital not only to pay homage to the imperial mausoleum, but also to arrange Jiaojiao's marriage. After three years of chastity, the palace was afraid that she would be urged to get married again. She couldn't let others manipulate her marriage anymore.
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