New Year's later, Yao Niang was ready to enter the palace again, but after a new year, there were fewer people there. First, Wei Feng got engaged and no longer entered the palace, and then Princess Rong'an fell ill.
Princess Zhenyang also sighed: "Now there are only three of us in Wenqizhai."
"Why don't we wait until we get out of school and go visit them together?" Princess Zhaoping said.
Everyone agreed that Princess Rong'an was now living in the princess' residence. She lived with Princess Baohua and was also taken care of by the concubines in the palace. Their fathers had already been enfeoffed.
In fact, many people in the palace understood clearly that, except for the eldest prince, the rest of the princes would be sent to fiefdoms as soon as they got married, just to ensure the status of the eldest prince. But no one knew what would happen until the last moment.
When Yao Niang and Princess Zhenyang came in, they saw Princess Rong'an lying on the bed struggling to get up. It was Princess Zhaoping who said, "No need to get up. We are here to visit the patient. If we force you to get up again, wouldn't that be torturing the patient?"
This was very appropriate, and Yao Niang couldn't help but nod.
Princess Rong'an's face was pale, and she seemed to be smiling: "Don't worry about me. When I get better, I will release paper orioles with everyone else."
Everyone was busy agreeing.
Because Yao Niang's academic performance was among the best in the library, Princess Rong'an said to her, "Luo Bandu, if I don't understand something in the future, please teach me more."
Yao Niang said quickly, "My princess, what are you talking about? As long as you ask, I will tell you everything I know. Please take care of yourself. When the spring comes and the weather gets warmer, we can learn to ride horses and play polo again."
"Yes, you are right. I remember when I was in Liaoning, my brothers also said they would take me riding with them..." Princess Rong'an was full of nostalgia.
Entering the palace to study was a blessing, but it also meant being away from one's biological parents. Although one was a noble, one would miss his parents, especially such a young child.
But Yao Niang's position was not easy to say. The palace allowed your daughter to come to study, which was a favor. There were also people who submitted memorials hoping to raise their sons in the palace, but there was no such opportunity yet.
After a few days, Princess Rong'an felt a little better and went to school for a few days, but her body was not good and she could not move easily. She was always sick.
Fortunately, Princess Zhenyang was in good health. Yao Niang was doing needlework in her room at this time, talking to her while she was doing it.
"What are you playing at home? There's nothing fun in the palace." Princess Zhenyang complained.
Yao Niang smiled and said, "It's just visiting relatives and friends. The only day I can go out is the Lantern Festival. My parents took me to get rid of all diseases. My sisters and I held hands and ran to the city gate to touch the nails before returning."
Princess Zhenyang clapped her hands and said, "This is really fun. I wish I could leave the palace."
It is true that people outside the palace want to come in, thinking that the imperial palace is full of wonders and everyone yearns for it, but people inside the palace want to go out and see the vast outside world.
Hong Shuyi quickly advised: "Don't say that. If the maids hear it, I don't know what to say to you. Look at Sister Luo's needlework. You should also put in some effort."
Normally Hong Shuyi would always advise Princess Zhenyang like this. Princess Zhenyang didn't think it was a big deal, but Yao Niang seemed to think that Hong Shuyi was meddling too much. This was a princess, she had her own special sewing room, it was enough for her to just learn how to do it, why bother working so hard.
Even Yao Niang herself wouldn't do it every day, as it's not good for the eyes.
However, Princess Zhenyang felt that Hong Shuyi was doing this for her own good, so she said, "I know. I only told you when we were alone."
Tang Huijun was playing with a flower in her hand silently, staring out the window in a trance.
Yao Niang shook her head and continued to embroider.
The days passed like this, until the weather warmed up and everyone changed into spring clothes. Princess Zhenyang insisted on going out to release paper finch together.
Many paper irises were made in the palace, each of them was exquisite. Yao Niang missed the opportunity to select the irises because she started writing late, so no one chose the last paper iris, the black eagle.
Looking at the cute and light ones that Princess Zhenyang and Tang Huijun both chose, Yao Niang felt a little regretful: "Why didn't Princess and Sister Tang remind me? Look, the last one was left out, and there was no one else to choose from."
Tang Huijun and Princess Zhenyang both covered their mouths and laughed.
"Mother Yao, there's nothing wrong with this. This eagle is so majestic. My third brother once raised a male eagle, and we even have a room in the palace specifically for raising eagles."
"Princess, please stop comforting me."
Yao Niang was not unhappy, but her spring dress was pink, but she had a pitch-black paper guillotine on, which she felt didn't match. She thought to herself that she would release the paper guillotine first on that day, otherwise it would be strange to hold it in her hand all the time.
On the day of releasing the paper ibis, even Princess Rong'an, who often missed classes, came. She held a paper ibis that looked like a wild goose. Princess Xing'an laughed and said, "You need to run farther with the string for this paper ibis, otherwise it won't be able to get up."
Princess Yongqing wrote "May you have a long and blessed life" on the paper. Princess Xing'an sneered when she saw it. Usually, these two princesses always give priority to Princess Yongqing, and Princess Xing'an usually tolerated it. But now she dared to sneer on the spot, which also surprised Yao Niang.
Of course, she had heard Wei Feng mention that Princess Xing'an had a very bad temper. It was no wonder. She was the eldest daughter of the emperor's eldest son, and she always put on airs. She hated Concubine Hong the most, but the emperor's eldest son favored Concubine Hong and took care of the household affairs.
In the past, Princess Yongqing would get a lot of support when she spoke, just like everyone praised her casually. But this time, only a few people responded to what was written on the paper.
The people in the palace would not quarrel and tear each other apart like Ren did at home. Their attitude determined their views.
Yao Niang ran out quickly, retreated to a place, and watched the paper iris fly higher and higher. She asked Xiu Lin: "What's going on? Where did this paper iris fly to?"
"We're probably at the corner of the palace now. No one should see us." Xiulin said.
Yao Niang smiled and said, "Then use scissors to cut it off."
After cutting the string of the paper eagle, Yao Niang couldn't help but say, "Eagles are born to fly in the sky. Let me give you a ride."
Northeast Corner
Gao Xuance was teasing an eagle. On his arm stood a majestic eagle with extremely sharp eyes. He used to bring this eagle with him when he went hunting.
Training a falcon is just like training an unruly person. You need to be patient and not be too cruel, nor too gentle.
At this moment, something hit him on the head. He looked down and saw a paper eagle on the ground. The eunuch immediately said, "Third Master, I don't know who lost it. Why don't you let me check it out?"
Gao Xuance smiled and said, "No need. Someone must have let this paper iris fall down. I was playing with hawks and saw this paper iris. It fits the scene."
Then, he saw the brave eagle on the paper eagle and liked it very much, but he didn't know who dropped it. If he picked it up, it would be bad if he mistakenly recognized it in the future. He couldn't help but feel it was a pity.
Seeing Gao Xuance's happy face, the young eunuch couldn't help but offer a plan: "Third Master, since it fell here, I guess the owner doesn't want it anymore. Besides, there is no name or emblem on it——"
"No need for that. I have plenty of eagle and falcon pictures in my study. This one can be placed wherever it falls. There's no need to make things more complicated." Gao Xuance said.
The young eunuch bowed quickly in response.
In a blink of an eye, the Dragon Boat Festival passed and the weather began to get hot. Princess Rong'an had been coming here and there before, and no one took it seriously. But on this day, after Mr. Wang's exam, Princess Zhenyang was asking Yao Niang to treat her to a meal because she got first place, but unexpectedly she heard the news that Princess Rong'an had died.
Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. Princess Zhaoping also said sadly, "A few days ago, she said that she couldn't eat the rice dumplings for the Dragon Boat Festival, but she could still eat a few bites of the Five Poison Cakes. I told her that she liked the Five Poison Cakes, so I asked someone to send more to her. How could she know this?"
Princess Zhenyang was a sentimental person and she was very sad that afternoon, but Princess Rong'an was too young to hold a grand ceremony, and the young girls could not attend the ceremony either.
After Yao Niang and Tang Huijun returned to their room, they discussed the matter for a while. They both felt sad that such a living person had passed away like this...
"Sister Luo, I have also suffered from many illnesses and disasters. Seeing the death of Princess Rong'an, I always feel sympathy for her."
Yao Niang comforted Tang Huijun: "Sister Tang, please don't think like that. You are just a little weak, it's nothing serious. I think you just need to take better care of yourself in the future."
Tang Huijun shook her head. Her illness was not only physical, but also mental, and no one else could resolve it. Because it was not only Princess Rong'an who was ill, but her aunt was also ill. Although she had kept it a secret, she had already sensed it.
In this deep palace, her aunt is the only one she can rely on. But what should she do if her aunt really passes away?
The reason why everyone in the palace was polite to her was because of her aunt. As long as her aunt was alive, she was able to gain a foothold in the palace and could even be treated equally with the daughters of several powerful officials. But as soon as the queen died, she was like a lilac drifting in the wind.
Seeing that she was worried, Yao Niang shook her head and said nothing more.
In her previous life, Shi Yu was the study companion of Princess Rong An. She returned home around June or July because Princess Rong An passed away. At that time, Princess Rong An was just a code name to her, but now she is a living person.
She just sighed. Princess Zhenyang grew up with Princess Rong'an, so it was inevitable that she cried sadly. Hong Shuyi, who was always virtuous and prudent, did not show any sorrow. Instead, she said to Princess Zhenyang, "Second Princess, the Emperor's birthday is coming soon. The concubine is making arrangements. You should go over and take a look. Also, give some needlework to the Emperor."
Princess Zhenyang felt very strange: "Sister Hong, I am very sad, aren't you sad?"
“傷心是很重要，可是這人各有命，您不能哀損自己啊。再有，您得顧念自己的身子骨，小心側妃擔心，側妃膝下只有您這個女兒，總得多為她着想啊。”洪淑怡也是為了真陽郡主好。
姑母的這三個子女中，姑母對女兒一般，平日雖然衣食周全，但是并不格外看重，但凡有好的，都是送給幺兒玄策表弟。
這位表弟生性雖然天之驕子，為人似乎十分傲慢，對自己這個商家出身的表姐理會都懶得理會，但是在側妃面前禮數周全，更兼嘴甜如蜜，天真爛漫作孩童狀，哄的洪側妃三個孩子裏最愛的就是這個兒子。
洪淑怡早聽家中母親哥哥說過，她命貴，要極貴之人才能壓住。
家裏更傾向于二爺周玄穆，他不僅養在正妃處，彬彬有禮，擅長詩畫，而非高玄策那般擅長騎馬射箭，還養了許多鷹隼，且前者對他尚算有禮，後者對她則是鼻孔朝天。
但二爺在洪側妃那裏不受寵，若是郡主能分些寵愛，為二爺說話，将來也是她的好處。
誰知道真陽郡主卻道：“姐姐也真是的，榮安是我的姊妹，她死了我當然要大哭傷心難過。至于其她的事情，我相信母妃能夠體諒的。”
洪淑怡見真陽郡主語氣不好，又連忙自己打圓場，還好真陽郡主一向和她很好，又知曉洪淑怡對她處處照顧，此事只當勸慰之語，不經意提起說給瑤娘聽。
瑤娘心道此人真是外熱內冷，看似對誰都周全，實際上并不理會生氣，只關心自己有沒有事情，心下對洪淑怡也不喜幾分。
而湯慧君深信不疑，因為洪淑怡在她面前道：“你那日送的幾色絲線，側妃說做的很好，很是喜歡呢。”
“怎麽會呢，論起做針線，還是羅妹妹擅長，她雖然年紀比我小，但是家中特地請了江南女紅名師教女紅，不僅如此，她畫也學的不錯，很得先生看重，因此這女紅做的比我精致多了，洪姐姐你就莫安慰我了。”湯慧君不太相信。
主要原因還是因為瑤娘每日都會做針線，她卻精力不濟，一個月能做一個荷包已經算多的了，故而，她不敢信。
洪淑怡卻偷笑：“我也不知道是為何了。”
這話聽的湯慧君心怦怦跳，這個意思是說洪側妃看上她了嗎？她有些激動，又連忙謝過洪淑怡：“還是洪姐姐經常在洪側妃面前替我說好話的緣故。”
就連湯慧君的丫鬟也心中高興，小姐有了着落，她們日後也有了歸宿。
卻見洪淑怡又笑道：“我也沒說過什麽。”
皇帝的萬壽節辦的異常隆重，只是皇後在此時病倒，已經無法安排，還是廖貴妃親自出來安排，此時的廖貴妃正志得意滿。
因為她已經得到消息，皇後油盡燈枯，只等她一死，皇上封自己為皇後，衡王将來就是太子了。
而就在今年羅至正被保舉升任吏部右侍郎兼侍讀學士，他今年也不過四十，榮升為吏部小天官，郁氏也要進宮領宴。
真陽郡主則笑道：“我帶你一道去，到時候正好能和你娘見面。”
“是啊，我若是能同我娘見面，也讓她過來給郡主請安。”
……
湯慧君在一旁聽了，心中更不是滋味。
這羅瑤娘以前還是個小孩子的模樣，今年她九歲多了，脫離了少許嬰兒肥，人變得愈發亭亭玉立了。
洪淑怡見她難過，連忙過來拍着她的肩膀道：“你也不必難過，其實，這世間不如意之人多的是，妹子，我父親過世，一家人也是惶惶不可終日。你看我現在也不是好好的嗎？”
“我如何能跟姐姐你比，我父母雙亡，無人為我作主。不像羅妹妹，她父母雙全，身體康健，家世又好，人又美，我不知道多羨慕她。”湯慧君吐露心聲。
洪淑怡點頭，又笑道：“我說一句不該我說的話，妹妹何不請皇後娘娘替你操持，她這尊真佛，比什麽都靈啊。”
是啊，自己得快點趁着皇後娘娘還未死之前定下，可惜，她是閨秀，不方便說這些。
那麽，她就要多往皇後娘娘處走動才行。
皇帝萬壽宴之時，瑤娘在真陽郡主的帶領之下就同郁氏寥寥數語，但即便如此，她知曉弟弟如今學的很好，她也就放心了。
回到房間時，卻沒看到湯慧君，問起才知曉，她去皇後那裏侍疾了，還要去守夜。
“侍疾？”瑤娘心道，湯慧君本就身體孱弱，還侍疾，豈不是老太太吃□□嗎？打發人去問詢一二就行了，或者侍奉湯藥尚算合理，但守夜這種事情身體虛弱的人，一道夜夜不睡，怕是身子骨孱弱至極。
這榮安郡主之所以病情加劇，一來是本身孱弱，二來也是聽聞她祖母身子骨不好，她去侍疾過了病氣，病上加病就去了。
正想着，又說洪側妃那裏請她過去。
瑤娘連忙換了一身衣裳，從自己房裏出來，去見洪側妃，熟料在路上碰到一位少年，他頭上束着三叉紫金冠，腰間系着黑色的師蠻金帶，面如冠玉，唇若凃脂，神态高傲。
料想此人應該是未見過面的宸王高玄策了，說來瑤娘進宮快一年了，還是頭一次見到他，甚至連高玄湛她都見過一面。
這皇長子府上的幾位王孫，就屬這位宸王生的最好，一看便知曉是天潢貴胄，貴氣無雙。
二人一前一後進去，內間已經是笑聲不斷，瑤娘還從未見過洪側妃這般高興，她想難怪連真陽郡主吃醋，洪側妃的确是偏愛這個小兒子。
瑤娘進來時，目不斜視，徑直行禮。
“臣女給側妃請安。”
洪側妃笑道：“快來這裏，我是有事要同你說。”
“不知是何事呢？”瑤娘也很奇怪，洪側妃找她做什麽。
高玄策本是來和他母妃請安的，卻不想他母妃正召見別人，他不太感興趣。
只聽洪側妃道：“是請你抄寫佛經，前次眼見你抄寫的佛經字體圓潤，只因我事情繁忙，故而想勞煩你。”
原來是抄佛經，瑤娘笑道：“既如此，您看您選一本，我大概三日左右抄好送過來就是了。”
“嗯，除此之外，你若方便的話，再提我繡一卷《觀音心經》，這個倒是不急。”洪側妃又道。
瑤娘一一應承下來，眼見此處有周玄策在，連忙告辭。
卻不料洪側妃道：“你還沒見過聞喜王吧？這就是臨江王。”
如今皇長子的三位皇孫在年滿十歲時，都已經封郡王，比如這位高玄策就是封臨江王。
瑤娘趕緊重新見禮：“臣女羅氏參見臨江王，祝王爺千歲。”
羅？高玄策擡眸看了她一眼，只見這小姑娘如明珠光彩，樣貌有三分和羅瑤娘相似，但她更纖細苗條，雪肌玉膚，這位應該是羅瑤娘的姐妹。
但他雖然不喜羅氏父女，但也無意于和一個小姑娘為難，高玄策淡淡的道：“起來吧，不必多禮。”
洪側妃笑着：“羅姑娘你先下去吧。”
這位臨江王高玄策雖然人淡淡的，但也托洪側妃的身份送了表禮，一塊白玉。
別人送禮能送一根白玉簪就是算名貴的了，一整塊白玉，不知道可以做多少耳铛釵環，居然這般大方。
不過，說來也奇怪，她見過早夭的榮安郡主，都是身子骨孱弱，很少見到高玄策這麽大方的人，話說回來，他要是送釵環就不合适了，送這個反而更合适，沒什麽別的意味。
此事瑤娘見過就忘記了，她多是在替洪側妃抄寫佛經，現下的時候開始繡佛經，還得兼顧學業，可謂是忙的不可開交。
因為她心裏清楚，按照前世正常的時日，皇帝恐怕很快就要駕崩了，不管洪側妃如何，人家做貴妃乃至于皇貴妃可是做了好幾年呢，在她的婚事上還是很有權利的。
既然進了宮，這麽辛苦的做伴讀，可不能真的就浪費了。
湯慧君難得回來做伴讀一日，聽洪淑怡說起瑤娘得了臨江王的賞賜，更是沒有想到，她知曉這位是鳳凰蛋，尤其是皇長子和洪側妃最心愛這個兒子。
皇後姨母也表示有意于他，哪裏知曉被瑤娘搶先。
難不成洪側妃中意她了？是了，她爹現在升了吏部右侍郎，非常風光。
皇長子府一共四個伴讀，魏鳳已經退出，徐青容是林正妃那邊的，而洪側妃這裏只有她和瑤娘了。
湯慧君不是個會害人的人，她頂多是坐山觀虎鬥，從未害過人。況且，她平日并不太敢招惹瑤娘，因為瑤娘也不太好惹。
但是現在不下手不行了，姨母答應她要把她最後的終身大事安排好，那麽她現在要除去競争對手。
否則，洪側妃突然說已經定了羅瑤娘如何是好？她現在只有九歲，的确年紀不大，但是先定下也未可知啊。
“吱呀”一聲，門打開了，原來是洪淑怡急匆匆的過來。
"Sister Tang, do you have any burn ointment? What should I do? My little girl accidentally put her leg in the boiling water and a piece of skin fell off."
Tang Huijun was startled, and Hong Shuyi left when she saw that she was not there.
Tang Huijun didn't know how long she had been sitting here. She thought that the hot water could burn off all the skin, but what about burning her face?
Having a small perm is considered a flaw in appearance, but the royal family would definitely not want a princess with a damaged appearance, right?