The eldest prince was named King Xian. He never listened to operas performed by people from the Yuefu. He was as frugal as his mother, Concubine Lin. The couple rarely had embroidery on their clothes or utensils at home. This pleased Emperor Jianzhang very much. Emperor Jianzhang himself was indeed a benevolent monarch. After he came to power, he first exempted the people from taxes for three years and even abolished his small kitchen in the palace. He was very frugal in his daily meals.
Gao Xuance got off the sedan chair and walked in front with Yao Niang. He only said three words to the eldest prince: "Adjust your ears."
"矯饰" means to pretend. Yao Niang couldn't help but nod secretly after hearing this. The eldest prince in his previous life relied on this. His carriages and horses and attendants were all frugal and simple. He was very respectful to the court officials and his etiquette was humble. Therefore, he finally sat on the throne.
Frankly speaking, the eldest prince was a man of talent, but he was ambitious and had the ambition of the First Emperor but not his ability. He died suddenly of anger one year after taking the throne due to his wrong strategies.
Later there were rumors that he was assassinated.
The current eldest prince has lost his former youthfulness and looks very humble. His princess consort Wang Yuanshuang and Yao Niang are also acquaintances. When they saw Yao Niang and the others bowing, they quickly helped her up.
I heard that the eldest prince had a princess consort and the second princess had not been given a title. He just had a few concubines as required. He was usually with Wang Yuanshuang and did not stay with the concubines. This made Emperor Jianzhang's sister, Princess Sui De, very impressed.
In her early years, Princess Sui De went to Wumeng for marriage for the country. She was married to the father and son of the Left Wing King of Wumeng respectively. Later, she was brought back to the capital by the late emperor. Princess Sui De was very important in the palace. She hated it most when any minister or concubine in the court was pregnant. Therefore, the eldest prince's behavior made Princess Sui De very happy.
"You and I have known each other for a long time. Why are you being so polite to others?" Wang Yuanshuang said with a smile.
Yao Niang said: "Even so, etiquette cannot be abandoned."
They had not kowtowed before, because Prince Xian was not yet the crown prince, but only an elder brother, so after Yao Niang performed the ceremony, Wang Yuanshuang had to return the ceremony.
Gao Xuance and King Xian also seemed very close, and said, "Father asked us to accompany him to the Chengde Autumn Hunt. My eldest brother is very skilled in martial arts, so I hope he can teach me a few moves when the time comes."
King Xian waved his hand and said, "Why do you have to do this? I heard that you have been practicing the Jingchu long sword recently, and you are quite proud of it."
The two brothers started chatting, and Yao Niang thought that if she hadn't known that there was a dispute between the brothers, she would have thought they were real brothers. When she lived in the palace before, her husband was still young and didn't get close to them, but now he is very understanding.
The men talked about their own things, and the women gathered together. Wang Yuanshuang smiled and said, "We all grew up in the palace. I just gave you a few instructions. As daughters-in-law, we don't have to be by your mother's side all the time. You can take care of the people and things in your palace. But you must pay attention to the four seasons and eight festivals."
Yao Niang thanked him again. Wang Yuanshuang saw that although Yao Niang's face was evenly powdered, her eyes were dark circles, and it was obvious that she did not sleep well. She thought to herself that since ancient times, people have chosen a virtuous wife, and not a beautiful one. This is the reason.
When the royal family chooses a daughter-in-law, they first look at her family background, then whether she has the aura of a mistress, and beauty comes second.
Otherwise, putting too much effort into a woman, or having a woman whisper in your ear, are all very scary.
Fortunately, Wang Yuanshuang knew that Yao Niang was not just beautiful, so she did not dare to neglect her, and Yao Niang could not find any fault with her.
After leaving King Xian, they naturally went to King Zhou. King Zhou was King Chen's brother, so they should be closer. However, King Chen was even more disdainful. He commented on King Zhou to Yao Niang: "He is moody and very Confucian. He regards himself as a Bodhisattva and sees others as dirt."
Uh? Is the King of Zhou such a person?
In her previous life at the Prince of Zhou's palace, Yao Niang only felt that the Prince of Zhou himself was rather pretentious and seemed to be indifferent.
But at this moment she nodded: "I will listen to whatever Your Highness says."
This made Gao Xuance very happy. He thought that he had really conquered Sister Yao last night, otherwise why would she be so well-behaved today. Thinking of this, he took Sister Yao's hand and went in.
Yao Niang didn't dare to resist, because if he started making a scene it would be bad, this man was too childish.
The two walked in hand in hand, and King Zhou's eyelids twitched, thinking it was inappropriate. But he and King Chen had never had a good relationship, and his mother always favored his younger brother, so he was too lazy to say more.
"Second brother, sister-in-law." Gao Xuance bowed quickly.
King Zhou nodded calmly: "Come, sit down."
His attitude was very bland, even worse than that of the eldest prince. Moreover, King Zhou treated Gao Xuance like a child and criticized him for arriving at the study room late.
Gao Xuance was not polite to King Zhou either: "Second brother, you should practice riding and shooting more. Father will take us brothers hunting next month."
The two brothers were very close. Yao Niang once heard a rumor from Princess Zhen Yang that Prince Zhou was very bad at riding and shooting, and could not even draw a bow, while Prince Chen was born tall and mighty, and could shoot arrows and ride a horse at the age of seven.
Yao Niang secretly observed that Gao Xuance seemed to believe in Taoism, because there was a Yin-Yang fan hanging in his room. This fan belonged to Taishang Laojun, and Taishang Laojun held Yin and Yang, and was the incarnation of the "Supreme Tao", the supreme god who lived forever and often split himself into multiple bodies to save the world. This showed that King Chen believed in Taoism.
Furthermore, the last time Princess Zhenyang asked him to interpret the divination, she seemed to have mentioned that he had always liked to practice Taoism.
King Zhou and Xu Qingrong both wore the seven-treasure bracelets, which are Buddhist seven-treasure bracelets made of gold, silver, colored glaze, giant clam, glass, red beads, and agate. Sandalwood was lit in the hall, which all showed that King Zhou believed in Buddhism.
The two believed in different religions and were in competition with each other for Concubine Hong, so there was tension between them.
On the contrary, Yao Niang and Xu Qingrong were still able to talk to each other. Xu Qingrong was very happy: "In the future, we can get along with each other at mother's place. It's really great."
"Second sister-in-law is right. I think so too." Yao Niang smiled.
Xu Qingrong is pregnant now, and she looks much gentler. She actually has nothing to worry about. Princess Xian is not pregnant yet, and she is the only one who is pregnant. As long as she gives birth to a baby boy, he will be the future eldest grandson of the emperor. When her mother-in-law is crowned as empress, she will be the legitimate eldest son of the emperor.
Seeing Xu Qingrong's belly, Yao Niang asked, "Then will you go to Chengde, Second Sister-in-law?"
Xu Qingrong nodded: "We will all go along this time. I am already in good shape, so I will go too."
Why would she go there even though she was pregnant? Yao Niang couldn't figure out what she was thinking. If it were her, she would definitely protect the fetus first.
However, Xu Qingrong had her considerations. This time, although they said they were going to Chengde for the autumn hunt, in fact, envoys from various countries and the royal family, nobles and officials of the imperial court were all there. The King of Zhou married her, and the civil officials included people from the Xu family, but among the nobles, they were not as reliable as the eldest prince and his wife. Everyone knew that the eldest prince was very influential among the nobles.
This is her good opportunity, how can she let it go.
Yao Niang was about to say something, but when she saw Gao Xuance turn around and prepare to leave, she followed him. The third house where they lived was next to the second house, so the two of them only walked a few steps to enter their own house.
The two men came in hand in hand. Gao Xuance was indeed more talkative than any other man she had ever met. He helped her sit down considerately and said, "I know you must be tired today. Take a rest for a while. I will ask the chief eunuch Dexi to sort out my account books. I will give them to you after you wake up. You are the mistress of my palace. My home is handed over to you."
"Rest assured, I will stay here with you and won't go anywhere, ah~"
Everyone knows that when people are in a strange place, they are on guard everywhere. Some people don't even know where to put their hands and feet, and how can they sleep. But she and Gao Xuance are husband and wife after all. With him guarding her, Yao Niang certainly feels safe and has no fear.
Yao Niang asked the maid to take off her hairpins and lay on the beauty couch. Gao Xuance diligently covered her with a thin quilt, while he sat opposite her reading a book.
Yao Niang, who was originally worried, actually fell asleep to the sound of him turning pages.
I really married the right person, not because of his status, but because of him as a person.
Gao Xuance did not go out when he saw that she was sleeping soundly, but stayed here to guard her. Even when Yao Niang woke up, he was still guarding here. She was suddenly very moved.
"Brother Xuan Ce."
"You're awake." Gao Xuance came over with a very happy look on his face.
Women seem to be easily moved by small things, and will suddenly break down over small things. Yao Niang's face is now plain and her hair is not decorated, but she looks unusually beautiful. She took the initiative to lean into his arms, and all her plans were gone.
"You've been guarding me for so long, idiot?"
Gao Xuance took advantage of the situation and hugged her slender waist: "You dare to call me stupid? Why did you peel the shrimp when I wanted to eat it? You are stupid. You have been standing for a long time to serve me food. Are you tired? Come, let me give you a massage."
Yao Niang nodded cutely, and Gao Xuance became more and more pleased and couldn't let her go.
She thought he really wanted to press her, but his hands wandered around her body for a long time, and it felt more and more strange. Yao Niang blushed and turned to look at him: "Where are you touching? It's disgusting."
Gao Xuance kissed her cheek and said, "Would you like to go to my study and take a look?"
People often say that to understand a person, you have to understand what he has learned. Yao Niang, who is in the newlywed stage, certainly wants to know more about her husband.
Then, Gao Xuance rang the bell and asked the servants to help her get up. After she washed up, the eunuch Cui Dexi came over with the account book. Gao Xuance raised his chin and said, "These will be handed over to the princess in the future. You must assist the princess. Otherwise, if I know that you are playing tricks, I will not forgive you."
Cui Dexi was a white-faced eunuch in his thirties. He immediately said respectfully, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will tell you everything I know."
似乎都不需要瑤娘來立威了，這真的是真實的生活嗎？丈夫沒有屋裏人，婆母待她十分要好，管家都這麽順暢。
瑤娘讓跟來的白英白芷把賬冊收下，她則陪高玄策去書房，衆人見王妃相貌溫柔腼腆，宸王平日對人不假辭色，居然把王妃看的似眼珠子似的。
不過，也有人這麽想，男人對美女大多如此，甚至說新婚日子裏，大多數都是蜜裏調油的，可過些日子之後，還不是該怎麽樣就怎麽樣。
高玄策的書房擺滿了書，就連瑤娘自己的書房都會弄不少裝飾，但高玄策的書房很簡單，但連角落裏都放着書。
她随意抽出一本書來，上面都有看過的痕跡，甚至還有筆記，看的出來這些書并不是擺設，而是平日就在此處看的。
“平日就聽公主說殿下好學，如今看來果真如此。”
高玄策風趣道：“上次你和真陽找我解簽，我替你解的如何？”
瑤娘背過身去，想起當初他替自己解簽的事情，又忍不住笑道：“您給我的解簽時說我的夫婿身份貴重，高大英俊，我總覺得那是騙我的，哪裏知道是真的。天下間有多少女子愛慕您，我真是想都不敢想。”
“那你以為你會嫁給誰呢？”高玄策有點生氣，不敢想自己，那她願意嫁誰？
瑤娘見他如此，狡黠一笑：“你知道的，我雖說有姐妹，但是我母親只生了我一個女兒，我姐姐姐夫當初成婚，就是我爹爹讓她們住我家裏，爹爹很舍不得我外嫁的。”
如花似玉的姑娘，家中寵的如珠似玉，也難怪舍不得了。
高玄策見她說完這話，又去翻自己桌上的書，正欲說話，瑤娘卻道：“殿下喜歡修道嗎？這本書仿佛是《太上老君說常清靜經》。”
“是啊，修道有何不好？興許日後還能羽化登仙，上極樂世界，從此位列仙班，與凡人不同。”高玄策非常向往。
你這……
又要皇位，又要當神仙，你咋不上天呢？
不，人家是真的想上天。
可惜瑤娘根本不信這些，反而好奇道：“那您修道為何還能娶妻呢？”
“當然可以，正所謂孤陰不生，孤陽不長，一陰一陽之謂道。我雖修道，但也不是入的全真教，所以是可以的。”高玄策生怕從此瑤娘不讓他親近，那就不好了。
真是奇怪，前世他最怕和瑤娘親近了，可這輩子，他卻黏着他都黏不夠。
尤其是那個滋味，實在是太銷魂了……
瑤娘雖然想投其所好，但實在是對神佛全然不信，所以她不大感興趣。
見她不感興趣，高玄策決定投其所好：“我見過你的畫，知曉你擅長畫，我這裏正好有幾幅畫，我們一起看。”
“嗯，我們一起看。”
二人欣賞畫作完之後，其實瑤娘還是不太了解高玄策到底如何，因為這段關系中，除了新婚夜她用計，實際上多數是高玄策在主動。
但了解一個人不是讀書就能了解的，要多觀察才行。
和瑤娘她們這邊不同，沐宛童親自做了一桌子飯菜給丈夫，她笑吟吟的道：“這是我們雲南很有名的汽鍋雞，你若喜歡，我日日洗手做羹湯也願意。”
身份高貴的妻子原本就已經很好了，還親自下廚，這讓安王受寵若驚，要知道宮裏的女人都是養尊處優很少會如此的。
安王很是感動：“王妃，你這番真的是讓我不知說什麽好了。”
“那就什麽都別說了，快些用膳吧。”沐宛童笑。
安王點頭。
皇子們都住在一起，四皇子妃下廚做菜一事當然傳遍皇子所，瑤娘晚膳時也聽說了，她還真沒想到這個弟妹還洗手做羹湯呢。
高玄策趕緊道：“你不必做飯，我這裏服侍的人非常多，真的不用。我明日就決意去戶部辦差，你在家閑了可以找真陽說話，若是實在是無趣，可以去我的書房找書看。”
明日就去戶部辦差？
瑤娘心道，不是說新婚有三日可以歇息嗎？今日王元霜還提起來呢。
但高玄策雖然對她很好，但是他的大事是沒有任何置喙的餘地，二人夜裏也照舊魚水之歡，只是一早瑤娘醒過來時，身畔已經沒了人影了。
瑤娘苦笑。
白英和白芷等人進來服侍，還好瑤娘并非是那種自怨自艾的人，宸王一走，自己在這裏就是最大的。
崔德喜在旁介紹宸王府的奴仆：“這裏伺候的太監有四個，宮裏有四個，另有茶房、膳房還有書房服侍的人……”
她認真的聽着，又聽崔德喜道：“等明日還有王府屬官過來拜見主子呢。”
因為現在還沒有在外開府，所以屬官有的是朝廷命官兼之，這次迎親也是長史帶人過去的。
如此，瑤娘便把衆人喊來一一給了賞錢，又開始查崔太監遞過來的冊子，不看不知曉，一看吓一跳，宸王府的庫房真的全是好東西，這些都是帝妃二人送過來的，甚至據崔太監提起，說宸王可以随意在皇帝的內庫支取銀錢。
這內裏還有皇帝給的安家銀子二十五萬兩，親王年俸兩萬兩，這些銀錢看似很多，但是府邸的人的支取，還有日後這些銀錢招兵買馬，恐怕也要耗費，看似多，實際上根本不經花。
再有宮裏就是人情往來最頻繁的地方，她們作為晚輩這方面開支也不小。
“這些我看過了，就先這般，馬上要中秋節了，進奉的月餅準備好了嗎？”瑤娘問起。
崔德喜點頭：“貴妃那邊的人說已經替王爺備好了，小月餅十五盤一桌，二寸月餅十二盤一桌，攢盤月餅十三盤一桌。”
雖說成親了，但看昨日建章帝和洪貴妃分明還是把宸王當孩童看，都已經封了親王了，瑣事還是由洪貴妃在打理。
瑤娘倒也沒什麽反感：“既然如此，就依照娘娘那邊的吩咐吧。”
如此，瑤娘才去給洪貴妃請安，她到的時候，徐青容早就在此處了，這讓瑤娘不由得心道自己是不是遲了？
沒想到洪貴妃卻是一笑：“策兒還年輕，未免做事情總怕自己做不好，失去了他父皇的信任，原本新婚該多歇息幾日，他卻惶恐不安，這才去上衙，倒是委屈你了。”
徐青容也是暗自咋舌，新婚第二天就不陪新娘子，比她還不如，好歹周王還陪了她三天，同樣成親的安王也沒有這般。
瑤娘卻渾然不在意：“母妃是哪裏話，昨日殿下已經同我說了，我一切都是以她為主，哪有什麽委屈。”
見瑤娘真的不在意，洪貴妃也暗自點頭。
瑤娘又提出想去看真眼公主：“昨兒聽母妃說起真陽，偏昨兒還要去和兩位皇兄處行禮，就未去成，兒媳想去看看公主。”
“唔，你去吧，若是知道你去看她，她不知曉多高興呢。”洪貴妃很是欣慰。
洪貴妃舒了一口氣，其實她真的不需要兒媳婦天天在這裏伴着，她還沒七老八十，好熱鬧到那個程度。
本來麗妃近來有了身份，皇上不知道怎麽又常常來她這裏了，她和皇上本來也是老夫老妻了，都徐娘半老了，還要陪皇上，今日原本想多睡會兒的，結果徐青容過來了。
她不得不又同瑤娘道：“既然宸王不在，你就在府上打理，不必來我這裏，若有事派人過來就成。”
“是，母妃。”瑤娘笑。
這事兒到底如何做，還要問問丈夫，雖然不至于日日都來，但隔三差五來就最好了。徐青容見瑤娘居然不想日日來請安，暗自覺得自己把她比下去了，将來她的孝道的名聲肯定比瑤娘強。
雖然徐青容有孕在身，但是家中大權在握，根本沒有旁人的餘地，除了她現下和周王關系并沒有之前那麽親密了。
周王現下寵着一個侍妾，那個不過是什麽都順從周王的人，偏偏周王對她那麽上心。
想到這裏徐青容臉色陰沉。
而瑤娘已經到了真陽公主這裏了，以前她是住在此處的，現下過來，又是一番意味在心頭了。
真陽公主的侍從早就聽瑤娘派過來的人說她要過來，已經站在門口迎接了，瑤娘見她二人出來，連忙笑道：“大家都認識，何必這麽客氣。”
“公主正在裏邊等您呢，王妃，奴婢們帶您進去。”
雖說以前大家都認得，但是身份到底不同了，不過她們還是很喜歡瑤娘的，畢竟人家身份變了，人卻沒變。
真陽公主正躺在榻上，她是去年才來的小日子，每次來整個人都戰栗不止，人疼的不行，分明她身體很不錯的，現下卻因為此事疼。
“公主，你沒事兒吧？”瑤娘聞到一點血腥味，她一看就知曉是怎麽回事了。
Princess Zhenyang apologized, "I should have gone to your wedding with Third Brother, but unfortunately my period came and I'm in so much pain." She couldn't tell others such private things, but she and Yao Niang grew up together and had a good relationship. They could even talk about anything. Now Yao Niang was her sister-in-law, so of course she said it directly.
Yao Niang said distressedly, "This won't do. We can't keep doing this. Why don't we ask the imperial physician to come and have a look after this? We should be extra careful on weekdays, especially not to use anything cold. Oh, princess, do you have a hot water bottle here? Even though it's hot now, you're feeling very cold."
The palace maids were very smart and immediately brought over some hot water. Yao Niang smiled and gave her some hot water to drink.
Princess Zhen Yang asked, "Do you feel more blood after drinking hot water?"
"That's fine. It will make your body feel better. Just change your menstrual belt more often."
With Yao Niang accompanying her, Princess Zhenyang drank the hot sugar water and felt much better. She was able to cheer up and ask Yao Niang: "How does my third brother treat you?"
Yao Niang nodded shyly: "Your Highness is very kind to me."
"Then I won't bother you anymore." Princess Zhenyang covered her mouth and laughed.
Yao Niang said inexplicably: "Your Highness has received an errand today and has gone to the Ministry of Revenue. I will just stay here with you."
Princess Zhenyang, who was originally happy for her, said angrily, "What do you mean by good for you? I think for the sake of his power, I'm afraid everything will have to give way."
It really hit the nail on the head. Yao Niang finally realized that she was in a dream yesterday and felt that he was not real. Now she feels that nothing is perfect.