After coming out of the hot spring, Gao Xuance was summoned by Emperor Jianzhang. He immediately went to the emperor's bedroom. Of course, Yao Niang went back by herself. She was now used to Gao Xuance's behavior.
Once he has something important to do, he won't care about these affairs, but as long as he has time, he will try his best to satisfy you.
That's enough. Yao Niang herself doesn't like people who don't distinguish between public and private, which can easily affect her judgment. Of course, if a man really loves you, he will think of you no matter what he does, and even try every means to see you, but Yao Niang doesn't like people who are full of love affairs, because she herself is not such a person.
As soon as she returned to Maochunxuan, she saw Princess Zhenyang and Princess Zhaoping coming together. They must have come for something. Yao Niang knew this, so she quickly asked them to sit down and had someone serve tea. She couldn't help but ask, "What's the matter? You came together, so you must have something to talk to me about? I wouldn't go if it was just to play polo."
She also had her own concerns. During this period, she and Gao Xuance were more relaxed than they were in the palace. In fact, she did not have a physique that made it easy for her to conceive. In her previous life, she had worked very hard to get pregnant. The last time she played polo, she did so because her period had been over for several days.
But they have been intimate at night these days, and it would be bad if they had health problems from playing polo again.
Princess Zhaoping smiled and said, "It's not about that. The sweet-scented osmanthus in the palace is about to wither, and we are planning to start a poetry club, and would like to invite you to join."
It turned out to be this matter. Yao Niang immediately agreed: "Don't worry, I will definitely go. If you need anything, just tell us and I will find a way."
Princess Zhaoping said, "Since you mentioned it, we just happened to have something to discuss."
"Tell me, I will help you if I can."
Princess Zhenyang took over the conversation and said, "Third sister-in-law, let me tell you something. Princess Lanfeng from Wusi Zang followed King Wusi to the capital this time. She is arrogant by nature. She always fights with me and Aunt Zhaoping for everything. Today, she knew that we played polo and raced horses yesterday, and she insisted on going. That's why we decided to start a poetry club. A literary battle is always better than a physical battle. She is a competitive person and has always liked music. I would like to ask you, third sister-in-law, to compete with her."
Yao Niang immediately laughed and said, "So that's how it is. It's fine with me, but don't blame me if you lose."
"Back in Wenqizhai, you were the best at music among us. If you lose, then we will be even less capable." Princess Zhenyang encouraged her.
Yao Niang smiled and shook her head.
Of course, in the afternoon Yao Niang asked someone to bring out the zither. After tuning the strings, she played two songs. Unexpectedly, she got the news that Princess Lan Feng would not go to join the poetry club because she went into the enclosure to hunt and fell into a trap set for prey and was injured.
Bai Ying brought a bowl of rock sugar and snow pear from the kitchen. Yao Niang ate a spoonful and couldn't help asking, "Is she okay? Please prepare some medicine for her injuries and send it over to her."
Bai Ying whispered, "I heard that it was the Fourth Prince who saved Princess Lan Feng."
"Really?" Yao Niang knew Mu Wantong's character. She was both good and evil. She always put the interests of the Fourth Prince first, but she was also very jealous.
She was different from Xu Qingrong in that jealous nature. Xu Qingrong was jealous because the King of Zhou was unfathomable. The King of Zhou supported the Queen and maintained the status quo for her, but they were both interested in interests and had no romantic relationship. Mu Wantong, on the other hand, really liked the Fourth Prince and had a romantic relationship with him.
Only when you like someone will you have the desire to possess him.
I wonder if this will affect the relationship between the Four Princes.
While she was thinking, she finished a bowl of candied pear and only then did she feel her throat was much better.
I just thought of Mu Wantong, but I didn't know she would come over here. Her eyes were slightly red. Seeing this, Yao Niang quickly stood up and said, "Fourth brother's wife, what happened?"
Mu Wantong shook her head. Even if she didn't say anything, she had nowhere to go.
Because the Fourth Prince was invited by King Wusi to speak, the reason was that he saved Princess Lanfeng. In fact, Princess Lanfeng came for marriage. They were different from King Zhennan. King Zhennan was the opposite sex king of Dalin, while Wusi was an important country for Dalin to contain countries like Tianzhu, and it was the largest country in Haixi.
King Us admired Chinese learning when he was young. Us was a country with multiple wives, and King Us also married a princess from Dalin, with whom he was best friends.
She was afraid. She was afraid that the Fourth Prince would be favored by Princess Lan Feng.
Seeing that she didn't say anything, Yao Niang didn't ask any more questions. Their relationship was not yet close enough for them to have a heart-to-heart talk. Although she had a gentle face and spoke softly, she was not a real saint-like person. Most of the time, she was unwilling to change or convince others.
"Fourth brother's wife, I happen to have some rock sugar and snow pear soup here, you can try it." She personally held a bowl of it and handed it to her, while she took the remaining clothes in her hands and sewed them.
As soon as Mu Wantong saw it, she knew that it was made for Prince Chen. It was said that Prince Chen had a strange temper and never liked to wear clothes with any threads, so his clothes were made by his personal maids and he refused to let others do it. However, the outer clothes had to be extremely complicated and exquisite.
"Third sister-in-law, is this made for third brother?" Mu Wantong asked.
Yao Niang nodded: "Yes, there is nothing to do right now, so why not practice needlework. Tomorrow, we will go to the garden in the south. In a few days, we will return to the palace, and we will not have time for needlework."
Mu Wantong suddenly blurted out, "I really envy you, Third Sister-in-law."
When the Fourth Prince saved her, she thought he was kindhearted and a good man, but when he saved others, she felt that she was meddling too much. Gao Xuance never cared about these matters. Even though Gao Xuance was the best, no one dared to approach him because he was indifferent to outsiders and his status was too noble.
This is actually a good thing. My third sister-in-law is so calm and peaceful, there is no need to worry about her at all.
Yao Niang didn't know why she said this. When she was about to ask, Mu Wantong stood up and said goodbye again. This was so nonsensical that Yao Niang didn't understand.
At dinner time, Gao Xuance said, "King Wusi wants to marry Princess Lanfeng to his fourth brother. He is quite perceptive."
"Ah? It's really true. This is impossible. We in Dalin don't have the ability to marry several wives like Wusizang." Yao Niang widened her eyes, feeling unbelievable.
Gao Xuance smiled and said, "Of course not. Father has already refused, saying that the fourth prince is already married. This fourth prince is really something. Why did he lead the troops himself when he could have just asked a guard to rescue him? Now he has brought trouble upon himself."
Yao Niang knew that there was a type of man who might not be very handsome, but the honesty and enthusiasm he showed unintentionally made women feel more reliable.
On the contrary, someone like Gao Xuance is so handsome that people would think he is too fickle.
But seeing Gao Xuance taking such great pleasure in misfortune, she couldn't help but say, "No wonder Fourth Sister-in-law looked so downcast today. It's inappropriate to say such things. Is Princess Lanfeng betrothed to anyone?"
King Us went to the capital this time, firstly to consolidate the diplomatic relations between the two countries, and secondly for his daughter.
Of course it is a good thing to marry someone to a higher country.
Especially since the relationship between Wusi and Tianzhu is very tense, it would be more reliable to form an alliance through marriage.
Gao Xuance heard this and said, "Don't we have a ready-made candidate? Prince Jinyang, the emperor has already granted you a marriage."
Prince Jinyang? Yao Niang was speechless: "This... this is not good. Prince Jinyang is already forty years old, and the Crown Prince of Jinyang is still okay. Besides, Princess Lanfeng is only sixteen or seventeen years old. What's the matter?"
Gao Xuance waved his hand and said, "That's not the way to say it. The Prince of Jinyang leads the army and holds great power. If I marry him, I will be the princess. This marriage couldn't be better."
"I remember that the Prince of Jinyang hasn't married yet?" He should be a son at least.
Gao Xuance thought it was funny: "If Gao Jian wanted to marry, he would marry a girl from Dalin. Why would he marry a foreign woman? If it wasn't for the continuation of the marriage, the Prince of Jinyang would not have married this princess."
"But will Princess Lan Feng agree?" Yao Niang asked.
Gao Xuance nodded: "King Wusi loves this daughter very much. If he really doesn't want to, there are others who would like to do it, but I have never heard of them not wanting to do it."
On the contrary, Gao Xuance looked at Yao Niang and said, "You are too naive. If you can be a princess, who would want to be just a prince's consort? If you can be an empress, who would want to be a prince's consort? Look at Meng Ying of Qin. She was originally the fiancée of Prince Jian of Chu, but she was taken into the harem by her father-in-law, King Ping of Chu, and became the wife of the king of Chu. If she had married Prince Jian, the prince might not have become the emperor, but if she married King Ping of Chu, she would have been the queen, and Prince Zhao, born to Meng Ying, later inherited the throne."
However, Yao Niang disagreed: "According to what you said, everyone is just chasing fame and fortune, and no longer cares about common sense and ethics? Not all women admire power and wealth. Am I going to abandon you in the future just because you have more power?"
She really couldn't help it, so she got up and left.
When it comes to fighting for the throne, Yao Niang thinks that everyone should do it based on their own abilities, and no one should be inferior to others just because they were born later.
However, in this absurd matter of a father marrying his son's daughter-in-law, it is obvious that the victim is the woman. The same goes for Concubine Yang. Who would be willing to serve an old man instead of living with a husband of the same age?
Gao Xuance wanted to tell her what was in his heart, but when he saw her furious, he quickly chased after her, closed the door again, and admitted his fault straightforwardly: "Yao Niang, I'm sorry, it's my fault. You can scold me..."
A pure and kind girl like my wife would certainly not sell herself out for fame and fortune.
Seeing his pitiful look, Yao Niang said, "It's good that you know. We women, whether we are of noble status or commoner origin, are helpless. Who can choose anything? We all take care of our parents and our clansmen, but no one cares for themselves."
"Well, you are right. I was too narrow-minded. Come on, let's not quarrel over other people's affairs. I was wrong. Let me comb your hair for you." Gao Xuance admitted his mistake readily and was very happy in his heart. Sister Yao must have her own heart. She didn't even want to be the queen for him.
Seeing how considerate he was, Yao Niang's heart softened.
The fact that Princess Blue Phoenix was betrothed to Prince Jinyang also shocked everyone, except Mu Wantong who was happy. However, she felt depressed after seeing Princess Blue Phoenix.
As for Princess Zhenyang, she had always disliked Princess Lanfeng's arrogance, and they had some grudges against each other. But after hearing about this, she said to Yao Niang, "Princess Lanfeng is only eighteen years old this year, but Prince Jinyang is forty. Third sister-in-law, do you know? I don't even dare to go to see her."
"Yeah, why did King Us agree to it?" Yao Niang sighed.
But think about it again, Emperor Jianzhang is over 40 years old this year, Concubine Li is only 16 years old, and even her father was over 30 when he married her mother. Yao Niang can't say anything more. Maybe Gao Xuance's words are without sympathy, but King Wusi may really want to marry his daughter to a prince with real power.
But in the royal family, some people felt that Princess Lan Feng was marrying above her station, after all, a princess from a small foreign country married a prince from a superior country as his princess consort.
Yao Niang also met Princess Lan Feng when she was finally driven back to the palace. She had many gems on her hair, black hair and red lips. Different from the beauties in the Central Plains, she had deep facial features and snow-white skin.
"Princess Lan Feng, I hope you are well." Yao Niang greeted her with a smile.
Princess Lan Feng glanced at Yao Niang and saw that she was dressed like a princess. She was proficient in Chinese studies. This was the reason why her father brought her to the upper kingdom. She bowed slightly and said, "Princess Chen."
"Princess, there's no need to be so polite." Yao Niang nodded.
"You people in the Central Plains often say that courtesy is not blamed, isn't that right? We small nations have always respected the culture of the upper states. I have long heard that Princess Chen is good at playing Buddhist music. Our country of Wusi Zang believes in Buddhism, and this princess also learned it when she was in Wusi Zang. I have long wanted to learn a thing or two from you, Princess Chen."
This Princess Blue Phoenix was indeed as competitive as the rumors said. Yao Niang raised her eyebrows and agreed.
Princess Lan Feng clapped her hands and laughed: "Princess Chen, you are not like the women here. You speak in a roundabout way and I can't understand you. It's rare to meet someone as straightforward as you."
Yao Niang was not in a good position to respond to this: "Princess Lan Feng, please come and learn from me anytime."
"How about now?"
"OK."
Playing French music is her strong point, so how could Yao Niang really admit defeat? Ever since Princess Zhen Yang said that last time, although the Poetry Society could not be established because of Princess Lan Feng's accident, Yao Niang was still preparing.
The so-called Douqin is that one person plays the upper stanza first, and the other person plays the lower stanza. It is just like Feihualing, and the connection must be proper, and the playing must be smooth, even to the end to show off skills.
The two sat opposite each other. Today, Yao Niang was wearing a full-length skirt and wide-sleeved gown with fluttering sleeves. She said to Princess Lan Feng in a very graceful manner, "Princess is a guest. Please come first."
Princess Blue Phoenix curled her lips and plucked the strings with her slender fingers. The first song she played was the Phoenix Chant. This Phoenix Chant is a relatively difficult piece of French music. The melody poured out from the strings.
Princess Sui De could of course hear it, as she had been worshipping Buddha all her life. Although Mu Wantong had learned to play the piano, she had never played Buddhist music before, and she mainly played the Mountain and Water Poetry Classic. The first time she heard the Phoenix Chant, when it reached its wonderful part, she felt as if she was in a fairyland, and Princess Lan Feng suddenly stopped playing.
This was to test the other party's ability to connect with the song. Even Princess Sui De was a little nervous. She might not like Yao Niang, but Princess Lan Feng was a foreign princess and was very arrogant towards the women of Dalin. She always wanted to compete with her. If Yao Niang lost, it would also be a loss for Dalin.
Yao Niang smiled faintly, and started to play the piano slowly with her fingers, exuding a powerful aura. She was smiling all the time, yet remained calm, giving off a sense of dignity and solemnity.
After the song ended, Yao Niang did not give Princess Lan Feng any more time. She changed to the jade flute and played the song "Han Shan Seng Ji". This Buddhist music had strict rules, like clouds and water gazing at each other. She played half of it, but Princess Lan Feng waited for ten breaths before starting to play the guzheng.
As soon as Yao Niang heard it, she knew it was the song "Holding the Lotus", and she quickly changed to the guzheng, and took over as soon as she finished.
The eldest prince's wife Wang Yuanshuang said to Princess Sui De: "The winner has been decided."
One took ten breaths to connect, while the other could do it almost instantly, and the winner was clearly decided.
Princess Zhenyang also smiled. As for Lu, she thought she was different from others because she had attended a girls' school with her sisters. But when she saw that Luo Yao was very proficient in the jade flute, the guqin and even the guzheng, she realized that her selection as the prince's consort was no joke.
As for Wang Yuanshuang and Princess Zhenyang, who are able to quickly determine victory or defeat, they should not be underestimated.
There is always someone better than you.
"Princess Chen, today I am convinced. You are indeed an expert in music." Although Princess Lan Feng lost, she was not unconvinced. Instead, she began to admire Yao Niang.
Yao Niang smiled and said, "It's just a competition, Princess, there's no need to take it seriously."
Princess Lan Feng was such a proud person that she even asked her servants to send a special Tao inkstone from Wusi Zang. The Tao inkstone is emerald green in color, elegant and rare, hard and fine in texture, crystal clear like jade, silent when knocked, water droplets appear when blown on, and can produce ink quickly without damaging the brush [1]. It has been extremely popular among scholars and poets throughout the ages.
"This inkstone is really good." Yao Niang said to Gao Xuance.
Seeing that Yao Niang liked it, Gao Xuance couldn't help but say, "How rare! I heard that Princess Lan Feng likes to compare herself with others in everything. I didn't expect that she would be defeated by you."
Yao Niang said seriously: "You can't say that. It's just that I have been practicing French music for a long time. Maybe they are just giving me face."
"Why are you always so overly humble and put yourself in such a low position?" Gao Xuance really didn't understand. She was obviously the apple of Luo Zhizheng's eye and would be a princess if she married him, but she was always too cautious.
It's like there's always a sense of inferiority.
Yao Niang smiled bitterly. She was very fat in her previous life and had been oppressed for a long time because of her appearance. Therefore, she sometimes felt anxious, as if everything she had was obtained by relying on her appearance, especially other people's liking for her.
What if she's still that fat girl?
Perhaps Prince Chen wouldn't even look at her. This kind of happiness seemed to be stolen. She didn't dare to be proud or show off.
Because people say that everything that prospers must decline, when the water is full it will overflow, when the moon is full it will wane. She was so happy, but perhaps this happiness was taken away. Maybe she suffered too much in her previous life, so she was forced to live again.
"You are a child of destiny and you won't understand." If you are really dark, ugly or even fat, even your relatives will dislike you. No one in this world will love you for who you are.
Gao Xuance thought of her experience. He heard that she was exchanged back home when she was six years old, but she seemed to have never mentioned what kind of life she lived before the age of six.
Maybe it's been very difficult.
Suddenly, Gao Xuance felt very sad. He held her shoulders and his eyes suddenly turned red.
Yao Niang was surprised to find that he was crying. How could a boy cry so much? She comforted him and said, "What's wrong with you?"
"I remember you saying that. I don't know how much you've suffered. How can I not be sad? But you've suffered so much, but when I'm hurt, you still jump out, but I can't help you." He even criticized her in his heart because of what happened in his previous life.
Yao Niang comforted him instead: "The most difficult times have passed. I have nothing to worry about now."
For some reason, he seemed to look more beautiful when he cried, and even a little "weak". Yao Niang suddenly went up and kissed him, because at this moment he was not the same as outsiders saw him.
He is very empathetic towards her and is the only one who cares about her feelings.
Seeing Yao Niang taking the initiative, Gao Xuance hugged her back.
Ever since Yao Niang defeated Princess Lan Feng, Princess Sui De and Lady Lu, who were on the opposing side, no longer dared to underestimate her, not to mention Wang Yuanshuang, who had been a study partner with Yao Niang and of course knew Yao Niang's strength.
But she was more worried about another thing. The eldest prince had been married to her for several years. She came here alone this time and also wanted to have a child, but there was no movement at all.
He was very distressed, but he couldn't say it, and he couldn't even show it when the eldest prince was here, otherwise he would blame himself even more.
But she still had to maintain this dignity, otherwise, if her face was exposed, she would lose all face as a princess.
She is not like Yao Niang and Mu Wantong, who just got married and do not have that much pressure.
On the day of departure, Gao Xuance accompanied the driver, while Yao Niang went back alone in the carriage. No one knew why Gao Xuance had been accompanying the driver all the time these days.
When I come back, I am not allowed to eat anything sent to me from outside. Could it be that someone has poisoned me?
That's really too courageous.
"Princess, why hasn't your period come this month? There was only a little last month, so it shouldn't come this month..." Bai Ying, as a maid who came with the dowry, also had a mission to do.
The task given to her by the Luo family was to look after Yao Niang. She had to be the first to know that she was pregnant and then take good care of her. Offspring were of utmost importance, especially in the palace.
The treatment of the emperor's biological mother and illegitimate mother is completely different. Even if you are the principal wife at this time, if your son does not inherit the title or the throne, you will have to look at the face of the concubine's mother and son.
Yao Niang herself was also pregnant in her previous life because she was a wet nurse. She was very familiar with that feeling, but she couldn't say it now, so she could only say, "How can it be so fast? We will know after we check Ping An's pulse."
Bai Ying thought this was a good idea and couldn't help but say, "If you are really pregnant, I wonder how happy His Royal Highness Prince Chen would be. But if you are pregnant, I'm afraid that the Royal Concubine will give someone away."
Yao Niang shook her head: "No." Because she seemed to be able to feel that Gao Xuance liked her more and more. He even cried last time, and he looked quite beautiful when he cried. But she didn't know when she would see him again in the future.
Unexpectedly, she saw it this time when she returned to the palace. As soon as she entered Kunning Palace, Concubine Hong was there to take Ping An's pulse. When she saw Yao Niang, she said to the imperial physician, "Please check on Princess Chen as well."
The imperial physician was just taking the pulse casually. The women in the harem generally didn't have any serious illnesses. Most of them just suffered from qi and blood deficiency, which is a disease of the rich.
He had never thought that he had felt the pulse of a happy woman. Doctor Wang pinched his beard and said, "The pulse is like pearls rolling on a jade plate. Although the date is not far away, Princess Chen is indeed pregnant."
Concubine Hong was overjoyed: "Oh, I knew it, I knew it, it was a good decision to let Doctor Wang stay here."
Doctor Wang was talking about the precautions: "The first three months are very important. Don't overwork, don't overwork, and don't lift heavy objects. Morning sickness is normal, so be careful."
"Doctor Wang, what are the symptoms of morning sickness?" Yao Niang couldn't pretend to know a lot, so she had to ask. While asking, she was also very excited.
Doctor Wang knew that if he could predict the baby's pregnancy, he would be rewarded with a large sum of money and would be more likely to be promoted in the future, so he paid close attention to every detail: "It is possible that the baby may be afraid of the cold, dizzy, weak, sleepy, and even have a loss of appetite, like sour food, dislike oil, and vomit in the morning. So, you must pay attention to it."
After hearing everything, Yao Niang asked Bai Ying to give her a generous reward. She couldn't help but touch her belly and felt it was very magical that she was actually pregnant.
Concubine Hong couldn't help but say, "I'll send two maids to look after you. You're still young, and if there's anything you don't understand, I'll feel relieved to have them by your side."
"Okay, thank you very much, mother. I am still young and don't know anything. Fortunately, with you by my side, I am not afraid of anything." After Yao Niang finished speaking, she was about to look at Gao Xuance, wanting him to say something. After all, he was closer to Concubine Hong on weekdays.
How could Gao Xuance know how excited he was? He had never thought that pregnancy was so difficult. In her previous life, when she was pregnant, she slept in a separate room. Later, for fear that people would find out, he even took orders to go to the guardhouse to carry out the mission. He just wanted to fulfill her wish. From then on, she wanted to fight for what she wanted.
How did she survive alone in her previous life?
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but wipe away his tears with his sleeves.
Seeing this, Concubine Hong sighed and said, "Old Third, you are too fussy. Isn't this a happy event?"
My son never cries normally. He never cried even when he nearly broke his leg falling off a horse. He often acts coquettishly, but he is very strong-minded. Today, when he heard that his wife was pregnant, he actually cried?
Yao Niang also hurt him: "Your Highness, I'm fine. I'm just pregnant, not a porcelain doll. Don't worry about me."
"Yes, yes, you two should go back to the prince's residence." Concubine Hong waved her hand, not knowing what to say.
Why does Yao Niang feel that Concubine Hong is chasing them away like flies...
She originally wanted to ask a few more questions.
What's going on?
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