Chapter 58 [58] A little teasing makes her become strange...
【58】/First release
Queen Mother Zhao and the Emperor and Empress had already been waiting in Shoukang Palace.
As noon approached, Prince Jing and his wife still hadn't appeared. Emperor Wenxuan looked at the seated Queen Mother Zhao and suddenly chuckled, "Brother Jing is even busier than me, the Emperor."
After these words were spoken, Queen Mother Zhao's already unhappy expression immediately became even darker.
All the palace maids in the hall also lowered their eyes, looked at their noses and their hearts, not daring to breathe.
Everyone knows that the first day of the new year is the emperor's busiest day.
After the New Year's Eve banquet ended last night, the emperor only rested for half an hour. At three quarters past midnight, he held a series of events including the opening ceremony of the imperial court, offering sacrifices to heaven, worshiping Buddha, offering sacrifices to ancestors, receiving congratulations, etc. He was busy until now and finally had some free time.
Unexpectedly, after he had been busy for most of the day, Prince Jing and his wife still had not entered the palace.
"Last night at the New Year's Eve palace banquet, he rashly took the princess out of the palace. He was disrespectful and extremely rude. Today, on New Year's Day, he is still so lazy and unruly. It is obvious that he has no regard for my mother and me at all."
Emperor Wenxuan looked intently at Queen Mother Zhao and asked, "Do you intend to indulge him like this forever, mother?"
Queen Mother Zhao's eyes moved slightly, and her fingers on her knees clenched tightly.
After a while, she looked down at the emperor: "I will certainly reprimand him, but today is New Year's Day, so even if I do, I'll wait for two days. As for him and the princess being late..."
"Maybe he was delayed on the way."
Queen Dowager Zhao pursed her lips and said, "After all, there's nothing to do right now, so just wait. If you need anything, go and do it yourself. When Ajing comes later, I'll have him go to the Purple Palace to apologize to you."
When Emperor Wenxuan heard these words of defense, he did not show it on his face, but the emotions in his eyes darkened.
It's always like this.
There are always countless reasons to excuse Sima Jing.
No matter how diligent he was, no matter how tolerant he was, no matter how he was the emperor, no matter how many years he had been filial to her, she could only see Sima Jing in her eyes.
The emperor remained silent, and the palace became increasingly quiet.
Even the eldest prince in Queen Zheng's arms felt the obviously quiet atmosphere and subconsciously leaned into Queen Zheng's arms.
Empress Zheng looked at the stern profile of Emperor Wenxuan, and then at the equally unhappy expression of Queen Mother Zhao who was sitting above her. Her lips moved twice, and she finally swallowed what she wanted to say. She just held the eldest prince in her arms and touched his head soothingly.
Just when the palace was completely silent, the eunuch's announcement finally came from outside: "Prince Jing and Princess Jing have arrived—"
The silence in the hall, like the stagnant water in an ancient well, finally began to stir.
Queen Zheng also secretly breathed a sigh of relief and looked outside the palace with anticipation.
Soon, Prince Jing in a luxurious purple robe and Princess Jing in a festive red dress came in together.
"Your son pays homage to the Queen Mother. May the Queen Mother live long and happily."
Yun Ran and Sima Jing first paid their respects to Queen Dowager Zhao, and then paid their respects to the Emperor and Empress in turn.
Queen Mother Zhao was originally holding a lot of grievances, but when she saw her daughter-in-law in a red coat and jewels, not only was she as festive as a New Year doll, she also smiled and greeted her with auspicious words as if they were free.
That brilliant smile and flattering words made it impossible to get angry at all.
Not to mention her youngest son, who had always been cold and aloof and had never wished her a happy new year, actually said to her this year: "Happy New Year, may you live a long and prosperous life."
This unexpected surprise instantly washed away all the unhappiness.
Queen Mother Zhao couldn't hide her excitement and smiled as she replied, "Very well, may you two be blessed with good fortune and peace for many years to come."
As he spoke, he gave a wink to Aunt Lan Gui beside him.
Nanny Lan Gui understood and hurriedly took out the red envelope and handed it to Sima Jing and Yun Ran respectively.
When it was handed to Yun Ran, Nanny Lan Gui wanted to say something but stopped herself. However, when she saw that the little princess kept her eyes down and didn't look at her, she knew that the short-lived master-servant relationship could never be restored.
Sighing with deep regret, Nanny Lan Gui said nothing more. She handed over the red envelope and silently retreated behind Queen Mother Zhao.
Yun Ran took the red envelope and thanked Queen Mother Zhao sweetly.
After finishing, she saw Sima Jing standing beside her silently. She quietly bumped him with her arm and winked at him with her head tilted.
"Your Highness, didn't we agree to hurry up?"
Sima Jing pursed his lips and said indifferently after a while, "Thank you, mother."
Queen Mother Zhao naturally saw the couple's little actions, but as long as her youngest son was willing to speak, it was a good thing.
"Stop standing, sit down."
Queen Mother Zhao smiled kindly and called Yun Ran and Sima Jing, "Have lunch in the palace today before leaving."
Sima Jing glanced at Yun Ran.
Yun Ran nodded at him.
Sima Jing just nodded: "Yes."
When Queen Dowager Zhao saw that he agreed, she became even more delighted.
Yun Ran also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, I greeted Sima Jing on the way. They left the palace rashly last night and came back late today. According to the rules and etiquette, they were in the wrong.
Since you are in the wrong, you should show a good attitude of admitting your mistakes and make things small instead of adding fuel to the fire and making the situation worse.
Based on Yun Ran's understanding of Sima Jing, although he agreed to deal with it, there is a 99% chance that he would choose to "take it all on his own."
Although this situation cleared her on the surface, the husband and wife were one, and if she really offended the empress dowager and the emperor, she would suffer as well.
Now seeing that Queen Mother Zhao's expression had relaxed and she was smiling, Yun Ran knew that her method of "not hitting someone who smiles at you" had worked.
As for Emperor Wenxuan, who was unusually solemn today...
Yun Ran looked silently at his cousin Queen Zheng.
Empress Zheng gave a helpless smile in response, and after a moment of thought, she lowered her head and said to the eldest prince in her arms, "Yu'er, your uncle and aunt are here. Go and wish them a happy new year."
"Yes, Yu'er, come quickly, auntie has prepared a big red envelope!"
Yun Ran smiled and waved to the eldest prince, "Come quickly."
The eldest prince had always been afraid of his uncle Sima Jing and dared not approach him, but he had a good impression of Yun Ran, who was both his aunt and his aunt. Under the encouraging gaze of Empress Zheng, the eldest prince walked step by step to Sima Jing and Yun Ran.
"Yuer wishes you a happy new year, uncle and aunt. I wish you good health, peace of mind, and happiness in Chang'an."
Sima Jing looked at the eldest prince in a red satin robe. He had a round, tender face and delicate eyebrows. At first glance, he seemed somewhat similar to the young Sima Ji in his memory.
But this child was always timid in front of him, unlike Sima Ji who was a prince in his childhood.
Although he hated Sima Ji, he would not vent his anger on innocent children.
Now, seeing him wishing a happy new year in a polite and childish voice, he just nodded lightly as a response.
Yun Ran, who was standing by, swiftly pulled out a large red envelope and placed it into the eldest prince's hand with a smile. "You are so good, Yu'er. Take this. I wish you a safe and healthy new year, and may you become smarter and more clever every year."
The eldest prince did not dare to look at his uncle's cold face. He only looked up at his aunt's bright and smiling face, smiled shyly, and took the red envelope: "Yu'er, I would like to thank my aunt for her good wishes."
The little person has a set of etiquette.
Yun Ran felt so soft in the heart that she couldn't help but raise her hand and pinch the eldest prince's little face: "My dear child, why are you so popular?"
The eldest prince was embarrassed by this closeness, and ran back to Queen Zheng with a red face: "Mother."
Queen Zheng smiled and hugged him: "Why are you shy? Your aunt likes you."
The eldest prince's face turned even redder. He hid in Queen Zheng's arms and secretly glanced at Yun Ran.
Yun Ran smiled.
It was also at this moment that the eldest prince looked like a three-year-old child.
Sima Jing watched her winking and teasing the child, his eyes flickering slightly.
She likes children so much?
His gaze unconsciously fell on the eldest prince in Queen Zheng's arms.
Emperor Wenxuan, who was standing by, noticed Sima Jing's gaze and suddenly became more vigilant.
"Ah Jing, my mother and I understand that you prefer quietness and don't want to be in crowded places, but last night was New Year's Eve..."
Two long fingers tapped the sandalwood tabletop lightly, and Emperor Wenxuan stared at Sima Jing sharply. "You rashly took the princess out of the palace, and you were late this morning. You must give me and my mother an explanation."
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere, which had finally eased a little, became tense again.
Even though Yun Ran had guessed that this situation would happen, he still couldn't help but tremble in his heart when it actually happened.
Her whole body tensed up as she was about to stand up and confess, but Sima Jing held her hand.
"Yesterday, I suddenly felt unwell. I was afraid that my mood at the banquet would be ruined, so I left the palace with the princess."
Sima Jing said, "Before I left the palace, I sent a message to my mother and Your Majesty. Didn't you receive it?"
Emperor Wenxuan asked, "On such an important occasion, you only sent someone to deliver a verbal message. Do you have any respect for me or my mother?"
"I wonder in what capacity Your Majesty is reprimanding me now."
Sima Jing looked at Emperor Wenxuan: "If it is between the monarch and his subject, I will bear the full weight of your punishment, Your Majesty. It is all at your discretion. If it is between an elder brother and a younger brother..."
After a pause, a hint of sarcasm appeared in his already indifferent eyes: "I will do whatever you wish."
Emperor Wenxuan saw the sarcasm in his eyes clearly, and felt as if needles were stabbing his heart.
For a moment, he thought, maybe he should just kill him.
The thorn in my heart can be completely removed.
But reason told him that he couldn't kill him yet.
What's more, this is his biological brother from the same mother.
he……
He didn't want him to die either.
All kinds of emotions surged in his heart like boiling water. In the end, Emperor Wenxuan suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice: "A Jing, you know that I don't want to punish you, but you have gone too far."
"Too much?"
Sima Jing's brows were serene. "What's the point? Is it New Year's Eve, when the princess and I sit at a palace banquet and act out a happy family scene, or is it..."
“That’s enough!”
Queen Mother Zhao suddenly spoke, her sharp eyes sweeping over the two brothers sitting below: "It's New Year's Day, what's the point of quarreling? Can you please leave me alone for a while?"
When the Queen Mother got angry, all the palace maids knelt on the ground.
The Emperor and Empress also quickly stood up: "Mother, please calm down."
Seeing this, Yun Ran hurriedly pulled Sima Jing and said, "Mother, please calm down."
Queen Mother Zhao's face was gloomy. "Lan Gui, take the eldest prince away."
Nanny Lan Gui responded and hurriedly led the eldest prince out, along with the palace maids.
In the blink of an eye, only Yun Ran and the other five were left in the huge hall.
"Emperor, Ajing, you two are already married and have families."
Queen Mother Zhao said, "With your wives and children beside you, how dare you quarrel over such a trivial matter and cause discontent among your brothers?"
Emperor Wenxuan lowered his head and said, "My son knows his mistake."
Sima Jing: “…”
His sleeve was tugged, and he caught a glimpse of Yun Ran winking, but his throat tightened.
He didn't feel he had done anything wrong, he just felt bored and tired.
In the past, I could stay in the palace and maintain a self-deceiving peace and quiet.
But now...
His life is no longer as stagnant as before.
He was also unwilling to drag Yun Ran along and live with him.
Since she was willing to shine brightly for him, he wanted her to be as radiant and beautiful as she could be, rather than dragging her into a deep pool and exhausting her light.
"My son knows his mistake."
Sima Jing finally lowered his head and said, "I am willing to accept the punishment."
Queen Mother Zhao was filled with emotion as she looked at her two sons who had grown into tall men.
But she couldn't bear to punish Sima Jing.
If you think about it carefully, the reason why the youngest son accompanied Yun Ran back to the Marquis' Mansion to celebrate the New Year was because of Yun Ran's special situation.
Just go back, just to appease the Marquis's family and make them feel less resentful.
As a mother, she only wishes that her youngest son and his wife live in harmony and have children soon. She has no other extravagant hopes.
As for the eldest son...
Queen Dowager Zhao stared at Emperor Wenxuan's face, which looked like both the late emperor and herself. She knew her own child well.
The eldest son is too greedy.
Both greedy and cruel.
He could use his greed and cruelty on other people, but not on his own brother.
Besides, Ajing has already given him a lot.
As long as she is alive, she will never allow brothers to kill each other or fight against each other.
This lunch was not a pleasant one.
Even when sitting in the carriage leaving the palace, the carriage was quiet and extremely depressing.
Yun Ran couldn't stand the oppressive silence and slowly moved to Sima Jing's side: "Your Highness."
Sima Jing's eyebrows twitched slightly. He looked at the cautious and worried bright face. After a moment of silence, he raised his hand and took the person into his arms: "It's okay."
He held her in his arms, his chin resting on the top of her head: "Are you full?"
Only when Yun Ran leaned in his arms did she feel that he was not so far away.
“I’m not full.”
She said honestly, "I can't even remember what I ate just now."
No matter how sumptuous such a feast is, it will taste like chewing wax and the joy of enjoying the food will be completely lost.
"I'll go back home later and ask the kitchen to make it again."
“…Yeah, okay.”
Yun Ran could sense that he was in a bad mood. In fact, not only him, but everyone at the table, including her, was unhappy.
But Yun Ran really couldn't understand why the whole family could sit together and be as cold as enemies.
"Your Highness, is there any conflict between you, the Queen Mother, or His Majesty?"
Yun Ran asked carefully, but Sima Jing remained silent for a long time.
Sure enough, he still didn't want to open up to her.
But if he didn't say it, she didn't know how to comfort him——
It's a complete dead end.
Yun Ran's mood also dropped, and he couldn't help but complain in his heart that all these royal issues were really a headache.
If Sima Jing wasn't a member of the royal family, she wouldn't want to get involved in these messes.
At this moment, a man's deep voice suddenly came from above his head: "Do you have a wish?"
“……?”
No, isn't this a bit too fast?
Despite his inner complaints, Yun Ran still thought about it seriously: "New Year's wish? Well, it's that I hope that the people I love and those who love me are safe and healthy, happy and worry-free... As for myself, I hope that I will be free from illness and disaster, eat well, drink well, and have no worries."
Sima Jing: "That's it?"
"Yeah, that's it."
Yun Ran sat up slightly from his arms and said seriously, "Your Highness, please don't underestimate this wish. If this wish can always come true, then it will be truly a happy and complete life with no regrets!"
Sima Jing was silent for two breaths: "No other wishes?"
“This is my biggest wish.”
Yun Ran said, "If Your Highness wants to ask something specific, about family, marriage, future, wealth, offspring... which aspect do you want to ask about?"
Sima Jing pondered for a moment and said, "Do you have any ambitions or prospects, or what kind of life do you want to live?"
Ambition, vision, future?
They suddenly had such a deep conversation. Was he planning to open his heart to her?
Yun Ran's eyes lit up slightly, and he answered seriously: "I'm just an ordinary person. As for ambitions, I don't really have any big ones."
"Back in the Taoist temple, all I ever wanted was to attract more offerings, so I could have enough food and clothing, and never worry about food and clothing. If one day I mastered my skills and my practice improved, I could become a well-known Taoist priest with plenty of money. I could become the abbot of the temple and benefit the local believers. Then, like my master, I could help the poor and the weak, adopt a few orphans to manage the temple, and inherit his legacy..."
"Well, to teach, educate, and answer questions, and to live a peaceful and stable life, that was my ambition in the past!"
Sima Jing looked down at the young lady in his arms, thinking about how she had become the head of a temple, pretending to be mature and teaching her students.
It is really hard to imagine what kind of disciples she can bring up when she is a slick, unruly person who hides and looks at pornographic picture albums whenever she has free time.
"What are the current ambitions and prospects?" he asked.
"Now?"
Yun Ran was stunned, truly stumped by the question. He scratched his chin awkwardly, "Nowadays, I have fine clothes and delicious food, no worries about food and drink, and more money than I can spend in several lifetimes. I haven't really thought about ambitions..."
But after being reminded by him, Yun Ran had an idea: "Anyway, I have more money than I can spend. I'll go back and do some calculations to see how much I can spend on charity every month. What do you think, Your Highness?"
There are also many wealthy families in Chang'an who do charity. As to whether they are doing it for fame or out of charity, Sima Jing does not know the inside story and does not comment.
But my own princess really has the heart to save people.
"good."
He had no obsession with money, so if she wanted to do it, then let her do it.
Seeing that he agreed without hesitation or dissatisfaction, Yun Ran was delighted: "Your Highness, don't worry. I will take care of the account and will not spend money recklessly."
As the saying goes, if you are poor, you should take care of yourself; if you are rich, you should help the world. She will not force herself to do things beyond her ability.
"But Your Highness, why are you suddenly asking me this?"
Yun Ran blinked and looked up at the man beside her: "If we're chatting and opening our hearts, isn't it your turn to tell me what your ambitions and aspirations are?"
She was curious about him too!
When Sima Jing lowered his head, he met the princess's clear black eyes, which were bright and clear, like a mirror that could expose all evil spirits.
He saw his reflection in her eyes.
As for his ambitions and prospects...
He always thought he was dead.
How can a dead person talk about ambitions or the future?
But her eyes were so bright, like the sun, seeing straight into his heart, making him feel her endless vitality.
New buds sprout from dead trees, and dead ashes are rekindled.
If we continue to live, and live uprightly like a human being, there are indeed many things to do.
"Your Highness? Your Highness?"
Seeing that he didn't say anything for a long time, Yun Ran couldn't help but stretched out five fingers and waved them in front of him: "Are you really that distracted just by looking at me like this?!"
She is really going to be angry!
Sima Jing's eyelashes moved slightly, and when he looked at the angry eyes of the person in front of him, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up.
He raised his hand and pinched her face.
Yun Ran's eyes widened: "Not only did you get distracted, you even pinched me!"
She tried to push his hand away, but he held it instead.
Before Yun Ran could respond, the man lowered his head and kissed her as soon as he looked up.
“Hmm!?”
Yun Ran was dumbfounded.
"Your Highness... Um... Don't..."
Yun Ran tried to remind him that they were still in the carriage, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she gave the man the opportunity to conquer her and get deeply entangled with her.
After many days of "intimate contact", Sima Jing's kissing skills are now very proficient and perfect.
But after a while, Yun Ran was kissed so hard that her face turned red and her eyes were blurred. Her body turned into a pool of water and leaned into his arms, allowing him to kiss her deeply and lightly.
Yun Ran hated the fact that her legs went weak when he kissed her, but she couldn't control it at all.
The man's lips, tongue and palms seemed to have some kind of indescribable magic, and the slightest teasing made her feel strange.
I don’t know how long the kiss lasted, but Yun Ran was finally released.
The snow-white face was covered with crimson, and the black eyes were wet from the kisses, as if she had just cried, and there was a little moist red at the corners of the eyes.
She fell into Sima Jing's arms, panting. When she touched the wet glistening lips of the man, her resentment turned into shame and anger. She reached out to push him away: "How can you be so unethical and kiss me without even saying hello!"
Before she could stand up, the man grabbed her waist and pulled her back: "Don't move."
"You told me not to move? No way."
She sat up again, and was pulled back again, but this time the embrace was tighter, and she could clearly feel a presence behind her that could not be ignored.
Suddenly, some dreamlike fragments flashed through my mind -
Pull out the radish.
As she was pulling out the radish, someone was chewing on it, and it hurt all over her body. She couldn't help crying, "Stop chewing, I'll pull it out, I'll just pull it out."
She didn't know when this dream started or ended. All that was left to her were sore wrists and a body that she hadn't checked carefully in the morning because she was in a hurry to go out.
“You you you you you!!”
Yun Ran suddenly realized something and looked at the man in front of her in disbelief: "Last night, last night, you, I, I, I..."
Seeing her cheeks flushed red and her speech incoherent, Sima Jing smiled.
"You, you, you're still laughing! You're shameless, you... ugh!"
Her cheeks were held again and the man kissed her again.
Yun Ran: “……?”
She pushed him away with all her strength and shouted angrily, "Sima Jing!"
Sima Jing's lips curled up slightly: "Yeah."
Yun Ran: "You still huh?!"
"You promised."
The man had a frank expression, his dark eyes fixed on her: "You even said that you would lend it to me as long as I wanted."
Yun Ran: "What can I lend you?"
Sima Jing said nothing, just glanced at her hand.
“!?!”
Yun Ran's pupils trembled, and he immediately denied it: "Impossible, absolutely impossible, you are lying!"
Before Sima Jing could tease her any further, the carriage suddenly stopped and even the carriage shook unsteadily.
Sima Jing frowned, and his tone suddenly changed for the worse: "Are we there yet?"
Chang Chun's slightly panicked voice came from outside the carriage: "Your Highness, the door to our palace is blocked!"
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