"Jiaoyang."

This time, after calling her name, Sheng Xiyan showed her the clothes she had just found and said with a smile, "I'll ask a maid to measure your size later. I haven't worn these before, so I'll alter them first and you can wear them together."

When Jiaoyang saw the new clothes, his eyes showed obvious joy, but then turned into defensiveness.

No one had ever been so nice to her, and it made her uneasy.

"I don't want it." Jiaoyang turned his head away.

Sheng Xiyan smiled and said, "No."

She held her thin shoulders with both hands, gently turned her face to face her, and said softly, "Be obedient."

It's right to be defensive.

Sheng Xiyan didn’t know what this little girl had been through, but she had to be able to distinguish between good and bad and not be like a hedgehog to everyone.

This is what she wanted to teach her.

Sheng Xiyan said sternly: "Jiaoyang, you have to remember that even if I have any intentions towards you, it doesn't matter whether I have this dress or not."

She smiled slightly and reminded him, "So, just put it on. What you should be on guard against are those things that will lead to life if you take one step forward, but death if you take one step back."

Jiuyang felt a little uncomfortable with her touch at first, but when he heard this, his expression became serious.

"Let me put it this way." Sheng Xiyan said gently, "Think carefully, what will happen if you accept the clothes? What will happen if you don't accept them? Will you pay any price for this?"

She suddenly smiled and said, "The worst result is that I accuse you of stealing clothes, and you won't be able to explain yourself."

Jiaoyang understood and continued, "But you brought me back. This is your territory. You don't need to go to the trouble of using a piece of clothing to control me."

She thought for a moment.

Sheng Xiyan clapped his hands and praised: "Smart!"

There was a slight glimmer of joy in Jiaoyang's eyes, but there was still no extra expression on her little face. She looked really cute. Sheng Xiyan's hands itched to touch the top of her head.

A voice came from outside the curtain: "Miss. I am Li'er."

Sheng Xiyan nodded slightly, and Xigui said, "Come in."

The person who came was a little maid. She was a third-class maid in Caicen Courtyard. She was good at needlework and had a pair of dexterous hands. The maids in the courtyard would look for her when they needed sewing.

She looked at Jiuyang with a little curiosity, then stood with her hands hanging down.

"Jiuyang, stand up and let her measure you."

Jiaoyang stopped being awkward and stood still obediently as he was told.

After Li'er finished measuring, Sheng Xiyan gave her the two pieces of clothing that Xigui had just found: "Just wear these and alter them first, and you can wear them basically." She also asked Xigui to give her a silver ingot.

"Yes, young lady." Changing the size couldn't be easier, and she could also show it in front of the young lady. Li'er had a little joy on her face, holding the clothes, and walked down briskly.

Sheng Xiyan said, "Just lie down and take a nap. I'll be back soon."

Jiuyang's shoulders were a little tense.

Sheng Xiyan saw this and added, "I'm going to keep you here. I have to tell my mother."

Jiuyang slowly relaxed.

Sheng Xiyan smiled and said, "I've already chosen a name. I won't abandon you."

Jiaoyang hummed softly, with a little joy on her face that she herself was not aware of.

Xigui: "..." Girl, did you really pick up a kitten? Right, right?

Sheng Xiyan let her lie down and covered her with a thin quilt. Jiaoyang hid his little hands under the quilt and gently pinched the mattress under him. He was a little nervous, afraid that he would dirty the thin quilt.

Sheng Xiyan left, and when the curtain was lowered, Jiaoyang's eyes couldn't help but darken.

The quilt smelled fragrant and was soft. She had never slept in such a warm quilt before.

There was no one else in the east room. Jiuyang hugged the thin blanket around him with care, rubbed it gently with his cheek, and then held it tightly in his arms.

Warm, it's the scent of the sun.

After leaving Caicen Courtyard, Sheng Xiyan went directly to the main courtyard.

Liu had just returned from Zhao's mansion, her face full of excitement.

When she went to Zhao's house, she was reluctant at first, but she didn't expect to see such a good show. This gift was totally worth it.

"Mr. Zhao's expression really made me laugh to death!"

"How long has it been since something like this happened in our capital?"

"I think Zhao Yuanrou is really a bit unbearable."

…

Sheng Xiyan heard her voice while she was still outside. When she walked in, Mrs. Liu was smiling.

As soon as she saw her, Liu said happily, "Sister Yan, you are back. How is the girls' school going?"

After greeting each other, Sheng Xiyan sat down at the bottom and said with a smile, "Chu Yu has just registered, and the entrance exam will be in ten days."

Rongde Girls' School was jointly founded by three famous masters of the Great Rong Dynasty. It has a history of ten years in the capital. It only recruits unmarried girls, regardless of family background. Girls need to take a unified examination and are admitted on a merit basis.

Enrollment is only once a year.

In the past ten years, Rongde Girls' School has cultivated many outstanding students. One of them even disguised herself as a man and took her brother's household registration to participate in the imperial examination. She even won a small third place. It was a pity that she was discovered during the examination and was rejected. Otherwise, she might have achieved the reputation of the "female champion" of the previous dynasty. Later, it was also because Mrs. Lu went to the Queen Mother to plead for her, so she was not convicted.

After that, girls' education became even more popular.

"Is Chuyu not engaged yet?" Mrs. Liu remembered that Cheng Chuyu was only one year younger than Sheng Xiyan. What's the point of fussing about this? After finally getting admitted, you will have to drop out in one or two years at most. What's the point?

Sheng Xiyan smiled but said nothing.

If she had been reborn a year earlier, she would also like to go to a girls' school.

If I were to live my life over again, it would be better to see more of the scenery outside than to stay in this square house forever.

However, her relationship with Liu was just average, so there was no need to be frank with her.

She interrupted Liu with a smile and said bluntly: "Mother, I have a friend who wants to stay in our house for a while."

Mrs. Liu asked in confusion, "Whose family is he from?" Why didn't he come over to greet her first after arriving?

Sheng Xiyan just smiled and said, "She is not feeling well. When she gets better, I will bring her to my mother to pay her respects." She did not say a word about which family she was from.

Liu was actually quite curious and was about to ask again, but Sheng Xiyan had already picked up the teacup and was drinking tea silently.

All right. Liu stopped asking. This girl is now in this mansion, like an ancestor. She dare not provoke her.

Liu wanted to do a good job, so she smiled and said, "If you need anything, remember to come and let me know."

"Thank you, mother."

She now maintains a distance with Liu that is neither too far nor too close.

"Sister Yan." Mrs. Liu asked, "Do you know that something happened again when the Zhao family hired someone today?"

Sheng Xiyan put down the teacup and said with a smile: "My daughter heard it when she was outside."

Liu had a lot to say, but was worried that she had no one to talk to, so she blurted out, "Prince Zhao and Zhou Jingxun had caused a huge commotion in the Zhao residence, and the wife of Marquis Yongning was so angry that she threw herself forward, but in the end, the marriage certificate was still not signed..." She thought the words that Zhao Yuanrou asked her to convey were too stupid, and she didn't say them for fear of being laughed at.

Hearing that the marriage certificate had not been signed, Sheng Xiyan raised her eyebrows.

In this life, without me, how come the relationship between these two people has become more complicated?

However, the imperial guards will come to arrest people today. Has the emperor’s “illness” been cured?

Sheng Xiyan had never examined the emperor's pulse, so naturally she didn't know how serious his illness was. However, in her previous life, the emperor had not died until her death, so she thought it should not be a serious matter.

The emperor's illness was indeed not serious. People always asked him to check his pulse. He was in his prime and in good health. It was just a momentary rage, and he would be fine after spitting out a mouthful of blood.

But after Xiao Shuo told the emperor what happened at the banquet that day, the emperor decided to pretend to be sick. He wanted to see how many people in the court were eager for him to die so that he could gain the credit of following the emperor.

What Xiao Shuo said is, whether this is a human or a ghost, it will all come out if you try.

He simply excused himself from attending court for a few days under the pretext of recuperation, but he had to face such a troublesome brother.

"Awei, do you know what you are doing? You are simply bringing disgrace to the royal family!"

The emperor stood in front of the case, pointed at Qin Wei's nose and cursed him.

He had been cursing for almost an incense stick of time, pacing back and forth in front of the case in anger. Qin Wei just knelt there, stubborn and unwilling to accept. Not only did he not admit his fault, he didn't even say a word. To use a folk saying, he looked like a dead pig that was not afraid of boiling water.

God knows, when the emperor first heard that Qin Wei went to Zhao's mansion to make trouble, he was so angry that he almost couldn't breathe.

Now he still refuses to admit his mistake!

The emperor was so angry that he picked up a teacup on the table and threw it at him. The teacup brushed past Qin Wei's shoulder and fell heavily to the ground.

Countless pieces of white porcelain flew everywhere, the boiling hot water soaked his sleeves, and a sharp piece of shards scratched his cheek, leaving a bloody mark, and blood kept oozing out. The emperor was stunned for a moment. Qin Wei was his younger brother, and he had always favored him. Although he was angry, he didn't want to hurt him.

His first reaction was to call the imperial physician, but he held back. He thought: Qin Wei is not young anymore, he should know the limits and the relationship between the ruler and his subjects!

Qin Wei raised his hand and wiped the wound on his face. His palm was wet and full of blood. He was used to being spoiled, so his temper suddenly surged up. He said with a stubborn neck: "Brother, you are untrustworthy!"

"You clearly promised Rou'er that you would cancel the engagement for her!"

"Just because Chu Yuanchen said the bed crossbow is useless, does that mean it is useless? You haven't even tried it on the battlefield!"

The emperor's just feeling of reluctance was wiped out by his few words, and his face became stern again.

It would be fine if he didn't mention the bed crossbow, but as soon as he mentioned it, he got filled with anger.

He should have thought of it earlier that Zhao Yuanrou was just a weak woman, who didn't really know what a crossbow was. She just came up with some strange tricks to attract people's attention.

The emperor looked at him coldly and spoke word by word: "Qin Wei, I tell you, the engagement with Zhao was given by my mother. I will not change it, and I will not give her to you. You'd better give up this idea as soon as possible."

He had also thought about fulfilling Qin Wei's wish, but that was based on the value demonstrated by Zhao Yuanrou. Since Zhao Yuanrou had no value, he naturally didn't need to waste his efforts on her.

The emperor flicked his sleeves, turned around and walked towards the case, not noticing that Qin Wei suddenly raised his head with cruelty in his eyes after hearing his words.

"Back off," the emperor said coldly, "If you don't want to be locked up again, don't let me say it again."

Qin Wei clenched his hands into fists at his sides. That day in the garden, he was captured by the Imperial Guards and locked up for three whole days.

After much difficulty, the emperor finally released him. However, instead of blaming Xiao Shuo for being rude to him, the emperor severely scolded himself in front of Xiao Shuo's lackeys, making himself lose all face, without caring at all that he was Xiao Shuo's biological brother!

"Brother Emperor." Qin Wei's tone was full of disappointment, and he shook his head and said, "You would rather trust an eunuch than trust me! You would rather use an eunuch..."

“That’s enough!”

The emperor was annoyed by his annoyance and said coldly: "Don't think I don't know what you did in private! Do you still want me to trust you?"

Xiao Shuo was right. As soon as he fell ill, all those seemingly loyal court officials would reveal their true colors, even his own brother.

After being flattered by those blind court officials for a few days, did he really think he could ascend to the supreme throne? If he wasn't his own brother, how could he tolerate him? !

Even now, he still doesn't repent.

A murderous intent flashed across the emperor's tiger eyes, and he said in a stern voice: "I will say this for the last time. I will never agree to your relationship with Zhao. Back off! Otherwise, don't blame me for not caring about our brotherhood."

Qin Wei knelt there with his body straight.

The emperor looked straight at him with his narrow eyes. The two brothers confronted each other for a few seconds. Finally, Qin Wei kowtowed obediently.

"Your Highness...I'll take my leave!"

Qin Wei left Yu's study with half of his face covered in blood.

His steps were slow and heavy.

He was not really stupid, he clearly saw the murderous intent revealed by his brother.

The emperor's brother has no children, so he must have been jealous of him. If he doesn't fight back, he will either be imprisoned or die in the future...

Qin Wei gradually moved further and further away.

The emperor felt a lump in his heart. He knew in his heart that his younger brother had grown up and became ambitious. He was no longer like when he was a child, holding his hand softly and calling him "royal brother".

"emperor."

At this time, Song Yuan reported: "The Imperial Household Department sent a memorial."

The emperor rubbed his brows and said tiredly: "I said, just let Ah Shuo approve it."

Song Yuan said respectfully, "The governor said that this is a petition from the Zhenbei Palace requesting the title of the crown prince of Zhenbei. I need your review."

The emperor paused with his hand pressing on his forehead, then slowly put it down.

He knew this day would come sooner or later.

Over the years, Chu Yuanchen has been the most powerful person in the Northern Frontier. He is crowned as a prince in name, but acts as a vassal king in reality.

Even so, the emperor did not want him to usurp the title. He had originally planned to use the death of King Zhenbei to gradually weaken the power of the King Zhenbei Palace and then take back the fiefdom in a logical manner.

If Chu Yuanchen were to inherit the title and there were a new King of Zhenbei, wouldn't it be equivalent to the Zhenbei Palace having another successor? It would then be even more difficult to reduce the power of the vassal states.

The emperor looked gloomy. He raised his hand and Song Yuan put a memorial in his hand.

This is a memorial written by Princess Jingle herself, requesting that her eldest son, the Crown Prince of Zhenbei, be named the King of Zhenbei and inherit the fiefdom.

Jingle used powerful words in the memorial. Chu Yuanchen was the eldest son and the crown prince. He defended the northern border alone for four years and conquered Northern Yan. He deserved to be promoted to the title!

indeed.

There is no reason not to allow Chu Yuanchen to take the title. The emperor has been troubled for several days because of this matter.

He closed the letter heavily, pondered for a moment, and asked, "How is Jiang Ting now?"

"Lord Jiang broke his leg and is recuperating at home." Song Yuan understood what the emperor wanted to ask and answered all at once, "Lord Jiang's leg is broken, but he is in good spirits. He went to the Honglu Temple to ask for leave the day before yesterday, but the Honglu Temple Minister did not agree. Lord Jiang's leg is already useless, and according to the law, he should retire."

The imperial court was not allowed to employ disabled people as officials.

"You said that Jingle already knew what Jiang Ting did. With Jingle's temper, why didn't he kill him with a sword?!"

The emperor felt that Jingle was useless. When did the fearless Princess Junle become so timid?

"It would have been easier if Jingle had killed Jiang Ting at that time."

The emperor sighed secretly.

If Jiang Ting died, Chu Yuanchen would have to observe mourning. In this way, the matter of usurping the title could be delayed, and he could be detained in the capital in the name of mourning. By then, the Northern Frontier could not be left without a master for a day. The emperor had a lot of people to send to the Northern Frontier, and it would only take one or two years for the Northern Frontier to be in his hands.

Jingle has such a strong personality, but she actually endured it this time. She was so calm, which was totally unlike her!

The emperor raised his fingers and tapped the case lightly. After a while, he asked, "Where does Jiang Ting live now?"

"In a small house under his own name." Song Yuan replied, "Jiang Ting's widowed mother and sister also came to the capital and now live together, and the second son of the Chu family is also here."

"Chu Yuanyi?" The emperor was surprised. "Chu Yuanyi lives in Zhenbei Palace, why did he go to Jiang's house?"

He muttered to himself, not expecting an answer from Song Yuan.

The emperor gently turned his jade finger and did not speak for a long time.

He may be able to keep this memorial under wraps for a while, but it is difficult for him to keep it under wraps for the rest of his life.

When he recovers from his illness in a few days and resumes the morning court session, someone will surely bring up this matter again. He will have to think carefully and at least come up with a reasonable excuse.

The emperor picked up his brush and wrote his comments on the memorial in red.

"Your Majesty." Song Yuan observed the emperor's expression and said carefully, "Princess Jingle has scheduled a banquet for guests at the palace three days later. She has already sent out invitations, saying that she is requesting a title for the Crown Prince of Zhenbei and celebrating in advance."

Gada.

The emperor broke his pen.

"Silence!"

His face was dark, and he gritted his teeth and said, "She did it on purpose!"

Jingle did it on purpose. After submitting the petition, she immediately sent invitations all over the capital and held a grand banquet, just to let everyone in the capital know that she had submitted the petition for a title. As for whether it would be approved, it depended on the emperor.

Chu Yuanchen had been in the Northern Frontier for so many years and had made outstanding achievements. In anyone's opinion, there was no reason for the emperor to disapprove.

After all, four years ago, he should have been promoted to the title after the emperor seized her lover.

As soon as the quiet banquet was set up, many people who had received the invitations came that day, brought gifts and congratulated in advance.

As the future relative of the Zhenbei Palace, Sheng Xingan also went. After returning, he praised the Zhenbei Prince to Sheng Xiyan for his extraordinary appearance, outstanding demeanor, and handsome mind... He was also very talented, and he praised him for a whole cup of tea without repeating the same words. It is conceivable how satisfied Sheng Xingan was with this future son-in-law.

Sheng Xiyan listened with pleasure, her eyebrows curved.

She was taken by Jingle to meet a lot of people today, but she didn't get to see Chu Yuanchen. She heard that Chu Yuanchen was busy entertaining guests at the front.

After Sheng Xingan finished his exaggeration, he thought of something else and asked, "Sister Yan, do you know what's going on with Chu Yuanyi?"

"Chu Yuanyi?" Sheng Xiyan hadn't seen him today either. She heard that he hadn't returned to the palace. She shook her head and said in a restrained manner, "I heard from Yan Ge'er that Chu Yuanyi hasn't returned to the palace for several days."

Sheng Yan is now attending classes alone in the palace.

Sheng Yan was a very outgoing person, and he felt a little uncomfortable at first. But when Jingle invited Ji Mingyang to practice with him, he immediately became happy. Recently, he has been going out early and coming back late every day, and he seems to be reluctant to leave. Even Sheng Xiyan hasn't seen him for several days.

"Didn't go back to the palace?" Sheng Xing'an pondered, "Could it be that he lived in the Jiang family?"

Sheng Xiyan followed his lead and said, "Maybe that's the case. What's the matter?"

Sheng Xingan stroked his beard and said, "Someone asked about Chu Yuanyi at the banquet today, and the prince said that Chu Yuanyi would return to the clan."

At that time, when people married into a family, according to the rules, only by the third generation could one branch return to the clan and change its name to the father's.

It’s still early for Chu Yuanyi.

Return to the roots?

Sheng Xiyan was shocked. Last time in the Jiang family's small house, she could see that Chu Yuanchen was really angry.

Sheng Xiyan was not familiar with Chu Yuanyi. She originally thought that he was just shy, but now looking at his actions, she realized that he was really selfish. He knew clearly what Jiang Ting had done, but he still helped Jiang Ting to harm the princess for his own selfish reasons.

Considering Chu Yuanyi's attitude at the time, it seemed that there was nothing wrong with Chu Yuanchen deciding to let him return to his clan.

"There are only these two brothers in the Zhenbei Palace now. Why should Chu Yuanyi return to the clan? The prince is not someone who cannot tolerate others, and the princess is here too."

Sheng Xingan actually thought Chu Yuanyi was stupid. The Jiang family was just a small family. How could they be a good family if they were willing to let their son become a son-in-law? It was hard to understand why he gave up being a noble son of a royal family and insisted on returning to his clan.

"Is it for the title?" Sheng Xingan guessed, "After Chu Yuanyi returned to the clan, no one competed with Chu Yuanchen for the title."

After all, Sheng Xingan also felt that this was impossible.

Unless the emperor really breaks off relations with the Zhenbei Palace, he will never give the title to Chu Yuanyi instead of the outstanding Chu Yuanchen.

Moreover, with the princess here, it is impossible for her to completely ignore her son and allow Chu Yuanchen to bully him. Unless the princess also agrees, then it will be intriguing.

Seeing that he had figured it out, Sheng Xiyan naturally didn't bother to explain and just said, "Father, we don't need to worry about the affairs of the Zhenbei Palace and the Jiang family." It was not their turn to take care of it.

Sheng Xingan thought about it and it made sense. Anyway, his aunt's title would not be lost. Whether Chu Yuanyi returned to his clan or not had nothing to do with him.