Sheng Xiyan blinked blankly and thought to herself: This is so exciting!
"If you are engaged, you become a wife; if you elope, you become a concubine." It is not unfair to become a concubine if you have sex with someone without a marriage certificate.
Wasn't Zhao Yuanrou determined not to be a concubine? How could she think of eloping?
Even if she could really get what she wanted, and Zhou Jingxun was willing to issue the marriage certificate, she had eloped with someone after all, and she was so innocent, how could she raise her head to see people in the future? !
This world is inherently unfair to women. If a man elopes, and later regrets it, it is only a romantic affair. If a woman elopes and has many beautiful concubines, her life will be ruined.
Moreover, her marriage with Prince Zhao had been arranged long ago, but she eloped with someone else. Even if Prince Zhao didn't care, there were still the Emperor and the Queen Mother in the Great Rong Dynasty...
Even if the two of them lived in seclusion from now on, the Zhao and Zhou families were still in the capital. Wouldn't they care about their parents and family members at all?
This is too outrageous!
Sheng Xiyan really couldn't understand Zhao Yuanrou's behavior.
Obviously, they could have been together smoothly, so why did they have to go through so many twists and turns?
Seeing that Sheng Xiyan hadn't heard it yet, Cheng Chuyu lowered her voice and whispered in her ear: "I heard that Prince Zhao had to persuade the Queen Mother for a long time before she agreed to meet Zhao Yuanrou. He excitedly went to the Zhao family to pick her up. The Zhao family then discovered that Zhao Yuanrou was missing and specially left a letter for Prince Zhao."
"The Zhao family didn't know what was written in the letter, so they handed it to King Zhao. When King Zhao read the letter, his face changed immediately."
Cheng Chuyu was so excited as if he had seen it with his own eyes: "Prince Zhao originally wanted to keep it a secret and secretly send people to look for him, but in the end, someone told the emperor about it, and the emperor and the queen mother knew about it." Cheng Chuyu became more and more excited as he spoke, his eyes shining, "The queen mother was furious and asked the emperor to send out the imperial guards and the Jinyiwei to capture the man."
After Cheng Chuyu finished her whisper, she couldn't help but ask, "Sister Yan, what do you think these two people are thinking? If you say they are deeply in love, they had to make a fuss about breaking up and getting back together before, and they proposed twice but it didn't work out. But if you say they hate each other, Zhao Yuanrou first tried every means to plead for Zhou Jing, and now they even eloped. I'm afraid the Queen Mother hates her even more now."
Sheng Xi Yan Shen agreed with that.
Indeed. The Queen Mother was unwilling to let King Zhao marry Zhao Yuanrou. Otherwise, she would not have insisted on making Zhao Yuanrou his heir in order to satisfy King Zhao's desire.
This imperial decree granting marriage obviously made the Queen Mother very upset, and she must have been holding it in with great difficulty.
No matter what, Zhao Yuanrou had already been betrothed to Qin Wei, and half of the three letters and six ceremonies had been completed. At this time, she eloped with someone. No one could accept it.
Especially the royal family!
This is simply trampling the royal family's face into the mud.
King Zhao was devoted to Zhao Yuanrou, but Zhao Yuanrou repeatedly humiliated him.
What is this called?
Love comes first?
But no one tried to stop them. If it wasn't so noisy, the marriage certificate would have been written. Would there be a need to go through so much trouble?
Sheng Xiyan felt that she really couldn't understand the thoughts of these three people. Fortunately, she didn't have to get involved in them in this life, otherwise she would be tired just thinking about it.
"Forget it, forget about them, let's go buy some storybooks."
Cheng Chuyu excitedly pulled Sheng Xiyan into the bookstore, and bought all the new storybooks at a lavish price. He also gave half of them to Sheng Xiyan, and agreed that they would exchange them. Then he came out excitedly.
At this time, there were already many Royal Guards checking people on the street. Pedestrians were checked one by one, and passing carriages were ordered to stop one by one.
On the street, everyone was in danger and would search and investigate whenever they were asked to, not daring to offend the Jinyiwei.
Children of military commanders are usually brave. Cheng Chuyu took a quick look and said, "Sister Yan, there is a new embroidery shop on East Street. Should we go there..."
"stop!"
A Jinyiwei wearing a flying fish suit and a spring sword on his waist walked towards them, then, holding a piece of drawing paper and comparing them, asked: "Which family are you from?"
Sheng Xiyan glanced at the drawing paper. There was a girl in the painting. Her face was painted so badly that it was a little unrecognizable. But judging from her hairstyle and appearance, it should be Zhao Yuanrou.
They probably couldn't recognize her face, so they asked girls of similar age one by one.
"We are..."
Sheng Xiyan was about to answer when someone shouted from a distance, "Xiao Zhou!" and then ran over hurriedly.
Sheng Xiyan had met this man once before. He was Captain Wang of the Jinyiwei.
Captain Wang came over quickly and said, "Miss Sheng, I'm sorry, I didn't know this kid was you." He looked at Xiao Zhou as if he was a fool and whispered, "This is the eldest daughter of the Sheng family."
Xiao Zhou quickly greeted her: "Excuse me, Miss Shengda."
Sheng Xiyan: “…”
Well, she once again experienced what it felt like to walk around the capital with her head held high.
Sheng Xiyan nodded slightly to them, and under their respectful gazes, she said to Cheng Chuyu, "Let's go to Xiuzhuang."
Cheng Chuyu held her arm affectionately and said, "The Imperial Guards are still searching in the capital. Maybe the person has already run far away. If they have eloped, who would still stay in the capital? If they hold the portrait and ask everyone one by one, it would be strange if they can find the person."
Sheng Xiyan's mind moved, and she asked, "Chu Yu, how did you know about this?"
The Jinyiwei were just looking for someone with the portrait and did not publicize it. It seemed that there was no news of Zhao Yuanrou eloping with someone. It must have been suppressed by the emperor's order.
"Uncle Jiang was assigned the task." Cheng Chuyu was afraid that she would not recognize him, so he added, "He is the lieutenant general of the Three Thousand Battalion, and he used to be my father's subordinate. He came to complain to my father, and I overheard it by accident."
"It's a bad luck to be assigned this job."
Any job that has anything to do with Zhao Yuanrou is bound to be bad.
If he is not caught, the emperor will be furious. If he is caught, knowing the secrets of the royal family, it will definitely not be good for him.
Sheng Xiyan raised her eyebrows, her face darkened, and she changed the subject and asked, "Chu Yu, is the Queen Mother planning on your marriage?"
Cheng Chuyu was stunned, not understanding what was going on.
"Otherwise, why would Admiral Jiang make this special trip?" Sheng Xiyan pondered, "Logically speaking, the emperor would try to suppress such a scandal."
Lieutenant General Jiang didn't need to go to the Zhao family specifically to complain about the job, unless he understood what they meant and went to remind them.
Sheng Xiyan analyzed, "Could it be that Lieutenant General Jiang is trying to imply that Prince Zhao is not a good match, and if the Queen Mother talks to your parents about the marriage, they should not agree easily?"
Cheng Chuyu was stunned.
She thought again about what Lieutenant General Jiang had said, and it seemed to be true.
"Commander Jiang later said that King Zhao was furious and told them to find Zhao Yuanrou and not to neglect her. He also said that King Zhao was not a good match."
Cheng Chuyu grew up in the northern border, and her personality was more straightforward, unlike the noble ladies in the capital. She had basically already decided to marry Fu Junqing, the son of the Wu'an Earl. The two had been childhood sweethearts, and she would never think of other possibilities for her marriage. Now, after hearing what Sheng Xiyan said, she realized that Lieutenant General Jiang did have something else in mind.
Cheng Chuyu couldn't help but tighten his grip on Sheng Xiyan's hand, fearing that he might hurt her, and immediately relaxed.
"Chu Yu, why don't you quickly arrange your marriage with the Wu'an Marquis's Mansion?"
Sheng Xiyan and Cheng Chuyu were good friends, so she didn't hesitate to ask, "Even if the prince of Wu'an still has to observe mourning, you can say that you have already arranged the marriage during the mourning period and have never announced it."
The Wu'an Marquis's Mansion and the Cheng family have a good relationship, so as long as the two families keep each other informed, the secret can be concealed.
"The Queen Mother has always looked down on Zhao Yuanrou. She originally planned to select a concubine for Prince Zhao. Now that this matter has come out, no matter whether it is the principal wife or the concubine, and regardless of whether Prince Zhao is willing or not, the Queen Mother will definitely quickly point someone to go."
If these three get involved, there will definitely be no good ending, not to mention that Cheng Chuyu already has a childhood sweetheart, the Prince of Wu'an.
Cheng Chuyu seemed to be startled. It took him a few moments to react. He nodded repeatedly and said, "I'll go back home and tell my father now."
Her face turned pale, obviously frightened.
Sheng Xiyan softened her voice and said, "You go back first. We'll go to the embroidery shop in a few days."
She coaxed Cheng Chuyu into the carriage, and told Cheng Chuyu's maid to keep a closer eye on her. She also comforted him, "Don't worry. Uncle Cheng should be able to understand Commander Jiang's hint."
However, things like this must be planned in advance, so that we won’t be unable to react when the time comes.
Cheng Chuyu's carriage left, and Sheng Xiyan returned home without staying for long.
The Imperial Guard searched the capital thoroughly but still found nothing. For several days, even the imperial guards who went out of the capital to search did not bring any news.
There was a sound of wind and cranes in the capital, with a sense of impending storm.
Qin Wei was absent-minded, and had no appetite every day. He felt that the Jinyiwei and the imperial guards were not doing their best, and might even hope that they would not be found.
He waited for a few days, but could not wait any longer, so he ran into the palace to complain to the Empress Dowager, asking her to ask the Emperor for more people.
The Queen Mother was furious. As soon as she saw him, she started to scold him:
"Zhao Yuanrou eloped with someone! She eloped, did you know that?! Why are you still thinking about her? Don't you think she has embarrassed you enough?"
Qin Wei stood silently below, and waited for the Queen Mother to finish scolding, then said, "Mother, this is all a misunderstanding. Rou'er did not elope. Don't believe the rumors..."
Seeing that he was still defending Zhao Yuanrou, the Queen Mother was even more furious. She pointed at him and continued to scold him, "What kind of vixen is Zhao Yuanrou to have you bewitched? For her, not only did you get angry with your brother, but you also had to go and plead for her with Zhou Jingxun. Look, she has eloped with Zhou Jingxun now. She is just using you and doesn't take you seriously at all!"
The Queen Mother felt a tightness in her chest, and she really couldn't understand why she gave birth to such a lovelorn child.
The emperor arranged for Zhao Yuanrou to marry Qin Wei, and she was already very unhappy about it. However, the emperor told her that Qin Wei was completely bewitched by Zhao Yuanrou and almost hated him. If she did not agree, she was afraid that the brothers would turn against each other.
The Queen Mother only gave birth to two sons and one daughter in her lifetime. Qin Wei was born in old age, so naturally she was favored more.
The Queen Mother also knew that she would eventually die, and the only person Qin Wei could rely on in the future was his elder brother.
The Queen Mother didn't want the brothers to become enemies because of Zhao Yuanrou, so she agreed reluctantly. She originally wanted to pick two concubines before the wedding, thinking that her son was just infatuated for the time being, and that he was obsessed because he couldn't get what he wanted. After the wedding, he wouldn't be so obsessed anymore. With the concubines in his mind, his obsession would probably fade away soon.
She had already chosen Cheng Chuyu, and before she could even summon Madam Cheng, Zhao Yuanrou eloped. Zhao Yuanrou actually dared to elope!
"Mother," Qin Wei insisted, "there must be a misunderstanding."
He didn't believe that Rou'er would elope with Zhou Jingxun.
Rou'er doesn't like Zhou Jingxun at all!
Thinking of this, Qin Wei seemed to have convinced himself, and calmed down and said, "Things haven't been figured out yet, don't rush. It's more important to find Rou'er first."
He finally found an opportunity to get to the point: "Mother, the people my brother sent out were not conscientious at all. Please talk to my brother again for me..."
"You..." The Queen Mother raised her finger and pointed at Qin Wei. Her fingers were trembling, and a ball of anger surged up and rushed straight to her head.
She simply couldn't imagine that Qin Wei could be so stupid. She had said all sorts of good and bad things about him, but he still wasn't willing to give up Zhao Yuanrou.
"Qin Wei!"
The Queen Mother shouted, but then she frowned and her unspoken words were interrupted by a sudden headache.
The top of her head began to ache intermittently. The pain was like a heavy hammer hitting her head hard, or like a drill drilling into her brain, causing her heart to be torn apart by the pain.
The Queen Mother covered her head with her hands, her face pale.
"Mother!" Qin Wei rushed over and supported the Queen Mother, his face showing worry, "What's wrong with you?"
The Queen Mother waved her hands weakly. This was her old ailment. Every time the headache came up, she felt like her head was splitting and she felt like she was dying. No medicine worked.
"Someone, go call the imperial physician!" Qin Wei hurriedly asked someone to call the imperial physician, and then asked, "Where is the ointment that I asked someone to give to my mother last time?"
Qin Wei said that last time when he was in the girls' school, he specially asked someone to send it to him.
A maid immediately went to get out the box of ointment and handed it over tremblingly.
Qin Wei urged dissatisfiedly: "What are you still standing there for? Feed it to mother!"
The nanny looked at the Queen Mother hesitantly and did not dare to obey.
This medicine or something like that cannot be taken casually. If anything bad happens to them, all of those who serve them will die.
Qin Wei frowned and said unhappily, "This is something given by me. Would I harm my mother?"
This ointment was given to him by Zhao Yuanrou. Rouer said it could cure stubborn headaches. Qin Wei believed that she would not lie to him.
The Queen Mother covered her head with her hands. Waves of pain continued to come over her. She was in so much pain that she couldn't speak.
Qin Wei snatched the box from the nanny's hand and, as Zhao Yuanrou had instructed, scooped a spoonful of liquid from the small spoon in the box and fed it to the empress dowager's lips.
"Mother."
The ointment touched the Queen Mother's lips and felt a little cold. The Queen Mother pursed her lips and said nothing.
After the ointment was brought back, the Queen Mother asked the imperial physician to examine it and also asked the imperial physician to give it to palace ladies with headaches. It was indeed effective immediately. However, the origin of the ointment was unknown, so the Queen Mother did not dare to use it.
But now, she really couldn't bear the pain, and she made Qin Wei so angry that his headache occurred, which was more severe than any other time.
"Mother, please believe me." Qin Wei coaxed softly, "Just one bite, just one bite, you will definitely get better."
The Queen Mother was no longer able to think. The Imperial Physician could not identify the ingredients, but he also said that this thing was non-toxic and that it might be a Taoist medicine method. Taoist doctors often use ointments or pills to treat diseases, and they are very effective.
Thinking of this, the Queen Mother slowly opened her mouth and swallowed the ointment in the small spoon.
She closed her eyes, and soon the headache gradually subsided. Each attack would last almost half an hour, but it was completely gone in just a cup of tea.
The Queen Mother opened her eyes wide in disbelief. She was not in pain anymore! She really was not in pain anymore.
Not only did the pain go away, she also felt a sense of relief she had never felt before, as if all the pains that had plagued her for years had disappeared completely.
She looked cheerful and rubbed her eyebrows out of habit.
"Empress Dowager, His Royal Highness Prince Zhao, the imperial physician is here."
Following the announcement, the imperial physician hurried in with a medicine box. Before he could greet her, Qin Wei said, "The queen mother is well now. You may leave first."
The Queen Mother was indeed much better, and she still said, "Come here and check my pulse."
The doctor knelt before the Queen Mother, felt her pulse, and said thoughtfully, "The Queen Mother is in good health, and her pulse is strong, there is nothing unusual."
Qin Wei knew that the Queen Mother was suspicious of the ointment, and said, "Mother, this is Rou'er's filial piety." He spoke well of Zhao Yuanrou, "After Rou'er knew that you had a headache, she took great pains to find this ancient recipe and medicine. Rou'er is a very gentle and kind person."
Qin Wei said seriously: "Mother, please don't be prejudiced against Rou'er, okay?"
Queen Mother: “…”
Offering medicine and eloping are two different things!
She wanted to really dig open Qin Wei's head to see how much water could be poured out of it to make him say such things!
This little son used to be very smart. He had been taught by so many tutors since he was a child, and he was a very wise and intelligent person. But why did he become like a fool when he met Zhao Yuanrou?
Could it be that Zhao Yuanrou had bewitched him?
Qin Wei then said, "Mother, please go talk to my brother and ask him to send more people to find Rou'er first..."
Queen Mother: “…”
Well, if we find the person and kill him in the chaos, that will make him give up.
A gleam of fierceness flashed across the Queen Mother's eyes.
She originally didn't want Qin Wei to be alienated from her and her son because of Zhao Yuanrou, but now Qin Wei has obviously been bewitched by Zhao Yuanrou. In this case, it would be better for Zhao Yuanrou to die!
The Queen Mother concealed the murderous intent in her eyes and said, "I promised to let your brother send more people..."
Qin Wei was overjoyed and was about to say a few nice words to appease the Queen Mother when he heard her add, "However, you have to promise me one thing.
Qin Wei hurriedly said, "Mother, please tell me."
The Queen Mother said bluntly: "I have chosen a concubine for you, the legitimate daughter of Admiral Cheng of the Central Army."
Qin Wei was stunned for a moment, and was about to refuse without thinking, but the Queen Mother took the lead and said, "You are old, and you don't have a serious job. I have thought about asking the emperor to let you join the Ministry of War and take over the military power for him. Only when you two brothers work together can Da Rong prosper. Admiral Cheng has only one son and one daughter. If you marry her, Admiral Cheng will definitely do his best to help you."
The Queen Mother didn't know that he was now interested in the throne. She just wanted the brothers to be of one mind and let Qin Wei do something for the emperor, and not always be like a child who never grew up, indulging in love all day long.
Qin Wei: “…”
He thought of military power.
Those who have surrendered to him now are all civil officials. He has no connection with the military generals. If he wants to seize the position, he must have military power.
But what Rouer wants is to be with one person for the rest of her life...
He gritted his teeth and decided that no matter what, he had to find Rouer first.
Rou'er would not elope. It must be that Zhou Jing couldn't find her and kidnapped her!
"Mother, I will listen to you."
After Qin Wei said this, the Queen Mother was finally somewhat satisfied.
The Empress Dowager summoned the chief eunuch of Cining Palace and asked him to tell the Emperor to send more people to look for the person.
The chief eunuch hurried to Yu's study and conveyed the queen mother's intention, and then said: "The queen mother also said that His Royal Highness Prince Zhao has thought it through and is willing to take the daughter of Admiral Cheng from the Central Army Camp as his concubine. Please don't bother him, Your Majesty."
The Queen Mother had good intentions and thought that the Emperor and Qin Wei had a deep brotherly relationship. She wanted to let the Emperor know that Qin Wei had changed his ways. However, the Emperor did not think so. When he thought that the Queen Mother had chosen the daughter of a military commander as a concubine for Qin Wei, he could not help but sneer and thought: It seems that even the Queen Mother thinks that she can't give birth to a son?! She supported Qin Wei so blatantly.
The chief eunuch lowered his head and said submissively: "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother wants you to get rid of Zhao after you find her." The Queen Mother did not say this in front of Prince Zhao. After he came out, a nanny quietly conveyed the Queen Mother's intention to him.
The emperor had a cold face and sneered in his heart: Do you want Zhao to die so that Qin Wei will no longer have any black spots? So that he can compete with me for the throne openly?
He sneered and said, "Go tell the Queen Mother that I know."
Send him away.
The emperor was pleased and finished reading the memorial in his hand. He said to Zheng Xiu who was still waiting, "These students are well selected. Let them go directly to Xue Zhongzhi's tomb tomorrow. I and my dear ministers will go there after paying homage to Xue Zhongzhi."
The emperor had already made up his mind. He would pick out a suitable epitaph that day and then hint to the students to write more articles, so that the time for Xue Chongzhi's burial could be set.
He planned to finish all these things before the New Year, so that he could put his mind at ease.
Chu Yuanchen has been trying to stop him for so long with the excuse of bad feng shui, now it’s time to let him see that Xue Chongzhi already has an adopted son, and this is not something that an outsider like him can decide!
Zheng Zheng was about to leave when the study suddenly fell silent. A tall figure in a red Qilin costume walked in from outside.
Zheng Xiu bowed, not daring to raise his head, and quietly stepped aside.
Xiao Shuo had a faint smile on his lips, and his delicate eyebrows and eyes were as gentle as jade. He walked in front of Yu at a moderate pace and said in a gentle voice: "Your Majesty, the Jinyi Guards just reported that they found the person."
The emperor raised his eyebrows.
Xiao Shuo followed up and said, "Why not tell King Zhao tomorrow?"
tomorrow?
Tomorrow is December 23rd, which is the day we will go to pay tribute to Xue Chongzhi.
The emperor looked at Xiao Shuo thoughtfully.
Xiao Shuo smiled faintly and said, "It can show the people in the court how much King Zhao loves beauty more than the country."
The emperor's pupils shrank and he nodded.
Ashu is right.
Given Qin Wei's infatuation with Zhao, he would probably run away during the worship ceremony.
Let those people see what kind of master they want to "follow the dragon".