Chapter 136 Yongtai

After Princess Taiping left, Ming Huazhang sat alone in the gloomy and luxurious guest room. The ink on his body had dried up, but he did not move for a long time.

He lived in hiding for seventeen years. Although they did not know him, he could see them from time to time. Ming Huazhang heard with his own ears that Prince Luling was exiled and Prince Xiang was imprisoned. He witnessed with his own eyes that Princess Taiping remarried and integrated into the Wu family. He personally experienced the ten years when the Li Tang royal family was slaughtered and artificially wiped out.

He never forgot his identity. There was no doubt that he was willing to give everything, even his life, to restore the Tang Dynasty. But when he really stood in front of Princess Taiping and finally recognized his blood relatives, he did not feel the excitement and warmth he had imagined, and he even left unhappily.

Ming Huazhang looked at the butterfly flapping its wings on the screen and suddenly thought of Ming Huachang. If she were the one facing these things today, what would she do?

Maybe she would not come at all, but if she did, she would not be distant and cold to Princess Taiping and make things awkward. Even if the conversation was not pleasant, she could still respond with a smile, making everyone happy, and then achieve her goal quietly. Once she left, she was not affected at all, and could still eat happily at the banquet.

She is always like this, no matter who she meets or what happens, she always lives soberly and openly. Unlike Ming Huazhang, who is overthinking, awkward, and dares not love wholeheartedly, nor hate wantonly.

Ming Huazhang thought of her, and his eyes softened unconsciously. He sighed softly, stood up, went behind the screen to change out of his dirty white clothes, and put on a dark purple round-necked robe.

When he went out to visit someone, he would always bring a spare set of clothes with him. He never expected to use it today. When Ming Huazhang changed into his first set of clothes, he was very casual, without any sense of attending a banquet, but now when he changed into spare clothes, he was very careful.

He also didn't know that Princess Taiping would send flowers at the banquet. He was not a superficial person and didn't care about the opinions of outsiders, but when choosing talents, Ming Huashang didn't think of him first?

Ming Huazhang estimated that it took an incense stick of time before he left the room and walked towards the banquet. Princess Taiping had made all the arrangements, and they barely ran into anyone along the way. Ming Huazhang tried to walk in places that were out of the sun. When he passed through a garden, his ears moved slightly, as if he heard someone talking behind a tree.

Ming Huazhang looked cautious and quietly approached the source of the sound. He hid under the shadow of a tree, pushed aside the branches, and unexpectedly found that the person coming was not the enemy as expected, but Ming Huachang.

The night was dim, and the long, thin branches hung down from the side and fell on the water. The pavilion was surrounded by grass and trees, dim and quiet, and difficult to notice from the outside, so the people inside did not notice that someone was passing by outside.

A woman was sitting in the pavilion, with a simple pearl flower pinned in her bun, and her face was as cold and pale as a pearl. Who else could it be but Ming Huashang?

After Ming Huazhang was surprised, his heart gradually cooled down. He originally planned to go out to find Ming Huashang, but was tricked by Princess Taiping to go away. He believed that Ming Huashang knew what he had done, so he was not worried about her and followed Princess Taiping's people without worry. He and Princess Taiping had tested, recognized, and quarreled for so long, and she still hadn't come back?

She seemed a little cold, her hands were clenched tightly, and she rubbed her fingers from time to time, but she still refused to leave and was talking to someone very seriously.

The person opposite her was hidden in the bushes and her face could not be seen clearly, but from her clothes she could tell that he was a man.

Ming Huazhang immediately thought of Su Xingzhi, who left the table with Ming Huachang, but he stopped himself. Impossible, he knew best how sweet-mouthed and cruel Ming Huachang was. She looked kind and had no edges, but she was actually very clear-headed. If the other person's existence would hinder the life she wanted, even if the prince or the emperor stood in front of her, she would not hesitate to cut off any possibility.

At Princess Taiping's banquet, people were coming and going all the time. How could she meet with a man privately in such a dangerous place?

Ming Huazhang didn't believe it. He was like a self-torturer. Even though the answer was about to come out, he still stood motionless behind the bushes, determined to see the answer with his own eyes. He stood there for as long as they talked. Finally, the man moved, stood up and walked out. Ming Huachang followed closely and chased out. Through the slanting shadows, Ming Huazhang saw the man's face.

It is Su Xingzhi.

Something dropped in his heart, as if he heard the faint judgment coming from the cloud platform, gentle, mild, yet thunderous.

Su Xingzhi was tall, cold, hard, and solemn, showing no sympathy for women. He pushed the woman next to him two steps at a time. But the woman did not give up, chasing after him and saying something, and even took the initiative to reach out and hold her hand.

Ming Huazhang's eyes were dark and silent as he watched this scene quietly.

In the secluded path, Ming Huashang was trying to persuade Su Xingzhi. When Ming Huashang heard Su Xingzhi say that his sister was dead, her heart skipped a beat, knowing that things were heading in the direction she least wanted to believe.

She immediately changed her strategy and tried to persuade Su Xingzhi. However, when Su Xingzhi heard Ming Huashang suspected Su Ma, his face turned black on the spot. Ming Huashang persuaded Su Xingzhi to believe that his grandmother had deceived him.

Although the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was not a model family for the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars, the Duke of Zhenguo had no concubines, and the second and third wives had no children born in the same year. How could there be any internal strife that would allow Nanny Su to take away a daughter? If Su Yuji was a real member of the Ming family, then one of Ming Huashang and Ming Huazhang was fake.

Ming Huashang originally thought it was her, but now the more she looked at her, the more she thought it looked like Ming Huazhang. She could have said nothing about it, but since it was about Ming Huazhang, how could she let Su Xingzhi go out and talk nonsense?

Ming Huashang hopes that Su Xingzhi will keep the matter secret and not tell Su Yuji for the time being, and make arrangements after she has found out the truth, but Su Xingzhi disagrees.

Su Xingzhi didn't want to talk to her anymore and was about to leave. Ming Huashang didn't care. She grabbed his arm forcefully, used her years of experience in fooling the Duke of Zhen, looked at him eagerly and said sincerely, "Brother Su, I don't want to embarrass you, but before the matter is investigated, one more person knowing means one more variable. I promise that I will find out the result soon. Please, can you please not tell Sister Su?"

Su Xingzhi said coldly with a straight face, "There is no secret between her and me. I will not deceive her."

"How can this be called cheating?" Ming Huashang pinched himself hard, his eyes became more pitiful, and he said seriously, "This is called preparing a surprise for her. Don't you want to find out everything and tell her the truth in person? It's okay to delay for a day or two. Now we only know a little about many things. Telling her rashly may not make her happy, and may even cause her to be involved in unknown troubles. Brother Su, Brother Su, please."

Su Xingzhi remained unmoved, but when he heard the words "unknown troubles", his eyes flickered and he hesitated.

Yes, if it is true as Ming Huachang said, there is no proper internal strife in the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion, what kind of accident could cause a daughter of a duke to be stranded outside? He doesn't care about the life and death of Ming Huachang and Ming Huazhang, nor does he care whether offending the son of the Duke of Zhenguo will affect his career, but he can't take risks with Su Yuji's safety.

Finally, Su Xingzhi backed down. He said coldly, "Okay, I'll trust you again."

Ming Huashang was overjoyed. She noticed Su Xingzhi's gaze and quickly let go of his hand. She smiled and waved her sleeves for him: "Thank you, Brother Su. Brother Su is upright and fair, and has a deep understanding of justice. He is worthy of being the number one scholar appointed by His Majesty."

Su Xingzhi glanced at her and admired her ability to tell lies to different people. He thought that this might be Su Yuji's sister, and he didn't want to make things too awkward with her family, so he softened his expression and said, "Mrs. Ming, you are too kind. It's getting late, and it's not safe for you to stay outside alone. I'll take you back to the banquet hall."

"Then it's Brother Lao Su." Ming Huashang was very considerate and said with a smile, "Brother Su, please."

The two walked half a step apart to the banquet hall. Ming Huachang had something in mind, and Su Xingzhi also wanted to make friends. The two of them were courteous and yielding to each other along the way, and they seemed to be having a good time. When they arrived at the banquet hall, Su Xingzhi stopped at the steps and said, "The women's guest room is in front, and it's not convenient for me to go close. Madam Ming, please go back."

Ming Huashang thanked him. She walked into the corridor and found Su Xingzhi was still there. She smiled and crossed her arms towards him: "Thank you, Brother Su. We'll see you another day. Thank you for your help with the file."

Su Xingzhi looked cold and indifferent, but in his heart he knew that even if you were Su Yuji's relative, you had to follow the rules and don't even think about favoritism. Su Xingzhi watched Ming Huashang enter the door before turning around, walking a detour, and entering the men's hall.

The voting for the poetry contest was in full swing in the hall, and no one noticed that Ming Huashang was missing. Ming Huashang walked in along the wall, looked for a while, and blended into the crowd naturally.

There was a lot of noise and bright lights around her, so she didn't notice that there was a pair of eyes following her for a long time outside the hall.

·

Princess Taiping's poetry review activity was a stroke of genius. It seemed like a flirting game between a man and a woman, but the final number of votes, whether the princes of the Li family or the princes of the Wu family got more votes, could well reflect people's hearts and minds.

However, the final result surprised everyone, because the one who received the most favors was not the line of the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, nor the line of the Prince of Wei who was the most favored by the Empress, but the third illegitimate son of the Prince of Xiang, the Prince of Linzi.

When Princess Taiping heard the result of the palace maids' statistics, she was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "It seems that the one who is most popular with women is Sanlang. Sanlang, if you don't punish yourself with three cups of wine, it will be unacceptable."

太平公主最開始頗為意外，李家這麽多人，怎麽都輪不到一個非嫡非長、沒有繼承權的小小郡王，但她轉念一想這樣也好，臨淄王是相王的兒子，不涉及皇位之争，為人風流倜傥、處處留情，他拿到所謂“長安第一俊才”，大家聽到只會會心一笑，覺得這不過一個風流豔名。要是最後真是太子的兒子當選，傳入宮裏，女皇恐怕會多想。

臨淄王看來也有些出乎預料，但他為人豪爽，見狀大大方方起身道謝，連飲三杯，動作潇灑自如，頗引人好感。這個小插曲過後，太平公主讓人将筆墨收起，傳舞姬登臺獻舞，開始第二輪玩樂。

明華裳着實佩服這些王孫貴族的精力，鬥詩後看歌舞，歌舞後又行酒令，一輪接一輪地作樂，仿佛不會累一般。明華裳能不說話就不說話，盡量減少自己的存在感，還是不可避免地喝了好幾杯酒。

哪怕是果酒，喝多了依然會醉。明華裳感受到果酒的後勁上頭了，她不敢再待在大殿裏，借口更衣，躲出去醒酒。

她尋了個清淨的地方吹風，百無聊賴地想裏面還要鬧多久。忽然，身後傳來跌跌撞撞的腳步聲，明華裳連忙回頭，看到一道纖影踉跄到樹邊，扶着樹幹嘔。

明華裳怕她出事，忙起身：“永泰郡主？”

永泰郡主幹嘔了一會，胸腔中的惡心感總算散了些。她扶着樹幹起身，猛不防一陣頭暈，多虧明華裳及時扶住她才沒有栽倒。等站好後，永泰郡主後怕不已，她撫住腹部，心有餘悸對明華裳道：“多謝。”

明華裳也被吓了一跳，問：“郡主您身子不方便，為何不多帶幾個人，怎麽自己出來了？”

永泰郡主氣息還有些弱，有氣無力說：“母親和姑母正在說話，我只是透透氣，沒必要打擾她們。”

女兒懷孕不舒服都沒必要，那還有什麽事是必要的？明華裳看着永泰郡主，也不好多言，扶着她小心坐下：“郡主當心涼，要不，我去裏面給您找個錦墊來？”

永泰郡主搖搖頭：“別麻煩了。我吹吹風，一會就好了。”

明華裳便陪着永泰郡主一起吹風，她看到永泰郡主有些不自在，便主動道：“還未恭喜郡主，恭賀郡主喜得麟兒。”

永泰郡主露出笑，不由撫上小腹，含笑道：“郎中說胎相還不穩定，本來想等滿三個月再告訴長輩的，誰想大郎沉不住氣，在宴會上鬧出了笑話。”

“這怎麽能是笑話呢？”明華裳道，“這明明是喜事。魏王世子也是擔心郡主，再說在場的都是郡主和世子的長輩，他們高興還來不及，怎麽會介懷此事。”

永泰郡主低頭微笑，有了孩子做話題，永泰郡主不再那麽尴尬。她難得在京中見到明華裳這樣的人，善解人意，觀察入微，卻并不讓人覺得有壓力。永泰郡主心生好奇，問：“你是……”

明華裳大大方方道：“小女明華裳，來自鎮國公府，家中行二，郡主喚我二娘就行。”

永泰郡主點頭，她怔了怔，有些遲疑道：“我聽人提過你的名字，你是不是……”

明華裳本以為永泰郡主要說她是龍鳳胎，她都已經準備好說“确實，我有一個兄長了”，沒成想永泰郡主下一句道：“你是不是在京兆府幫忙破案？”

明華裳意外了一下，笑着應是：“是。都傳到郡主這裏了，真是慚愧。”

永泰郡主看着她不卑不亢、坦蕩大方的模樣，心中微妙複雜。

永泰郡主性情纖細敏感，不愛交際，能傳到她耳朵裏的話，其實大部分都不是什麽好事。

勳貴圈的夫人小姐們近期經常提起明華裳，表面上她們稱贊明華裳膽子大，敢去京兆府走動，私底下卻在嘲諷鎮國公夫人走得早，沒人教養女兒，讓好好一個嫡出娘子成日往外跑，抛頭露面像什麽樣子，可見府裏還是不能沒有主母，鎮國公應當早點娶個繼室雲雲……

這些風涼話都吹到了永泰郡主耳邊，可見流傳之廣，明華裳作為當事人，不應當一點風聲都沒聽到。然而看她的模樣，一點都不像為流言所困。永泰郡主更好奇了，問：“京兆府全是男人，你去那裏，你家裏長輩不會說你嗎？”

明華裳不好直接說長輩的壞話，委婉道：“祖母和嬸母确實會擔心我。”

永泰郡主瞪大了眼睛：“那你還去？”

明華裳毫不猶豫，理所應當道：“因為我喜歡呀。”

永泰郡主沒料到會聽到這樣一個答案，怔了良久，才緩緩道：“喜歡？”

“是啊。”明華裳說起自己喜歡的事，眼睛變亮，笑着道，“我從小就吃不了苦，琴學不會，女紅也練不好。以前我沒什麽想法，就覺得待在自己的世界裏，舒舒服服老死也挺好。突然有一天，我害怕我無法老死了，就在想剩下的時間裏我一定要做點什麽，才不枉來世間走一趟。恰巧我兄長去了京兆府，我看到卷宗上那些受害人凄慘的死狀，心想這世上多少人拼盡全力想活着，卻總有些人不尊重生命，肆意剝奪別人的人生。我實在氣不過，便下定決心，一定要親手将這些人找出來，慢慢就做到了現在。”

永泰郡主聽着，都完全呆住了。

這是在她的人生中從未有過的體驗。她活着也很難，但和明華裳不同，明華裳意識到生命轉瞬即逝後選擇主動出擊，勇敢去做喜歡的事，而永泰郡主卻蜷縮起來，不思不想，不追不念，糊糊塗塗的，日子也就過下去了。

她怕她有了期待後，好事情就不會降臨了。不如什麽都不做，就不會難受了。

永泰郡主此時回想，才發現在她的生命中，從沒有因為喜歡而去做某件事，而是在某件事發生在自己身上後，努力去喜歡他。

紀羨是如此，武延基也是如此。在房州時，紀羨很喜歡她，大家都說女人嫁給愛你的男人會過得好，永泰郡主就嫁了。後來女皇拆散了他們，讓她轉嫁武延基。武延基也是一個不錯的男人，永泰郡主覺得過日子和誰不是過，便努力忘掉紀羨，去喜歡武延基。

于是他們有了孩子，她的人生似乎終于平穩起來，可以一眼望到終點。

無波無瀾、瑣碎平常的終點。

永泰郡主怔松許久，她看着面前的明華裳，忽然很向往這種人生。永泰郡主問：“若你成婚後，有了夫婿、公婆，說不定還有孩子，你還能花這麽多時間在外面嗎？你丈夫不喜歡怎麽辦？”

“他若不喜歡，那他就不會成為我的丈夫。”明華裳說，“我僥幸受上天眷顧，得以生在富貴之家，長至今日衣食無憂，無災無病。我已經享受過富貴，實在沒什麽可執着的，餘生只想做自己喜歡的事，愛自己喜歡的人。無論他貧困潦倒還是權勢潑天，無論他朝不保夕還是平步青雲，我都願意和他共同面對。”

明華裳說這些話時，眼珠堅定明亮，永泰郡主一眼就知道：“你有了心儀之人？”

明華裳一頓，有些不好意思地點頭：“是。”

說起喜歡的人，少女臉頰微紅，眼神清亮，看着就讓人忍不住微笑。永泰郡主輕輕笑着，眼眶莫名湧上一陣澀意。

雖然她貴為郡主，她卻很羨慕明華裳。她永遠無法這麽自由熱烈地喜歡一個人，永遠沒有這麽大的勇氣，去追求自己喜歡的事情。

她甚至沒有追求二字。她的人生，只有茍且。

明華裳一時沒收住說多了，突然發現永泰郡主神态不對。她吓了一跳，忙問：“郡主，您怎麽了？”

永泰郡主憋回淚意，笑着搖搖頭，又恢複世人所期待的溫柔娴靜的皇家郡主模樣，道：“沒什麽，被風沙迷了眼睛。我出來的夠久了，恐怕母親會找不到人，我先回去了。”

明華裳哪敢讓一個孕婦自己走，趕緊說：“我的酒也醒得差不多了，我陪郡主回去。”

明華裳扶着永泰郡主，慢慢走在悠長婉轉的廊庑上。前方傳來急促有力的腳步聲，來人轉過回廊，看到她們，忙大步走上來：“仙蕙，你怎麽在這裏？”

“魏王世子。”明華裳給來人行禮，順勢退到一邊。武延基握住永泰郡主的胳膊，永泰郡主柔聲道：“我嫌裏面悶，出來走走，剛才多虧明二娘子陪我說話。”

武延基這時候才看向明華裳，他對明華裳微微颔首，就算打過招呼了，随後環着永泰郡主，說：“還沒變過天來，你當心受寒。邵王有些醉了，要回東宮休息，我将你也送回去吧。”

永泰郡主下意識要拒絕：“這是姑母的宴會，我怎麽能提前離場？”

“你如今有孕在身，凡事要以你為先。我和父親說一聲，今日陪你回東宮，就不回王府了。”

Ming Huashang deliberately fell behind, listening to the couple's whispers, until she could no longer hear them.

Princess Yongtai grew up in exile and confinement, and never dared to ask for anything, fearing that she would cause trouble to others. Wu Yanji was the opposite. He was born in the prosperous Prince of Wei's mansion, and his father was the Prince of Wei, who was the most respected by the empress and might even inherit the throne. He was used to putting himself first in everything. With his persuasion, Princess Yongtai gradually felt relieved, and the worry between her brows was put down. She was finally able to leave this drunken place and go home to take care of her baby.

Ming Huashang sighed silently as she looked at the young couple walking away together. The empress insisted on picking a couple, but she unexpectedly picked the right one. Princess Yongtai was gentle and calm but too cautious, always unable to help but give in to others. Wu Yanji was not good at speaking but was tough inside. The two of them were together, and although they were not childhood sweethearts, they could actually live happily.

Ming Huashang sincerely wishes them well, and hopes that after half a lifetime of separation, the Yongtai County Master can finally settle down and live a happy life.

·

Prince Shao Li Chongrun drank too much at the banquet and wanted to leave early. The two Zhang brothers and the Prince of Wei and others naturally refused to let him go, but Princess Taiping looked at her nephew's face and finally sent him back.

Since Prince Shao was leaving, there was no need to take one more person with him in the car. Wu Yanji accompanied Princess Yongtai and left the scene together.

Princess Taiping's residence was built next to the Taiji Palace, in the most prosperous area of ​​Chang'an. It didn't take long to reach the East Palace. After Li Chongrun returned to the palace, he immediately ordered someone to cook a hangover soup. Princess Yongtai saw her brother's uncomfortable look and said distressedly: "Brother, why did you drink so much? You too, why didn't you support me?"

Wu Yanji was angered by his wife, and he felt innocent. He cried out, "Why should I interfere? Prince Shao is the Prince of the Eastern Palace. If he doesn't want to drink, who else would dare to force him to drink? But the two Zhang brothers insisted on forcing Prince Shao to drink. What can I do?"

When the two Zhang brothers were mentioned, all three of them fell silent. As the pure sons and grandsons of the dragon, it was really hard for them to have a favorable impression of a thing that served their elderly grandmother, relied on its appearance to boss people around, stir up trouble, and even wanted to be on equal footing with them.

Li Chongrun drank too much and got angry. He cursed, "Grandmother is really something. My father and Uncle Xiang are her sons. She doesn't want her children and grandchildren to serve her. Instead, she stays with the two brothers all day and obeys them. Grandmother made them Dukes. I heard from the palace that they even lobbied her to make them kings. It's really ridiculous. Grandmother has been strong all her life, but now she is old and is manipulated by two idiots. It is a disgrace to the ancestors of the Li family."

If it were normal, Li Chongrun would not say such a thing. After all, the empress is now the emperor in name only. She is old and will not be confused for many more years. Even if the two Zhang brothers are favored again, how long can they be arrogant? Just bear with it.

But tonight, with alcohol at his side, the humiliation of being ordered around by the two Zhang brothers was particularly unbearable. Li Chongrun thought to himself that he was the grandson of Emperor Gaozong, a genuine royal family member, so why should he put up with two male prostitutes who used their beauty to serve him? Surrounded by his own people, Prince Shao did not hide his long-suppressed dissatisfaction.

Although Wu Yanji was the eldest son of the King of Wei, he was not used to his father's behavior, especially his association with the two Zhang brothers. He also said: "They grew up in the brothels and learned how to serve people since childhood. How can they discuss the affairs of the court? Your Majesty allowed these two to dictate the affairs of the court and even intervene in the dismissal of officials. This is really a mistake."

Men are far more hostile to men who get their wealth and position through sex than women. The two of them became more and more excited as they talked. Although they were surrounded by people they could trust, they were still in the palace. Princess Yongtai was afraid of causing trouble, so she tried to smooth things over by saying, "Okay, this is ultimately Grandmother's business. Since Grandmother likes it, let her do it. As descendants, we just need to do our best."

Li Chongrun and Wu Yanji looked disdainful and didn't seem to listen. Princess Yongtai couldn't do anything about her husband and brother. Seeing that the hangover soup hadn't come yet, she asked, "Is the hangover soup not ready yet? I'll go to the kitchen to check."

Li Chongrun said, "Just let the maids do these things. Why do you have to go there in person? Come back and have a rest."

"It's okay. I'm not made of paper, so it's okay to take these two steps." Princess Yongtai said as she walked to the door. When she saw the person outside, she was surprised and asked, "Second brother? When did you come? Why don't you come in?"

The crown prince's second son, Li Chongfu, stood outside the door. He smiled awkwardly and said, "I just got here too. I'm afraid I'll interrupt your conversation. Where are you going, sister?"

"I'll go get some sobering soup. Brother gets a headache whenever he drinks. If he doesn't get sober now, he'll be sick again tomorrow."

Li Chongfu glanced at Li Chongrun and Wu Yanji in the room, and said tactfully, "Why bother elder sister with this matter? I'll go, and elder sister can just focus on taking care of the baby."

Li Chongrun and Wu Yanji took Li Chongfu's words for granted. They were both the eldest sons in the family and were used to being treated like stars. It was only natural for the concubine's son to run errands for them. Princess Yongtai was indeed afraid that walking too much would disturb the fetus, so she did not insist and smiled at Li Chongfu: "Then I'll have to trouble my second brother."