Chapter 167 Peace and Happiness

East City.

The Yifengxuan specializes in business with the nobility. As soon as Ming Yuji got off the car, the shopkeeper came up to him and greeted him warmly: "Hello, Madam Ming. Please come in quickly."

Ming Yuji simply responded, walked quickly into the store, and said, "I heard that your store has recently received a new batch of red sandalwood. Is the painting table I want ready?"

The shopkeeper's smile faltered for a moment, then he said with a smile, "Not yet. Madam Ming, please wait a little longer. Good wood needs to be polished slowly, so the work will not be completed quickly."

"I've been waiting here for half a year. If I wait any longer, I won't be able to catch the wedding." Ming Yuji said as she saw the waiter bring out a table from the back, which was exactly the style she wanted. Ming Yuji exclaimed, "Isn't this already ready?"

The shopkeeper was embarrassed and winked at the waiter: "Madam Ming, you are wrong. This is ordered by Princess Anle's mansion."

Ming Yuji understood immediately. Her face turned cold. She looked at the shopkeeper coldly and said, "The shopkeeper is doing business. I should not interfere with what he does and with whom he does it. But everything has a first come first served order. I ordered this painting table. Even if the shopkeeper wants to keep the distinguished customer, the patterns and shells on the painting table are exactly the same as the drawings I gave. Shopkeeper, is this just a coincidence?"

Ming Huashang's wedding day was getting closer and closer. As she liked painting, Ming Yuji ordered a custom painting table for her. She personally selected the wood, shape, craftsmanship, and the decorative shells. Ming Yuji spent a lot of time on this table, so she was very sure that the one that Yu Fengxuan brought out was the one she ordered.

It is naturally different from ordinary furniture because it was made with so much thought. This painting table has a simple shape but exquisite details. It is elegant and generous, and quite Zen. The people in Princess Anle's mansion fell in love with it at first sight.

Princess Anle was a well-known figure in Chang'an. In order to please Princess Anle, the shopkeeper of Yifengxuan gave away the custom-made table as a favor and even tried to trick Ming Yuji into thinking that it was not ready.

If they hadn't happened to meet today, Ming Yuji would have really been deceived by them.

The shopkeeper was exposed in front of him and felt very embarrassed. But he quickly regained his composure and said calmly: "I'm sorry, Madam Ming, but Princess Anle likes it, and I can't let her down. I hope you will understand. Please wait a moment, I will ask the craftsman to hurry up and make yours."

The shopkeeper said it simply, but the implication was clear enough. Princess Anle's preferences were more important, and if the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion was unhappy, there was nothing that could be done.

Even if you use your toes to think, you can understand that one is the emperor's biological daughter, and the other is his nephew who will threaten his throne. It is self-evident which one the emperor will favor.

Moreover, Princess Anle was not an ordinary favored princess. She was born on the way of exile of the emperor and Empress Wei, and was delivered by the emperor himself. She had been with the emperor and Empress Wei through life and death, and shared hardships. She was the only comfort for the emperor when he was in low spirits, and her significance to the emperor was far more extraordinary. And as she grew older, Princess Anle became more and more beautiful, and the Hu merchants who traveled with her named her the most beautiful woman in the Tang Dynasty.

Her father was the emperor, her mother was the empress, her father-in-law was the King of Liang, the only heir to the Zhou Wu faction, and her husband was the crown prince of the King of Liang. She was also young but held great power. She was very important both politically and personally.

This is also the reason why the shopkeeper of Yifengxuan dared to openly offend the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion. At least during the emperor's lifetime, Princess Yong could not be more favored than Princess Anle. Even if the situation changes after the next emperor takes office, it will be at least ten years later. Who can predict what the situation will be like by then? The ready-made benefits are the most practical. It is a sure win to use Princess Yong's things to please Princess Anle.

Ming Yuji saw the contempt behind the shopkeeper's gift, and said with cold eyes, "It seems that the shopkeeper is determined to offend the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion?"

The shopkeeper said he dared not, but someone from Princess Anle's residence came and asked impatiently before they even entered the house, "Are the things ready? Why are you taking so long?"

"Here they come!" The shopkeeper immediately put on a smiling face, left Ming Yuji behind, and went over to try to get close to the people in Princess Anle's mansion. The maid who followed Ming Yuji out was very angry and said angrily, "You are looking down on others. You are really going too far."

Ming Yuji silently clenched her fists. If it were in the past, she would never let anyone take away something even if she smashed it, but now she is no longer Su Yuji, she is the eldest lady of the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion, and the elder sister of Princess Yong.

People at the bottom can solve problems with fists, but the higher you get, the more useless force becomes. Ming Yuji is not afraid of his reputation being damaged, but Ming Huashang is different. She will have to live with the Li family for a long time in the future. If Ming Yuji makes a fuss, how will Ming Huashang deal with it when she meets Princess Anle in the future?

Ming Yuji was angry for a long time, but finally decided to put the overall situation first. She turned her head and said to the maids in a cold voice, "Let's go."

Ming Yuji scowled as she quickly passed through the crowd, her face as cold as frost as she walked out. The moment she stepped over the threshold, a green shadow landed beside her and spoke loudly, "Everything has a first come, first served. Princess Anle is so indulgent to her servants to do whatever they want? How is your behavior different from that of the two Zhang brothers?"

Ming Yuji's eyes widened and he turned around in surprise, only to see Su Xingzhi standing beside him, looking stern, ruthless and upright like a judge in a temple.

The steward of Princess Anle's mansion was enjoying the flattery, but suddenly someone interrupted him, which made him feel quite unhappy: "Who are you? How can you be in charge of the affairs of Princess Anle's mansion?"

Su Xingzhi bowed slightly to them and said solemnly: "I am Su Xingzhi, the Supervisor of the Historic Bureau. I am just a commoner and dare not offend the royal family, but if I encounter injustice on the road, I can still intervene."

When the people in Princess Anle's mansion heard Su Xingzhi's identity, their faces dimmed. If it was any other official, they wouldn't dare to say anything to Princess Anle, but if it was Yu Shitai's stinking stone, then it would be troublesome.

The officials supervised the officials, and were in charge of the criminal law and corrected the crimes of the officials. The more noble the officials were, the more severe their impeachment would be. The steward seemed to know nothing. It was the shopkeeper of the Yifengxuan who rushed to give him something. In fact, he knew in his heart that this was the dowry prepared by the Zhenguo Mansion for the future Princess Yong, and he had no intention of paying for it.

But so what? Their master is Princess Anle, the only child of Queen Wei. The emperor now listens to Queen Wei's words and allows the Queen to participate in government affairs. Officials below the third rank are all decided by Queen Wei alone. Queen Wei may be the next empress, so Princess Anle should compare herself to Princess Taiping in every way.

No, Princess Anle has no brothers, but the Crown Princess does the same. She is even more glorious than Princess Taiping.

Even the prime minister is a seventh-rank official. They are the future crown princess's confidants. Why should they be afraid of a little Princess Yong? The steward didn't take it seriously and still pretended to be stupid and said, "I don't know how Su Shi came and neglected us. However, the princess has been interested in painting recently, so we came out to find a desk to share her worries. The shopkeeper of Yifengxuan took the initiative to present the treasure after knowing it. We didn't steal or rob. I don't know where we violated the law and have to trouble Su Shi to worry about it?"

The people from the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion looked indignant when they heard this. Ming Yuji originally thought that Princess Anle's Mansion was unaware of the truth, but now it seems that they clearly knew everything, yet they still tried to provoke the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, or rather, Prince Yong's Mansion.

Ming Yuji glanced at these people coldly and memorized the faces of these evil slaves. She didn't want to argue with a few villains on the street. Her own affairs were minor. If it was implicated by Li Huazhang and someone took the opportunity to vent his anger, it would be troublesome. Ming Yuji lowered her voice and said to Su Xingzhi, "Forget it, let's go."

She wanted to go down the stairs, but Su Xingzhi pulled her back. Su Xingzhi held her arm, still looking at the servants of Princess Anle's mansion with dignity, and said: "Yi Fengxuan is willing to donate treasures to Princess Anle, and outsiders should not say anything, but if you embezzle other people's things to do favors, it is stealing. Madam Ming and Yi Fengxuan had a contract before, and Yi Fengxuan went back on his word, which was distrust; the whole city knew that Madam Ming and Prince Yong were married, and Madam Ming said that this was the dowry prepared for her sister, and the princess "The mansion still insisted on encroaching on the dowry of the prince's wife, which is unfilial; finally, you all heard Madam Ming introduce herself. You clearly know that she was forced to be separated from her family for 17 years in order to protect Prince Yong, but you have no respect for her. You took advantage of the kindness of the madam and took advantage of it. This is simply unkind and unjust. I will write a letter tomorrow to ask the emperor why he allowed Princess Anle to act like this. "

Su Xingzhi had actually been here for a while and heard everything about the dispute between Ming Yuji and Yi Fengxuan. He watched Ming Yuji endure it again and again and then leave in anger, and he felt a sharp pain in his heart.

His Yu Ji was tough and strong-willed, outspoken, and dared to wield a wooden stick to beat up hooligans at the age of 14, but Su Xingzhi knew that she was the softest of the bunch. He watched her grow from a cradle to a graceful young woman, and she should always be aggressive and should not learn to swallow her anger and compromise. Su Xingzhi could no longer bear it, and for the first time he stepped out of the shadows and appeared in front of her.

Ming Yuji was shocked enough when she saw Su Xingzhi, and when she heard him blaming Princess Anle, she became even more anxious.

Is he stupid? They are from the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion. With the merit of protecting Li Huazhang, no matter how suspicious the palace is, they dare not do anything to them. But what does Su Xingzhi have? How can he, a poor scholar without a family, have the courage to criticize the emperor's daughter?

Seeing more and more people gathered around, Ming Yuji looked unhappy and wanted to pull Su Xingzhi away. But Su Xingzhi's hand was very strong and he held Ming Yuji tightly without moving.

Yu Shitai was indeed a professional at scolding people. He accused him of being benevolent, righteous, polite, and trustworthy. The stewards of Princess Anle's mansion were all frightened. He was originally fearless, but as more and more people pointed out his faults, he couldn't help but panic.

鎮國公府不足為俱，但雍王不能随便開罪。若是此事鬧大，真被這個臭石頭捅到朝堂上，皇後和公主追究下來，他吃不了兜着走！

管事心裏發憷，收放自如地換上笑臉，道：“蘇禦史言重了，奴并不知這是明大娘子給雍王妃準備的嫁妝，若提前知道，定然不敢奪人所愛。你是怎麽做事的，竟敢拿雍王妃的東西糊弄人，我看你是存心挑撥雍王和安樂公主的關系，其心當誅！”

遺風軒掌櫃膝蓋一軟，連忙跪在地上求饒。皇族說其心當誅可不是吓唬人的，安樂公主随便動動手指就能要他們全家的命。掌櫃求饒了半天，安樂公主府管事不為所動，看起來是鐵了心要推他做替罪羊，掌櫃心都涼了，這時候他看到站在外面的明雨霁，像找到救命稻草一般，忙膝行過去道：“明大娘子饒命！小的有眼不識泰山，小人死不足惜，但家裏還有一家老小指着我養活，望大娘子高擡貴手！”

明雨霁在民間長大，這些年見慣了民在官面前的無力，很不習慣被人跪。她退開一步，冷着臉道：“你自己做事不講道義，和我沒關系。公府裏還有事，我先走一步，失陪。”

明雨霁說完猶豫了一下，但還是示意丫鬟抱上畫案離開。她若是不拿畫案，就意味着不原諒過節，那這個掌櫃必然兇多吉少。一張畫案而已，既是新婚禮物，染上鮮血不吉利。

遺風軒掌櫃看到明雨霁收下了畫案，長長松了口氣。公主府管事肩膀也微微放松，本來高高興興出來斂財，竟遇到這麽一樁掃興事，他頗覺晦氣，嫌棄地踹了掌櫃一腳，道：“滾開，別擋路。”

掌櫃趕緊連滾帶爬讓一邊，陪着笑送管事出門。蘇行止冷眼看着這一幕，他轉身下階，沒兩步就追上了公主府管事和遺風軒掌櫃。

雙方擦肩而過時，蘇行止目光淡淡看着前方，不知對誰說道：“掌櫃的，一顆樹要花上百年長成，你做的是長久生意，如此言而無信，急功近利，非明智之舉。望你自重。”

他說完，也不看另兩人的反應，快步走下臺階，沒入人潮之中。

蘇行止混入人群，像滴水融入大海，很快就找不到了。這是他最擅長做的事情，但今日，他明明沒露蹤跡，卻在巷口被一輛車攔住。

車上的穗子在風中輕輕晃動，顯然是專程等在這裏的。車簾掀開，露出後面一張冷豔含霜的美人面。

這是他無比熟悉，卻和他毫無關系的人。

明雨霁居高臨下睨着他，微微挑眉，語氣中帶了些陰陽怪氣：“好久不見，蘇禦史官威長了許多。”

蘇行止像沒聽出她的諷刺一樣，對着車叉手行禮，絲毫看不出剛才舌戰群儒、據理力争的冷硬：“明大娘子安康。”

他毫無脾氣，明雨霁像一拳打在了棉花上，霎間覺得那些挑釁很沒意思。明雨霁洩了氣，硬邦邦問：“我給你發請柬，你為什麽不來？”

“禦史臺忙，沒時間。”

“散衙後請你來鎮國公府用膳，也沒時間嗎？”

蘇行止垂下眼睛，說：“我乃禦史，私下和朝臣交從過密，不善。”

明雨霁冷冰冰盯着他，蘇行止像塊木頭一樣毫無表情站着，明雨霁看着簡直想沖他的臉來兩拳。明雨霁冷嗤一聲，發狠道：“呵，未來雍王妃的邀約也敢拒，蘇大人可真是不畏權貴，風骨凜凜。”

蘇行止眼睫動了動，想說什麽，但又覺得沒必要。

雍王妃也好，太平公主也罷，拒絕她們的邀約很容易，真正難的，是拒絕她。

明雨霁看着他不說話的樣子就來氣，沒好氣道：“怎麽，如今你連我的話也不想聽了？”

“不是。”蘇行止說，“你是公府千金，我不過一介青衣，你的話，本就不需要我來聽。”

明雨霁頓了良久，問：“既然如此，當初我離開蘇家的時候，你為什麽徹夜找我？”

“因為你一個女子，還是一個很要強的女子，孤身在外不安全。”

“那為什麽現在你要和我劃清界限？”

“因為你回家了。”蘇行止垂着眼眸，說，“你有家人陪伴，有奴仆保護，很安全。”

明雨霁很想問，你到底把我當做什麽？妹妹，責任，還是一個寄養在蘇家，需要他分心照顧的公府小姐？

這句話幾乎就要脫口而出，但理智還是将明雨霁拉回來。她放下車簾，脊背挺直，雙手平放膝上，像一位最标志不過的公府閨秀，儀态萬方問：“剛才，你為什麽幫我？”

他們兩人一個在內，一個在外，一個在上，一個在下，一個坐在古樸典雅的馬車，一個站在熙熙攘攘的街道。

就如他們的鴻溝，與生俱來，如影随形。蘇行止微微擡起眼睛，望着簾後影影綽綽的女子剪影，道：“我是禦史，遇見不平，仗義執言，職責所在。”

“職責所在。”明雨霁緩慢重複這四個字，短促笑了聲，“職責所在，好。你也說了，我有家人陪伴，有奴仆保護，日後有的是男人為我出頭，無需你一個外人插手。蘇禦史，我還有事，告辭。”

說着，她揚高聲音，清脆對着車夫說道：“楊叔，回家。”

車夫應了聲，馬車緩慢啓動，車輪碾過石板發出吱呀聲，轟隆隆的仿佛壓過了世間一切喧嚣。蘇行止後退一步，注視着明雨霁離他遠去，低不可聞道：“路上小心。”

他說完，自嘲地笑了聲。這種話何須他說呢，正如她所言，她身邊有的是公侯子弟，自有人護她出入平安。

明雨霁回府後，一路冷着臉，步子走得飛快，丫鬟須得一路小跑才能跟上。明華裳剛繡好一面香囊，興沖沖在明雨霁屋裏等。她聽到外面有聲音，忙跑出來迎接，迎面撞上明雨霁絕說不上好看的臉色。明華裳愣了下，試探問：“阿姐，你怎麽了？”

明雨霁深吸一口氣，擠出笑意，道：“沒事。路上耽誤太久，有些累了。”

身後的丫鬟早憋了一路，見狀噼裏啪啦将遺風軒的事倒給明華裳。明華裳聽完臉色微沉，對明雨霁說：“阿姐，就是這些事惹你不高興了？你遇到糟心事，怎麽能不和家裏說？”

“真不是。”明雨霁嘆息，她不想提蘇行止，拉着明華裳坐下，道，“一些跳梁小醜而已，我再不出息，也不至于和他們怄氣。我擔心的，是朝廷局勢。”

說起這個，兩人都沉默了。現在的生活看似寧靜，但她們都知道，這只是暴風雨來臨前的假象。

韓颉果不其然不見了，女皇雖然退位上陽宮，但沒有人敢小瞧她的頭腦和意志，說不定什麽時候韓颉就會集結玄枭衛，卷土重來。而這麽重要的關頭。皇帝卻忙着打壓李華章、相王、太平公主，不遺餘力排擠功臣，反而一股腦提拔韋皇後和安樂公主的門客。

世事是一個圈，武皇給李家帶來無窮無盡的苦痛，每個人都恨她，但每個人都想成為她。

然世上只有一個武瞾，她在自立為帝之前，已有二十餘年處理朝政的經驗，太平公主能在朝中栽培大量黨羽，前提也是跟在武皇身邊積累了數年。韋皇後和安樂公主一沒有理政經驗，二沒有過人天賦，三不愛讀書，她們只看到武皇和太平公主成功了，就覺得自己也行，焉是吉兆？

據玄枭衛傳回的消息，安樂公主想要效仿太平公主栽培羽翼，卻又無人可以提拔，漸漸發展成賣官鬻爵。長此以往，好不容易複國的大唐，恐怕又要生禍。

明華裳在家裏住不了多久了，明雨霁不想讓她煩心，便叫丫鬟将畫案搬出來，轉移話題道：“快來看看喜不喜歡，如果不合适，還來得及做新的。”

明華裳沒再繼續那些沉重的話題，她看到畫案驚喜地叫了聲，笑道：“好漂亮，多謝阿姐！果真姐姐對我最好了。”

“少來這套。”明雨霁板着臉，道，“我可不是李華章，會被你花言巧語糊弄過去。”

“怎麽能叫糊弄！”明華裳一臉委屈，真誠道，“這明明是我肺腑之言。就算二兄在這裏，我也要說，天底下我和阿姐最好了。”

明雨霁目光忽的望向門口，明華裳吓了一跳，趕緊回頭，卻發現門口是空的。明雨霁嗤笑一聲，說：“瞧你這三心二意的樣子，還敢說和我最好？”

明華裳被抓了現形，頗為尴尬。丫鬟們捂着嘴吃吃地笑，道：“二娘子別的不說，哄人最是厲害，難怪把雍王哄得團團轉，每日散衙都要找借口來公府呢。”

“哪有！”明華裳還在試圖掙紮，“我字字句句，皆發自真心，絕無一字虛假！”

這種話，恐怕連李華章本人都不信了。明雨霁看着她們笑鬧了一會，心裏猛地生出一股傷感。

Everything was too perfect, and she couldn't help but feel anxious. Would such beauty be fleeting? She calmed down and said to Ming Huashang, "Stop making trouble. Go and embroider your wedding dress first. You will be married in a few days."

Ming Huashang refused to leave, saying, "Second brother knows that my embroidery is not good and there are not enough patterns on the wedding dress. If he doesn't say it and I don't say it, who else would know it?"

"I've never seen anyone embroidering her own wedding dress and still falsifying it." Ming Yuji was helpless and said, "Forget it, if you don't want to embroider it, forget it. Just bring the wedding dress over."

Ming Huashang was startled and said hurriedly, "Sister, you want to help me embroider? This is not allowed."

"What are you thinking about?" Ming Yuji rolled his eyes at her. "I'm not good at embroidery either. I won't do it even if you ask me to. Of course, you should ask an embroiderer to come. You just need to sew a few simple places. I'm afraid the news will leak out, so I keep you in my room as a witness."

Ming Huashang suddenly hugged Ming Yuji tightly, smiled and said, "Sister is so nice," and then ran out to get the wedding dress. Ming Yuji looked at her from behind, feeling a little disgusted, but couldn't help but smile.

She looked up at the green leaves rustling under the eaves, and suddenly a thought came to her mind.

She thought that she must have been distracted by Ming Huashang's chattering, which was why she felt that getting married was not a bad idea.

Being able to live with the person you want is a very rare thing in itself.

Since he said she was just doing her job, then I wish him all the best and a bright future.