Chapter 86: Marriage

Ming Huashang's mind was slightly moved, thinking that this was not the first time he said he would support her for the rest of her life. When he wanted to take her away in Luoyang, he had vowed to his grandmother and others that if she could not get married, he would support her.

Ming Huashang couldn't help but think of the dream in which the Duke of Zhenguo had her driven out of the mansion, and it was Ming Huazhang who stepped forward and tried to keep her. It turned out that no matter whether she deliberately made friends with him or not, no matter whether she had a close relationship with him or not, he would never abandon her.

However, she in his dream still disappointed him and died without knowing what happened to her. Ming Huashang didn't know what happened after her death. He had no idea what the people in the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion thought when they heard the news of her death, and what he thought. Ming Huashang felt inexplicably sad and whispered, "Maybe I won't have to support her for the rest of my life."

To this day, even with the warning in the dream, she still doesn't know who killed her, why she died, let alone how to avoid death. If she still can't escape the fate of death this time, then she can only accompany him until next year, which doesn't cost him much money and energy.

Ming Huazhang didn't hear clearly, so he leaned over and asked, "What did you say?"

Ming Huashang shook her head, looked up and smiled at him, "Second brother, this is what you said, you will support me for the rest of my life, you are not allowed to despise me for my ability to eat."

Ming Huazhang looked at her and smiled softly: "Okay. What do you want to eat? I'll go with you to buy it. You can make a fuss as long as you want."

Ming Huashang felt a little bitter in her heart, and hugged his arm under the pretext of being his sister, and said cheerfully, "Okay. It's getting late, let's go back to the banquet."

There were more and more people in the garden, and the nobles sat in groups. All the flirting and testing were hidden in the soft voices, and only laughter could be heard when they were walking back and forth. When Ming Huashang and Ming Huazhang passed through the trees, they happened to meet Xie Jichuan. Ming Huashang subconsciously let go of Ming Huazhang's hand. Xie Jichuan seemed not to see their actions and walked over with a smile: "Jingzhan, second sister, so you are here, no wonder I couldn't find you after looking for you for a long time."

Seeing Jichuan like this, Ming Huashang felt even more guilty. She tried to cover it up by saying, "I thought the scenery by the lake was nice, so I just wanted to take a stroll. Brother came to see me."

Xie Jichuan looked at her and smiled, "I know. Why do you need to explain it to me, sister?"

Ming Huachang was silent, and inexplicably felt that he was being tampered with. Ming Huazhang immediately took over the conversation and asked, "Xie Jichuan, where were you assigned to?"

Xie Jichuan's smile seemed a little elusive, and he said, "Donggong."

Ming Huazhang's pupils dilated slightly, and he was very surprised: "Eastern Palace?"

"That's right." Xie Jichuan nodded and said in an ambiguous way, "The Prince's Sheren in the Right Spring Office of the Zhanshi Mansion."

The crown prince was the heir apparent, and the Eastern Palace had a small team similar to the imperial court, but the number of people and size were greatly reduced. The Right Spring Office was similar to the Secretariat, in charge of attendants, tributes, and memorials. The Crown Prince's Sheren was a minor official of the sixth rank, responsible for drafting orders and memorials for the crown prince.

However, this small court was more of a symbol of etiquette and law, and did not hold real power. Especially in the current situation, the prince was in a state of fear under the empress, and his life was in danger at any moment, so how could he draft any orders? Xie Jichuan, the prince's attendant, was just an honorary title, and he actually had no business to do.

But the Queen's move to place Xie Jichuan in the Eastern Palace is intriguing. What does the Queen want to do? Let Xie Jichuan monitor the Crown Prince, or test Xie Jichuan's loyalty?

Ming Huazhang fell silent when he heard about this official position. Ming Huashang saw that the atmosphere was not right and tried to ask: "Second brother, what happened to the prince's servant? Is he not well?"

Going to the East Palace to assist the Crown Prince, and when the Crown Prince ascends the throne in the future, he will be the new emperor's confidant. Who dares to say it's not good? Xie Jichuan smiled and replied: "It's not that it's not good, but I think there is a destiny."

Ming Huachang became more and more confused: "Where did fate come from?"

Xie Jichuan smiled, his eyes slightly curved, like a glacier with floating ice fragments: "My father was once the Prince's attendant in the Eastern Palace. That was almost twenty years ago. I never thought that I would take on this position again."

Almost twenty years ago... Ming Huachang's heart suddenly sank. According to the time, wasn't the crown prince at that time the crown prince Zhang Huai? Was Xie Jichuan's father, like the Duke of Zhenguo, once a close confidant of the crown prince Zhang Huai?

Ming Huachang felt something was wrong, but couldn't put it into words. Ming Huazhang interrupted the topic calmly and said, "The positions of officials are decided by the officials in the Ministry of Personnel. We should make the best of it and do our part. Let's go back."

Xie Jichuan glanced at Ming Huazhang calmly, said nothing more, and turned away calmly. The three of them returned to the palace where the banquet was held. The charcoal basin was already lit inside, warm as spring, and the fragrance was overwhelming.

When Ming Huashang entered the room, someone suddenly rushed out and she was hit and almost fell down the stairs. Fortunately, Ming Huazhang and Xie Jichuan followed behind her. Ming Huazhang quickly supported her, and Xie Jichuan also hurriedly stepped forward and supported Ming Huashang's other arm: "Second sister, are you okay?"

Ming Huashang shook her head. She raised her eyes and saw that the person who was rushing across the road without looking was actually Princess Anle.

Li Guoer was the youngest daughter of the crown prince. She was spoiled by her parents since she was young. In addition, she was good-looking and had always been very arrogant. She was a little annoyed when she was bumped into, but when she looked up and saw two handsome, tall and slender men, the anger on her face subsided unconsciously, and she asked, "Who are you..."

Ming Huazhang really looked down on Princess Anle, who was beautiful but brainless, but at this moment he was the subject and she was the king, so Ming Huazhang had to lower his eyes and salute, saying calmly: "Your servant Ming Huazhang, I pay my respects to Princess Anle."

Xie Jichuan also followed suit and saluted: "I am Xie Jichuan, and I am honored to meet the princess."

Ming Huazhang stood in front, silently covering Ming Huashang's figure. Ming Huashang saluted in a low profile, not attracting any attention, but it seemed that the princess didn't want to pay attention to her.

Li Guoer's eyes lingered on Ming Huazhang and Xie Jichuan, her eyes full of interest. The maid saw something was wrong and hurried forward to remind her: "Princess, this is the second son of the Duke of Zhenguo, who will take over as the Shaoyin of Jingzhao Prefecture, and this is the son of the Xie family, who is the prince's attendant. Both of them are new Jinshi this year."

Li Guoer couldn't hide her disappointment when she heard the identities of these two people. She had certainly met Jinshi Lang, but Ming Huazhang and Xie Jichuan rarely attended private banquets. Whenever they appeared, they were at group banquets that they had to attend, such as the Wild Goose Pagoda inscription and polo matches. Li Guoer followed the royal team and looked at them from a distance, but couldn't see their faces clearly at all.

Today was the first time she saw the two men up close, but unfortunately she couldn't do anything. After all, she knew that her grandmother attached great importance to this year's imperial examination, and she would never dare to touch her grandmother's people.

A woman's voice came from behind: "Gu'er, what are you doing?"

Then the curtain was opened, and another beautiful, dignified woman appeared behind it. She was stunned when she saw this scene. Before Ming Huashang could recognize who this person was, Ming Huazhang had already saluted calmly: "Your servant Ming Huazhang has met Princess Yongtai."

Only the daughter of the crown prince can be called a princess, while the daughters of other princes can only be called county princesses. When Ming Huashang heard the title, she knew that this was the eldest legitimate daughter of the crown prince and Concubine Wei. Ming Huashang also greeted her: "Greetings to Princess Yongtai."

Although Princess Yongtai didn't know what happened here, she knew her younger sister's character very well. She glared at Li Guoer secretly and said, "It turned out to be Shao Yin Ming, and this one is..."

"This is my sister."

Princess Yongtai responded and said, "It's Madam Ming. It's windy outside, what are you doing standing here? Are we blocking the way? Please come in."

Princess Yongtai, as the legitimate daughter of the crown prince, was too humble to show such an attitude towards the newly-minted scholar who had just entered the officialdom. But considering the current situation of the Eastern Palace, it was not out of place at all.

The prince is called the crown prince, but in reality he walks on a steel edge at every step, always fearing that he will be deposed by the queen. How could the prince's children have the courage to offend the newcomers in the court?

Ming Huazhang did not refuse Princess Yongtai's excessive courtesy, and after returning the gift, he led Ming Huashang into the palace. Ming Huashang walked in last, and vaguely heard the voices behind her.

The one who said this gently but angrily was Princess Yongtai: "Gu'er, I told you to be careful with your words and actions, why are you still so rash?"

The clear and proud voice was obviously from Princess Anle: "My mother said she would find a husband for me, so I came out to take a look. What's wrong? You only allow my brother-in-law to obey you, but I am not allowed to choose a husband of my choice for myself?"

"Gu'er!" Princess Yongtai was afraid that Li Gu'er would show disrespect to the new Jinshi, but she didn't expect that this was exactly what she was worried about. Princess Yongtai scolded, "Mother really indulged you too much. How could you say such a thing?"

"I'm a princess, and I'm so beautiful. It's a blessing for them to marry me!"

"You still dare to say that?"

The woman's voice was low, and the words she said afterwards were unclear, but Ming Huashang could guess what they were saying. Xie Jichuan walked in front and sighed softly, "It's a disaster for a woman to know that she is beautiful but has no brains."

Ming Huazhang glanced at him coldly: "This is in the palace, be careful with your words."

Xie Jichuan shrugged and said nothing more. Ming Huashang couldn't help but look back at the door. Xie Jichuan saw her movements and smiled, "Don't worry, second sister, don't worry that your brother will be chosen by the princess or the county lord."

Ming Huashang was caught red-handed, feeling a little embarrassed: "What should I worry about? It's not my turn to worry about my brother's marriage."

"What about my sister's own marriage?"

"Why are you talking so much today?" Ming Huazhang could no longer bear it and said to the guest, "The Xie family's seat is over there. You should leave now."

After finally getting rid of Xie Jichuan, Ming Huazhang calmly said to Ming Huashang, "Don't worry about him. He's crazy and what he says is nonsense. You don't need to rush into marriage."

明華裳尴尬地笑笑，心道明年她能不能活下來還是兩說，哪有心思關注說親。明華裳和明華章在鎮國公府的席位上坐下，她剛坐好，注意到永泰郡主和安樂郡主從外面回來了，安樂郡主噘着嘴跑向韋妃，永泰郡主跟在後面，一臉無奈。

一個男子見狀走向永泰郡主，永泰郡主看到後自然而然搭住他的手，兩人旁若無人地低語，看得出感情很好。

明華裳猜測，這應當就是永泰郡主的丈夫了。明華裳悄悄問明華章：“二兄，那個男子是誰，似乎沒聽過。”

明華章朝東宮那邊掃了眼，說：“那是永泰的丈夫紀羨。他們兩人是在房州認識的，陛下決意立廬陵王為太子後，永泰随着家人回京，紀羨也跟了過來，難怪你不認識。”

明華裳暗暗點頭，小聲說：“看起來他們夫妻感情很好。”

“應當吧。”明華章說，“紀羨的父親是房州錄事參軍事，負責看押廬陵王，可能就是這樣和永泰熟識的。”

明華裳默默哦了聲，她看向上方和太子妃撒嬌的安樂郡主，委婉說：“安樂郡主和永泰郡主雖是姐妹，但性情截然不同。”

明華章也跟着看向東宮席位，心裏默默嘆息。

太子和相王兩兄弟這些年過得都不好，但境遇截然不同。太子被幽禁在房州，物質匮乏，朝不保夕，而相王被幽禁在宮城，雖然依然艱難，但畢竟身處皇城，衣食無憂。他們兩家的孩子也展示出截然不同的氣質，太子的子女在窮苦中長大卻驟然回到帝王之都，要麽流露出怯懦軟弱，要麽表現出強烈的對錢財的貪婪；相王的孩子在皇權熏陶和壓迫中長大，早早就表現出成熟、隐忍。

這樣的區別，對興複李唐也不知是好是壞。

人慢慢到齊了，宮女開始上菜。明華裳對皇家的事不過八卦一下，很快就不關心了。皇室鬥争關她什麽事呢？她更關心今天吃什麽。

但明華章對着滿桌佳肴，卻毫無胃口。他忍不住想這次授官，新一批留在長安的玄枭衛有七人，其中明華裳、蘇雨霁是普通女子，不方便走到臺前，以後多半要隐藏在民間執行任務。而其他五人全部授了官，其中明華章去京兆府，接觸長安城行政內務；任遙和江陵去了羽林軍，雖然官職低，但也算在北衙禁軍內紮根；蘇行止去禦史臺察院，監視尚書省和六部，歷來都是最受當權者信任和重視之處；其中最奇怪的當屬謝濟川，他竟然去東宮幫太子起草文書。

以謝濟川的才能，當然完全足以勝任這項任務，但明華章并沒有從中看出女皇對新秀的愛護栽培之心，只看到了猜忌。

在長安行政、軍隊、官場乃至東宮全部安插自己的眼線，女皇對長安，或者說對長安代表的前朝政權，竟然如此不信任嗎？

那可是她的兒子啊！

女皇在衆人擁簇下入殿，明華裳趕緊收回盯着菜肴的視線，随大流行跪拜禮。女皇恩威并重，緩緩道“免禮平身”，內侍說了幾句場面話後，宴席就開始了。

明華裳拿起筷子，默不作聲開吃。明華章沉浸在思緒中，猛不防看到一雙筷子越過他，小心翼翼去夠另一邊的菜。

明華章回頭，發現明華裳已經把自己面前的菜吃得七七八八了，明華裳像偷東西的倉鼠被發現了一樣，無辜地對他眨眨眼睛，還欲蓋彌彰地給他夾菜：“二兄，你不吃嗎？”

明華章嘆氣，将桌案另一邊的菜挪到中間，無奈道：“你餓了？”

“嗯。”

“走前不是讓你吃東西了嗎？”

明華裳撇撇嘴，委屈道：“那才多點，過了這麽久，光走路就消耗完了。”

明華章輕輕哼了聲，慢悠悠道：“誰讓你去和蘇行止游湖，活該。”

明華裳一噎，很是無語。這關蘇行止什麽事呢，她就算站在原地不動，該餓還是餓。

明華章嘴上說着，但還是将一碟點心端給她。明華裳一心一意吃飯，完全不理外界紛争。

女皇喜歡詩詞文史，今日十多位進士都在場，不吟詩作賦才是浪費。女皇讓人對着秋湖題詩，內侍們在殿內供着筆墨，哪位才子有思路了，便可過來提筆寫詩，之後由內侍送上去給女皇品評。

這種既露臉又能投上位者所好的機會，不光臣子在乎，李武兩家的皇子龍孫們也在乎。太平公主、魏王、梁王等各自都養了許多文人代筆，有財力的讓幕僚想，沒財力的自己想，沒錢也沒才的，就算硬着頭皮，也得湊幾句送上去表态。

沒一會功夫，女皇面前便堆了一疊紙。女皇讓上官婉兒點評，上官婉兒拿着一疊詩稿，只看一眼便抛過，雪白的紙片翻飛，很快就在她裙裾邊落了一層，遠遠看去如堆雪一般。

上官婉兒只看了一遍，便從容排出第一第二第三，內侍拿起詩稿當衆念出來，在場人聽了都心服口服。

上官婉兒宮廷第一才女的名頭當之無愧，明華裳十分佩服，鼓掌之後繼續低頭吃東西。

然而上方的評選還在繼續，上官婉兒當衆念出魏王之子的詩，看文筆明顯是別人代寫，但在場無人在意，女皇笑道：“延基進步甚大，不錯。”

魏王的嫡長子武延基出列，恭敬謝恩。魏王臉上也露出與有榮焉之色，沒想到女皇接下來話鋒一轉，問：“朕記得，延基還未成親吧？”

殿中氣氛一滞，就算武延基已經說好了親現在也成未婚了，魏王笑着道：“謝姑母惦記着他，他行事冒冒失失的，親事還沒安排。”

女皇緩慢點頭，說：“男大當婚女大當嫁，孩子們正值青春俊秀，正該早點成婚，耽誤了不好。太子，你覺得呢？”

太子猝不及防被點名，女皇話已經說到這個份上，言外之意顯而易見，太子誠惶誠恐地說：“母親說的是。兒臣剛回長安，兒女婚事不知從何下手，請母親多疼愛他們，給邵王兄妹幾人賜婚。”

韋妃一聽有些急，女兒們便也罷了，邵王李重潤可是她唯一的兒子，選兒媳這麽重要的事，竟然要交給女皇做主嗎？

然而太子低着頭，一副任憑母親安排的模樣，韋妃就算着急也沒辦法。

女皇不動聲色道：“重潤關系着大統傳承，婚事得好好找，還不急着定下。不過女娘們耽誤不得了，朕看永泰安靜穩重，延基謙和守禮，正是一對佳緣。”

這話說出來後大殿靜了靜，永泰郡主眼睛瞪大，正要說什麽，韋妃立刻命人按住她，畢恭畢敬謝恩：“陛下說的是，兒媳謝母親賜婚。”

明華裳嘴裏的桂花糕還沒吃完，驚詫地看向明華章。永泰郡主不是有夫婿嗎？還是說明華章的信息有誤？

明華章看起來也有些意外，他按住明華裳的手，細微對她搖頭，眼神十分凝重。他立刻去找剛才那個男子，果然，紀羨已經不見了。

永泰郡主在房州的事女皇不可能不知道，但女皇還是堂而皇之拆婚，将太子的嫡女嫁給魏王的兒子，強行促成李武聯姻。

反正永泰郡主的婚約是在房州定下的，沒經過洛陽，女皇說她沒成婚，她就算有孩子也得和離另嫁。

大殿裏無論內侍外臣，明明那麽多人看到永泰郡主和她的丈夫情投意合，但此刻無一人提及，都熱熱鬧鬧稱贊永泰郡主和魏王長子乃天作之合，般配極了。永泰郡主簡直覺得這個世界瘋了，她想要說什麽，但已經被韋妃的人控制住，強行帶走了。

而這只是開頭，随後女皇以輕飄飄的語氣，又将太子的嫡幼女安樂郡主賜婚給梁王的兒子武崇訓，同樣把梁王、魏王的幾個女兒賜婚給李家這邊的郡王。

一眨眼的功夫，東宮裏除了李重潤，太子僅剩的兩個嫡出女兒全都嫁給了武家，相王這邊也多了姓武的兒媳。李武兩家似乎從沒有這麽緊密過，眨眼便成了好幾重兒女親家。

被點到的人無論是什麽情況，全都站起來謝恩，一句多餘話不敢說。明華裳默默把嘴裏的桂花糕咽下，突然不介懷剛才安樂郡主撞她了。

定王看着這一幕，唇邊帶上莫可名狀的笑意。

真是熟悉啊，當年，太平公主新寡，他以為他是陪着堂兄弟們相看，沒想到公主從一衆武家兒郎中看中他，他的家人也是這樣誠惶誠恐接旨，回去後便逼死了他青梅竹馬的妻子。後來，他受封定王，尚太平公主，成了長安洛陽人人豔羨的驸馬，誰不得說他命好呢？

He smiled and thought of his niece-in-law named Ji Xian. It was said that when Yongtai was imprisoned in the Fangzhou Palace with his parents, he was hungry and had no means of survival. Ji Xian was able to visit the palace frequently because of his father. He often secretly brought food and toys to Yongtai and protected her from being bullied by the guards. Later, he proposed to her several times and finally convinced his parents to marry Yongtai, who was still a hot potato at the time.

Unexpectedly, we survived the most difficult years of confinement. We can share adversity, but not wealth.

But Ji Xian was still very lucky, at least he was only divorced, and if he knew the current situation, he could still be alive. He didn't even see his childhood sweetheart, his wife who had been with him through thick and thin, for the last time.

So what about the royal family? They are just a group of chess pieces who can't even decide who will sleep with them.

Prince Ding had a calm smile on his face, but his eyes were dark and bottomless. He didn't know that Princess Taiping looked at him motionlessly for a long time without turning her head.