Chapter 12 Saving Fengchen
Zhu Yuhuan was sweating after practicing martial arts, so he naturally had to go back to change clothes. Therefore, the Crown Princess did not ask any further questions, and Zhu Yuhuan returned to Zhu Zhanji's room smoothly. However, he did not expect to see Hu Shanxiang and Sun Mengqiu sitting together as soon as he entered the room, holding a memorial in their hands, as if they were studying something.
If he had not been in the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuhuan would almost have thought that the two were sisters discussing what movie to watch.
Zhu Yuhuan felt worried when he saw Sun Mengqiu's big belly. He greeted her first and then said to her worriedly, "The concubine is about to give birth, why did you come out specially?"
Besides, if something happened to Sun Mengqiu at Hu Shanxiang's place, even if her mother had twelve mouths, it would not be enough to seek justice for her.
This kind of plot appears in basically all palace fighting novels, so it’s no wonder that Zhu Yuhuan is particularly sensitive to it.
Sun Mengqiu smiled and said, "The Crown Prince said that today is his birthday and asked me to come out and join in the fun. His Highness also said that even if you are pregnant, you should move around more, so that it will be conducive to the birth of the fetus."
Hu Shanxiang immediately guessed Zhu Yuhuan's thoughts. She glanced at him nonchalantly and said, "Why don't you change your clothes quickly? How will you look good in front of your father dressed like this?"
Zhu Yuhuan deliberately imitated the man, bowed, and said in a deep voice, "Huanhuan understands."
Seeing this, Sun Mengqiu laughed even more and said, "Little Huanhuan looks exactly like me when I was a child, but I wasn't as cute as Huanhuan before. After all, daughters are more like their mothers, and Huanhuan has more of His Highness's demeanor."
Zhu Yuhuan chuckled and said, "Mother always complains about me being disobedient. If I'm like Daddy, she'll be even more worried that I won't be able to get married."
The Zhu family has inherited square faces and not very fair skin. It is unknown how many generations it will take for the genes to improve. If Zhu Yuhuan had this face... Well, Hu Shanxiang's worries were still justified. Although Zhu Yuhuan could not be called a beauty, she was well-behaved and cute, and with a hint of cunning, she was very likable.
Hu Shanxiang shook her head helplessly, sighed, and said, "Still chattering here?" She said to the female official following Zhu Yuhuan, "First, bring out the Second Concubine's spring clothes for me to see. She's in her advanced stages of pregnancy, and it's time for her clothes to be altered frequently. If they don't fit her well, it'll make everyone in the Eastern Palace laugh."
"yes."
Zhu Yuhuan was about to go back to her room, but Sun Mengqiu waved at her and said, "Huanhuan, come and take a look."
Zhu Yuhuan was a little confused, but he still leaned over and looked at the titles arranged above. Then he suddenly realized: "Oh... Mother and the Second Concubine are ordering a play."
It turned out that the booklet that Sun Mengqiu and Hu Shanxiang were holding just now was a collection of Southern Opera excerpts, and the two were discussing what kind of play would be suitable.
"Yes, I used to go to the theatre on my birthday. The Crown Princess requested one and asked us to order a few too. They were all old operas, so we only performed the most exciting parts. We could go to several shows a day." Sun Mengqiu smiled and said, "My favorite is 'Little Sun the Butcher'. It tells the story of punishing corrupt officials and redressing injustices. It's very interesting."
Zhu Yuhuan was only a few years old and was usually sleepy when listening to music. He had no interest in this and just asked curiously, "Which one does the concubine like?"
At the mention of opera, Sun Mengqiu's eyes sparkled. She said, "I like 'Liu Wenlong's Diamond Flower Mirror.' People are accustomed to women's loyalty and love stories about women who endure long years in a humble house. But it's more interesting to see a man like Liu Wenlong, who lived in a foreign country but remained loyal to his wife for sixteen years and refused to marry another." At this point, Sun Mengqiu's expression darkened again. "It's a pity that such operas are rarely performed in the palace. I haven't heard them for a long time. I only vaguely remember the plot from when I was a child outside the palace."
Isn't this the story of Wang Baochuan, who waited in the cold kiln for eighteen years, waiting for Xue Pinggui's safe return? It seems that this kind of story is really loved by both men and women, and the gender difference is even more popular with women.
Zhu Yuhuan thought about it for a moment, then asked curiously, "What kind of plays does mother like to watch?"
Although she is Hu Shanxiang's biological daughter, she is indeed not as well-matched as Zhu Zhanji and Sun Mengqiu in terms of time spent together. However, Zhu Zhanji probably doesn't pay much attention to Hu Shanxiang's preferences. It would be better for him to ask Sun Mengqiu. After all, women often understand women better.
Sun Mengqiu pondered for a moment, revealing a rare distressed expression. He lowered his voice and said, "Your Highness often chooses plays for the Crown Princess. I really don't know what she likes to watch... Does Huanhuan know?"
Zhu Yuhuan looked at Hu Shanxiang who took the clothes and examined them carefully, shook his head, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
She finally understood her own mother's temper. She really regarded being the Crown Prince's Consort as her job, which was similar to her behavior in modern times where she would complete her work on time, "leave the job after finishing it, and hide her name and body", and never show any extra emotions at work. It was nothing more than a business matter.
Sun Mengqiu didn't want to delve into it and said, "What kind of plays does Huanhuan like? You can also take a look at this booklet to see if there are any you like."
Zhu Yuhuan glanced at the opera script and muttered, "Why isn't there 'Saving the Wind and Dust'? 'And's 'Wangjiangting'?..."
Apart from anything else, she would rather watch a story about self-rescue than those dramas where you wait for me and I wait for you.
Sun Mengqiu exclaimed, "Huanhuan, are you talking about 'Zhao Pan'er's Romantic Rescue'?"
Zhu Yuhuan realized that he had spoken out of turn, but for a moment he was at a loss for words and could not utter a single word.
After all, this play was performed in the imperial palace, so how could it be possible that the protagonist was a prostitute?
Sun Mengqiu smiled and said, "I must have misheard. When I was a kid, I often went to listen to operas and heard a lot of interesting stories. It's just that the names of those operas were almost the same, so I always misheard the names."
Zhu Yuhuan looked at her and saw her blink. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart that it was no wonder that Zhu Zhanji doted on Sun Mengqiu so much. Even in the silent palace, Sun Mengqiu was as lively as ever, like a fairy walking out of a painting. It was really rare.
If Zhu Yuhuan had not joined the Zhu family, if he had entered the deep palace walls, he would probably have been even more depressed than Hu Shanxiang.
Zhu Yuhuan smiled and said, "Let's read 'Zhao Zhennu'. It's interesting."
Sun Mengqiu seemed to have heard something as well and said with a smile, "This is also interesting. The Crown Princess would like it too. I'll circle it for you."
Hu Shanxiang checked the regulations of the clothes and saw the two people whispering. She said, "What are you two whispering about?"
Zhu Yuhuan put his hands behind his back and said obediently, "I didn't say anything."
Hu Shanxiang glanced at her suspiciously. Sun Mengqiu had already stood up and said, "Your Highness, I'll try and see if there's anything that needs to be adjusted."
Hu Shanxiang hummed, then warned Zhu Yuhuan, "You just came back from martial arts practice, hurry up and change your clothes, wash and dress up, or your father will come back and see you looking like a wild monkey."
Zhu Yuhuan responded hurriedly with a flattering smile, then ran back to his room and asked the palace servants to help him wash and change his clothes.
If Hu Shanxiang knew that she had heard of the play "Rescuing the Wind and Dust", there would definitely be trouble again. Thanks to Sun Mengqiu's help and cover-up, she was not caught on the spot.
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