The Princess's Notebook

Zhao Feiran had just returned to the East Palace in a depressed mood when the emperor's reprimand arrived. It was very simple, saying that he was disrespectful to his mother, had no moral integrity, and was unworthy of the responsibility of being the crown prince. The eunuch who came to deliver the message was a very useful person beside the emperor. After the formal reprimand, he put on a smile in an instant.

"Your Highness, as His Majesty meant, today's commotion really cannot be covered up. I hope Your Highness will reflect on it and think carefully. Treat Her Majesty better in some time, and then go to pay your respects and apologize. It will look good in front of Her Majesty, and it will also look good in front of the court officials." After saying this, he stood still, as if he had something else to say.

Zhao Feiran did not move his eyebrows, and asked in a cold voice: "Your Majesty, do you have anything else to say?"

The eunuch smiled even more happily, "To be honest with you, Your Highness, the Queen said that there will be a thousand-year banquet on May 13th, and all the young ladies of the fifth-rank officials in Kyoto can come..."

Before he could finish, Zhao Feiran asked in surprise: "Your Majesty has approved it?!"

"Look at what Your Highness said. Everyone in the palace knows it. Your Majesty will approve anything the Queen asks." The eunuch wanted to persuade him a little more, but seeing Zhao Feiran's cold face, he swallowed his words back.

The most noble family in the world is quarreling, and they are the ones who are crying.

After the eunuchs left, Zhao Feiran withdrew from the people around him and sat down alone in front of the desk. Sometimes he would flip through the books, sometimes he would check the documents, and sometimes he would pick up the wolf brush and write and draw aimlessly.

Zhao Feiran was born a prince, and over the years, he had never had any unpleasant experiences.

Today's incident was really new, so new that he felt that the reprimand was nothing more than that, just for the sake of showing off to others. His father and mother loved him so much, he knew everything now. However, the bride was quite puzzled. Was her mother instigated by someone, why did she insist that he choose a princess as the crown princess?

As I thought of this, the lights flickered until midnight.

Just when the eunuchs and palace maids outside the palace, as well as the eunuch Song who followed him every day, all thought that the Crown Prince had really reflected on his mistakes, a command suddenly came from inside, "Prepare water, bathe." Everyone cheered and rejoiced that the Crown Prince was fine and even knew how to bathe. After a chaotic cleanup, it took another half an hour before they finally stopped.

Zhao Feiran lay on his side on the couch, tossing and turning, unable to sleep, still wondering why he had to find a Crown Princess.

It was really difficult, I couldn't figure it out, and there was no one to talk to. The people around him were either the guards of the Eastern Palace, a few older cousins, and then there was the elder sister... There was no need to ask, these people must want him to get married as soon as possible, and preferably have children.

The inner boredom found an outlet in the night wind. It was nothing else. In his dream, Zhao Feiran met Shiqi Niang who was walking towards him from afar. He had never been so happy in his dreams many times. This young lady was not annoying. Maybe he could ask her.

"Shiqi Niang, come here. Come over here." Zhao Feiran smiled sweetly.

Shiqi Niang was stunned in place, looked around, and saw nothing unusual, then looked at Zhao Feiran. He was standing on a waterside pavilion. On the lake, golden light was dancing. Amidst the flashing light, the waterside pavilion stood, connected only by a winding path. Shiqi Niang stepped onto the path, graceful and elegant, with lotus steps moving lightly. The breeze was mixed with water vapor, warm and comfortable.

"Why did you call me here?" Shiqi Niang asked facing the golden light before entering the water pavilion.

"Come here, I have something to tell you." Zhao Feiran was asking for help and was exceptionally gentle.

Shiqi Niang paused, thinking: Could it be that this fellow has discovered the book of "Little Eunuch" and wants to kill her in her sleep? !
"I won't go over. We can talk like this between us."

"I told you to come here!" Zhao Feiran was impatient and pretended to be angry, with the ends of his eyebrows raised, which was a bit scary.

Seeing this, the useless young lady said, "Let me make it clear first, you are asking me something, not looking for trouble with me?"

"You're not coming over?" Seeing that Shiqi Niang didn't move, Zhao Feiran raised his foot and prepared to leave the waterside pavilion. "Even so, it would be the same if I went over."

Shiqi Niang was so frightened that she almost jumped up, "Don't move. I'll do it." As she spoke, she trembled and walked to the water pavilion.

"I have something to ask you. Are you married?" the young man asked directly, without any reservation.

She gripped the edge of the table tightly. "You...you~you, what can I do for you?" As soon as she said that, she thought of her own notebook. The second volume was about murder and wife-stealing. Here it comes! It was like someone sent a pillow when you were sleepy.

So he put on a smiling face and asked, "Why, are you going to get married?"

Zhao Feiran said bitterly: "I want you to talk too much!"

The young lady's eyes sparkled, even brighter than the sparkling light on the lake, and she said maliciously, "Yes, yes, no, no, what's the relationship between you and me? I will laugh at you. It's not a big deal for a young eunuch to marry a wife."

The man was furious, "I... I am not a eunuch, remember this, don't make the same mistake again."

"Okay, okay," seeing that his face was about to turn red with anxiety, Shiqi Niang apologized repeatedly and pretended to slap herself on the cheek, "How about this?"

The girl had a face like a lotus and eyes like the autumn moon. As she bowed her head to apologize, I could see her black hair like clouds, adorned only with pearls. And the swaying hair by her ears swayed in the breeze.

With just one glance, Zhao Feiran's anger suddenly dissipated a little. However, thinking of his own face, he said coldly: "How daring. Remember this! Since you have apologized, I will not mention it for now. Please answer my question as soon as possible."

Shiqi Niang lowered her head and chuckled. This guy was very easy to please. I wonder what kind of new bride he was looking for. She didn't show it on her face. "I'm a married woman. We haven't even discussed marriage yet, so how can we talk about getting married?"

Zhao Feiran was stunned after hearing this, then he remembered that he already knew it. Why are you still asking? How foolish!

At one point, Shiqi Niang asked again, "Since you said you are not a eunuch, will your family arrange a marriage for you?"

"Since you haven't discussed marriage yet, why are you saying all this? Forget it, I'll go back and think about it." Zhao Feiran stood up and pretended to leave.

"Hey, you haven't finished talking yet, why are you leaving?" Shiqi Niang stood up to stop her.

The third volume, "Little Eunuch", has not been found yet.

Zhao Feiran, who had already taken one step out, was extremely impatient, "You women are noisy and boring. What's the point of getting married?"

This statement also included Wang Shiqi Niang's scolding, which she could not tolerate. The young lady suddenly grabbed his sleeve and asked harshly: "You are impatient with other young ladies, but I didn't do anything to you! What do you mean by this? Tell me."

Zhao Feiran, who was already in a state of anxiety, could not stand the questioning. He immediately pulled back his sleeves and said in a deep voice:
"Thunder, lightning, rain and dew are all blessings."

This was the first time that Shiqi Niang had seen such a domineering Zhao Feiran. She was stunned for a moment. Unexpectedly, Zhao Feiran suddenly strode out of the waterside pavilion, knocking Shiqi Niang, who was standing at the edge of the waterside pavilion, off balance. As luck would have it, after stumbling, Shiqi Niang had no time to find something to hold onto, and fell into the center of the lake with a plop.

Zhao Feiran, who had already taken a step, heard the sound and turned around suddenly, only to see a huge splash of water. Before the splash stopped, he saw the young lady splashing in the lake.

He came back quickly, "You...how did you fall into the water?! I'll go find someone to save you."

Shiqi Niang grabbed a mouthful of water and did not say a word for several movements. After a long while, she finally said, "Looking for someone?! You idiot, you threw me down, can't you come and save me?"

Although it was not intentional, it was ultimately his own oversight and Zhao Feiran had no excuse.

He thought, "I... can't swim? How can I save you..." Suddenly he came to his senses and realized that Shiqi Niang was just floundering in the water and didn't fall at all. He thought the lake must be a bit shallow. "Why don't you try to get up? This lake shouldn't be able to drown anyone!"

Panicked, Wang Shiqi Niang had no time to think and cursed angrily, "You little eunuch, I knew you were not a good person. When I get back, I will write you to death!"

Zhao Feiran became more and more certain of what he had expected, so he persuaded him again. "Just try it. Really, you can listen to me."

Seeing that he said this several times and that she did not sink into the lake, Shiqi Niang plucked up her courage, steadied her body, and stood up slowly.

As expected, the lake was only three-tenths of the height above the waist, so there was no need to splash. When I realized all this, my wet hands were empty, with nowhere to land. Embarrassment and embarrassment all surged into my heart.

Then I heard Zhao Feiran standing upright on the trail and laughing, "Look! You can't go wrong by listening to me."

He looked very good, with only a few drops of water on his face, and his graceful demeanor remained the same in the sunset glow. Shiqi Niang took a tentative step closer to the trail, and with a threatening look on her face, she reached out her hand to Zhao Feiran.

"You said you can't swim and can't come to save me. Now that it's like this, can you pull me up?"

She was soaked, her hair was sticking to her face, and streams of water flowed down her face. Finally, it hung on the side of her jaw, shining brightly. Perhaps because of the golden light, Zhao Feiran was disturbed, and gently stretched out his hand.

The young man's hand was right in front of her. Shiqi Niang grabbed it and pulled him into the water when he was not paying attention.

There was another splash, and the young man waved his hands wildly in the water, while the young lady next to him stared at his miserable appearance and laughed.

"You have today too!"

He came to his senses and stood up suddenly, "Be careful or I'll have someone kill you!"

A silver bell-like laugh, "You, go back and tell your master, and see if he can kill me. I don't think you can do it."

The pavilions and waterside terraces were covered with the afterglow of the setting sun, and the floating light was golden. The young man's anger gradually faded away amid the young lady's undisguised laughter.

Finally, Wang Shiqi Niang said, "It was just a dream. We are all fools!"

……

There was no need to go out of your way to know the news about the Queen's visit to the noble ladies of aristocratic families at the Thousand Years Banquet. You should know everything you need to know.

At dusk, Master Wang Si came to the main wife with a licking face and said with a joking voice, "Madam, good news."

Qiao Xin, who was sitting by the window reading a book, did not move his eyebrows and said, "Huh, the master got promoted?"

Master Wang Si didn't care about the vague sarcasm, "Madam, what you said is very good. I will be promoted soon. Now is a good opportunity. If Madam is willing to lend a hand, what's the big deal about promotion? I can also be the future father-in-law of the emperor."

Qiao Xin glanced at him and said, "Wow, where did you find the silver to drink the yellow soup?"

"Madam, what are you talking about? You must know how much silver I have. I haven't drunk a drop of wine." As he said this, Wang Kang put his head close to Qiao Xin to show that he hadn't drunk a drop of wine.

The woman closed her eyes in anger. "What are you doing? Aren't you ashamed? Tell me, what's the matter?"

Wang Kang smiled triumphantly, "In mid-May, the Queen will hold a banquet to celebrate her birthday and invite all the young ladies in Kyoto. Madam, I was thinking that you should go visit your mother, elder brother, and elder sister-in-law. Bring along some of the children and dress them up nicely. If this is accomplished, you will be promoted without a problem."

Qiao Xin rarely took his eyes off the book and looked at Wang Kang's face. After searching for a while, he smiled and said, "Young lady from the fifth-rank official's wife in Kyoto, who are you?"

Wang Kang was not ashamed at all, "My elder brother is the Minister of War, a fourth-rank official."

After hearing this, Qiao Xin almost couldn't hold the book in his hand anymore. After he had finished laughing, he said, "Who do you plan to let go? How many young ladies in our fourth room are still unengaged? Please tell me. You don't even know this."

Wang Kang was overjoyed. He realized that his wife had agreed, and he said excitedly, "Madam, you don't have to bully me here. We have four young ladies in the fourth room, the Sixteenth Lady, the Seventeenth Lady, the Eighteenth Lady, and the Nineteenth Lady. If Madam is willing, you can take them all with you. Too much oil will not spoil the food."

Qiao Xin threw the book on the table and said with a dull sound, "Master is really capable! He takes the matter of choosing husbands for the children so seriously. As their mother, I thank you on behalf of the children."

"There's no need to be so polite between you and me. They are my children too, so I naturally care about them." Wang Kang seemed to have seen the future father-in-law of the emperor walking towards him, and his face was flushed.

"Humph, keep it in mind. The girls in the fourth room, starting from Ninth Lady, don't even have a proper nickname. They just call them by their seniority. Is this what you call keeping it in mind?! Girls don't want to be kept in mind like this!"

(End of this chapter)