The Princess's Notebook

In the dark night, Shiqi Niang looked back and saw Shiliu Niang standing at the entrance of the ancestral hall, holding something in her hand. She thanked the little maid who was watching over her and went into the ancestral hall. After she came in, she knelt down beside Shiqi Niang without saying a word, took out a crispy biscuit from the small cloth package in her hand, and handed it to Shiqi Niang.

"Here, give it to you. I thought you didn't have dinner, so I came to see you."

The fried golden and crispy pancake, spread out in Shiliu Niang's hands, looked even more tempting in the dim light of the ancestral hall.

Seventeenth Lady turned her head away and refused to eat, kneeling upright, even more pious than before when Sixteenth Lady had not come.

"Seventeen, it was Sixteenth Sister who was wrong. She didn't explain it clearly to Father at that time. Eat some bread to fill your stomach, and let's talk. There is no overnight hatred between sisters."

Seeing that Seventeen ignored her, Sixteenth Lady turned sideways to face Seventeen and admitted her mistake readily, without any trace of her previous silence.

Seventeen was still somewhat unhappy and didn't say anything.

Sixteen: "I know you blame me for not understanding your feelings, but Seventeen, I... I..." She seemed to be unable to speak, and seemed unaccustomed to confessing herself, "I think differently from you. You want to find an ordinary man to spend your life with, Seventeen, I don't want to. Why are some of them born noble, some born rich, but I, Wang Sixteen, was born with nothing, and I have to have such a father. Seventeen..."

Sixteen paused, her hands holding the pancake trembling a little. She calmed herself down and saw that no one outside was paying attention, then continued, "Seventeen, I don't want to continue living like this. I want wealth, power, and all the good things at my fingertips. I admit that I am not as open-minded as you, Eighteen, and Nineteen. But there is nothing wrong with my thinking. I just...

Seventeen. Poverty is a disease. If you suffer from this disease for a long time, it is easy for people to become unlike themselves.

I'm just sick, and very sick.

Seventeen, I know you have good intentions this time, and you are doing it for my own good, but so what? I finally managed to get into the palace with my aunt and meet some ladies. It doesn't matter whether the third son is good or not, or whether he has a future or not.

Seventeen. I’m afraid. I’m afraid that if I miss this chance, I’ll never have another chance.

For other young ladies, their parents start planning when they are twelve or thirteen, and by the time they are fifteen or sixteen, most of their dowries are ready. Seventeen, look at the two of us, and think about the sisters who got married before, what did they have. In the past, our fourth branch could still rely on the power of our uncle, but after so many years, our fourth branch seems to be known to everyone in the whole capital, as if it were not the Xuandefang Palace.

I am fifteen, and you are fourteen. We are not young anymore, and no one comes to visit us.

If I keep waiting like this, I'm afraid I'll have to marry someone else, or I won't be able to stay here any longer, and my wife will have to choose one.

Seventeen, I don’t want to live like this. I don’t want to…”

As she spoke, Shiliu Niang couldn't stop her tears from flowing down, but she was too proud to let others see her vulnerability, so she turned her head away and raised her chin stubbornly.

"If you don't want to forgive me, that's understandable. Anyway, I'm engaged and there's not much time left before I get married. You..."

Suddenly, she felt the cake in her hand being taken away, and she turned to look at Seventeen in disbelief.

At some point, Shiqi Niang's eyes were also blurred with tears, and crystal tears hung on her eyelashes, as bright as morning dew. Her eyes were fixed on Shiqi, full of sadness. She slowly put the pancake into her mouth, and the crispy dough exploded in her mouth, leaving a few residues at the corners of her lips.

Sixteen couldn't help it any longer, and raised his hand to wipe the residue off for Seventeen, "You little Seventeen, you are so confused. When I get married, it will be your turn. If you still look like this, who knows how people will despise you."

As he spoke, Sixteen's hands trembled and tears welled up in his eyes.

Seventeen held a biscuit in her mouth and mumbled, "Sixteenth sister, can we wait a little longer?"

Wait a little longer, maybe things will be different!
"Wait, you only have good things in your mind! Why don't you go out and ask what kind of reputation the daughter of the fourth branch of our Wang family has outside? Regarding the matter between me and the third young master, maybe he still dislikes me."

"Sister Sixteen, you..."

Before Seventeen could finish her words, Sixteenth Lady took out a kettle from the small cloth package like a magician and handed it to Seventeen.

"Come, drink some water. I'm afraid you'll choke if you eat the biscuits dry. Drink some water to moisten your throat. Don't say your Sixteenth Sister treats you badly. I do love you. I copied the books and didn't even have a bite for dinner before I came to see you. Say something nice to me, okay?"

Even so, Shiliu Niang held back her tears, which were then shed again. Her face was puffed up, with only a half smile left.

Seventeen felt extremely bitter when he heard this, and the warm water in his mouth suddenly felt cold.

Not wanting to spoil the fun, Seventeen recalled the news he had heard, "I heard that the Third Young Master Feng Ji has an extraordinary appearance and many women are attracted to him."

"Of course, but from now on, they have to restrain themselves. The Third Young Master and I have been engaged, so he can't mess with other young ladies anymore."

Seventeen: "Didn't Brother Ten say the other day that the Third Young Master has a bright future? I'd like to congratulate Sister Sixteen in advance. She will definitely be the wife of a powerful official in the future."

Praise the Third Young Master and congratulate the Sixteenth Lady.

You talk and I laugh, back and forth.

Everyone only saw the lady's beautiful smile and didn't care about the scars she had behind her back.

……

This day in June is truly extraordinary.

In the previous dynasty, Zhao Kun led the princes, clan members, and important officials of the court to pay tribute to the late emperor, the empress dowager, and the crown prince Huai Zhang. The Imperial Ancestral Temple is located north of the imperial city and south of Yandang Mountain, built by the water and surrounded by the mountainside. Regardless of birth and official position, everyone walked up the mountain together. The team meandered upwards, occasionally standing under one or two pines and cypresses, and occasionally hiding behind rocks. From south to north, from the foot of the mountain to the top, it was a spectacular sight. At three quarters of the morning hour, the eunuchs shouted again and again, "Please pay tribute!"

Zhao Kun was in the front, and the Zongzheng Temple brought out the three animals, incense, candles, paper money and other items for the sacrifice. A light mountain breeze fluttered the ceremonial prayer flags, the morning mist dissipated, and the unpredictable green smoke rose up to the sky.

After His Majesty lit the first incense stick, Zhao Feiran stepped forward, followed by several princes, clan members... The important ministers merely followed behind and paid their respects.

The next agenda item is the dedication and three bows, which are a piece of cake.

After paying homage to the late emperor and the empress dowager, he presented the poem to Prince Huai Zhang.

In the past, clan members and important officials did not participate in this event, only Zhao Kun and the queen, as well as a few princes such as Zhao Feiran, etc. This time it was so grand because this year was the 25th birthday of Prince Huai Zhang.

Speaking of Prince Huai Zhang, he was born to the Empress and is the second son of the Majesty. At that time, he was still in the palace, and there were many concubines in the palace. It was the critical moment of the succession, and people's hearts were swaying, and many incidents occurred. The former concubine Xu used tricks to give birth to the eldest prince first, causing Prince Huai Zhang, who was born earlier, to become the second son.

Later, Prince Huai Zhang died young.

Thinking of this, Zhao Kun's eyes became sore and the corners of his eyes slightly red. He patted Zhao Feiran and asked him to come forward.

"Come, Xiaoliu, meet your second brother."

As for the fourth prince Zhao Jiran, the fifth prince Zhao Muran, and the seventh prince Zhao Ningran, none of them were in His Majesty's eyes. As the concubines in the harem said, they were just extras.

Zhao Feiran stepped forward and stood alongside His Majesty, worshipping together.

No one dared to say anything about such behavior. Not to mention that it was unreasonable, even if Her Majesty, Princess Jing'an, or His Royal Highness the Crown Prince slapped His Majesty, no one would think it was inappropriate.

Your Majesty's love for Her Majesty and his guilt towards Prince Huai Zhang are the best support for Her Majesty and her children.

Zhao Feiran was imposing and solemn, without any trace of joking with Wang Shiqi Niang. He took the incense and candle from the eunuch and bowed three times devoutly. Finally, he took a step back and quietly pulled Zhao Kun's sleeve.

He said in a very small voice: "Father, I will be a good prince of Daye and a good child of father and mother. Second brother, although I have never seen him, I often hear mother and sister talk about him. In my heart, I..."

Before he finished speaking, Zhao Kun said in a sullen tone, "Come, give a speech for your second brother!" He did not care that there were still important relatives and ministers here, and left alone.

Zhao Feiran looked at the back of His Majesty as he left, feeling sad and miserable. He instantly gave up his imperial attitude and became just an old man who missed his child and was still grieving. It was not until His Majesty disappeared behind the hall and could no longer be seen that Zhao Feiran slowly reached out to the eunuch beside him.

At the same time, he shouted loudly: "Present Prince Huai Zhang!"

Taking the booklet handed over by the eunuch, Zhao Feiran spoke in a loud and clear voice.

"…The mandate of the state is about to rise, and there is no sign of succession. The imperial foundation is established, and the emperor's military power is inherited. Auspicious signs gather in the painted hall, and joy flows in the red wine. Thorn arrows extend gifts, and tung jade tablets are prepared for ceremonials…"①
The sacrificial text "Moon Chapter and Star Sentence" is written by Feng Ji, an editor of the Hanlin Academy.

At the moment, the world is vast, birds are flying in the sky, and Feng Ji is standing in the huge hall in plain clothes. He is only twenty-two years old, standing out from the crowd.

Hearing every word of His Royal Highness's sobbing and mourning, it seemed as if I could see the two brothers talking all night long, chatting about everything under the sun, and at the same time, I felt deeply that the younger brother missed his elder brother infinitely.

As the drafter of the memorial, he knew every word and sentence of it, as well as what happened to Prince Huai Zhang. When he was drafting the memorial, it was dark and he seemed to see the sad emperor and the weeping queen. Now, listening to Zhao Feiran reading it one by one, he suddenly understood a different meaning.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's stable position, smooth sailing, and friendly and respectful relationship with his brothers were all earned at the cost of Crown Prince Huai Zhang's life. Your Majesty knows this.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also knows this.

His Highness not only knows this, but also has ambitions. He is on a road paved with blood and wants to make sure that no one has any regrets.

Seeing His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s words, Feng Ji was convinced.

It was just a memorial service, Feng Ji's eyes were still following His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, seeing him supporting His Majesty and slowly walking down the mountain step by step. The boy, who was just seventeen years old, had no setbacks up to now, and had a firmness that others did not understand.

On the way back to the mansion, Feng Ji kept thinking. When he arrived at the mansion gate, the servant Hongyu whispered in his ear: "Sir, I got the news." Then he handed Feng Ji a booklet.

After returning to his room, Feng Jicai opened the booklet, which contained nothing but the deeds of Wang Shiliu Niang.

"..., her seventeenth sister seems to have some connection with Your Highness."

Feng Ji chuckled, isn't this a coincidence?

"Hongyu, I remember Princess Jing'an will have a polo match in two days? Can you send someone to see if the Xuandefang Palace has received the invitation?"

There were a lot of people coming to Princess Jing'an's polo club.

(End of this chapter)