The Princess's Notebook

That afternoon, Xuandefang first respectfully sent off His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, then respectfully sent off Old Prince Kang, and finally respectfully sent off the Minister of Justice and his wife. After a whole day, the wrinkles on Wang Kang and Qiao Xin's faces became deeper. Especially Wang Kang, half of his face was slightly raised with joy, and the other half was drooping, which was extremely weird.

When everything was ready, Wang Kang invited Shiliu Niang and Shiqi Niang to the small hall to discuss matters. Only Qiao Xin accompanied them.

This was unlike his usual behavior. When entering, Qiao Xin secretly winked at the two girls, asking them to take it easy and not do anything stupid.

At the moment, Wang Kang felt as if two kilograms of Du Kang had entered his stomach. He felt dizzy and floating, stepping on auspicious clouds and walking towards the South Heaven Gate.

"Sixteen, come here."

Shiliu Niang walked forward obediently and waited for Wang Kang to lecture her.

"Your marriage with the Third Young Master has been decided. In a few days, Madam Qian will send someone to discuss the wedding. During this time, you must not cause any trouble and stay well. As for the preparation of the dowry, Madam will take care of it, so you can rest assured."

He sounded like a father, and the women present looked at each other in disbelief.

Before Sixteenth Lady could talk about Langyuan Bridge, Wang Kang said, "Go down. I'll talk to Seventeenth Lady again."

"Father," Sixteen wanted to mention Feng Ji's character, but before she could finish her words, Wang Kang had already looked at Seventeen and ignored her. Helplessly, she could only retreat and think about talking about it later. Anyway, there was plenty of time.

"Seventeen, come here, Daddy wants to talk to you."

Wang Kang seemed to have become a different person, not like his usual ridiculous appearance. With a slightly flattering face, he still acted like a superior parent.

Shiqi Niang stepped forward and bowed obediently.

"Seventeen, just now there was such a scene. General Sun's guards surrounded Langyuan Bridge tightly. His Highness spoke to you alone. What did he say?"

She didn't want to talk about it, "His Highness has ordered that no one else should know."

The kindness on Wang Kang's face disappeared, "I am your father, not someone else."

Seventeen remained silent.

Seeing that the father and daughter were about to quarrel, Qiao Xin tried to smooth things over, "Since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince doesn't allow us to tell, then why should we force the child to do anything? If the master wants to know, he can go to the East Palace tomorrow to deliver a note or write a letter to ask."

It was really a joke for him, a lowly official who never attended grand court meetings or entered the imperial city, to submit a memorial.

Wang Kang was frustrated again and again, "Now that you have grown up, you don't need me as your father to make decisions. But don't forget, even if you marry into the Feng Mansion or the Eastern Palace, you still have to rely on your parents' father and brothers for support. Your three brothers are all good-for-nothings. You don't even take me, your father, seriously before you even get married. Your life is really hard."

This remark not only insulted the ninth son of Aunt Li and the eleventh son of Aunt Sun, but also the tenth son of Qiao Xin.

Under normal circumstances, Qiao Xin might have given him some face in front of the children. But now, in just one day, not only has this guy embarrassed himself several times, but he has also said bad things about his own children. How could Qiao Xin bear it?

He immediately sneered, "Master, what are you talking about? Are the young masters in the mansion useless? Humph, Master, please submit a petition and ask for a title, and find a good job for the young master. The ninth young master in Li's concubine's courtyard will be twenty-four by the end of the year. I think he will not be able to start a family and a career. However, he has inherited the master's true teachings, but he has not yet married, and he has prepared many concubines."

Wang Kang's face turned red and his neck became thick. "You! You vixen. I will divorce you sooner or later."

"Don't wait until it's too late! Do it now! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Old Prince Kang haven't left yet, please come and be a witness. You don't have to go to the Ministry of Revenue to do business tomorrow. Throughout history, no one has ever divorced a wife with such dignity as you have. This is truly the first time in history!"

Wang Kang, who considered himself a gentleman, was no match for Qiao Xin, who had lost face, and collapsed at the first blow.

"Just wait for me. Just wait for me." Then he walked away.

After the people left, Qiao Xin smiled and talked to Sixteen and Seventeen, without explaining what had just happened. He called them over, first talking about Mr. Feng San and how Madam Qian was not easy to mess with, and then asked Seventeen, "Your Highness really said that this cannot be spread outside?"

"No, I just don't want to say it."

Qiao Xin: "Can you tell me? If there is anything, I will prepare in advance."

Seventeen said without any shyness, "His Highness said he would find a suitable young man for me."

Qiao Xin couldn't help but sprayed a mouthful of tea, soaking his clothes. "You're not lying to me, are you?"

Sixteen also didn't believe it, "Should I find you one, or should I give him himself as compensation? I saw him knock out Manager Xu and send him away, so the marriage proposal is out of the question."

Seventeen: "What good things are you thinking of? Zhenzhen, please find one for me."

Sixteen: "Your Highness has no interest in you?"

"Yes," Seventeen admitted without any ambiguity, "His Highness said before that even if he was blind, he would not fall in love with me. I am not a famous young lady in Kyoto or outside of it, so how could I have such ability?"

As an experienced person, Qiao Xin laughed so hard when she saw her like this. There was no reason for her, as a mother, to expose the love between the two of them.

"Okay, okay, then I'll prepare well and see what kind of young man he is then."

Sixteen exclaimed, "Madam, you!" Seeing Qiao Xin nod with a smile, he swallowed the rest of his words.

……

Only an hour late, Zhao Feiran appeared in Zhengyang Palace, waiting to be interrogated by the Empress.

Palace lanterns flickered, candlelight lit up, and Zhengyang Palace was warm and peaceful. The empress, wearing half-worn clothes, sat cross-legged on the south side of the low table, while Zhao Feiran, wearing royal blue clothes, sat opposite them. On the low table was a game of chess, and the black pieces were obviously in a declining trend. In less than half an incense stick of time, they would be completely defeated.

Zhao Feiran broke the game, slowly and unhurriedly, he twisted the black chess piece in his hand and slowly dropped it.

Unexpectedly, he backed off for a while, and the queen finally felt like asking him, "You're worried about something."

This is an unnecessary question. The Queen knew all about the Crown Prince's excitement. She just wanted to ask more questions because her son was no longer a fool.

"Nothing." Zhao Feiran left another child, "My son has something to tell me." "Go ahead, is it about the young lady in Xuandefang?"

Zhao Feiran paused while playing chess and thought for a while, "Mother, my son wants to get married."

"Get married?" the queen confirmed.

Marriage is unusual. If it was a concubine, there would be no need for marriage. I thought he was slow to act, but in the end, he got it right in one go.

The young man did not answer, but talked about the past events that the empress told him in her early years.

"My son, do you still remember what my mother told me? If I find a girl I like, I must treat her well and not let her suffer or feel sad.

My father treated Concubine Xu earlier, but my mother didn't say much. My son knows something. It was my father's behavior that led to many incidents later. My son doesn't want to cause trouble for no reason, nor does he want her to live a miserable life. I can't do anything about what happened in the boudoir before, but I will definitely have a good life in the East Palace in the future.

You won’t be bullied or laughed at, and you can have whatever rare things you want. Moreover, you don’t have to live frugally and envy others. ”

As he spoke, his hands did not stop. I don't know if his words reminded the queen of the past, or if it was because of his superb chess skills, but after a little practice, his decline changed and he was no longer as good as before.

A tiny candle flame stood beside the empress, she lowered her head to look at the chessboard, her voice dim and hoarse.

"Why are you talking to me about this? Go tell that young lady. I'm old, and I can't bear to hear this. You want to get married, that's a good thing, a very good thing. Don't worry, your father, I will tell him."

At one point Zhao Kunkuo stepped inside, "What do you want to tell me?"

The mother and son had not expected him to come so early, and were speechless for a moment. Zhao Kun walked to the empress without stopping, and saw that her eyes were filled with tears, shining silver.

He asked softly, "Is Xiaoliu angry?"

As he was about to turn around to question him, the empress saw him and pulled him over and sat down with her.

"No, Xiaoliu is fine. He just said he wants to get married."

Zhao Kun was very interested, "The young lady from Xuandefang."

"Father, you all know that you can't make fun of me all the time."

Zhao Feiran was quite embarrassed. He was the one who said he didn't like the emperor a few days ago, and now he was the one who came to ask for the emperor's decree. The face of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was trampled underfoot.

"Oh, then I don't want it." Zhao Kun rarely found such a suitable opportunity, so he naturally would not let it go.

"Father, you are making fun of me again. How about the young lady from Xuandefang?"

"They are a worthy match." Zhao Kun taught the queen how to play chess, without forgetting to reply to his son.

Zhao Feiran was overjoyed and was about to stand up to thank her when he heard Zhao Kun say, "Since you like me, I will be your concubine. Anyway, the imperial edict has not been sent out yet, so I will do it in due time."

Zhao Feiran was surprised, "Father..."

"Why are you yelling? She is a minor official of the sixth rank, and a concubine's daughter. There is no one in her family who can be shown off. What are you going to do? If such a person becomes the Crown Princess, how can my royal family maintain its reputation?"

Although what Zhao Kun said was the truth, it was a bit cruel to Zhao Feiran who just understood his feelings.

The heroic words spoken a moment ago still seem to echo in my ears.

Suddenly, the Empress said, "That's what you thought of me, right? The Concubine Xu in the early years, now you have to call her Master Chongxu. She is extremely beautiful. I guess you like her, otherwise you wouldn't go to see her every day."

When she was in the palace, Concubine Xu gave birth to the eldest son, who later caused the early death of Crown Prince Huai Zhang... After all, she was demoted to a commoner and moved to Sancai Temple to become Master Chongxu.

Zhao Kun was ashamed, "Atong, why are you talking about this?"

"Why, you are His Majesty, but you cannot speak of the wrongs you have done and the people you loved. How can this be so? You have never seen the people who made the mistakes repent, but you ask the people who saw them to shut up. Oh, the world is really going downhill, and people's hearts are not the same as they used to be. When I was young, my father and mother never taught me like this."

Seeing Zhao Feiran lowering his head and not daring to look, Zhao Kun whispered, "The child is still here, how can you bear to let him laugh at his father?"

The queen glared, "Humph, it's OK for a father to laugh at his child, but the child can't laugh at his father. Zhao Kun!" The queen shouted, "Tell me what kind of logic this is. Also, I heard that Master Chongxu is alive and well in Sancai Temple. Have you seen her? After years of eating and chanting, she is still as beautiful as she was back then!"

Zhao Kun was about to apologize in a low voice, saying that he had never seen Master Chongxu. However, before he could say anything, the queen shouted outside, "Come here, get out!"

There was no other choice, and both the father and son were picked out.

Under the corridor of Zhengyang Palace, the night was dark and the light was bright. Zhao Kun kicked Zhao Feiran from behind and said, "It's all your fault. You'll have to bear the consequences."

It was just a light kick, slightly stained with dust.

Zhao Feiran stood still and said, "Father, I was wrong. I was really wrong."

(End of this chapter)