The Princess's Notebook

When the one-month period for the Crown Prince to marry his concubine was up, the Crown Prince returned home with his concubine.

In front of the hall of the fourth branch of the Wang family in Xuandefang, there was a huge crowd of people. All the people from the fourth branch who were in Kyoto, whether they were married women or sons-in-law passing by with their families, were all there.

Because today was both a state ceremony and a family ceremony, Wang Kang and Qiao Xin sat in the main seats, Zhao Feiran and Shiqi sat in the front seats, and then the rest of the sisters and sisters. After each of them exchanged greetings, the women and Qiao Xin went to the small flower hall to talk, while the men let Wang Kang arrange for them to chat in the front yard.

Wang Kang had just been scolded by Zhao Feiran not long ago, so he didn't dare to say much. He just laughed twice, handed the person over to his son, and walked away, claiming that he was not feeling well.

The few young masters who stayed behind were sweating all over their foreheads. They looked at their father, then turned to look at Zhao Feiran, and invited Zhao Feiran to make tea by the river. In the backyard, Shiqi Niang and others were in a completely different scene, which was very lively.

Young girls and wives were crowded together in the small hall, and Aunt Feng and Aunt Shangguan, with the permission of Qiao Xin and Shiqi Niang, stood aside. Although the two of them could not say a few words, from the moment Shiqi Niang entered the room, her eyes began to turn red, and she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Qiao Xin glanced at him and said, "Wait a minute, put away your tears. The Crown Princess is coming back, it's such a happy event, why are you crying? Hurry up and wipe your tears, or you'll be laughed at."

Aunt Feng nodded repeatedly, "I...I...I am just...overjoyed...I haven't seen you for a month..."

Aunt Shangguan tried to make amends: "I haven't seen you for a month. Seventeenth Lady... no... the Crown Princess seems to be even more beautiful. Are you used to living in the Imperial City?"

Qiao Xin: "Yes, Crown Princess, are you used to it? Although our four rooms are not very good, it is still okay to send some daily items. If you need anything, just ask." He was halfway through his words when he realized something was wrong. There was no rare item that could be found in the imperial city.

Shiqi Niang saw Qiao Xin's eyes suddenly dim, and smiled, "Madam, please continue to speak as before. No matter what, I am still Shiqi Niang in the family," and smiled at Aunt Feng and Aunt Shangguan behind Qiao Xin. The two of them were comforted by Shiqi Niang, and they were immediately delighted, crying and laughing.

Qiao Xin saw this and asked Shiqi Niang to chat about family matters, talking about the days in the imperial city and at home during the past month. He tried his best to make up for it so as not to be laughed at by the female official who served Shiqi Niang.

After saying three or five sentences, Qiao Xin looked around and felt a little embarrassed to speak.

Shiqi Niang asked, "Madam, do you want to ask about father?"

Qiao Xin nodded.

"Madam, don't worry, it's nothing, His Highness has already taken care of it. It's just that my father accepted a gift that he shouldn't have accepted. His Highness and I have discussed giving my father another job to avoid future troubles."

She didn't say much, and the people present didn't ask too many questions. With just a few words, the trouble Wang Kang had caused disappeared in an instant.

Shiqi Niang said again: "Madam, there is something I want to discuss with you. Please don't blame me for being too talkative."

With Wang Kang's previous experience as a lesson, Qiao Xin dared not say anything more, "What's the matter? Princess, just tell me."

Seventeenth Lady looked around, at her married sisters, and at Eighteen and Nineteen, "I'm sure Madam knows what our fourth room is like now. What I want to talk about is the marriages of my two younger sisters, and then my brothers..." After all, she was a junior, so she didn't say anything more.

When Qiao Xin heard this, he agreed immediately.

"What the Crown Princess said makes sense. Everyone knows how things are at home. If it was in the past, we could just let it go, but now it's different, we have to think carefully. Last year you were busy studying the palace rules with the maids in the palace, I think you must have heard a few words. Since His Majesty issued the decree, there have been quite a few people who have inquired about the families of the sons and daughters of our fourth room, and there are all kinds of them. I couldn't make up my mind before, and I was hoping for luck, thinking about waiting. Now your father has started to act arrogantly, so let's settle it now."

Shiqi Niang: "Don't be so anxious. Madam, you should pay more attention to it. I asked this question just to be on guard. Our family is in Kyoto, and we have no roots or foundation. I was lucky enough to become the Crown Princess. I am afraid that people will gossip about this great benefit, and I am also afraid of those who curry favor with me and flatter me. I will be in the East Palace, and nothing will go wrong. My family will live their lives as usual outside the palace. In this way, the future will definitely be fine.

Furthermore, this is not only my opinion, but also your Majesty’s opinion.

Although His Majesty loves His Highness and regards him as his eyeball, I and my family are nothing in the eyes of the royal family. My brothers and sisters at home, because of my status, are not bullied, are not looked down upon, have a comfortable home, have no worries about their children's schooling, and have fair and just examinations and promotions in the outer court. "

Qiao Xin asked worriedly, "Your Majesty, we are newly married, did Your Majesty say anything else?"

At one moment, the rest of the people also asked a few questions out of concern.

Shiqi Niang looked at them one by one and comforted them, "It's nothing, His Majesty is just giving you some warnings. Since he was able to confer the title by imperial decree, he must know something about our family. His Majesty must know about this. From now on, we just need to be ourselves."

When saying this, Shiqi Niang was thinking about the future.

Even if Wang Kang was transferred out of the capital, many of his brothers and relatives were still officials in Beijing. Now, it was a precautionary measure for the family. It was better than having to face a lawsuit in the government office in the future.

Everyone in the small flower hall was talking for a while, and then they heard a female official from the corridor report that the Crown Prince had sent someone to ask how the Crown Princess was.

When Shiqi Niang heard this, she clenched her fists in surprise. How dissatisfied was this guy with her Wang family!

She had to leave before lunch. If people told about it, she didn't know what people would say about her as the Crown Princess.

Helplessly, Shiqi Niang smiled awkwardly and said some polite words to say goodbye to Qiao Xin and others.

Finally, he left his jade token and said, "If you need anything, you can come to the East Palace to find me with this jade token."

……

When she left the house, Shiqi Niang saw Song Dajian waiting beside her, and knew that Zhao Feiran had already boarded the carriage, so she lifted the curtain and got in. "What does your highness mean?" Shiqi Niang was a little unhappy.

Zhao Feiran lowered his head to drink tea, feeling a little embarrassed. He knew that his actions had hurt Shiqi Niang's face, but he, Wang Kang, and the other young masters really had nothing to say. Sitting together, it was very awkward.

"If Your Highness keeps silent, this matter will be resolved! Before lunch is over, the Crown Princess is coming back to the palace in a grand carriage. Where can I put my face?"

He took out a small windmill from the wall of the car and handed it to Shiqi Niang, smiling flatteringly.

"You..." She was so angry that she didn't know where to get angry from. "Feifei doesn't even want this thing, but you gave it to me."

"You don't like it?"

"Of course I don't like it."

Zhao Feiran reached out and held her hand, "This windmill was made for me by my father when I was eight years old."

Shiqi Niang finally turned her head and stared at the windmill.

"You probably know that before I was born, there were a lot of things going on in the palace. When my sister was young, my third brother was imprisoned, and my second brother... I won't talk about it, anyway, it wasn't a happy thing. My brothers were afraid of my father for a while, and they didn't talk to my mother. Later, when I was born, my brothers didn't play with me, only my sister and father played with me. My father took me to court, took me on tours, made windmills for me, led horses for me, taught me the ways of being a man, and taught me how to be a king.

This is how I grew up. Then I met you," Zhao Feiran paused for a while, "I know that I speak harshly and am not liked. My mother often talks about this. If I were not the crown prince, I am afraid that not many people would like to talk to me. I am not good with many people, such as my cousins...

They are your family, even if it’s for you, I should get along well with them…”

His words were intermittent, starting from the distant past, seemingly unrelated to what was happening in front of him. But Shiqi Niang knew that he was saying:
I am harsh with my words and difficult to get along with, but for you, I am willing to learn how to get along with others.

Regardless of whether this was true or false, Shiqi Niang was willing to believe him.

She silently clasped her hands together.

"Give it to me?"

"For you!" He said, handing the windmill to Shiqi Niang. His eyes were sincere and full of affection.

Shiqi Niang took it and her eyes fell on the windmill, as if she was deliberately not looking at Zhao Feiran, "I don't want to go back to the East Palace."

"I've prepared something fun at Qingfeng Tower!"

Qingfeng Tower is located on Congmen Street. It is a restaurant owned by the husband of Princess Jing'an. Qingfeng Tower has three unique features: flowing clouds, evening breeze, and you in the evening. The flowing clouds refer to the fine wine specially provided by Qingfeng Tower, which is called flowing clouds. The evening breeze refers to the night view of Qingfeng Tower. The last one refers to the interior furnishings of Qingfeng Tower.

When Shiqi Niang and the other woman entered Qingfeng Tower, it was already crowded with people before lunch time.

They had already made arrangements, and followed the boy up to the Du Zhong private room on the third floor. They entered the private room after stepping over the huge screen of the beauty under the moon. There were landscapes and screens everywhere. There was a square stage on one side, for the dancers to show off their bodies. The dining area was hidden behind the landscape. There was a plain soft curtain between the square stage and the landscape.

Zhao Feiran pulled Shiqi Niang to sit down. After three or five snacks, bursts of flute sounds came from the stage.

It is so pure and wonderful, like entering a fairyland.

Shiqi Niang looked at the dancer, whose dancing figure was very graceful.

"who is she?"

"The dancer from Qingfeng Tower." Zhao Feiran answered very casually.

"Dancer?" Shiqi Niang held the teacup in her hand, "Did His Highness arrange this on purpose?"

"You don't like it?"

"I like it, I like it, I like it very much." Shiqi Niang squeezed the teacup with her hands, and kept pressing. Very good, just got married, and she was already thinking about appreciating the dancer.

Zhao Feiran realized it later: "Don't you like it!?"

Shiqi Niang: "I am not good at writing and music theory, but I can understand and play very well. This woman has a slim waist and thin hips, and is graceful and charming. She is very good."

Zhao Feiran put down his chopsticks and looked up at her.

This person, this person is crazy, isn't he? How can a girl talk like this when looking at other girls?

(End of this chapter)