The Princess's Notebook

On the second day, Shiqi Niang went to Zhengyang Palace to pay respects to the Empress, looking a little unhappy. After a few words, the Empress mentioned the martial arts performance in Jinming Lake this summer and asked Shiqi Niang if she had ever seen it before.

The martial arts performance at Jinming Lake was a unique event for the imperial guards of Kyoto. Although all the people of Daye could go there without any checkpoints, and it was possible to see the imperial guards and His Majesty, it was always occupied by the nobles every year, and it was never the turn of the Wang family, who was not presentable enough.

When Shiqi Niang thought about this, she felt a little embarrassed even though she knew that the queen meant well.

The queen was so smart. Seeing her lower her head and not speaking, she said, "It's my fault for speaking rudely. I originally thought that you two have only been married for a month and are very much in love. It just so happens that the annual Jinming Lake Martial Arts Performance is coming up, and the capital will be very lively. It would be a good idea to go and take a look. Besides,"

As the queen spoke, she looked down at Shiqi Niang and saw that she no longer looked embarrassed but was now somewhat worried.
"Besides, this year's martial arts performance is different from the past. In the past, it was just the imperial guards' left and right guards competing back and forth. This year, Your Majesty is thinking about the princes getting married, so let them have some fun. Our dynasty was founded on martial arts, and the princes and grandchildren must not lose their martial arts skills."

Shiqi Niang was not a popular person, so she immediately understood, "Your Highness, are you going too?"

"He is the prince, he is indispensable."

"My daughter-in-law used to just look outside Jinming Lake. This year is different. Can we go to Guanghua Gate to have a look?"

Guanghua Gate is adjacent to Jinming Lake. The royal family watched martial arts performances here.

"If you are willing to go, then you will be in charge of all the affairs of Guanghua Gate this time. Later, you can come back from here, bring two maids and a little girl, and let them find the old rules, and you can do it."

Shiqi Niang was surprised, "My Lady! I..."

Guanghua Gate observed that the people who came were not only from the imperial city, but also princesses who married out of the palace, and princes and grandchildren who came to see the emperor. How could Wang Shiqi, who had never hosted a banquet at home, dare to agree to such a grand occasion?

The queen knew what was going on and consoled him, "Why are you worried? If you can't do it, just learn. If you do well, it's because of your talent. If you make a mistake, someone will naturally make up for it. We can't lose face for the royal family. No one in or outside the palace dares to make trouble here. No matter inside or outside, don't worry about someone tripping you up. The government's orders are smooth and smooth."

Queen Zhou's words seemed to have magical power, and Seventeen was inadvertently infected by her calmness and fearlessness.

At one point, the empress said, "Besides, his father and I don't know how long we will be watching over this imperial city for you. Everything will eventually be handed over to you. The sooner you learn and take on the responsibility, the easier my life will be. But then again, don't be impatient, take it step by step. I will not hide what I should teach you, and I will not neglect the people I should give you."

"Your Majesty," Seventeenth Lady looked at Queen Zhou.

She was over fifty years old, with a face like Guanyin, kind eyes and gentle features, making her very approachable. But if you look closely, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes seemed to be separated from the bones and flesh, wrinkled and drooping. Shiqi Niang looked at her, her gentle voice lingering in her ears, and she suddenly felt dizzy.

The queen treated her very well.

Unlike ordinary mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, there was no dispute at all. The queen gave her whole heart to Shiqi Niang without expecting anything in return.

All of this happened because Shiqi Niang was the Crown Princess, the girl that Zhao Feiran loved from the bottom of his heart.

"Look at you, you're like a little cat. Don't cry, it's not a big deal. In the royal family, such true love is rare. It's all because the predecessor has suffered. It has nothing to do with you. Don't take it all on yourself. Okay, okay, Nanny Wan, come and send the Crown Princess back."

Shiqi Niang's eyes were blurred with tears. She said no more and just stood up respectfully to take her leave.

After leaving Zhengyang Palace with Nanny Wan, she saw Lady Xiao and the Seventh Prince standing under the covered bridge, seemingly waiting for her. Seventeen thanked Nanny Wan and walked up to the two of them.
"Is Miss Xiao waiting for me?"

Lady Xiao smiled brightly, as if spring flowers were blooming. "I thought today is the day when the Crown Princess comes to pay a visit to Her Majesty, so I brought Little Seventh over to see her. When we got to the door, I remembered that this is the Crown Princess' first visit to Her Majesty, and I didn't want to disturb her. I was just about to go back." As she spoke, she pulled the Seventh Prince and pretended to leave.

If it was really as she said, and she only remembered it at the last moment, she would have returned to the Glazed Palace by now and would never be here again.

"What are you talking about, my lady? I'm just going back and will pass by the Glazed Palace. If you have anything to say, please feel free to speak."

Concubine Xiao had not expected Shiqi Niang to be so straightforward. All the words she had prepared were of no use and she was speechless for a moment.

It was the Seventh Prince Zhao Ningran who looked up and asked Seventeenth Lady: "Sister-in-law, my mother said there will be a martial arts performance at Jinming Lake in a few days. I want to go and see it. Can you take me with you, sister-in-law?"

Shiqi Niang paused, what does this mean? In front of His Majesty, apart from a few princes who were either imprisoned or demoted to commoners, there are the King of Qin and the King of Jin, and then Zhao Feiran and the last Zhao Ningran. It is not necessary to not allow people to go to the martial arts performance at Jinming Lake today.

However, she was a new Crown Princess and did not know the intricacies of the situation, so she could not say anything.

"The Queen has just assigned me the task of performing martial arts at Jinming Lake. However, I am new here and don't know much about it. I will go back and take a closer look. After I understand more, I will send someone to invite the Seventh Prince. Is that okay?"

Zhao Ningran: "Okay! I have one more thing to say. Before my sixth brother got married, I often went to play with him. These days, they all said that my sixth brother has a sister-in-law, and asked me not to go to the East Palace anymore. Sister-in-law, my brother sees that the wedding is over. Can I go to play with my sixth brother again in the future?"

Zhao Feiran and the Seventh Prince were brothers and they were in harmony, and there were also rumors about this among the people.

Shiqi Niang readily agreed and promised that no matter when Xiaoqi came, there would be snacks for him, which made Zhao Ningran very happy.

Lady Xiao watched silently, feeling very relieved. She was of low status and could not see His Majesty very often. He had a Seventh Prince, although he was the youngest, but firstly, the Crown Prince was His Majesty's golden nugget, and ordinary people could not touch him, and secondly, there were the King of Jin and the King of Qin above him. She heard that Shiqi Niang had a good temper, so she brought Xiaoqi here to try her luck. It would be best if she could let the Crown Princess take care of him.

……

Shiqi Niang returned to the East Palace and, taking advantage of the break before lunch, ordered the maids to find the old rules of Guanghua Gate so that she could study them in the afternoon.

Around 3 p.m., the two little girls, Jingui and Yingui, saw that Shiqi Niang was not aware of the passing of time, and they became quite anxious. They urged each other, hoping that someone would speak first. Jingui knew what kind of personality she had, and it was a blessing that she did not let down her guard at such a critical moment. After pushing it back and forth, the matter fell to Yingui.

Yin Gui walked towards Shiqi Niang with light steps. Halfway there, she turned her head and glanced at Jingui. "My lady, His Highness will be back soon. Don't you want to go and see him?"

Seventeenth Lady didn't move.

Yingui turned his head to look at Yingui again, and asked again after a while.

Shiqi Niang seemed to have finally heard it, and looked up at her blankly, "What did you say?"

"As usual, His Highness will be back soon. Madam, why don't you go and see him?"

Last night, Song Dajian moved some things. Even the deaf and blind could have heard and seen the scene. I heard that a few old men in the Zhanshi Mansion started gambling again, betting on how long His Highness could last this time.

When Yingui's words reached her ears, Shiqi Niang suddenly remembered the slap she received last night. Her anxiety and anger from the morning came back to her.

Perhaps seeing Shiqi Niang's expression change in an instant, Yingui exclaimed, "Did you forget, Madam?"

This can't be forgotten!

Shiqi Niang hurriedly tried to make amends, "I didn't forget, I didn't forget. How could I forget? It's not a big deal! When will His Highness come back?"

When Yin Gui heard that Shiqi Niang couldn't even remember this, she immediately looked at Shiqi Niang pitifully and said, "It will be here in half a cup of tea."

"Have you asked General Sun? Is there anything going on in the court today?"

"General Sun is always at your side. I am asking about General Han from the Zuowei Headquarters... Madam, what are you waiting for?" Yingui was so anxious that she almost stamped her feet.

Shiqi Niang thought about the slap she received last night. Why was her brain not working properly? Why did she feel that there would be a pervert in the East Palace?
"Have you prepared tea and snacks?" asked Shiqi Niang.

Admit your mistakes and be nice.

Jin Gui quickly took out the food box from behind the table and said, "My lady, it's all here."

"Quick, come to me and wait for His Highness outside the Tianguang Palace."

After that, the master and servants rushed to the outside of Tianguang Palace like a gust of wind. This Tianguang Palace is not only the prince's bedroom, but also his study. Although Shiqi Niang has been here once, she dare not enter rashly now. The weather at the end of April is sometimes cold and sometimes hot. The master and servants waited and waited, and after several gusts of wind, they still did not see Zhao Feiran.

Shiqi Niang was anxious and asked Jingui to find out the news.

After a while, Jin Gui came back and said, "Madam, it is said that there was a sudden murder in Kyoto. His Highness is currently in the Zhanshi Mansion to discuss matters. I am afraid he will not be available for a while." Jin Gui was out of breath, "Madam, what should we do!"

Shiqi Niang spread her hands: How would I know.

In all the time I've known him, he has never been angry and has no experience at all.

After a brief thought, Shiqi Niang ordered Yingui to find Eunuch Song.

After a while, Song Dajian came to Shiqi Niang and asked, "Crown Princess, what do you want?"

Shiqi Niang handed over the food box in her hand and said, "Please trouble the eunuch to deliver it to the palace for me. It is said...it is said..." Shiqi had no experience in admitting mistakes and was speechless.

The old Taoist priest Song Dajian was very smart and immediately laughed, "Don't worry, Princess Crown Princess, I will definitely bring this thing to you. I will just say that Princess Crown Princess pities Your Highness for being tired and deliberately presents it to you."

"Pity," Shiqi Niang's expression froze, she felt that it was a little inappropriate. But she couldn't think of a better way, so she gave up and let Song Dajian make the arrangements.

The most important thing in admitting one's mistakes and trying to appease others is to bring them back. Everything else doesn't matter.

It is said that Song Dajian, carrying a food box, walked quickly to the front three halls and stood in the corridor of the Zhanshi Mansion. Without saying a word, everyone in the inner room saw it clearly. The quarrel between the old men was omitted, and only Zhao Feiran, who was following behind the south window, was mentioned.

The world is peaceful and everything is going well, so how could there be a sudden murder in Kyoto? It was just an excuse for him not to see Shiqi Niang.

At first, when Song Dajian barely stood still, Zhao Feiran did not move at all, and even the wind from the corner of his eyes could not blow on Song Dajian. But as time passed and the sun set, the wind from the corner of his eyes went from being vague to a slight glance.

When I saw the food box clearly, it was so plain without any pattern, and I had no idea what was inside it.

Zhao Feiran thought: She has always been a weird person, and she may not be a good person.

Suddenly, he realized that he was thinking about Shiqi Niang again, that heartless girl, and his anger suddenly rose to a peak. He stood up like he was having a seizure, and strode to sit under the north window.

I will never look at Eunuch Song again.

(End of this chapter)