Before Song Hui could land, the prince walked away "obeying etiquette and avoiding suspicion" and called the maid from the Marquis of Cheng'en Mansion to give her clothes.
He didn't reach out the whole time, and he didn't see anything he shouldn't have seen.
Afterwards, Master Sanfang encouraged Duke Chao to take Song Hui to the East Palace to thank the prince in person.
Song Hui was so grateful that he wanted to repay the prince for saving his life. He was shy, but before he could say the words "I am willing to pledge myself to you", the prince happily said: "Jiannan Road suffered a rain disaster." , three flash floods broke out and people were displaced. If my second cousin wants to repay the orphan, she might as well donate more money and materials to the people affected by the disaster."
When Song Hui heard this, she realized that the prince had rejected her tactfully. She was so shameless that she almost fainted from tears on the spot.
Chao Guogong had no choice but to take her away and donated two thousand taels of silver in Song Hui's name.
To this day, Chao Guogong still remembers the embarrassment of scratching his toes on the ground at that time, and said respectfully: "My son asked my wife about this, and she said that on the day of the prince's birthday party, the prince was drunk and took Qing Yin's remaining wine to drink, hurting Qing Yin. He felt sorry for his reputation, so he took action. My father knew that the prince was a very responsible and protective person, and was not a prodigal son who was motivated by lust."
The old Duke thought for a moment: "How does your wife treat her?"
"Treat her like your own daughter."
"How is your character?"
Duke Chao Guo knew that he was asking Zhen Qingyin, so he carefully said: "She keeps herself to herself, doesn't like to cause trouble, and has a timid temperament, but my wife said that she is not without her own opinion."
He's not opinionated, but he's not necessarily opinionated either. The old Duke was silent for a while and sighed: "Her parents are really not decent."
The atmosphere instantly became relaxed.
Duke Chao Guogong knew that his father decided to support Zhen Qingyin to enter the East Palace.
With such a father and mother, and a rift with her maternal grandfather's Yin family, Zhen Qingyin was destined to rely on the influence of Duke Chao's palace and the imperial concubine in order to occupy a place in the East Palace. In the future, when she ascended to a high position, she would naturally think of some incense, return favors, and protect Chao's family. 2. If one day, there is a rift between the imperial concubine and the prince, mother and son, she can also make peace with it.
It was an unspoken deal.
The powerful family of the powerful knows the power of the wind. The old Duke does not ask Zhen Qingyin to promote them. He only needs to defend the Duke's house with a few words when he is in trouble and not to be hurt by others. That is enough.
Moreover, Zhen Qingyin also has an uncle who is the left minister of the Ministry of Rites.
Zhen Shilian only has one daughter and a nephew who is not very useful, so of course he will become Zhen Qingyin's supporter.
With Zhen Shilian and Chao Guogong's two major backers, Zhen Qingyin's position is stable, and the three parties are mutually beneficial.
Chao Guogong chatted a few words about the gossip he heard from hearsay: "...I heard from my wife that my brother-in-law has become a laughing stock in the capital and dare not go out during the Chinese New Year. He has been clamoring to resign these days, saying that he is too shameless to take up a job in Jingzhao Mansion. Zhen The old lady was so angry that she got sick again."
The old Duke frowned: "Does your wife also know this news?"
It's like digging under someone else's wall and acting as the ear of the wall.
The Zhen family lived with a minister named Zhen, and also lived with a future empress of the harem.
Chao Guogong was suddenly alert: "That Aunt Zhang was sent to Zhuangzi. I think the Zhen family will be more stable in the future, and the servants that Madam gave to the concubine should also be withdrawn."
The deeds of sale of those servants had actually been given to the Da Yin family.
But the Yin family could not stand up. In the past, Zhen Qingyin was still young and a girl who had not yet left the court, so it was not easy to manage people. Therefore, if something happened in Jinxiu Residence, the servants would immediately notify Yin Ruzhu.
Duke Chao's government has too much information about the Zhen family, which is not a good thing.
After thinking about it for a while, the old Duke felt that Minister Zhen was an interesting person. He could still sit still despite his family becoming a sieve.
There are not many people who are so transparent and open-minded.
He raised the teapot, and Chao Guogong quickly took it and made tea for his father.
The two chatted about everyday things, and the topic turned to Linglong Pavilion, where they discussed where the prince got such a large amount of colored glaze. At the end, the old Duke seemed to ask casually: "The prince was drunk for the next half of the day, but he was with Miss Zhen?"
Duke Chao Guo replied: "That's not true. Qing Yin is very disciplined. Young Master Wei Yi came today probably because of Qing Yin's cousin. The two of them have known each other for a long time and were childhood sweethearts. In the second half of the afternoon, Qing Yin sent his sister off. I went to see Mr. Wei Yi and returned to Hanxu Courtyard in less than two cups of tea. I have stayed in Hanxu Courtyard since then and never left the house."
The old man smiled.
This girl really follows the rules.
I guess the one who has a headache is the eldest daughter-in-law.
Chao Guogong paused: "However, the prince and Wei Yi met. Before that, Qing Yin should have met the prince once, and the two of them should have spoken."
He guessed it based on the reports from the maids.
Zhen Yuanyuan went back to Hanxu Courtyard to look for Zhen Qingyin. After meeting Qingyin, she went to see Wei Yi again.
Therefore, originally Qing Yin might have been standing outside waiting for Zhen Yuanyuan, but when she met the prince on the way, she temporarily decided to leave there and returned to Hanxu Courtyard alone.
After that, she didn't go out again until Xiao Yinshi said goodbye and returned to Zhen's house with Xiao Yinshi.
I just don't know if the prince's reluctance to see people for the second half of the day has anything to do with Qing Yin.
The old duke guessed a lot in an instant, and then smiled: "Let's not get into the details about the young children. The prince has not seen a young lady by his side for many years, but now that he has one, his status in his heart must be different."
"Yes." Chao Guogong stopped thinking and showed urgency on his face.
The old Duke couldn't stand the fact that he still loved his son and daughter at such a young age, so he waved his hand and said, "You've been busy all day, why don't you take a rest."
Chao Guogong resigned solemnly. As soon as he left the door, there was wind at his feet and he rushed to Hanxu Courtyard.
I was chatting with my father about the maid in the Jinxiu Residence of the Zhen family, and happened to talk to my wife about it as a serious matter. Is she going to drive him to the study to sleep this time?
*
Zhen Qingyin left the Duke Chao's mansion before the prince.
Along the way, Xiao Yin was hesitant to speak, wanting to ask but not daring to ask.
After all, he didn't ask, for fear of scaring her, so he immediately told Zhen Shilian about the prince's strange behavior today that night.
Zhen Shilian pondered the chess game, paused for a moment, and focused half of his mind on his wife's words.
If the niece wanted to seduce the prince, there should have been some movement a few years ago, but it was only now that there were some signs, and the prince was the first to flirt, so it was too late for him to think about anything.
There are people who are more anxious than him, so why is he anxious?
"If the girl is not admitted to college, it's time for Qing Yin to talk about marriage. Madam, don't worry, Qing Yin is the heart of Mrs. Chao Guogong, and she will not harm Qing Yin."
"But, that is my concubine..."
"It also depends on whose concubine it is."
She is a concubine, but when these elders see her, they have to kneel down to salute her and say hello. Can it be the same?
The prince has no concubine to live with him, and this concubine is even more expensive.
Or does Qing Yin have a better way out?
Little Yin thought about it and could only sigh helplessly.
Qing Yin's marriage, her sister-in-law is not interested, and her eldest husband is unreliable. Don't cheat her and sell her. Thank God. Her aunt pointed out a good future for her, how can she stop it?
"Master, please work hard and go up higher." This will give support to my daughter and niece.
Zhen Shilian: "..."
Okay, Madam has a destiny, and after playing this game of chess, he will work hard.
