Zhou Jin saw that the Crown Princess was also preparing to visit the Imperial Garden, so he stopped aside. When Zuo Yuyan approached, he stepped forward and saluted, "Ping Le has met the Crown Princess."
Although Zhou Xuan had been dead for ten years, Zhou Yi did not establish another crown prince during these ten days, so everyone still respected Zuo Yuyan as the crown prince.
When Zuo Yuyan saw Zhou Jin, a smile appeared on her cold face: "Why is sister Pingle free to come to the garden today?"
Because Zhou Jin was close to Zhou Xuan, she also had a very close relationship with Zuo Yuyan. Although as she grew older, she became busier and moved around less, she still respected the Crown Princess very much.
"I got a little bored staying in the palace, so I went out for a walk. I didn't expect to meet my sister-in-law in the Imperial Garden."
Zuo Yuyan stretched out her hand and said with a smile: "Since it's such a coincidence, why don't we go swimming."
Zhou Jin hurriedly took her hand, feeling happy in her heart: "What my sister-in-law said is exactly what I want." At this point, she couldn't help but sigh: "There are too many things going on during this period. When I saw my sister-in-law, I remembered that I hadn't been there for a long time. I’m visiting my sister-in-law, and I hope she won’t take offense.”
Zuo Yuyan took her hand, and then patted the back of her hand: "Ping Le, there is no need to blame yourself, I know you have good intentions."
Then she looked Zhou Jin up and down again, and then looked directly into her eyes, as if with an inexplicable smile.
Zhou Jin felt a little shy when she looked at her, so she pulled her hand and gently said, "Sister-in-law, why are you looking at me like this?"
Zuo Yuyan smiled slightly: "I heard some rumors recently and lost my mind for a while."
"Rumors among the people?" Zhou Jin was startled: "What rumors?"
Zuo Yuyan looked around and saw that the palace maid who was following them knew what they meant and immediately retreated far away. Only then did she whisper: "I heard that my father wanted to make peace..." Then her voice became a little louder. Anxiously: "Has my father ever asked you what you want? You must never agree. If your brother, the prince, knew that you were marrying far away from home, he would be heartbroken."
Zhou Jin was moved for a while, but there were some things that he couldn't say clearly to her, and she felt guilty again. She held Zuo Yuyan's hand tightly and said, "Thank you for your trouble, sister-in-law." Then her expression became determined: "Please come back. Don’t worry, sister-in-law, I will never marry Qi Yuanlu.”
But Zuo Yuyan was still a little worried: "I heard that both the King of Qi and the King of Zhao agreed to the marriage, and many ministers in the court also agreed to avoid war."
Then her voice dropped even lower: "I'm worried that Your Majesty will be deceived by others and make wrong choices."
Zhou Jin suddenly became confused. Last night in the general's mansion, even though her father promised her that he would not marry her to Qi Yuanlu. But this was a troubled time, and if Su Shi could not expose Pei Xun's trick, his father might not be able to protect himself.
The thoughts of King Qi, King Zhao and the ministers were not important. Instead, Zhou Jin was worried that the prince's brother's last words would prompt his father to change his mind.
Thinking of this, Zhou Jin felt troubled and stood there blankly for a while.
Zuo Yuyan saw Zhou Jin's sad face and chuckled.
Zhou Jin was pulled back by the chuckle and looked at her blankly: "Sister-in-law, are you making fun of me?" Then she couldn't help pouting: "Sister-in-law just used words to scare me, and now she's making fun of me again."
Zuo Yuyan said with a smile: "I laughed at you for being smart all your life, but you were so confused for a moment that you were frightened by just a few words? Even if my father really wanted to get married, couldn't you think of a way to avoid it?"
Zhou Jin was stunned when he heard this: "Find a way to avoid it? How to avoid it?"
Zuo Yuyan looked at it with hatred: "Have you never read the drama?"
"Drama? What drama?"
Zuo Yuyan sighed: "In dramas, there are often stories of talented people and beautiful people who are a match made in heaven, but the girl's parents want to break them up. What do you think they should do?"
Zhou Jin's face suddenly turned red, and his eyes seemed to dare not meet Zuo Yuyan's, and he couldn't help but look at the ground.
"What should they do?"
Zuo Yuyan said in a voice that only Zhou Jin could hear: "The first way is for the two of them to elope."
Zhou Jin was startled and looked at her with wide eyes, but Zuo Yuyan smiled disapprovingly, then leaned into her ear and whispered softly: "The second method is to cook raw rice with your lover."
Zhou Jin's face was originally slightly red, but now it was completely red.
However, Zuo Yuyan looked at her deeply and said slowly: "It's just that neither of these methods is suitable for you."
Zhou Jin suppressed the shame in her heart and hurriedly patted her: "How can you take the things in the play seriously? My sister-in-law is teasing me."
Zuo Yuyan sighed: "The reason why these two methods are not suitable for you is because you don't have your favorite lover yet."
Zhou Jin felt even more shy. Just as she was about to turn around and leave, Zuo Yuyan held her back: "Sister, I'm joking with you. Sister, don't be angry. Let's go to the garden."
Zhou Jin was naturally not angry with her. After hearing this, she turned around and said softly with a blushing face: "Sister-in-law, don't make such jokes in the future."
Zuo Yuyan nodded, but then said seriously: "What I said is not all joking."
Seeing her seriousness, Zhou Jin couldn't help but wonder: "What does sister-in-law mean by this?"
Zuo Yuyan said slowly: "If Pingle and you are really in love with each other, how can you do such a thing as beating a mandarin duck with your father's love for you?"
After hearing this, Zhou Jin's expression was dull, but there was a hint of resentment in her eyes. She forced out a smile: "Let's not talk about this anymore. My sister-in-law finally found her interest in visiting the garden, so why should she ruin her pleasure for these things?"
With that said, she took Zuo Yuyan's hand and walked towards the imperial garden.
But how could her thoughts escape Zuo Yuyan's eyes? Zhou Jin pulled a few times, but Zuo Yuyan didn't move at all. Zhou Jin looked at her and saw Zuo Yuyan looking at her in surprise.
Zhou Jin was even more panicked, and just as she didn't know what to do, Zuo Yuyan suddenly covered her mouth and whispered: "Sister, do you already have someone you like?"
Zhou Jin stamped her feet anxiously and said, "Sister, don't make random guesses."
Zuo Yuyan couldn't believe it, so she hurriedly pulled her aside and asked softly: "Sister, tell me quickly, which young master can win my sister's favor?"
Zhou Jin was blushing with embarrassment again, but she only dared to lower her head and look at the ground. It was extremely difficult for her to open her mouth.
Zuo Yuyan said hurriedly: "If my sister really has someone she likes, this is an opportunity. Why not tell your majesty openly? Your majesty will definitely care about family ties and put my sister's happiness first. In this way, my sister will not worry. The matter of marrying far away from home."
However, even though she repeatedly analyzed the pros and cons, Zhou Jin just lowered her head and said nothing.
Zuo Yuyan suddenly realized: "Are the rumors true?"
Zhou Jin heard her surprised voice and looked up at her: "What other rumors are there?"
Zuo Yuyan looked at her with complicated eyes and couldn't help but sigh: "There are rumors that Princess Pingle has an affair with Su Shi, the second son of the General's Mansion. I didn't believe it before, but now it seems that this rumor is true."
