But Zhao Fu, the prince of Jinling, has been worried about his daughter Princess Huanyu's marriage these days. Huanyu is nineteen years old this year, but she is still waiting in the harem.
People say that the emperor's daughter has no worries about getting married. It stands to reason that when the prince's daughter reaches the marriageable age, there should naturally be an endless stream of people seeking marriage, crossing the threshold.
In fact, this is also true. From four or five years ago, princes, grandsons and sons of wealthy nobles in the capital have asked matchmakers to line up to propose marriage. However, until now, Princess Huanyu is still alone and has become a veritable "elderly leftover girl". ".
Why? Because no one can offend this princess' temper. Speaking of Princess Huanyu, she was a famous beauty in the capital, but she was also famous for her bad temper. Arrogant, domineering, unruly and willful, when applied to this princess, it is really not an exaggeration at all.
Let’s talk about what happened a year ago. At that time, Prime Minister Wang personally brought his son Wang Shijun to the house to propose marriage.
The prince of Jinling was very satisfied when he saw that the prince's son was a talented person, and his words and deeds were generous. He immediately agreed with Prime Minister Wang on the marriage of their two young children, arranged a banquet, and entertained Prime Minister Wang warmly. Father and son.
During this period, Wang Shijun left the table to change his clothes. When he walked to the back garden of the palace, accompanied by the servants in the palace, he happened to meet Princess Huanyu who was taking a rest here.
When Huanyu saw Prince Wang approaching, she stood up and came over with a smile, accompanied by two girls, Xiangyun and Jiaoxing.
When the prince first saw the princess, he was astonished. After being introduced by people on both sides, I knew it was the princess. I couldn't help but feel frightened and hurriedly stepped forward to salute him.
Huan Yu smiled and said, "I heard that Mr. Wang is here to propose marriage, and my father has already agreed to your marriage, right?"
Prince Wang said: "Exactly."
Huan Yu said: "However, it's not enough for you to just pass my father's level. You must also pass my level."
Prince Wang was stunned and said: "Xiaosheng doesn't understand what the princess means, so please make it clear."
Huan Yu said: "I heard that Mr. Wang has practiced some boxing and kicking skills at home under the guidance of a famous teacher; and I have also practiced a few tricks of fancy fists and embroidered legs. Why don't you and I compete here? If Mr. Wang can beat me, I will I will marry you willingly.”
Prince Wang hurriedly said, "Young man doesn't dare."
Huan Yu sneered and said, "It's a shame that you, a young man, are so timid as a mouse. I really look down on you! I, Huan Yu, have long made up my mind to marry a hero who is upright and not like you. A useless, useless white-faced scholar who can't even beat a woman."
Although Prince Wang was a scholar, he was still young and energetic. He was immediately aroused by her. Regardless of the obstruction from his family and attendants, he stepped forward to compete with Princess Huanyu in the back garden.
The result was a crushing defeat. Huan Yu flew up and kicked him far away. He did a wild goose on the flat sand and fell face down to the ground. His nose was bruised and his face was swollen, and he was in a very embarrassed state.
Later, the prince lay in bed for half a month, and a heavy shadow fell in his heart. From then on, he never dared to step into the Jinling Palace again.
This marriage was considered to be a match made in heaven, but it was so dirty.
When Prince Jinling found out about this, he was so angry that he blew his beard and stared, but there was nothing he could do.
In the nearly one year since then, no young man in the capital dared to come to ask for a hand in marriage. Prince Jinling and Princess Wei Shi were really at a loss for their daughter's marriage.
There is a saying that goes: There is no way out despite the mountains and rivers, and there is another village with dark flowers and bright flowers.
When the prince and his wife of Jinling were worried about their daughter's marriage, a month ago, Ding Jinzhi, the Minister of Etiquette, came to propose marriage to Princess Huanyu for his second son, Ding Jiying.
The prince of Jinling saw that Ding Jiying was about the same age as his daughter. Although he did not have much fame yet, Mr. Ding was a well-behaved and clever person, and would definitely have a bright future in the future, so he agreed.
After sending Ding Jin away, Prince Jinling happily returned to the flower hall of the inner house and talked about the matter with the princess and his daughter.
I thought my daughter would be happy, but unexpectedly she met with fierce opposition.
Huanyu raised her eyebrows and said, "What, you want me to marry that ignorant playboy? I won't agree!"
Prince Jinling said: "Huanyu, Mr. Ding is about the same age as you. He is smart and has good conduct. My father thinks you are a good match for him!"
Huanyu snorted and said: "What, he is a good match for me? In what way? Does he have fame? Does he have an official position? Does he know martial arts? Does he have literary talent? Is he handsome? Is he motivated? Heart?
"How can a playboy and playboy who only cares about idleness and idleness be a good match for me? Dad, do you think your daughter really can't get married, so you just find someone to send me away? ?”
Prince Jinling was a little annoyed, "This won't work, that won't work either, Huanyu, I really don't know what you are thinking? What kind of thing are you looking for?"
Huan Yu's bright eyes turned and said: "Dad asked me what I want, and I really can't tell. How about Xiangyun, come and tell it for me!" As she said that, she glanced at the smart and pretty girl next to her. .
Everyone's eyes were all focused on Xiangyun.
Princess Wei of Jinling said: "Xiangyun, if you know, please tell me."
Xiangyun didn't show any stage fright at all. She blinked and said loudly: "Yes, I obey. The princess has six criteria for choosing a spouse:
"1. You must be handsome and handsome, with a dignified appearance. 2. You must have an official position of third rank or above in the court. 3. You must be good at both civil and military skills, especially martial arts. 4. You must be smart, wise, and have outstanding abilities. 5. He must be a decent person, with good conduct, resolute temperament, and not a womanizer. 6. He must be from a well-known family and have a noble status..."
Everyone was speechless and dumbfounded.
After hearing this, Prince Jinling couldn't help but smile bitterly and said: "I'm afraid the person who meets these conditions has not been born yet? Looking at the whole world, Huanyu, where do you want me to find people who meet your conditions?"
Huan Yu said confidently: "There must be such a person. A few days ago, I asked Mr. Ge, the Iron Finger God, to calculate my marriage. He said that the husband I am looking for is just like what Xiangyun described just now. And this person is in our capital."
Princess Wei of Jinling frowned and thought hard, and said to herself: "Here in our capital? Who could this person be?..."
Prince Jinling said: "This girl Huanyu is so willful, why are you making noises too? Do you take the words of a fortune teller like this seriously?"
Webster said: "My lord, don't you believe it? Speaking of this iron-fingered fortune teller, he is not an ordinary fortune teller! I also asked him to tell me my fortune before. This man is extremely proficient in the art of Zhou Yi. It's really It’s a wonderful plan!”
Prince Jinling glanced at her doubtfully and just smiled bitterly.
At this time, Zhao Yang, a confidant of Prince Jinling, suddenly had his eyes lit up and shouted: "Your Majesty, I suddenly remembered, could it be that the person Mr. Ge said who met the conditions for the princess is the Minister of the Ministry of Justice? Commander Ling of the Mansion? He seems to meet most of these conditions..."
Huan Yu looked at Zhao Yang with great interest and kept asking: "Commander Ling? Which Commander Ling?..."
Zhao Yang said: "It's Ling Yun, the commander of the third-grade bodyguard beside Mr. Lu. He..."
Zhao Yang suddenly saw Prince Jinling glaring at him fiercely, and was so frightened that he hurriedly stopped and did not dare to say any more.
Huanyu stepped forward, tugged on the sleeves of Prince Jinling, shook it, and said coquettishly: "Dad, why don't you let Zhao Yang continue talking? Tell me quickly, what kind of person is this Ling Yun? ah?"
Prince Jinling's face darkened and he said: "Huanyu, stop making trouble. The matter between you and Young Master Ding is settled! Stop thinking so wildly. If you have nothing to do, just stay in your room and practice some chess, calligraphy and painting. Make some needlework or something, and don’t cause any trouble for me again!”
Huan Yu said aggrievedly: "What, dad, do you still want me to marry that playboy? No, I won't agree!"
Prince Jinling said: "Stop acting like a child! Xiangyun, Jiaoxing, you two must serve the princess well. If anything goes wrong again, I will only ask you!"
The two girls agreed repeatedly.
Huan Yu wanted to say something else, but Prince Jinling had already rolled up his sleeves and left.
Huan Yu was left standing there gritting her teeth and stamping her feet in anger, but there was nothing she could do.
But Prince Jinling walked out of the flower hall and walked directly to the study. While walking, I was thinking about what happened just now, and thinking about Ling Yun, the guard commander of the Shangshu Mansion of the Ministry of Justice, whom everyone mentioned just now, I couldn't help but ponder.
He had met Ling Yun several times before in the court, and Ling Yun was always with Lu Wenzheng at that time.
Because he didn't have much contact with Lu Wenzheng before, he didn't have much contact with Ling Yun, but he had a deep impression on this young man.
Because Ling Yun is the kind of outstanding and charming person that people will remember at one glance.
I remember one time, when he came out of the court, he happened to meet Ling Yun who came here to see Lu Wenzheng in an emergency.
At that time, he was wearing a light blue plain brocade official uniform with hundreds of flowers, covering his slender and strong figure, making his whole body appear more upright and straight, like a jade tree facing the wind, with a heroic and unrestrained posture.
Because he had something urgent to do, he walked forward in a hurry, his movements were nimble and quick, his clothes were flying, and his posture was extremely elegant and free.
Even Prince Jinling, who was used to seeing the world, couldn't help but secretly cheer: What a handsome young man.
Seeing Prince Jinling, Ling Yun hurriedly stopped, bowed and saluted: "See you, Prince."
Prince Jinling said "no courtesy", Ling Yun raised his face and nodded slightly towards him.
The prince of Jinling saw that he had a face as beautiful as a crown jewel, with sharp eyebrows and starry eyes, especially those black and white eyes, which were full of energy and charm, and he was extremely good-looking.
I couldn't help but sigh in my heart: It turns out that there are such handsome and handsome people in the world.
Prince Jinling wanted to say a few more words to Ling Yun, but just as Lu Wen was coming out of the court, Ling Yun said to him, "Your Majesty, I'm sorry," and turned around.
Before leaving, she smiled at him.
That look, that smile, Prince Jinling suddenly felt a bit familiar... From this, he left a deep impression on this young man.
And in the next few days, he kept thinking about Ling Yun's eyes and smile before leaving, who did he look like?
Now, because Ling Yun was mentioned in Huanyu's mate selection criteria, Prince Jinling couldn't help but evaluate all aspects of Ling Yun in his heart:
Ling Yun, this kid, is first-class in terms of appearance, character, martial arts, and case-handling abilities; and he has always been good at dealing with people, so he is worthy of my daughter in these aspects.
It's just that his official position is a little lower, only the third rank; and his background is not good, his parents are ordinary people, so he is not suitable for my family in Jinling Palace, and he is still not suitable for Huanyu.
He rejected Ling Yun in his heart and further strengthened his determination to marry Ding Jinzhi.
However, Princess Huanyu has been unhappy for several days since Prince Jinling arranged her marriage to Ding Jiying. However, she was extremely smart and flexible, and after thinking about it, she had a new idea in her mind.
She asked Xiangyun to find Zhao Yang and continue the unfinished topic that day, "Zhao Yang, please tell me carefully, what kind of person is that Ling Yun?"
Zhao Yang said: "Princess, in fact, I am not very familiar with Ling Yun. I just met him a few times in the court when I was serving the prince. If the princess insists on telling Ling Yun, Miss Xiangyun was there that day anyway." Of the mentioned items, except for the last one, he basically meets the conditions."
Huan Yu said: "The last one? In other words, this Ling Yun is of ordinary origin?"
Zhao Yang said: "Yes, I heard that his parents are common people. His father died early, and now only his mother lives with him in the Shangshu Mansion of the Ministry of Justice."
Huan Yu pondered: "Oh, that's it..."
Zhao Yang added: "This is just one thing. If he is not the right family, it will be impossible for the princess to follow him, so the princess should not consider him anymore!
"Princess, it was my fault that I was too talkative that day. I mentioned him without even thinking about it. Because of this, I was scolded by the prince. Now I regret it to death! Princess, please, don't Let’s bring up this issue again, okay? You’d better think carefully about getting married to Mr. Ding!”
Huan Yu said: "Okay, I understand, you go down!"
After Zhao Yang left, Huanyu sat alone in the boudoir, thinking:
"My father asked me to marry that playboy, but I refused to marry him; my father secretly prevented me from asking about Ling Yun, so I had to go and see who this Ling Yun was, right? It really meets the conditions I put forward..."
Let's talk about the Prince of Jinling. He came back from the court that day. As soon as he entered the door, he saw his family member Zhao Wei running over in a panic to report: "Your Majesty, something serious has happened! The princess...she left a letter and ran away from home. Already!..."
"What?" After hearing this, Prince Jinling was so angry that his eyes turned black and he almost fell down. Thanks to the attendants around him, he was supported.
Shaking, he took the letter that Huan Yu had left for him from Zhao Wei and saw that it read:
Parents, please:
Please forgive my daughter for leaving without saying goodbye. The daughter is determined not to marry that playboy and is going to find her true love.
My daughter has grown up and can take care of herself; so parents please don't worry about her or send people to look for her. In a few days, your daughter will come back after she has traveled enough.
My daughter Huanyu pays homage
Prince Jinling calmed down and asked, "Which maid did the princess take with her when she left?"
Zhao Wei said: "The princess seems to have taken no one with her. She ran away alone."
Prince Jinling said angrily: "This girl really doesn't know how high the sky is!... Why are you still standing there? Why don't you arrange for people to go look for her separately right away!"
Zhao Wei responded hurriedly, turned around and left.
Prince Jinling suddenly remembered something and called Zhao Wei back and told him, "This matter must not be made public. Just lead people to search for it quietly."
Zhao Wei sighed understandingly and went out to make arrangements.
In this way, close family members Zhao Wei and Zhao Yang, including the newly promoted martial arts masters Li Xuan and Li Wu of the Jinling Palace, followed the arrangements of the Jinling Prince and led people to secretly inquire about the whereabouts of the princess and search for her everywhere. .
