Emperor Xuande was furious, deprived him of the title of King Lu and his position, fined him ten thousand taels of silver, moved out of the Linhua Palace, and closed himself up in the Jingshui Garden on Zhuque Street to think about his mistakes. Without an imperial edict, he had to issue a clear edict of imprisonment.
For a time, the Changxin Palace was sparse, like a cold palace, but the Huai Palace of the eldest prince Ji Xuan was bustling with people, and even some low-ranking concubines in the palace began to show favor to him.
One has to lament that the situation has changed. Who would have thought that the eldest prince, born of a palace maid and living like a transparent person, would one day surpass the second prince born of a noble concubine.
It is even very possible to aspire to the throne, after all, Emperor Xuande currently only has two princes.
In the golden autumn of October, the fragrance of osmanthus blooms.
In the golden osmanthus garden, Jiao Jiao, dressed in a light green dress, bowed her head to paint in front of the stone table in the garden.
After a while, she put down her pen, looked up at the sun, and said, "It's getting late, let's go back."
"Yes." Bifu Huangtao responded and put away her pen and ink pictures in an orderly manner.
Walking to Qianli Pond, someone stopped me.
Jiao Jiao raised her eyes and saw that there were two palace concubines chatting in the Yi Ran Pavilion by the pool. One was Jia Guiren who was in the prime of favor in the palace before the moon, and the other was Rong Zhaoyi, the head of the nine concubines.
She was a little surprised. She had only met these two people a few times at Gong Yancheng'an, and knew that such a person existed and had no personal relationship with him.
"Empress Jia, Empress Rong." She bent her knees slightly, gave a shallow salute, and walked away with Bi Fu and the others.
Jia Gui raised his eyebrows and reprimanded: "Is this how the imperial concubine teaches you the rules? You are perfunctory in front of your elders."
Jiao Jiao was stunned, blinked, turned to stare at Mr. Jia Gui, and asked slowly: "Are you talking about me?"
"Who else could it be if you weren't the one? A majestic princess with incomplete rules. How did the imperial concubine teach her?" Jiagui said in a stern tone.
Jiao Jiao glanced at Rong Zhaoyi, who had not said a word from beginning to end, and then glanced at Jia Guiren, who was almost jumping up and down, and smiled playfully: "A mere nobleman dares to speak ill of your concubine. Who taught you the rules you are breaking? ?”
"Sharp teeth and a sharp mouth!" Mr. Jia Gui sneered, "You are still acting like before. As long as you are allowed to be arrogant, Concubine Luo can't protect herself, let alone you."
Jiao Jiao sneered, and just as he was about to reply, an indifferent voice sounded from behind him, "Changxin Palace has fallen, but my Princess Yongle Palace is still there."
Jiao Jiao turned around and saw Princess Yongle walking towards her, wearing a gold silk eight-treasure-studded head and face, and an aqua blue cloud-patterned palace dress with folded branches trailing to the ground.
"Big sister." Jiao Jiao saluted with a smile.
Yongle nodded and looked at Jiagui again: "My father is alive and well, and I, Princess Yongle, are also well. Who gave you the courage to bully my sister?"
Lady Jia Gui bit her lip, she dared not say anything in anger. Before she entered the palace, she heard that His Majesty loved Princess Yongle very much. He would never pick the moon if he wanted a star, and even his consort would choose the one she liked.
However, didn’t Princess Yongle grow up in Pixiang Palace? How could she be so protective of the three princesses of Changxin Palace?
She looked at Rong Zhaoyi for help, but she didn't want Rong Zhaoyi to look at her nose and heart like a piece of wood.
Yongle leaned closer, his eyes piercing Jiagui's face like a knife. When Jiagui was swaying and almost unable to hold on, he pulled back and said contemptuously: "I'm just a slave, but I dare to act like an elder."
"You, you, you!" Jiagui was trembling with anger. Unfortunately, after Yongle finished speaking, he pulled Jiao Jiao and turned around, not even bothering to give her a look.
Mr. Jiagui almost vomited a mouthful of blood when he saw Jiao Jiao turned around and said quietly: "Autumn has come and the water is cold. If Mr. Jiagui is still angry, why not jump into Qianli Pond to get rid of the anger."
She was so angry that her liver ached.
Yongle shook his head helplessly: "You still don't know how to tolerate it. I've already vented my anger on you, so why bother angering her again. Now that I'm married and living in the princess's mansion, I'm not afraid, but you still have to live in the palace. "
"I'm not afraid of them."
Jiao Jiao shrugged and didn't take it seriously. It's human nature to bully the weak and fear the strong. If you take one step back today, the other party will take ten steps forward tomorrow. Only by assuming a posture of not being easy to mess with from the beginning will the other party restrain themselves.
Seeing that Yongle was about to make a long speech, she quickly changed the subject: "Are you going into the palace to pay your respects to my father?"
Yongle saw at a glance that she didn't listen, and couldn't help but sigh secretly: "I have already met my father, and I am about to visit Concubine Zheng, and then I plan to go to Changxin Palace to see you."
"Thank you, big sister, for your concern. I'm fine."
Yongle glanced around, pulled her to an open space, signaled the maids to move away, and whispered: "Listen to my sister's advice and don't go to Jingshui Garden again. We are princesses, and whoever becomes the prince is a princess, so why bother getting involved?" Seize the direct descendants. Let them fight for the throne. As long as we sisters are safe and sound."
Jiao Jiao shook his head: "He is my second brother, how can I leave him alone?"
Yongle was anxious: "His grandpa Chang Pinghou has given up on him, why are you getting involved?"
"What do you mean?" Jiao Jiao was confused.
Yongle lowered his voice and told her the current political situation in detail: "The Changping Marquis Mansion holds half of Yao Han's military power. Without his acquiescence, how could my father take away the power of the second emperor brother because of a mere corruption?" Wangjue?"
Jiao Jiao defended: "Second brother is not corrupt."
"Since Father has made a conclusion, even if it is not possible, it is possible!"
Jiao Jiao was silent, and then asked again: "Why did Marquis Changping give up his second brother? He also has half of the blood of Marquis Changping."
Yongle sneered: "Of course it is profit. In recent years, the Second Emperor Brother has thoroughly investigated the issue of empty pay for the army. The Changping Marquis Mansion, which controls half of the military power, has suffered the most. The entire Zhenxi Army has long been dissatisfied."
After a pause, she leaned close to Jiao Jiao's ear and said, "Seven days later, the thirteenth lady from the Changping Marquis Mansion will enter the palace and be named a noble concubine."
Jiao Jiao was shocked, "How could that happen?"
"The imperial edict for sealing has been drawn up. My father showed it to me in private just now. He also asked me to advise you not to go to Jingshui Garden again."
The bright heart sank to the bottom.
After a moment, she raised her eyes and whispered: "You know, when I was learning to speak, the first word I learned was "second brother". The first color I could distinguish was the light blue on his clothes. The first formal Walking means jumping into his arms.
As far as I am concerned, not everyone is the same as the prince. As long as he wants to be the prince, I will definitely help him! "
"Third sister!"
"It is very harmful for the army to pay empty wages. He is doing things that are beneficial to the country and the people. It is the fault of the Changping Marquis Mansion.
Moreover, the thirteenth lady has not entered the palace yet, and Concubine Luo will not want her to enter the palace. The situation is not so bad that it is irreversible. "
"but……"
"Don't worry, I will protect myself."
She was always stubborn, and even ten oxen could not bring her back from her decision. Yongle had no choice but to give her a few instructions and then went to Pixiang Hall.
Jiao Jiao was deep in thought. Concubine Luo Guifei had always objected to the Changping Marquis Mansion sending people in again. She had been running the palace for many years and had a deep foundation. A few years ago, the Marquis Mansion wanted to send the seventh daughter in, but because she strongly opposed it, she had no choice but to give up.
Now, what did the Hou Mansion convince her?
After meditating all the way, I returned to Changxin Palace. The eldest palace maid Ju Xiang was preparing the meal. When she saw her coming back, she hurriedly saluted and said: "Princess, Bifu Huangtao, please wait for the princess to wash her hands."
"Where is Concubine Luo?"
"I'm doing my makeup in the inner room. Princess, please wait."
Jiao Jiao nodded, sat down by the south window, and waited for the palace servants to bring the toiletries.
At this time, she suddenly heard that in the inner room, Concubine Luo seemed to mention Ji Yun in her words. She subconsciously listened carefully, and Aunt Minzhi's worried voice clearly reached her ears.
"Your Majesty, think twice, Miss Thirteen is a successful person, she is afraid of raising a tiger to cause trouble."
Jiao Jiao was slightly stunned. In fact, she was not only born with great strength, but also had extremely keen senses. Unless she deliberately bit her ear and whispered, the movements in the same room could not be hidden from her.
On weekdays, when she accidentally hears other people's secrets, she usually passes them in one ear and out the other, pretending not to hear them.
But what the two people said today was obviously related to her doubts just now, so she naturally had to listen carefully.
Concubine Luo said in an unprecedented brisk tone: "It doesn't matter, Your Majesty has promised that if she gives birth to a prince, he will be raised by me."
"Your Majesty is just hinting, if then..."
"There's also dad, daughter and niece, do you still have to choose?"
Aunt Minzhi hesitated, as if she couldn't bear it: "Then Your Highness..."
"He is my biological son, and I will ensure that he has enough food and clothing for the rest of his life. You can go out of the palace tomorrow to persuade him. It's getting cold in autumn, so bring some clothes with you."
Jiao Jiao felt an immense chill in his heart. His biological mother, who should be bound by honor and disgrace to his second brother, actually gave up on him.
Why did everyone's attitude suddenly change?
"Princess? Princess?"
Jiao Jiao blinked her eyes and came back to her senses. She saw Bi Fu holding the copper basin with a confused look on her face. She smiled and cleaned her hands as if nothing had happened.
The next day, Aunt Minzhi led the two maids out of Changxin Palace when a person jumped out from the corner and said with a smile: "Aunt Minzhi, where are you going?"
"Princess?" Minzhi was surprised, "Didn't you go to the palace to study?"
"Today is a female celebrity. I skipped class." Jiao Jiao felt no guilt about skipping school and once again became curious and inquired.
Minzhi smiled and said: "According to the emperor's decree, I went to Jingshui Garden to visit His Highness the Second Highness."
"I'm going too! I'm going too!"
Aunt Minzhi thought for a moment and then agreed. It was not necessary for royal girls to learn female red, and it didn't matter if they skipped classes.
Since she was looking for excuses to go to Jingshui Garden every now and then, the guards in front of the palace gate didn't even ask any questions. They checked Aunt Minzhi's palace badge and let her go.
When she arrived at Jingshui Garden, she said to Xiao Xizi in a familiar manner: "You take my aunt to Lanting Courtyard, and I'll call my second brother."
After saying that, she picked up her skirt and ran towards the garden in a hurry.
Xiao Xizi was stunned. He didn't say that His Highness was in the garden. How did the princess know?
Jiao Jiao ran all the way, and in the distance he saw Ji Yun practicing swordplay under the golden ginkgo tree, holding a long blue sword in his hand, moving smoothly with every move.
After a moment, he sheathed the sword, lowered his head and took off the sleeve seal from his wrist. The broad sleeves of his robe were filled with the breeze, as if he wanted to ride the wind back home.
"Didn't I tell you not to come to Jingshui Garden? It's only been three days, why did you sneak out of the palace again?"
After saying that, he turned around, looked at Jiao Jiao, and asked suspiciously: "Are you in trouble again?"
"Aunt Minzhi is here to give you winter clothes, and I came with her." As she said that, she pouted dissatisfiedly, "I'm so good, how can I cause trouble? It's always been me."
"Pfft!"
A suppressed laugh came from the side, and Jiao Jiao looked over, only to find a man in Tsing Yi standing under the tree, with picturesque features and a body like a jade tree.
He was holding a book in his hand, smiling so much that he showed his white teeth. When he saw the bright white teeth, he looked over and quickly covered his mouth with the book. He coughed twice, suppressed his laughter, and said seriously: "I have met the third princess."
The voice was soft, as if carried by the wind, so low-key that it blended in with the environment.
Jiao Jiao thought about it seriously and determined that he had never seen such a person before, so he blurted out: "Who are you?"
"Pei Zheng."
Ji Yun introduced her: "This is the ninth son of the Pei family in Luming City."
Jiao Jiao said softly and stopped paying attention. He pinched his nose and looked around with disdain in his words: "Why are you practicing your sword under the ginkgo tree? Ginkgo fruit smells so bad. If you accidentally step on it, tsk tsk... eh, that's not right. , when did you learn martial arts?"
"I have nothing to do these days, practicing to strengthen my body." Ji Yun handed the sword to Xiao Xizi, took Supa and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Being held up by Xiao Xizi, the long sword was fully exposed. Jiao Jiao was instantly attracted, "What a beautiful sword!"
She reached out and brushed the blue hilt of the sword, tracing the small milky white flowers on the sword grid. A trace of doubt flashed in her eyes, "Hey, I seem to have seen it somewhere before?"
Ji Yun moved his hands for a moment and looked at her quietly, with secret expectations in his eyes.
Pei Zheng smiled: "I just brought this sword to your brother yesterday. Before that, it had been kept in the private treasury of the Jiang family in Pingyang. Where has the princess seen it?"
"Pingyang? Where is it?"
Ji Yun's eyes darkened and he said in a deep voice: "In Funan Kingdom."
"Oh, I must have remembered it wrong." Jiao Jiao took her hand away from the sword. She had never even left Yao Han in Kyoto City, let alone Pingyang in Funan Kingdom.
Pei Zheng praised loudly: "This Jiang family is a legend! During the previous Nanming Dynasty, Princess Xiyue was kidnapped by a thief. The Imperial Prefect's Office and other noble families killed her in Wenshuiyuan. This sword was the thief's sword. .”
Jiao Jiao tilted his head in confusion: "What does this have to do with the fact that the Jiang family is a legend?"
Pei Zheng smiled mysteriously: "These are the official narratives given by the Imperial Prefect's Office. In fact, they are chasing Princess Xiyue.
Within three months after Princess Xiyue's death, all those who participated in the siege and killing that night died due to illness or accidents, and their families also declined one after another within fifty years.
The only exception was Jiang Shida, the ancestor of the Jiang family, who died at the age of eighty-six, and his lineage continues to this day.
The Jiang family has been a century-old family in Nanming, and it has continued for another hundred years. Isn't such a long-lived family a legend? "
Jiao Jiao's eyes widened: "Princess Xiyue is so powerful! Why isn't that ancestor of the Jiang family dead?"
"Before the siege, the ancestor of the Jiang family tried to let Xiyue and the two go away. He seemed to be friends with them."
Jiao Jiao was shocked and wondered for a moment: "How do you know this kind of family secret?"
"Master, Pingyang Jiang Chenghong."
The past was too heavy. Ji Yun didn't want to hear more and changed the subject: "Aunt Minzhi is here, let's go."
Then he said to Pei Zheng: "Brother Pei, wait a moment."
Jiao Jiao thought of business and made up an excuse to send Xiao Xizi away. He pulled Ji Yun away and said, "I just want to tell you that everyone has their own position, but I am definitely on your side."
