When the eldest princess Xiao Yuanzhen came in, Lu Tang wore only a long coat to greet her. Xiao Yuanmu was too disheveled, so she had to bypass the screen and take shelter by the back door.
"Second Miss is injured and there is no need to salute. Don't touch the wound."
Xiao Yuanzhen was still dressed in Taoist attire, with only a whisk in his hand. The palace maids behind him were holding many gifts and things, all of them smiling.
"Yesterday, the second young lady resisted the crossbow arrows for me. She was my savior. These gifts cannot be said to be rewards. I will give them to the second young lady to add some dowry."
Lutang had no contact with the princess in her previous life. They only met once in this life, but they felt very cordial. They sat on the couch and declined with a smile, not daring to claim credit.
"The eldest princess has great blessings to be able to achieve good fortune in times of adversity. She does not need the help of my daughter. I dare not call her a benefactor."
"Actually, you and I also know that the crime committed in Prince Qi's Mansion at this moment will not be for you, a young girl, nor for this unpopular eldest princess. The second lady blocked the arrow for the seventh brother, it was him I should thank you."
Xiao Yuanzhen's eyes were straightforward and he stared at Lutang for a while, then smiled and sighed: "The second young lady is extraordinary in appearance and is a blessed person. King Qi will leave you to recuperate in the palace, so don't think wildly."
It seems that the eldest princess is not aware of her seventh brother's plan, and even comes to comfort Lutang who is "under house arrest as a hostage".
"My daughter dare not hold grudges. My uncle is in charge of the imperial army. It is a crime for the prince to have assassins come in. My whole family is ashamed. Your Highness, King Qi, deserves to be blamed."
Lu lowered his head and spoke. When he said the words "His Royal Highness, Prince Qi", he couldn't help but blush and his heart beat, and his eyes wandered.
"Brother Qi is not a bad person. He will find out whether your uncle is guilty or not. To say the least, even if your uncle is guilty, he will not implicate the second lady."
Xiao Yuanzhen said a few words of gentle comfort, then suddenly changed the subject, raised his eyes and asked: "I have actually wanted to get to know you for a long time, and we are somewhat destined to meet you because of this matter. The reputation of the second young lady is not very good among the officials in the capital. .I wonder where this ominous girl got her name?"
In fact, when she met Xiao Yuanzhen yesterday, Lu Tang felt that the eldest princess' favoritism must be because of her status as the "unfortunate daughter".
She knew what was going on, and she told the story about the ritual ceremony at Chongxian Temple, the Qilin in her hand weeping with blood, and Master Chen taking advantage of the situation to read the fortunes of his sisters. He also briefly mentioned the King of Jin's breakup of the engagement and Yan Shuzhe's violent death after discussing the marriage.
"My daughter has been without parents since she was a child. After His Highness the King of Jin broke off the engagement, my aunt wanted to give my daughter to her natal nephew as a concubine. Unexpectedly, he died again. Since then, there have been many rumors in the capital, and my daughter's reputation has not been very good. .”
"What are your plans for the future?" Xiao Yuanzhen heard her tell her life story. He didn't express sympathy, but asked solemnly.
Lutang saw that she was wearing a blue Taoist robe, and suddenly his heart moved. He looked up at her and asked: "My daughter is in such a situation, it is impossible to propose marriage in the future. My uncle and aunt are also very disgusted, and I am afraid that they will not be able to stay for a long time. I have a heart." We set up a separate family to live in, but my uncle and aunt were afraid of disgracing the family tradition and kept my daughter at home. Therefore, I dare not make any plans in the future."
After hearing this, Xiao Yuanzhen thought for a moment and was quite puzzled: "Your uncle doesn't like you, you can't get married, and he refuses to let you go. This is interesting, I don't understand what it means."
When Lao Shang Gong behind him heard this, he couldn't help but laugh out loud. He leaned over and explained slowly: "The eldest princess is the daughter of the royal family. She doesn't know about the fights between the big families outside. The old slave thought that the second young lady might have something left by her parents. .Whether she gets married or stays at home, the little daughter’s family expenses are limited, so she can help supplement the family. What the uncle and aunt are unwilling to let go of is not the niece, but the money in the niece’s room.”
Xiao Yuanzhen laughed when he heard what Laoshang Gong said: "So that's what I meant, but I ignored it. What's wrong with the fight here? I've been in the palace for many years, and I haven't been walking on thin ice. From this point of view, I and the Second Young Lady have some sympathy for each other."
Her words were very open-minded, but there was still a lonely look in her eyes.
Although Lutang had a miserable life experience, she had experienced the hardships in her previous life and was reborn, and now she is still able to stir up troubles at home. But Xiao Yuanzhen has been burdened with prophecies since he was born. He was forced to become a monk by his father and ministers, and was casually betrothed to ministers by his elder brother. He saw that it was difficult to turn around in his life.
"Second Miss, I have an idea, which is to help you and save myself."
Xiao Yuanzhen glanced at Shang Gong. Old Shang Gong understood and went to guard the door. There were only two girls left in the room.
"Do you want to become a monk and become a monk like me?"
"Miss Wenji doesn't want to!"
As soon as Xiao Yuanzhen spoke, Xiao Yuanmu's voice sounded loudly before Lutang could reply.
He changed his clothes and came in through the front door again.
"I didn't expect that my sister is so obsessed with cultivation that she has already started to save people and ascend to the sky?"
"Seventh brother is a layman and doesn't understand the Taoism of the Immortal family. Don't lie!"
They have a good relationship as brothers and sisters, but they talk to each other in a strange way.
Lutang was a little panicked when she saw Xiao Yuanmu coming back. But his mind was completely attracted by what Xiao Yuanzhen said just now: "Become a monk and become a monk." He lowered his head and thought, and didn't say anything for a long time.
Daliang highly respected Taoism, and many wealthy and aristocratic families believed in it. In the previous dynasty, there were several famous ladies from aristocratic families who became monks to escape the world.
Most of those noble girls became monks and became Taoists to avoid marriage or family turmoil. Their parents had no choice but to dress their daughters as Taoist nuns and put them in their family temples for foster care. When things go smoothly, the daughter can return to the secular life, get married, and resume a normal life.
If Lutang became a monk at this time, Wenhou and his wife would definitely be eager to do so. Imprison her in a Taoist temple to fend for herself at will, and take advantage of the situation to take away all the property in her name, killing two birds with one stone.
I'm afraid becoming a monk is not a good way out.
After a long time, Xiao Yuanzhen broke the silence with a smile and asked: "Brother Qi, are you familiar with Miss Wen Er very well? Why should you answer for her?"
Lutang was shocked by Xiao Yuanzhen's question. Then she remembered that Xiao Yuanmu didn't stand up to salute after entering the door. She hurriedly stood up and knelt down: "My servant paid homage to His Highness, King Qi. I did not salute disrespectfully. Your Highness, please forgive me."
Unexpectedly, something went wrong again while he was busy. This rush affected the wound on his shoulder, causing a heartbreaking pain that made him almost unsteady.
"Be careful, go lie down on the couch!" Xiao Yuanmu was anxiously concerned and leaned over to help him, "We'll do the Taoist thing after the injury heals!"
"My daughter's injury is much better, it's okay."
How could you lie down on the hospital bed in front of the eldest princess? She didn't even dare to let Xiao Yuanmu touch her arm. When she retracted her hand, the pain was so heartbreaking that she felt like bursting into tears.
"Your face is pale, and you still say it's okay? Go and lie down, and I will send the imperial doctor to take a look!"
The pain in his body showed on his face, so he couldn't deceive anyone. Xiao Yuanmu saw that she was getting paler and paler, with a look of worry on her face. Regardless of her sister sitting beside her, Xiao Yuanmu personally supported Lu Tang to the couch.
"Your Highness, please don't ask for the imperial doctor. My daughter can just sit down for a while." Lutang hurriedly whispered, "Your Highness, please accompany the eldest princess."
"It doesn't matter if this doesn't save people's worries. I will send Yuan Zhen out and prepare a pain soup for you."
Xiao Yuanmu placed her in front of the couch. He couldn't help but turn around and wave to his sister: "Her injury is a bit serious. Don't distract her. Let's go out and talk."
Xiao Yuanzhen saw them pulling at each other, how could he not see the clues? She was a cultivator. She didn't show any doubts on her face. She said a few words, "Get well and recuperate. I will come to see you in a few days." Then she followed Xiao Yuanmu out.
"She was injured half to death, why should she be a female Taoist priest!"
The brother and sister were walking down the corridor, Xiao Yuanmu was still frowning and complaining.
Xiao Yuanzhen finally couldn't help it and said with a smile: "Everyone in the capital said that Seventh Brother has been unkind in leading troops at the frontier for many years. Many princes and nobles wanted to get married, but you clearly refused. Brother Huang and us thought you were not Almost a womanizer. Who would have thought that when he met Miss Wen Er, Seventh Brother would not only understand people, but also understand a little bit about the girl's thoughts."
Xiao Yuanmu looked sideways at his sister and said helplessly: "Didn't you just say that she was injured at the banquet yesterday because of me. I must be more attentive in repaying the kindness of saving my life."
Xiao Yuanzhen sneered and said: "Seventh brother is really considerate in this way. From a sister's point of view, even if the second lady is not hurt, you still want to be considerate for her."
"Okay, go back and cultivate your immortality!"
Xiao Yuanmu just wanted to send his sister away and go back to see Lutang's injury as soon as possible, so she had to pretend to be impatient. Xiao Yuanzhen was his closest sister, so it didn't hurt to tell her about this matter.
It's just that if the love was confirmed last night, even if it spread, it would hurt Lutang's life. Xiao Yuanmu couldn't say much to this unmarried girl.
"Although Seventh Brother is trying hard, this may not be possible. She is an ominous daughter, and she has been betrothed to Brother Jin Wang, and the Emperor's wife will definitely not agree." Xiao Yuanzhen looked into the distance, with a hint of loneliness on his expression.
"I have also thought of the difficulties my sister mentioned. Since ancient times, wars have been unpredictable, power and water have been unpredictable, and I have always found a way to resolve them. If you let her become a monk, wouldn't it mean that you are cutting off my path?"
"My little sister has been a Taoist priest since she was a child, how can she get married now? Back then, my father, the emperor, warned me of the punishment of the law and did not want to repent. He placed a evil star on my head and ordered me to become a monk and practice. Now the emperor wants to win over Prime Minister Yan. They ordered me to return to secular life and marry Yan Shuqin. They thought they could control me, but I didn’t believe in fate. I looked at it coldly, Miss Wen Er is not easy to control. If she is devoted to you, she will be a monk or not. what relationship?"
Xiao Yuanzhen looked at a few small birds jumping on the branches in the distance, and raised a proud smile at the corner of his mouth.
When Xiao Yuanmu returned to Beijing this time, he already felt that this little sister was focused and not as young as she was. While feeling sorry for her, he also admired her very much. He stopped and asked, "You don't want to marry Yan Shuqin, seventh brother understands. I think This assassination case was used to implicate the Yan family and cancel your marriage."
Xiao Yuanzhen sneered and said: "Brother Huang wants to win over a lot of bastards in the court. Without Yan Shuqin, there will be another one. What I want is to get rid of them once and for all."
Xiao Yuanmu knew from her tone that she had a plan.
"I need a substitute who is willing to become a Taoist nun. As for when I can return to secular life, I don't know yet." Xiao Yuanzhen said with a joking smile: "If Brother Qi is willing to let her go, I can help her start her own business. She can escape and become a member of the Wen family. Changing the name of the Taoist family will make it possible for Seventh Brother to marry him in the future, and he will have a good name and status."
Xiao Yuanmu felt that although the younger sister's reasoning made sense, it really didn't make sense. But he knew very well that his sister's stubborn temperament could never be brought back, so she didn't argue.
"I can't let it go, but I can't be her master. She'll be better in a few days, so you can talk to her again."
Xiao Yuanzhen nodded calmly, leaned forward to salute, and walked away with his clothes fluttering.
