The tenth month of the lunar calendar ushered in the early winter, and the weather became colder every day.
Chen Xueying would come to the palace every day, mostly in Hailang Hall. She discovered the magical power of the fourth prince.
When her training of the wolves was not going well, as long as the fourth prince joined in, he would be good at training, which would put a lot of pressure on the wolves.
"Liuha, I've told you many times, wait, don't eat." Chen Xueying waved the dried meat around. Unfortunately, Liuha, a wolf, loved eating it very much. When she saw her taking out the dried meat, she couldn't stop drooling.
Even after eating it again and again, she didn't know whether Liuha was deliberately cheating or was just stupid and couldn't figure it out.
"Hey hey hey." The fourth prince was eating plums aside. Seeing that she was about to collapse due to Liu Ha, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Chen Xueying turned her head, and when the fourth prince saw her looking at her, he immediately laughed louder and grinned, deliberately making a strange expression, which was obviously a provocation.
"Come here, I've prepared dried meat for you today." Chen Xueying waved to him.
After getting along with her for this period of time, although the fourth prince was not too friendly towards her, he no longer showed strong aggression. After all, he was short-tongued.
He moved closer and stretched his neck to look at the dried meat she prepared.
In fact, he is not willing to eat it. He has eaten jerky prepared for wolves before, and it has no taste at all. Although his habits are like a wolf, he still eats at the same table as a human, and the taste is still more like a human. The tasteless jerky, he does not like.
"I specially ordered the five-spice meat jerky to be made. It is guaranteed to be delicious." She fed her a piece.
The fourth prince slowly stuffed it into his mouth, looking dispensable and not particularly looking forward to it.
But after he chewed a few mouthfuls and tasted the taste, his eyes suddenly lit up, he swallowed quickly, and stared at her hand, expecting her to take out another piece.
Chen Xueying gently raised the corners of her lips, and she knew he liked to eat this.
"Just now you laughed at these stupid wolves for not being able to learn to wait. Now try and see if you can."
She lived up to her expectations and took out the second piece of dried meat and tentatively moved it towards him.
The young man moved his nose, but did not raise his head. He just rolled his eyes upwards, following the dried meat.
Finally, she placed the jerky on top of his head.
"wait."
She let go of her hand, but the boy didn't move. He still tried to raise his eyes upwards. Unfortunately, he almost stared them out and couldn't see the situation above his head, but he didn't give up.
After waiting for about five seconds, Chen Xueying said: "Eat."
When her voice fell, the fourth prince immediately reached out to grab the dried meat, put it into his mouth, and chewed it.
Chen Xueying asked him to wait three times in a row, and each time he completed it successfully.
After all, he could understand what she meant. Although he couldn't speak it, he did a good job.
Liuha, who was standing aside, was staring at the meat in the fourth prince's hand, drooling all over the floor.
"Liuha, look at you, others are better at learning than you are. I am the first to teach you, and you are the last one to teach me, and you still don't know how!" Chen Xueying raised her hand, grabbed its ears, and fiercely Trained hard.
Liuha whined, but he wasn't angry at all. He just looked very pitiful with droopy eyebrows and drooped ears.
They were originally repelled by Chen Xueying, but she was so good at sugar-coated bullets that she provided her with delicious food and drink all day long. Even the stubborn fourth prince fell for her, not to mention the wolves, who were naturally unable to withstand them.
"Hahaha——" The fourth prince laughed out loud when he saw Liuha's ears being pulled, and howled twice more, obviously provoking the wolf.
Liuha's body suddenly tensed up, and he bared his teeth in anger, as if he was ready for a fight.
Chen Xueying immediately pushed Liu Ha away to stop them from fighting.
"Fourth brother, you learned to refuse food so quickly. You deserve to be rewarded. This basket of dried meat belongs to you." She shook the basket in her hand.
The fourth prince immediately rushed over and his eyes lit up when he saw the basket of meat.
The wolves were instantly ready to move. Apparently they felt that Chen Xueying was favoring one over the other. Meat was extremely tempting to carnivores like them.
"Don't worry, except for Liuha, you all behaved well. This is yours." Chen Xueying took another basket over, and several wolves immediately gathered around and ate one by one.
Chen Xueying took the opportunity to stroke the wolf's head. It felt good, but the hair on her hands after finishing it was really annoying.
She raised her head and saw the fourth prince holding a basket and eating at the corner of the table next to him.
He usually likes to be with wolves, and even sleeps in a den, but that is only for his own wolf pack. When he encounters Lu Zhao's wolf pack, he always avoids them, and now they are so distinct.
She walked over slowly without moving lightly. He was obviously aware of her arrival, but he was not nervous. Everything was as usual.
After spending the past few days together and feeding her, he had become accustomed to her presence.
While he was enjoying his meal, Chen Xueying tentatively raised her hand and put it on his head.
The fourth prince paused for a moment, but in the end he didn't resist, allowing her to masturbate successfully.
When the atmosphere was warm, the palace official's voice came from outside: "Princess, the Crown Prince is here to take you back."
"Ouch——" When the fourth prince heard the word "Prince", he instantly became extremely excited. He slapped Chen Xueying's hand away, howled at her again, and instantly turned into a white-eyed wolf.
Chen Xueying immediately retreated. When the wolves who were enjoying the meal heard the howling of the fourth prince, they immediately dropped the meat basket and rushed over to block her.
The two sides once again formed a confrontational posture, and war was about to break out.
"Stop fighting, let's go." Chen Xueying pressed her forehead and suddenly felt tired.
She soon led the wolves out, and it started to rain lightly outside.
Lu Zhao held a paper umbrella and stood quietly under the eaves waiting. The rain and fog drowned him, but it made the man's figure even more majestic.
"Lu Zhao." She called him, lifted up her skirt, and quickly rushed under his umbrella.
The man came back to his senses, raised his hand slightly, and moved the umbrella forward, as if to greet her.
"Are you going to get on the sedan?" he asked, pointing to her embroidered shoes: "The shoes will get wet."
Chen Xueying has always been picky and delicate. She is carefully dressed from head to toe. She doesn't wear expensive items unless she wears them.
In addition to the gorgeous embroidery, her embroidered shoes are also inlaid with several East beads of different sizes, the one on the toe of the shoe is the largest.
Even someone like him who didn't pay attention at all was blinded by her embroidered shoes, they were so gorgeous.
The dong beads on the toes of her shoes are larger than those worn by the women in the harem of the Northern Qi Dynasty.
He is not blind, so he can naturally see it, and he also knows that it is very valuable.
The man took the initiative to mention it, making Chen Xueying slightly startled.
Good guy, this straight man actually cares about her shoes.
"No, I want to take a walk in the rain."
Lu Zhao nodded, didn't say much, and just walked forward with her holding an umbrella.
"You came at the wrong time. Just now, I touched my fourth brother's dog head, and I can tame this little brat right away. But when he heard your name, he started barking again. In the past few days, All your hard work was in vain." She couldn't help complaining in a low voice.
Her voice was mixed in the lingering drizzle and became sticky, as if she was coquettishly speaking.
The man raised his eyebrows: "Don't try to tame him and let him grow wildly."
"If he doesn't want to, no one can tame him. I just follow the trend." Chen Xueying shook her head and defended herself.
Lu Zhao lowered his eyes and looked at her: "You mean he wants to be your wolf cub?"
Chen Xueying clicked her tongue: "Your Highness, please don't make your words so misleading, okay? The fourth brother is such a stubborn person, how can he give in to anyone? I just feel that he is a little lonely. In addition to his own wolves, he also wants to be with others. Let’s communicate.”
In the second half of the sentence, her voice was lowered and she seemed a little melancholy.
The fourth prince is actually only thirteen years old, a half-grown boy who has been living among wolves for a long time.
A person like him who obviously has some flaws needs urgent care and gentle treatment from the people around him. Unfortunately, no one in the palace can treat him like this. No one is even willing to get close to him, understand him, let alone cure him. .
"Illusion." Lu Zhao directly interrupted her emotions and said firmly: "This is the path he chose. If he wants to be a wolf, he cannot become a human being. Even if he shows weakness to you and you feel pitiful, don't reach out, because you Can’t save him.”
When Chen Xueying heard this, she immediately chuckled: "Your Highness, you think too highly of me, don't you? I am just a person who comes to get married. I can't save myself, let alone save others? The reason why I am so close to my fourth brother , I also want to repay the Queen’s favor.”
In fact, she is just accompanying him. Talking about saving and healing is nonsense.
She couldn't do it, and she didn't have the energy to do it.
Lu Zhao was silent and speechless.
Chen Xueying kicked her shoes and couldn't help complaining: "Your road to the Northern Qi Palace is too bad. If it rains so little, there will be water. If it rains heavily, will the palace be flooded?"
Sure enough, her pair of delicate pink embroidered shoes were so wet that even the original color could not be discerned after being stained with muddy water.
"Get in the sedan?" he asked again.
The sedan chariot has been following behind the two people. Although it was covered with an umbrella, there were still some places that were not taken care of and got wet.
The rain is getting heavier and it is more or less embarrassing.
Chen Xueying curled her lips, obviously unhappy.
She didn't want to continue walking, nor did she want to sit on the wet sedan chair, so she was stuck in a stalemate, the air pressure was very low.
In fact, it was more of a bad mood. She knew what Lu Zhao said was true, but it was inevitable that she would feel a little uncomfortable.
The man sighed softly, his voice almost inaudible in the rain.
He put the umbrella into her hand and squatted down: "I am carrying you alone."
She lay on his back. Lu Zhao's shoulders were very broad, making her feel safe leaning against him.
If we use popular words now, it would probably be a double-door refrigerator.
"You came to pick me up today just to remind me not to get too close to the fourth prince, right?" She leaned into his ear and complained in a low voice.
The sound of rain outside was getting louder, but she didn't want to shout at the top of her voice, so she almost lay next to his ear. Her breathy breath blew behind his ears when she spoke, making the man want to shrink his neck.
Lu Zhao didn't answer, but quickened his pace and started running quickly in the rain.
Chen Xueying didn't check, and the umbrella in her hand was blown aside by the wind. Suddenly, heavy rainwater hit her face, turning her into a drowned rat.
"Lu Zhao, you're done!" Her roar was swallowed up by the sound of rain.
October 15th is Lu Wuji’s 45th birthday.
The palace had been prepared a month in advance, and when the day actually came, there was already a long queue outside the palace, all coming to congratulate.
Forty-five is not a birthday celebration, and there is no need to hold such a grand ceremony. However, in recent years, Northern Qi's military has become stronger and stronger.
First, he conquered the Southern Qiang Kingdom, and then defeated Dayan. Although he couldn't take a bite, he not only allowed Princess Dayan to come to marry him, but also assessed the opponent's strength. It was only a matter of time before Dayan was captured.
For this reason, the Emperor of Northern Qi's birthday will be held in a big way this year. Not only Jicheng court officials came to congratulate him, but also many generals who were on guard outside were transferred back to congratulate him together.
Lu Wuji held a banquet for the officials, and the male and female guests were naturally separated.
The banquet for the female guests was held in Chaolu Palace, and all the wives of the major families were present.
The Empress was unable to attend, so all arrangements were left to Concubine Yu.
Originally, Chen Xueying, as the Crown Princess and the future Lord of the Sixth Palace, could actually manage the affairs together. However, Concubine Yu did not delegate power, and she just happened to have some leisure time.
Concubine Li was also present. She was not actually postpartum and was still a few days away, but facing such an important occasion, she obviously couldn't hold it in any longer.
Sure enough, after she appeared, there was a round of praise from everywhere.
Behind this beautiful concubine is the Zhong family, and now she has given birth to a little prince. I heard that the emperor will make her a concubine soon, and she can compete in the ring with Concubine Yu.
The queen has been seriously ill all year round, and she may die one day. The new queen will probably be born among these two.
Libi was so flattered that she enjoyed the moment.
In fact, she also knew that these people were not trying to please her, but were trying to please the forces behind her, but so what.
At least tonight she is the most beautiful woman in this palace, even Concubine Yu has to avoid her edge.
"Empress Li's complexion looks so good. She doesn't look like someone who just gave birth to a baby. She must be protected by immortal magic, right?"
"Who says it's not the case? My wife gave birth to a child at that time, and she turned out to be a yellow-faced woman. She was so old that she didn't dare to come out to meet people until she nursed her back to health for a long time."
Seeing that the atmosphere was already heated enough that even the words "immortal magic" were made up, Li Bin couldn't help but look around proudly.
Chen Xueying put her hand on her chin and stirred the tea with her fingers, looking careless, as if everything around her had nothing to do with her.
Li Bin's expression changed, and she suddenly became a little worried.
"Don't just talk about me. The Crown Princess has just entered the palace, so you should meet her for the first time. How can you be left out?" Concubine Li took the initiative to bring the topic to Chen Xueying.
But his tone was rather sinister, and it was obvious that he was coming from a bad person.
Those who can come to the birthday banquet today are naturally high-ranking people. Everyone knows that Concubine Li is not getting along with the Crown Princess.
At this moment, Concubine Li was at the height of her power, and if the Queen hadn't intervened, the Crown Princess would have been forced to apologize to Concubine Li. Naturally, everyone knew who to choose between the two of them.
"Today is the emperor's birthday, and in a few days it will be the little prince's full moon celebration. Empress Li and the concubines are celebrating your birthday, so naturally everyone is busy congratulating you first. After the congratulations are over, we will go to see the crown princess." A lady came forward with a clear voice. Likeable and authentic.
Immediately there was a chorus of agreement, and Libi became the center of attention again.
Chen Xueying, who was put aside after being picked up, was still drinking tea leisurely, not caring at all that she was being left out.
Mrs. Zhong's brows furrowed tightly from the moment Li Bin opened her mouth to provoke her.
Now seeing everyone in the palace deliberately ignoring the Crown Princess, either proactively or forced to do so, Mrs. Zhong became even more angry.
She took the initiative to walk to Chen Xueying and talk to her.
"My wife has met the Crown Princess."
"Mrs. Zhong, please get up." Chen Xueying did not embarrass her.
"Concubine Li was spoiled by her family. Now that she has just given birth to the little prince, she is inevitably a little carried away and bumps into your place. Please forgive me." Mrs. Zhong apologized softly, and went straight to the topic with a sincere tone.
The two of them spoke in a relatively low voice, and the surroundings were relatively noisy, so others could not hear clearly. However, at this time, Mrs. Zhong directly opposed Concubine Li and openly supported the Crown Princess, which is somewhat intriguing.
Obviously, her move was to tell everyone that Li's relationship with the Crown Princess was her personal decision and had nothing to do with the Zhong family.
Li Bin felt that she had been betrayed, and immediately became angry, even the compliments around her seemed insipid.
There was a stalemate in the atmosphere for a while, until the banquet started. Concubine Yu arranged for a sharp-tongued palace servant to report in real time the birthday gifts given to the emperor by everyone in the front hall.
At times like this, naturally each family would do their best to offer rare treasures in an effort to impress the Sacred Heart.
Although the ladies of Chaolu Palace could not see the scene, they could not help but marvel at the broadcast.
Pearl agate, exotic flowers and plants, and many rare treasures that I had heard about for the first time all appeared, which was an eye-opener.
The eunuch kept singing the ceremony, and everyone couldn't help but discuss who could give the best gift.
"In my opinion, it's the coral soaring dragon given by Mr. Liu. The coral is extremely precious. It took a lot of effort to fish it out from the deep sea and carve it into a soaring dragon. I don't know how much effort the craftsmen spent on it."
"I don't think so. I saw it with my own eyes a few days ago. It sounds like a giant dragon, but it's actually only as long as its arms. It's not that big. It's not worthy of being number one. It should be the Dayan map sent by General Zhong, which is the most suitable for the emperor."
As a victorious general who fought all year round, Zhong Hai knew a lot about Dayan, and Northern Qi often sent spies there to draw a map of Dayan.
The general expressed his determination to conquer to the emperor with this picture.
As long as the emperor said today that he would attack Dayan, he would be able to attack vigorously tomorrow and always be victorious.
Seeing that everyone was talking and almost bickering, some people were even testing the tone of the concubines in the harem, wanting to know which gift suited the emperor's heart.
None of the other concubines knew about it, and even the most popular concubine Li shook her head.
Unexpectedly, Concubine Yu chuckled and said, "I know that what you said is not true!"
Everyone was shocked and asked immediately.
Concubine Yu didn't show off: "The emperor didn't say what the specific object was, but the emperor has already chosen the most suitable gift, and specially put it at the end. Whoever gives the last gift later will be the gift that the emperor likes most. ."
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone praised Concubine Yu again.
Li Bin's face froze. She was busy playing with Chen Xueying in the ring, completely forgetting the existence of others.
Concubine Yu seemed to be unwilling to fight, but with just a few words, she overturned Li Bin's previous advantage.
So what if she gave birth to a prince? Concubine Yu is the biological mother of the second prince and a person whom the emperor trusts. Even telling her such things in advance shows that Libi is just a doting thing. In terms of weight in the emperor's heart, she is still Yu. The imperial concubine is even better.
The ritual list was sung round after round, and finally when it was nearing the end, Manager Qin, who was beside Lu Wuji, came over.
"I have met you ladies and gentlemen." He saluted neatly.
"Mr. Qin, what are the emperor's orders?"
"Please go to the Guangming Palace, Princess. It's your turn to give a gift." Manager Qin said respectfully.
The main hall, which was originally a lively discussion, fell silent instantly, and everyone was shocked.
"The Crown Princess wants to give a gift? Hasn't the Crown Prince already given one before?" Someone couldn't hold back and blurted out.
Here in Northern Qi, women have no status at all, and there is no place for female family members to give gifts.
All the gifts were presented by men in the Hall of Light. Even though the gifts may have been carefully selected and planned by them, it was not their turn to present gifts at all.
Chen Xueying stood up and Shi Shiran saluted Concubine Yu who was standing above her.
"Please be patient, I will come back as soon as I leave." She smiled brightly, not caring about the weird atmosphere in the palace, lifted up her skirt and left with Manager Qin.
"Your Majesty, the person you mentioned is the last person to appear, is the Crown Princess?" Concubine Li was the first to ask. She couldn't hold it in any longer. :,,
