The fourth prince was naturally in a good mood after getting something good, and he would no longer be at odds with the eldest prince when he came out. The eldest prince was persuaded by the third prince and did not want to cause too much trouble, so this matter was over.
At night, when the couple sat on the soft couch, the third prince started talking about the bow and arrow: "It's worth a lot at first glance, but today it cost you money."
The reason why I say it's expensive is because the value of the fourth prince's gifts has increased, and the other princes' gifts are not good and too shabby. On the surface, they have to be of similar value, so as not to be said that the third prince and his wife are being flattered. , he favored the fourth prince because he was born into a noble family - the fourth prince's mother is Concubine Shu, and Concubine Shu's biological father is the Minister of the Ministry of Finance, who is also a first-rate minister.
As the third prince said, he took a purse and gave it to Zhao Ruolan: "These are for you."
Zhao Ruolan could tell with just one glance that there were banknotes inside, so she hurriedly declined: "What are you doing, Your Highness? We are husband and wife, and your honor and disgrace are my honor and disgrace. If something happens today, I will also escape." Without a punishment, those promises don't mean anything..."
The third prince waved his hand: "I know that husband and wife are one, but since ancient times, men have been in charge of the house, and women have taken care of the house. I can't marry you and still have to spend your dowry, can I? Take it with me. , otherwise wouldn’t I become a freeloader?”
After hearing this, Zhao Ruolan picked up her purse. Then she told the third prince in detail about the reaction of the eldest princess and the second prince's concubine today, with a slight hesitation: "The second prince's concubine doesn't seem to care about us... very much."
The third prince couldn't help frowning and paused before saying: "Second sister-in-law has always been serious. If she came forward for such a thing, she would definitely scold the fourth brother. That would be even worse. It would be worse. Give in and wait for you to come forward to solve the problem. Is this a test for you?"
After saying this, he hesitated a little in the end.
Zhao Ruolan pursed her lips and smiled, but did not refute. She only talked about other things: "Is there anything that Your Highness would like about setting up a palace?"
The third prince did not receive the news in advance. Now he was stunned for a moment and asked where the news came from. Knowing that it was the eldest and second princes who spoke, the third prince couldn't help but remain silent for a moment, and then said with a smile: "I... don't have any very important relatives outside the palace, so it's the same no matter where I live. .”
This relative refers to the maternal family. Although the second prince's concubine didn't say it explicitly, the second prince must have made arrangements in advance.
The third prince's biological mother had been serving the queen since she was a child. Her parents were at the Cheng'en Palace at first. Later, when they heard that their daughter was favored, without knowing it, they slipped and fell into the water, and the couple died. She was an only daughter and had no brothers or sisters. From then on, she was alone.
The third prince had also suspected that the death of the couple was attributable to Duke Cheng'en, but the queen probably produced the evidence in order to make the third prince follow the second prince wholeheartedly - the couple knew that there was a contract of betrayal. They were slaves, and they committed suicide because they were afraid of dragging down their daughter.
After all, the third prince's mother was favored by the emperor. If she had parents who were slaves, she might not be able to be promoted in the future. It's better to be clean without father or mother. In this way, the emperor doesn't have to worry about anything when he promotes someone.
The evidence was very real. The third prince was young at the time and had no power and could not investigate on his own. The emperor was also very taboo and did not want his son to have a wife who was a slave. The palace No one was allowed to mention it inside or outside the palace, so the matter was left alone.
Zhao Ruolan did not ask further questions. It would not be good if the third prince became angry again. So she started planning excitedly: "We should have a larger mansion, with separate front and back yards. Pomegranate trees should be planted in the main yard, and various flowers should be planted in the garden. If there is a place to build a swing, we can also use it. People build a high shelf..."
She described it in great detail, and the third prince listened with fascination: "When the time comes, I will leave the house to you."
Not long after saying these words, the emperor issued an order to let all the married princes leave the palace and build mansions, including the second prince. Although the second prince was a legitimate child, the emperor did not canonize the prince, so he could not be an exception.
The emperor circled several locations for the princes to choose. After the eldest and second eldest children were selected, the third prince was chosen. The third prince did not have a wife, and did not want to interact too much with important officials in the court, so he simply chose the distance to Yongyi Hou Mansion. somewhere nearby.
After returning with the sketch of the mansion, the next thing Zhao Ruolan had to do was arrange it. The emperor's intention was that they all move out a year ago. After all, the prince's place is so small that apart from the couple, there is no room for a few more maids and women. It would be better to move them all out. The place is big and he can do whatever he wants.
Zhao Ruolan had some background in painting, but the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Internal Affairs were building residences for the eldest prince and the second prince for the time being. The third prince had no choice but to ask someone else for help - after thinking about it, he found one. Yongyi Hou Mansion, after all, this is the Yue family, much closer than other families.
Marquis Yongyi found a team from the private sector and sent his second son to supervise the work every day. He hurriedly and slowly completed the construction of the new mansion at the end of the year. Then the emperor gave an order and the three brothers moved out of the palace.
The emperor was impartial and impartial. When he ordered to leave the palace, he ordered people to give money, 150,000 yuan per person. If there was more, he could keep it and use it. If there was less, he could think of something for himself. The eldest prince and the second prince have their own mothers and concubines to help them, so this 150,000 yuan is definitely enough.
But the third prince had no one to help him, so the money was somewhat stretched. When Yongyi Houfu was supervising the work of the third prince's house, he gave some money as a supplement. These third princes saw it, and although they didn't say anything on their faces, they became closer to Zhao Ruolan.
Since Zhao Ruolan married the third prince, except when Zhao Ruolan was inconvenienced, the third prince usually never stayed with Lingling.
Shi Yun silently watched these things. On the day she left the palace, she listened to the discussion between Zhao Ruolan and the third prince: "I heard that the eldest sister-in-law carried the aunt to the eldest brother, and the second sister-in-law also gave a title to the one she originally served, so Lingling should also give her a title. point?"
The third prince didn't care very much: "You can just give it to me. You don't need to ask me about these things. You just have to make the decision in the inner palace."
Zhao Ruolan agreed with a smile, and after entering the new mansion, she was raised as an aunt to Lingling, and then placed in an empty courtyard, which was a bit far away from the main courtyard and even further away from the front yard.
If no one reminds the third prince, he may not even remember that there are people living in such a courtyard.
Lingling had the advantage of being favored by the third prince, but now, she couldn't express her pain - the third prince and concubine had given her a status, and since then she had monthly money to draw from and maids to serve her. , if you still want to complain like this, wouldn’t it mean that your heart is lacking?
After leaving the palace, it is natural to hold a housewarming ceremony. According to the order, the boss came first, then the second prince, and finally it was the third prince's turn.
Then comes New Year.
After this circle, it will be February next year when everything is quiet again, and it will be more than half a year since Zhao Ruolan married the third prince. According to Shi Yun, this time was a bit short, but Zhao Ruolan herself was already starting to get anxious - she had no children.
Especially after hearing that Zhao Zhilan, who married into the Gu family, was pregnant, Zhao Ruolan thought about it for two or three days, then asked the imperial doctor to come over for diagnosis and asked implicitly about the pregnancy.
The imperial doctor probably saw the anxious state of the harem women too many times, so he comforted him: "Prince Concubine, there is no need to worry. You are in good health. I asked the Third Highness to have a safe pulse earlier, and the Third Highness is also very healthy. You two As long as we are like now and wait for fate to arrive, we will be fine."
Zhao Ruolan sent someone to send the imperial doctor, and then began to pray to gods and Buddhas.
After the third prince knew about it, he didn't care very much: "If you find it comforting, that's okay. However, it's better not to pray to gods and worship Buddha... publicize it in such a big way. Although my father believes in Buddhism, he also believes that man can conquer heaven. , I don’t really support people’s preferences in gods and Buddhas. Especially officials in the court are not allowed to talk about ghosts and gods.”
Confucius also said, respect ghosts and gods and keep them at a distance. Gods have their own ways, ghosts have their ghost ways, and people have their own ways. They have nothing to do with each other. If they are related, the world will be in chaos.
If an emperor allows officials and people to worship only ghosts and gods, then what is the point of what he is doing as an emperor?
Zhao Ruolan immediately felt guilty: "I am a person in the house who has no knowledge, but I almost ruined something important for His Highness."
The third prince was a little surprised: "What's the big thing that ruined me? It's not an important thing. Many women in the back house pray to gods and Buddhas. What I mean is that if you want to pray, just pray by yourself. Don't make a big show of it." , Don’t let everyone know about the trouble, lest it spread out and it won’t sound good. How come it ruins my big event?”
Shi Yun, who was standing at the door, couldn't help but look up at Zhao Ruolan.
Zhao Ruolan's expression did not change at all, she just smiled and said: "Your Highness is also of the emperor's blood, with dragons and phoenixes, and will inevitably have a bright future in the future. If it is spread that my wife is a person who prays to gods and Buddhas, won't it bring harm to His Highness's reputation?"
The third prince raised his eyebrows: "If I had my own abilities, there wouldn't be much hindrance to what you do."
Zhao Ruolan chuckled: "Your Highness, are you saying that I am not a good wife?" There is a folk saying that a good man does not have a good wife, and a bad man marries a slut.
"It's not what I said. What you admit to yourself has nothing to do with me." The third prince smiled, paused, and then said: "In the future, you should be more thoughtful in your words. We have just left the palace to build a mansion. This mansion Most of my servants are arranged by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. If someone hears anything inappropriate, it would be a big deal."
Zhao Ruolan nodded hurriedly and said very solemnly: "Thank you, Your Highness, for teaching me. I will remember it and will never forget it."
