The candle lamps in the hall were burning brightly, and occasionally they made the sound of peeling off.
Father-in-law Shi was stubbornly slumped, with an old face that was red to the neck. He would rather die than look at those beautiful ladies than look at Shen Que. He stubbornly knelt beside the bed in front of her, half-hanging his head and saying nothing. .
"Eunuch Shi, take your people away." Shen Que poked him with a finger, but Eunuch Shi didn't move.
"You won't move? Okay, then I'll move." Shen Que stood up to leave, but was stopped by him. When he looked up again, his eyes were filled with tears:
"Your Highness, I can't let this old slave lose my security at this late age."
Shen Que:......
"If His Highness insists on doing this, then... the old slave will crash and die beside His Highness's bed. This will break the old slave's heart, and he will be able to stay by His Highness's bedside every day from now on."
Shen Que:...Are you trying to scare me? !
"Okay, okay." Shen Que looked at him seriously and couldn't bear to tease him anymore, so he lowered his voice and said:
"Then I'll show you the way."
Eunuch Shi raised his head and said, "Your Highness, please speak."
"You send these gods to Prince Yong's Mansion to Lao Wu. I heard that others were banned but they didn't stop. Send them to her to prevent him from harming the innocent little lady again."
Eunuch Shi nodded in agreement, then stood up and hid his tears: "Old slave, I'll go now. I know this matter is important, and I won't let the news out even if I'm killed. Please don't worry, Your Highness."
The hall was finally quiet, and Shen Que looked at the tent roof and thought of Zhang Guanhua. Although this sister-in-law was not friendly to her, she was young and ignorant after all, and was probably instigated by her elders. She did not want to watch her ruin her life.
As someone who has been through this, Shen Que still hopes that she can open her eyes and see the world, whether it is her family or her lover, so that she can see clearly and clearly, so that being a talented person will not be too hard.
I hope she can understand her painstaking efforts.
*
In the early morning, the sun broke through the clouds, making Jin'an City seem to be plated with gold.
Isn't it just a gilded day? The official promotion system officially kicked off under the arrangement of King Qin Li Luanyi. The location was chosen at Lefang Mixiangque in the downtown area.
If you ask why the decree was implemented in such a sensual place, it can be regarded as a lot of painstaking efforts by His Highness the King of Qin. After all, he is the person in charge of the Ministry of Household Affairs and has some unique insights into obtaining wealth.
Mixiangque is always crowded with people who come and go, both rich and famous. The singing and dancing performances on the stage are wonderful and never-ending. The tea and meals here also greatly satisfy your appetite, and most importantly, this is a pure and clean place. , most of the people who come to listen to music to relax and make friends are people with status, status and money.
If you choose to pay money to be promoted in a place like this, first of all, you will feel comfortable physically and mentally. It is also a face-saving thing to be seen by friends. Or if two people are competing against each other, it will be a matter of course to pay more money. Moreover, there are many people here, and the promotion system is It was able to be publicized with great fanfare at once and attract more people. Li Luanyi hoped that the matter would be successful, so he really put a lot of thought into it.
Sure enough, it was only early in the morning, and there was already a long queue at the entrance of Mixiangque, and there was no room left in the room.
Li Luanyi went to the battle in person to inquire, register, make suggestions, settle down, pay the money, and send the receipt... it couldn't have been smoother.
And in order to avoid mistakes, he clearly recorded in the main registration book: who the person is, age, recommender, official rank, amount of money, and for the sake of fairness, he made two copies, and the recommender also kept one copy for verification. He was told again and again that he was only a first-level official. After a pleasant conversation, he sent him away with a smile to welcome the next one.
Delicate, thoughtful, patient, meticulous, and perfect.
Seeing that it had only been one morning, it seemed that the original plan was almost completed. His Highness King Qin was smiling and became more energetic.
Looking at the achievements in my hands, I can see that the treasury is full. It is no longer enough to recommend me to the official rank. I go back and report to my father to increase the quota. I am really full of joy, and I see a bright future.
But things in this world, if someone’s calculations are intentional but not yours, no matter how flawless you are, you can’t escape the fate of a thousand miles away.
Inside the Tea House opposite Mixiang Palace, Li Luanfeng put down the curtain that had been raised at one corner and asked the attendant behind him: "Is everyone who arranged the arrangements here?"
"Back to my lord, only a part of them came according to your instructions. The appointment system is three days, and most of them are present every day."
"That's very good." Li Luanfeng put on his cloak and hood and walked out of Pinming Residence, then stepped onto a blue-roofed carriage, "Go to Mrs. Zhou, it's her turn to appear."
All this was seen by the two people who were drinking tea in the private room on the third floor.
Li Luansong poured tea for Shen Que and said, "This is a good trick. The third child is very happy with his achievements. He doesn't think well and likes to play tricks. If he continues like this, he may become the second child again."
Shen Que picked up the cup, and the faint fragrance of tea floated into her nose. She took a sip and said, "It's your guidance. Your Highness doesn't seem to like to stand out, but in fact he always likes to hide in the back and watch the fight between tigers and fear the world." If you are not chaotic and think you can reap the benefits of being a fisherman, then let him see what he is worth. A small punishment but a big warning will teach you a lesson. It is not a bad thing to go on the right path in the future."
After saying this, she raised her head and looked at him, "But will His Highness just allow the second prince to continue to be arrogant?"
Li Luansong smiled bitterly and continued drinking tea.
Yes, no one is more sad than him. His brothers and sisters who grew up together are the people around him who despise him the most.
The atmosphere was a bit depressing, and even the breathing was deliberately relaxed.
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from next door:
"Did you see that the appointment system is very successful? His Highness is going to make meritorious deeds again this time."
"Yes, His Highness recommended him. Doesn't this create a rival for himself?"
"That's wrong. This is the core of the official appointment system. Your Highness is not a narrow-minded person."
"I'm afraid he's too narrow-minded."
There was a weird laugh.
"Why are you laughing? Is there any secret that I don't know?"
There was another moment of silence, and then someone said:
"Have you heard that His Highness has a broken sleeve?"
At that moment, Li Luansong couldn't hold the cup firmly and the tea spilled all over him.
Shen Que was also shocked, but he didn't have time to help her sort it out, so he hurriedly listened with his ears pricked up.
"It's absolutely true. I heard that His Highness personally admitted it to the Queen."
Shen Que blushed for a moment and hurriedly mouthed to Li Luansong: "I didn't say anything."
Li Luansong nodded: "I didn't say that either."
However, the gossip next door intensified:
"I'm afraid it's not that simple. I heard that His Highness didn't just cut off his sleeves, he seemed to... take it all."
"Take it all?"
The voice suddenly became louder, and one could imagine the excited and distorted faces of the veterans.
"I heard that His Highness is staying with the wife of the same minister."
"Which one?"
"Hey, that's it. Don't you understand? Whichever one it is, male or female, it's the one you want."
…
Is there anything more embarrassing in this world than eating something on yourself, not to mention that there is a woman you like sitting across from you.
Li Luansong: ...Confucius is right, being old but not dying is a thief.
That day, Shen Que finally understood why the Queen was like this, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart. After all, a Queen has a broad mind.
"Your Highness." Shen Que pinched his fingers and explained, "Actually, maybe some of my words made the empress misunderstood, but..."
Li Luansong interrupted her, "Yuyuan, there is no need to explain. I know my mother-in-law best. Like my father, she always goes astray when it comes to my issues."
No misunderstanding, great, Shen Que breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing her nervous look, Li Luansong felt something in his heart and asked:
"But the minister's wife they are talking about is us?"
Shen Que said that it was probably true, "If we meet so many times, it's inevitable that someone will say something."
Li Luansong nodded: That's great.
His mind moved again, and he looked at Shen Que and asked her:
"Tell me, what if we can't change back?"
"Ah." Shen Que was stunned, "Is it possible? I haven't thought about this problem."
"Then think about it now."
Shen Que thought for a long time and shook his head, "I don't know."
Li Luansong: Well, it would be great not to know.
"I said." He sat upright and said seriously: "If you really can't get it back, you can make peace and let's get married."
"Ah." Shen Que was stunned, "Your Highness..."
"Don't be too busy getting excited, just listen to me slowly."
Shen Que: ...Do I look excited?
Li Luansong dipped his fingers in the tea, gestured on the tea table, and said:
"Look, now you are me and I am you. What you face every day are my parents and my family. I, on the other hand, have to face your family. Do you want to be able to see your parents and family at any time? Woolen cloth?"
Shen Que nodded: "I think so."
Li Luansong was right, "I think so too."
"So, we can only get married and become a couple." He put his hands together and curled his thumbs towards each other. "In this way, although our identities are wrong, we can legitimately see our loved ones at any time. Mom and Dad, do you think so?"
He tried his best to persuade her, and finally, with tea to cover his face, he asked this tentative question that he had been thinking about for a long time.
Li Luansong stared at Shen Que's face, as if he wanted to discern the true meaning in her heart from every subtle expression.
This feeling really scratches the heart. It makes people restless, their hands are cold, and their legs are shaking uncontrollably.
Shen Que lowered his head and thought carefully, "This seems to be the truth, but..."
Feeling relieved, Li Luansong interrupted her: "It's nothing to worry about. Those are all things for later. I'm just making an analogy. I'm not in a hurry right now."
As soon as she clicked, she recognized his reasoning, which was his biggest gain today.
His Royal Highness, Prince Jin, is all focused on this.
It was so elated that I could almost fly when I walked.
Li Luansong walked briskly and hummed a tune as he stepped into the gate of Lemon Fragrance Pavilion. In his eyes, the bleak winter in the courtyard was full of vitality, more hopeful than that spring day.
"Zelan, we are going to have a mutton pot tonight, ask someone to prepare it, and invite the princess and the consort to have a good time."
Ning Xiang Pavilion is now being prepared for the New Year, both inside and outside, and the decoration is so festive and flamboyant.
Zelan said: "Madam, is this okay?"
"Huh?" Li Luansong was stunned, "What's wrong? I'm in the way of eating the pot?"
Zelan shook his head and pointed his eyes in the direction of Qinghui Hall, "It's no longer possible to open the pot over there. I heard that the charcoal fire is gone, and even the new clothes for winter will not be made this year, let alone late night snacks and bird's nests. I can’t eat anymore. I heard the old lady said that eating less at night is good for the stomach.”
"Oh, really? Are you so pitiful?" Li Luansong asked.
Zelan nodded and said yes, it seemed that he was really in trouble.
"Then what should we do? What do you think we should do?"
The master and servant looked at each other, and Zelan said: "I think we should invite everyone in Lemon Fragrant Pavilion to dinner and make it lively."
"What a good girl, you really win my heart."
What is meant is that like a master, like a servant, this is it.
The Lemon Fragrant Pavilion was bustling with joy, and the aroma wafted over the courtyard wall, making Mrs. Gu's face elongated in anger.
"Where's Wang Peilan, where have you gone?" The old lady was about to get angry.
The little maid replied tremblingly: "The third lady has returned... to her parents' house."
"Back to her parents' house again. Why does she go back to her parents' house every three days?"
…
At this moment, Wang Peilan felt her ears were hot. She reached out and touched her ears. Oh my god, they were hot.
"I wonder who is talking about me again." She rubbed her ears in embarrassment and said, "Xueying, let's continue. Do you take what you just said seriously?"
Zhou Xueying chuckled: "Sister still doubts me, of course I have a way. I have done this several times, and my wish will come true. Think about it, it's too unfair for my uncle to only be promoted to one official position. Looking back , everyone is jumping at two levels and three levels, wouldn’t it be a disadvantage, naturally our wealth will not go to outsiders, I immediately thought of my sister.”
She changed her name from Third Sister-in-law to Sister, which shows that she is really close to her.
Wang Peilan did not doubt that he was there, and said: "Okay, then I will give you all the Zhang family's property, the deeds of the shop, and the land deeds, and you can tell me the method."
