"Master Liu, please. The prince is in the private room upstairs."
Chen Chaobai sat upright at the main seat, slowly raised the tea cup to his lips, and took a sip. He put down the cup again and looked at Song Ran who was tilting his head and lowering his head.
Song Ran was playing with the tea set on the table boredly.
When she heard the door open, she looked up and saw Liu Yunqi following behind the teahouse owner. He walked in slowly, with a much more leisurely pace than Song Ran. His manners were elegant, his eyes were as calm as water, and he showed no fear of Chen Chaobai.
Bow to them.
Chen Chaobai motioned for him to sit down together.
The teahouse owner personally poured tea to him, then closed the door and left.
Liu Yunqi sat calmly on the chair, as if it was a gathering of old friends.
He caressed the tea cup and traced the lid with his fingertips. He picked up the tea cup, turned his eyes to Song Ran, then looked down at the puddle of water under her cup, and said in a gentle voice: "Princess, is there something wrong with this tea?"
Song Ran didn't understand what Liu Yunqi meant. She raised her eyebrows slightly and stretched her neck to express doubts.
Liu Yunqi pointed at the tea that Song Ran shook out of the cup.
"The princess has always been worried that the king has poisoned the tea. Master Liu, there is no need to make a fuss." Chen Chaobai raised his eyebrows with a hint of joking in his tone.
What seemed like a joke made Liu Yunqi feel uncomfortable inside.
Song Ran was stunned for a moment when she heard this. She looked up at Chen Chaobai with confusion in her eyes. Then she realized that he was referring to the carriage that day. She took the teacup he handed over and looked at it worriedly.
Chen Chaobai is really petty, Song Ran muttered in her heart.
"The princess has been marching and fighting for many years, and it is inevitable to develop the habit of being cautious." Liu Yunqi looked directly at Chen Chaobai, and said in a gentle and low voice, unhurriedly.
Chen Chaobai put the teacup in his hand on the table with a crisp sound.
Song Ran took a quick look and felt that the atmosphere at the scene suddenly became solemn. How could such a few words arouse Chen Chaobai's anger?
"I heard that Mr. Liu has always had a close relationship with the Jiang family girl. I wonder if he has already made an engagement?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Song Ran accidentally knocked over the lid of the cup with her fingers, and an inexplicable panic surged in her heart.
"Princess, what's going on?" Chen Chaobai's voice was low, not as if he was concerned.
Song Ran smiled awkwardly. She realized her gaffe and could only cover it up with a smile.
Liu Yunqi's tone was calm: "I'm afraid the prince may have some misunderstanding about this. I have no intention of overstepping the bounds of Miss Jiang. This matter is related to Miss Jiang's reputation. I hope His Highness King Xuan will be careful in what he says."
"This girl from the Jiang family is the most outstanding-looking among the young ladies in the capital. She is also well-educated and proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. She is a perfect match for Mr. Liu." Chen Chaobai noticed that Liu Yunqi's fingers were trembling slightly, but his face was full of expressions. Calmly, "Does Master Liu really belong to her?"
"I have no intention of having a relationship between men and women." Although these words were concise, Chen Chaobai couldn't help but laugh. In his heart, he didn't intend to spare him lightly. Just when he was about to continue speaking, he was interrupted by Song Ran.
"Brother Qi, Arnold has already married a long time ago. You should also make plans for your future." Liu Yunqi's eyes trembled slightly, and the complex emotions in his eyes made Chen Chaobai unpredictable.
Chen Chaobai knew about the existence of Arnold, but he always felt that Liu Yunqi was not that simple. If Ruruo really loved the young tailor at this tailor shop, there was no need to watch her marry far away.
"However, is His Highness Prince Xuan trying so hard to win over Jiang Taifu or my brother?" Song Ran changed the topic and stared at Chen Chaobai, full of doubts in her heart.
"I have no real power in the court, so why should I win over these ministers? It seems that the princess has a deep misunderstanding of me."
Although he has no real power, no one who sees him can respectfully call him "Prince". There is no prince in the Holy Emperor today, and it is still uncertain who will inherit the throne in the future.
"I accept your prince's wishes." Liu Yunqi stood up and bowed to Chen Chaobai.
Liu Yunqi understood that Chen Chaobai did not intend to set up a match, but just wanted to see the reaction between him and Song Ran. Song Ran mentioned Arnold at this time, which was undoubtedly a smart move.
Firstly, it can make Chen Chaobai more sure that he and Song Ran are not in love with each other; secondly, it can also make the previous rumors logical.
Yes, his feelings for Arnold are not a relationship between a man and a woman. He helped her over and over again, perhaps because this was Song Ran's only friend left in the capital besides Princess Zhaohua.
Or maybe——
His father died unexpectedly, and the prince he once respected died in a political conspiracy. He met Arnold when he was in extreme pain.
Arnold is a kind girl who tries to help him out of the haze in his own way. Unfortunately, the obsession in his heart was too deep. For Arnold, he could only treat her as his sister.
"His Royal Highness Prince Xuan, for praising Miss Jiang so much, why not come and propose marriage yourself."
"The princess felt that she would be lonely in Prince Xuan's Mansion in the future, so she chose a sister for herself early? What a pity, I have said that I will only marry one person in this life." Chen Chaobai looked at Song Ran with his deep eyes, like It is declaring one's unyielding determination.
Since Song Ran couldn't talk to him, she didn't want to continue to pay attention to him.
"Your Majesty, we've finished the tea and the matchmaking. It's time to leave." After that, Song Ran stood up and said, "I got up too early today. I will be sleepy now, so I won't continue to accompany you." ”
Song Ran bowed respectfully to Chen Chaobai. Before Chen Chaobai could agree, he opened the door and walked out.
"Hey - County -" Bai Qi, who was leaning against the door and about to fall asleep, jumped when Song Ran opened the door suddenly. He yawned drowsily, turned around and looked into the room. He thought Chen Chaobai was about to come out too: "Wang——Master——"
The foot that had just stepped in was taken back again. He found that his own prince was still sitting there, showing no intention of leaving.
"The riding crop in your hand belongs to the princess? Why don't you give it to her quickly?"
"Hey, my men will go right away." Bai Qi ran downstairs in a hurry.
Song Ran left Liu Yunqi alone to Chen Chaobai. She believed that her brother would be able to cope with it. At worst, we will go to Liu Mansion again tonight, this is what Song Ran thought on the way back.
The princess has been staying in Changning Palace for the past few days, at the residence of the Empress Dowager. The Queen Mother has been ill since before her birthday, and it has not improved to this day. The princess of the county has always been by his side, daring not to slack off.
Song Ran didn't know how to face Zhaohua these days, and she didn't enter the palace for two days.
But she thought that when Zhaohua was most helpless and in need of companionship, she should not have run away from the battle. Today she still bit her, and ordered Hongliu to bathe and change her clothes, and then enter the palace after lunch.
After entering the palace, she first went to Changning Palace to say hello to the Empress Dowager.
The Queen Mother was lying on the hospital bed, her face was haggard, her pale face was covered with wrinkles, and her eyes were closed.
The princess reminded Song Ran to speak softly.
The entire dormitory was quiet, and only the Empress Dowager's heavy breathing and occasional coughs could be heard.
The Empress Dowager seemed to be haunted by a nightmare, her brows furrowed, as if something terrible had happened in her dream. Her breathing suddenly became heavier and she muttered something.
The princess leaned closer and put her hand on the Empress Dowager to help her calm down, "Empress Dowager, what did you say?"
The voice was too soft, and the Queen Mother did not speak fluently. The princess didn't hear a word clearly.
But Song Ran's heart seemed to be lifted heavily. She seemed to hear a name, but she wasn't sure.
No one remembers that name. So no one thought that this person's name would be included in the talk in sleep of the Empress Dowager.
Maybe she missed her great-grandson just like any other old person.
Song Ran stood by the bed blankly until the princess spoke, interrupting her thoughts.
"Pretend you didn't hear anything." The princess whispered in Song Ran's ear.
Song Ran turned her head and looked at her mother-in-law. Did she also hear clearly? Her eyes seemed to be asking for confirmation.
The princess sighed and nodded. There were many people in the palace talking, so they didn't continue talking.
After coming out of Changning Palace, Song Ran felt even heavier.
Every time I walk along the corridors of the palace, waves of memories come back to me.
There are fewer and fewer people she is familiar with here. Zhaohua will marry Wei in the early spring of next year, so there really will be no one she is familiar with in this imperial city.
Things have changed, and familiar faces flashed through her mind one by one, but the appearance of some people has gradually become blurred.
Unconsciously, she walked to the door of an abandoned palace.
She stopped and looked up at the plaque hanging in the air. It was the palace where the biological mother of the former prince once lived. It is now abandoned this morning.
In her memory, no one seemed to have mentioned the ending of this empress. Cold palace? Give death? Or something else?
She remembered that her mother-in-law and she had known each other since childhood, and the three of them, together with Mrs. Liu, had known each other as sisters. After the prince's accident, she often stayed in the house crying all day long.
Song Ran was afraid of arousing the sadness of her mother and concubine, so she never dared to mention it in front of her.
"Princess Princess, Princess Anyang."
Song Ran came back to her senses and saw a small palace. If she remembered correctly, she was in the Queen's Palace at that time.
"Hearing that Her Royal Highness the Princess entered the palace, the Queen sent her servant to Changning Palace to ask the Princess to come and explain. As soon as the servant arrived there, she heard from the steward inside that you were going to the Princess. The servant could only follow the road. Found it."
Xiao Anzi was panting heavily, his face flushed, and he jogged a few steps out of Changning Palace because he wanted to catch up with Song Ran. At this moment, he explained the whole story to Song Ran in one breath, making him even more breathless.
"Why did the Queen summon me to come?" Song Ran wondered. She had never had any friendship with the queen. Song Ran had not seen her before returning to Beijing this time.
In the early years, the Lu family was not based in the capital. As Lu Jiang married the daughter of Princess Hengping and made great contributions before Chen Chaoci ascended the throne, it was later established.
This queen was also sent to the palace by Lu Jiang shortly after Chen Chaoci ascended the throne. Several noble ladies competed for the throne of the queen, and finally won.
