Jiaochu

Ye Lanchen said: "I have four sons and three daughters. Others say that I love you as my daughter the most. I am indeed partial and have thought twice about your marriage. Everyone is envious of the royal family. They are well-dressed and well-fed. , I can’t see that there are many unavoidable reasons behind this scenery. The prince-in-law I choose for you in the future may not be the one you have in mind, but it will definitely be the most suitable one."

She paused and replied, "I understand."

Ye Lanchen nodded.

When she left the Imperial Study Room, she saw Xiao Anzi leading the Minister of Rites, Wen Shangshu. After coming out, she thought for a while and asked He He to go back first, and she went in the direction of Yuyuan Palace.

Seeing Ye Lingxi coming over, Dong Mo was slightly surprised, as if he had seen something strange, and then saluted and said, "Princess is here to see Your Highness?" She nodded and asked, "Is the second brother here?" Dong Mo He replied, "Your Highness is going out now. Princess, go in and sit down first. Your Highness will be back in a while."

Dong Mo led Ye Lingxi into the back of the palace to pour tea. She asked, "Where did the second brother go?" Dong Mo replied, "His Highness said he was going for a walk, but he didn't say where he was going." Dong Mo was holding a cup of tea. He came over and put it in front of her, then went to get some snacks. She picked up the tea cup and smelled the tea, then took another sip. The aftertaste was sweet, without the astringent taste of tea. Dong Mo came over with two plates of snacks, put it down and said, "Princess Sit down for a moment while I go find His Highness." After Dong Mo left, she put down her teacup, stood up and walked around, stopping in front of the desk with a piece of paper covering it. She couldn't see what was written on it. She looked back at the door. , no one came over, he paused when he stretched out his hand, feeling a little guilty, then picked up the piece of paper, and saw that it read:

No joy comes from new acquaintances, no sadness comes from parting

"Your Highness, the princess is inside."

Hearing the sound, she immediately put the paper back on the table. Before she could return to her seat, someone walked in. Ye Lingjue glanced in the direction of the desk. She returned to her seat as if nothing had happened, picked up the tea cup and continued to sip tea. Dong Mo announced, she put down the tea cup, stood up and saluted, Ye Lingjue raised his hand to excuse her. He sat down opposite her and said, "Why did Lingxi come to my place today?" She picked up the tea cup and drank tea slowly without saying anything. Ye Lingjue smiled slightly and didn't ask any questions. Dong Mo brought a cup of tea. , Ye Lingjue signaled, and Dong Mo left after putting down the tea.

"I'm here to congratulate my second brother." She raised the teacup in her hand, took a sip, and said, "In previous years, the prince's canonization ceremony was held around the Shangsi Festival." Ye Lingjue also picked up the teacup and drank. With one mouthful, he said, "Father has not yet decided on the candidate for the crown prince. In the past, my father indeed valued me more. Now, my father also values ​​my elder brother. The eldest brother is the eldest son, and there is Prime Minister Su as his father-in-law. Father If you want to appoint a prince, the first consideration should be the eldest brother." She stared at the slightly drooped peach blossom eyes and asked, "What about the second brother, do you also hope to be the eldest brother?" Ye Lingjue smiled faintly and raised his head. Her eyes met hers and she said, "Who doesn't want the position of prince? Even the third brother will find it difficult not to be tempted." She frowned and said, "But the third brother will not kill each other." Ye Ling Jue said, "Neither can I." He asked, "Is Lingxi worried about this?" She slowly took a sip of tea and said, "When I was in the study room, although the master was very strict, it was really nice at that time. Ah, not a few." She put down the teacup, got up and left.

Ye Lingjue looked at the tea cup opposite and repeated as if talking to himself, "Yes, it's really good."

On the way back, she pondered the conversation just now. Judging from the current situation in the court, her eldest brother did have an advantage now, while her second brother did not have as many supporters among the courtiers without the help of Prime Minister Zhou. Before, but there was Zheng Mian, Minister of the Ministry of War, who was a die-hard supporter and did not avoid suspicion at all. He even asked Prime Minister Zhou for a commendation before. Although her father refused, he did not ignore him. She felt that most of it was because of her second son. Because of her brother, Zheng Mian was in her second brother's camp and was a big help. Her father didn't want her second brother to be weak.

To be honest, she felt that her second brother was always the first choice in her father's mind, because her second brother was taught riding and archery by her father himself, and he was also the first one who could read the memorials and participate in the decision-making.

She wondered more than once whether it was Concubine Xiao who said those words to stimulate her in order to make her die in silence. But thinking about it, she thought it was impossible. Those words must have been hidden in her heart and almost suffocated to death. They were just right for a dying person like her. Just spit it out quickly.

She believed that her eldest brother would be a good emperor, and that was enough. …

On the eve of the Lantern Festival, King Pingnan and his party arrived in the capital.

Ye Lingxi was leaning on the railing, closing her eyes and listening to the rustling of leaves. The weather was very good, the air was filled with the smell of sunshine, and the fragrance of flowers, with a hint of cold fragrance... like The last breath of ice and snow hidden in the branches.

Linglong happily ran into the yard and said: "Princess, the second princess is back~"

She opened her eyes, blinked, and after seeing clearly that the person running over was Linglong, she asked, "Where is the second sister now?" Linglong replied, "The second princess just went to Concubine Liu's palace. Now My son should be arriving soon. Princess, do you want to go and have a look?" She shook her head, "Second sister must have a lot to say to Concubine Liu, so I won't go there." Linglong said, "Princess is so attentive, even the servants don't care. Think of that.”

As soon as he finished speaking, another excited voice came from the door, "Sister Lingxi, I'm here to see you~"

Meng Jingxiu came over with Tong'er and Mu Qi. Tong'er was holding gifts, and the gifts in Mu Qi's hands were so piled that even his head could not be seen. Hehe and Lingdang went over to help get the gifts so that Mu Qi could put them away. The head is exposed.

After entering the house, Meng Jingxiu sorted out which ones were for Concubine Lan, which ones were for Ye Lingxi, and which ones were for Ye Jinnian. She asked Ye Lingxi to open the gifts first to see if she liked it. She opened the box and found a set inside. rouge. Meng Jingxiu said that they had opened a new rouge shop there, and the rouge they sold was very easy to use. Many people went there to buy it, and a new product just happened to be released, so they bought a set. The Ye Ling Xi Jian Rouge boxes are exquisitely, elegantly and uniquely designed, each with a plum blossom of different shapes painted on it, which is lifelike.

Meng Jingxiu said that this set of rouge is called Mei Fei makeup. Mei Fei is the plum flower god among the twelve flower gods. The rouge inside is also added with plum blossoms, and it smells faintly of plum blossoms.

Ye Lingxi asked what the shop was called. Meng Jingxiu thought about it and asked Tong'er. Tong'er replied that it was called Hua Ci.

Meng Jingxiu also brought various snacks to Ye Lingxi. Hawthorn cake is their specialty snack and Ye Lingxi's favorite. This time, Meng Jingxiu brought more.