the first lady

Chapter 23

"Did she marry the prime minister willingly?" Feng Qing asked nonchalantly.

The three of Zongzhengyan were dumbfounded, and Helian Feiyu said after a moment of surprise: "Isn't it willing, is it still forced to get on the sedan chair?"

"Light doesn't mean that." Ning Xiaojian gave Helian Feiyu a blank look.

"...Perhaps, we should pay close attention to that 'Second Sister-in-law'." Zong Zhengyan said seriously.

Helian Feiyu looked at the serious faces of several people, and immediately noticed the mystery.

Qiao Ling'er is known as the number one beauty in the Nanwu Kingdom, and she is proficient in all kinds of piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and is also a famous talented woman.It's just that her "talent" has never been exposed, she is extremely intelligent, but she is relatively weak and cowardly.The matter of the emperor's bestowing a marriage can be seen as tricky. Qiao Ling'er lives in seclusion and doesn't pay attention to political affairs, but a bestowing a marriage is a bestowing a marriage after all, and she will have to marry because of the crime of deceiving the emperor.But if she had to marry, she must not be willing.

At this time, Zongzhengyan's words clearly showed that Qiao Ling'er was willing, and they had to take it to heart.

"Ah-choo—" Qiao Ling'er, who was studying the piano score, suddenly sneezed.

"Miss, what's the matter?" Ning Xiang approached and asked.

Qiao Linger rubbed the tip of her nose, waved her hand casually, and replied: "It's nothing, maybe someone is talking about your young lady behind her back..." I'm afraid what he said to Zong Zhengyan early this morning made him care Alright, now talk to "someone"!

She knew that she had aroused Zong Zhengyan's suspicion, but so what, she wanted to see what they would do next!
Change a table to eat, change a bed to sleep...

Qiao Linger accompanied the old prime minister Zongzheng Wudi and his wife Sima Yue back to the room for a lunch break after lunch. During the meal, Zongzheng Wudi didn't give her any good looks, but Sima Yue treated her very well.

However, in Qiao Ling'er's view, Zongzheng Wudi is just a stubborn old man who sticks to poverty, so he has a prejudice against businessmen.

It's no wonder Zongzheng Yan couldn't be seen by Zongzheng Wudi. Except for the places rewarded by the emperor, other luxurious places in this house were repaired and decorated by Zongzheng Yan as a businessman. However, the location here is close to the imperial palace, and it is relatively quiet. It's not easy to move out alone, so I have to live.

Zongzheng Yan is a freak of the Zongzheng family, with an extraordinary business mind. Qiao Linger heard from Qiao Zhan that both Feng Qing and Zongzheng Yan are rare business talents, and they have created huge achievements at a young age. cause.If it wasn't for Zongzhengyan not wanting to show his full potential, this second family would have long been in the Zongzheng family's pocket.

How could Qiao Ling'er not understand Zong Zhengyan's thoughts, sandwiched in the middle, no matter what happened, there was a Feng family and a Qiao family in front of him, especially the eldest brother was the general of Zhennan, and the second brother was the current prime minister. The boss is leading the way again, I am afraid that the entire royal family has already pointed the finger at it.

Of course, Qiao Ling'er also knew that no matter how low-key the Zongzheng family was, they had become a thorn in the royal family's thorns. Although it was not clear what Emperor Wu's real purpose was, it would definitely not be that simple and let it go!
With a sigh, Qiao Ling'er sat down on the bed covered with a thin quilt, her thoughts involuntarily returned to last night.

Last night, for the first time ever, she lay on the same bed with a man who could be regarded as a stranger. Although it was the border between Chuhe and Han, there was a clear separation, but the breath so close at hand kept her awake for most of the night.She is an indifferent woman, but she still understands these things. Men are likely to say one thing and do another, although Zong Zhengyi doesn't seem like that kind of person.

A big bed, there is a huge distance between the two people, and the bed is divided into two, but fortunately, all is well in the end.

Lying on the bed, Qiao Ling'er smelled a faint scent of medicine, just like the smell she smelled when she broke into Zongzhengyi's room when she sneaked into Zongzheng's house.

Is there something wrong with him?Qiao Linger couldn't help thinking about this question.

She slept very late last night and got up early in the morning, so Qiao Ling'er felt sleepy after touching the bed.Zong Zhengyi, who was supposed to come back for lunch, was stopped by the crown prince after he went down to court, and sent someone back to inform him that he would come back later.

To be honest, the man she saw on the street that day turned out to be the prime minister she married, and he was also the man she met when she sneaked into Zong Zheng's house that day. Such a coincidence caught her by surprise.However, fortunately, he is such a gentle and jade-like man with outstanding temperament, and he is more comfortable to look at, so let's put "mind" aside for now!
When Zong Zhengyi went back to his room to change clothes, he saw Qiao Ling'er who was sleeping soundly hugging the quilt. Her posture was not considered ladylike, but with that pretty face, she had a special charm.

Qiao Ling'er turned over slightly, and the thin quilt slipped off her body.

Zong Zhengyi shook his head and smiled faintly, put the official hat on the low table, and walked forward gently.

He bent down to pick up the thin quilt on the ground, and when he raised his head, he immediately felt a strange wind.

Although Qiao Ling'er was sleeping, her nerves were more sensitive and she had never slept very deeply. She also sensed someone approaching, and reflexively attacked Zong Zhengyi.

As soon as the grabbing hand came out, Qiao Linger twisted Zong Zhengyi's arm, and he fell onto the bed.The speed is first-class and the position is first-class.

"Zong Zhengyi?" Qiao Ling'er was taken aback when he saw the person coming clearly, then showed surprise, and then quickly let him go. "How are you?" She knew the strength she used, and she knew it would not be any better after hearing the "click" just now.

Zong Zhengyi let go of the hand holding the quilt, and touched his twisted arm instead. At first, he was really surprised by Qiao Linger's movements, so smooth and powerful, as if he had practiced it many times.

"I'm fine, don't worry." Zong Zhengyi still smiled gently.

"I know the strength I used myself. You sit down first." Qiao Linger knew why Zong Zhengyi was approaching when she saw Zong Zhengyi holding the corner of the quilt, but she was shrewd than her conditioned reflex think.

Taking out a bottle of medicinal wine from the vermilion cabinet, she went back to the bed and sat down again, and said to Zong Zhengyi, "Stretch out your hand." No accident, she had injured the joints.

Zongzheng Yi stretched out his hand without hesitation, and was held by Rou Yi, poured medicinal wine, and massaged gently.

The wrist was already red from Qiao Linger's unceremonious twist, and after pressing it, she was sure that he didn't really twist his hand out of joint, luckily!
For a while, neither of them spoke. Zong Zhengyi quietly watched Qiao Linger apply the medicine to him, somewhat curious about who she learned from, but he didn't ask.

After applying the medicine, Qiao Ling'er said to him: "Apply it again at night, there should be no problem."

"Hmm!" Zong Zhengyi looked at the still red wrists, and didn't say anything, but got up and continued changing clothes.

Qiao Ling'er was curious about Zong Zhengyi's calmness, and couldn't help asking, looking at the man doing his own thing, "Aren't you curious?"

"What?" Zong Zhengyi asked sideways.

"Aren't you curious why I know kung fu?" A well-educated young lady suddenly knows kung fu. Isn't it strange?

Zongzheng Yi tilted his head and thought for a while, then asked seriously: "Is this question very important?"

Hearing this, Qiao Linger couldn't help but frowned. Why did he ask such a matter of course?
"Don't you suspect that I'm not the real Qiao Linger?" Qiao Linger walked to the screen and asked the man who was changing clothes behind the screen but showed his face.

Zongzheng Yi smiled lightly, and asked back, "Are you a fake?"

Qiao Ling'er was at a loss for words immediately, and had to admit that when talking to such a smart person, it was definitely herself who would always be speechless.

In the blink of an eye, Zongzhengyi had already changed into elegant white clothes, and only he could wear white clothes so tastefully. It's not that Feng Qing and the others couldn't dress well, but that this man's eyes were full of clarity, no If the wind is light and unfathomable.

"I'm Qiao Ling'er, I'm real." Qiao Ling'er said seriously, she didn't expect anyone to believe it, but seeing Zong Zhengyi's appearance made her say it involuntarily.

Zongzheng Yi nodded, "I believe it!"

"Do you believe it?" Qiao Ling'er opened her eyes wide in disbelief.

"Rumors are always rumors. I believe that seeing is believing is believing." Zong Zhengyi said sincerely.

"...You are really different from other people." Qiao Ling'er showed a smile with appreciation.

Qiao Ling'er understood Zong Zhengyi when he said this, maybe someone was suspicious, but he still said the same thing: seeing is believing!

"By the way, why did you come back so early? Didn't the prince ask you to discuss something?" Qiao Ling'er suddenly thought of a question.

"The prince wants to get back a pair of authentic calligraphy and painting that was deposited with me a year ago." Zong Zhengyi said and looked out the window, "Would you like to go with me to the study?"

"Okay!" Qiao Ling'er readily agreed.

In the morning, Zongzhengyan took her to look around the entire mansion, but not everyone could enter Zongzhengyi's study room. His study room had a separate courtyard, and it was also the place she sneaked into that day. Mind going to have a look today.

But Qiao Ling'er could also hear the mystery. If the crown prince came here just for a set of calligraphy and painting, he could come back with Zong Zhengyi after the court, instead of coming back after dinner.But since it was something that Zong Zhengyi reserved, she would not go to inquire about it.

Qiao Ling'er followed Zongzheng Yi to the small courtyard of the single building. It was quite interesting to think that she broke into this place the first time she broke into the Zongzheng government. At that time, she gave Zongzheng Yi I've seen it for a long time, but she won't tell him.

(End of this chapter)