very princess

Chapter 1

?The Very Princess (Daughter Be Self-improvement Series [-]) (Ruo Zero)
Chapter 1

It's midsummer, the capital is full of flowers, and the palace is even more beautiful, with infinite scenery.

It coincides with the emperor Daizong's birthday, so of course there must be a lot of fun.Therefore, there have been countless feasts and endless singing and dancing in the palace for the enjoyment of princes, ministers and relatives of the emperor at all levels.

That night, the emperor gave an order to have fun with all the concubines, princes and princesses in the imperial garden.

So in an instant, palace lanterns were hung everywhere, reflecting the imperial garden even more beautifully.The maids and eunuchs set up delicacies and wines, the concubines and princesses arrived in the company of the maids, and the princes also arrived with their attendants, and sat in order.Then, under the guidance of the guard of honor, the emperor, empress and empress dowager sat down on the throne.

After everyone shouted and kowtowed three times, the emperor offered his seat with a smile, "Today, all the beloved concubines and emperors are able to have fun with me. I am very happy. Come, there is no need to be formal tonight, just have fun, and you will not return if you don't get drunk!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Everyone toasted to celebrate the emperor's birthday, and at the same time, the music officials played music, singing and dancing gracefully.There was a lot of laughter for a while, and the maids shuttled back and forth holding trays, which was very lively.During the banquet, everyone presented birthday gifts to the emperor one after another, and said some blessings, and the emperor was delighted to hear it.

This is the emperor's family banquet, there should not be outsiders, but Dongfang Wei is naturally an exception.

Not only did he occupy a place at the most prestigious palace banquet, but his seat was also very close to the main seat, just below the right of the Queen Mother.The empress dowager and the emperor's love for him can be seen from this.

Dongfang Wei's popularity among the royal family is unprecedented.Not only the emperor and the empress dowager, but even the princes, princesses, and concubines are vying to win him over. On the one hand, they want to use this to win the respect of the emperor and the empress dowager. On the other hand, it is also because Dongfang Wei is indeed a talent. There will be no threat to yourself.His image of wisdom and frailty is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and his advances and retreats are appropriate, so he can eat everywhere.

But being too popular is also very troublesome, Dongfang Wei smiled and nodded to a prince who raised a drink to signal him, and then opened a folding fan to cover his indecent yawn.

Really tiring, this is the price of being too good!The emperor even asked him to accompany him at the family banquet, and let him sit in such a conspicuous position that it was inconvenient for him to sneak around.

Another princess gave him a wink, Dongfang Wei pretended not to notice, turned her head to the other side.Unexpectedly, there were a few princesses waiting for him with affectionate eyes, and he couldn't turn a blind eye now, so Dongfang Wei had no choice but to politely nod his head, and then simply shifted his gaze to the table.

Alas, the quack doctor Han Yingtian didn't know where he went, and it was inconvenient for him to even pretend to be sick, so he could only follow the trend and gradually "get better" under the "diagnosis and treatment" of the imperial doctor.Overjoyed, the emperor formally named him the prince and tutor, and called him into the palace to accompany him.He just chanted poems and chatted every day, if he continued to be bored like this, he would really get sick.

Why?When Nangong Han can sleep and fly with his playful little wife, and Zhu Jingzu can go to the Qinhuai River to find a beautiful sister, but Dongfang Wei will be alone and locked up in the palace?Woo, he is almost about to recite Gong Yuan Fu!

"Is Dongfang Aiqing unwell?" Seeing him hanging his head, the emperor asked with concern.

Dongfang Wei came back to his senses, "Oh, no, Weichen is just a little dizzy." It is best to let him go back and rest.

"Dizziness?" The queen mother also asked with concern, "Do you want to invite the imperial doctor to come and have a look?" In fact, there are reasons for the queen mother's preference for Dongfang Wei, not to mention his own talent and character, but because of the relationship between the queen mother and him Grandmothers are sisters.Among the many relatives, she valued this aunt and nephew who had a distant blood relationship the most.

"No, thank you Queen Mother for your concern. The emperor's birthday banquet, why invite the imperial doctor to spoil the fun because of a little discomfort of the humble minister." Those imperial doctors are so unlovable, serious and serious. "Weichen is just a little tired, he's much better now, it's okay."

The Queen Mother nodded, this child is really sensible, "The Taifu may be tired from teaching the Prince to study today, if you feel uncomfortable, go back and rest, don't hold on."

"In this case, I will take my leave first. Please forgive me by the queen mother and the emperor." Dongfang Wei bowed to them and quietly left the banquet.

Seeing him go, the princesses who were paying close attention to him sighed in disappointment, alas, their elaborate grooming was in vain!
The queen took everything into consideration, "Your Majesty, it seems that Taifu Dongfang is appreciated by all the princesses. Since the Empress Dowager likes him, why don't you recruit him as a son-in-law?" No wonder she is admired by all the princesses, she has no daughter under her knees, otherwise she would also want to recruit him as her son-in-law.

"That's right! What the empress said," the emperor suddenly realized, "Why didn't I think of it before? Dongfang Wei is a rare talent, and he is at the right age for marriage. I should have recruited him as my son-in-law a long time ago."

The queen mother interrupted: "My lord, in fact, several princesses have come to beg the Ai family to be the master. The Ai family has already mentioned this matter to Dongfang Wei, but he always said that he is weak, and I am afraid it will delay the princess's life. Refuse to agree."

The queen smiled and said: "You don't need to worry about this matter, my mother. After the diagnosis and treatment of many imperial physicians, Taifu Dongfang's health has been greatly improved recently. Besides, the imperial physician said that he was only weak in the past, and he was prone to some minor infections such as wind and cold. Illness itself is not a chronic disease. As long as you take good care of it in the future, you will be able to live a long and healthy life. Why do you say it will delay the princess's life?" Dongfang Wei is now the prince's tutor, with extraordinary talents.If he becomes a son-in-law, he will be grateful for her recommendation and help the prince with all his heart.

After hearing this, the queen mother said yes, and it turned out that this was the humble words of Dongfang Wei's child, and she also said that he really had such concerns. "My lord, since this is the case, recruiting Dongfang Wei as a son-in-law is indeed a beautiful thing. Which princess do you think is suitable?" There were several princesses who wanted this, and she couldn't decide, so she pushed the question to the emperor.

"Well, I don't know which princess has reached the marriageable age?"

Concubine Li Gui, who was on the lower left of the empress, had been paying attention to their conversation, and took the opportunity to say: "Your Majesty, Pingle is just seventeen years old, and it's time to get married." To this good son-in-law.

Before the emperor could answer, Concubine Xu rushed to say: "Your Majesty, the concubine's daughter, Ping Zhao, has also turned 16 years old, and the concubine wants to ask the emperor to choose a son-in-law for her!" It seems that Concubine Li is not the only one with sharp ears.

"Seniority is orderly. Pingle is older than Pingzhao, so Pingle should marry first." Concubine Li was afraid that Concubine Xu would snatch her good son-in-law.

"If you talk about the order of seniority, Princess Pingqi is the one. Your Majesty, Pingqi is almost 19 years old, and if you don't marry again, you will become an old lady!" Concubine Zhang Shu hurriedly stepped forward to help her daughter. strive for.

"Father, marriage can't be based on age alone. Princess Pingyang is quiet and elegant, and likes to read poetry and books, which is just right for the Dongfang Taifu." A prince also came to join in the fun and speak for his own sister.

"Your Majesty, the concubine's daughter is both talented and beautiful, gentle and demure, she is a perfect match with the Eastern Tutor!"

Under the clamor of the previous few, everyone in the audience knew that the emperor wanted Dongfang Wei to be his son-in-law.

"emperor……"

"The emperor..."

"Shut up! You are too rude!" The emperor was dizzy from the crowd, and opened his mouth angrily, "I have my own opinions, why are you talking so much!"

"Your Majesty, forgive me!" Seeing that the Emperor was angry, everyone hurriedly knelt down.

After being signaled by the empress dowager and the empress, the emperor calmed down and announced: "I plan to recruit Dongfang Wei as a son-in-law for marriage..."

The audience held their breath.

But the emperor looked at the concubines and princes, as well as the princesses who were looking at him imploringly, and couldn't continue. He paused for a while, then turned to look at the queen: "Who is more suitable for the queen?"

"Huh? Me?" The queen looked at the burning eyes of the audience, asking her to win over one and offend the other concubines? "This... the concubine doesn't know." "You... alas! Queen Mother, what do you think?"

"It's up to the emperor to decide this matter." She just let him make up her mind because she didn't know!
"Mother..." The emperor smiled wryly, what should I do?No matter which one you promise today, you will be annoyed to death by other concubines.After all, he was the emperor, so he suddenly had an idea, "Yes! Draw lots!"

"What?" the crowd asked.

"Since many princesses have reached the age of marriage, it is difficult for me to make a decision. If the princess draws lots in person, it is all up to God! All the beloved concubines are not allowed to compete any more, and no objection is allowed to the result of the lottery. Into the limbo! If I say what I say, I will never go back!" In this way, there will be no trouble for life. "Mother, how do you think this is handled?"

"En." The Queen Mother nodded, although it was a little childish, it also saved trouble. "This is a fair method, and it will not hurt the harmony of the emperor's daughter-in-law and grandson. Emperor, let's do it like this!"

"Okay, I can't be partial, all the princesses present will participate in the lottery." The emperor turned his head and ordered his personal eunuch, Eunuch Fang, to immediately make a lottery for the lottery: "There are a total of princesses present, just make a few lottery. Favoritism! All the princes will go to the side hall with Eunuch Fang to draw lots. The marriage is determined by the heavens, so don't hurt the harmony between the sisters."

"Yes, father." All the princesses were anxious and full of hope, clasped their hands together and meditated on the Bodhisattva's blessing, got up and filed away.

During the commotion, at the end of the banquet, a woman who was buried in her food raised her head and looked towards the side hall.All the princesses present?That package doesn't include her?
Although my mother has been out of favor for a long time, although she grew up in the cold palace, although she has no part in the usual rewards or entertainment activities, she is still a princess anyway, Princess Pingrui - her title is also listed in the list of princesses isn't it?Whenever the whole royal family participates in ceremonies such as sacrificing heaven and earth or ancestors, the father-in-laws will rush to call her out to make up the number of people, so she is also included now, right?

She—Princess Pingrui thought about it for a while, and finally decided that she should also go to the lottery.So she slowly got up and followed, not caring that the sisters in front had already run a long way, she just walked forward at the usual turtle speed.As my mother said, you should be cautious in everything, think more and do less, and think deeply about every step you take.

When Princess Pingrui walked to the side hall, all the princesses had already gathered in the center of the hall, a dozen pairs of eyes were staring at Eunuch Fang and the other two eunuchs making lots.

Eunuch Fang put all the lottery balls into a golden cup, closed the lid and shook it a few times, then opened the lid and placed it on the table. "Okay, all the princesses, please draw a lot each. After the draw, no matter what the result is, you must not go back on your word and let fate!"

Before he finished speaking, all the princesses were already scrambling to reach out to catch——

"Hey, why did you catch two, quickly put them down and catch them again!"

"Get out of the way, let me pass!"

"this is mine!"

"I want this!"

"Let go! Don't grab me!"

"You just let go, I got it first!"

In an instant, fists and kicks were flying, and the hall was full of quarrels, shouts, and the sound of clothes being torn...

After the dust settled, Princess Pingrui, who had been hiding at a safe distance, moved carefully, bypassing the sisters who were hurriedly spreading out the lottery, and leaned closer to the golden cup to watch.

There is also a flat lottery. Sure enough, she does have a share.Princess Pingrui stretched out her hand to pick up the lottery, but before she could open it, she suddenly felt that the air around her was a little strange, she turned her head suspiciously——

"Wow! How is it possible? Impossible!" A princess yelled first, unable to accept such a result, God should have pity on her infatuation!

"Hoo... ho... woo, wow~~! Mother, I don't want it—" The princesses immediately sat on the ground and cried loudly.

"Why? Why did I have to draw this lottery? It's you! It's you who stole it from me!" While beating his chest and feet, he did not forget to blame others. "Boom!" The delicate heart couldn't bear this blow, and a princess fell straight backward.

When the audience was in chaos, Princess Pingrui cautiously stepped aside to observe the situation.

"What's going on! Why are you so noisy?" A majestic roar at the entrance of the hall stopped all the voices.

"Father... Royal Father."

The emperor led the empress and a group of concubines into the hall, the noise in the hall was too shocking, so the emperor had to come over to find out.

The emperor looked at the princesses who had lost their etiquette and turned to their mothers for comfort, "How about it, who won the draw?"

Well?All the princesses look at me, I look at you, and finally they unanimously cast their eyes on the only person on the scene who has no tears on his face.

I?Princess Pingrui took half a step back in shock, and then slowly unfolded the lottery in her hand under the attention of everyone.When it reached the last floor, a small piece of red silk floated down, turned a few times in the air, and floated at the emperor's feet.this is--?
"Congratulations to Princess Pingrui for getting a red head!" Seeing that Princess Pingrui was still in a daze, Eunuch Fang thought she was too happy, so he reminded her.

Red head?Princess Pingrui looked up and saw the somewhat surprised eyes of her father and queen, the gloomy faces of all the concubines, and the jealous and sharp eyes of the sisters...

Why...why would she want to shiver in midsummer?
"What did you say? Say it again!"

Eunuch Chen, who reported the letter, was quite frightened, and couldn't help but flinch. He never expected that the gentle and refined Dongfang Wei would look like this.He was stunned by Dongfang Wei's sharp eyes, and he repeated boldly: "The emperor has an order to recruit Dongfang Taifu as a son-in-law to marry Princess Pingrui." , I didn't know until this morning that my life had been decided.

"Yes, congratulations to Taifu, congratulations to Mrs. Xi..." Eunuch Chen's fawning congratulations were interrupted by Dongfang Wei's terrifying eyes. "Tai...Teacher?" It wasn't an illusion, he really saw the sparks in Dongfang Wei's eyes.

"When did the emperor make the decision? Who proposed it? Has the imperial decree been issued?" Dongfang Wei quickly calmed down, and his mind began to turn—how to stop this marriage?

"Back to Taifu, the emperor made the decision at the banquet last night, proposed by the empress. The emperor has not yet issued an imperial edict." Dongfang Wei, who had returned to his elegant appearance, let Eunuch Chen heave a sigh of relief, and spoke in an orderly manner.

"Okay, which concubine was Princess Pingrui born to?" He wanted to know which faction she belonged to in the palace first, and see if he could use the conflicts between the factions to resolve it.

"It's Concubine Ning." It was only last night that he knew that there was such a number one person in the palace.

"Concubine Ning?" Why is there no such character in my memory?Regardless of this, "Where is the emperor now? I want to see the emperor immediately."

"The emperor is receiving the envoys of the Uighur country, so he cannot see the Tai Tuo."

What a coincidence, let's see the Queen Mother first. "Is the queen mother in the palace?"

After getting an affirmative answer, Dongfang Wei walked towards the Empress Dowager's bedroom without saying a word.Just kidding, if you give him a princess all the time, won't your hands and feet be tied up in the future, he must stop it!

After tossing and turning all night, Princess Pingrui walked out of the bedroom with her aching head in her hands, and went to the well to wash her face with a bucket of water.

The cool well water refreshed her, she shook off the remaining water droplets on her face, and sat on the edge of the well thinking about what happened last night.

Yesterday, the father said that he wanted to have fun with all the children, so the father-in-law called her as usual, but unexpectedly there was a lottery game in the middle.I didn't expect her to be so lucky that she won the draw. No, she didn't draw at all, she picked up the leftovers from other princesses. Oh, it doesn't matter, anyway, she just won the "red head".Then, her father announced that the new Taifu Dongfang Wei was her son-in-law, and the inappropriate congratulations from many concubines and princesses made her dizzy, and she couldn't even remember how she got back.

Dongfang Wei, I seem to have heard about him from the court ladies before, he seems to be a good-looking frail scholar.The news I heard most in my memory was that Young Master Dongfang was ill again, what precious medicinal materials were given to him by the Queen Mother or the Emperor, and which princesses fought over him again because of jealousy and so on.All in all, her impression is that Dongfang Wei is a drug pot who is promiscuous and will please the Queen Mother and the Emperor.

At this time, the image that popped up in Princess Pingrui's mind was a sick, sweet-tongued, frivolous vagabond, then the scene of her wives and concubines full of jealousy after she married, and then the frail husband who indulged in excessive sexual desire. Died young, and ended up with his desolate old age...Princess Pingrui shivered, no!She might as well die in the palace forever!
But what should we do now?Father Huang said that the result of the lottery will never be changed, and no one can object to it.No one will help her, what should I do?After thinking for a while and having no clue, Princess Pingrui sighed and stood up, forget it, don't think too much about things that can't be helped, just let fate.

Besides, those princesses seem to like Dongfang Wei very much, maybe they will persuade the father to change the candidate.

Princess Pingrui looked at the sky, fetched another bucket of water, poured it into the basin, and walked towards her mother's bedroom with it.Mother should wake up, right?

He entered the room lightly, put the basin on the table, then helped his mother hang up the bed curtain and brought clothes.

Concubine Ning opened her eyes, "Xinchen?" Xinchen is Princess Pingrui's nickname.

"It's me, mother, I gave you face wash." Princess Pingrui Xinchen helped her mother up, changed her clothes, and wrung out the towel for her to wipe her face.

"By the way, Xinchen, did you go to the palace banquet last night without any trouble?" Concubine Ning asked while her daughter was combing her hair.

"No, my daughter is very careful." Xin Chen skillfully finished the triple bun, and then put a golden hairpin on her mother.

Concubine Ning sighed: "Mother, it's not that I don't believe you, it's because I'm worried! There are a lot of gossip in the court, and if you are not careful, you will suffer. Alas, mother is useless, she cannot be favored by the emperor, and even if you are troubled, you will be ignored."

"Mother, don't say that, my daughter will be careful." She has always been very, very careful.Think three times before you say something; practice three times before saluting to your father, queen mother; listen to all directions and look at six directions before taking a step...

"That's good. In short, you remember that we are the concubines and princesses with the least power and background in the palace. We must not offend anyone!" Concubine Ning felt relieved.

Alas, Xinchen is her most precious person. I always hope that nothing will happen to her and she will live in peace.Just like what her parents hoped for her back then...

Concubine Ning's thoughts went back to more than [-] years ago, she was an ordinary folk woman, her father was loving and her mother was loving, and her brothers and sisters were harmonious and friendly. Now that she thought about it, she was so happy at that time.

But when she was 16 years old, the emperor issued a decree to draft girls into the palace, and she was selected.Before leaving, her elderly parents took her and urged her earnestly: don't attract attention, don't seek wealth in vain, just do things in a normal way, and after three to five years, you can leave the palace and go home to live a stable life.

It's a pity that she was young and immature. After entering the palace, she was dazzled by the vanity here. She was unwilling to be buried among the mediocre court ladies, and she wanted to stand out.

She succeeded, and with her natural beauty and talent, she was favored by the emperor, and after a few years, she was promoted to imperial concubine.

However... the intrigue and power struggle in the deep palace, how can she, a commoner girl, handle it?Soon, she fell out of favor with no background and no tricks.The concubines who were excluded by her back then took the opportunity to retaliate, slandered the emperor, and framed her with excuses.If it wasn't for the fact that she was pregnant with Xinchen at that time, she might have been ordered to die, not just being thrown into the cold palace?

In the few years since she first arrived in the cold palace, she was on the verge of collapse, and she was completely puzzled how the man who was so warm and kind and loved her so much could turn his face and be ruthless in the blink of an eye, and never see her again!From the prosperous and noble cloud suddenly fell to the desolate cold palace, how could she endure the waste of her beautiful years?If it wasn't for Xin Chen being by her side, giving her some comfort, maybe she would have ended her remaining life.Since then, she has been regretting the beginning, why didn't she obey her parents' teachings?
Year after year, watching the ebb and flow of the outside in the cold palace, the people who pushed her out at the beginning were pushed out by others, and the constant scramble was staged round after round, and she finally saw it through.

From then on, I will no longer ask for anything, and no longer feel sorry for myself.Even when Xinchen was ten years old, because of the empress dowager's birthday, they were taken out of the cold palace and moved here, she no longer tried every means to get close to the emperor to compete for favor, she only hoped that Xinchen could grow up safely and not be The war among concubines in the harem spread.

"Mother," Xin Chen put the last lock of hair into a bun for her mother, then grabbed the mirror and put it behind for her mother to watch, "comb it, take a look, this hairstyle is a new one for me and Aunt Honglian." Created, isn’t it pretty?”

Concubine Ning looked at this perfect bun from the front and back mirrors, and said with a smile: "Silly boy, such a beautiful hairstyle should be done for you. What else does this old lady dress up for?"

Yes, Xinchen is smart, cute and obedient, and she has been a rare source of laughter for the sad women in the cold palace since she was a child.Under the joint guidance of the concubines who fell out of favor, she is proficient in all kinds of piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and is full of talents. Even after she is out of the cold palace, she often goes back to accompany those aunts who love her.With such a sensible daughter by my side, what else is there to worry about?

As long as you don't expect too much, it is easy to be happy.

Xin Chen heard the sound of people coming in and out outside, so she opened the curtain and took a look, "Mother, it was Xiao Ping who brought the breakfast, let's go eat." Concubine Ning nodded and let her daughter support them to the front hall.

Originally, according to the palace rules, the concubine and the princess should be accompanied by five maids and eunuchs each, but since they fell out of favor, the palace servants around them could easily be transferred to other places to help, and in the end only Xiaoping was left alone.

While eating breakfast, Xinchen suddenly remembered that there was something she hadn't told her mother, and swallowed the food in her mouth, "By the way, mother, I forgot to mention something. , called... Dongfang Wei."

puff--

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(End of this chapter)