The Alluring Concubine: The Eldest Miss

Chapter 62 The Palace Banquet (4)

The selection of a family member ended like this, and the emperor couldn't react a bit, and said in a floating voice: "Since Prince Boxi and Princess Anhua are in love, there is no need to choose Prince Boxi's concubine. Then the competition will start, the winner of the women's group will represent Tianhua and East Chu, and the two winners of the men's group will be said to be married to Princess Anping of the Northern Qi Dynasty and Princess Weiyang of Xiling respectively."

"The talent competition starts next, and those who read their names should prepare." Hearing the eunuch's sharp voice, Feng Qiwu felt goosebumps, but he had no choice but to bite the bullet and listen.

Although it is a fair competition, after all, this is an era when power determines everything, and although they are all first- and second-rank officials, some have real power, and some only have a title. The names of the children of powerful people, apart from the princesses who indulged in the royal family, the first name is Zhou Xiyu.

Those princesses are already masters in Tianhua, and they don't care about the position of the crown princess of other countries. Except for the princess Demin of Dewang's mansion who blushes and heartbeats because of her admiration for Chu Bozhao, the others don't show much, and they don't even show it. People feel that they wish they could not be selected.

In addition, only Zhou Xiyu and Ning Ruoxue from the Ningguo Mansion are left to take on the roles of appearance and talent, so when the young ladies who are either hopeful or fearful of avoiding the show are over, only Zhou Xiyu and Ning Ruoxue are left. When Ning Ruoxue was around, the whole hall was quiet.

Feng Qiwu secretly poked and tugged at Shen Youliehan's sleeve, "Aren't the two of them allies? Do you think the two of them are making money, or are they trying to shirk each other?"

Shen Youliehan looked at Ning Guogong, who had been peaceful for a while, and then looked at Zhou Guogong, who had an inexplicable expression, and then said: "Ning Guogong is the grandfather of the prince, so naturally he supports the prince, and Zhou Guogong supports the queen mother." , I heard that the Empress Dowager has always wanted to abolish the emperor and make the four emperors younger brothers the king, so Ning Ruoxue is the most suitable candidate for the crown princess, and the Ningguo government probably does not want Ning Ruoxue to get married."

"What about Zhou Xiyu?" Feng Qiwu asked, Zhou Xiyu, who is both talented and beautiful, may not be a good bargaining chip for Zhou Guogong's mansion. I believe that a wolf as ambitious as the old Zhou Guogong will not give up such a useful bargaining chip.

Shen Youlie shook his head, "It's hard to say, but it is necessary for someone who holds great power in the court to maximize his interests."

Feng Qiwu shook his head lightly, "It's really sad to be born in such a family! She still misses you, I think even without me, there would be no place for her by your side."

"How can you be so sure?" Shen Youlie smiled and chatted with her coldly, he was not interested in those singing, dancing, piano and chess, so it would be nice to chat with Feng Qiwu.

Feng Qiwu used Shen Youliehan to block everyone's sight, and lay lazily on the table, "You are not the same kind of people, you can't get together."

Shen Youliehan raised his eyebrows and looked at her, "So we are the same kind of people?"

Feng Qiwu looked at him with a smile, "Strictly speaking, it wasn't before, but it should be now."

What she didn't say is that Shen Youliehan looks cold, but there are people who really care about him, like Han Yu and others around him. Although they are just subordinates, she can tell that Shen Youliehan treats those people as brothers The sisters saw that no matter which one was injured, Shen Youliehan would express his concern in an awkward way, and save others at all costs.

But Feng Qiwu is different. When she was a "Xiao" in her previous life, although she was a national agent, she didn't do those things for the sake of national righteousness. She just wanted to find a suitable reason for her wantonness. She I don't care about anything, and I can still face the mountain of corpses and the sea of ​​blood calmly. Of course, there was another Ji Anran later, that little monster-like person used his weak body to block bullets for her, and tried everything to develop a life-saving elixir for her. He didn't even hesitate to risk his life for a medicinal material that he needed but didn't know whether it existed, and then, the agent "Xiao" had the only person he could care about.

"In the future, we will be the same kind of people." Breaking away from the memory, Feng Qiwu looked at Shen Youliehan with firm eyes and gave him an extremely satisfactory answer.

Shen Youliehan's joy was undoubtedly revealed, the hands under the table were held quietly, and he could hardly speak.

While the two were talking, the talent competition between Zhou Xiyu and Ning Ruoxue had ended, and the first-rank officials sitting in the first row also gave their evaluations. The etiquette officer stood in the center with a plate, a little embarrassed.Shen Youliehuo was impatient, and when he saw this, he scolded: "The result is out, it's announced, why are you standing there and letting so many people wait for you?" "

After all, the servant is working by the emperor's side, how can Shen Youliehuo be frightened like this, but Shen Youliehuo reminded him that it is true, he turned to the emperor with a plate and said: "Report to the emperor, Miss Ning and Princess Xiyu received the same number of golden flowers, this?"

"Same, it's a tie!"

Zhou Guogong and Ning Guogong sat next to each other. Hearing this, Zhou Guogong laughed and said: "Ning Guogong, it seems that you and I have a good relationship, and even the younger generation has been affected. Such a fate is not a coincidence!"

"What Zhou Guogong said is very true, and Ning feels very lucky. Is it true that the juniors are so compatible, it is really gratifying." Regardless of the truth or falsehood, the two people here are talking and laughing at Yan Yan, but the emperor is embarrassed. Ning Ruoxue was the default choice for her family, but it's a tie, so she can't just let Ning Ruoxue go, cheating like this is too obvious!

An Zhicheng even joked: "Prince Chu is suave and suave. The two young ladies have their own merits. They are not as grand as Brother Chu. The beauty of Emperor Jiayan is an adult, so it is not impossible for Brother Chu to sit and enjoy the blessings of everyone. Why do you have to be so embarrassing!"

When An Zhicheng said this, everyone gasped. They had heard that the Prince of Xiling was unrestrained, but they didn't think he would dare to talk such nonsense on such an important occasion.

However, Zhong Limo seemed to be having a convulsion, and he even supported him, echoing: "What Prince Zhicheng said is very true, and the two noble girls must compete so hard for Prince Chu. If this is the case, why bother to stick to the formality? Prince Chu Tang It is naturally impossible for the master of Tangdong Palace to have only one concubine, so why not enjoy the blessings of everyone?"

"no!"

As soon as Zhong Limo's words fell, before Ning Ruoxue and Zhou Xiyu spoke, Shen Youlie jumped up and said righteously: "Since ancient times, marriages have always married noble girls as prince concubines or imperial concubines. Cousin Ruoxue and Xiyu No matter which princess Yujun is his own treasure, how can he condescend to the position of side concubine, is it possible that Prince Chu wants to have two concubines, and the two are big?"

If it is reasonable for Zhou Guogong or Ning Guogong to come out, it is a bit unreasonable for Shen Youliehuo to come out. Feng Qiwu moved the hand held by Shen Youliehan, and looked at Shen Youliehuo suspiciously, "This is a what's the situation?"

"It's said that Shen Youliehuo has a crush on Zhou Xiyu. From the looks of it, it should be true." Shen Youliehan spoke of the information stored in his mind sternly, not at all like a gossip.

Feng Qiwu nodded knowingly, and then asked: "Accordingly, neither Zhou Xiyu nor Zhou Guogong's government would want her to marry, why is she working so hard?"

She hadn't seen Zhou Xiyu's paintings and books, but the music she played and danced were very good, and she must have put in a lot of effort, which made Feng Qiwu puzzled.

Shen Youliehan saw it clearly, "It's true that she doesn't want to get married, but it's even more true that Zhou Guogong's government doesn't want to lose face. Zhou Xiyu has been named Jincheng's number one talented woman since she was 12 years old. If she loses to Ning Ruoxue The number one beauty in Jincheng, Duke Zhou's face will be greatly reduced."

Feng Qiwu rolled her eyes speechlessly, and didn't want to speak. She still can't understand the ancient logic of sacrificing face and suffering.

Even so, Shen Youliehuo's remarks were approved by all the officials, and the Minister of the Ministry of Rites immediately said; "What the prince said is very true, even if ordinary people get married, there is no reason to marry two people in one day. Dongchu is willing to marry two people. It is a good thing for me to marry Qin and Jin, but if I marry the two directly, it will make the world look down on me, Tianhua!"

Minister of the Ministry of Rites spoke so well and logically that even Feng Qiwu couldn't help nodding his head in praise, thinking that Lin Siyu is so brainless, this father's eloquence is not bad.

Chu Bozhao saw that the matter had a clue, and said in a timely manner: "Everyone, don't worry, my concubine of Dongchu is talented, but spiritual power is not optional. After all, this prince really doesn't like to let a princess A delicate girl is a princess, so there is a martial arts competition, it depends on the judges, but the spiritual power will not be exactly the same, right?"

"That's a good idea."

"I don't know what the level of spiritual power is between Miss Ning and Princess Xiyu. It seems that this spiritual power has never been mentioned after listening to the compliments on their talents and beauty all these years?"

"Yeah, yeah!" one person said, and voices of agreement echoed endlessly. After all, the two big girls in Jincheng have no beauties and talented women. Who wouldn't be interested in showing their spiritual power for the first time!
"Haha, I was the one who was anxious!" An Zhicheng took the previous oolong lightly.

The emperor didn't say yes or no when he heard the words, he just glanced at Shen Youliehuo thoughtfully, raised his hand and said, "Come on, clear the place!"

The Baihua Palace is big enough. Before the dance and music performances, the venue for the women's talent competition was not small. It just put some musical instruments and the like. The so-called clearing the venue was just taking away those musical instruments and props, and it was vacated soon. A large field comparable to the arena outside.

"Princess Xiyu, please be merciful later!" Ning Ruoxue probably still wanted to compete with Zhou Xiyu today, and the water pink soft smoke skirt complemented her already delicate appearance Even more charming, the gold hairpin and Bu Yao that he usually wears on his head are also replaced by a silver hairpin. Although it doesn't look luxurious, it is extremely dexterous.

Zhou Xiyu didn't dress up very much. She wore a simple white palace dress. Apart from the decoration of a water-blue bow around her waist, the forbidden praise on her head was also a very common style. Go up, but it is obviously the one who is more suitable to stand on the ring. Hearing this, he smiled lightly and said: "Sister Ruoxue was joking, it's just a discussion. Besides, I am very stupid, and I can dance and dance. Spiritual moves. It's useless to learn it, it's useless if you look at it, I'm afraid I'm going to make a fool of myself, I'll make you a year older, so I'll let you come first."

"Then sister, you're welcome, sister, be careful!" Ning Ruoxue showed a delicate smile, but she had already picked up the long sword that was next to her. The silver soft sword accompanied the soft smoke of fans. With a light touch on the toes, she flew towards Zhou Xiyu opposite, like a nimble swallow. It was really a good picture of a beauty dancing with a sword.

Zhou Xiyu looked away, and quickly drew out the long sword in the servant's hand to meet her. She also used lightness kung fu, but she didn't fly up. She just went straight to meet her. When Ning Ruoxue's sword tip was about to touch her head, she suddenly turned around. With a swoop, the tip of the sword slashed across Ning Ruoxue's long skirt, cutting off a section of the pink skirt. With a smile in her eyes, she seemed to warn: "Sister, be careful!"

"My sister is very skilled, it's my sister's carelessness!" Ning Ruoxue said, she was surprised that she didn't turn around as expected by everyone, but continued to leap, turning around in front of the master with winding vines in Baihua Palace, using her two legs He entangled his master, and pulled off the ribbon on his arm under the suspicious eyes of everyone. With a flick of his wrist, the ribbon flew over like a spirit snake and entangled the long sword in Zhou Xiyu's hand. Feeling pain in his wrist, the long sword fell to the ground.

"Clang!" A sound shocked everyone to their senses. They stared blankly at the two people who had landed in the center of the field, but they didn't seem to be able to react. The expected beauty duel ended so soon.

Ning Ruoxue put away the long sword, put the ribbon on her arm again, adjusted her appearance, and said: "I admit it, sister!"

"I admit defeat!" Zhou Xiyu said calmly, "I didn't expect my sister to use soft weapons so well. I think Wu whip is not a problem. I like holding things very much, but I can't play with them all the time. Today I will experience it personally. After that, it can be regarded as making up for a regret.”

"Wu Bi, Miss Ning wins~!" A short chorus from the ceremony official decided the fate of a family, and even the fate of two countries might be rewritten because of it.

Feng Qiwu muttered below, "If you get married, you can stop fighting. Politics is really unpredictable."

Shen Youliehan squeezed her hand, knowing that she was bored, and said with a smile: "In any case, things are moving in the direction we want, which is a good thing."

"That's right." Feng Qiwu stood up reluctantly and listened to Shen Youjiayan announce the result.

Shen Youjiayan did not announce the result directly, but asked politely: "Prince Chu, I wonder if you are satisfied with the result?"

"Emperor Jiayan made such a grand arrangement, and Miss Ning is the most beautiful woman in Jincheng, and her talent is not inferior to others. If Bo Zhao is not satisfied, wouldn't it be unreasonable to make trouble?" Chu Bozhao finished with a smile, turned and walked towards Ning Ruoxue "Miss Ning will spend more time with Duke Ning and his wife these days. When the prince returns from sea, I will marry you back to Dongchu."

"Ruoxue obeys." Ning Ruoxue returned the salute with a face of shyness, as if she did not expect that the prince Chu Bozhao would salute to herself.

The other people's focus was not here, the emperor was the first one, and immediately said after hearing the words: "Oh, what Prince Chu means is that you also want to visit that treasure island?"

Chu Bozhao smiled calmly and said, "That's true. Bo Zhao was interested in these unusual things at first. The people below told that Treasure Island is amazing. If Bo Zhao didn't go, he would have let down his curiosity. heart."

An Zhicheng said excitedly: "What a coincidence, the prince also wants to go, and he has asked people to prepare the boat early on. It seems that Prince Boxi also prepared it when he came. How about it? Is King Hanjiang interested? Agni Prince, if you are interested, let's join together!"

"Hey, everyone, are you digressing? The son-in-law of the two princesses hasn't been selected yet?" Although the Minister of Rites was also very curious about the treasure island, his task was quite important.

"That's not easy. The literary and military competitions are all staged. The selection of a son-in-law still requires a real man. The young men in Jincheng must not be uninterested in that treasure island. Why don't you choose some people to go to the treasure island by yourself?" Island, whoever can get something that satisfies the two princesses will be the last consort!"

As soon as the words came out, everyone looked towards the door, and the look was terrible. Even the emperor who was seated high stood up and asked in surprise, "Uncle Wang, why are you here?"

"Why, this old man can't come to Tianhua's state banquet?" The person who came had a childlike face, but his voice was loud and powerful, and his two copper-bell-sized eyes stared at Shen Youjiayan, as if he was about to breathe fire at any time.

Shen Youjiayan quickly apologized and said with a smile: "Uncle Wang was joking, there is no way Uncle Wang can't go in this world, but it's very noisy here, and my nephew was afraid of disturbing Uncle Wang's cleanliness, so he said something wrong for a while. Please, Uncle Wang, forgive me, forgive me!"

"Tsk, who is this old man who made your father so stupid?" Feng Qiwu couldn't help but marvel at the emperor who had given up the golden throne and stood beside the old man with a doggy smile.

Shen Youliehan looked familiar, and said with a smile: "The former emperor's brother, Old Nanwang, the old man spent more than half of his youth with him."

"The emperor's teacher and the king with a different surname are still the elders of the three dynasties. This qualification is indeed enough for him to walk sideways!" Feng Qiwu pouted his chin and said that almost every dynasty has one or two elders of the three dynasties, and there is one like the old Nan Wang. Among those who are devoted to their duties, there is one who thinks of rebelling every day like the old Zhou Guogong. Sure enough, the Creator is fair to everyone.

After being coaxed by Shen Youjiayan for a few words, the old man also knew that enough is enough, his expression was slightly relaxed, and he said: "The old minister has nothing important to do, I just think that my brat is about to reach the crown, isn't this here to choose a talented woman for marriage?" , by the way, choose a concubine for that brat in my family!"

"Father?" Nan Wang looked at his father dumbfoundedly, and then at the emperor, who was just like himself, showing himself a helpless expression. Sure enough, he just yelled and was stopped: "You give this to me Shut up, Wang, if you hadn't pampered him, would you have allowed him to not even have a decent marriage?"

(End of this chapter)