wedding dress

Chapter 12 The Emperor
This time it was King An who brought her into the palace.

Xiaodong was held by Wang An with one hand, and he stumbled as he walked.The snow on the palace road had been swept away, and when one stepped on it, the soles of the shoes were frozen hard, making a cold and brittle sound against the stone.

It seems to be a different path from last time.

Xiaodong turned to look at Wang An.

His lips are pursed, looking up from Xiaodong's angle, the outline of his chin looks a bit sharp.

Wang An stopped, stretched out his hand to straighten the little hat on Xiaodong's head, and carried her across the two-foot-high threshold like a chicken.

Maybe Xiaodong exaggerated the height of the threshold, but if she was to pass it, she might not be able to climb over it smoothly even with all hands and feet.

This is a large study room, with rows of bookshelves reaching from the floor to the ceiling, filled with books.It is a bit like a modern library, but modern books are arranged vertically, but here they are all placed horizontally.

King An let go of her hand and bowed in one direction: "Brother Huang."

Huh?
Emperor, brother?

Xiaodong opened his eyes wide and looked over, is this the emperor?But why didn't the emperor wear a golden yellow robe embroidered with dragons?

The emperor was not too old, he seemed to be in his thirties, without a beard, wearing an azurite uniform, a plain gauze crown on his head, and a slightly tired look on his face.

To be honest, if Wang An did not worship him, Xiaodong really would not think that this is the emperor, and the image of the emperor in her mind is too different.

When Wang An turned his head, Xiaodong realized that he hadn't saluted yet.But before she could bow down, the emperor had already raised his hand: "Don't be too polite, there are no outsiders around." He paused: "Is this Xiaodong?"

He spoke the last sentence very slowly, and his eyes slowly moved to Xiaodong.

His eyes were dark and deep, and his eyes looked... a little too focused.

If Xiaodong is now not three or four years old, but thirteen or fourteen years old, she can still say that it is her own beauty that attracts others to look so fascinated.But--

Xiaodong suddenly felt itchy nose, before she could hold her breath, a big sneeze came out.

The two big men were stunned, Xiaodong touched his nose with an innocent expression.Is this also counted as that, a kind of impropriety in front of the imperial court?
It may be because he just came in from the cold outside, or it may be because there is a heavy smell in the house, like the scent of sweet-scented osmanthus flowers.

The emperor didn't seem to care at all, Xiaodong felt her ribs tightened, her legs were off the ground, and she was hugged by the emperor.

Although Xiaodong is used to being hugged around, this is the emperor!
Well, the emperor has thick eyebrows, if he frowns, he must be very imposing.

His hands seemed to be shaking slightly, Xiaodong looked at him curiously.

The emperor and King An's faces were similar, but their eyebrows and eyes were not the same. King An was more like the Empress Dowager Shengci, delicate and handsome.The emperor looked tougher and resolute, maybe he was more like the previous emperor.

"Brother Huang."

Wang An took Xiaodong over, and said softly, "This child has been living in Zhuangzi before, so he is a bit of a stranger."

Who would admit that she was born? She was just afraid of showing her flaws, so she didn't take the initiative to speak and act.

The emperor's hand lightly touched Xiaodong's face: "She..." paused, but did not continue.

Xiaodong looked at King An and then at the Emperor, feeling that the atmosphere in this room was a bit strange.

Is this the emperor's study?This is not like a place to meet visitors.

Besides, Xiaodong didn't think that she was that important. After leaving Zhuangzi and going to the capital, King An wanted to bring her to see the emperor.The emperor, how busy you must be, maybe you don't have time to see your son or daughter, so how can you find the time to see a little niece?
Xiaodong remained silent, and was clearly shrinking into Wang An's arms.

The emperor seemed a little at a loss, he looked like he really wanted to get close to her and make her happy, but he didn't know what to say or do.Moreover, he had to maintain the majesty and dignity of being an emperor, so it seemed, uh... awkward?

Wang An put Xiaodong down on the ground: "Xiaodong, good boy, let Eunuch Li go outside and play for a while."

A middle-aged eunuch in a dark blue robe came over and led Xiaodong out with a smile.

Xiaodong glanced back, the emperor and King An obviously had something to say.

Moreover, Xiaodong felt intuitively that what they were going to say had something to do with her.

But she is a child, what is there to discuss?
Well, no.

Xiaodong suddenly thought that maybe what they were going to talk about had something to do with her mother.

Yes, it must be so.The "she" that the emperor didn't finish talking about just now may refer to himself, or it may refer to his mother.

Xiaodong looked back three times at every step, really wanted to go back and poke at the window to eavesdrop.

Eunuch Li said with a smile: "Don't worry, the princess, the prince will be out in a while." He beckoned to a palace man: "Take the princess to the side hall and wait for a while, and take good care of you."

The palace man responded, and Xiaodong was transferred again.

She raised her head, this palace lady was also wearing the same light green round neck blouse as the senior lady that day, is she also a lady official?

"What's your name?" she asked.

The woman replied respectfully: "Slaves are called Baozhu."

The sky is gloomy and leaden gray, like a gray cloth covering the four square palace walls, making people feel a little breathless.

Baozhu gently took Xiaodong's hand, and led her around the corridor, into a side hall.

"Is the princess hungry? Shall I send some refreshments?"

Xiaodong's head shook like a drum.

No dim sum.Why is there always something to do with dim sum?
The side hall was warm and cozy, Xiaodong sat on the edge of the low table, putting his feet close to the charcoal stove.

Baozhu hurriedly said: "Princess, be careful, sparks will burst out inside, don't burn your skirt."

She took a copper cover from the side and put it on top of the charcoal stove, and added a cotton pad to the copper cover, then took off Xiao Dong's shoes, and put her two little feet on it.

Well, it's so warm.

Xiaodong curled up comfortably and put her hands together.

The weather is really cold, and Xiaodong is not used to going out, even though he is wearing small buckskin boots, his feet are still icy cold.

Don't people say that children have great firepower?Why is she so afraid of the cold?

She turned her head around to see that this side hall must have been around for some time, although the charcoal basin was burning, it still looked dark and cold.

Suddenly someone coughed, Xiaodong was startled, and Baozhu had already stood up.

"Who is there?"

A man came out from behind the screen, Baozhu saw him curtsied and bowed, saying: "I don't know the second prince is here, this servant is rude."

"It's okay. I just wanted to rest here for a while, so I didn't tell anyone." The man looked at Xiaodong: "Who is this?"

Without waiting for Baozhu to reply, he nodded: "I remembered, this is Uncle An's youngest daughter, A Lu's younger sister."

Xiaodong also stood up and saluted politely.

"Don't be too polite."

The second prince bowed his hand to Xiaodong to return the salute, and Xiaodong came to see him clearly.The second prince is a thin young man, Cong is only twelve or thirteen years old, he is wearing a gray robe, and his face is not very good-looking.

Strange, didn't Zhao Lu say that the princes all go to school together?Why didn't the second prince go to school?
(End of this chapter)