Lady Zhao

Chapter 56

It took nearly an hour for lunch, and after a short rest, everyone returned to Lanyuexuan.Zhao Wenxi was sitting next to Zhao Wenwan, and Zhao Wenxuan took the seat on Zhao Wenxi's right, and quietly tugged at her sleeves, with a strange look on her face since lunch, she glanced at Zhao Wenwan from time to time, clutching the handkerchief, wishing to bite on it Like her.

Zhao Wenwan sipped tea calmly, and was used to the hostility towards Zhao Wenxuan, and when she heard Zhao Wenxi speak, her eyes were tinged with deep meaning.

"Sister, you were at the door just before the banquet, Mr. Fang was waiting for you?" Zhao Wenxi cast an ambiguous look at Zhao Wenwan, and said in a simple tone.

"Sister is really observant, so I don't know if it's me or Mr. Fang who are paying attention?" Zhao Wenwan didn't answer directly, but asked a question instead. Looking at Zhao Wenxuan's jealous look that could hardly be concealed, what else is there that I don't understand? Yes, she has taken a fancy to Zimo.

Afterwards, with a smile on his face, he pretended to be joking, "Looking at it before, my sister is so focused on the Sixth Prince, why did she change her love so quickly?"

Zhao Wenxi's face was flushed by Zhao Wenwan's words, and Zhao Wenwan's voice was not low. Many young ladies in the front and back seats looked over, and there was a trace of difference in their eyes. They hurriedly explained, "It's not me, I... I'm also a representative people asked."

"I'm just joking too. Why is my sister so nervous?" Zhao Wenwan said with a smile on his lips. From the corner of his eyes, he caught a glimpse of the pricked ears of Princess Jinping, who was two seats away. He paused and leaned forward a little. He said to Wenxuan, "Sister Wenxuan, why don't you just ask me what you want to ask. I saw it when I left the palace yesterday. My sister almost fell down. It was Mr. Fang's 'hero to save the beauty'. Standing together, you two can be called a man of beauty Woolen cloth."

Zhao Wenxuan was stunned, she didn't expect Zhao Wenwan to bring this up, thinking of the situation at that time, her cheeks were blushed, obviously acquiescing.And this scene fell into the eyes of Princess Jinping who admired Fang Zimo, sparks burst out.

Zhao Wenwan, who successfully sparked the fire, took a sip of tea leisurely, "Mr. Fang is a good match, my sister must be sure."

These conversations blurred the reason why Fang Zimo waited for her, and made Princess Jinping remember Zhao Wenxuan, secretly planning how to teach this little man who dared to rob her.

Zhao Wenxuan, who had no idea that she was being tricked, had her cheeks flushed by Zhao Wenwan's teasing. She also thought that Mr. Fang had come to Zhao Wenwan for her own sake, and she was so excited that she ignored Princess Jinping's murderous eyes.Only Zhao Wenxi felt that something was wrong, but as the competition started, he didn't bother with it anymore, his eyes were glued to the figure of the Sixth Prince, and he couldn't turn away.

On the arena, the arena was removed and replaced with an archery range at the request of the two contestants. Each target was ten meters away from each other. The total of the ten targets was a full 100 meters.Two slender figures, one black and one white, were both well-dressed and heroic, which attracted the women's seats to whisper.

Gu Jingxun in the stands has been paying attention to Gu Jingxing, trying to find the woman who made him fight, but he found nothing. He only frowned when Xueyuan, the little queen of Anyuanhou's mansion, stared at Gu Jingxing obsessively. There was a gentle smile on his brows, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"It's unfair to the prince that the sixth prince chooses this competition with his ministers." Fang Zimo frowned, a little puzzled by this man's proposal to change the competition items. In terms of expertise, his archery skills are top-notch, but Six Princes...

Gu Jingxing was bathed in the bright light, his face softened for a moment, and he took his dazzling bow. This bow and arrow was as tall as half a person, and the body of the bow was painted with black lacquer. It was carved with ivory and precious stones, which was extremely dazzling.

"Mr. Fang, underestimating the enemy is a big taboo in military strategists." After examining the bow and arrow in his hand, Gu Jingxing rubbed his fingers unconsciously.

He has always liked to challenge the impossible, and there is nothing more satisfying than defeating the opponent's best thing.

Seeing him like this, Fang Zimo was not a talkative person at all, waited for the gong to strike, stretched his arms vigorously, swished an arrow, and the seventh target hit the red heart.

Zhao Wenwan watched from afar, his robes were windy, extremely neat, and only after hearing gossip from others did he know that Fang Zimo's accomplishments in archery are far beyond what ordinary people can compare. Confidence, and the look she cast before going on stage, still makes her feel hairy.

It seemed that if she looked around, she would pluck out her eyeballs, tsk, it was very cruel.

Fang Zimo retreated to the side: "Sixth Prince, please." He was confident that Gu Jingxing would not be able to surpass him, because on weekdays, the Sixth Prince's archery skills were mediocre.

The female relatives were not without worry, and said in one go: "Oh, how is the sixth prince's archery skills? It is rare to see him archery on weekdays!"

"I'm afraid it's not as good as Mr. Fang... I heard that Mr. Fang's archery skills were taught by the number one fierce general, General Meng himself!"

"I've also heard that Mr. Fang's archery is a hundred-step piercer!"

The moment Gu Jingxing drew the bow and arrow, his aura was exposed, extremely domineering, but it was only for a moment, before everyone thought they were dazzled, his movements paused slightly, and the audience also paused, holding their breath , even Zhao Wenwan is no exception.

Zhao Wenxi squeezed the handkerchief nervously, gently pushed Zhao Wenxuan and said, "Wenxuan, do you think the Sixth Prince can win?"

Zhao Wenxuan was so focused on Fang Zimo, she was also nervous, how could she get Zhao Wenxi back.

Hearing a groan, the bow and arrow left the string, pierced through the air with an unstoppable momentum, penetrated straight through the seventh archery target, and nailed it in the middle of the red heart of the eighth archery target, which shocked the crowd who were not optimistic about Gu Jingxing before. people.

"Mr. Fang, if you give in, you will lose." Gu Jingxing said calmly without turning his head.

Fang Zimo was stunned for a moment, and then the corners of his lips curled into a slight arc. The militants on his body that hadn't been aroused for a long time made him tremble, "I know I'm wrong."

Immediately, he drew the string with his thumb, pressed his index finger and middle finger against his thumb, exerted a little force, and the bow was like a full moon. Before everyone applauded, there was a whistling sound, and the meteor shot straight, and the white feather raised a shining arc, and shot straight into the first bow. Ten arrows hit the heart!
Gu Jingxing drew the bow and followed closely behind, one after the other, broke through Fang Zimo's arrow, and also shot at the red heart of the tenth target, causing a slight shake.

Zhao Wenwan was stunned, and the others were also stunned. After a while, enthusiastic exclamations broke out.

"It's really rare for the two of them to shoot into the tenth archery target at the same time!"

"Yeah, it's really rare!"

"I didn't expect the sixth prince's archery skills to be so refined!"

Contrary to the applause from the crowd, one person at the prince's table tried to maintain a smile, but secretly gave a fierce glance at the person at the prince's stage. What do people do? It is obvious that Gu Jingxing is making a fool of himself, so why is he still in the limelight.

On the archery field, Fang Zimo also just came back to his senses, his eyes fell on the place where Gu Jingxing was pressing with his left thumb, his eyes gradually darkened, and after a long time, when the ceremony officer was about to announce, he said, "It is the minister who lost."

Gu Jingxing was noncommittal when he heard the words, but the official did not understand, "Mr. Fang, this ranking is tied for first place. Why did you lose?"

"You can shoot so accurately with a broken bow, but Zimo boasts that he can't do it. The sixth prince's archery skill is superior to that of the minister, and the minister lost." Fang Zimo said generously, but there was still a trace of sadness in his heart. He was even aroused to be competitive, and when he met Gu Jingxing's indifferent eyes, his fighting spirit was ignited.

"In the future, there will be another battle, and the minister will not lose again."

"Wait and see." Gu Jingxing let go of the bow and arrow in his hand, and the originally delicate and mighty bow and arrow had a gap in the middle, and only a thin section was stuck, as if it had been artificially damaged.

The servants put away their bows and arrows. Those who didn't know the truth in the stands were only caused by excessive force. Only the fourth prince was frightened by Gu Jingxing's gaze.

As the ceremony official announced that Gu Jingxing had won the military chief, the crowd applauded again, and many of them had good intentions to propose civil and military combat, so that the two newly promoted chiefs could compete again.Zhao Wenwan frowned, no matter how the two fought, it was as if the elder brother was at a disadvantage...

Gu Jingxing caught a glimpse of the worry on Zhao Wenwan's face, hooked the corners of his lips, glanced at those who were the most yelling, and said in a deep voice, "Brother Yuan Li is talented, well-educated, and this king... is also defeated, or Do you think it's fun to let brother Yuan Li fight with this king?"

Everyone hurriedly said that was not the meaning, and no one was really brave enough to flirt with the Sixth Prince, so the dust settled in the competition between the sons and daughters, and Zhao Yuanli and Gu Jingxing tied for the top.Zhao Yuanli, who was standing on the stage with Gu Jingxing, was grateful to him for his rescue just now, knowing in his heart that his opponent was defeated on purpose, and said that this person was no worse than himself in terms of calligraphy and painting, but why he did it was worth considering.

"The leader today must be the Sixth Prince." In private, when the two walked together, Zhao Yuanli said respectfully. "It was really thanks to the Sixth Prince, ahem."

After all, probably facing the wind, Zhao Yuanli frowned and covered his lips and coughed. Gu Jingxing watched, no wonder Zhao Wenwan looked at this man as if he was looking at his eyeballs, he was indeed sick.Moving his eyes down, he landed on the purse protruding from Zhao Yuanli's waist.

... so ugly.

Zhao Yuanli noticed Gu Jingxing's gaze, and fell on the handkerchief together, and the corner of his mouth curled up with warmth, "Little sister's clumsy work made the sixth prince laugh."

Gu Jingxing sighed in his heart, as expected, he moved his gaze up and still stared at Zhao Yuanli, making the latter bewildered, "What else does the Sixth Prince have to say?"

I really want...how should I put it?Gu Jingxing's face was tense and his mind was active.

After a long while, Gu Jingxing finally looked away out of concern for face, and brought Zhao Yuanli back to his seat, thinking silently...waiting for the opportunity.

Zhao Yuanli shuddered inexplicably, and subconsciously touched his purse.

Gu Jingxing, who returned to his seat, summoned his servants to come to him, whispered a few words, and waved him away before Feng Yuxiu came over to gossip.Not long after, an attendant on the prince's stage hurried in from the outer hall and whispered into the ear of the fourth prince. The latter's face turned black after hearing this, and he only glanced at Gu Jingxing's direction tremblingly, and left the table in a hurry .

Feng Yuxiu looked at it thoughtfully, frowned and said, "Did he do it?"

"En." Gu Jingxing replied casually, obviously not thinking about it, "It's just a courtesy."

Feng Yuxiu later learned the news that the fourth prince's favorite concubine broke her leg from a tree, so she took a sip of tea, it was really a courtesy, the one who breaks my beloved, breaks the leg of his beloved, it really is Gu Jingxing's behavior style .

On the third day of the Qionghua Banquet, in addition to the banquet in the palace, there is also the activity of putting lanterns.During the day, the female officials of the Shang Palace Bureau and the maids of the palace would teach the ladies of various families to make lanterns by themselves. Zhao Wenwan's hands-on ability has always been very poor. It is exquisite and beautiful, and I can't help but feel that the heroine is the heroine, even turning on a plug-in to make a lantern.

Unknowingly, the night was approaching, and the colorful palace lanterns on the bank of Lanyuexuan Lake were hung all over the treetops, and a thin red rope was pulled between the two trees. The rope was decorated with gold silk embroidered purses, which weighed heavily on the rope, which was very festive.

Empress Dowager Dou and the ladies and gentlemen of several palaces led the ladies and gentlemen to the lakeside of Lanyuexuan. Lishang Palace also talked about today's affairs for the ladies and gentlemen who participated in the Qionghua Banquet for the first time. The purses attached to the red strings were filled with objects that girls loved, such as golden hairpins and silver hairpins, or secret rouge and gouache, or even more expensive gifts from the empresses of various palaces.

Each purse is tied with questions such as riddles, pairs, or poems. The person who answers correctly can choose the purse. name.It was originally a fun game, but every year when the game of Qionghua Banquet is over, you can see which lady is the most popular, and often the leader who is most favored by others may not necessarily be the one that is favored by the nobles of the family, so Beijing Those wives who have children of marriageable age are particularly concerned about such consequences.

Which one is most popular with the son of the family will not be too bad, and being a daughter-in-law is also a standard.

Zhao Wenwan stayed away from this, watching the fun with Empress Dowager Dou, not because she didn't want to have a purse, but because she really didn't have any real talent and learning. She won the top spot before, but she just knew the plot of the script and had a preparation in advance, commonly known as cheating.So I pretended to be cold all the way, and I didn't have any fun in it. The good momentum I finally created cannot be ruined because of this. Whether it is in ancient times without human rights, or in modern times, the laws are general, only I am good. To be eligible to choose a husband and son-in-law, the only difference is that it is more straightforward in modern times, but in ancient times it required a matchmaker to come to propose marriage.

Feng Yuxiu followed Gu Jingxing with his arms crossed, looking at him as if he was watching a monkey. It was rare that the sixth prince was solving problems with great interest, picking out one after another in his purse at an astonishing speed.

"You're all for Miss Zhao?"

Gu Jingxing gave a strange grace, but his tone was still light and unmoving.

Feng Yuxiu kindly reminded, "Don't you know that after every banquet, there will be a wave of matchmakers running around from the family of the lady with the most money. Miss Zhao herself has a reputation as a beauty, and she won the leader the day before yesterday. County Lord, if you win like this today, hehe, I'm afraid the threshold of Zhao Guogong's mansion will be broken."

Gu Jingxing glanced over with his dark eyes, and asked back, "So what?"

One sentence is not domineering, Feng Yuxiu was stunned when he saw Gu Jingxing's serious appearance, and could only feel that Miss Zhao might not be able to escape the wolf's claws.

In the end, as expected, Zhao Wenwan crushed the rest of the noble ladies with an astonishing amount of purses, and the one at the bottom was Wen Wang Xueyuan who was humiliated at the banquet.

Although Zhao Wenxi was jealous, she didn't want to show it. Being the second, she wasn't too bad, but she was still out of mood. Zhao Wenxuan kept muttering while supporting her gleaming waist. Zhao Wenxi didn't want to pay attention to her, so she I went there to please Concubine Yue.

When the sky is really dark, it is time to put the lanterns.

On Lanyue Lake, the lanterns are like flowers, and the stars are dotted. There is a servant holding a fireworks tube in the dark by the lake.

The noble ladies are especially dressed up to attend today, the elegant ones, the beautiful ones, the weak ones, the graceful ones... just like a garden of flowers in March in spring, all kinds of beauties gather in a pavilion, full of fragrance.

The clear water of Lanyueting Lake was slightly rippling, and the girls were full of interest. They held their own lanterns and squatted carefully by the lake. There were lotus-shaped lanterns floating on the river. The flickering and flickering drifted away with the waves.

On the other side of the lake are the young masters of various families, clad in brocade clothes, making a lot of noise. Although there are no lanterns, there are a few servants standing on the shore every now and then, with bamboo poles in their hands. If you hit any lantern in the lake, the waiter will hook it up and read out the secret words in the lantern. There is a lot of noise and laughter on both sides, only the two parties know, blushing, and start to talk across the lakeshore. Secretly looking at each other in twos, just when they met their eyes, they hurriedly avoided them, wanting to speak.

After Zhao Wenwan set off her own lantern, Yongping pulled her sleeve and shouted excitedly, "Brother Yuanli got my lantern!"

The servant originally wanted to sing out the secret words written in it, but the two saw an anxious palace maid walking beside Zhao Yuanli, who said something quietly, Zhao Yuanli's complexion changed drastically, he frowned, and left in a hurry, the servant saw the lantern Her "master" had already left, so she ran aground. Princess Yong'an stomped her feet, pouted her bright red mouth, and her eyes were filled with disappointment. what's going on?

Princess Yongping followed, "Sister Wan, are you going to find Brother Yuanli?"

"I see that the eldest brother looked anxious just now, and was a little worried. I want to see what's going on?"

"I'll go with you."

Zhao Wenwan hesitated for a moment, and responded, "Okay."

The two quickly followed and left, but they still couldn't find Zhao Yuanli.

Zhao Wenwan thought it would not be a problem to look for it like this, so she discussed with the princess to find out the maid just now and ask them to see what it was for, so as to get a clue.

Princess Yongping nodded, and immediately said: "I'll go and tell you, let me see who dares to neglect my orders."

With Princess Yongping's order, Gong'e was found out soon, and the two dragged the palace's maid to a remote place. Yongping was very anxious and impatient. If she hadn't appeared just now, Brother Yuan Li would not have lost himself. The lantern disappeared, and he was still a little angry at the moment, "What did you tell him just now?"

Gong'e prostrated on the ground, stammering, "Miss Wang of the Marquis of Anyuan asked the servants to find Mr. Zhao, saying that there is something urgent..." Then she glanced at Zhao Wenwan, who had a stern complexion, and swallowed the second half of the sentence.

Zhao Wenwan looked at it and guessed one or two. Wang Xueyuan was afraid that she was using herself as an excuse to lure her eldest brother out.

Yongping gritted his teeth and said fiercely: "Come back and wait for the board."

That Gong'e suddenly collapsed on the ground as if she lost her soul.

The two searched in the direction Gong'e said, and after a while they found a dimly lit pavilion, and saw two figures standing far away in the pavilion, Princess Yongping wanted to rush in, but Zhao Wenwan hurriedly stopped her.Wang Xueyuan is such a shameless person like elder brother, she will definitely not reconnect with her, but that knot needs to be brought to an end, and now is a good time, so she persuaded Yong Ping and she approached slowly, hiding and eavesdropping.

First, I heard Wang Xueyuan crying, "Brother Yuanli, I was young and ignorant back then, and I was bewitched by my brother... Treating you like that was not out of sincerity. Even if you were affected by drugs and out of control, it didn't hurt I don't know, that injury was accidentally knocked on myself, but I don't know how it was passed on like that. Every time I hear the news of Brother Yuan Li, I feel very uncomfortable, but I suffer from the lack of a chance to explain. In Xueyuan's heart... I have always been in love with Big Brother Yuan Li, and there is no woman around Big Brother Yuan Li, and the marriage is late, is it because of Xueyuan?"

Wang Xueyuan thought that Zhao Yuanli was still thinking about old love, so she said quietly with a good feeling about herself.She made a fool of herself at the Qionghua Banquet, and today she was the last one, not to mention the sixth prince, even the sons and daughters of officials and eunuchs would not be willing to marry her. For the present plan, she might as well grab the weed of turning back and rely on this person's recovery. With her demeanor and demeanor, maybe it can also increase her worth.

"Brother Yuan Li, if he is willing, Xue Yuan will definitely convince his parents..." As she spoke, she saw that delicate figure about to go upstairs.

Zhao Yuanli turned his body slightly, and interrupted coldly, "Miss Wang, please respect yourself, life is precious, it is ridiculous for you to threaten Yuanli like this."

Gong'e said vaguely, but Wang Xueyuan got involved with Zhao Wenwan, and he lost his shrewdness for a while. After all, he now sees this woman clearly, and such hypocrisy will only make him more disgusted.If it wasn't for his life, he really didn't want to stay and listen to her.

"Brother Yuan Li still cares about my life, so it must be that he has no more affection for me." Wang Xueyuan said with a pair of beautiful eyes, confidently.

"Miss Wang misunderstood, it's rare for my sister to come to the palace to attend a banquet. When I'm so happy, I don't want to hear the news of your death, which will ruin my sister's interest."

Wang Xueyuan seemed to take a step back in disbelief.

Yongping clenched his fists, looking at Wang Xueyuan with flickering eyes, he never thought that people could be so shameless.She has heard about Brother Yuan Li's deeds, but after seeing people, she doesn't believe that he is as unbearable as the people of the world say. Now that she listens to Wang Xueyuan's words, she still doesn't understand. Hurt others wantonly, but when he is down and down, he thinks of Brother Yuan Li's kindness, seduces with words, and is extremely shameless.

Zhao Wenwan listened happily. She knew exactly what Wang Xueyuan was thinking. She lost her market, so she shamelessly wanted to remarry her elder brother. This confidence that broke through the sky also made people laugh, and her elder brother's answer was even more decisive. , looking at Wang Xueyuan's expression, the feeling of being slapped in the face must be sour.

In this room, Wang Xueyuan seemed to be unbearable to be humiliated, and changed her face: "Looking at the capital, there is no other lady who dares to marry you. I am willing this time, shouldn't I be happy?"

Hearing this, Zhao Wenwan was speechless to this woman, and was about to go out, but a figure was faster than her, standing beside Zhao Yuanli, looking up at him.The delicate figure and the tall and tall elder brother are caged together under the silver moonlight, and the lanterns are lit up, setting off extremely beautifully.

"Yongping will be fourteen after the new year, brother Yuanli, will you wait for me?" The girl's bright and beautiful Ruoyang's face showed a hint of shyness, but she was determined, staring straight at the man, with deep affection in her eyes.

Wang Xueyuan was taken aback, "Princess... why are you here..."

Before recovering from the surprise, I heard a chilling voice beside me say, "Miss Wang's shameless nature really opened my eyes."

Wang Xueyuan trembled when she heard the words, and turned her head to look behind her hastily. Seeing that Zhao Wenwan was the only one, she unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. She only made her face burn with contempt, but she refused to admit it, "Miss Zhao, what do you mean?" ?”

"At first I thought that Miss Wang's brain was just bad, but I didn't expect her ears to be bad, and she really had nothing to say to a mentally handicapped person. If I were you, I would have found a hole in the ground to get in. This guy is considered a joke, tsk tsk..." The eldest brother couldn't say anything, Zhao Wenwan held back his energy and went back meanly, watching the face of the woman opposite him turn blue and then white, and finally relieved his anger.

"Brother Yuanli is the best in the world, a woman who loves him and understands him wholeheartedly. As early as when you designed him, you should have thought of this day, and you will get the retribution you deserve." Princess Yongping said in the confrontation with Zhao Yuanli. Defeated in the sight, with red ears, he turned to Wang Xueyuan and said coldly.

"Princess, Xueyuan knows her mistake, please don't tell the story of today!" Wang Xueyuan is not afraid of Zhao Wenwan, but this princess has to be afraid. , that's really the end.

Princess Yongping looked at her wagging her tail and begging for mercy. For some reason, she felt a little bit sorry for the people around her. Seeing that the person she was married to was so unbearable, Brother Yuan Li might feel uncomfortable, so he said coldly, "Get out."

Seeing that the princess didn't pursue the matter, Wang Xueyuan hurriedly scrambled out of the gazebo.Zhao Wenwan watched her go away, his eyes flashed, and then he noticed the strange atmosphere between the eldest brother and the princess, and retreated to the distance wisely, leaving a space for the two to be alone.

In the gazebo, the sudden silence reminded Yongping of what she had done impulsively, but she didn't regret it at all. She liked Zhao Yuanli, and she didn't want a second or third Wang Xueyuan to snatch her away...but when she met Zhao Yuanli, she fell down. Unconsciously clutching the corner of the skirt with his hand, he was also extremely anxious about the answer.

Zhao Wenli looked at Yongping like this, and the corner of his mouth curled up slightly, "I would like to obey the princess' order."

(End of this chapter)