Phoenix Hairpin

The Marquis of Guangping also received the imperial decree for marriage, but Guangping fūrén (1)

 was not so happy.

   "Why did Lord Hou agree to this marriage!"

   Guangping fūrén was over forty years old, with a slightly plump body and crow's feet at the corners of her eyes, but she still had a little glamorous charm.

   At this time, Guangping fūrén frowned, and her voice revealed dissatisfaction: "Yunluo is our only daughter, if she can't marry the Second Prince, she can marry the Fourth Prince, why is she betrothed to the Third Prince?"

  The Second Prince was the direct descendant, and the Fourth Prince was most loved by the Dowager Queen Zhao.

  The Third Prince by himself was not bad.

   But Su Zhaorong, the biological mother of the Third Prince, was really not in the limelight.

When Guangping fūrén thought of Su Zhaorong, she felt a sense of shock in her heart: "That Su Zhaorong is just a lowly dancer. She was lucky enough to give birth to a son, was taken to the concubine's room, and later became Zhaorong. What kind of thing is in her bones, who knows! How can our Yunluo serve such a disgusting thing who can't even stand on the stage!"

   After saying that, Guangping fūrén glanced at Marquis Guangping pointedly.

  The Marquis coughed awkwardly: "Speak as you speak, and see what I do."

   Guangping fūrén sneered again: "Just say it! How did that girl Su get to the Emperor's bed back then? Who doesn't know about those stale millet grains and rotten sesame seeds?"(2)

   "Someone bought a beautiful dancer with a lot of money and wanted to give it to your cousin, so he found the Meng family. You saw that Su Shi's beauty was so soft and beautiful, so you slept for a few nights."

   "This is nothing at all. Girls like her, I don't know how many men she has served, and you sleep whenever you want. If you send it to the emperor's bed, it's also a gift for the emperor to entertain."

"But who would have thought that after she served the emperor, she became pregnant. Moreover, she gave birth to a fat and strong son in one fell swoop. Fortunately, she was sent to serve the emperor after she had her period. Otherwise can't tell who was the father of her child!"

   "The emperor made her a concubine for her son's sake. Later, she gave birth to another son. The Li family has five sons, and two of them came from her belly."

   "I didn't expect that a few years later, the emperor raised his army to stand on his own feet and sat on the dragon chair. In the past, the dancer who served men changed her body and became a palace concubine."

"Zhaorong's position is a little lower, and Su's own heart is still feeling wronged, and she will cry and wipe her tears every time. She doesn't even think about how lucky she is today. If she hadn't given birth to Li Hao, god knows how many times she could have been handed over and where she would have ended up."

   Guangping fūrén became angrier as she talked, and slammed the table: "The Emperor must have asked you before the marriage. You have the face to accept this marriage. You really found a good mother-in-law for Yunluo!"

   Marquis Guangping: "..."

  Even Marquis of Guangping, whose face was as thick as a city wall became a little annoyed when exposed like this. He was also a little embarrassed and angry: "You said it lightly! The Emperor asked in person, how can I refuse!"

Needless to say, Su Zhaorong's past is all in the past. The Emperor never mentioned it again. It's good for you. From time to time, you have to take it out and stab me. You have to take care of your mouth, too. This is not a glorious thing. If it is really revealed, the Emperor will not have a good face. How can he not be angry with me.”

"Furthermore, Su Zhaorong is unbearable, but the Third Prince Li Hao is really outstanding. His appearance is outstanding, his reading is better than that of the First Prince and the Fourth Prince, his martial arts is better than that of the Second Prince, and his temperament is tough. You are not satisfied with such a son-in-law, what kind of husband do you want Yunluo to marry?"

   Speaking of Li Hao, the expression of Guangping fūrén, who was still full of anger just now, softened a bit: "Li Hao is really good."

  The Marquis of Guangping regained a city, and said righteously: "It's more than good! If it wasn't for his biological mother, he would be more outstanding and dazzling than he is now. The Emperor doesn't say it, but he actually likes the third prince very much in his heart."

   "Our daughter Yunluo has the best appearance, and she was born to marry into the Royal family to be a prince consort. To be a Wangfei (3) of a vassal state in the future will also be a lifetime of honor and wealth."

   "My sister is a noble concubine in the palace, and the eldest prince is the most favored. Empress Qiao has long regarded my sister and our Meng family as thorns in the eyes. The position of the Second Prince, unless the Empress takes the initiative to open her mouth, don't even think about it."

   "The marriage of the Fourth Prince, the Dowager Empress has long been interested in the daughter of the Zhao family. We can't compete."

   "In the end, there is only the Third Prince."

   Guangping fūrén pursed her lips. After a long while, she sighed: "It's okay! This is the end of the matter, and it's not okay to deny this marriage. The Third Prince is all good, but Su Zhaorong is really unbearable."

   "There is also the Fifth Prince, who is mediocre and stupid and depends on the Third Prince everywhere. After Yunluo marries the third prince, she has to deal with Su Zhaorong and take care of the Fifth Prince."

   After saying that, she sighed again.

  The Marquis of Guangping didn't care: "It's a good thing for two brothers to take care of each other. Other people can't have siblings if they want to, but you are complaining about it."

   So, what a man thinks is always different from what a woman thinks.

   Guangping fūrén was worried about her daughter's future hard work.

  The Marquis of Guangping can't understand it at all. For him, the word brotherly love was everything. For women, xiǎo shū (4), gūzi (4), shǎozi (6), etc. represent endless troubles, the less the better.

   Guangping fūrén was too lazy to talk nonsense with him, she threw the sentence "I'll go see Yunluo", turned around and left.

  Marquis Guangping subconsciously reached out and grabbed Guangping fūrén: "I'm talking, where are you going?"

   "Let go!" The old husband and wife had not been in the same room for a long time, and she is not happy to touch each other on weekdays.

  The Marquis of Guangping was so irritated that he dragged his old wife's hand and refused to let it go: "What? Now I only care about the pretty little maids by my side, and not willing to take another look at your husband?"

   Guangping fūrén sneered in return: "If you think the little servant in the study is not handsome enough, I will send someone to buy ten or eight. There are all kinds of handsome men."

   Guangping Hou: "..."

   Before Guangping Hou could make a sound, Guangping fūrén already withdrew her hand and left gracefully.

  Marquis Guangping stared at his wife's back, staring at her, he also felt bored, and couldn't help sighing.

   They used to be a loving couple when they were young. He doesn't remember when they started to drift apart, and they gradually became estranged and reached the point where they only seem to be in harmony with each other.

  The husband and wife have two sons and one daughter, and the two sons have long been married. Now there are grandchildren. It doesn't matter what the husband and wife are doing in private.

   Guangping fūrén didn't sigh so much.

   After all these years, her tenderness and sweetness have long been worn away, and she has no time to sigh with Marquis Guangping.

   Guangping fūrén went to Meng Yunluo's boudoir.

  Meng Yunluo's expression was a little strange, like joy and anger.

1. Wife of a noble family or a wealthy family. It also means Madam.

2. Sesames and grains of previous years, this phrase figuratively means something trifle or inessential in the past. Sometimes it can also refer to an unpleasant event of the old days.

3. Wife of a king. Generally, after reaching a certain age, or after doing something extraordinary, the Emperor could bestow a state for his sons to rule as vassal kings. 

4. Younger brother of the husband

5. Sister of husband

6. Wife of husband's brothers