Chapter 163 The Princess of Linzi

On this day, Jiang Xuening sat in the theater until evening, and Xiao Dingfei, who usually played with her lively and playful, dared not provoke her at all. Instead, he quietly peeled the melon seeds and peanuts that were sent to her, completely and neatly, and placed them next to her.

But Jiang Xuening didn't eat half of it.

Until the sun was setting westward outside, she stood up as if she had finally made a decision and wanted to walk outside.

Xiao Dingfei instinctively asked, "Do the scholars outside Weng Ang and the beggars on the street continue to take care of them?"

Jiang Xuening said, "Why not?"

Xiao Dingfei was stunned and said, "But this matter has already..."

Jiang Xuening exclaimed, "She makes me uncomfortable, and I don't want her to feel better either."

Xiao Dingfei finally fell silent, watching her walk out of the theater.

The day before, the court and the public were still discussing the matter of re investigating the Xiao family. Today, everyone was surprised by the news of Xiao Shu's enfeoffment as a concubine: in such a stormy situation, the emperor actually enfeoffed Xiao Shu as a concubine at the center of the vortex. Isn't it clear that he wanted to favor the Xiao family and Xiao Shu?

But new news came in the evening.

Jiang Boyou, the Minister of Revenue, participated in the investigation of Duke Xiao Yuan's proposal and was handed over to the cabinet. After discussion among various auxiliary ministers, the Ganzhou disaster relief silver case of that year will be investigated again.

Now all the civil and military officials were confused: let the emperor handle it impartially, he first enfeoffed Xiao Shu as a concubine;

Even Xiao Yuan himself couldn't figure it out and was uneasy about it.

Only Jiang Xuening could vaguely guess something.

The emperor's bed is the most taboo for others to sleep soundly.

If Xiao Shu is not worthy of trust, she should not be trusted, and Shen Lang cannot crown her as a concubine. How can a noble woman from a noble family and a noble family gain the trust of the emperor by using the technique of the emperor's mind?

There is only one answer: break off your wings and draw clear boundaries.

When Xiao Shu voluntarily gave up her original reliance, it was equivalent to throwing away all her weapons and lifting all threats to the emperor. From then on, her honor and disgrace will be tied to the man beside her pillow, and she can only move forward and backward with him, live or die together!

For Shen Lang, one can serve the bed, and the other can help him defeat the Xiao family.

And what reason does he have to refuse such a beauty?

Jiang Xuening sneered inwardly and upon returning to Jiang's mansion, she heard that Meng was very happy and asked Jiang Xuehui to go to her room and talk for the whole afternoon. I would also like to know that Xiao Shu, who was originally going to run for the Linzi Princess, suddenly entered the palace and was granted the title of Empress. As a result, Jiang Xuehui no longer had her biggest rival, and Shen Jie had an interest in Jiang Xuehui first. It is expected that the selection of Empress will be a matter of high probability.

She is too lazy to join in the fun.

The next day before dawn, the whole family was busy, and the sound of maids painting makeup for Jiang Xuehui and decorating her skirts and hairpins could be heard across the courtyard. Occasionally, people who were slow to do things would be scolded twice by Meng.

Jiang Xuening lay in bed, lazily sleeping in the spring morning, staring at the embroidered white peonies on the top of the tent, but remembering this day in the past life——

The mansion is also so busy.

But at that time, the person who was playing with various hairpins among the crowd was herself. Although Meng had also entered her room, the joy in her expression was somewhat forced, especially when she looked past with a hint of indulgence, Meng's face became even more unattractive. Jiang Xuehui only stood next to Meng and looked deeply at her.

At that time, she was extremely proud because Jiang Xuehui had no idea that she had seen the embroidered handkerchief in the palace and deliberately impersonated her, which gave her the opportunity she has now.

If Jiang Xuehui snatches her family affection, she will snatch Jiang Xuehui's love.

No matter what, she doesn't want them to be better off.

Just torturing others, isn't it torturing oneself?

Shen Jie is certainly a gentle and elegant handsome gentleman with the sentimentality of literati, but like men in the world, she is not a type of infatuation. Or perhaps it's just gradually realizing that she's not the person who made him fall in love with her back then? When he got married two years ago, he was like glue and easily coaxed into not wanting to leave him; After he ascended the throne, the court criticized him, and the Empress Dowager put pressure on her to select a new person. Xiao Shu entered the palace, but after all, she changed her old ways and only maintained some superficial loyalty towards her, the Empress.

What we snatch is ultimately not ours.

What Jiang Xuehui has may not necessarily be what she likes.

After lying down for a long time, Jiang Xuening finally got up.

It's not about going to see how Jiang Xuehui is doing, but today happens to be the day when the eunuchs in the palace take turns resting, and she wants to find someone.

Xiao Shu became the imperial consort, and the original plan was no longer feasible.

There is not much time left for her.

When Jiang Xuening walked out of her courtyard after washing up, she happened to bump into Jiang Xuehui, who was rarely dressed up in a bright and beautiful way, surrounded by many maids on the other side. Her delicate face, paired with exquisite makeup, was dignified and calm.

She held a silk handkerchief embroidered with red ginger flowers at the corner in her hand.

Jiang Xuening glanced at her and saw Meng Shi also beside her. She didn't even bother to shout and walked straight over.

In this lifetime, she has changed many things: her relationship with Xie Wei, the pregnancy of Wen Zhaoyi, the rise and fall of the Yan family, the selection of the Linzi princess, the time when Xiao Dingfei entered the capital

So, why can't Shen Zhiyi be saved?

Whether people are like Meng Shi or Jiang Xuehui or Shen Jie, even if they are choosing a concubine today, they do not realize that it is too different from yesterday and tomorrow. For Jiang Xuening, every day is a desperate struggle against her predetermined fate, unwilling to bow down and give up!

===Kunning Section 208===

*

Zheng Bao is resting today.

Since his master Wang Xinyi took a fancy to him and transferred him to serve the emperor, his position in the palace can no longer be compared with the past. It's not that he is greedy for gold and silver, but rather that it's inherent in the palace. If others show filial piety and you don't want to accept it, it will become a target of public criticism, and others will inevitably be wary of you. So although my time as a servant in the Qianqing Palace was not long, I also saved a considerable amount of silver.

Seventy percent of it was given to the family, and the mother arranged for the dowry to be added to the brothers for marriage;

Thirty percent of it was left for myself, and finally I moved out and set up a small courtyard in Sanli Hutong.

Since seeing Xiao Shu enter the Qianqing Palace on that day, Zheng Bao had a faint premonition in his heart, so today Xiumu did not go out and walk as usual, but sat under the eaves waiting.

Sure enough, as soon as the morning mist dissipated, there was a knock on the door outside.

He got up and walked over to open the door.

The stunning Jiang Er girl stood in front of his shabby courtyard, draped in a deep purple cloak. Her eyes were as bright as the quiet snow at night, with a hint of coolness. When she looked over, her heart felt a sense of relief, as if all distractions had been cleared.

Zheng Bao, move aside.

Jiang Xuening held her cloak in one hand, but didn't take a step inside. She just looked at him and said, "I'm here to ask you to repay me."

Zheng Bao was only wearing a simple light blue round necked robe at home, with red lips and white teeth. He was dazed by the words.

His delicate face reminds people of the misty rain in Jiangnan, which exudes a hint of spiritual energy.

Jiang Xuening suddenly felt afraid to look directly at these too clear eyes, so he slowly lowered his eyes, pressed down the trace of guilt, and said almost cruelly, "I'm sorry. In front of the Kunning Palace that day, it was His Royal Highness Princess Royal Highness Princess who really saved you. Can you repay me?"

*

As the Prince of Linzi, whom the emperor usually trusts and almost wants to establish as his younger brother, Shen Jie's selection of a concubine is definitely the most important event this spring after the founding of the Chinese New Year, except for the eldest princess and her relatives.

The palace has been busy for a long time.

Although this matter was personally handled by Empress Zheng, it was supposed to be reported to Empress Dowager Xiao in every detail. Today, it should also be the Empress Dowager's responsibility to oversee the overall situation. However, yesterday Xiao Shu was granted the title of Empress Dowager, and after the news came out, Empress Dowager Xiao inexplicably became furious and became very angry. She also fell ill with anger. Xiao Shu went to serve her illness, but was also kicked out by someone. Everyone in the palace who is well informed feels that this matter is unusual, and there is a secret rumor of ups and downs.

Empress Zheng also murmured in her heart.

However, this is an excellent opportunity for her, as it is rare for her to preside over the overall situation. If done well and regained the emperor's attention, it would be natural for her to regain control of the Six Palaces from Empress Dowager Xiao.

Therefore, Empress Zheng put in more effort than ever before.

The location for the selection of concubines was set at the Chu Xiu Palace, and the palace staff led people into the palace early in the morning. After all, it was the imperial selection, and there should be many places to check. The final stage was to release these candidates to everyone and determine the result.

Shen Jie entered the palace and first went to pay respects to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.

So Empress Zheng sat at the main seat of the Chu Xiu Palace, drank tea first, and talked to Wen Zhaoyi, who was pregnant, promoted to a higher position, and had fair and tender skin, next to her.

Unexpectedly, before I could say a few words, I heard the eunuch outside sing in a sharp voice, "Empress Dowager Xian is here."

Empress Zheng and Wen Zhaoyi's eyelids twitched at the same time.

Looking up again, Xiao Shu, who had been accompanying her in Zhizhai for a while and was Miss Xiao, now has a high bun made of black hair, two golden steps inserted, and a plum petal like flower petal attached to her eyebrows. She walked in from the outside wearing a blue sky water and a golden dragging palace attire. Although she didn't have a domineering demeanor, she really gave people a feeling of domineering.

In the palace, new people often exchange old ones, let alone the fact that the Holy One is most fond of the new and dislikes the old nowadays?

Although Empress Zheng also felt uncomfortable, she had seen so many of these things that she could still hold her face to some extent. She only felt disdainful that Miss Xiao Shutang and the noble family could do such shameless things.

Wen Zhaoyi felt much more uncomfortable.

Before she became pregnant, she was completely unaware of it and had not been informed by the imperial physician, indicating that the harem was under the control of others. As for who this "bystander" is, who doesn't have a point in mind? Now that Empress Dowager Xiao is sick, her niece and daughter have entered the palace again, and she has been granted the title of Empress Dowager! She carries a dragon seed in her belly, but she has only just been promoted to Zhaoyi. Thinking about it, it's hard to calm her down.

So when I saw Xiao Shu, her face didn't look good.

There are rumors both inside and outside the palace, how could Xiao Shu not know?

No matter how much she hates it in her heart, it's all her own who makes decisions.

She knew her own choices, so she forced herself to turn a deaf ear: no matter what, she had already achieved her goal, and even became the emperor's favored concubine overnight. What could others say about her?

"I have seen the Empress."

Xiao Shu used to have an extraordinary status, and it was never easy to bow to the empress. Now, she also didn't pay much attention to the empress and gave up with a slight bow.

The Empress smiled reluctantly and didn't say much, "Now it's time to call her Sister Xian."

Wen Zhaoyi pursed her lips coldly and caressed her already pregnant belly with her hand. She deliberately didn't get up and lazily said, "Normally, I should give a gift to Empress Dowager Xian, but I am pregnant. I am very weak in this pregnancy and dare not make any fuss. So I ask Empress Dowager Xian to forgive me."

Xiao Shu smiled and said, "It's okay, please come back later."

Wen Zhaoyi is only one step away from the position of imperial consort, and as long as she successfully gives birth to a prince, the position of a noble consort is not a problem; Even after giving birth to a princess, it is only natural for her to assume the position of concubine. Why bother bowing to Xiao Shu again?

Xiao Shu's words may seem ordinary, but their meaning is extremely malicious!

Wen Zhaoyi's face changed instantly, and her five fingers, resting on the armrest, clenched tightly, almost causing an attack on the spot.

Empress Zheng quickly tried to smooth things out and asked with a smile, "Suddenly, when Empress Dowager Xian was granted the title of Empress Dowager, everyone in the palace was preparing. We haven't had a chance to meet yet. However, today, General Chu Xiu of the Palace selected a queen for His Royal Highness Linzi. I wonder if Empress Dowager Xian has come, has she?"

A palace maid had already brought chairs nearby.

Xiao Shushi sat down and calmly replied, "The Holy Emperor is entangled in government affairs and cannot rest assured about the selection of concubines by His Royal Highness Linzi. I will invite myself to watch over the Holy Emperor. Does the Empress mind?"

Self requested.

Empress Zheng blocked it in one breath and didn't know what to say. After a moment of relief, she forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty's care is naturally the best."

Xiao Shu chuckled lightly and stopped speaking.

In no time, Prince Shen Jie of Linzi went to the Emperor and Empress Dowager's side to pay respects and entered the Chu Xiu Palace. She was dressed in a crescent white python robe, with a jade pendant hanging from her waist, and her face was as elegant and gentle as jade, but her complexion did not seem particularly good.

When he came in and saw Xiao Shu, he was also stunned for a moment.

But my mind was filled with the scolding from my elder brother, especially the Empress Dowager, and I didn't even bother to pay attention. After bowing to my sister-in-law, I sat down.

At this time, the palace talent introduced the candidate noble women from various prefectures, and after screening, the number was not large. Six people stood in a row, and many of the accompanying readers from the original Yangzhi Zhai were among them.

Jiang Xuehui, Chen Shuyi, Yao Rongrong, and

Fang Miao with a tangled expression on her face.

Her father is the Imperial Censorate, and she once served as an accompanying reader at Yangzhi Zhai, which naturally allowed her to enter the list of candidate princesses.

Fang Miao felt that this matter had little to do with herself, so she just went through the motions.

It's not right or wrong, and I don't know what's wrong with the palace. I want them to come to the palace early in the morning. So when the maids tidied up and urged her to go out, she pinched her fingers and calculated that it was a good time to go out. The light was unclear, the darkness was not dark, and the alternation of yin and yang had not yet ended. It was precisely because evil spirits were rampant and had no fixed number.

In front of the palace gate, I saw a blue light hanging southeast.

Fang Miao couldn't help but take out the copper coins hidden in her sleeve to calculate, and instead gave herself an ominous omen. She was so frightened that she couldn't wait to turn her head and head back home, fearing that there might be a bloody disaster.

She stood between Jiang Xuehui and Chen Shuyi. Compared to these two young ladies who came from a scholarly family and dress a bit brightly today, although she also wore a very beautiful goose yellow ink skirt, with a pink blush on her cheeks and vermilion on her lips, she was not at all eye-catching.

Entering and seeing Xiao Shu sitting above, Fang Miao muttered to herself.

Originally, everyone was still a classmate of Fengchen Hall. In the blink of an eye, a few beautiful hairs had already been inserted into their buttocks to make a golden rooster and peacock, but they didn't know what they were doing today.

Jiang Xuehui stood quietly on the edge, with a corner of an embroidered handkerchief leaking out between her fingers.

As soon as she entered, Shen Jie's gaze fell on her.

There was a snow-white jade ring in the lacquer tray held by the eunuch next to him. He picked it up and stood up, ready to walk towards Jiang Xuehui.

Wen Zhaoyi suddenly smiled.

However, when Xiao Shu saw it, she sneered and lightly reminded, "As the emperor said, Your Highness will choose a concubine, which will extend the royal family's bloodline. A legitimate concubine should be on a jade plate, with a dignified character and a pure background."

Shen Jie's footsteps were stagnant.

He saw Jiang Xuehui standing there with lowered eyebrows and drooping eyes, and then remembered that day when it rained, he had scheduled a meeting with Yan Lin. He galloped forward but almost startled the carriages and horses of others. He finally managed to hold on, but accidentally splashed mud all over his body.

The girl sitting inside was startled.

He thought they were going to investigate.

I never thought for a moment, but inside, I reached out a delicate hand that was both flesh and bone, handed him a handkerchief, and with a low voice, I chuckled softly, "Thank you for saving me, young master. Let's wipe our faces first."

That day, seeing Yan Lin, he was lost in thought for a moment.

Yan Lin asked him what was going on.

As soon as he spoke about the matter, Yan Lin asked for the embroidered handkerchief to take a look. His eyes flickered as he pondered for a moment and said to him, "Look at this red ginger flower. The girl sitting in the carriage on that road must be the Jiang family girl.".

Shen Jie asked, is the eldest girl or the second girl?

Yan Lin rolled his eyes and said, Ning Ning belongs to the Crown Prince, and His Highness is naturally the eldest daughter of the Jiang family.

In fact, after a while, he had forgotten about the lowered laughter in his voice. He only left the handkerchief embroidered with red ginger flowers as a touch of silk beside him.

Shen Jie thought that if she were to choose a queen, she would choose something that had once captivated her.

But why can't we achieve our wish?

The incident involving the second daughter of the Jiang family in Tongzhou recently became a sensation, and the reputation of other girls in the Jiang family's family was also not good. Otherwise, he would not have paid much attention to the rebukes from his mother and imperial brother today and directly chose Jiang Xuehui

Jiang Xuehui once saved Wen Zhaoyi, and Wen Zhaoyi naturally leaned towards her, hoping that Jiang Xuehui would be chosen as her future support. The word "Holy Emperor" mentioned by Xiao Shu in a sentence beside her made her grit her teeth and feel a bit wary.

Since the emperor speaks, he dares not force himself.

Wen Zhaoyi saw Shen Jie standing still, her eyes twitched, but her words changed. She took the initiative to advise, "Empress Dowager Xian is right. Isn't choosing a legitimate consort innocent? After all, the ancestral etiquette and laws are in vain. If you have chosen a legitimate consort, if there is anything you cannot give up, you can accept it as a side consort. You must not go against the will of the Holy Emperor."

The jade ring, representing the position of the legitimate consort, was held tightly in Shen Jie's hand for a long time.

Even though it is a royal bloodline, it is precious to be the King of Linzi

But his marriage is not up to him to decide.

Shen Jie naturally caught a glimpse of the red ginger flower embroidered handkerchief in Jiang Xuehui's hand, but Wen Zhaoyi's words brushed her ear. She raised her gaze to look at Jiang Xuehui, feeling her heart blocked again. She was afraid that the more she looked, the more she turned her gaze to the side.

I don't know which young lady is beside me, her head buried in her lips, moving silently as if reciting scriptures.

Although he looked at it with a kind face, he vaguely remembered it was one of the several accompanying readings in Yangzhi Zhai, but he didn't find it very attractive. He turned his eyes and went to look at the next one. So I saw Chen Shuyi.

At this moment, Xiao Shu said later, "After all, the Holy Emperor still values His Highness. Those with high family background, knowledge, and good knowledge are the most capable of assisting His Highness in managing the affairs of the royal family..."

Shen Jie felt an indescribable disgust in her heart.

Even though he originally thought Chen Shuyi looked dignified and pretty, he now felt nauseous. The clay figurine still had a third of his anger, and he was unhappy in his heart. He turned his head and handed the jade ring directly to the girl standing between Chen Shuyi and Jiang Xuehui. He impatiently said, "Since she was chosen to enter the palace, naturally everyone is good, just her."

In this moment, the entire Chu Xiu Palace became quiet.

Fang Miao listened to the hidden wit and the words that came and went above her head, and felt that each of these people had good Taoist practices. She was afraid that if they didn't agree with one word, they would cause something wrong and bring her a bloody disaster. She practiced devoutly reciting the Diamond Sutra to ward off evil and avoid disaster.

The jade ring was handed to her, but she didn't even see it.

Until the eunuch beside raised his voice in a cold sweat and shouted a third time, "Miss Fang!"

Fang Miaocai suddenly regained consciousness.

===Kunning Section 209===

Looking up, she saw Shen Jie holding a jade ring and handing it to her, as if she had never expected to be ignored. However, her handsome face was faintly ironclad, and it was rare for her to have a slightly unkind expression when staring at her.

At this moment, Fang Miao realized what had happened.

She was instantly aroused.

Shen Jie didn't expect anyone else to be distracted when it came to choosing a concubine. It seemed like she wasn't quite petitioning yet, so she coldly smiled and asked, "Don't you want to?"

Fang Miao wants to say that this is not a place where this prodigy can get involved!

She opened her mouth and said "unwilling" right beside her, but suddenly remembered the ominous omen she had calculated when she went out. Looking around, everyone's gaze fell on her, and a chill began to rise from her spine.

This is the emperor's brother

If rejected in public, I'm afraid a bloody disaster will really come in the blink of an eye.

Her previously dull movements immediately changed, and she quickly took the jade ring over. She bowed and said, "I am willing, I am willing!"

Shen Jie: "..."

For some reason, the anger not only didn't dissipate, but also grew even bigger!

Empress Zheng and Wen Zhaoyi looked at each other, and Xiao Shu didn't expect Shen Jie to choose Fang Miao. She suddenly stood up.

Chen Shuyi's face beside her was ugly.

Jiang Xuehui quietly tightened her fingers and slowly closed her eyes.

Fang Miao smiled at Shen Jie and said, it was even more ridiculous than crying: Your grandfather's sky struck with lightning! If I had known earlier that I had gone out at the wrong time today, I had indeed fallen into blood mold!