Thousands of dragon guards were stationed on the outskirts of the city, adjacent to the Gyeonggi Battalion responsible for guarding the capital.
It can be seen that the emperor attached great importance to it.
As for the newly appointed General Protecting the Dragon, he only entered the palace on the first day to meet the Holy Emperor. After that, he rode out of the city gate and stayed in the Dragon Protecting Army to train troops all day long.
Therefore, more than a month after Qin Hong came to Beijing, few people saw the true face of the dragon-protecting general.
Except for Qin Hong himself, Princess Anshun, who was favored by the emperor, also did not show up all day long, and no one could invite her.
This cast a mysterious veil over the Dragon Guard Mansion in everyone's mind, and the curiosity about the Dragon Protector Mansion reached its peak.
Qin Zhen, who was curious by outsiders, was taking the token and entering the palace to eat and drink.
The emperor smiled and looked at Qin Zhen, who was sitting opposite, and asked curiously: "I heard that people outside have made bets. Whoever can invite Princess Anshun to show up will be given a thousand taels of silver?"
Qin Zhen stuffed a piece of meat into her mouth and said vaguely: "A thousand taels of silver? Then my father, please let the news out, saying that my son is here to eat for dinner today and ask them for the thousand taels of silver."
When Xiao Chengye heard this, he was stunned for a moment, and then suddenly laughed.
Qin Zhen hadn't finished yet. She looked up at Xiao Chengye and said, "If we have this kind of bet again in the future, please don't miss it. We will share the money equally."
"You are good at calculating," Xiao Chengye said with a smile, "I have become a tool for you to make money."
"Why do you say that, father? We have a cooperative relationship!" Qin Zhen said.
The emperor shook his head, with a helpless smile in his eyes.
Smoothly pushing Qin Zhen's favorite dish over, he then said, "You have been in the capital for a while, and it's time to go out and make friends. You are all young people, how can you stay bored in the house all day?"
Qin Zhen curled her lips: "I don't stay bored in the house all day. Don't I often go to the palace to accompany my father?"
Qin Zhen didn't socialize with anyone else when she came to the capital. Instead, she went to the palace every few days to bring some interesting things to the emperor. Sometimes it was a kite with a unique shape, and sometimes it was a grasshopper made of straw.
Sometimes they are sugar figures...not expensive, but interesting and fresh.
By the way, he pestered the emperor to tell him some new things he had heard recently.
The emperor was very pleased with this.
Xiao Chengye glanced at Qin Zhen and expressed disapproval: "I am already an old man, what do you mean by hanging around me all day? You should play more with people of your age."
Qin Zhen pursed her lips and said with some embarrassment: "But I'm not familiar with them, and I can't play together."
Xiao Chengye: "Why can't we play together?"
"I can't understand any of the poems or books they are talking about," Qin Zhen muttered, "There are a lot of rules. I'm afraid of making a joke."
When Xiao Chengye heard this, he pondered for a moment and then said, "I didn't expect this."
He stared at Qin Zhen, who had her head lowered opposite her, and thought to himself, after all, a girl who grew up in a bandit's den and had no mother around to take care of her since she was a child would inevitably have low self-esteem when facing those noble girls.
He suddenly turned his head and asked the people around him: "Are the flowers in Baihua Villa about to bloom?"
Gao Cheng, who was waiting on him, quickly replied: "Spring has arrived, and the flowers are in bud and will bloom soon."
Xiao Chengye frowned: "When can it be opened?"
"Next month!" Gao Cheng said firmly: "The garden will be full of flowers next month."
Xiao Chengye said: "We will hold a flower viewing party on the first day of next month and let all the princes, princesses and ministers' families go."
Xiao Chengye glanced at Qin Zhen and added: "Especially for people the same age as our Anshun, please shout more."
Gao Cheng instantly understood what the emperor meant: "Yes, I will make arrangements right away."
Qin Zhen obviously understood, and looked a little worried: "Father, is this bad? If I lose someone at the flower viewing party, wouldn't it hurt you..."
"What are you afraid of?" Xiao Chengye snorted: "As long as I'm here, I'll see who dares to laugh at you."
Qin Zhen: "...Okay then."
This matter is settled just like that.
When she came out of the palace, Qin Zhen let out a long breath.
Every time you face Xiao Chengye, it is a test.
After getting on the carriage, Yan Yu asked in a low voice: "Princess, are you going back to the mansion?"
Qin Zhen glanced at her: "I changed my tune quickly."
Yan Yu lowered her head and said softly: "I was taught a lesson by the housekeeper a few days ago, saying that now that you are the princess, you should change your name to the princess according to the rules."
Qin Zhen said calmly: "Then just listen to him."
Yan Yu: "..."
Qin Zhen got into the carriage and closed her eyes.
The people in the house are all chosen by His Majesty, and no matter whether they are agreeable or not, she cannot touch any of them.
After resting against the wall of the carriage for a moment, Qin Zhen suddenly said: "Stop the car."
When the carriage stopped, she jumped down from the carriage and said to Yan Yu, "I'm going for a walk. You can go back by yourself."
Yan Yu didn't dare to say anything and agreed in a low voice.
She could feel that since the young lady arrived in the capital, she had changed a lot. Her whole person seemed to be tense, not as relaxed as she was in the mountains.
After Qin Zhen jumped off the carriage, she went to the bungalow where Lou Shulan was kept.
For some unknown reason, Lou Yan has not picked up Lou Shulan for a long time, and only comes to visit her every now and then.
Since Lou Yan didn't pick him up, Qin Zhen pretended that he didn't know, and everything remained the same as before.
Qin Zhen came to the door carrying the pastries she had just bought. As soon as she walked to the door, she bumped into Lou Yan.
Lou Yan's hand also held pastries from the same company.
Lou Shulan loves to eat here.
The two looked at each other and looked away at the same time.
The two stood dryly at the gate for a moment before Qin Zhen opened her mouth and said dryly: "I bought too much."
Lou Yan: "...Hmm."
Qin Zhen coughed slightly, pushed open the door and said, "Come in."
In the yard, Lou Shulan was doing needlework.
As soon as he heard the door ringing, he quickly looked back and saw two people coming in at the same time, looking a little surprised: "Are you here?"
These two people usually come at staggered times and rarely bump into each other.
Lou Yan walked in front, took a look at the needlework, frowned, and said, "Mom, there's no need to do this, don't be tired."
"I'm not tired," Lou Shulan said with a smile, "I don't know anything else. I can still do some needlework and sell it to support my family."
Lou Yan said: "I have money."
"If you have money, you can't spend it randomly. I have to save it for you to marry a wife." Lou Shulan glanced at him and said, "You, you have to plan for the future."
Lou Yan: "..."
He still has not dared to tell Lou Shulan the truth.
Qin Zhen on the side took a few steps forward, pulled Lou Shulan and said, "Auntie, I bought your favorite pastry. Come and try it."
One sentence attracted Zhulou Shulan's attention and solved the problem for him.
Lou Yan breathed a sigh of relief.
He looked at his mother. Lou Shulan looked obviously much better than before. She was full of energy and looked several years younger.
