Cheng Boxian returned home and found his sister sitting in the lobby, her face ashen.
He immediately took a few steps forward, squatted in front of her and said, "Little sister, what's wrong with you? Who made you unhappy?"
Cheng Caiyi said nothing and tilted his head to one side.
Cheng Boxian is a super sister-controller and knows the meaning behind every behavior of his sister.
Seeing her expression at this moment, he immediately understood that the person who made his sister unhappy was none other than himself.
He immediately poured a cup of tea, brought it to Cheng Caiyi, and said with an apologetic smile: "Little sister, my brother has been home late these days, so I can't apologize to you here."
In fact, among the You Qianniu Guards, he was the most punctual general in returning home. After leaving office, he never went out to eat or drink with his colleagues.
In the past few days, I went home every day, only for a cup of tea later than before. That was also because I went to the Ministry of War to inquire about the military situation on the front line.
Cheng Caiyi remained silent.
Cheng Boxian suddenly became anxious. After thinking for a while, he really didn't understand what else could make Cheng Caiyi unhappy.
Suddenly, he walked to the wall, stood on his head, put his hands on the ground, leaned his feet against the wall, and said: "Little sister, no matter what my brother did wrong, I am here to apologize to you, so please forgive me!
"
Cheng Caiyi chuckled, then covered her mouth and said coldly: "Are you very close to King Pei recently?"
"We can't even talk about being close. We even went to Prince Pei's Mansion to attend a few dinner parties. Didn't I ask you for leave beforehand? You also know that Li Jingye and I are good friends. He invited me over, so I couldn't help but go.
Bar."
Cheng Caiyi hummed, "Since you love to go, you can go there every day from now on. I don't care about you."
After saying that, he stood up and walked out the door.
Cheng Boxian hurriedly turned around and shouted: "Little sister, if you are not happy for me to go, I will never go there again!"
Only then did Cheng Caiyi stop.
Cheng Boxian took a few steps forward, pushed her back to the chair and sat down. He smiled apologetically and said, "Little sister, did someone from Prince Pei's Palace offend you?"
Cheng Caiyi shook his head, pulled Cheng Boxian to sit down next to him, and said softly: "Brother, Her Royal Highness the Princess came to me today and said that the Tubo people proposed to me and wanted to marry Your Highness. King Pei agreed to this.
"
Cheng Boxian said angrily: "This King Pei is so outrageous. If you marry Princess Taiping away, who will talk to you in the future? It's really unreasonable!"
Cheng Caiyi said seriously:
"Brother, the imperial court has always selected the daughter of the clan as the princess, and never married a real princess. Moreover, King Pei has always been tougher than the prince in dealing with foreigners. However, this time, before the prince agreed, he agreed first.
What do you think is the reason for this?"
Cheng Boxian looked solemn and said in a deep voice: "I understand, during the royal banquet, Princess Taiping sided with Wu Chengsi, so King Pei planned to kick this sister away."
Cheng Caiyi was secretly happy when she saw her brother reacting so quickly, and said: "King Pei is so cold and cold. He treats his own sister like this, let alone his subordinates."
Cheng Boxian frowned and said, "I have talked with King Pei several times, and I feel that this person is quite a polite and virtuous corporal."
Turning his eyes, he saw Cheng Caiyi frowning and quickly changed the subject: "But having said that, throughout the ages, there are not a few people who appear to be courteous and virtuous, but in reality are mean and unrighteous."
Cheng Caiyi said seriously:
"In short, King Pei is competing with the crown prince for the throne, and many ministers in the court are watching. Don't get caught up in it accidentally."
Cheng Boxian nodded repeatedly and said: "My little sister is right. That guy Li Jingye is too unkind. Brother Yu will be careful in the future."
…
The next day, Cheng Caiyi accompanied Princess Taiping to the Duke of Zhou's Mansion to visit Li Zhiying.
It was not the first time for the two of them to come here, so they entered the house directly without any notification and went straight to the back garden.
The Duke's Mansion has two gardens, one large and one small. The large garden is full of roses, and the small garden is full of medicinal herbs.
Princess Taiping and Cheng Caiyi walked through several corridors, bypassed several courtyards, and arrived at the large garden with familiar paths.
As soon as I entered through the Moon Gate, I felt a strong fragrance.
After the two of them walked along the bluestone path for a while, a figure moved in front of them, but it was Li Zhiying and Xue Yujin who came over to greet them.
Li Zhiying also held a small white dog in her arms.
The four of them greeted each other and came to a stone pavilion in the garden together.
Xue Yujin and Cheng Caiyi both loved martial arts competitions and would compete every time they met. Li Zhiying and Princess Taiping were playing chess in the pavilion.
After a few chess pieces fell, Princess Taiping asked: "Sister, has your second cousin written to you recently?"
"A letter came to me a few days ago." Li Zhiying replied.
"Did the second cousin say anything in the letter? Is the battle going smoothly on the front line?" Princess Taiping asked again and again.
Li Zhiying smiled and said: "The battle ahead is going well, and he also said he will be back soon."
Princess Taiping was overjoyed and said: "Is it true? Great, did the second cousin say when he will arrive in Chang'an?"
Li Zhiying held her chin and said:
"Then I can't say for sure. Judging from the time of the letter, he set off more than ten days ago, but he said he had to make a trip to Mobin on the way, which might delay him for a few days."
Princess Taiping was overjoyed. Although she had received Wu Mei's guarantee, Wu Chengsi could come back at this time, so she would be more secure.
After staying in the palace for another hour, Princess Taiping invited Li Zhiying and Xue Yujin to go to Taiping Academy together. The four of them had a meal at the academy at noon.
In the afternoon, Xue Yujin and Cheng Caiyi made an appointment to go hunting outside the city, while Princess Taiping went to Li Zhiying's small medical clinic.
The two of them sat down in a wing in the backyard of the small medical clinic. Princess Taiping held her chin up and looked at the sky outside the window, lost in thought.
Li Zhiying smiled and said: "Taiping, what's wrong with you?"
Princess Taiping shook her head and said nothing.
When she entered the hospital just now, she noticed that the people treating patients outside looked at Li Zhiying with a special look.
Although she was a princess, at that moment, those people did not see her as a princess, which shocked her.
She felt that her huge academy was not as good as Li Zhiying's small medical clinic.
After sitting in the hospital for more than half an hour, a man bitten by a poisonous snake came to the hospital.
Li Zhiying personally treated the man, and Princess Taiping watched the whole process.
By the time the poison from that person was almost driven away, it was already the middle of Youshi.
At this moment, Zhou Xing entered the small medical clinic with two attendants. When he saw Princess Taiping, he was slightly startled and hurriedly greeted them.
Li Zhiying asked: "Editor Zhou, do you have anything to do with me?"
Zhou Xing glanced at Princess Taiping and said:
"Just now news came from the palace that His Royal Highness King Pei and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince came to His Majesty to persuade His Majesty to marry His Majesty the Princess to the Tibetan Prince Chidu Chizan."
Princess Taiping's face changed drastically and she said angrily: "Even the eldest brother... where is the queen mother? Isn't she there?"
Zhou Xing whispered: "Her Royal Highness the Queen also rushed over after hearing the news."
"What about the result? What did the emperor say?" Princess Taiping asked anxiously.
Zhou Xingdao: "After learning the news, I asked two friends to go find Zong Chuke from the East Palace and Chen Ziang from Prince Pei's Mansion. Although Chen Ziang didn't tell me, Zong Chuke told me the situation at that time."
Li Zhiying saw Princess Taiping staring at Zhou Xing for a moment, her face was pale, she reached out and held her hand, urging: "Zhou Editor, what was the situation at that time?"
Zhou Xing said in a deep voice:
"It is said that when the two royal highnesses went to see His Majesty, King Lu happened to be there. At that time, not only His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness King Pei persuaded Your Majesty to marry the princess to Tibet, but even His Royal Highness King Lu also agreed to the matter."
King Lu was Li Yuan's nineteenth son and Li Shimin's favorite younger brother. He especially favored him to stay in Chang'an City.
After Li Zhi succeeded to the throne, he also respected the young uncle very much.
Hearing this, Princess Taiping became unsteady and almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, Li Zhiying supported her.
Zhou Xing said hurriedly:
"Your Highness, Princess, please rest assured. Your Majesty did not agree to their proposal. He lost his temper, reprimanded both His Highnesses, and also blamed His Highness King Lu.
When Her Royal Highness the Queen arrived, she scolded the two Highnesses again and even spoke against His Highness King Lu. I heard that His Highness King Lu's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot when he left the palace."
Princess Taiping was silent for a while and said coldly: "It must be Li Xian. He instigated the prince and persuaded the emperor's uncle just to marry me off."
Zhou Xing glanced around and advised in a low voice: "Your Highness, please don't get angry with King Pei. According to students, King Pei is quite influential in the clan now, so you'd better be patient for the time being."
Princess Taiping snorted coldly: "Don't worry, I'm not that stupid. Even the emperor's uncle helped him, so I won't fight him hard."
Li Zhiying suddenly said:
"Taiping, you are hiding in your house these days and don't go out. My brother once said that Li Xian is a very sophisticated and decisive person. He has offended you so much now and will never let you go easily."
Princess Taiping nodded and said coldly: "Sister, don't worry, I already know what kind of person Li Xian is and won't give him a chance."