Not long after returning to Beijing, Prince Gong's palace took the initiative to cancel the engagement on the grounds that Zhong Lufu was ill and would not recover for a long time, and was afraid of missing Cheng Jian's wedding. The Cheng family did not pretend to refuse, and both parties returned the tokens and gifts, so the matter was settled smoothly.
However, the Cheng family broke off the engagement, and with Zhong Lufu's status, it was even harder to find a good marriage.
In the Marquis of Rong'an Mansion, Xia Houmei heard that Zhong Lufu had been annulled. He felt happy at first, and then began to worry. It would be better if Zhong Lufu got married. If not, what if she was incompetent?
If your son becomes worried about you again, won't something happen?
Xia Houmei thought about it for a long time, and then summoned all the servants in the house to tell them, telling them to keep the matter of Zhong Lufu's annulment a secret. If anyone dared to reveal even a word of news about Zhong Lufu's divorce in front of Xu Ruoqian, they would be immediately punished.
Sales.
Ever since Xu Ruoqian found out that his right arm was disabled, he felt depressed and even had bad thoughts. If there wasn't someone around him watching him all the time, he might have done something stupid long ago.
However, there is no airtight wall in the world. I don’t know who leaked the news. Words began to spread in the capital that the three girls of the Zhong family were free-spirited and frivolous. Zhong Zan was so angry at home that he even took away his married and unmarried children.
All the daughters were called to him and scolded him. Even so, he could not forgive his hatred and ordered Princess Gong to keep an eye on the inner house. Before the remaining three daughters got married, they were absolutely not allowed to see outsiders alone.
In fact, all rumors are the same. They are like a plague. When they come, they spread overwhelmingly and ravage everything. Once this period has passed, they have no value in spreading. It didn't take long for the rumors to gradually subside. Now the rumor in the capital is that he is the son of the prime minister.
The great joy of Wang Yukun’s marriage to the second girl from uncle Yao Guo’s family.
Xia Houshu smiled indifferently.
Uncle Yao is the younger brother of the current Queen Mother. His eldest daughter entered the palace and became a concubine. In order to consolidate her position, she did whatever it takes and is still lingering under the throne of the queen. Now her younger daughter has been sent into the fire pit of Wang Yukun. She sacrificed the lifelong happiness of her children for the sake of power.
, so sad.
Just when Xia Houshu was bored, someone from the palace suddenly came with an imperial edict, which frightened her into confusion.
The emperor actually announced that she should enter the palace to study with the princess!
The practice of selecting noble women to study with princesses in the palace has existed since ancient times. When there were many unmarried princesses in the palace, almost everyone had a companion. When the princess got married, these companions would become the princess's confidants. But this is not the case.
All gentry women had this honor, and those who were chosen were mostly talented women or daughters of civil servants, rather than unknown generals’ daughters like Xia Houshu.
Xia Houshu wondered whether it was because the rumors about her appearance some time ago spread to the palace during the storm in the city, and even the nobles in the palace became interested in her appearance?
Sure enough, good things don’t go out, but bad things spread thousands of miles.
But this is not right. The harem is now controlled by the Queen Mother Yao and Concubine Yao. With Concubine Yao's attitude towards her, she would not agree to let her enter the palace to study with the princess! Could it be that they have other purposes?
Xia Houshu secretly glanced at the large group of people kneeling in the yard. Most of the servants were beaming with joy. However, Xia Houyuan and his wife's faces were not so good, and Xia Houyi also looked thoughtful. Xia Houyou and Xia Houchun, brothers and sisters, did not dare to express their anger.
, thought they had heard wrongly.
The father-in-law who announced the decree shouted "Xiahou Shu, accept the decree" in a high voice several times before Xiahou Shu came to his senses and quickly accepted the decree to thank him.
Xia Houyuan quickly sent someone to invite Mr. Xuanzhi to have tea, and handed him Feng Hong.
After the father-in-law announced the decree, everyone around him stood up one after another. Xia Houshu felt like she had been hit by a thunderbolt and couldn't stand up. Fortunately, Yunxi helped her and slowly stood up.
Xia Houyi came over and took the imperial edict in her hand, unfolded it and looked at it, his brows getting tighter and tighter.
"Is this really God's will?"
Xia Houshu was confused when he heard Xia Houyuan's meaningless words, and for a while he couldn't figure out the underlying meaning.
"Your Majesty has made an order. If we don't obey it, we are resisting the order and shall be executed according to the law." Zhong Yuqing said and looked at Xia Houyuan anxiously, "My lord, what should we do?"
Xia Houyuan sighed and said: "Now it seems that we can only act in accordance with the order."
"My lord..." Zhong Yuqing was about to say something, but was stopped by Xia Houyuan. Xia Houyuan turned his head and glanced meaningfully at his daughter, saying, "Everything depends on her luck."
Xia Houshu was confused and had no idea what kind of riddle they were playing, so he looked at Xia Houyi for help. Unexpectedly, Xia Houyi didn't even look at her, handed her the imperial edict and walked away.
Xia Houshu turned his head inexplicably, and Xia Houyuan and his wife also shook their heads and went back to the room.
It's really a ghost today. The whole family is following her and ignoring her like a demon. What secrets does she not know?
Xia Houshu returned to his room and thought for a long time without understanding the implications of his parents' words, and finally decided to ask them in person.
When he came to his mother's room, he saw her in charge of packing things, neatly placing them on the table one by one. Xia Houshu asked in confusion: "Mother, what are you doing?"
Zhong Yuqing looked up at her daughter and said gently: "You will enter the palace in three days. Mom must prepare something for you, otherwise it will be difficult for you to be alone in the palace with no acquaintances."
"How can it be alone?" Xia Houshu said with a smile, "I can take Yunxi with me."
"Silly boy, you thought you were just going out to play." Zhong Yuqing sighed, "Although you entered the palace to accompany the princess to study, you actually went to serve the princess. How could the emperor allow you to take Yunxi there?"
"Can't I take Yun Xi there?" Xia Houshu turned to look at the equally astonished Yun Xi standing next to him in shock. Thinking that this was not possible, he quickly begged, "Mother, ask father to talk to His Majesty, just let me
I'll take Yunxi with me, so that Yunxi and I can take care of each other, so you don't have to worry so much."
"Nonsense!" Zhong Yuqing suddenly raised his voice, and then said to Yun Xi, "Yun Xi, you go down first."
"Yes, madam." Yun Xi went out with red eyes.
Xia Houshu felt as if he had done something wrong, so he stood there in a daze, filled with fear.
Zhong Yuqing put down the soft bag in her hand and said, "Shur, when you enter the palace, you must not only learn to protect yourself, but also try to avoid meeting His Majesty."
"Why?" Xia Houshu blurted out, but after thinking about it carefully, he felt something was wrong. Thinking of what happened before, he couldn't help but shudder. Could it be that her mother also knew about her disguise as a man and was afraid that Dugu Che would recognize her?
"There are many disputes in the palace." Zhong Yuqing said sternly, "Although you are the daughter of the Duke of Yue and your majesty appointed you to study in the palace, there are always millions of pairs of eyes staring at you when you do something.
If you go wrong, it will definitely lead to trouble in the future. And you have a temper like a wild horse, which makes me worried."
Xia Houshu's heart finally calmed down, and he thought his mother knew everything. However, the ancient saying that "once you enter a marquis's family is as deep as the sea, the most ruthless emperor's family" is not just a false rumor, it is indeed permeated in the palace.
Even so, there are still countless women who are eager to pounce there. But she is just entering the palace to accompany the princess to study, and she has the title of the daughter of the Duke of Yue, so she will not cause any trouble.
Bar?
Xia Houshu smiled slightly and said, pretending to be relaxed: "Mother, you don't have to worry about me. With my father's reputation and His Majesty's decree, nothing will happen to me."
"I hope so." Zhong Yuqing seemed to be comforting herself, and then told her the purpose of the prepared things one by one, such as which ones were used to take care of the palace people, and which ones were kept for self-defense... All the things were packed into categories.
It must be properly posted.
The mother was worried when her son traveled thousands of miles, and Xia Houshu suddenly burst into tears.
"Why are you crying?" Zhong Yuqing turned around and was stunned when she saw her daughter. Then she hugged Xia Houshu and comforted her, "Since you came back, I have sworn that I will never let you leave me again, but you cannot disobey your orders. Fortunately, I am in the palace.
There are people of our own inside. She will take the initiative to contact you after you enter the palace. If you have any difficulties, just tell her and she will find a way to bring the news out. Remember, no matter what happens, don’t be alone.
Don’t worry, mother doesn’t want you to suffer at all, you know?”
Xia Houshu nodded in agreement.
That night, Xia Houshu waited in Xia Houyi's yard for a long time. Watching the moon move little by little to the sky, she suddenly remembered many past events.
I remember that when she was at Boyun Temple, every day when she opened her eyes, she would go to the big rock on the edge of the cliff and sit and watch the clouds roll in and out, waiting for her family to pick her up. Mrs. Qu Bai often looked at her and sighed,
It is not a good thing to say that her mind is too premature.
Over the years, she has worked hard to make herself happy and accept all the care and gifts from her family with peace of mind. However, there are some things that she cannot let go of no matter how long it takes.
After thinking about it, she lay down on the stone table in the yard and fell asleep.
It was already late at night when Xia Houyi came back. He was very drunk and was supported by Fu Xi.
Xia Houshu was awakened by the noise, and hurriedly rushed to help him sleepily, but he held Xia Houshu's hand and kept saying "I'm sorry". Xia Houshu had to comfort him in a low voice, and finally managed to calm down without disturbing the others.
Then send him back to his room.
Xia Houshu asked Fu Xi to rest first, and then quietly stood beside Xia Houyi, listening to his non-stop babble.
He said: "Shur, it's all my fault. It's because I don't know people well."
"I don't blame you." Xia Houshu said softly, although she knew that he might not be able to hear what she was saying now.
Subconsciously, Xia Houshu felt that this matter had little to do with Yu Wenke, and it was not something Dugu Che did intentionally. Instead, he felt that it was something that had its own destiny.
Xia Houshu gently covered Xia Houyi's eyebrows with his hands, smoothed the sadness between his eyebrows, and said to himself: "Second brother, do you know how grateful I am to you? If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be where I am now.
Xia Houshu. In the past, my father always taught us to be cautious in our words and deeds, but I didn't take it seriously. I always thought that you would be there to clean up the mess for me, so now let's take it as the price for my recklessness."
"Actually, this is not the worst outcome. At least the matter has not been exposed and the whole family has not been harmed. I am already very lucky. Brother, when I am gone, no one will bother you all day long, won't you get used to it?
?No matter what happens when I enter the palace this time, I will take good care of myself, and you should take good care of yourself too. And Xiaomei and Xiaohua, although I always threaten them to stew them in soup, in fact, in my heart
If you like them, you must explain them clearly to me. Second brother, wait for me to come back."
It seemed like a long time passed before Xia Houyi fell asleep peacefully. Xia Houshu covered him with a quilt and pushed the door open. The watchman just happened to ring the third watch.
It was the end of spring and the beginning of summer, and the night dew was heavy, with a few stars hanging in the sky. A gust of wind blew, and Xia Houshu suddenly felt a chill, so he hurriedly walked towards his yard with his arms folded.
The light in the room was like a bean, and Yunxi was taking a nap under the lamp. His round face was soft and warm under the light of the lamp.
Xia Houshu sat down next to her and began to think deeply, looking at her from time to time.
I don't know how long it took before Yun Xi woke up, rubbed his eyes and said, "Girl, when did you come back? Why didn't you wake me up?"
"It's almost dawn, you go back to sleep." Xia Houshu said calmly, really not in the mood to answer her question.
"Yes." Yun Xi nodded obediently, stood up, lit a lantern and walked out. Just as he was about to close the door, he said, "Girl, you should go to bed earlier."
Xia Houshu smiled and nodded, watching her close the door and go out, then turned around, put down her hair, and turned off the light.