This night was destined to be a sleepless night, and few people slept well.
Shen Cangzhu and the others didn't say anything, but the people who served them saw their abnormality and even discussed it in private.
Baopu and Shouzhuo discussed: "Should we persuade Mr. Fang to send a few poems to His Highness?"
In Feiyu Hall, Golden Spear and Sword were wondering whether they should get some pearl powder for their master to whiten their skin. The young general's hands were full of calluses from holding weapons all the time.
"The young general will definitely not be happy. He must have said that what a grown man is doing with that stuff, why not do something more practical and ask the young general to give something to His Highness."
In Jinghong Hall, Jin Yan and Shen Xing were also discussing, "Should we give His Highness some tonic soup?"
Shen Xing objected: "They all give men's tonic soup, you might as well give it to Shaoqing."
Jinyan: "Then we have to express our feelings, right? Or give me a purse?"
Shen Xing: "Who embroidered the purse? Shaoqing doesn't know how to do needlework. I'd like to be honest, you don't want to use the one in the back house."
The competition for favor in the East Palace has officially begun.
The personal attendants were all good at talking. They did not directly say that it was time for the master to compete for favors, but hinted overtly and covertly that they could give him something. They used the same excuse. The princess had given them all gifts before, and it was time for them to return the gift.
With their efforts, the return gifts were delivered to Chu Xingchen the next day.
Naturally, Shen Cangzhu didn't listen to Baopu and the others and gave him a set of writing brushes.
Xiao Wang then gave some paintings as a gift because he remembered what Chu Xingchen said about painting on eggs for Chu Xinghai.
The gifts they gave were very elegant, but when he arrived in Lingzhou, his style changed. When he heard that he wanted to return the gift, he thought of Chu Xingchen's appearance when eating roast chicken, so he gave him a roast chicken. It can be said that he was very down-to-earth.
Chu Xingchen was surprised to receive the gift, and people in each palace also received the news one after another.
Since there was no royal husband, there was no need to go to greet him. Shen Cangzhu and the other three did not meet each other, but they had heard the news, and the people below were starting to have some clues. Everyone wanted their master to be the first to be selected.
Everyone in the East Palace was waiting, as were the people from the previous dynasty. Feng'an City at the emperor's feet was highly politically sensitive and well-informed. There was news within two days.
The common people are always interested in royal affairs, because the people of Dachu are open-minded, and they secretly guess who will be the first man to conceive of the princess, and whose child will be the first to be conceived.
This issue is so important, but it's a pity that there was no result after many discussions. Then the casino saw the business opportunity and secretly opened a gambling game to bet on who would be the final winner.
The scope was very small at the beginning, but soon the bet gradually became larger. Although it was a secret, more and more people were actually involved. When everyone met, they no longer asked if they had eaten, but instead asked, "Who did you win?" "
As the scope grew larger and larger, and more and more people were involved, sides began to appear.
"It's not difficult to guess. There is only one side Lord in the East Palace now, and it is naturally our Shen Side Lord."
The children of the aristocratic family were friendly with Shen Cangzhu, and the person who admired him was Shen Cangzhu.
"Her Royal Highness is chasing after Xie Ziqing...it has been two years since she was elected as an attendant. Now there is still a slight chance of winning." There are actually some people standing by Xie Ziqing, but there are not many people. After all, he does not abide by the husband's ways and has been demoted to be an elected attendant. Those who oppress him are stubborn, or stubbornly believe in the true love of the queen.
Among them, Xiao Wang was the most admired, "Xiao Shaoqing was a well-known handsome man in Feng'an City before he entered the palace. Many people liked him, but he wanted to pursue an official career before, so he will naturally like him now that he enters the palace."
"Yes, he is the one whom the Crown Princess has publicly admitted her love for. It must be him."
Chu Xingchen's words have spread. Like the Xiao family, the new families all support Xiao Wang, and some concubines also support Xiao Wang. They feel that Xiao Wang is fighting for them. Suddenly, the person who suppresses Xiao Wang
There are several times more.
The general received the news a little late. After waiting to see it, he found that their general represented Lingzhou, and there was basically no pressure from anyone. The people of Feng'an City did not hear much news about Lingzhou. They thought that he had grown up in northern Xinjiang and might have been exposed to the sun.
It's too dark and the princess doesn't like it.
The military general was not convinced, "What's wrong with being tanned? This is a real man. Our young general's existence in Northern Xinjiang is what makes Beidi frightened. He is not comparable to the pretty boys like you in Feng'an City. The princess will definitely like him!"
The military generals suppressed Lingzhou, hoping that the next generation of successors would be the descendants of military generals. Others had similar thoughts, feeling that children of certain factions would naturally side with which side.
What was originally a secret bet became everyone's participation in the discussion, but the family behind it kept suppressing it and even started to quarrel.
Because the commotion was too big, the Queen had heard about it. She did not interfere with Chu Xingchen, but she was actually waiting for Chu Xingchen's decision.
She thought she would be able to have grandchildren soon, but Chu Xingchen remained silent. After hearing about the gambling outside, the Queen finally decided to ask her.
"Xingchen, what do you think? I see that you have been getting along well with them these days. Are you still thinking about Xie Ziqing?"
Chu Xingchen didn't expect that the Queen would even ask, "No, I haven't forgotten it."
"Then why don't you hire someone to sleep with you? Before you were sixteen, I was worried about your health so I didn't allow it. Now that you've grown up, it's okay."
"I know." Chu Xingchen was embarrassed, "Mother Queen, I feel that I am not very familiar with them, no matter how familiar I am with them."
The Queen was amused, "How do you want to get to know each other? You'll get to know them gradually after they go to bed." She looked at Chu Xingchen and guessed, "Or do you not like them?"
"No, no, they are all very good." Chu Xingchen immediately denied it. Regardless of their external and internal conditions, they had nothing to say. They had nothing to say as boyfriends, but she was numb to her husband.
"Then what are you doing..." The Queen suddenly frowned, "Xingchen, are you hiding something from me? Maybe it's your health..."
The Queen began to suspect that there was something wrong with her body. Chu Xingchen had no choice but to deny it, but the Queen still asked the imperial doctor to take a look at Chu Xingchen.
Knowing that Chu Xingchen's health was fine, the Queen felt relieved and turned to inquire about Chu Xingchen's psychological aspects.
Chu Xingchen: "..." This is really her weakness.
"Mother Queen, please give me some time. I feel the time is not yet ripe right now."
Chu Xingchen came out from the Queen's house and stood outside quietly looking at the gloomy sky for a while.
Late winter saw at a glance that Chu Xingchen was not in a good mood, "Your Highness, what's wrong with you?"
"It's okay, I just remembered something. Late winter, how are your parents' relationship?"
Late winter: "My servant's father is not very favored."
Chu Xingchen laughed because she asked the wrong person.
Late winter looked at Chu Xingchen's face and said, "Your Highness, has His Majesty also asked you to recruit people as soon as possible?"
"Yes." But she was afraid of marriage and didn't dare to become a real couple with them.
"I don't dare to recruit them. It's not good to recruit anyone." She feels guilty and doesn't dare to recruit anyone.
Late winter couldn't understand, but he still gave his advice dutifully, "Your Highness, if that doesn't work, you can let four of them sleep together, or all five of them."