After the banquet, Emperor Shengce summoned more than ten officials to discuss matters, most of whom were officials from the Ministry of Rites.
After all the arrangements for the flower banquet were completed, the Holy Emperor left several close ministers alone to speak.
Wei Shuyi is one of them.
The Holy Emperor has a list of names in his hand. On it are the candidates for the crown princess who have been secretly weighed and screened over the past few months. There are more than ten people in total.
These so-called candidates for the crown prince are naturally the candidates in the eyes of the Holy Emperor.
It's just that even after repeated screenings, it's not easy to decide who to choose in the end, because in the eyes of the Holy Book Emperor, there is no choice among these candidates that she is absolutely satisfied with——
If there really was such a candidate who met all her conditions, or if there was no need for the suggestions of the noble officials, she would have decided on the prince's marriage long ago.
Regarding the selection of the Crown Princess, she needed to consider far more than those noble officials.
First of all, the family background and appearance must not be bad. When this candidate is promoted, he must first have the ability to convince the public.
Secondly, she needs to be trustworthy or easy to control...
These are the most basic conditions.
After Wei Shuyi and others retired, Emperor Shengshen's eyes fell back on the list again.
She whispered to herself: "It may be necessary to watch the attitudes of all parties at tomorrow's flower banquet before making a decision..."
After Wei Shuyi separated from his colleagues, a trace of worry appeared in his eyes.
Miaoqing is also on that list.
The position of Crown Princess may sound glamorous, but the dangers involved are beyond imagination.
He didn't want his simple-minded sister to get involved in this whirlpool.
During the conversation with the saint, he tried to politely refuse the matter several times. No matter what the reason was, it was fine, as long as the saint knew that the Wei family had no intention of doing this...
But at the same time, he knew very well that the saint needed someone trustworthy to stand with her and fight against the enemy together.
No emperor needs a minister who shrinks from selfishness at the critical moment.
There is no absolute trust between the monarch and his ministers. Isn't the saint's move a test for him and the Wei family?
Wei Shuyi thought about it again and again, and went to see his mother and sister to explain the matter.
Wei Miaoqing was very surprised: "...My name is also on that book of life and death?!"
"What nonsense are you talking about? This is the candidate list for the Crown Princess." Although Duan could still correct her, her eyes were filled with worry: "But Qing'er's temperament is not suitable..."
Wei Shuyi glanced at his sister: "This is the only thing worth celebrating now."
Wei Miaoqing: "?"
"There is no conclusion yet on this matter. The saint is still considering and weighing." Wei Shuyi told his sister: "Tomorrow at the flower banquet, there will be a noble lady performing. Remember not to show off or compare with others, and don't show off your skills in front of others -"
Wei Miaoqing looked troubled: "Of course I don't want to be in the limelight. I'm afraid that if I stand next to those people, I will be too conspicuous. But what should I do?"
The coincidence lies not in whether she shows it or not, but in the fact that she cannot hide it at all.
"It's not difficult." Wei Shuyi smiled and gave a practical solution: "Then tomorrow you stand next to Mrs. Chang, so there is no possibility of being conspicuous."
Wei Miaoqing was so angry that her eyes widened. She wanted to refute but couldn't.
He could only complain to Mr. Duan: "Mother, look at me!"
Duan laughed and said, "I think it's very good."
Isn’t it great that you open your mouth and keep silent, just like Mrs. Chang?
Faced with his mother's teasing and teasing, Wei Shuyi stood up pretending not to notice, reached out and poked his sister on the forehead: "Remember, don't show off your luck. As for the rest... just ask for your own blessings."
Wei Miaoqing rubbed her forehead and looked at him angrily, and retorted: "Brother, if you can't even marry a sister-in-law, you should be asking for more blessings!"
Wei Shuyi was too lazy to pay attention to her and left with his own hands.
…
The next day at the hibiscus flower banquet, all the girls from all the provinces arrived early. These girls, who have been pampered since childhood and could not fault anything in their dress and behavior, gathered together, which was more pleasing to the eye than a garden full of hibiscus.
On such an occasion, even the Holy Emperor, who was sitting at the top, rarely let go of his majesty and had a slight smile on his face.
Soon it was time for performances to add to the fun.
This hibiscus flower banquet was very grand, and many descendants of the clan officials were also present. Under the encouragement of their companions, there were many young men who came forward to perform.
The Holy Emperor named Crown Prince Rong with a smile.
Crown Prince Rong held a flute in his hand and played a song from the south of the Yangtze River. The gurgling sound of the flute made people feel like they were in the beautiful scenery of the south of the Yangtze River with the faint morning mist.
Among the ladies, a girl with a quiet temperament wearing a warbler-colored skirt looked at the slightly frail young man, listening to the sound of the flute in her ears, her expression was a little dazed.
She watched the young man put away his flute, bowed and retreated, and couldn't help but ask the female envoy beside her in a low voice: "Is that...the Crown Prince Rong?"
"Girl, that's right."
The girl whispered to herself: "It turns out it's him..."
It turned out that the flute player she had seen twice in the music hall was Li Lu, the crown prince of Prince Rong... No wonder he was so well-bred and well-bred.
"My nephew is here to help with this flower banquet!" Ming Jin took the initiative to step forward, holding a sword in his hand.
His specialty is sword dancing.
The long sword in his hand shone with cold light. As he jumped up, the tip of the sword was pointed at a group of noble girls not far away. Several timid girls turned pale with fright and took a few steps back.
Ming Jin curled his lips and smiled, his eyes fixed on the face of Chang Suining behind the group of noble ladies for a moment, and there seemed to be a chill in his eyes.
Chang Suining blinked expressionlessly.
So scared.
This must at least be the skill of a two-legged cat.
Could it be that during the days when he was banned, he devoted himself to martial arts and sword practice in order to get revenge on her?
This is somewhat inspiring.
When Ming Jin sheathed his sword, he saluted the emperor with a smile, and did not forget to say some auspicious words such as "... I wish the mountains and rivers to prosper, and my aunt and dragon to be healthy."
He had made mistakes before and was punished, so he inevitably felt a little guilty, and now he wanted to make amends.
The Holy Emperor nodded with a smile: "Not bad, I've made some progress."
Ming Jin was very happy when he heard this and bowed before retreating.
"Lang Jun's sword-wielding performance just now was really majestic..." The boy came up to him and praised him in a low voice.
Ming Jin raised his eyebrows slightly and glanced around with a half-smile.
As soon as the ban is lifted, he will still be the most prestigious prince Ying Guogong in the capital, and his aunt is a saint today - this is not something that little bitch can change by opportunistically trying to gain some limelight!
His eyes were fixed on something, and he clenched his back teeth slightly.
The performances by the sons and daughters were just a foil. Everyone present knew that the people who deserved the most attention today were the noble ladies.
The seventh lady, the eldest grandson, is particularly eye-catching - whether it is the fascinating piano music, her graceful demeanor, her delicate and dignified face, or the majestic eldest grandson standing behind her.
Such a eldest grandson, the Seventh Lady, is extremely eye-catching, and she has deservedly received a lot of praise.
His father, eldest son Sun Yuan, listened to the praise in his ears and sat calmly, his expression unmoved: "...it's just a show of embarrassment."
Yao Xia and others also stepped forward to perform their duties.
"Mrs. Wei, aren't you going?" Chang Suining turned to look at Wei Miaoqing, who had been standing beside her.
Why do you think the young lady of the Wei family is particularly dependent on her today?
Wherever she goes, she follows.
"I won't go, I'm a little nervous..." Wei Miaoqing asked Chang Suining in a low voice: "Isn't Madam Chang going too?"
Madam Chang had better not go, otherwise once Madam Chang leaves, who else will be able to suppress her beauty?
When Qiao Yumian on the side heard this, uncontrollable flashes of Ning Ning's chest with a big stone broken, Ning Ning pulling out a weeping willow... and other scenes that shocked the whole audience flashed through her mind.
Chang Suining: "I'm nervous too."
Qiao Yumian was inexplicably relieved. It was good for Ning Ning to be nervous, so she didn't have to be nervous.
At this time, the beautiful voice of a girl chanting words came to my ears.
"Ning Ning...whose girl is this?" Qiao Yumian asked curiously in a low voice.
Seeing that Chang Suining didn't seem to recognize her, Wei Miaoqing said: "She is the granddaughter of Ma Xiang's family, Ma Wan...she doesn't go out much on weekdays."
Chang Sui Ning is clear.
It turned out to be the granddaughter of Zhongshu Lingma Xingzhou.
Sun Yuan, the head of the Menxia Province, and Ma Xingzhou, the head of the Zhongshu Province, were called the two prime ministers.
Unlike Changsun Yuan, who was born in a noble family, Ma Xingzhou is a prime minister from a humble family who has worked hard all the way. He is talented, but he who came from a humble family to get to where he is today relies not only on his talent, but also on the promotion of the Holy Emperor.
.
In the previous dynasty, Ma Xingzhou and Changsun Yuan were in mutual restraint.
Therefore, in the eyes of many people, Ma Wan, the granddaughter of the Ma family, is also one of the popular candidates for the crown princess.
The Holy Emperor is also thinking about it.
The girl was wearing an oriole-colored ruqi. She was quiet and gentle, but she was not as dignified and generous as the eldest grandson Qiniang. She lacked some of the magnanimity that only a famous family could cultivate.
Of course, these external appearances are not the most important.
When it comes to status, this lady from the Ma family is naturally the one who can best compete with the eldest grandson, the Seventh Lady——
The Emperor's eyes seemed to fall on the gray-haired right minister Ma Xingzhou.
The disputes in the court were complicated and complicated, and it went beyond the distinction between nobles and poor families. Although Ma Xingzhou was born into a poor family, as his position in the court became increasingly stable, the emperor also felt that it was not easy to control.
The Holy Will is difficult to predict, and the intentions of the ministers are not completely hidden, and cannot be seen through at a glance.
Although she was sure that Ma Xingzhou would not associate with the nobles, there were many variables in how she and the prince would choose each other.
The Holy Emperor hesitated and made judgments in his heart, not daring to be careless in the slightest.
In the middle of the flower banquet, the waiter sang loudly in the garden——
"Tianjing Imperial Master has arrived——"
There were sounds of surprise from all around.
"Is Master Tianjing here?"
"The Imperial Master has actually left seclusion?"
Everyone looked towards the visitor.
What came over was a Taoist priest. He had an old look on his face, and his beard and hair were all white. He was about seventy years old, but his steps were as light as the wind, and he didn't look like an old man.
Chang Suining reacted and asked Xi'er in a low voice: "Master Tianjing...is he a fortune teller?"
Xi'er nodded and whispered: "That's right. Master Tianjing is good at physiognomy, and all the predictions made by his hands are very accurate... But for some unknown reason, Master Tianjing suddenly went into seclusion three years ago.
, has never appeared in front of others..."
Chang Sui Ning is clear.
That's it.
She had heard before that there was a strange physiognomist from Langzhong who was a master of the mysticism of Yishu and was very good at meeting people. She also sent people to look for him, but no trace of him could be found.
I was still a little aggrieved. After drinking, I hugged Lao Chang and cried, saying that she was eating from the bowl and looking at the pot.
Unexpectedly, after more than ten years, the other party would become Da Sheng's national advisor.
And there are rumors that he is not only proficient in physiognomy, but also seems to like the art of immortality...
While Chang Suining was thinking, he saw the Tianjing Imperial Master walking over.
She, Wei Miaoqing and others stood in front of a bush of flowers and trees, and the Tianjing Imperial Master who was moving forward suddenly stopped when he passed by them.
The Taoist turned his head, his eyes clear and quiet, as if he could see through all traces of things.
Chang Sui Ning was caught off guard and looked into those eyes.
And the reason why she looked at her was because the other person was also looking at her.
As they looked at each other, there was an autumn wind blowing up fallen leaves. The shawl between the girl's arms was flying in the wind, and the hairpins in her hair made a soft sound.
At this moment, Chang Sui Ning had an inexplicable feeling of having nothing to hide.
It was a kind of feeling and uneasiness originating from the depths of her heart, but what she was best at was concealing her emotions, no matter who she faced or what the situation was—
The wind has stopped, the silk has fallen, and the pearls and hairpins are still.
The girl raised her hand, lowered her eyes and saluted silently.
Master Tianjing nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly, then looked away and continued to walk forward.
This scene was seen by the Holy Book Emperor.
Seeing the Imperial Master Tianjing approaching, the Holy Emperor said with a smile: "The Imperial Master has finally come out of seclusion. I have been waiting for you for a long time."
All of a sudden, congratulations to Imperial Master Tianjing for coming out of seclusion came and went, and the prince even stood up to congratulate him.
Changsun Yuan didn't say anything, he just looked at the Taoist with white hair and childish face silently - was it a coincidence that he came out of seclusion at this time?
…
Returning from the garden to the study room where political affairs were temporarily handled, Emperor Shengce had a long discussion with Imperial Master Tianjing alone.
Finally, Emperor Shengzhi asked: "I saw the Imperial Master today... and it seems that I paid special attention to a girl at the flower party?"
"Yes." Tianjing Imperial Master said, "This woman has a particularly strange face."
The eyes of the Holy Book Emperor moved slightly: "What is the profound meaning of the word "qi"?"
Master Tianjing did not answer for a moment, but said: "I want to use this to see the girl's horoscope, is it possible?"
He knew that this flower banquet was for selecting the crown princess, and that everyone who attended the banquet would have their birth dates recorded in the book.
The Holy Emperor nodded and motioned for Mingluo to get it.
However, when he turned to the page about Chang Sui Ning, Mingluo said: "Reporting to the saint, Madam Chang's birth date written on it is unknown."
The Holy Emperor then looked at the Imperial Master Tianjing: "Yes, the Imperial Master doesn't know something. This girl was originally an orphan. Her family members died early, and she was adopted by General Chang's Mansion by chance... so her birth date is 8 characters.
There is no way to explore it.”
"It's so..." Tianjing Imperial Master's eyes moved slightly, as if he had some understanding, but also seemed to be getting more and more confused: "It's no wonder that when I saw his face, I felt that I couldn't understand it."
Unable to spy?
Emperor Shengce asked: "The Imperial Master just said that his face is particularly strange. Is this what he is referring to?"
Master Tianjing shook his head slightly: "It's more than that..."
After half a stick of incense, Master Tianjing left.
The Holy Book Emperor was thoughtful and his eyes fell on the roster.
It is recorded on the previous page - Chang Sui Ning of the Hussar General's Mansion in Xingningfang, sixteen years old, his birthday is unknown.
Mingluo's eyes slowly fell.
After a moment, she said after careful consideration: "Your Majesty, I have a suggestion, I don't know if it is feasible."
"Let's talk."
Mingluo: "Now it seems that the Chang family's wife may be the best candidate for the crown princess."