The chef of the Princess's Mansion had prepared New Year's dishes early. This was the first time that a New Year's banquet was arranged for a serious master of the Princess's Mansion. Although Luo Qingzhi had never seen anyone blaming any of the servants, the New Year's Eve banquet was different after all. Everyone was very happy.
Attentive.
With the help of Cai Huan, Luo Qingrou used makeup to cover up her illness. Her apricot-colored dress made her gentle and generous.
The food and wine had been served. Luo Qingzhi sat at the main table, raised her wine glass and said, "Tonight is New Year's Eve. I would like to offer you a glass of wine and wish you all peace and happiness in the new year."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Luo Qingzhi then turned to the left and toasted Fan Li, "Sir, I toast you."
Fan Li raised his glass and said, "Aluo, in the new year, sir, I hope you will get everything you want."
Luo Qingzhi smiled and said, "Okay, thank you, sir."
Luo Qingzhi paid tribute to Luo Qingrou, Luo Chen, Qin Shu, and tonight's chef... Finally it was Gao Zhen's turn, but he was interrupted by the announcement.
"Your Highness, the eldest son of the Jin family has personally delivered the New Year's gift and is now unloading the goods at the gate."
Luo Qingzhi smiled and said, "Really? Ziji actually delivered it himself. Then I'll go and have a look."
Gao Zhen saw Luo Qingzhi walking away step by step, and stretched out his hand to grab her, but he only reached her sleeve.
Her steps were blocked, Luo Qingzhi turned her head slightly and asked: "What's wrong?"
Gao Zhen said: "Don't go, Aluo."
Luo Qingzhi said: "Don't make trouble."
Gao Zhen applied more force, and Luo Qingzhi suddenly said sharply, "Let go."
"..."
Gao Zhen let go, and Luo Qingzhi left immediately, leaving only the creases on her skirt.
Luo Qingrou comforted her, "Brother Zhen, sister... there must be other considerations."
Luo Chen and Qin Shu also echoed a few words, but Gao Zhen didn't listen at all.
He began to think back on what happened during this period, thinking, "Did it cause trouble to A Luo? Did he shouldn't have given the hairpin? Did he not work hard enough? Did he..."
Luo Qingzhi went to the mansion, and as expected, Jin Ziji personally delivered the New Year's gift.
"Ziji, the eldest princess will actually let you out on this New Year's Eve." Luo Qingzhi said.
Jin Ziji smiled, "Sending a New Year's gift to the princess is a top priority."
Luo Qingzhi smiled, "Then, please come quickly."
Jin Ziji said "Hey", "The princess invited me. Ziji shouldn't have refused, but tonight is New Year's Eve and I have to go back."
Luo Qingzhi didn't force it and said, "Well, be careful on the road. I'll come to visit you another day to pay New Year's greetings."
"Okay, Ziji welcomes you."
After sending Jin Ziji away, Luo Qingzhi breathed out quietly.
Luo Qingzhi did not choose to return to the banquet, but climbed over the wall from the back door, put on a veil, and rode to Baili Mansion.
Baili Xi and Baili Han were waiting for her in the study.
Luo Qingzhi knelt down on her knees and said, "Please give my grandma and uncle a happy New Year."
Bailihan helped her up and said, "Actually, you don't need to come over to pay New Year's greetings. We know what you mean."
Luo Qingzhi said: "In previous years, I was not in Jinling, so I couldn't help it, but now I am clearly in the capital and I haven't come to pay my uncle a New Year's greeting. If my father and mother find out, they will blame me."
Baili said with a smile: "Okay, okay." Then he took out a red sachet from behind and handed it to her, "Here, the lucky money."
Luo Qingzhi took it, looked at the red gift bag, and her eyes turned red instantly, "...I haven't received lucky money for ten years."
Baili Xi felt heartbroken for a moment and stroked her shoulder, "Qingqing, you have to remember that your grandma is here and your uncle is here too. You are never alone."
Luo Qingzhi nodded. At Baili's house, she could always show off her girlish attitude easily. Here, she would always be Luo Qingzhi, just Luo Qingzhi.
"Uncle, don't make any excuses about the former prince. He, he is in my house now." Luo Qingzhi said.
Bailihan was a little surprised, "No wonder His Majesty sent so many people to look for it but there was no trace. It turned out to be hidden by you."
On the other hand, Baili Xi was not too surprised. He was a little helpless when he spoke, "Aluo keeps the former prince, what do you want to do?"
"..."
Luo Qingzhi was silent. Before discovering that the cause of Luo Huaiyi's death was different, she just wanted to fulfill her instructions, but now, she began to hesitate.
"A Luo," Baili Xi called her name gently, with a worried look on his face, and said, "Qing Qing, I don't want you to get involved in the court situation."
After hesitating for a while, Luo Qingzhi informed General Li Chu about the situation.
Bailihan sighed and said, "Now that I have no evidence, it is impossible to confront His Majesty."
Baili Xi said: "Qingqing, although there are many doubts about what happened back then, don't be impulsive or be taken advantage of. Investigate carefully first."
Luo Qingzhi nodded, "I know, but it seems that His Majesty doesn't want to give me this time anymore..."
Estimating the time, Luo Qingzhi had disappeared for an hour. Thinking that there were spies everywhere now, she said, "My uncle, there are too many people staring at me now. I have to go back."
Baili Xi nodded and told, "You don't have to take risks to come back in the future. If anything happens, just ask someone to report it. Remember, you are my Baili Xi's only granddaughter. No one can bully you, even those in high positions."
Neither can that person, I will investigate General Li Chu’s matter."
Luo Qingzhi said "Hmm", avoided the guards, and quickly returned to the Princess's Mansion, as if she had never left.
As soon as she walked into the yard, she saw Gao Zhen's lonely figure, looking so lonely under the moonlight. Luo Qingzhi hesitated for a moment, but walked in anyway.
"Master Jin is gone?"
Luo Qingzhi didn't expect that Gao Zhen's first sentence would be this. She was stunned for a moment before saying "Yeah".
Gao Zhen took a deep breath and asked sincerely: "Aluo, did I do something to make you angry?"
"No." Luo Qingzhi said immediately.
"Then, do you have no confidence in me because I didn't let you check my training results a few days ago?"
Luo Qingzhi continued: "No."
"Then, Arlo, why are you avoiding me?"
"...I'm not avoiding you, it's just that there are too many things going on." Luo Qingzhi explained in words, but she didn't look at him at all.
For a while, no one spoke, it was extremely quiet.
Luo Qingzhi was ready to take the initiative to break the atmosphere and took out the New Year's money that she had prepared long ago.
"Peace and joy in the new year, Erlang."
Gao Zhen's eyes froze, then he followed his instinct, reached out and took the red envelope, and said calmly: "I haven't received lucky money in ten years."
Gao Zhen's voice was very low, but Luo Qingzhi heard every word clearly. It was exactly the same as her answer. She looked at it for the first time and understood that Gao Zhen, like her, had lost both parents...
.
Luo Qingzhi said softly: "Go back."
Not expecting Gao Zhen's answer, Luo Qingzhi walked to the door of the room, opened it, and closed it. She still didn't see Gao Zhen leave at the last moment.
The eleventh year of Sui Ning, the seventh day of the lunar month
The literary examination for Princess Anning's son-in-law recruitment has officially begun. Zongzheng Temple and the Ministry of Rites co-organize the examination, and the invigilation of the examination is no less stringent than the scientific examination.
Early in the morning, Luo Qingzhi was announced to the palace and stayed with Gao Yan.
Gao Yan looked at the unusually calm Luo Qingzhi and asked tentatively: "Aluo, who do you think will be the leader?"
Luo Qingzhi replied calmly, "I don't know."
Gao Yan played with the ring on his thumb and said, "I heard that A Luo is very close to Jin Ziji now."
Luo Qingzhi responded calmly, "I've only met a few times, not close."
"I heard that now everyone thinks he must be a horse from Anning County?" After Gao Yan finished speaking, he looked at Luo Qingzhi.
She still didn't have any emotional ups and downs, "Really? I have never heard such words. I don't know where your Majesty heard it."
Gao Yan changed the subject, "I've read Feng Zinan's military report. Yuzhou is already stable. Why, you haven't recruited him back yet?"
Luo Qingzhi said: "I have other things to entrust to him. Once he finishes it, the results of the son-in-law recruitment will probably come out, and I and the commander will return to Yuzhou. I think he won't have to come to Jinling."
"Go back to Yuzhou?" Gao Yan repeated these words and twitched the corner of his mouth, "Does A Luo want to take Jun Ma back to Yuzhou?"
Luo Qingzhi turned to meet Gao Yan's gaze, "Your Majesty, do you have any other arrangements?" She smiled, "No matter what arrangements your Majesty has, I and the commander will abide by them."
Listening to Luo Qingzhi's submissive and sarcastic words, Gao Yan was instantly dissatisfied, then he smiled knowingly and said, "We'll talk about it then."
For the next hour, no one spoke again. One was sitting at the desk reviewing the memorial, and the other was drinking tea and eating cakes carelessly.
After the last tea cake was eaten, Huang Si finally came to report.
"Your Majesty, the written examination has ended and arrangements have been made for Lord Baili Xi and the adults from the Ministry of Rites to review the papers."
Gao Yan didn't even raise his head, "Yes, I understand. The top ten documents need to be shown to me."
"yes."
Luo Qingzhi stood up and saluted respectfully, "Your Majesty, the written examination has ended, and I have to retire."
Gao Yan raised his head, took a look, and nodded, "Well, let's go."
Huang Si sent Luo Qingzhi out of the palace and whispered, "Your Majesty is in a bad mood today, so you have to be careful."
Luo Qingzhi didn't say anything, nodded slightly, turned and left.
Huang Si sighed secretly. As soon as he returned to the palace, he saw Gao Yan throwing the cup from which Luo Qingzhi was drinking tea to the ground.
"Call Jin Ziji over."
"......yes."
When Jin Ziji was announced to the palace, he felt a little uneasy and quietly asked Huang Si.
"Father, who was accompanying your Majesty just now?"
Huang Si smiled and said, "We don't want to talk too much about the masters' matters."
Xuanyang Palace has arrived. Huang Si opened the door and said, "Master Jin, please."
Jin Ziji stepped over the threshold and walked into the hall. He was shocked when he saw broken porcelain pieces all over the floor. He remained calm on his face and saluted respectfully.
Not hearing Gao Yan's voice for a long time, he quietly raised his head.
Gao Yan glanced at it and said coldly: "I heard that you have been going to the princess's mansion every day recently, and you have been having a good time with the An Ning group?"
Jin Ziji immediately lowered his head and explained in words, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty asked me to have more contact with the princess, so..."
"Oh" Gao Yan walked out of the desk and came to Jin Ziji, "So it turns out that I asked you to run to the princess's mansion every day? Did I ask you to spread rumors? Did I ask others to call you Anning County Ma?"
Gao Yan's three questions made Jin Ziji's palms go cold, and he became even more panicked. He said hurriedly: "No, no, I made the decision without permission, and I acted daringly." This chapter has been completed!