Shangdu City has been rainy for several days in a row, and the temperature in late summer and early autumn is always so embarrassing. The sweltering heat has subsided slightly, but the refreshment has not yet arrived.
In the afternoon, Qingxi stood by the pond in the backyard of the palace, shaking her fan, quietly looking at the pond of residual lotus, feeling somewhat lonely.
Things in this world have a beginning and an end. No matter how beautiful things are, they will say goodbye and go away one day.
How many literati have painted and written about the broken lotuses, and how much inspiration and artistic conception this moment of life is about to wither has given them.
In this way, the beauty of lotus has been here forever.
Qingxi sighed softly, laughing at himself, looking at the withered lotus and listening to the sound of rain. This sad thing about spring and autumn is not suitable for him. Just as he was about to go back to Chaolan Garden to have a good sleep, he saw Uncle Zhong holding a letter.
Came over.
She glanced at the handwriting on the envelope and said with a smile: "His Highness has written again?"
Uncle Zhong nodded and was in a good mood: "Someone from the palace said that His Highness has already set off to return to the capital."
Qingxi slapped a ball in her hand and said with a slightly deeper smile: "His Highness is coming back. Let's see how happy Uncle Zhong is."
Uncle Zhong laughed naively and replied hurriedly: "Princess, you are making fun of me. You must be happier than me. You can't hide your smile."
Qingxi lowered his head slightly, his heart beating inexplicably faster.
Ever since the imperial decree appointed the new coach of the Southwest Army, she knew that Xiao Yizheng would be returning to Beijing soon. But she was really happy and relieved to hear the news that he was coming back.
She didn't want to have to deal with such a big Prince Heng's palace and so many troubles for him.
"When Your Highness comes back this time, he will definitely accompany the princess well. I am still frightened by the princess's adventure. Fortunately, there are so many guards following her." Uncle Zhong looked frightened. He paused and said hesitantly:
"I heard that there are a few of the escorts who are particularly brave, and they are not married yet..."
Listening to the words, Qingxi immediately understood what he meant when he heard this sentence: "I was delayed in listening to the dream."
First, he heard that Xiao Yizheng was injured, and then he planned to invite Prince Guang to the urn. Then, because he was in a coma, he felt at ease and cultivated himself, so he didn't care about other things.
"The princess has been very busy recently. I also remembered this incident." Uncle Zhong looked apologetic.
"Okay, let Tingmeng go to Chaolan Garden later, and I'll listen to her opinion first."
After Uncle Zhong left, Qingxi opened the letter.
Xiao Yizheng's letter was brief, just telling her the date of his return.
He had written three letters before, none of them long. The main idea was to ask her how she was doing, whether she was okay, and whether she had encountered any difficulties.
Although she was very offended by the word "daring" at first, she really wasn't that stingy, and her sincere concern could be read between the lines, but she was rational and didn't want to go any further.
Yueying said: "You always don't reply to letters. Your Highness will be anxious if he doesn't know your current situation."
She smiled. He had many ways to know about her current situation. He didn't know how to be anxious.
Yueying added: "If you always don't reply, His Highness will be angry and affect your relationship."
She still smiled. How could Yueying know that the friendship between them was based on the contract and the secret shared by Baoding Mountain that night. Now, this secret has no value. Anyway, this time next year, even this
If you can no longer appreciate the remaining lotuses in a pond, why bother with each other too much, only to increase the loneliness in your heart.
When she returned to Chaolan Garden, Ting Meng was already waiting for her.
She stepped back and asked Tingmeng to sit down and talk.
Tingmeng asked cautiously: "Does the princess have something important to explain?"
Qingxi pursed her lips and smiled. She felt a little embarrassed, but she still said straightforwardly: "There is something I don't know how to say without embarrassing you. After thinking about it for a long time, it's better to say it directly."
Ting Meng's face showed confusion.
"It's about your lifelong event."
Ting Meng's expression suddenly froze.
"You have been in the mansion for many years, and His Highness will definitely not treat you badly. I wonder if you have someone you like?" Qingxi looked at her tenderly, trying to make the matter as normal as possible so as not to embarrass her.
Tingmeng opened his mouth and spit out the word "I", then stopped and lowered his head.
Qingxi thought she might be shy, so she added: "If you have any ideas, you can tell me directly." She saw Tingmeng holding her sleeves tightly but not speaking, so she lowered her voice even more and said softly: "If it's
No, how do you think the palace guards are? Let’s pick one who has the ability. If His Highness takes more care of him in the future, he will definitely have a bright future..."
Before she finished speaking, Tingmeng suddenly raised her head and looked at her in disbelief, which also made her pause. Immediately, Tingmeng seemed to realize something, and hurriedly put away her expression, lifted her skirt and knelt down, hurriedly
He said: "I shouldn't have refused the princess' order. I just listened to my dream and asked the princess to take it back."
Qingxi didn't expect her reaction to be so strong, so he quickly put down the fan in his hand, stepped forward to help her stand up, and said tentatively: "This is not an order, just a suggestion. Maybe you have someone in mind?"
Ting Meng lowered his head and made no sound.
Qingxi thought she was acquiescing, so she smiled and said, "If you have someone you like, you might as well say it."
Listening to the dream, he still bowed his head and remained silent.
Qingxi felt that she must be shy, and continued: "You have served His Highness for many years, and His Highness must also wish you a happy life. If you are not interested in someone from the palace, it doesn't matter. As long as you are clean and work hard, the palace will give you something."
The scenery and dignity will make you happy to get married."
Tingmeng raised his head again and looked straight at Qingxi.
Qingxi felt that there seemed to be a moment of dissatisfaction in the eyes, which puzzled her. But in the blink of an eye, Ting Meng lowered her head again and whispered: "Princess, don't say any more. Ting Meng will not marry."
Qingxi listened to her firm tone and thought that maybe she had some unspeakable difficulties. It was not good to press her at this moment. It was better to understand her slowly, so she said calmly: "It doesn't matter. You can rest assured about this. If you have any new ideas,
Let me know anytime."
Tingmeng nodded, and then asked: "Princess, Miss Li from Xiyingyuan arranges food and clothing expenses more than Chaolan Yuan. Isn't this inappropriate? After all, she and the prince have not yet..."
"Listen to the dream!" Qingxi whispered flatly: "Be careful what you say!"
Ting Meng immediately stopped talking.
Qingxi remembered that Yueying had told her that Meng had complained about Li Han, and she frowned and said seriously: "Miss Li is a distinguished guest of my palace, so she must be treated well. I don't want to hear these words again today." At the end.
, she sighed and said sincerely: "Ting Meng, this is also for your own good."
After Tingmeng left, Qingxi shook her head while shaking her fan, thinking that Tingmeng seemed to be quite calm, so why was she so out of touch with Li Han? If Xiao Yizheng really welcomed Li Han into the house in the future, would she still be like this?
Do you want to treat each other like this? Li Han's personality is very fond of grudges. If Ting Meng really did something to offend her today, she would not be so easy to talk to.
But why doesn’t Ting Meng wait to see Li Han?
She frowned and didn't think about it for a while.
There was a muffled thunder outside the window, and raindrops followed closely.
Yueying walked in with a bowl of white fungus and lotus seed soup: "It's raining again, and the family dinner arranged by the Queen to give you a surprise has to be postponed again. Speaking of which, the Queen treats you very well. I am afraid that you will be rained, so I have to choose
Sunny day.”
Qingxi turned around and sat down, glanced at the Taixuan Qin on the desk not far away, nodded and said: "The Queen is the Prince's biological mother. She is very kind to His Highness and to me, which is really rare." At this point, she raised her head.
Looking out the window at the raindrops falling from the eaves, I frowned slightly.
A few days later, the long-lost clear sky made the people of Shangdu City plan to go out to enjoy the scenery of early autumn.
Prince Heng's carriage drove into the palace early in the morning.
In the Queen's Palace, everyone gathered together, and they were all concerned about Qingxi's physical condition. Qingxi thanked them one by one, politely and kindly.
The queen held her hand lovingly: "Yesterday, the Holy Father said that Liulang would arrive in Beijing tomorrow. You, a young couple, have been separated for so long, but they are going to be reunited."
The others also chimed in and joked.
Qingxi's face turned red and she smiled without saying a word. A glance revealed that Concubine Nian, who was sitting alone, had a rare smile on her lips. She had lost a lot of weight, and this faint smile could not cover up her poor complexion.
The queen greeted everyone to sit down.
Shen Tong tugged her arm, pulled her to sit on the seat next to him, and asked her in a low voice: "You must have taken good care of yourself in the house these days, why don't I see any fat at all?"
Qingxi looked at her slightly bulging belly with a smile and said, "If you don't think I am you, how can you be so round in these days?"
Shen Tong rolled his eyes at her and then smiled with satisfaction. "This little guy is quite well-behaved and doesn't bother me very much." She raised her head again and leaned into Qing Xi's ear and said, "Sixth brother is back, so hurry up.
."
Qingxi's face suddenly turned red, and she hurriedly avoided her eyes, picked up the tea on the table and took a sip.
The whole day, a group of people were chatting and laughing, watching a show, and arranging flowers.
Queen Qingxi thought to herself that she was trying to calm her down, but it made her even more tired.
Finally, when it was time for dinner, someone from the Yangxin Palace reported that the emperor was going to come, but was not in good health and would not come, leaving everyone to eat by themselves first.
The queen looked worried.
Concubine Nian, who had been silent all this time, said calmly: "I heard that Your Majesty has been very hard these days. He has to consider how to deal with Prince Guang while also worrying about matters on the northwest border. It is said that Dan Da is very unstable. Your Majesty's health, but
Take care." She said calmly, without any emotion.
Everyone looked at her dissatisfied, and each showed a worried expression.
The queen had no intention of arguing with him, so she stood up and said, "I'm going to the Yangxin Hall to have a look. Don't lose your interest. Let's have a meal first."
Everyone seemed to want to go to the Yangxin Hall, but the Queen solemnly said: "Your Majesty, there will be nothing serious. I will come back as soon as I go."
Therefore, without the queen's palace banquet, everyone's food was not very delicious.
Qing Xi had been sitting with Shen Tong, but the two of them were not greatly affected, joking and whispering from time to time.
After the meal was finished, the female officials came forward to clean up.
Shen Tong suddenly frowned and held Qing Xi's arm tightly.
"What's wrong?" Qingxi asked anxiously.
She looked at Shen Tong's face turning pale, covering her stomach with her other hand, sweat dripping from her forehead. "Send to the doctor, send to the doctor quickly!" she shouted.
Everyone in the hall looked over when she shouted.
Shen Tong was already leaning in her arms, murmuring: "It hurts, it hurts..."
"Blood..." Yueying, who was helping to support Shen Tong's body, pointed at Shen Tong's lower skirt and said in horror.
Qingxi looked immediately and saw a little red seeping out of Shen Tong's pink skirt, and her face turned a little pale. She squeezed Shen Tong's hand and said hastily: "Don't be afraid, it's okay, it's okay." Then, He yelled again: "Send to the imperial doctor quickly."
Everyone in the palace was in a hurry.
The imperial doctor came quickly and concluded that the princess showed signs of poisoning.
Before everyone could digest the meaning of this sentence, they heard Concubine Nian whisper softly: "On this day, the one who has been with the Crown Princess is Princess Heng. I would like to ask Princess Heng carefully..."
As soon as she finished speaking, she heard a rich male voice outside the hall: "Let's see who dares!"
Everyone followed the sound and saw Xiao Yizheng striding in.