"My Majesty, since the old woman who delivered the letter appeared, they have begun to track her down. Now it has been confirmed that she is indeed a servant of the Du family, and she came on the orders of Du Niangzi. Several big men bowed their hands, and the leader calmly returned, "As far as I know, there hasn't been anything major in the Du family recently, so I don't know why Du Niangzi is so sudden-"

Li Hui stared at the letter that had been unfolded, and the hairpin on it was very delicate, and the wording was elegant and plain. The light smell of sandalwood seemed to linger on the tip of his nose, and his brows couldn't help but gradually lock: "If you go to investigate carefully, something must have happened to the Du family." If you can't find out, send a letter to Sun Rong and Sun Jinniang, and they may have a way to find out the news. ”

Since the oral agreement on marriage, Pu Wangfu and the Du family have formed a tacit understanding and secretly began to prepare for the wedding. However, due to the death of Emperor Taizong, Li Tai and the Yan family had to keep filial piety for three years, and Li Hui was not willing to marry immediately after one year of filial piety. As a result, the marriage was logically postponed to this year. However, at the beginning of February, before the royal family had yet to officially make a filial piety, the Du family's grandmother died, and the wedding date continued to be postponed - which was completely expected by him, and Wang Zixian had reminded him that year.

So far, he and Du Niangzi have never met, let alone taught each other privately, and when he received this letter of meeting with him, he was naturally very puzzled. Not to mention that the Du family is still in the filial piety period, it is not suitable for private appointments. Just looking at the agreed day is two days later, so tight, it is obvious that it has encountered an extremely difficult situation to deal with, and it will be so urgent. All indications show that a young lady of a family who just wants to meet her future husband should never write such a letter privately.

After the tripartists left, Li Hui looked at those hairpins for a long time, and a little irritability and helplessness suddenly rose in his heart. This is his future princess, and he should indeed do everything he can to solve all her problems. But as long as he thought about spending the next few decades with this strange woman, he couldn't help but think back to his past life.

Marriage is the best of two surnames, the intersection of interests between two families, and perhaps more involves the secret thoughts of many people, and involves trade-offs and hints. However, few people have really thought about whether the new husband and the bride are willing to have such a marriage. Where are their thoughts and thoughts placed? According to the etiquette system, the orders of parents and the words of matchmakers are the most important, and they only need to obey their orders and accept other people's arrangements for their own lives. He had scarcely ever heard anyone question whether such propriety was reasonable.

The days of sharing the same bed and dreaming differently, he didn't want to live anymore. And he didn't have the mind now—and maybe not the time to get used to a strange woman coming into his life. Perhaps, for a while, it will be difficult for him to be a good enough husband.

"Brother, what are you thinking? So distracted? Someone sat down in front of the bookcase, raised an eyebrow and smiled.

Li Hui raised his eyes to look, but it was Princess Changning. He was stunned, remembering what happened at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet last night, and vaguely guessed the purpose of her trip: "Yue Niang, I know what you want to ask." When you think about this, it means that you have indeed grown up and considered things more thoroughly. ”

Princess Changning, who is already thirteen years old, is now helping Queen Du take care of the harem. Concubine Yang Xian and Concubine Yuan Shu have been fighting for the right to assist in palace affairs for a long time, and they have used almost any trick in front of the sage, but they still can't match her few words. After so many years of training, she has gradually revealed her own elegance. How could she ignore the conversation of everyone at last night's feast? How could it be that we didn't think about it?

Princess Changning smiled slightly bitterly: "Brother, I tossed and turned last night, and I don't know if I guessed right or not." But whether it's right or wrong, I don't think it matters. Importantly, I don't want to divide my brother and sister because of this...... Between us, with them is different. ”

"Of course it's different." Li Hui replied with a smile and personally poured her a cup of apricot cheese, "Sooner or later, we all have to open our hearts and speak up about it." I'm glad you chose to be calm. There is no doubt that my uncle is a loving father who treats your sisters very fondly, and with whom you have a deep affection for your aunt. Compared to him, my grandfather may be a little headstrong and naïve, or a little incompetent, but he is also very important to us. ”

"They are brothers of the same father and mother, and they seem to get along very well. When his grandfather died, his uncle even took the initiative to leave his brother in Chang'an to take care of him. So far, my grandfather has also lived a very comfortable life, almost carefree. But, Yue Niang, do you believe that they really trust each other? Do you believe that their brotherhood is like our brother and sister? ”

"Nope." After a little hesitation, Princess Changning replied with some difficulty, "Grandpa doesn't trust the two fathers. It seems to be harmonious, but last night was actually full of temptation. The third father may not think much about it, but the second father is a smart person and has an excellent grasp of proportion, and Grandpa is very satisfied. Later, the elder brother's thoughts almost touched the bottom of Grandpa's limit. However, your promise to stay in Chang'an reassured Grandpa, so he agreed to what the lobby brother requested. ”

"I actually understand my uncle very well." Li Hui continued, "As a saint, he must want to control Yiqiē and not allow anyone to challenge Tianwei. However, his uncle's temperament also destined him to be by no means an unreasonable person. Sometimes, he is willing to relax a little more, so that his family will appreciate his grace even more. "Whether Li Kun is a truly compassionate person or not, at least he cherishes his reputation for compassion and wishes he was an impeccable emperor. In this case, his methods will not be too drastic, and even if he is dissatisfied, he will not act rashly.

"But no matter how kind he is, my uncle must have rebels. He has no intention of harming others, but some people have harmful intentions and want to kill people with a knife, so they have to guard against it. The assassination incident that occurred on the way back to Chang'an that year, and later Li Qianniang in the courtyard led us to discover the matter of the great father, and there were shadows of wrongdoers in each case. ”

Princess Changning thought for a moment: "The person that Brother suspects is Aunt An Xing?" Grandpa and A-Niang are also quite wary of her. However, I often wonder what she can do as a princess. is a rebellion, she can't be the emperor, didn't she make a wedding dress for others in vain? Could it be that she feels more comfortable being a queen than being a princess? Or is it more comfortable to be a princess who can control a young emperor than she is now? ”

"Perhaps." Li Hui bowed his head slightly, "The Cheng family and the Yang family must be kept an eye on." Moreover, since she attacked the eldest father, she may not let go of the second father and my grandfather. If you don't uproot the first vein of King Yue and the first vein of King Pu, it will be difficult to control the shì of the shape of the heir. If she can really support the young emperor to ascend the throne in the future, she will not be able to control the government logically. Perhaps, though, her purpose is more than that. ”

“…… In the future, I will keep an eye on the female dependents of these families and collect information anytime and anywhere. Princess Changning breathed a sigh of relief, "Brother, believe me, no matter what happens, the brother-sister relationship between us will not change." ”

"Of course I do." Li Hui smiled slightly. Princess Changning's younger sister may be regarded as an unexpected gain in this life. Just like his best friend, Prince Xian, his life is full of fun, joy and many differences because of his encounter with them. He has gained a lot and has not lost his family, so even if he can only stay in a new cage all the time, he is willing.

The two looked at each other and smiled, Princess Changning took a sip of apricot cheese, and inadvertently looked at the letter on the bookcase: "This is—"

She narrowed her eyes and smiled meaningfully: "Brother, don't you have something to hide from me?" ”

"......," Li Hui sighed, "What can I hide from you?" I'm afraid that in this Chang'an City, there is nothing to hide from you. "Maybe this is the karma - he is feeling a little uncomfortable going to see Du Niangzi alone, if there is Princess Changning with him, even if he is accidentally discovered, he can also cover it up under the pretext of "coincidence", which will not hurt Du Niangzi's reputation, let alone make people think too much - the top gate lord clan is no better than the royal clan, and it is really much stricter about reputation.

The place where Du Niangzi met is a Buddhist temple with flourishing incense on the outskirts of Chang'an City. Flowers and trees are planted all over the front and back of the Buddhist temple, and there are streams that twist and meander, often attracting literati and scholars to gather here, and have always been quite famous. Li Hui came with Princess Changning, dressed as Xiao Langjun, on horseback, and because it was still early, he simply wandered in the woods.

When they heard the harmony of poetry not far away, the brother and sister were not very interested, and tacitly changed the path. Not long after the government examination, the style of literary meetings in Beijing became more and more prosperous. Needless to say, those who try to pass the guò will spread their reputation, and if they can win the appreciation of the dignitaries in one fell swoop, they don't have to worry about whether they can pass the guò test; Those who do not win will naturally not let go of such a good opportunity, but if it does not succeed this year, after the reputation spreads, why not wait for next year to fight again?

"Brother Ke received the poems of those literati?" Princess Changning has not yet married and has never opened a princess's mansion. The scribes knew that this noble lord was extremely favored, and they could not throw the poems to her. Therefore, they can only act in a tortuous way, or vote for the Chengguo Mansion, or vote for your lord's maternal uncle's family.

"I received a lot of them, and I taught my grandfather to take them for comments." Li Hui said, "In previous years, I might have recommended one or two people, but this year, Zixian is going back to Beijing to participate in next year's provincial examination, of course I will only recommend him." ”

"Prince Xian?" Princess Changning raised her eyebrows and laughed with interest, "Then I will recommend him too." I don't know if my post can be used when I hand it over to the examiner of the ministry. Or, I will find an opportunity to mention it in front of Grandpa, and then let Grandpa have time to take a look at the answer sheet of the provincial exam? ”

"That's even better." Li Hui said with a smile, "I thank you for your great help." ”

"Since it's a friend of my brother, I naturally can't treat it wrong."

The brother and sister talked and laughed, and before they knew it, they turned to the place where they met. After waiting quietly for a moment or so, I saw a girl in plain clothes coming with a maid and maid. She was in the prime of her life, and her countenance was nothing but delicate, tall and slender - among the nobles of the family, such a skin was not outstanding. However, her calm and composed expression, and the smell of books all over her body, added a sense of dust, which made her stand out from the rest.

In all fairness, compared with those charming or innocent girls, Li Hui feels that such a little lady feels more comfortable. Suddenly, he felt a little less repulsed about his future marriage. Perhaps, this princess of the county will never be as miserable as in her previous life. Perhaps, the marriage between them can really go smoothly.

"Du Niangzi." He bowed slightly towards the other.

"I've seen the king and your lord." The girl replied softly and bowed gracefully. Just at a glance, she recognized Princess Changning, which shows her keen eyes. Even if she rarely participates in various banquets in Beijing because of her illness for the sake of serving her elders, she is by no means an ordinary little lady with this awareness alone.

Princess Changning couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips and said in a low voice: "Brother, I like this sister-in-law." What do you think? ”

"......" Li Hui did not respond to her ridicule, but asked with a straight face, "What is difficult happened to Du Niangzi?" Don't worry, just say it, I'll do my best to help you. "As a future couple, one is prosperous and the other is lost, and he is naturally duty-bound.