==Chapter 61==

Don't guess the mind of the king of Chu.

This is the experience that Jiu Niang has accumulated for two lifetimes, because you can't guess it.

Jiuniang has always thought that she is a smart person, but if she compares it with the King of Chu, she is one in the sky and the other on the ground.

In view of the experience in her previous life, Jiuniang has always had supreme admiration for the King of Chu, which has nothing to do with anything else, but from her heart. For a person who takes one step and looks ten steps, his mind is always deep and unfathomable, while a mediocre person will only find the clue when the matter is at the end.

Jiuniang thinks that she is the so-called mediocrity in front of the king of Chu.

The King of Chu proposed to make up for the omissions and solve the doubts for Jiu Niang, and Jiu Niang naturally would not be as simple as the surface, she automatically thought that the King of Chu's move must have a deep meaning according to the experience of her previous life.

But is there really a deep meaning?

So far, Jiuniang has not found any clues.

Since that time she left the private house, Jiu Niang would be taken to the private house every day after school, but when she saw the King of Chu, she was rare, only so pitiful twice, and other times it was an old man with a gray beard and hair who taught her.

Jiu Niang didn't know the old man, and the old man didn't talk to her much on weekdays except for lecturing with her. Jiu Niang can also see that this private house is unusual, but she doesn't ask too much if she doesn't know each other. Every day when she came, she went to study in the hall that was set aside for her, and after an hour of study, someone would send her back to the Anguo Mansion.

These days, the Anguo Mansion is very calm, Jiuniang goes out early and returns late, and does not deal with the people in the mansion, and some secret disputes cannot affect her for the time being. However, Lianzhi and the others were at home, and they also asked for a lot of news to hear from her.

It is reported that the county lord of Chaoxia is particularly high-profile these days, and in the early days, he would go to An Rongyuan to say hello to An, but this time I don't know if it was the sequelae of that disgust, or Xiao Hang has not given her a good face to stimulate her, she doesn't even do superficial harmony now, and seems to be very resentful of the Xiao family's previous attitude.

On that day, the night banquet in Furong Garden, Emperor Chengyuan issued a holy decree every other day, and after the joint discussion of the Qin Tianjian and the Ministry of Rites, the eighth day of October is a good day that is rare for decades, so the day of the prince's wedding is set on the eighth day of October.

From mid-August to the eighth day of October, there is only less than two months in between, and it is not easy to prepare for the wedding of the children of ordinary families in such a short time, let alone the prince of a country. However, Emperor Chengyuan decided to do so, and the whole court began to prepare intensively, and now they dare not report small things, and all of them make way for the prince's wedding.

Among the nine temples, in addition to Dali Temple, Zongzheng Temple and Taifu Temple, the other six temples and the Ministry of Rites and the Inner Attendant Shanggong Bureau have all begun to get busy.

The county lord of Chaoxia is also this excuse, his niece is married, how can he ignore it as an aunt. I went to Wang's house every day, and I couldn't wait to live in my sister's house. In fact, the county lord of Chaoxia, who is an elder, can help him, but he just opens his mouth and tells two sentences, he has his own subordinates to do it, and the Wang family is so big, she can't use her.

Everyone in the Xiao family knew her thoughts, and the Qiē behavior of the county lord of Chaoxia was just doing it for the Xiao family. But it's useless to understand, and now I can only swallow my anger for the time being.

The Wang family is very beautiful these days, and the county lord of Chaoxia is also very beautiful, not to mention the princess of Changping.

For Princess Changping, it was like a piece of gold falling from the sky and smashing right on her head. My brother's mind is clear, don't look at Princess Changping, who likes to stir things up, and don't touch any taboos that shouldn't be touched. As long as the prince does not die for a day, the princes of King Zhao will not have a chance at all, and Princess Changping did not have other thoughts in the early years, but when it comes to the prince, she does not dare to challenge her brother's violent temper.

Now in the eyes of the Wang family and Princess Changping, it doesn't matter whether the prince is a sick son or not, as long as the daughter of the Wang family can give birth to a little emperor grandson, the Wang family will be the son of heaven in the future, and she will be the grandmother of the queen and even the queen mother!

What a glorious glory!

Everyone in Chang'an City knows this truth, so they look at the Wang family and even the princess of Changping, and they are particularly flattering. Of course, there are flattering, and naturally there are those who are red-eyed and even resentful, how many people's way has been blocked by the prince's wedding, and how many people's good things have been ruined, needless to say, everyone knows it. So at the same time, Chang'an City looked jubilant on the surface because of the prince's wedding, but in fact, the secret movement behind the scenes has not stopped.

However, this qiē has nothing to do with Jiu Niang, now all her energy is focused on Guozijian's studies, knowing that the Anguo Mansion is now a mess of troubled waters, she naturally will not have nothing to stir up.

In the past half a month in the Guozi Prison, Jiu Niang also has a general impression of the situation in the Guozi Prison, indeed as the King of Chu said, there are many mysteries in it, but because she is a woman, there is nothing to find her.

Jiu Niang has always been silent in the Guozi Prison, rarely dealing with people, after that day about the identity of Jiu Niang in the Guozi Prison secretly circulated, so there are many female students who want to please Jiu Niang, but she all uphold the cordial and polite, no matter how much it is, it is gone, they are all human spirits, and they naturally understand the truth that they are too much.

The only one who can be called close is that Ruan Ling'er.

Now Jiu Niang also has some understanding of Ruan Linger's life experience, and she can't help but feel a little bloody in surprise.

Ruan Ling'er's identity is not bad, his father is the right servant of Shangshu Province, Lord Ruan. This Ruan Daren's road to prosperity is quite surprising, he is a son of a poor family, because of his knowledge and talent, he entered the Guozijian, from an ordinary student of the Guozijian Law Academy all the way to the Guozixue, and then for the Chengyuan Emperor, from an ordinary official in the six ministries, all the way to Shangshu Province Zhengsi Pin Zuocheng. After that, the former Shangshu's right servant shot Master Xu to say goodbye, and Ruan Chengmao, who was only over forty years old at the time, took over the right servant.

Therefore, this Ruan Chengmao can have today's status, in addition to his own ability is really eye-catching, which is very appreciated by Emperor Chengyuan, who has always loved talents, it is more from the paving of the old man Xu Fuju.

Xu Servant Shot himself is also from a poor family, honest and honest, quite prestigious in the court, in the early years with his own strength to sit on the right servant shot, a sitting is more than 20 years, not only won the trust of the first emperor and Emperor Chengyuan, there are countless students under the door, it can be said that the peach and plum are all over the world.

With the help of Xu Fujiao, Ruan Chengmao naturally achieved twice the result with half the effort.

And Ruan Chengmao is indeed worthy of the support of his father-in-law Xu Servant, who has been dedicated to the people for many years as an official, and has done a lot of great things for the benefit of the country and the people, whether it is against the top or the bottom, he is worthy of his name as the right servant. However, no one is perfect, and few people know that Ruan Chengmao was also criticized back then.

The children of the poor family have always married early, and Ruan Chengmao is no exception. Before Ruan Chengmao entered the National Prison, he was managed by his mother to marry a wife in the countryside. After Ruan Chengmao emerged in the Guozijian and entered the court as an official, it stands to reason that his wife can be regarded as bitter, but the world is never impermanent, and when Ruan Chengmao emerged in Chang'an City, someone had already made up his mind about him.

That person was the former right servant who shot Lord Xu.

At that time, Ruan Chengmao was also one of Xu Fusha's disciples, not only young talents and outstanding talents, but also his mental and intellectual knowledge were quite appreciated by Xu Fushe. Xu Fuchu is dedicated to the people, honest and honest, but it is quite difficult to have children, and he has had a daughter in his old age for decades, when he and his old wife thought that there was no queen in this life, and a daughter was naturally like a treasure.

With an heir and without an heir, the ideas are completely different, and Xu Servant naturally wants to start planning for his daughter and the future of the Xu family. It was precisely Ruan Chengmao's appearance that made him pay attention, and after some tests, Xu Fuchu was very satisfied with Ruan Chengmao.

As for Ruan Chengmao's already having a wife, this kind of problem is not put into the eyes of Xu Fu, Qi Lu has strict restrictions on the marriage relationship between men and women, but at his level, no one dares to embarrass him.

So things began as a matter of course, Ruan Chengmao divorced his wife and remarried, and the reason for the divorce was that there was no queen.

Ruan Chengmao's original partner really failed to give birth to a boy for her husband, and even Ruan Ling'er was conceived after Ruan Chengmao became an official in the court. The Ruan family is poor, and the reason why Ruan Chengmao was able to rise all the way was inseparable from his old mother and virtuous wife in his early years. Firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea, everything is indispensable, especially for a scholar at home, and its hardships can be imagined. Ruan Chengmao's original partner was not pregnant, but he gave birth to two because he was too tired.

Many times, things are like this, only the new people laugh and don't hear the old people cry. A bad wife, how can she compare to the daughter of a teacher who has the grace of knowing herself. And everyone in the world knows what it means to marry the daughter of the Xu family, and no one can resist this temptation.

Back then, there were many people who criticized Ruan Chengmao, but what could they do, everything that was known to the whole court, Xu Fu didn't want to shoot the old face that had been splashed for decades, who dared to embarrass him, didn't you see that Emperor Chengyuan didn't say anything? In addition, Ruan Chengmao is indeed capable and has done many important things for the benefit of the country and the people, and everyone has gradually focused on his ability and no longer pays attention to private affairs.

After all, no matter what time it is, private matters always have to give way to righteousness. As for the situation of Nguyen Chengmao's original partner and the daughter born of his original partner, no one cares about this issue.

Ruan Ling'er, as the eldest daughter of the Ruan family, was still young when her mother died, and she was brought up by her grandmother since she was seven or eight years old, and her grandmother died, and since then she has become a little pitiful person who has no one to rely on.

Ruan Chengmao was busy with government affairs, and the Xu family, who continued the strings, rarely embarrassed Ruan Ling'er, just ignored her. Up to now, outsiders only know that the Ruan family has a daughter, Ruan Mengling, but they don't know that Ruan Mengling also has a sister-in-law, Ruan Ling'er. After knowing that Ruan Ling'er still came to Guozijian to study, but what did she know, the Ruan family ignored Ruan Ling'er, Ruan Mengling was young and brutal by nature, although she repeatedly targeted Ruan Ling'er, but it did not cause substantial harm to her.

In the eyes of outsiders, the famous family is extremely glorious, but in fact, there is nothing like this kind of pickled thing, and it is harmless to turn a blind eye, especially Ruan Ling'er has always been cowardly and timid.

Even Jiu Niang knew Ruan Ling'er's life experience, except for having pity for her, she couldn't do anything else, after all, this was the other party's family matter, how could others say much.

On this day, when the bell rang for the end of class, Jiuniang packed up her things and prepared to leave.

"Jiuniang, it seems to be raining outside, you didn't bring an umbrella, otherwise I'll go to the hostel and get one for you." Ruan Ling'er looked out the window and said.

Ruan Ling'er lives in the Guozi Prison Lodge, and she only goes home when she is resting, which is really rare among the nobles, but Ruan Ling'er is very disposed of. The Ruan family has a servant girl for her, and she takes care of her diet and daily life in the dormitory every day, and the monthly flowers are also a lot of hers, so Ruan Ling'er chooses, she feels more comfortable staying in the dormitory.

Jiuniang looked at the sky outside, it was dark and oppressive, and it was very gloomy, but it hadn't rained yet. Estimating the distance from here to the side door, she shook her head, "Forget it, it's so close, the carriage that comes to pick me up from the family is at the side door, it shouldn't be so unlucky." ”

"Then go quickly, lest it rain later."

"You should also hurry back to the dormitory, don't stay in the dormitory for long."

The two said goodbye and left the church house separately, and Jiu Niang hurriedly walked to the side door.

The sky was overcast and extremely low, giving people a sense of oppression, and involuntarily everyone's steps were getting up quickly. When she arrived at the side door, she saw the familiar carriage from a distance, and Jiu Niang walked over in three steps and two steps and got into the carriage.

said that it was too late and that was fast, only to hear a thunderous sound, which frightened Jiuniang, who had not yet sat down in the carriage.

Jiu Niang couldn't help frowning, this ghost weather!

The wind grew stronger and stronger, blowing the curtain up and down, and Xiao Cui stepped forward to close the door, and the wheels of the carriage began to turn and drove forward.

At this time, he naturally did not go back to the Anguo Mansion, but went to the private house in Shengpingfang.

From the Guozijian located in Wubenfang to the private house of Shengpingfang, it was necessary to pass through several markets, and halfway through, I could hear the rain start to fall outside the car.

The rain became heavier and heavier, and at this time, except for this small corner between heaven and earth, seemed to be completely drowned in the sound of rain.

"Otherwise, find a place to shelter from the rain." Jiuniang said.

Xiao Cui looked out the window, stepped forward to push the car door and said a few words to the coachman outside, just for a while, and the car door only opened one opening, Jiu Niang could feel how fierce the wind and rain outside were. Xiao Cui retracted her head, her hair on her forehead was blown messy, and her cheeks were wet from the rain.

"The driver said that there was no shelter from the rain nearby, and the rain would not stop for a while, so it was better to rush back to the house in one go."

Jiuniang nodded and said no more. The coachman had been carrying her for so long, and although he rarely talked to her in the days, he could see that the other party was an extremely cautious and steady person, and since he could say this, he was sure.

In the heavy rain, a horse-drawn carriage walked alone.

In the private house of Shengpingfang, in the warm and dry study, the candle flame has long been brightened.

The king of Chu, who was sitting in front of the desk, put down the scroll in his hand and said, "Go and see, have you arrived?" ”

Chang Shun had a bitter face, but in less than half an hour, he had already gone to see it several times.

After a while, Chang Shun rushed back.

"It's here, just at the door."

Chang Shun's voice was a little loud, and the King of Chu glanced at him, "It's here when you arrive, why are you so excited?" ”

If it weren't for Your Highness, you always ask, why would the slave be so excited! I often think bitterly.

……

This private house is very quiet on weekdays, there are not many people, and Jiu Niang is also used to it, but today there are a lot of people.

As soon as the car door opened, Jiuniang saw several servants in robes standing outside the car, holding various rain gear waiting in their hands.

"Lady, the slave will carry you." Looking at the rushing rain on the ground, Xiao Cui said.

Looking at Xiao Cui's figure, which was not much taller than herself, Jiu Niang shook her head and stepped out of the carriage.

The head has been covered by a huge oil-paper umbrella, but the wind and rain are urgent, but it can't play a role, Xiaocui took a cloak from the hands of the subordinates on the side, wrapped it around Jiuniang, and went to the house in a group of several subordinates.

When she arrived in front of the hall, Jiuniang was fine, but there were a few places on her dress that were stained with rain, and her skirt and shoes were wet, but Xiaocui was completely wet.

The two of them stepped into the room, and suddenly felt a sense of warmth rushing towards them.

After Jiuniang stood still, she found that there were people in the house, and Chang Shun was standing in the house, but the bookcase she was used to on weekdays was occupied by one person.

This person is the king of Chu.

As soon as Xiao Cui saw the King of Chu, he knelt down with a thud. Jiuniang raised her eyebrows lightly and took a step forward, as if she had no intention of blocking in front of Xiaocui.

"Go change your clothes, I'll get you drenched with me."

Xiao Cui didn't dare to move, until the King of Chu waved his hand, and then hurriedly retreated. After that, the king of Chu focused on Jiuniang and put down the scroll in his hand.

Jiu Niang smiled and said, "Cousin, you are here, why are you free to come today?" ”

Before, the king of Chu said that he wanted to make up for Jiuniang's omissions and solve doubts, in fact, Jiuniang didn't take it to heart, she knew how busy the king of Chu was, although she didn't know what he was busy with, but the previous two times he taught himself his homework appeared, and each time an hour of class time was always just over halfway, people left in a hurry.

So after an old gentleman came to teach herself, Jiuniang was not surprised. In fact, the king of Chu was able to find a gentleman to teach her studies in his spare time, and she was already very grateful. It's not that Jiu Niang can't do this kind of thing by herself, it's just that she is in the Xiao family, and although it is not a big deal to invite a gentleman to come, she has to report to the elders in the family, and she just doesn't want to attract attention at this time.

King Chu didn't speak, and his eyes moved to the puddle at Jiu Niang's feet, which was not only caused by the rain on Xiao Cui's body, but also Jiu Niang's. Her embroidered shoes and skirt were already soaked, and standing on the smooth floor at this time, it was natural that the floor was covered with water.

Jiuniang followed the other party's gaze to her feet, and shrunk her little feet under her skirt with a dry expression. King Chu Aijie, Jiuniang knows, otherwise Fang Cai Xiaocui would not have been so frightened that she knelt down because she wet the ground.

The King of Chu's eyebrows twisted, and instructed Chang Shun: "Order someone to take a brazier, and cook a bowl of ginger soup, and prepare hot water for her to bathe." ”

Chang Shun hurriedly went down to make arrangements.

In a short time, two unfamiliar maidservants came in, one carrying a charcoal-lit brazier in his hand, and the other holding a few clean cotton handkerchiefs.

Jiu Niang followed the maidservants to the side and sat down on the soft couch, and one of the maidservants knelt to help her take off her shoes and socks, and brought the brazier over.

The orange firelight, representing warmth and comfort, made Jiu Niang sigh comfortably. The maid first wiped Jiu Niang's little feet stained with rain, and then held them with her palms and baked them over charcoal fire, one was to warm Jiu Niang's feet, and the other was to bake her soaked skirt by temperature.

The soles of the feet suddenly warmed, and although the wet skirt had not yet dried, the cold of the whole body had long since faded. At this time, Jiu Niang felt embarrassed, not that she was not used to being served like this, but when she was serving like this, there was a big living person sitting next to her.

Jiu Niang quietly raised her eyes to look at the King of Chu, and found that his eyes were focused on the scroll in his hand, so she let go of her heart.

The legs and feet were warm, and the person was a little tired, Jiu Niang leaned back, leaned on the soft pillow, and squinted her eyes comfortably.

The small lotus feet are only the size of the maid's palm, the foot shape is exquisite, the five small toes are fat, pink and tender, playful and slightly cocked, and under the orange firelight, the lining is particularly crystal clear.

King Chu just raised his eyes, and when he saw this scene, he was inexplicably a little itchy, and he made a comparison in his heart and came to a conclusion.

She is really small, her feet are small, and her people are small.

……

The hot water was quickly prepared, and Jiu Niang followed the maidservant to the side of the room to bathe.

Comfortably took a hot shower and came out, the clean dress has been prepared, looking at the style and color are worn by the girl, Jiu Niang did not wonder where to come, anyway, in her mind, His Royal Highness the King of Chu is omnipotent.

The hair was also washed, dried and damp behind her, and Jiu Niang returned to the soft couch. While holding the thick ginger soup and sipping it, he asked Xiaocui to dry his hair for himself.

"It seems that this rain will not stop, this king has ordered someone to go to the Anguo Mansion to spread the word, saying that you are going to stay overnight in the Guozi Prison Mansion because of the rain, and you will stay here today to rest, and someone will send you to school tomorrow."

Jiu Niang sighed and nodded obediently.

The silence in the room was restored, and the pouring rain outside and the silence inside seemed to be completely two worlds.

Jiu Niang sat for a while, and seeing that the King of Chu didn't speak, she couldn't help asking, "Isn't Mr. Qiu coming today?" ”

Mr. Qiu is the old gentleman who teaches her homework on weekdays.

"If the king has a spare day, let him be informed that he will not use it today."

Jiu Niang sighed again.

King Chu glanced up at her and pointed to the position opposite him. Jiu Niang wore her hair loose and walked over with soft-soled embroidered shoes.

After the past, Jiu Niang found that a thick cushion had already been placed on that position, including the desk, and there were also two sets of four treasures of the study, pen rest, and paperweights, which seemed to be prepared in advance.

Jiu Niang knelt down opposite the King of Chu, Xiao Cui took her book bag, Jiu Niang put the book bag on the side of her leg, took out a book from it and spread it out.

"Mr. Qiu, where did you teach?"

"The instrument of the Son of Heaven is balanced, the monarch is balanced, the doctor is appeased, and the scholar is mentioned." Jiuniang replied.

King Chu nodded, and began to continue to explain what Mr. Qiu said yesterday, and continued to explain to Jiu Niang.

The king of Chu did not need to hold a scroll to explain like other gentlemen, his voice was not slow, his tone was slow and powerful, and it seemed that the content of what he said had already been mastered and ripe.

In fact, if you are prepared, others can do the same, but you will never be able to do it so calmly as King Chu. The world only knows that the king of Chu is studious, and he is the head of all the princes, and no one knows that the knowledge of the king of Chu is actually no less than some great Confucianism. It's just that he is used to hiding clumsiness, and he never uses it as a gimmick to grandstand.

Jiu Niangfang didn't know it at first, but it was only by chance in his previous life that he learned that the King of Chu actually had the ability to never forget.

The king of Chu likes books, and loves books, and the most hidden in the house is all kinds of books and classics, plus he has the ability to never forget, Jiuniang simply doesn't dare to think about it anymore.

King Chu is a monster, this is not a derogatory term, but Jiu Niang's experience.