==Chapter 85==

At the night banquet in Furong Garden that day, the prince met Xiao Jiuniang by chance, and this thought flashed in his mind.

After all, the only girls he has come into contact with in so many years are Meng Changxi and Xiao Jiuniang. Meng Changxi didn't talk about it, he actually admired Jiu Niang a lot, but at that time he was in a complicated mood, and Jiu Niang was too young, this thought was just a flash, and he was thrown to Emperor Chengyuan in frustration.

At this time, the reason why this thought floated again was not that the prince had any thoughts about Jiu Niang, but that the unsmooth life made him sigh, which is a love that ordinary people will have.

"What about your little cousin? How are you doing? It is reported that she went to study in Guozijian, and it is very good to have this opinion at a young age. ”

Although the prince treats people gently and politely, he is not a person who likes to talk about a young girl, and the only one who has this treatment is Meng Changxi. At this time, hearing the prince mention Jiuniang, the king of Chu couldn't help but have a trace of doubt, and at the same time there was an inexplicable sense of vigilance, as if someone was coveting him. Especially combined with the prince's previous words that 'he should choose his own concubine', it made King Chu's heart very complicated.

Could it be that the prince once had any thoughts about Jiuniang? Why didn't he know?

I said it earlier, the King of Chu has never been an ordinary person, and it is not an exaggeration to say that it is a seven-trick exquisite heart, just this word and phrase can roughly piece together a picture of the truth, and I don't know why I feel relieved. After being relieved, there is a feeling of rising like a man's back, but it is not enough for outsiders.

"How could the royal brother mention that girl? This king may not have seen her in a long time. The King of Chu seemed to say unintentionally.

The prince didn't answer him directly, but sighed: "Being born in such a family, it's really embarrassing for her." ”

The meaning of the prince's words, the king of Chu naturally knew it.

Emperor Chengyuan has not relaxed his attention to himself and the Xiao family, and it is conceivable that Jiuniang went to the Chu Palace's mansion with great fanfare before, and it is conceivable that Emperor Chengyuan and the crown prince will know about it. However, the king of Chu has been in the world for so long, and he also has his own bottom code, and he should not be stingy in front of people, and he should not be exposed in front of people, and naturally he will not let it be revealed.

This is also why he said to Jiu Niang before, 'It's okay', although there is some trouble, it is not that he can't deal with it. It can be seen from the prince's words that what he did in private during this time was not useless, and it seems that Emperor Chengyuan already thought that Jiuniang's visit was instructed by the opportunistic Xiao family, and would not blame himself and the Xiao family for secretly communicating with each other.

This is very good, which is also the main reason why the King of Chu will come to the East Palace today.

Visiting the prince is one thing, and listening to the movement is the other.

After that, the two talked for a while, and when they saw that the prince was tired on his face, the king of Chu took his leave.

got into the carriage out of the palace, and the King of Chu's eyes darkened.

“…… I knew that today, when I was choosing a concubine, I should have chosen it myself......"

King Chu couldn't help but tighten his big palm resting on his lap.

*

The dialogue between the prince and the king of Chu naturally did not escape the ears of Emperor Chengyuan.

Not to mention that the prince sighed a little, Emperor Chengyuan didn't regret it at this time, he shouldn't have been hasty that day, and chose Wang Yan'er to be the crown princess.

In fact, Emperor Chengyuan was not hasty, the prince's choice of concubines was the top priority. The crown prince's choice of concubine, identity and family background is one of them, and appearance and personality need to be considered, including the appearance of the man, Emperor Chengyuan also considered it less, so Qin Tianjian and the Tai Hospital were not less tossed, but outsiders didn't know about it.

It seemed that there were many noble ladies who got the flower stickers that day, but in fact, there were only a few people who were decided. And the reason why Emperor Chengyuan felt that he was sloppy was only because the reality was not smooth, and he was too concerned about the prince.

He naturally didn't think that the prince was complaining, so he complained about the princess and the Wang family, that is, he hated the Wang family's goddaughter, and complained that Wang Yan'er couldn't stand up and couldn't make her body. But the daughter-in-law has already married into the door, even if it is for the sake of the prince's face, Emperor Chengyuan will not come out. Of course, this is only temporary, and no one knows if it will have a seizure after a long time.

At the same time, Emperor Chengyuan was even more annoyed with those who were secretly troubled, but he was old, and his sons were also older.

It's not that Emperor Cheng Yuan didn't feel this kind of power, but he deliberately ignored it, but instead blamed all the blame on others. Those who are secretly troubled are not uncounted in his heart, and then King Cheng and King Zhao were angry because of this, and they were tossed by Emperor Chengyuan.

At this time, Emperor Chengyuan coincided strangely with the ideas of the King of Chu.

Could it be that the prince is actually interested in the Xiao family's nine mothers?

It's just that the girl is a little young after all.

Emperor Chengyuan decided to take a look at the situation first, if the prince really likes it, or if Wang Yan'er has been useless, it is not impossible to carry that Xiao Jiuniang into the palace to be a side concubine for the prince.

After all, for Emperor Chengyuan, the world is his own, let alone a noble girl, as long as his son likes it, it is just a thing. Especially Emperor Chengyuan, who was already guilty of the prince because of the wedding.

And Xiao Jiuniang, who stayed in the Anguo Mansion, and the King of Chu, and even the crown prince of the East Palace did not know.

*

'Shangyuan Festival' has always been the most lively celebration festival in the whole Daqi.

Since the tenth day of the first lunar month, the government has lifted the curfew, and the people have been carnivaling for a long time, which can be described as no taboo. Lamp markets have been opened in various streets, among which the lamp markets in the east and west cities are the most prosperous and lively.

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the sky has just darkened, and there is a carnival of restlessness in the air in Chang'an City, several lanterns of different sizes are hung in front of every house, and the slightly richer people also set up lamp trees of different heights in front of the gate, and the richer ones will set up lantern sheds and lantern towers at the intersection or the square gate.

On the straight and wide Suzaku Street, the palace also ordered someone to set up a high lantern of Aoshan, and there is a lantern shed connected to the stage, which can be regarded as having fun with the people.

Anguo Mansion not only set up a lighthouse at the mouth of the house where its own mansion is located, but also set up a lantern shed on Suzaku Street, Suzaku Street is placed for the saint to see, although Emperor Chengyuan does not necessarily arrive, but the number of famous families has set up a lantern shed here, after all, in the early years, there was no shortage of people who were brilliant because of their own lanterns, and were recruited by the saint to see the emperor. Even with the current identity of the Xiao family, they don't fancy this, but under the attention of everyone, face is also extremely important.

However, this qiē has nothing to do with Xiao Jiuniang, she had made an appointment with Cheng Wenjing and Ruan Ling'er to go out to visit the light market today.

The agreed place was in Dongshi, and Jiuniang took Xiaocui out early.

As for Lianzhi and other servants, Jiuniang also gave them a holiday, leaving two people to guard the yard, and the others could also go out together to join in the fun.

When she arrived at the Mingxiang Pavilion, Jiu Niang saw Cheng Wenjing, dressed in red, standing there.

Cheng Wenjing looks good, and she deliberately dressed up today, and Jiuniang from a distance saw her, and at the same time, she also saw Wang Shilang standing beside her in a green shirt who looked particularly jade.

Although Jiuniang was a little surprised, she was not stunned, with such a good opportunity, with Cheng Wenjing's temperament, she would definitely pull Wang Shilang out. Originally, because of the rare excitement, I was a little excited in my heart, but at this time, it was silent.

Cheng Wenjing also saw Jiuniang, beckoning from afar.

"Jiuniang—"

Jiu Niang arrived, "Wenjing." ”

He nodded to Wang Shilang again, "Brother Wang." ”

Wang Shilang smiled gently, and after seeing Jiu Niang, his eyes flashed as warm as jade, and he bowed his head.

"Hey, that's not Ling'er, Ling'er, here-"

Today's Cheng Wenjing seems to be particularly excited, in fact, it can be imagined that it is rare to have such a lively time.

Ruan Ling'er heard the call and walked here, in addition to the maid Xiang'er, there was also an uninvited guest.

"Ruan Mengling, why are you here too?!"

Cheng Wenjing frowned, with a look of displeasure.

Ruan Ling'er looked at Ruan Mengling beside her, glanced at Cheng Wenjing and Xiao Jiuniang in embarrassment, and pulled the two to the side.

"Ling'er, why did you bring her too!" Without waiting for Ruan Ling'er to speak, Cheng Wenjing took the lead in asking.

As Ruan Linger's friend, she also knows about her brutal and willful half-sister, and Ruan Mengling has not made trouble with Ruan Linger before, but she was blocked by the uneven Cheng Wenjing, so the two have never been at odds.

"I can't help it, you don't know, my dad wants us sisters to get along, so-"

So needless to say, Cheng Wenjing and Xiao Jiuniang also understood.

This Ruan Chengmao is also really a bit ridiculous, it doesn't matter if he makes up for it afterwards, he has to act together as a family to make a harmonious attitude, so as to block Youyou's mouth. In the past few days of the New Year, the Xu family has taken Ruan Ling'er and Ruan Mengling sisters to go from house to house to visit relatives, and even to the Xu Mansion, in other words, if they killed the Xu family in the past, they would not have taken this cheap daughter to visit the 'grandfather' and 'grandmother'.

This method is a bit vulgar, but the effect is good, at least on the surface, no one is talking about Xu's unkindness anymore, as for the impeachment of the court, Ruan Chengmao has been a scholar for so many years, and he is not incapable, so he has a way to deal with the past.

After all, being talked about by those imperial history officials, it is nothing more than Ruan Chengmao's character and lax governance, Ruan Chengmao's character became famous for a while in his early years, and even Emperor Chengyuan didn't say anything about remarrying his wife, in fact, the most important thing is that he is not strict in governing his family. Now that the family is harmonious, naturally no one can talk about it.

Just like what the King of Chu said at the time, he was just making some trouble for him, and he didn't expect to be able to take Ruan Chengmao, it was just a vague warning.

"So we're going to have to take her?!" Cheng Wenjing looked disappointed.

"Wenjing, I'm sorry......" Ruan Ling'er lowered her eyelids and snorted.

"Okay, okay, just take it, I'm too lazy to talk to her anyway." Cheng Wenjing waved her hand absently, her eyes swept to that place, Liu Mei's eyebrows suddenly stood up, and she hurriedly ran over.

It turned out that when the three of them went to the side to talk, Ruan Mengling had already spoken to Wang Shilang, seeing that his cheeks were flushed, his eyes were flickering, and he looked like a little daughter's delicate appearance, and he was another admirer of Wang Shilang. And Wang Shilang was brought by Ruan Ling'er because of others, and he also dealt with it with a gentle and polite appearance, only Xiao Jiuniang saw the alienation hidden behind his gentleness and politeness.

Where could Cheng Wenjing see this scene, and hurriedly squeezed over to separate the two.

"Ruan Mengling, what are you doing?!"

"I didn't do anything, I just talked to Brother Shiro." Ruan Mengling blinked her eyes and said with an innocent expression.

"Brother Shiro is what you can call?!"

"Aren't you also called Brother Shiro? So what should I be called? ”

“……”

Well, the rest of the trip must be in the middle of fire and water.

Xiao Jiuniang looked helpless, Wang Shilang pulled Cheng Wenjing a little embarrassed and persuaded in a low voice, while Ruan Ling'er looked left and right and didn't know what to say, Ruan Mengling followed to the side, and her face, which was a little boring before, was full of smiles at this time.

The group walked forward and gradually disappeared into a field of colorful lanterns.

……

Jiu Niang just walked around for a while and got annoyed.

Without him, along the way, Cheng Wenjing and Ruan Mengling were like fighting cocks, bickering endlessly.

Wang Shilang was caught in the middle and it was not easy to interject, as for Ruan Ling'er, she persuaded a few words at first, but then it had no effect at all, so she could only look at the two helplessly. Jiu Niang stayed out of the way, and watched from beginning to end.

With Cheng Wenjing's sharp teeth, Ruan Mengling is not her opponent at all, but this girl doesn't seem to be discouraged at all, she has been defeated and defeated repeatedly, and Jiuniang is just watching a show, but it's not interesting to go to the lamp market.

The two of them were arguing over there, and they didn't find the center of the matter at all, Wang Shilang, who had long since retreated without a trace, and walked side by side with Jiuniang.

"Otherwise, let's find a place to rest?"

Wang Shilang looked at the girl with a half-drooping face beside him, and under the illumination of colorful lanterns, the whiteness and crystal of the girl's delicate little face were more and more set off.

Jiuniang thought about it and nodded. She is also a little tired after shopping for so long, and if she continues like this, she won't have to play today, just go home.

Ruan Ling'er didn't have an opinion, there happened to be a restaurant just in front of her, and several people went together.

The restaurant was full of guests at this time, and it was very lively, and there was no place after entering.

In fact, it can also be imagined that the light markets in the east and west cities have always been lively, and there are fireworks to see when they arrive, and there are already many rich and noble families who have already set up a private room near the location of the fireworks.

Wang Shilang didn't react until this time, and sighed again and again that he hadn't thought it through enough.

The other three didn't say anything, Ruan Mengling has always been a willful character, and this time she wanted to show herself in front of Wang Shilang, so she pulled the shopkeeper of the restaurant and asked him to move a position for himself and others, and even reported his father's name for this.

"Do you know who we are? Anyway, I don't care, shopkeeper, you must move a place for us today! Ruan Mengling said willfully with her chin half-raised, and she didn't forget to glance at Cheng Wenjing between her words.

At this moment, a male voice sounded on the railing on the second floor.

"Yo, fifth brother, isn't that your little cousin?"

I saw a handsome man with a golden crown holding a wine cup, looking here by the railing, his eyes were full of smiles, but Jiu Niang saw some malice in it.

It turned out to be King Zhao.