Shen Wanzhen and Zhao Shizhen carried the sedan chair straight into the harem, rested in front of the gate of Cining Palace, and walked out of the sedan chair, Shen Wanzhen glanced at the majestic and magnificent Cining Palace, took a long breath to relieve tension, Zhao Shizhen looked at her, his eyes were full of tenderness and encouragement, grabbed her hand, held it tightly, and led her to the palace gate.

"The prince and the princess have arrived." As soon as the eunuch saw the sedan chair of the king of Anyang, he trotted all the way back to the queen mother.

The two went up the steps, and the eunuch who went in to return ran out of it, "The Queen Mother Xuan."

The prince and the princess entered the palace. ”

Shen Wanzhen's hand was held by Zhao Shijiao, feeling uncomfortable, afraid that the Queen Mother would not be satisfied with the intimacy between the two, so she would withdraw her hand, but Zhao Shijiao clenched it tightly, and pulled it out a few times, but he didn't pull it out.

When the two of them turned the rich peony Su embroidery screen, she pulled out her hand suddenly, and saw that the Empress Dowager Guo was sitting on a high seat and was looking at the door.

Although the Empress Dowager Guo is the queen mother, she is also an ordinary mother and mother-in-law, she can't be too intimate with her son in front of the queen mother, so that the queen mother doesn't like it.

Shen Wanzhen deliberately slowed down a step, and followed behind Zhao Shijiao in half a step, Zhao Shizhen understood her intentions, laughed in his heart, and went straight to the hall.

The eunuch had put on his mattress, and the two of them knelt down together and bowed down.

"Okay, the rocks and the ground are cold, get up." Empress Dowager Guo is much kinder than before marriage.

The two saluted, thanked and sat down, Zhao Shijiao sat at the top, and Shen Wanzhen sat next to him at the bottom.

"I was tired enough yesterday, didn't I say I asked you to come later, why did you come so early?" Empress Dowager Guo was disgusted, felt sorry for her son, and thought to herself, probably didn't sleep well all night, and got up early in the morning.

"It's the princess who is in a hurry to salute the queen mother, Cui Zhu came over." Zhao Shijiao said good things for her in front of her mother, Shen Wanzhen glanced at him, and was grateful to him for thinking about her all the time.

Empress Dowager Guo glanced at her daughter-in-law, "Princess An was also very tired yesterday. The Queen Mother seems to be quite satisfied with her sensibility.

Shen Wanzhen owes herself, "The princess's marriage, the queen mother worries the most, the concubine entrusts the blessing of the queen mother, so that she can be at ease, if you are tired, the queen mother is the hardest." ”

The dowry to Shen Wanzhen's mother's family is handled by the Queen Mother, and the Queen discusses the preparation of the dowry list, of course, this dowry should come out of the palace, not from the palace, the royal daughter-in-law is also the same as the people, for the dowry, the Empress Dowager Guo is painstaking, to make the best, the queen is happy to flatter the Queen Mother, and the Queen Mother will do it, Shen Wanzhen's words, the Queen Mother listened to the heart of the heart.

"It's good to know the way, the mourning family didn't bother with this heart in vain, don't think that the mourning family always deliberately makes it difficult for your daughter-in-law." This is said to her son, the queen mother means to see how good I am to your daughter-in-law, you still don't appreciate it, and disobey your mother for your daughter-in-law.

Zhao Shijiao smiled, "Erchen knows that the queen mother is in the world, how can she be comparable to an ordinary woman." ”

Empress Dowager Guo smiled, her son's flattering words raised her, she was in a good heart, and she was kind to her daughter-in-law.

"In the future, there will be a princess to take care of the prince for the mourning family, and the mourning family will be relieved."

Shen Wanzhen hurriedly got up and said respectfully: "The concubine respectfully obeys the orders of the queen mother, and she must do her best to live up to the trust of the queen mother." ”

"In the future, they will be a family, and the princess doesn't have to be too restrained." Empress Dowager Guo looked at Shen Wanzhen because of nervousness, the atmosphere did not dare to breathe, she was honestly afraid, she looked at her son several times, looked at her son's face and acted, she was worried that her son was a soft persimmon, pinched by his daughter-in-law, and had no opinion, but now when she looks at it, Shen is not as arrogant as she imagined, she has a strong personality, but she also has a docile side of a virtuous woman, and she has a good impression of her.

Empress Dowager Guo said to her son again: "The prince is married, and the mourning family has already told the emperor, and the affairs of the court should also be more concerned and share the emperor's worries." ”

"Mother, the son is not interested in major events in the DPRK, if the queen mother has to ask her son to learn something, let the son go back and think about it."

King An is a title, representing a certain noble status, but he holds some official positions and manages some things accordingly, so that he can have real power, and Empress Dowager Guo has high expectations for her son.

Shen Wanzhen sat under Zhao Shijiao, and heard from his tone of voice that her husband was not keen on court affairs, and had been deliberately avoiding it, when she first met, she intuitively felt that he was unruly and unruly, hiding something very deep, so now she more or less knows what Lu Dao is.

"That's fine, you're newly married, rest for two days first, and tell me when you're ready." Empress Dowager Guo is not very satisfied, but what her son doesn't want to do, she can't be forced, just like marrying a wife, the most embarrassing thing is not up to him, her son has a low-key personality and has no intention of political affairs, and her daughter-in-law's words may be more effective than her as a mother.

So he said: "You go back first, your daughter-in-law stays, I have something to say, she will go to the palaces to meet the queen and concubines in a while." ”

Zhao Shijiao looked hesitant and didn't move, "What else does mother have to say?" Obviously, he was not at ease with his mother, and he was afraid that his mother would embarrass Shen Wanzhen.

"Will the mourning family eat your princess, don't worry! Our ladies were affectionate and affectionate, chatting about some gossip, and after a while, the mourning family sent someone to send her to the palace of the queen and the concubines. Empress Dowager Guo thought to herself, the marriage is done, and her face under the mourning family is equivalent to her son's face, she is embarrassed, what can her son choose.

Zhao Shijiao glanced at Shen Wanzhen, Shen Wanzhen smiled and nodded at him, signaling him to go with confidence.

Seeing her son go down, Empress Dowager Guo said: "Now that you are married, the prince should also put his mind on the affairs of the court, you are his wife, you should persuade him more." ”

Shen Wanzhen stood up, listened respectfully, and promised yes.

"In this harem, you will go to meet the empress, the noble concubine and the concubine, and other people don't have to see them one by one, anyway, in the thirty years of the Chinese New Year's Eve, the harem family banquet, you can see it, what the empress, the noble concubine and the concubine say, you just listen, don't say more."

Empress Dowager Guo is afraid that she will pass through the door newly, and she doesn't know what is going on in the Lu Dao Palace, in this palace, which one is not carrying twelve hearts, a simple sentence, there may be a mystery hidden inside, since she is her daughter-in-law, she is a family, and there are common interests and powerful relationships.

Shen Wanzhen listened and agreed one by one.

"Gonggong Cui, you take the princess to the palaces to salute."

"Yes, Queen Mother."

Coming out of Cining Palace, Shen Wanzhen secretly sighed, and when she looked up, she saw Zhao Shijiao standing at the gate of the palace waiting for her, and her heart was hot.

walked over and laughed quietly: "Why hasn't the prince left yet?" ”

He pulled her aside and asked nervously; "The queen mother is not difficult for you, is she?"

There was a light snow in the sky, and the road was covered with a thin layer, she saw the snowflakes falling on his shoulders, and gently flicked them away with her hand, and whispered: "It's okay, don't worry." ”

He pulled her down the steps, and Cui Changhai left some distance to follow behind.

Zhao Shijiao saw Cui Changhai following and was relieved.

"The prince will go back, the concubine will go back in a while."

Out of the weeping flower gate, the two separated, Cui Changhai followed, raised an umbrella to cover her, and said with a smile: "The prince is really good to the princess, and I don't feel at ease at this meeting." ”

Shen Wanzhen looked back, Zhao Shijiao was still standing in the snow, looking at her back, the snowflakes on her head were fluttering, Wang Wengui ran out of the gatehouse and held up an oil umbrella above his head.

"Princess, Kunning Palace is the closest to here, let's go to Queen Kunning Palace first." In addition to the queen mother in the harem, the queen's position is the most noble, and the palace has always been a place where rules are respected.

Kunning Palace is in the central axis of the harem, the tall and heavy palace wall, there is a sense of solemnity, the two of them walk in the middle of the road, Shen Wanzhen can only see the sky above her head, thinking, the atmosphere in this palace is depressing and heavy, Zhao Shijiao grew up in the deep palace, there is no freedom, and there is probably a lack of fun in childhood.

This road is not short, Shen Wanzhen walked slowly, chatting with Cui Changhai, asking him some trivial things such as the Queen Mother's preferences, eating habits, etc.

Cui Changhai listened to Princess An's detailed questions, even when the Queen Mother got up and when she rested, Cui Changhai glanced at her, except for asking the Queen Mother about her life, Princess An didn't talk about anything else, she was really a cautious and careful woman.

When I arrived at the gate of Kunning Palace, there were eunuchs who had already returned to Queen Li, and some eunuchs said, "The queen mother invites Princess An to come in." ”

Cui Changhai stayed outside, and Shen Wanzhen slowly went up to the hall and made a big salute, "The concubine visits the queen." ”

Empress Li's warm voice came, "Princess An is exempt from the courtesy and gives a seat." ”

Shen Wanzhen thanked her and got up and sat down.

"This palace has heard of Princess An for a long time, and I finally saw it today." Empress Li took a closer look at this Shen family, although her appearance was pure, but none of the concubines sent to King An's mansion were more beautiful than this Shen family, but King An liked her, Queen Li felt puzzled.

"Let the queen smile." Shen Wanzhen bowed respectfully and said.

"The third brother values love and righteousness, a rare good man, the two of you have come together after some twists and turns, it is the fate of God" Empress Li knew about the Empress Dowager's cup of poisonous wine, and admired her decisiveness.

"Thanks to the Queen's mother." Shen Wanzhen owes herself.

Empress Li saw that Princess An was silent, respectful and polite, and did not have the slightest intention of flattering, and she couldn't help but look up to her.

Thinking of the emperor's entrustment, he asked casually: "The emperor said that the third brother is now married, and the affairs of the court and the court have to worry about it, I don't know what the third brother thinks?" ”

This is what it means to test her with words, if King An is keen on power and husband and wife are one, she will definitely help her husband to calculate, and the queen will mention it first, if King An has the heart to participate in politics, she will not miss this opportunity.

Queen Li looked at her, waiting for her answer, Shen Wanzhen was a little embarrassed, the queen mother let herself persuade the prince to forge ahead, how could she answer, so as not to offend the queen mother, and not let the queen misunderstand that King An is ambitious, and the king is like a tiger. ”

Queen Li stared at her, thoughtful, Princess An was not keen on this matter, and she didn't show too much power**, it seems that the emperor's proposition is good, Princess An is just an ordinary woman, she has no ambition, and she is also compatible with King An.

After gossiping, Shen Wanzhen withdrew.

Cui Changhai waited at the gate of the palace, saw her come out, and stepped forward, "The slave thought that the princess would come out in a while, but I didn't expect it to come out so soon." ”

The two of them went down the steps, the sky was clear, the snow stopped, the sun showed her face, and the warm sunlight shone on her, and she still felt cold, perhaps because the palace was full of cold stones, and there was no heat.

Shen Wanzhen waited outside the gate of Concubine Mingui's palace, and a eunuch shouted: "Princess An is here." ”

When Cui Changhai came, he didn't mention Concubine Min Gui on the road, and some words could not be said in person, at this moment, Cui Changhai only nodded deeply at Shen Wanzhen, and Shen Wanzhen understood that this master was not a good stubble.

When she entered the palace gate, she caught a glimpse of a noble middle-aged woman sitting on the chaise longue, who was about the same age as the Queen Mother, but she did not have the Queen Mother's fierce color, and her smile was serene.

Shen Wanzhen fell down and bowed, "The concubine asks for peace to the noble concubine." ”

Concubine Min Gui hurriedly instructed left and right, "Quickly pick up Princess An, the number of etiquette is waived, our ladies meet for the first time, this vulgar etiquette is weird." ”

As she spoke, she beckoned Shen Wanzhen to sit beside her, Shen Wanzhen hesitated slightly, then sat down beside her obediently, and Concubine Min Gui took her hand, "Nine days are counted, it's cold, the princess comes over in the cold, look at the thin body, don't freeze." ”

"Out of the way." Shen Wanzhen touched her hand, soft and delicate, it was a feminine and gentle hand.

Concubine Min Gui was warm, shushing the cold and asking for warmth, Shen Wanzhen actually felt close when she heard it, this was the second noble woman in the harem in the previous dynasty except for the queen mother.

"Princess An looks weak and can't help it, I have to take care of it, as soon as I go to winter, I will be sick and sick, and I take the prescription prescribed by the imperial doctor every year, it works very well, this palace asked him to go to the palace to show you, prescribe a few doses of decoction, and recuperate." Concubine Min Gui seems to care about her very much, and she is closer than the Queen Mother's serious mother-in-law.

"Concubine Xie Gui, the concubine has strong bones." She didn't want to contact anyone in the palace. Leave aside the few incidents.

Min Guifei's son of the second prince Li Wang sat in the southwest, is the only one who has troops outside, when the emperor was alive, he had made great achievements, and his prestige in the court was very high, and the emperor treated him with deep brotherhood and depended on him.

Concubine Min Gui's eyes flashed when she looked at her, "It's okay, the princess is young, unlike my old woman, who is sick and painful every day, and she doesn't leave the medicine jar." ”

Concubine Min Gui said something else, Shen Wanzhen took advantage of her to speak, got up to say goodbye, and walked out, thinking that Concubine Min Gui was amiable, but behind this smile, there was always something else.

Cui Changhai saw her figure coming out of the palace, greeted her, and glanced at her face with small eyes, "Princess, did you go to Concubine Cao's palace first?" ”

"Okay" Shen Wanzhen went down the steps, and Cui Changhai followed closely, "The second prince has not returned to the palace for the New Year for several years, and I heard that he will return to the palace for the next year, and now he is on the way." ”

"Will Princess Li also come back with her?"

"That's natural, the Liwang Mansion has been uninhabited for several years, and it has been newly renovated, and I heard that it has been cleaned up."

Saying that, I arrived at the palace gate of Concubine Cao, Shen Wanzhen is familiar with this place, Concubine Cao and the Zhan family are related to each other, the last time they met Shen Wanzhen was Mrs. Zhan, it didn't take long for her to become Princess An, and it was a little embarrassing for the two sides to meet.

There was no one at the gate of the palace, there was no eunuch, Cui Changhai dragged a long voice, "Princess An asks to see the concubine." ”

"The concubine asks Princess An to come in." A eunuch ran out.

Shen Wanzhen hesitated for a moment, then calmly entered the hall and knelt down to salute.

Concubine Cao was still gentle and gentle, "Princess An, we meet again." ”

Concubine Cao's sentence of meeting again made Shen Wanzhen stunned, thinking that at the beginning, she was tricked by King An and others, but she didn't think that today she would become husband and wife.

"The concubine didn't expect it to be today." Shen Wanzhen sat down calmly.

"That's the truth." Concubine Cao believes that she never dreamed that there would be today's glory and wealth, this marriage, no one can think of it, dare not think of it.

Concubine Cao has heard about Uncle Zhan's mansion, Mrs. Zhan has come to beg her to plead with the queen mother and the emperor, Concubine Cao thought twice and refused, no one can help with this matter, it is known that Uncle Zhan was forced to resign from the title, and the emperor has also been allowed to play, reading that he is an old minister, the Zhan family stays in the capital, and the uncle still lets the Zhan family live with the family, which is also an extra favor.

Concubine Cao didn't mention these things, mentioning them to increase embarrassment, and there was a gap between each other, and the people in the palace were pragmatic, clear, and relatively indifferent.

The two of them didn't have anything to say, and after a cup of tea, Shen Wanzhen retired.

Cui Changhai said: "Concubine Xie's palace is just on the way, not far away. ”

Concubine Xie left a deep impression on Shen Wanzhen, Concubine Xie is also in her early thirties, with beautiful eyebrows and handsome eyes, she is a beauty, although she is no longer young, but looking at her appearance, she can still vaguely see the beauty of the world.

Shen Xuanzhen sat down.

"Princess An, I have admired the name for a long time." Concubine Xie is no longer very clear apricot eyes, but she is still seductive, and when she speaks, she looks her eyes up and down, which makes Shen Wanzhen like a thorn in her back, and she can't tell where it is uncomfortable.

"The concubine is teasing." Shen Wanzhen smiled faintly, met her gaze, and did not flinch.

"The princess is from the palace of the Queen Mother?" When Concubine Xie mentioned the Queen Mother, she made a slight movement, grabbed the red sour branch wood Arhat next to her and collapsed the handrail, and did not escape Shen Wanzhen's eyes.

Shen Wanzhen bowed slightly, "The concubine beat Concubine Cao's palace." ”

Concubine Xie's hand loosened, "Didn't the prince come with the princess?" ”

"The prince has returned to the palace first."

"Back to the concubine, send lunch to the imperial dining room." A eunuch went up to the temple and replied.

"If the princess doesn't think my food is rough, stay and eat with the palace?" Concubine Xie sincerely invited her to stay in the palace for dinner.

Shen Wanzhen stood up, "Concubine Xie, it's been a long time since the concubine came out, it's time to go back to the palace, and I'll come back another day to disturb the concubine." ”

Shen Wanzhen thought secretly, the food in the palace is not so delicious, in the palace fighting novel, even if the harem concubines are good sisters, they don't eat things in other palaces, they don't even dare to drink tea, they are a bit of a soldier, she doesn't believe that Concubine Xie was poisoned, but she really doesn't like her.

Out of the palace gate, Cui Changhai was still standing at the palace gate waiting for her, and said: "The queen mother instructed that the princess doesn't have to go back to Cining Palace, it's not early, go back to the palace directly!" ”

Shen Wanzhen seemed to have received amnesty, and walked all the way out of the palace without stopping, and got into a sedan chair to return to the palace.

"The princess is back." Zhao Shijiao was reading a book, and when he heard that Shen Wanzhen was back, he stood up and went out, Chen Fu looked at the prince a few times, and slandered, and the prince couldn't hold his breath, and greeted the princess in person, and the identity of the prince should be waiting in the house.

As soon as Shen Wanzhen entered the door with a cool air, Zhao Shijiao took her in his arms on his back, "The princess is tired." ”

Shen Wanzhen lay lazily in his arms, "Lord Wang, the concubine is hungry." ”

Zhao Shijiao hurriedly ordered left and right, "Quickly pass the rice." ”

On the main hall, there is a large square table of mahogany gold carving sea water moire inlaid stone, full of dishes, there are more than 30 dishes.

The two sat down opposite, the maid served a bowl of japonica rice, put it in front of the princess, Shen Wanzhen held a spoon in one hand, a bowl in the other, the dishes on the table, she only picked up a few things from the front, and in an instant a bowl of rice was down, and the empty bowl was handed to the embroidered chrysanthemum behind her, put a bowl on it, and ate it again, during which she didn't care about looking at Zhao Shijiao opposite.

Zhao Shijiao stared at her, guessing that she was probably hungry, and couldn't help but feel distressed, secretly thinking, the palace will take her less in the future, seeing that she is careful everywhere today, and she is not free to be restrained, and she feels very uncomfortable when she thinks about it.

Probably stimulated by her eating speed, he also ate three bowls in a row, put down the dishes and chopsticks, saw that she didn't eat, and asked, "Are you full?" ”

She hummed, she put her chopsticks first, watched him eat a lot, and asked a little apologetically: "Why don't you eat first, you don't have to wait for the concubine." ”

"If I eat first, will I be able to eat so much?" He teased.