Chen Ruofu led Qingxi into the palace and talked with the queen for a long time. The people in the palace are all masters of listening, the queen asked, Chen Ruofu answered, although they never mentioned marriage, but they did reach a tacit understanding between the two parties.

When the two left, the queen left Chen Ruofu alone, and Qingxi consciously stood outside the hall and waited.

There was a peach forest outside the Fengyang Palace where the queen lived, and she quietly moved to the peach tree, raising her head to look at the scorching flowers. The pale pink of the peach forest shines dazzlingly in the sunshine, and a breeze blows, and the petals fall like rain, which is very beautiful. She pulled up her collar and reached out to catch the rain of petals, and a soft voice came from behind her, "Are you okay?" ”

When Qingxi turned around, the breeze flew with the hem of her skirt, and the petals of the rain floated over her jade-like face, and the peach blossoms on the human face reflected red.

She saluted and said, "With His Royal Highness Lao's concern, the medicine in the palace is very useful." ”

Xiao Yizheng smiled at the corner of his mouth, his eyes were clear, he was dressed in a moon-white auspicious cloud robe, and his back hand was erect, and he was indeed heroic.

"Don't call the table?" Xiao Yizheng asked with a low smile.

Qingxi smiled slightly: "This is in the palace." ”

"Come to meet the Queen?"

"Yes."

Xiao Yizheng also knew what the queen summoned to do. "The day before yesterday, I heard my father say that you are sick, and the medicine in the palace is not necessarily very expensive, but some of them are brought back by me from the south and north, and the effect is no worse than those cherished famous products, so I asked people to send them to the palace. Looking at you today, you look good. ”

"Yes, I'm fine."

As she was talking, there was another gust of wind, she took a breath of cool air, coughed twice, and the peach tree branches on the side swayed with the wind, and a flying petal fell, Xiao Yizheng immediately raised his hand to block the invasion of these petals flying for her.

Under the peach tree, the two stood in the rain of pink petals, one smiling and staring, and the other raised his hand to guard, this picture made the surrounding maids and officials couldn't help but look at it twice.

The queen standing under the corridor and Chen Ruofu beside her said softly: "Mrs. Chen, I look at this pair of children, they are very compatible, what do you say?" ”

Chen Ruofu looked at a pair of people not far away and nodded with a smile.

On the ninth day of the first month of March, the marriage decree was issued for King Heng and the daughter of the Ling Mansion, and the wedding day was scheduled for the ninth day of the fourth month. The Ministry of Rites began to be busy for the prince's wedding, although it was a royal marriage, but the six wedding ceremonies were indispensable, and Chen Ruofu was very busy.

The palace sent to teach Mama Xi, Qingxi learned those etiquette rules all day long, and he couldn't be idle for a moment.

Since the royal marriage, the threshold of the Ling Mansion has been almost flattened by the people who congratulate him, Ling Deyan is overwhelmed, thinking that his daughter is going to get married, and he is happy and worried.

If you want to say that there are people in the Ling Mansion who live as usual, it is Ling Qingsong. He has been in the top three since last year's scientific examination, when he was eighteen years old, and his reputation has spread all over Dacheng. The emperor also appreciated him a lot, saying that he would have his own place to go when he practiced for a few more years. After returning to Shangdu, he would study and meet friends as before, ride horses and enjoy the spring, and if he was free, he would pick these things to tease Qingxi, which aroused her envy and jealousy.

"I see that you went to Sujiang once, and your mood has slowed down a lot." Qingxi was forced by him to be anxious, and couldn't help mentioning this, but he was really happy that his brother was at ease.

Qing Song was silent for a while, and smiled faintly: "My grandfather's house is indeed a paradise. He smiled and raised his hand and tapped Qingxi's head: "You don't have to make fun of me." The world is long, how can a real man indulge in the emotions of the past all day long, and that is also a waste of the wisdom of the ancestors I read. He calmed down and said seriously, "I also hope that she can be well and happy." ”

Qingxi was relieved: "Yes." Sister Tong married into the Prince's Mansion, and the whole family knew that you were unhappy. In fact, your father and mother are also very worried about your marriage. It's just that they don't want to force you to accept another marriage at this time, so let it be. She paused and continued: "I met Sister Tong when I was in Baoding Mountain, and she told me in person that the prince was very good to her. ”

Qing Song nodded: "In the future, if you marry into the palace, you will have more opportunities to meet." He seemed to think of something, looked at Qingxi, and said gently: "Heng'er, I always feel that you are not so willing to marry into the royal family. On the way back from Sujiang, I heard about what happened at the Qing Poetry Conference one after another. No one knows your talent better than me. But letting such a reputation spread all over the world worries me. ”

"Are you afraid that I will be embarrassed by my fame?" Qingxi laughed.

"The wood is beautiful in the forest, and the wind will destroy it." Qing Song was rarely solemn, gently rubbed her head again, and said in a different tone: "Remember, no matter where you go, the Ling family is your dependence, don't wronged yourself." If you don't have a good time, don't talk about the palace, go all over the world, and your brother will help you. ”

Qingxi smiled happily with tears in her eyes: "Then you have to remember this." She patted Qingsong's shoulder and said magnificently: "Don't worry, I will protect myself and you." ”

Qingsong chuckled repeatedly: "It's really not my desire for you to protect us." After laughing, he slurped, as if he hesitated, but still asked, "Did Zeng Yuanyi look for you a few days ago?" You didn't see you when you were sick. He will leave for Beisu Prefecture the day after tomorrow. ”

"What?" This is indeed the first time Qingxi has heard such news.

"You don't know?"

"No one told me!"

"Also, the whole house is busy these days, I thought my father told you, maybe my father also thought I mentioned it to you."

"Why did Brother Zeng go to the Northern Army? Dad clearly said that General Zeng would not let him go to the border. Qingxi asked.

"I don't know. I only know that it was the Zeng family who invited the excerpt themselves, and the saint approved it. Qingsong frowned and continued: "But at this point in time, I doubt that it will have something to do with your marriage. ”

"My marriage?" Qingxi got up and turned around twice, came to Qingsong, and said in a low voice: "He will leave the day after tomorrow, brother, can you arrange for us to meet?" ”

"Isn't it?" Qing Song immediately refused: "You have to be a little scrupulous now, after all." ”

"When did you become so old-fashioned?" Qingxi stomped his feet and said, "Can't I see any men in the future?" ”

"That's not what it means. It's just that Zeng Yuanyi ...... him, "Qingsong wanted to say, that kid's mind even guessed seven or eight points by himself, and Qingxi didn't care much about this matter, and he didn't seem to have understood it all along. Therefore, she said that she admired King Heng, and she would be surprised.

"You can go and see him off! Just take me with you? Isn't this a discord! The palace didn't set these rules for me! Qingxi seemed to be really anxious, and said again and again.

Qingsong thought about it for a while, and felt that it was in the past that he was both reasonable and reasonable. Moreover, with the relationship between the two families, Zeng Qidao left Shangdu, and he really wanted to send one, so he agreed.

Early the next morning, the Lingfu carriage drove the two to the post pavilion outside the city.

The two waited by the post pavilion for a while, and then saw Zeng Qidao coming on horseback. He stiffened his horse outside the pavilion and turned over, but he stood still and did not seem to want to step forward.

Qingxi glanced at Qingsong suspiciously, and Qingsong rolled his eyes, indicating that he didn't know what he meant. She just wanted to step out of the pavilion, but Zeng Qidao strode over. Qingxi felt that there were not many days since he was gone, and how could this person lose weight.

"Brother Zeng." Seeing him step into the pavilion, she smiled as usual.

Zeng Qidao was slightly stunned, just looked at her, his eyes were heavy, and he looked like he wanted to say something.

Qingsong really couldn't stand it, and coughed lightly. "Why are you going alone, and you don't bring anyone?"

Zeng Qidao saluted at this time: "I don't need anyone to serve me, just go alone." ”

"Brother Zeng, I just learned that you were leaving, but why did Uncle Zeng suddenly let you go to Beisu?" Qingxi's eyes flashed and looked at him puzzled. Qingsong said that it was probably related to her marriage, and she didn't think it would be. The relationship between her and Zeng Qidao is only limited to the expectations of her parents, and it is impossible for others to associate themselves with the Zeng family.

Zeng Qidao was silent, looking lonely.

Qing Song sighed, looking at him like this, he was a little unbearable, so he said: "This is going to the north, the road is long, the wind, frost, snow and rain, you have to take care." ”

"Brother Zeng?" Qingxi looked at him and just looked at him so deeply, there was something strange in his heart, and he called him again.

"You...... Are you really willing to marry His Royal Highness King Heng? Zeng Qidao moved his lips and asked in a dumb voice.

Qingxi was stunned for a moment and nodded unnaturally.

Zeng Qidao was silent again, and the fine lines at the corners of his eyes were filled with sad silence. After a while, he swallowed his throat and said with great difficulty: "You are about to get married, and I have nothing to give." I remember that you said before that you wanted to go to Beisu Prefecture to drink Qingning Ganquan and become a princess, but I am afraid that your actions will be even more unfree. When I come back, I will bring you some, and I will congratulate you on your wedding. ”

Qingxi saw that he didn't want to mention more about the reason for going to Beisu, so he didn't ask and said with a smile.

Zeng Qidao took out a silk handkerchief from his arms, stared at the silk handkerchief, rubbed it in his hand a few times, and slowly handed it to her: "I asked me to return the silk handkerchief last time, but I haven't returned it, it's me who is wrong." Today's things are returned to their rightful owners. ”

Qingxi felt a pain in his heart for no reason, he always felt that he looked like he had done something wrong, and his face was also dyed with a deeper parting sorrow because of such emotions, thinking that every time they met on weekdays, he always took care of himself like a brother, Bao tolerated it, his eyes were sour, he took the silk handkerchief, and choked up: "You left in too much hurry, I didn't have time to prepare anything for you, I can only prepare some simple things for you with my brother, you must take care of yourself, and write to us when you have time." ”

Zeng Qidao smiled, "Born in a family of military generals, it is my duty to protect my family and defend the country. Beisu is abundant, don't worry. ”

The three of them exchanged a few more pleasantries, and Zeng Qidao arched his hand and said: "Sending you a thousand miles will eventually have to say goodbye, so you should go back early." ”

Although everyone was reluctant, they could only wave goodbye.

After Zeng Qidao stepped on the horse, he stared at Qingxi again for a long time, "Heng'er, there will be a period later!" After saying that, he raised his whip and stepped on the dust.

Qingxi took two steps forward, looked at the figure of a person and a horse far away, shed reluctant tears, lowered his head and wiped it with a silk handkerchief.