After the pacification of Goguryeo, the whole country rejoiced and celebrated the great victory! The talented and benevolent crown prince Li Hong was sixteen years old at the age of 16 and was deeply loved by the emperor.

The emperor saw that he had grown up, filial piety and benevolence, sympathy for the people, although he was weak and sickly, but he had reached the age of talking about marriage, so he arranged for him to marry.

The crown princess is the future queen, and she must be able to honor the world, so the selection of concubines has always been cautious and strict.

The emperor and queen were ready to select their well-dressed children as brides from among the officials with high grades in the "Surname Directory", and issued an order to ask the civil and military officials to recommend their daughters, sisters, nieces, granddaughters and other relatives since the age of 10.

For a while, the world was in turmoil, and the Beijing officials took advantage of the geographical advantage to pick and send first, and the magistrates picked and sent later, and the women who were selected to send them would give silver coins as a dowry. There are a total of 1,000 young women gathered in Chang'an.

Empress Wu sent eunuchs with experience in service, such as inner attendants, inner attendants, and inner attendants, to select beautiful women. The beauties stood in line every 100 people in order of age or surname to be reviewed.

The chamberlain walked back and forth from head to tail, from left to right, carefully observing whether the eyes, ears, mouth, and nose of the young women were upright, whether their hair was beautiful, whether their skin was white, and whether their shoulders and backs were straight. Knocking out 500 people in one day.

The next day, the chamberlain asked the woman's place of origin, name, age, hobbies, etc., and listened to her voice, and if the voice was not loud and mellow enough, and if it was not good, she was ordered to go down. Two hundred more will be eliminated.

The confessor took a ruler and measured the woman's hands, feet, arms, and legs, and then examined her walking pace and manners. Eliminate those with slightly shorter wrists, slightly larger toes, those who walk from side to side, and those who behave lightly, a total of 200 people, and a hundred people remain.

These 100 carefully selected young women were all summoned to the inner palace, and the elder palace of Shang Gong, Shang Fu, and Shang Power led the elders to conduct inspections, and then eliminated fifty people, leaving fifty people to be selected.

Li Zhi and Empress Wu personally met with them, and selected five very satisfactory beauties as candidates for the crown princess, and the other forty-five were assigned to each palace as internal officials.

The five candidates are: Chen Wan'er, the daughter of Chen Zheng, the general of Zuo Yuchao, Pei Xiaolian, the daughter of Pei Judao, the general of Zuo Jinwu, Guo Jinhua, the granddaughter of Guo Wuyi, the doctor of Chaosan, Yang Xiaolan, the daughter of Yang Sijian, the secretary of Siwei, Shaoqing, and Zhang Guiyu, the granddaughter of Zhang Wenjun, the waiter of Dongtai.

On the auspicious day of the zodiac, the palace held a singing and dancing banquet, and the crown prince Li Hong personally came out to meet the five candidates, dine and chat with them. The candidates performed a talent show in turn.

After the banquet was over, Li Hong told the emperor and said, "My son likes Yang Xiaolan the most." ”

Li Zhi and Empress Wu looked at each other and smiled, and Empress Wu asked, "Why do you like this girl the most?" I don't think the others are bad! ”

Li Hong replied: "These five girls are all beautiful women in a hundred, and they have their own strengths and weaknesses in terms of appearance, and they are among the best!" Chen Wan'er can play the piano, Pei Xiaolian can calligraphy, Guo Jinhua can paint, Zhang Guiyu can dance, and Yang Xiaolan has both, she is proficient in piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and can also dance the music and dance of Zhenghe and Yonghe! ”

Li Zhi stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Oh? My son has observed much more carefully than me, since Yang Xiaolan is so prominent and has won the heart of my son, then make her the crown princess! ”

Empress Wu looked around and said, "Xiaolan, come and sit with the prince." Well, it's really a talented woman, a natural pair! Zhang Wenjun, you go to the Ministry of Rites to select an auspicious day and prepare a guard of honor! ”

Zhang Wenjun obeyed the order and left. Yang Xiaolan came over and sat with Li Hong, very close.

Li Hong looked at her with a smile, and saw that she combed her hair in a black bun, arranged flowers and uranium gold steps, wore a blue narrow sleeve top, a green saro shawl on her shoulders, and a red bouquet skirt of golden flowers.

When Yang Xiaolan saw all the nobles looking at her, she couldn't help but be ashamed, and looked down, like a delicate flower!

Zhou Guogong and Wu Minzhi, the prince's guest, also watched the process of the prince's selection of concubines on the spot, and their faces were cloudy. On the surface, he pretended to be very happy and warmly congratulated Li Hong, but in fact, he was suffering in his heart.

Wu Minzhi thought: Yang Xiaolan was selected by you, I don't think it's as beautiful as Ah Mei, but at present, she is gorgeous, don't you always propose marriage to me? I want her to be my wife, hee-hee, will you agree? If you don't agree, then I'll rob it, and see what you can do to me? Ha ha. But he didn't show it.

Yang Xiaolan's father Yang Sijian is the cousin of Mrs. Rongguo, so the beautiful Yang Xiaolan and Wu Minzhi are cousins. Yang Sijian once served as a member of the prince's middle house and accompanied Li Hong to study.

He also compiled 500 volumes of "Yaoshan Yucai" with Xu Jingzong, Xu Yushi, and Shangguan Yi, and received rich rewards such as higher grades and silks.

He is an old minister of the East Palace and has a good relationship with Li Hong, who has feelings for him, so he chose his daughter as the crown princess. Yang Xiaolan grew up in a scholarly family, knows the rhythm of music, the history of the Ming Dynasty, is good at singing and dancing, and is versatile.

After being elected as the quasi-crown princess, others looked at her every move, smile and smile, and became even more distinctive, saying that her skin was as white as jade, her appearance was superb, and she contained the beauty of the city and the country, and she was the embodiment and ruler of beauty!

Empress Wu sent two palace maids in Tsing Yi to the Yang Mansion to wait for her and teach her to learn the etiquette rules in the palace. She usually likes to paint and read, and is idle and quiet.

The crown prince Li Hong has a lot of affairs, and he has to seize the time to study, but also deal with the affairs of the state entrusted by Li Zhi, and meet with the ministers, without a good body, he can't resist. But he is frail and sickly, so he rarely visits Yang Xiaolan, and usually pushes away all kinds of chores that can be pushed off, and recuperates in the bedroom.

Wu Minzhi acted as a bluebird messenger between the two, often shuttling back and forth to deliver messages.

In the first month of the second year of the general chapter, Wu Minzhi loaded a cart with gifts, including ten urns of mulberry wine, ten pots of sesame oil, ginseng nectar, various delicious pastries and exotic flowers and fruits, and other gifts, which were ready to be sent to Yang's mansion to express New Year's condolences to Yang Xiaolan's family.

After coming to the Yang Mansion, Wu Minzhi greeted Yang Sijian and Mrs. Zhang, wished the Yang family a happy New Year, and then offered gifts. Yang Xiaolan came out to meet the guests accompanied by the palace maid and said, "Hello cousin! Happy New Year Cousin! ”

Wu Minzhi also said words of blessing, Yang Sijian left him for lunch, and asked Yang Xiaolan to accompany him to the garden to relax.

In the garden, plum blossoms, chrysanthemums and spring flowers bloom in the cold. Wu Minzhi said as he walked: "Cousin, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince asked me to convey New Year's greetings to you!" ”

Yang Xiaolan said: "Please also ask my cousin to convey my New Year's greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!" "I'll pass it on, cousin!" Wu Minzhi said: "Lamei is so fragrant, just like my cousin!" ”

Yang Xiaolan said: "My cousin is suave and handsome, just like this chrysanthemum!" "Hehe, my cousin has won the prize, can my cousin dance the Hu people?" Wu Minzhi asked.

Yang Xiaolan said: "No, I have only learned the Central Plains court dance. "I have seen the Hu Teng dance danced by the Tocharian prince in the East Palace, it is really a combination of rigidity and softness, and it is beautiful!" Wu Minzhi said: "Come, I'll jump to show you!" ”

Wu Minzhi came to the flat ground in the middle of the garden and danced in imitation of the Hu Teng dance of the Tocharian prince. Yang Xiaolan looked at it, it was really full of masculinity, and it was slightly feminine, with a charming and sunny style, and her spirit was very good-looking.

Yang Xiaolan and the two palace maids also imitated and danced the Hu Teng dance together, and Wu Minzhi demonstrated while dancing and guided them to learn this dance.

Yang Xiaolan dances this dance as a daughter, soft and strong, yin and yang are harmonious, and there is a unique flavor! Wu Minzhi thought it was very beautiful, and said: "The hands are like soft wattles, the skin is like clotted fat, the smile is clever, and the eyes are beautiful!" ”

Yang Xiaolan turned around and smiled, and said, "If only His Royal Highness the Crown Prince could be as good at talking, understanding, and lively as his cousin!" ”

Wu Minzhi said happily: "If my cousin didn't participate in the selection of concubines, would she be willing to marry me?" Yang Xiaolan did not answer.

Wu Minzhi leaned into her ear and whispered: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is the prince, and the courtiers should not say anything about him." But if he becomes an ordinary subject, with his physical qualifications, he will not be worthy of his cousin! ”

Yang Xiaolan was startled, broke away the two palace maids, told them to get drinks, and then asked, "Could it be that the legendary disease is real?" "He has tuberculosis, and he's sick and sick!" Wu Minzhi said categorically.

"Huh?" Yang Xiaolan was taken aback and said, "What can I do?" Can't tuberculosis be cured? Is there no way to serve the imperial doctor? ”

Wu Minzhi spread his hands and said: "No one has a way to treat it, including Shangyao Fengyu, Imperial Doctor, Imperial Doctor, Imperial Doctor, Medical Doctor, Heavenly Master, and Great Virtue, they have all tried, but it is useless!" ”

Yang Xiaolan said nervously: "Then if I marry in the past, won't I have to be a widow?" Although the status is high and the materials are abundant, what is the use of that? Ay! ”

Wu Minzhi just wanted this effect, and when he saw that the goal was achieved, he didn't say anything more, and comforted: "Cousin still thinks on the bright side, anyway, the wood is already in the boat, and no one can change it!" ”

At this time, the two palace maids brought drinks, and Wu Minzhi and Yang Xiaolan picked up the drinks and drank them.

When the Qingming Festival arrived, the Empress Wu planned to hold a silkworm ceremony on March 15, and sent the inner attendants and inner counselors to go out to summon the foreign women to the northern suburbs to participate in the meeting.

Wu Minzhi persuaded the crown prince Li Hong to ask Yang Xiaolan to participate in the meeting to worship the silkworm clan and praise the silkworm ceremony to please A-Niang, and Li Hong agreed.

Wu Minzhi personally drove the chariot in front, and sent the Donggong driver to drive the chariot to the rear and drove to Yang Sijian's house. When he arrived at Yang's house, the housekeeper recognized Wu Minzhi and invited him in, and Mrs. Zhang came out to entertain the guests.

Wu Minzhi explained his intentions, and Mrs. Zhang invited Yang Xiaolan to meet.

Wu Minzhi saw her spring dress, like a hibiscus out of the water, fresh and refined, and couldn't help but be excited, and said, "Congratulations cousin, on a date with His Royal Highness the Prince, please!" "That is, please Yang Xiaolan is tired of Zhai Che.

Yang Xiaolan took two maids to ride in the car together. Wu Minzhi led the car to Kunming Pool, Yang lifted the curtain and asked the driver: "Why don't you go to the East Palace?" The driver replied: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is waiting in Kunming Pool." ”

Kunming Pond is between Fengshui and Weishui in the southwest of Chang'an, it is built by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty to imitate Dianchi Lake, with a radius of forty miles, and the smoke and waves are vast. In the pool, there is the Guizhu Yanbo Palace, the three-zhang long stone whale, and the dragon's head boat, you can play by boat, and there are palaces and pavilions next to the pool.

After Wu Minzhi arrived at Kunming Pool, he parked, and a messenger from the East Palace rode a horse to report the news, saying: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has urgent state affairs to handle and can't come, please ask Zhou Guogong to escort Yang Xiaolan home!" ”

Wu Minzhi agreed, and said, "Okay, please rest assured, the servant will send the lady home immediately!" After the messenger of the East Palace left, he did not send Yang Xiaolan home, but led Yang Xiaolan to play in Kunming Pool.

Wu Minzhi led Yang Xiaolan and the maid to board the dragon head boat, and personally rocked the oars to see the stone whale. The maids had never been on a boat, and they were dizzy and vomiting when they were shaken, so Wu Minzhi sent them to the Guizhu Yanbo Hall in the pool to rest, and he rowed into the distance with Yang Xiaolan.

After the two of them saw the stone whale, Wu Minzhi saw that there were only two lonely men and widows on the boat, and she was charming and graceful, and suddenly had a bad thought, and pressed Yang Xiaolan down on the flower mat of the dragon head boat and ravaged her.

After finishing the incident, he also helped Yang Xiaolan dress and wipe her tears and tidy up her hairpin.

Wu Minzhi persuaded her not to be sad, if she couldn't be the crown princess, he was willing to marry her, and besides, His Royal Highness the prince was not in good health and suffered from tuberculosis, and it might not last long to marry.

Yang Xiaolan has actually fallen in love with the suave Wu Minzhi for a long time, and now when she sees the raw rice cooked and matured, she can only think about the benefits, half-push and half-do, and wander with him, smiling coquettishly, as if it was fine.

Wu Minzhi rowed to the Guizhu Yanbo Hall to pick up the maid and return to the shore together, went to the palace building for dinner, and then drove Yang Xiaolan back to the house, which did not arouse any suspicion before and after.

A few months later, Yang Xiaolan had a pregnancy report, and the wedding date was approaching.

Yang Sijian and his wife were shocked when they found out that their daughter was pregnant, and asked her: "Did you make love with the crown prince Li Hong when you went out on a date?" If it's good, if not, then who did it? ”

Yang Xiaolan cried and said that it was Wu Minzhi's doing, and Yang Sijian and his wife looked at each other, not knowing what to do, so they had to play truthfully and ask for punishment.

Li Zhi and Empress Wu and Mrs. Rongguo were all in Jiucheng Palace for summer vacation, and after receiving the copy, Li Zhi was silent, and Empress Wu asked to be dealt with according to law.

The ninety-year-old Mrs. Rongguo said angrily: "I have already sent a white-haired person to a black-haired person twice, and I must not allow the third time a white-haired person to send a black-haired person, if you dare to touch my grandson's hair, I will die in front of you!" She was so frightened that Empress Wu didn't dare to make a sound.

Li Zhi thought that the deaths of Wu Minzhi's mother and sister were more or less, directly or indirectly related to him, and felt guilty, so he thought of a way to get the best of both worlds, saying: "I want to cancel the prince's marriage contract and order Wu Minzhi to marry Yang Xiaolan openly and honestly!" What does A-Niang think? ”

Mrs. Rongguo's anger calmed down for a while, and she said: "This method can prevent the ugliness of the family from spreading, I think it is feasible!" Your Majesty is still thoughtful! My daughter can't tolerate her mother's family! Empress Wu also had to agree.

Yang Sijian and his wife were panicking at home, worried that the whole family would be severely punished for committing the crime of defrauding the monarch, when they suddenly heard the sound of gongs and drums beating outside.

When Yang Sijian and his wife went out, it turned out that Wu Minzhi was wearing a red robe, leading a long line of greeting relatives, beating gongs and drums, and coming to greet relatives lively.

Yang Sijian and his wife immediately understood that this was the emperor's good intentions, and hurriedly pushed the boat down the river, invited their daughter Yang Xiaolan, dressed her up, changed into the bride's red shirt dress, sent a sedan chair, and married Wu Minzhi.

On the night of the candles in the cave room, Yang Xiaolan and Wu Minzhi naturally had a good night. A year later, Yang Xiaolan gave birth to a healthy fat boy for Wu Minzhi, named Wu Wan.