"Donor, our abbot said to let you go in alone." Xiao Shami said to Mu Ningxuan.

Mu Yuchen immediately stopped in front of Mu Ningxuan: "Wait, why did your abbot only see her?" I'm going to go in with you, too. Mu Yuchen was not at ease, and Mu Ningxuan entered the abbot's room alone.

"Amitabha, I'm sorry, donor, the abbot only sees the destined person, and the others don't see it, I hope the donor will forgive me." Xiao Shami said tactfully.

Seeing that Mu Yuchen seemed to be angry, Mu Ningxuan hurriedly relieved the siege and said, "Big brother, it's okay, I originally wanted to ask the abbot master alone for something." ”

"Sister, you must be careful." Mu Yuchen whispered in Mu Ningxuan's ear.

"Hmmm! Xuan'er got it. ”

Mu Ningxuan did not tell Mu Hou Ye about going to Daxiangguo Temple in advance this time, so Mu Ningxuan firmly believed that she would not meet the Six Princes today.

Xiao Shami took Mu Ningxuan into the abbot's room.

In addition to the abbot, there was also a person in the abbot's room - the six princes.

Seeing Mu Ningxuan come in, the sixth prince stood up and said with a smile: "Sister Xuan, long time no see." ”

"Sixth brother?" Mu Ningxuan was a little confused, how could the six princes appear here?

Mu Ningxuan asked directly, "Why is the sixth brother here?" ”

"Every first day of the month, I come to visit the abbot. Sister Xuan came to find the abbot master today, but is there something wrong? The sixth prince said gently.

Mu Ningxuan didn't know how to answer, and turned her head to look at the abbot master on the side.

The abbot master only said: "Amitabha, the cycle of cause and effect, and good fortune depend on each other." With that, he closed his eyes.

Mu Ningxuan knew that Master Abbot was reminding her that if it was not necessary, it was best to go through it again according to what happened in the past.

The sixth prince seemed to have no worries about the abbot master, and said directly to Mu Ningxuan: "Sister Xuan came here today, I originally planned to look for you in a few days, but a few days ago, I got a treasure and wanted to give it to Sister Xuan." ”

The Sixth Prince took a delicate carved brocade box out of his sleeve, opened it, and then pushed it in front of Mu Ningxuan.

Inside the brocade box is a very good jade tassel hairpin, which is worth a lot at a glance.

"It's too expensive." Mu Ningxuan gently pushed the brocade box back.

The sixth prince was silent for a moment and said, "Didn't Lord Mu say something to Sister Xuan?" ”

"No, what's the matter?" Mu Ningxuan asked rhetorically.

The sixth prince smiled lightly: "It's nothing, by the way, is Sister Xuan still used to living in Mufu?"

"Habitually, thank you Sixth Brother for your concern."

"If there is any inconvenience or trouble, you can come to my house to find me, this is my token, you take it." The sixth prince handed the token printed with the word "six" to Mu Ningxuan.

"Okay, then thank you Sixth Brother for your kindness." Mu Ningxuan accepted the token handed by the six princes. In order to prepare for the unexpected needs in the future, Mu Ningxuan, the token of the six princes, received it happily.

The sixth prince smiled and said: "This hairpin, please also ask Sister Xuan to accept it, if I still have these daughters' treasures in the future, I will send them to Sister Xuan." ”

Seeing that Mu Ningxuan was silent, the sixth prince stood up and said with a smile: "Since my sister has something to say to the abbot master, then I will go back first." ”

Mu Ningxuan hurriedly stood up and blessed the six princes.

After the sixth prince glanced at Mu Ningxuan meaningfully, he pushed the door and went out.

Mu Yuchen was worried that something would happen to Mu Ningxuan, so he kept staring at the door of the abbot's room.

Until he saw the six princes coming out of the abbot's room, Mu Yuchen asked curiously, "Six princes, why are you here?" ”

The sixth prince smiled: "Brother Yuchen and Sister Xuan are really brothers and sisters, and the words they ask are exactly the same. On the first day of every month, I come to Daxiangguo Temple to meet the abbot. ”

The sixth prince has often been in the army for training in the past two years, and Mu Yuchen is also familiar with it, so he won't ask too much.

Abbot indoors.

Mu Ningxuan respectfully saluted Master Abbot.

"Master Abbot, I want to ask..."

Before Mu Ningxuan finished speaking, the abbot master interrupted: "Amitabha, let it be, donor, go back." ”

Seeing that the abbot master had his eyes closed, Mu Ningxuan didn't want to say anything more, Mu Ningxuan was no longer bored with herself, so she had to withdraw from the abbot's room.

Mu Ningxuan and Mu Yuchen stayed in Daxiangguo Temple for a while, until Mu Ningxuan said that she was a little tired, and then she went home with Mu Yuchen.

On the carriage, Mu Ningxuan started talking: "Big brother, how has the third sister been doing in the mansion all these years?" ”

"Third sister?" Mu Yuchen frowned slightly, sighed softly, and said helplessly: "When my mother was alive, she and her little mother had a pretty good life.

However, since beating her mother, Guo Xiaoniang has privately deducted their daily use, and it has been very difficult in the past few years, and I am powerless to look at it. ”

Mu Ningxuan comforted: "The identity of the eldest brother is naturally not easy to manage, so you don't have to blame yourself." Xuan'er has been in the palace all these years, and often dreams of the days when her third sister played with us when she was a child, and she misses it very much. ”

"Yes, you were just over five years old when you went to the palace, and that's when you love to play. On the day my sister left Mufu, the third sister cried all night, and on the second day she came to me with red eyes and asked me to take her to the palace to find you. ”

Speaking of this, Mu Yuchen sighed heavily, "It's a pity that the third sister came out of Nalan Xiaoniang's belly, if she was an ordinary mother like us, she wouldn't have suffered like this in the past few years." ”

Mu Ningxuan said gloomily: "The third sister has a pure character, if her mother is still alive now, she will definitely receive her under her name, and we generally regard her as a descendant." ”

"Speaking of receiving the name, I think of one thing."

Mu Yuchen's expression changed slightly, and he continued: "A year after you entered the palace, my father didn't know whether he listened to Guo Xiaoniang's instigation or his own intention, saying that he wanted to raise the fourth sister by his mother's side and receive the fourth sister under his mother's name. My mother resolutely disagreed at the time, saying that you have only been in the palace for a few years, and it is not that you will not return to Mufu in this life, and you will cry so much that the matter will be stopped. ”

"Hey!" Mu Ningxuan sighed.

Mu Yuchen continued: "Fortunately, Guo Xiaoniang is a concubine after all, no matter how favored she is, she can't surpass her mother, a serious lady of the Hou Mansion, and her mother still has the final say in all matters in the house." Guo Xiaoniang is used to being coquettish in front of her father, and has never had a head-on conflict with her mother. ”

Mu Ningxuan was silent for a while, and then preached: "Big brother, I want the third sister to be a concubine. ”

"Let the third sister be a concubine? You mean it's in your mother's name? Mu Yuchen was surprised.

Mu Ningxuan nodded seriously and said: "Yes, the eldest brother heard it right, I want the third sister to be recorded in my mother's name and become the concubine of the Hou Mansion like us, Xuan'er hopes that the third sister will marry a good husband in the future, and will not succumb to the identity of the concubine." ”

Mu Yuchen saw that Mu Ningxuan didn't look like a joke, and said slowly: "If the third sister knew that you planned for her like this, she would definitely be grateful, but what did my father say?" ”

"My sister has her own way." Mu Ningxuan smiled mischievously.

In a trance, Mu Yuchen saw the innocent and eccentric sister of the five-year-old again.

has been back in Mufu, Mu Ningxuan has not told Mu Yuchen about seeing the six princes today.

Mu Yuchen didn't ask, he just didn't know. After all, my sister is older, and it's normal to have her own secrets.

Tonight's banquet is the most common gathering of the Marquis of Pyeongchang Mansion. Mu Ningxuan went out of the palace and returned home, the eldest brother Mu Yuchen came back from going out to run errands, and even the third sister was called over by Guo Xiaoniang to have dinner together.

Mu Hou Ye was in a good mood, drank several glasses of wine in a row, and talked a lot.

It's just that there should be a harmonious seat, and there is an extra outsider opposite Mu Ningxuan - Guo Zhenghuai.

In the previous life, Guo Zhenghuai often came over to rub rice and taste tea, and in this life, Guo Xiaoniang still used the same routine.

"Sister Xuan, come, this is your favorite single-cage golden crisp, this is what your brother Zhenghuai specially brought from Songhe Restaurant, it's still hot, hurry up and try it." Guo Xiaoniang said with a smile.

Mu Ningxuan gently picked up a piece, took a small sip, and said with a smile: "It's not the same as the taste in the palace." ”

"That's nature, how can the food outside the palace be compared to the food in the palace." Guo Xiaoniang muttered, seeing that Mu Ningxuan didn't even look at Guo Zhenghuai, Guo Xiaoniang muttered in her heart.

Mu Ningxuan said: "Although it is not as good as the palace, it is also delicious, thank you Brother Zhenghuai for bothering, even Xuan'er can know what she likes to eat in the palace." Mu Ningxuan said and glanced at Mu Houye, but still didn't look at Guo Zhenghuai.

Mu Ningxuan knew that Mu Hou Ye was very opposed to her being with Guo Zhenghuai, and today she made it clear that Mu Hou Ye would definitely not let Guo Zhenghuai have such thoughts.

Sure enough, Muhou Ye woke up most of the time in an instant, stared at Guo Zhenghuai with straight eyes, and hummed: "Zhenghuai, why are you free to come over today?" ”

Guo Zhenghuai saw that the atmosphere was not right, and immediately said: "Back to my uncle's words, my mother asked me to come to my aunt to get a cloak that fell a few days ago, and my aunt left me down for dinner by the way." ”

Mu Hou Ye frowned and said, "Why did you come to get the cloak and go to Songhe Restaurant to buy Xuan'er's favorite single-cage golden soufflé?" "Mu Hou Ye is a person who practices martial arts, and he doesn't like to beat around the bush.

Without waiting for Guo Zhenghuai to answer, Guo Xiaoniang hurriedly said: "Master Hou, Sister Xuan has just returned to Mufu, and I am afraid that she will not be used to eating at home." knew that she loved to eat single-cage golden soufflé in the palace, so she asked Zhenghuai to buy it, and Zhenghuai found several restaurants before finding it. ”

Guo Xiaoniang's face looked aggrieved, as if Mu Hou Ye had just accused her.

Hearing Guo Xiaoniang say this, Mu Hou Ye softened his tone and said softly: "You are still careful." ”

Mu Ningxuan's goosebumps straightened up, although she had always known Guo Xiaoniang's style, but Guo Xiaoniang was nearly forty years old and pretended to be shy in public, Mu Ningxuan still felt disgusted.

The third sister sat quietly on the side, bowed her head, did not say a word, and rarely moved her chopsticks.

After dinner, Mu Houye returned to the study to deal with the rest of today's official business.

In order to go with the flow, Mu Ningxuan took advantage of Guo Xiaoniang's efforts to send Guo Zhenghuai out of the house, and went to the study to see her father.

"Xuan'er is here? Come, and see how the words are written for the Father. "Mu Hou Ye is both civil and military, not only can lead troops to fight, but also has quite attainments in this aspect of literature.

Today, Mu Hou Ye was happy, on a whim, and with a big stroke of the pen on the paper, a natural and sonorous word "and" fell on the paper.

Mu Ningxuan praised: "The gesture of this "and" is smooth, vigorous and powerful, my father is really a good handwriting, better than Professor Gao's words. ”

Mu Hou Ye said with a smile: "Professor Gao's knowledge and calligraphy are excellent, how can he compare with his father." By the way, Xuan'er, is there anything wrong with you coming to the study so late? ”

"Father, today Xuan'er met the Six Princes in Daxiangguo Temple..."Mu Ningxuan said with some hesitation.

Mu Hou Ye had already guessed most of it in his heart: "Xuan'er wants to ask about the Six Princes." ”

"Yes." Mu Ningxuan nodded.

Mu Hou Ye put down the pen in his hand, waved his hand and asked Steward Liu and Xiaofu to go out and close the door, and told Steward Liu that no one should enter the study.

There were only two people left in the study, Mu Ningxuan and Mu Hou Ye, and Mu Hou Ye slowly spoke: "Xuan'er, do you remember that you sent a letter to your family a few months ago, which mentioned the six princes. ”

"What Xuan'er remembers, it was the Queen Mother who asked her daughter to mention it." Mu Ningxuan said truthfully.

Mu Houye nodded and said: "Later, I went to the palace to see the Queen Mother twice for my father, once before the death of the crown prince, and once after the death of the crown prince.

The first time I didn't say anything important, it was nothing more than to let my father take more care of the six princes, but the second time the queen mother said that she wanted her father to promise you to the six princes. ”

"Promised to the Six Princes?" Mu Ningxuan pretended to be stunned.

Seeing Mu Ningxuan's surprised look, Marquis Mu continued: "The Empress Dowager's instructions this time are actually to let her father stand in line, if you marry the Six Princes, our Marquis Mansion in Pyeongchang will be on the side of the Six Princes." ”

"What does my father mean that the Queen Mother intends to support the six princes to become the future prince of the crown prince?" Mu Ningxuan asked.

Mu Hou Ye said slowly: "The Queen Mother is exchanging benefits for profit, if the sixth prince can really become the future prince, then you are the future queen." ”

Mu Ningxuan asked, "Then, how did my father get back?" ”

Mu Hou Ye carefully analyzed: "It stands to reason that our Marquis Mansion in Pyeongchang does not have to be caught in partisan disputes. But now that the situation in the DPRK and China is urgent, the crown prince has died, and the official family has not yet determined the prince, and in the long run, the court will be in turmoil.

At present, only the three princes Jin, the fifth prince and the sixth prince can have the opportunity to become the future prince, but now it is the king of Jin who has the loudest voice in the court.

Since the Queen Mother took the initiative this time, such a great benefit, the father naturally did not directly refuse.

After the New Year, you will be in time, and my father also wants to ask you what you think, after all, this road may not come to an end. If we make a mistake, the Marquis Mansion of Pyeongchang will be defeated in our hands, and everyone in the Mu family will be implicated. ”

Mu Ningxuan said in a slight voice: "The daughter's marriage is decided by the father alone. It's just that I heard that the six princes are not very valued by the officials, and they don't have much intersection with the six princes when they are in the palace, and the daughter is shallow, so she asked her father to take ideas. ”

Mu Hou Ye said with a smile: "The sixth prince is a figure who is obscure, and his father thinks he is still good, so let's wait for you to talk about it next year." ”