"Princess, when did you become so proficient? They all made me cry. Walking on the road, Mingcui asked suspiciously.

Zhaoyun, who was walking in front, stopped when he heard this, and beckoned to her mysteriously, and the little girl immediately brought her little ears in front of her. She said in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

"Not long ago I had a dream in which I met a very skilled fairy who taught me music and technique."

Ming Cui was immediately stunned on the spot, staring at her apricot eyes, and her surprised mouth could pistons an egg alive.

Seeing her surprise at this, Zhaoyun teased and reached out to close her chin.

"The princess loves to tease me, hmph, ignore you, princess." Mingcui pretended to be angry, twisted her head, and deliberately didn't look at her.

"Okay Mingcui, don't be angry, I'll make you peach blossom cake for you to eat when I go back, it's considered an apology." Zhaoyun stretched out his claws and rubbed Ming Cui's fleshy face. Hmm, it feels very good.

Seeing that she was instantly deflated, she said again: "I don't know how the peach is doing, let's go back quickly." ”

The two hurriedly returned to Zhaoyun Palace, asked everyone, and said that Taohong had never returned.

"It seems that my guess is correct, and it was really detained by An Zhi. Let's go, let's go to Poria Palace to ask for someone. Zhaoyun was even more sure that An Zhi sent someone to catch Taohong.

Poria Palace is An Zhi's residence, not particularly far from Zhaoyun Palace, and it is only a cup of tea to walk over. Along the way, Poria Palace is full of beautiful trees and strange flowers. A clear stream cascades down from the rockery, covering the exquisite pavilions and pavilions behind, and the quiet and beautiful pool hall water corridor. An Zhi leaned on the edge of the water porch, feeding the fish in the pool.

"My sister is really interested." Zhaoyun stepped forward and said with a smile.

"Isn't this Sister Zhaoyun who just won the first place, why do you have time to come to my Poria Palace now. It's a surprise. An Zhi poured the rest of the fish food into the pool at once, and all the fish gathered around the pool to compete for food.

Zhaoyun looked at the various fish competing for food, and said with a smile: "Sister feeding the fish like this will make the fish die." ”

An Zhi played with the nails in her hands and said, "I don't need you to tell me how to feed." You're here for pink, aren't you? ”

Zhaoyun looked at the red fish that was fighting happily and did not answer.

"Rosé is indeed with me, and if you want to take her away, you have to apologize to me." Seeing that she ignored herself, An Zhi said angrily.

Zhaoyun turned his head and kept staring at her, as if trying to see the flowers on her face. "My sister detained my person without saying hello, which is already a taboo in the palace. I can apologize to you, but I don't know what I'm guilty of. ”

"My sister is really eloquent, and if she makes me unhappy, this is your fault."

"Okay, if you say that, it's really my fault for making you unhappy, sister, Zhaoyun can't make it to you here. I hope you can release her as soon as possible, sister. ”

"Well, I'm not that much of a person who is hard for the strong. You go back first, and I'll send someone to send Rosé back later." ”

"I need Peach back to take care of it in the palace now, if my sister insists on doing this, then we might as well go and let the queen mother evaluate it." Zhaoyun no longer backed down, and casually mentioned: "Now, I think that the person from the Western Wu Kingdom should still be there." ”

An Zhi gritted her teeth, only then did she relent, and promised to release her immediately.

Inside Changde Palace.

The Empress Dowager and Luo Ye sat on either side of the high hall, and Mu Xici sat on the rosewood lacquer carved chair at the bottom, listening to Luo Ye talk endlessly about the economic cooperation between the two countries. Holding a tea cup in his hand, listening to it, he inadvertently remembered the woman in the sky blue dress just now.

It is the cardamom years, which should be innocent and lively, how can he play such a sad music, as if he has gone through the world. The piano skills are still above him. Heh, this Princess Zhaoyun is a bit interesting.

"Prince Xiwu, what do you think of exchanging our country's silk and tea for the horses of your Xiwu Kingdom?" Mu Xi came back to his senses, heard Luo Ye's proposal, and replied slowly.

"Yun Qiguo is famous for its tea and silk, and our country is vast and sparsely populated, rich in horses, and this proposal could not be better. However, horses have a large breeding cycle, and horses are worth much more than tea and silk. Looks like you're going to have a lot of tea and silk to exchange with us. ”

"You!" Luo Ye got up, and the Empress Dowager Changde next to her hurriedly stopped her, so she sat down and took a big sip of the teacup. "Isn't it a waste of manpower and material resources for us to cultivate tea and silk? I have been frank and honest with you and I have sincerely wanted to promote economic exchanges between our two countries. What a bargain it is for you to lose one horse, but you can get two things, tea and silk, and you can also promote friendly exchanges between our two countries. ”

"It's a good deal, but it's you. Tea and silk are of little use to us, but they are just accessories. Whether you drink or don't wear or not doesn't have a big impact. And without horse weapons, I think you should know better than me about the impact on Yun Qiguo. ”

In the end, Luo Ye had to promise to use a large amount of tea and fine silk in exchange for 10,000 horses in the Western Wu Kingdom.

After Mu Xi left, Luo Ye slammed the teacup he was holding on the ground. Finely broken white porcelain and big red robe tea leaves were scattered all over the ground.

"It's so deceitful."

The palace maids and eunuchs who were waiting in the main hall instantly knelt on the ground, and they all lowered their heads no longer, for fear that they would catch fire if they were not careful.

"The emperor should not be angry about this, he will be angry and hurt himself." The Empress Dowager Changde, who was sitting on the side, comforted her when she saw this.

"I really think that our Yun Qiguo is a soft persimmon." Luo Ye clenched his fists and slammed them on the carved armrest next to him.

Empress Dowager Changde waved her hand and motioned for everyone to retreat. After the screen retreats, pick up the tea cup on the side.

"In fact, sometimes a little forbearance is not a good way."

"What did the queen mother say?" Luo Ye asked.

"We, Yunqiguo, have been developing industry, agriculture and commerce, and our troops are not strong, while their Western Wuguo soldiers are strong. Although they have been coveting our great resources, they have not done so because of our strange terrain and their soldiers and horses cannot enter. The Empress Dowager Changde wiped the foam in the cup with a tea lid and said slowly.

"And what we need now is to cooperate with them, not the small flies in front of us. It's okay to lose a small profit once in a while, because it's important to take a long-term view. Our top priority is to recruit and recuperate. ”

"What the Queen Mother said is very true." Luo Ye's expression began to become solemn when he listened.

"In the vicinity of Yunqi and Xiwu, there are also scattered small border countries such as South Vietnam, North Vietnam, and Cangji. If we can temporarily rely on the Western Vu Kingdom, when our forces are strong, we can send troops to attack these small countries to expand our hinterland. ”

"The queen mother's is. However, I don't think we can really rely on Zhuxi Wu just for business dealings. They can end this relationship at any time, and I think they need a real connection that is inseparable from them. ”

"The emperor actually thought of going with the mourning family." Empress Dowager Changde said with a smile.

"There's nothing like a closer relationship with in-laws."

Luo Ye stood up, took two steps with his hands behind his back, and said in surprise: "The queen mother is referring to our marriage with them?" ”

The Empress Dowager Changde smiled without saying a word, gently put the teacup in her hand on the table beside her, and spoke.

"Marriage is the best thing we can do now, and it's the strongest bond we have with them."

"I also know that this method is indeed the best choice. Which princess did the queen think was the most appropriate? Luo Ye sat down again.

"Mu Xici is the crown prince of the Western Wu Kingdom, and he has not yet been married. Yun Qi is still in the boudoir, and there are only three princesses who can match his identity and appearance, in my opinion. ”

"Oh? The emperor might as well say which one is more appropriate. ”

"One is naturally Sister An Zhi, and the other two are Zhaoyun and Changru." Luo Ye thought. However, Queen An Zhi must be reluctant. And although Chang Ru looks good, his identity is still far from that of Prince Xiwu. Now it seems that only Zhaoyun can take on such a heavy responsibility. ”

The Empress Dowager Changde laughed out loud.

"It seems that the emperor and I coincide."

"The emperor favored her. I thought she didn't have any talent, but today I saw that her piano skills were so outstanding. What's more, the queen mother paid attention. At today's flower viewing banquet, Mu Xici looked at her from time to time, maybe he had an idea. It would have been better to send her to get married. ”

"The queen mother's observation is very subtle, so let's settle it like this first, and then mention the matter when the envoy of the Western Vulture wants to leave." Luo Ye straightened his robe and got up to leave.

"Wait, don't announce this beforehand." Empress Dowager Changde stopped him.

Compared with this solemn atmosphere, Zhaoyun Palace is a different scene.

"Peach, they didn't bully you, did they!" Mingcui took Peach's hand and looked up and down in a circle.

"I'm going to faint when you turn like this," Pink motioned for her to stop.

"I'm fine, they didn't bother me much. Just locked me in the house and wouldn't let me out. It's the fault of the slave and maid who delayed the princess's big event. Peach knelt down and said to Zhaoyun.

"Describe the situation you encountered when you came back to pick up the piano." Zhaoyun leaned his head in the window and looked into the pink eyes.

Taohong lowered her head and said timidly: "At that time, I walked to the Yanyu Building not far from the Poria Palace, and a palace maid came to me and told me that someone was looking for me to ask questions. At that time, I refused, saying that I would come back to take the piano for you, princess, and I was not available. But the palace maid said that she would let me go after just a few words of questioning. I hesitated for a moment and then followed, only to find out that it was Poria Palace. Then I was locked in the house. ”

"Okay, I understand the general situation, you have been wronged." Zhaoyun comforted.

"It's not your fault that the piano is in the past. Anyway, I've been running around for most of the day, I'm a little hungry, so I'm tired of Rosé, you can help me go to the small kitchen to get some pastries. ”

Peach thanked Zhaoyun and got up to leave.

"Princess An Zhi's people are really bad," Ming Cui was indignant.

Zhaoyun sat up straight and said slowly, "I think there is something else wrong with this matter. ”

"First, although Poria Palace is not far from Yanyu Tower, but when you return to Zhaoyun Palace from Lingxuan Pavilion, you don't pass through Yanyu Tower. The second is that Taohong said that the palace maid who asked her for questions has a round face and a slightly chubby figure. As far as I know, there are no new palace maids in the Poria Palace in the current period. And the people of Poria Palace, I think Mingcui, you and Taohong should know each other, do you think that there is such a palace maid in Poria Palace in your memory? ”

Ming Cui thought for a moment, pulled the silk handkerchief in his hand and whispered, "It doesn't seem to be." After a while, he looked up sharply again.

"But why did Rosé lie to us?"

"I think she must have had a last resort. Hey, you just pretend you don't know. You have to work hard, Mingcui, you always pay attention to Peach's actions. "Zhaoyun supports his forehead.

"I still have something you need to help me do."

"Princess, even if you tell me, I will definitely do it."

Seeing Ming Cui straighten her back, as if she was facing a great enemy, Zhaoyun couldn't help but laugh a little.

"You find a little girl in the palace, ask for the most faceless kind, and then ask her to dress up. Then let her go outside to find a palace maid, make a few taels of silver, and ask the palace maid to go to Poria Palace to spread the word that Prince Xiwu invited Princess An Zhi to see the apricot forest in the southwest corner at dusk tomorrow. She should also be careful not to show flaws. ”

"Guaranteed to complete the princess mission." Mingcui nodded like pounded garlic and swore in agreement.