In the next few days of this day, Lin Zhimeng was restless, because the seventh prince Zhao Ziqian did not come to meet with Master Lin as the Lin family expected. Lin Zhimeng had an ominous premonition in her heart, she was worried that things would change, because she had been eating tasteless food in recent days, and she went to the front yard every morning to investigate.

Zhao Ziqian didn't know that he had Lin Zhimeng's expectations, and at this time he was playing chess in Concubine Rong's Chaoyang Palace.

"My father's son just fell wrong, if he falls here, his son will definitely be powerless to remedy." Zhao Ziqian sat on the warm couch and lit the chessboard, and said to the person opposite.

The person on the other side is none other than the current saint of the Li Dynasty, Zhao Zheng. Although his appearance is already old, his sword eyebrows are bright, and it shows that he must be heroic and extraordinary when he is young.

Zhao Zheng looked at the chess board, and then looked at Zhao Ziqian on the opposite side, picked up the chess piece and was about to fall again, but he didn't want to, but Zhao Ziqian held down his hand and said: "Father, there is no regret about the son!" ”

Concubine Rong Guifei, who was personally receiving the palace maid's refreshments next to her, was so frightened that she hurriedly put down the things in her hand after seeing Zhao Ziqian's movements, reached out to pat Zhao Ziqian's hand and said, "Qian'er!" Don't be presumptuous! ”

Zhao Zheng laughed out loud: "It's okay, it's okay, it's my carelessness, let's have another plate!" ”

Zhao Ziqian had no intention of playing another game, and when he heard this, he said: "Father, don't bother, you can't win your son today!" If you come again, the palace gate will be locked, and the retainers will have to go to the palace. ”

"Hey, you boy! One more round! If you are locked, you will rest in the palace. Just tomorrow I will go directly to the palace banquet, and I don't have to run around. Zhao Zheng played chess with his own hands, and he was about to kill Zhao Ziqian.

Concubine Rong was secretly happy after hearing the words of the Holy Zhao Zheng, since the establishment of the Li Dynasty, after the princes opened their mansions and lived abroad, there was no example of staying in the palace again, and if her son set this precedent today, it would be a supreme glory.

"That's not possible, Erchen recognizes the bed and is used to the couch of the prince's mansion!" Zhao Ziqian bluntly refused, and he didn't see anything outside.

Zhao Zheng immediately made a tiger face and said: "You have deceived me, if you admit the bed, why do you have to run out of the wild for so long?" Manly man, don't be verbose! If you have the ability, you will win before the palace gate is locked! ”

So, before the palace gate was locked, Zhao Ziqian killed a piece of armor on the chessboard, and the latter was so angry that he drove him out of Chaoyang Palace.

When the news reached the Prime Minister's Mansion, Lin Zhimeng was about to rest, and Mrs. Lin Zhang came over and told her that His Royal Highness the Seventh Prince was kicked out of Chaoyang Palace by the Holy Lord for some reason, and he was afraid that he would not come over today.

Zhang Shi held his daughter's hand and said bluntly: "Tomorrow is Chinese New Year's Eve, and at noon the Holy Lord will hold a banquet in the Fengtian Hall to entertain hundreds of civil and military officials and their families, and all the princes will enter the palace early tomorrow." It was because your father just told me that it is estimated that His Royal Highness the Seventh will not come to the Lin family. ”

When Lin Zhimeng heard this, she said eagerly: "Why was the Seventh Highness kicked out of Chaoyang Palace? But was he punished? And his father clearly said that Kang Shizi ...... before"

"Kang Shizi is Kang Shizi, although he is a member of the Seventh Highness, he is not the Seventh Highness!" Zhang interrupted his daughter's words and solemnly answered her daughter's last question.

"What if His Royal Highness the Seventh thought that the Lin family had already made a choice and didn't come to the door? Mother, let's wait, tomorrow is the palace banquet, let's see the attitude of the Seventh Highness! Lin Zhimeng said to her mother like this, she felt that Zhao Ziqian should not be unintentional to the Lin family.

Zhang's can't, knowing her daughter Mo Ruo's mother, she knows that her daughter still has hopes. But she didn't dare to tell her daughter that in fact, news had secretly spread from the Seventh Prince's Mansion, saying that His Royal Highness the Seventh had no intention of choosing a concubine for the time being.

Zhao Ziqian had no intention of choosing a concubine, and no matter whether the Lin family or her was a mother, she would not be willing to let her daughter be a concubine.

Zhang sighed and left his daughter's yard, but Lin Zhimeng stayed awake all night.

The second day is Chinese New Year's Eve.

The rule of the Li Dynasty is that at noon on Chinese New Year's Eve, the Holy Lord will invite hundreds of civil and military officials to a banquet in the Mukden Hall, and officials above the fourth rank must bring their families to attend, including some hairpin families who have not held posts in the DPRK will also be included in the invitation, and the lineup is very luxurious.

The Lin family is the Prime Minister's Mansion, and Taishi Lin is the current Holy Master, so such a banquet is naturally all in battle. Lin Zhimeng deliberately changed into a red dress today, and even the one on her wrist was a dazzling gold-inlaid coral bead bracelet, and the whole person looked radiant, which can be said to be completely glamorous.

Fengtian Hall is magnificent, the middle of the main hall is in the background of red gold double dragon playing with pearls, two dragons are symmetrically set on both sides, forming a line of dragon posture. In front of the red gold double dragon is a treasure chair carved with red sandalwood inlaid with gems and jade, and sitting on it is the smiling and happy pilgrimage of the current saint, Emperor Wen Zhao Zheng.

Emperor Wen Zhao Zheng is also a famous existence in the Li Dynasty, he is not from the main palace, and his mother is a talented person with an inconspicuous background, but he was established as the crown prince by the first Dili in the year of the weak crown, and then succeeded to the throne logically.

After succeeding to the throne, Emperor Wen made every effort to reduce taxes, comfort the people's livelihood, and govern the Li Dynasty in an orderly manner, and prospered.

When Yi Xiangxiang first came to the Li Dynasty, she saw such a thriving and prosperous world, but she praised this saint in her heart for a while!

Well, it doesn't really matter.

At the beginning of the Chinese New Year's Eve palace banquet, it is natural that the courtiers congratulate the country and the people together on this ceremony, and wish for the prosperity of the country in the coming year, and then sing the praises of virtue in the saint together, and shout long live! After that, everyone pretended to be relaxed and happy in the rejoicing of the kings and ministers commanded by the Holy Lord.

Hypocrisy, boredom, and contrived, this is Yi Xiangxiang's judgment of the palace banquet many years later.

Of course, despite the hypocrisy, boredom and contrivedness, the atmosphere of the palace banquet is also extremely warm, and the sound of silk and bamboo is leisurely in the ears, which can really make people more or less relaxed.

And in this palace banquet, the seat position is also elegant, and the more advanced it is, the more noble it is, or the more it is valued by the saints. Of course, the more valued positions are also higher, and most of the time they are arranged according to their positions, which is why everyone sharpens their heads and climbs up!

Now the saint Zhao Zheng is sitting on the treasure chair in the center of the high platform, on the left is the noble queen mother, on both sides are Rong Guifei, Concubine De, Concubine Shu, and Meng Zhaoyi, who is pregnant, and then the other concubines are sitting in order.

And on a step under the high platform, there are His Royal Highness the Prince and His Royal Highness the Princess. Although there are only a few princes with outstanding ability and real power, they are still seated in order of teeth on this occasion, and Zhao Ziqian sits among the brothers and sisters, but does not talk to them, but is very eye-catching.

The next ladder platform for the princes and princesses is naturally the civil and military officials. As the head of the hundred officials, the prime minister's family naturally sat in the first place, so Lin Zhimeng could clearly see Zhao Ziqian sitting in the top of the head.

He was still so cold, as if he didn't fit in with everything around him. Lin Zhimeng looked at Zhao Ziqian, with tenderness in her eyes.

At this time, it is the climax of the banquet. On the round platform in the center of the main hall, there is a group of orchids performing songs and dances at this time, all of them are slim, and they are very graceful between dancing and moving. Zhang looked at his daughter beside him and did not appreciate the song and dance, but stared at Zhao Ziqian, the Seventh Highness in the distance, and hurriedly pulled her sleeve to signal her to come back to her senses.

Lin Zhimeng secretly withdrew her gaze, but she was still captured by someone with a heart.

"Today's song and dance is quite interesting!" At the end of the song, Zhao Zheng, the saint who was sitting at the top, spoke.

As soon as he finished speaking, he remembered the song and dance again, which turned out to be a seamless switch from the new performance, and now they were dancing one after another.

Meng Zhaoyi was a bold person, and when she saw this, she hurriedly answered: "The saint thinks that the orchid is beautiful, and she is more beautiful than a flower?" Otherwise, let them sing again, so as not to look at the holy lord. ”

"Hey! Isn't Concubine Ai's words saying that I am the blade of Meng Lang who likes colors! Zhao Zheng was not annoyed by Meng Zhaoyi's words, but just pretended to reprimand.

"The concubine is wronged, this orchid is really beautiful and moving! The concubine came with a genuine appreciation for beauty. Meng Zhaoyi said with a grin.

"You, you...... Eh, you better take good care of your body......" Zhao Zheng sighed helplessly at Meng Zhaoyi below.

That's right, Meng Zhaoyi at this time participated in the palace banquet with a big belly, and it was Zhao Zheng who told her that it was important to take care of her body.

The queen sat on the left side of Emperor Wen in a phoenix robe, and when she heard the conversation between the two, she thoughtfully said: "If my sister feels uncomfortable, you must tell the palace, and the palace will send someone to send you back to the palace to rest." ”

Her sister is naturally Meng Zhaoyi.

"Don't worry about the queen, my sister is fine. I heard that in addition to the songs and dances pre-rehearsed by the palace, many daughters will also perform on stage. The concubine listened to Miss Lin's tunes two years ago, but she still can't forget it! Meng Zhaoyi deliberately straightened up, and said to Emperor Wen and Empress Wen at the head of the same company.

"That sister is going to be disappointed today, as far as the palace knows, a young lady of the Lin family will not perform on stage today." After the queen said this sentence with a smile, she took a sip of ginseng tea.

The list and repertoire of the song and dance performances were all reviewed by the queen herself, including Miss Qianjin's performance, which was also reported in advance, so the queen naturally knew whether Lin Zhimeng would perform on stage today.

Meng Zhaoyi pretended to be surprised when she heard this, and then said with a disappointed face: "Is this really the case? That's a pity, if Miss Lin can stroke a song, she will definitely be able to sleep more peacefully tonight. ”

Her disappointment was palpable, and it didn't seem to be a fake.

The queen put down the ginseng tea in her hand and said: "What's so difficult about this, next year's draft point she will enter the palace to be your companion, and play the kite every day and listen to it with you, isn't it beautiful?" ”

The sound of silk and bamboo below is pleasant and moving, and there are songs and dances to help the fun, it is the nobles on the high platform who are talking about something in a low voice, and the people below cannot hear it clearly. Even the princes and princesses who were closest to these harem masters, except for Zhao Ziqian, who was deaf and clear-sighted, did not hear the words on the high platform.

Of course, the others didn't hear it, but Concubine Rong and Concubine De, including Concubine Shu, who were sitting in front of them, heard it clearly. The three of them looked at each other and smiled tacitly, and then they understood why the queen and Meng Zhaoyi sang and harmonized today.

The crown prince under the queen's knee already has a concubine, and she can't win over the prime minister's mansion. And what she said today is to pull Lin Zhimeng into the harem, her purpose is very simple, since she can't cheapen her own son, she can't cheapen other people's sons. But why did Meng Zhaoyi cooperate with the queen, but the three concubines Gui, De, and Shu didn't know what they meant.

"Your Majesty, look, the queen mother is making fun of the concubines again, this draft is to fill the harem and extend the heirs, and it is not to amuse the concubines, this is still known to the concubines." Meng Zhaoyi smiled coquettishly.

Zhao Zheng didn't seem to understand the meaning of his wife's words back and forth, and said with a smile: "Do you know if you are making fun of you and not being restrained?" However, this Miss Lin is indeed a rare beauty, if the concubine wants to listen to it, the queen will arrange for her to play a song. ”

This is to let the queen call Lin Zhimeng to perform.

"It's still Sister Meng who has a big face, and today's sisters are blessed!" Concubine Shu hurriedly pretended to be flattering.

Concubine De also smiled when she heard this: "Isn't it, this Miss Lin is a well-known talented girl!" ”

The implication in the words of the two mothers also made everyone can't help but read it carefully.

Concubine Shu is the mother concubine of the second prince, Concubine De is the mother concubine of the fourth prince, the queen and Meng Zhaoyi must have known that the two princes were in contact with the Lin Mansion, so they acted in such a drama of harem harmony, intending to bring Lin Zhimeng into the palace. Although next year's draft is checked by their concubines, an identity like Lin Zhimeng still has to be nodded by Zhao Zheng in the end. And the two concubines De and Shu both wanted their sons to pick the flower of the Lin family's daughter, so they spoke out. They said on the surface that Meng Zhaoyi had a big face, but they were talking about the current performance, but in fact, they were talking about her left and right saints.

In fact, Concubine Rong also wanted to speak out, but because she didn't know whether her son Zhao Ziqian chose the Lin family or not, she was not sure whether to help or not, so naturally she would not say anything easily.

Meng Zhaoyi is not an elm head, so he quickly dismantled the blade and said: "If Concubine De and Concubine Shuniang want to listen to the tune, they will talk to the saint, and the saint will allow it." Right, Holy One? ”

"Concubine Ai is right, today is a palace banquet, a festive picture, whatever the concubines want, I can meet it." Zhao Zheng said.

So the concubines on the high platform thanked one after another.

The people below didn't know what was happening, but when they saw that the concubines were thanking them, they sat down. And the palace maid beside the queen walked to the Lin family's seat, so she stayed until another burst of singing and dancing stopped, and saw Lin Zhimeng, the eldest daughter of the Lin family, come out of the ranks.

The woman with the face of the alluring city bowed upwards and said, "Courtier, Lin Zhimeng, meet the saint and all the ladies." ”

After the master above called, the queen naturally said: "I haven't seen you for two months, and the dream has become more and more beautiful and moving." ”

Lin Zhimeng, who was praised, seemed to be shy, and the two pieces of red xia jumped up her cheeks quickly, and she replied with a smile: "The queen mother praises falsely, and the courtiers dare not be ashamed." The courtiers have recently composed a new tune, and I specially invite His Majesty and Niangniang to taste it. ”

The royal service is like this, obviously I want to hear it, but I have to make outsiders think that the other party takes the initiative.

Lin Zhimeng's request was naturally granted, so in the next quarter of an hour, everyone was intoxicated by the melodious sound of the piano.

At the end of the song, thunderous applause rang out in the Fengtian Temple.

"Good! This piece is very moving, and the meaning of the piano is also noble! On the high platform, Zhao Zhenglang praised.

At this time, the sound of silk and bamboo had stopped, and the civil and military officials below heard the praise from the saint, and they all echoed and praised Lin Zhimeng. The other nobles of the family were not happy to see Lin Zhimeng steal the limelight, but they were all people who went in and out of the palace banquet all the year round, and they would not disturb the interest of the saint at this time.

"The courtiers are ashamed!" Lin Zhimeng got up and left the piano case, bowed to the head, and then stood in the main hall.

The reason why she stood there was because the people above didn't let her retreat, and she naturally didn't dare to return to her seat hastily without being instructed. In fact, Lin Zhimeng was very nervous in her heart at this time, this piece was newly composed by her a few days ago, and she was not very familiar with it. And today I was unexpectedly ordered by the queen to perform and play this song, and I was a little nervous. She is afraid that she will not perform well and let others down.

Who this other person is, obviously.

Zhao Zheng looked at the people in the hall, his noble face was full of happy smiles, and he only heard him ask, "Does this song have a name?" ”

Lin Zhimeng bowed to Yingying again and said: "Back to the saint, yes, this song is called Taichang Fu, which means the prosperity of the country and the people!" ”

This is a trick, and a discerning person will know at a glance that the name of this song is taken now, but it is just to make a good omen. However, others have the ability to cheat, and others naturally only have envy.

"What a country, peace and prosperity! is worthy of being the granddaughter of the Taishi! Teacher, I wonder if your granddaughter is a match? Zhao Zheng turned his words and looked at the former Taishi Lin Zhen.

When Zhao Zheng was still the prince, Lin Zhen used to be his master, and Zhao Zheng called Lin Taishi his teacher.

However, Zhao Zheng's question made some people scratch their heads. After the list of show girls was announced, Lin Zhimeng was already a sure draft girl, didn't the saint know?

The people below didn't know what the situation was, and the people on the high platform were even more puzzled, especially the concubines of several high-ranking positions in the harem, just now the queen and Meng Zhaoyi sang and said something about Lin Zhimeng's entry into the harem, what does the saint mean by asking now?

"Back to the saint, the granddaughter of the old decay has already been on the show girl book, and she will be a draft girl next year!" Although Lin Zhen was also surprised in his heart, he still got up and replied unhurriedly.

Zhao Zheng heard this and said, "Oh, that's the case? That's excellent too! It's cheaper than these bad guys! He laughed.

Now the queen and Meng Zhaoyi have black faces, and the meaning of the saint's words is clear, saying that this Lin Zhimeng will not enter the harem. They couldn't figure out why, if they wanted to detain the power of the Lin family, the best way was to take people into the harem, because they originally thought that today's words would be successful, but the saint suddenly came to such a sentence, which made them very surprised. The other people present also had mixed tastes and thoughts, and they were all speculating about the intention of the Holy Lord to mention this matter.

In fact, Zhao Zheng didn't want to put people into the harem, but now that there are so many princes fighting openly and secretly, he doesn't want to add another grandson of the Lin family to this group of people.

The Lin family also knew this truth, so they made a choice in the prince's mansion.

When everyone was speculating about the holy will, Zhao Zheng turned around and said, "But does Miss Lin have a favorite person?" If you already have someone you like, I can dispense with your status as a show girl and let you go home and marry on your own. ”

Lin Zhen and Lin Chong's father and son were shocked when they heard this, and their hearts were full of fear.

Shengshang really doesn't like the Lin family to run for election! Lin Zhen sighed slightly in his heart.

Lin Zhen had already known that the Holy Lord would definitely be suspicious, but despite this, there was no way out after making a choice. After Lin Zhimeng saw her grandfather's hint, she secretly looked at Zhao Ziqian again, her thoughts had turned a few times, and then she gritted her teeth and said: "The courtiers don't have a favorite person, and the courtiers are willing to run." ”

Zhao Zheng nodded when he heard this, he picked up the cup as if he was contemplative, and then said: "I just saw you looking at Qian'er frequently, thinking that you were happy with Qian'er in your heart and wanted to give you a marriage, but I didn't want to think about it." ”

One sentence not only made Lin Zhimeng's eyes widen, but even Concubine Rong on the side was shocked. The former regretted that he didn't seize the opportunity, and the latter was shocked that he was not sure whether the saint really wanted to back up Lin Jiadu to his son, or whether he deliberately used this to break up the opportunity of Zhao Ziqian and Lin Zhimeng.

In fact, Concubine Rong is suspicious, Zhao Zheng has been very fond of Zhao Ziqian recently, thinking that if the Lin family really wants her daughter to be his daughter-in-law, then she will give the person to Qian'er. It was just this sentence that Zhao Zheng had a sincere idea now.

Of course, it was not only Lin Zhimeng and Rong Guifei who were stunned, everyone present was a little surprised. They all knew that Zhao Ziqian was kicked out of Chaoyang Palace by the saint yesterday, but today the saint said that he wanted to marry the eldest lady of the Lin family to him, and everyone was unclear about the lawsuit.

Then, something that surprised them even more appeared, only to see Zhao Ziqian, the Seventh Highness, walk out of the desk and salute and say: "Father Xie is very kind, but Erchen wants to leave the position of concubine to the woman he likes." ”

The woman you want? Does His Royal Highness the Jade-Faced Shura have a favorite woman? Everyone present looked at each other, didn't they say that these seven princes were not close to women?

Lin Zhimeng secretly clenched her sleeves, and there were huge waves in her heart!

"Oh? Does Qian'er have a favorite woman? Which girl is it? Zhao Zheng asked loudly.

Zhao Ziqian rarely smiled, and his charming face instantly touched everyone's hearts, only to hear him lightly open his thin lips and say: "This woman is not ordinary, the son doesn't want his father to oppress people with power, the son wants to chase after him!" ”

The civil and military officials are all embarrassed, dare to say that the saint oppresses people with authority, has the brain of the Seven Highnesses been kicked by a donkey?

Just when everyone thought that the Seventh Highness would be reprimanded, they heard the saint on the high platform laugh and say, "Good! He is worthy of my son! The girl you like should win her heart by yourself! However, as a prince, you also have the responsibility to carry on the heirs of the royal family. The Ministry of Rites listened to the order and canonized Lin Zhimeng, the eldest daughter of the Lin family, as the side concubine of the Seventh Prince, and entered the Seven Princes' Mansion after the draft! ”

The eldest daughter of the Lin family, the seventh prince...... Side concubine?

No one dared to confirm whether they had heard the wrong thing, and they all knelt down and shouted long live!

Lin Zhimeng knelt on the floor that was warmed by the earth dragon, and she didn't know whether to be happy or sad in her heart.