The Empire and the Kingdom

After the palace banquet, the ladies in the capital were talking about Princess Yun Yi who had just returned to China.Although in the past ten years, Feng Jingsu would go back to China every year during Chinese New Year, but due to the short time, it was difficult even for people in the palace to see her, let alone the official ladies in the capital.Originally, Miss Xue San, Xue Ai, already had a top-notch appearance, but now it seems that the appearance of this Princess Yunyi can compete with Xue Ai.

Today the prince took Zhuang Ruoshui to Fengde Palace to greet the queen.Several people talked about the palace banquet a few days ago. "I see that Miss Xue San is a bit dull, but she looks beautiful. Fortunately, she is just a side concubine, as long as she serves you well, she doesn't need to be too shrewd."

Prince Feng Ye is 22 years old this year. The Zhuang family wanted to get married two years ago. The queen decided to accept Zhuang Ruoshui as a side concubine. Last year, the queen ordered Xue Ai to be his side concubine. The real concubine candidate, the queen has actually already made an appointment. Well, it's the eldest daughter of the emperor in Li Kingdom next door. In this way, both internal and external considerations are taken into account. The queen is really worried about this son.

"What the queen mother said is right." The prince always obeyed and behaved politely in front of the queen, but he had the demeanor of a prince of a country.

The mother and daughter talked for a while, the prince had something to do, so he left first.The queen looked at Zhuang Ruoshui's preoccupied look, and asked, "Ruoshui, are you worried about Xue Ai?"

Zhuang Ruoshui raised her head. She and the queen are cousins, and she has loved her very much since the little queen. Now that they have become mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, the relationship between the two has become closer.

"I dare not hide the truth from my mother. I saw Miss Xue San's good looks at the palace banquet that day. I was happy for His Highness, but also worried for myself." Zhuang Ruoshui pressed the corners of his eyes with a handkerchief, and With a well-behaved look on her face, she suppressed her grievances, "I know I shouldn't be jealous, but Miss Xue is such a wealthy family, and she is a rare beauty..." She smiled wryly, "I am afraid that I will only hear the smiles of newcomers. The old man cries."

The queen beckoned her to sit beside her, took her hand and said: "You child, you always like to think wildly. Why did my palace let you enter the East Palace early? Although the position of the concubine should be reserved for the princesses of Li Kingdom , but that’s just a married princess, what can you do when you arrive in Yunguo. You were the first to enter the East Palace, and everyone outside here listens to you. Xue Ai is a beauty, but she is just a beauty. You treat her as a Wouldn’t it be good to offer the vase? Ruoshui, the crown prince is the future heir, how many people will there be in the harem after succeeding to the throne in the future? When you sit in this palace, will you be jealous of the concubines?” The message implied in these words But that's a little too much.

After hearing this, Zhuang Ruoshui immediately showed a pleasant expression, and quickly restrained himself, "The queen mother is joking, how can my son have such a blessing as the queen mother?"

"You have to walk your own way. If you are blindly jealous, don't say that the prince doesn't like it, even this palace is not suitable for you to live in." This is a typical combination of grace and power.On the one hand, the queen seduced Zhuang Ruoshui with future benefits, and on the other hand, she was warning her.

Zhuang Ruoshui lowered his head, "What the empress mother taught me is that I know my mistake."

"You are smart, and you are considerate to the prince. I care about you in my heart. Don't rush to find trouble with Miss Xue San. Her temperament is not worth your time. You should put your mind on what Take care of the prince." The queen was basically satisfied with Zhuang Ruoshui.Zhuang Ruoshui has been in the Eastern Palace for two years, managed the Eastern Palace in an orderly manner, and took care of the prince meticulously, so that her own mother can also relax.As for jealousy, it is unavoidable for young couples, it will be fine in a few years, it is not a big deal.

When Feng Jingsu came back from get out of class these few days, she was in the study looking at the roster of officials in the capital sent by Concubine De.She doesn't want to keep her eyes trapped in this deep palace, her goal is always moving forward, and her ambition is always moving forward.And she is currently no one available in the previous dynasty, which is not a good start.

"The prince and the second prince are fighting fiercely. Although the queen in the palace is suppressing the noble concubine, the second prince did a good job last time and won the emperor's appreciation. Now the limelight is about to overwhelm the prince. The prince has been working hard recently, but it has paid off. It’s not big.” Cuidie only heard about this kind of thing from Concubine De’s side, she stayed in the Shenhe Palace all day, and the information she could learn about the previous court was limited, and most of it was casual gossip from other palace people , and the credibility is doubtful.

Feng Jingsu thought for a while, "Please help me find out what the prince's recent errands are."

"Yes." Cuidie responded, turned around and was about to leave, but stopped in her tracks.

"Anything else?"

"Princess, Ruyi and Fang Fei have given Xiao Zhu Xiaoduo a lot of face these two days because they are the big court ladies." It's not that Cuidie can't get rid of these two people, but behind them is the queen, Cuidie still has to ask for instructions What Feng Jingsu meant.

"Let the two of them stay in the back, serve delicious food and drinks, and bring them a message. If they dare to go out, I will send them back to Fengde Palace." Feng Jingsu is also willing to do some superficial work when she is in a good mood. After all, idleness is idleness. with.But if she has something to do, it's better not to get close to strangers.

The Shangninghou Mansion in the capital held a flower appreciation banquet, and Xue's Mansion received an invitation. The Pan family always didn't care about this kind of banquet, and it was up to the five daughters to decide whether to go or not.

Xue Ying, Xue Zhi, and Xue Ruo never miss this kind of opportunity, Xue Ai never goes there, Xue Yi underestimates her mood when she is young.This time Xue Yi wants to finish his master's homework at home, so he won't go.Just when the other three women met at the door and were about to get into the carriage, they unexpectedly discovered that Xue Ai was also dressed up and ready to get into the carriage.

"Third Sister, are you going to attend the banquet at Shangninghou Mansion?" Xue Ying's tone was not very sure.

"Yes." Xue Ai smiled.Although she has been dressed up, she has last year's clothes and jewelry from top to bottom, and she looks different from the other three ladies.

Although Xue Ying was not very happy, she had no reason not to let Xue Ai go, so she had to take her into the carriage together.

"You must not make any jokes when you arrive at the Hou's Mansion." Xue Ying was still worried when she got off the car.

"I see." Xue Ai seemed completely unable to see Xue Ying's disgusting tone and eyes.

Xue Ai is indeed obedient.Although her outdated attire caused many ladies in the official family to point fingers, but until the end of the flower viewing feast, Xue Ai did not do anything surprising.She has always stood quietly in a certain place, looking at the flowers and people around her seemingly cautiously, and she only responded with a smile to other people's provocations, without any aggressiveness.

Since then, Miss Xue San, who had never attended celebrity banquets very often, began to show up frequently on such occasions.It's just that unlike others who try to show themselves and gain a good reputation, Xue Ai just attended, but quietly as if he was an invisible person.In many cases, most people are not sure whether she will be present or not, because she has no sense of existence.

"Mother, what do you mean by Third Sister?" Xue Ying was still dissatisfied after all.As long as Xue Ai is present, she, the eldest sister, has to take care of her. Although Xue Ai needs no one to take care of her less and less, Xue Ying feels that taking this younger sister out is a shameful thing in itself.Other young ladies will always compare the two sisters intentionally or unintentionally, although she is better than Xue Ai in everything, but in terms of appearance, she really can't compare.No matter how good the clothes, jewelry, and makeup are, it can't compare to that old-fashioned wooden girl.

"She, she just found out that she is much worse than you, so she wants to show her face at more parties. If you really don't like it, mother won't let her participate next time." Every time she sees Xue Ai, Pan will think of herself The son who died young, Xue Ai was a thorn in her heart, which got deeper and deeper.

Xue Ai was banned from attending the celebrity banquet like this, Meng An was not convinced, she was wronged for her own lady, but she couldn't think about it.

"Miss, why doesn't the emperor let the prince marry you? After leaving this family, you don't have to be wronged like this." Meng An was worried for Xue Ai.In her opinion, the only way to solve the current predicament is to marry into the Eastern Palace.

Xue Ai heard it interestingly, "Do you want to get married?"

"Miss, this servant is really worried about you, but you are still making fun of this servant." Meng An stomped her feet and went out.

Xue Ai laughed, the little girl is really thin-skinned, she can't take jokes.

Is marrying into the East Palace a good way out?Xue Ai knew exactly what she wanted in her heart. She had endured in this family for so many years, and she did not seek a way out of the East Palace.

The prince has only recently been robbed of the limelight by the second prince Feng Shen, so it is inevitable that he will feel a little depressed.The errand given to him by the emperor was to patrol the embankment construction project. Not to mention the hard work, it was still a thankless job.

Although the prince also has selfish intentions, he also understands that some money can be taken and some money cannot be taken.The river embankment is related to the lives of the people on both sides of the bank. He can't and dare not take this money. Floods happen every year. Once the embankment breaks, he will inevitably be responsible.At that time, even if the emperor wanted to protect him, the second prince would definitely bite him.But for things like dike repairs, how much money is thrown into it without even a splash, no one will remember his credit if there is no problem, but it is all his fault if something goes wrong.

"Your Highness, Princess Yunyi welcomes you." On the second floor of Woyunju, a tea house on Zhuque Street in the capital, the crown prince and Feng Jingsu sat opposite each other.

"I heard that the father gave you a waist card that allows you to enter and leave the palace at will. Do you know how many people are jealous?" The prince couldn't figure out why Feng Jingsu came out of the palace to meet him. After ten years of separation, the two are not born of the same mother. The so-called family relationship is just a layer of familiarity with ordinary people.

"I heard that Brother Huang is worrying about patrolling the embankment?" Feng Jingsu personally poured a cup of tea for the prince.

The prince's heart trembled, his errand was not a secret, but why did Feng Jingsu care so much about a girl?The battle in the harem is one after another, and the previous court is even worse. No wonder the prince is so careful.

The author has something to say: continue to collect, love you~~~