On the risks and benefits of falling in love with a prince

After a long time, Liu Rui put his forehead on Zhao Tang's shoulder and asked, "I have nothing now, and I can't give you anything. Are you still willing to follow me?"

Zhao Tang stroked the back of Liu Rui's head and said, "You have nothing, and I'm too poor to be pants. We are a perfect match, so don't dislike each other, huh?"

Liu Rui hugged Zhao Tang and let out a suppressed sob.Zhao Tang also cried, and secretly vowed to work hard to make money so that Liu Rui can live a good life.

The next day, Zhao Tang had to go to work. When he came back, he saw Liu Rui standing in the yard, chopping firewood calmly.

Zhao Tang walked over: "Are you... alright?"

Liu Rui turned his head, his eyes were bloodshot, and said, "I'm fine. I'll call back to Luoyang."

Zhao Tang was terrified, suspecting that Liu Rui was going crazy.However, after Liu Rui finished chopping firewood, he went back to his room for dinner, washed up and went to bed after eating, and acted in an orderly manner; before going to bed, he even took the initiative to kiss Zhao Tang.

Zhao Tang was even more disturbed.For several days, he observed Liu Rui. Liu Rui could eat, sleep and work, but he rarely spoke.

Zhao Tang was helpless, and only hoped that Liu Rui would figure it out after a long time.

Liu Rui didn't figure it out, but the newly bought girls in the building figured it out.The price of goods in the city is getting more and more expensive, and the big girls are brave enough to receive customers for the continuous flow of noodles.Zhao Tang didn't need to train them, and when he had free time, he wandered around the city looking for opportunities to make money.He is a tall and handsome young man who can speak the authentic Linzhang dialect. He quickly stood out from the thousands of victims and found a job that could make money.

One day, he helped the newlyweds drive their carriages—the newlyweds were very beautiful, and they wanted to find beautiful people to complement them, so Zhao Tang got this easy job.He just drove the car for a while, said a few auspicious words, and then he was able to eat a sumptuous feast and receive a red envelope.

In local weddings in Linzhang, the bride does not cover her head, and only drinks a cup of wine with the groom facing the ancestral tablet.Two young men in auspicious clothes sat kneeling opposite each other, looking at each other with honey in their eyes.Zhao Tang looked down, full of envy.

After going back that day, he stared at Liu Rui who was sweeping the floor, and suddenly said, "Rui Rui, do you want to marry me?"

Liu Rui said: "Huh?"

After Zhao Tang uttered the first sentence, the following words continued: "Aren't you afraid that I won't want you? Once married, we are one family and will never be separated!"

Liu Rui said: "Two men..."

Zhao Tang said: "What's the matter with the men? There are few girls, can't everyone be single? There are so many male couples!"

Liu Rui said: "Marriage costs money."

Zhao Tang said: "I have money, you just need to say 'yes'."

Liu Rui showed a dumbfounding expression.Zhao Tang squeezed Liu Rui's lips, separated them up and down, dubbed by himself: "Okay." Then pointed to Liu Rui: "Oh, you say 'yes', that's a deal!"

Liu Rui nodded helplessly and agreed.

Zhao Tang was so happy that he couldn't sleep at night, his mind was full of flowers and candles, auspicious clothes, wedding banquets and carriages.No matter how short of money, two sets of new clothes are necessary, red candles are also needed, a table is set for the wedding banquet, and a few new friends are invited... He has a small calculation in his mind, and he is crackling and calculating.

Hearing Liu Rui sigh suddenly, he asked, "Are you up?"

Liu Rui said: "I can't figure it out."

Zhao Tang said: "Can't figure out what?"

Liu Ruidao: "I just didn't tell my father about the assassination. How could there be so many accidents? How can the imperial decree be false? How did Nanhou do it?"

Zhao Tang said: "Don't think about it, the Queen of the South is dead."

Liu Rui didn't speak, Zhao Tang continued to settle accounts for a while, and fell asleep because he was so sleepy.

After that day, Zhao Tang was looking for jobs like carrying sedan chairs and driving cars. These jobs required great strength, good looks, and a sweet mouth.Zhao Tang complied with everything, and quickly saved a small sum of money.

When life is at stake, red cloth with candles and gourds in handbags are cheaper.Liu Rui can embroider, Zhao Tang bought fabrics and asked Liu Rui to make auspicious clothes by himself.

Every evening, when Zhao Tang came home, he saw Liu Rui sitting outside the threshold sewing clothes stitch by stitch, like a little daughter-in-law, and he felt warm in his heart.

Soon enough money was saved for the wedding, and Zhao Tang bought red paper wedding candles, cattle and sheep into the water, and sorghum spirits.He cut window grilles out of red paper and pasted them on the wall. When the candles shone bright red, he immediately felt happy.He also asked his friends in the kitchen to deal with the cattle and sheep, add some vegetables, and make a wedding banquet.Finally, he went to see Liu Zhenzhen.

In Liu Zhenzhen's room, Zhao Tang stood with his head bowed.Explain that you want to get married.Liu Zhenzhen sat in front of the dressing table, facing the bronze mirror, and put rouge on her lips: "You are married, tell me what to do?"

"If Aunt Liu is free..."

"I'm busy."

Zhao Tang took a deep breath and said, "Then, I want to borrow one of my mother's belongings." When Zhao Man'er was down and out, she sold her jewelry, and Liu Zhenzhen bought a lot.

After hearing this, Liu Zhenzhen got up and walked to the cabinet, took out the key to open it, took out stacks of bright clothes, and took out the red lacquer wooden box at the bottom.The wooden box was opened, and inside was a handkerchief, a pearl hairpin, and two emerald leaf earrings.Liu Zhenzhen stared at it for a moment, sighed softly, and passed it to Zhao Tang.

"Send it back when you're done."

Zhao Tang took it in his hand.He didn't remember his mother having such gorgeous jewelry.I just remember that when my mother was young, she was very beautiful, loved to laugh and dress up, but later she was poor and couldn’t afford to dress up, but she still loved to laugh.Holding the box, he bowed to Liu Zhenzhen, took his leave and left.

In the afternoon, Zhao Tang's friends all came to help, cleaned the woodshed, and brought oil lamps, food tables, pillows and bedding from the guest room.My friend was poor, but he gave me a congratulatory gift, an egg, a foot of floral cloth, and a bowl... Zhao Tang and Liu Rui accepted them all and thanked them one by one.

In the evening, the wedding banquet was ready, and there were four hot dishes on the food table.Zhao Tang and Liu Rui changed into auspicious clothes and knelt in front of the altar made of firewood.Big red candles are lit on the altar, and a jewelry box is placed.Looking at the jewelry box, Zhao Tang felt sad and choked up, "Mom, my son is married, and he will not be alone in the future. You are underground... don't worry."

Liu Rui also said in a low voice: "Father, the child is not filial, and he wants to make a private appointment with Zhao Tang for life."

The two kowtowed together, then turned around, faced each other, and drank a cup of wine from a gourd that had been split in half.

The friends booed one after another, saying that there was not enough wine for a glass of wine, and they had to be fed mouth to mouth.Both of them blushed, their mouths came together, and when they were about to kiss, the door rang and Liu Zhenzhen stood outside.

Liu Zhenzhen was dressed in beautiful clothes, with two little maids behind her, a handful of reed mats, and a handful of food boxes.When the little workers saw Liu Zhenzhen, they all fell silent, and Zhao Tang was also dumbfounded.

Liu Zhenzhen walked to the altar, and a maid immediately spread the mat in front of her.Liu Zhenzhen knelt down on the mat, and said to the two of them: "How can there be someone who only worships things in the high hall? I am Zhao Tang's elder, so please worship me."

Zhao Tang was overjoyed and pulled Liu Rui to bow down.

Liu Zhenzhen received three heads calmly, took out a red envelope from her sleeve, and handed it to Liu Rui.Liu Rui took it with both hands and said, "Thank you, Aunt Liu."

Liu Zhenzhen said: "You should call me godmother, I am Zhao Tang's godmother."

Zhao Tang panicked, he was afraid that Liu Zhenzhen would say something, and also that Liu Rui would not call, which would create an embarrassing situation.However, Liu Rui's face was calm, and his voice was calm: "Thank you, godmother."

Liu Zhenzhen said seriously: "Although you are a son of a family, our Zhao Tang is talented and handsome, both civil and military, and there is nothing that is not worthy of you. Since you are married to him, you will be a husband and wife in the future, so you can no longer put on airs as a son of a family. Today's world is difficult, you have to work together as a couple to live a good life, understand?" Liu Rui kowtowed respectfully: "My son understands, thank Godmother for teaching me."

Only then did Liu Zhenzhen show a smile.The two maids opened the food boxes they brought in and took out plates of delicate dishes—during difficult times, these dishes were more expensive than gold.Liu Zhenzhen announced the opening of the banquet, and everyone sat around the table, eating big pieces.

The banquet is coming to an end, Liu Zhenzhen leaves early.Zhao Tang sent her out.Standing in the cold yard, under the moonlight, Zhao Tang couldn't help but lower his head, as if he was back in childhood, hungry and afraid that there was nothing he could do, hoping that Liu Zhenzhen would help.

He said, "Aunt Liu..."

Liu Zhenzhen said: "Do you still call me Aunt Liu? Forget it, you refused to call me godmother since you were a child. I don't blame you, I was also a little naughty back then, and I called you a little naughty."

Zhao Tang said: "Godmother!"

Liu Zhenzhen fixed her eyes on Zhao Tang, her eyes were gentle, she raised her hands that were no longer young and delicate, and gently stroked Zhao Tang's cheeks.

"Growing up," Liu Zhenzhen sighed, "I became so tall in the blink of an eye, Man'er is smarter than me, and raised a good child."

Zhao Tang burst into tears.

Liu Zhenzhen said: "Live a good life in the future. If you live well, Man'er will be happy in heaven."

Zhao Tang nodded with tears in his eyes.Liu Zhenzhen laughed and wiped his tears with her sleeve: "It's a happy day, why are you crying? Come in."

Liu Zhenzhen left.Zhao Tang stayed in the yard, took a few deep breaths, and returned to his room after his tears dissipated.The wedding banquet lasted until late at night, and everyone said a lot of blessings.After the guests were gone, the two washed up and lay side by side on the mattress.

Unanimously, the two turned sideways and kissed each other's mouth at the same time.

Tonight, Liu Rui was extraordinarily good-looking, with a flushed face and wet eyes.Zhao Tang held his neck and kissed him non-stop. After kissing, he said with a smile: "Good Ruirui, hurry up and call me husband."

Liu Ruidao: "I will show you face in front of the godmother. You should call me husband."

Zhao Tang smiled and said, "Okay, my name is, lady——"

Liu Rui: "You are a lady."

Zhao Tang untied Liu Rui's belt, touched Liu Rui's buttocks, and said with a smile: "Whoever he is, let's enter the bridal chamber first!"