handle

Tong'er felt very disappointed, they had already lived here for three days, and although there were court ladies who brought them water and food, the second prince never came here once.

Zhiyuan became more and more silent, which made Tong'er feel flustered and uncomfortable.

Seeing Zhiyuan hugging the piano again in a daze, Tong'er glared at him: "Didn't the young master say that the second prince asked you to practice the piano? You did."

Zhiyuan came back to her senses, looked at the angry Tong'er, and suddenly felt that this 16-year-old child was a bit pitiful.If he died, Tong'er might not end well.

Thinking of this, Zhi Yuan said: "There is no need to practice, it doesn't matter how good my piano skills are."

Tong'er retorted: "Why do you say that? If the young master can practice the piano better, and the second prince is happy, maybe he will like the young master more."

Zhi Yuan looked at him and expressed her thoughts: "If I guess correctly, the Second Prince is going to give me to King Jia at his birthday banquet."

Tong'er didn't understand: "Give it to King Jia? Why? What's more, what if it's given to King Jia? Isn't it normal for the second prince to give a gift as a brother on His Highness King Jia's birthday?"

Zhi Yuan shook her head, looked at the palm print on her right hand: "King Jia, the one you hate the most is the young lady."

Tong'er's eyes widened, not knowing what to say.

Zhi Yuan continued: "What's more, Princess Jia must be there at the birthday banquet, and the second prince gave me to King Jia on this occasion..."

Zhi Yuan didn't continue talking, Tong'er said anxiously: "Then, why did the Second Prince do this? Isn't he afraid that His Royal Highness King Jia will be angry?"

Zhiyuan shook her head, the grievances between the royal children were beyond his knowledge.He just had a premonition of his own destiny, a destiny that was about to end.Even if King Jia accepted him, he would definitely not be able to survive in Prince Jia's Mansion.

During these years in the Mandarin Duck Tower, the old bustard sent people to teach Zhi Yuan not only how to serve men.As the top brand carefully cultivated by Yuanyanglou, Zhiyuan, like Hongyuan, has to learn everything from piano, chess, calligraphy and painting.During the time of being in contact with Hong Yuan, that gentle woman was like Zhi Yuan's sister, teaching him and taking care of him.When she learned that Zhiyuan was bought by the second prince, Hongyuan came to him specially and told him all the news about the royal family that she knew.

There is currently no crown prince in the Ling Dynasty. There are four princes and one princess in the dynasty.The first prince, Ling Wenjia, was born out of the tenth empress, married the prime minister's daughter as his concubine, left the palace to build a mansion, and was bestowed the title King Jia; although the second prince, Ling Wencheng, did not marry a wife, he had many concubines. It is said that his favored mother Concubine Shu is looking for a suitable concubine for him; the third prince Ling Wenze, whose mother Concubine Hui died of dystocia that year, and this prince was also weak and sickly and very timid since he was a child. Although he is over nineteen years old, he does not have any concubine The male favorite; the fourth princess is seventeen years old and is waiting to be married.

To King Jia, Hong Yuan said: "King Jia cares more about the status than anyone else, and he hates and despises the little ones like us the most. His concubine is the current prime minister. His daughter, even the side concubine is a woman of royal blood, he would never touch a man, let alone a young lady."

Today is King Jia's 22nd birthday. This is King Jia's first birthday after leaving the palace and building a mansion. It's not as simple as when he was in the palace. King Jia, who already has a mansion, can hold a birthday banquet in his own mansion this time , accepted the congratulatory gift from the officials.

According to the usual practice, after the early court ended, King Jia took Princess Jia to pay respects to the emperor, concubine Shu, and concubine Jin one by one, and received the birthday gifts from them.As for the birthday banquet, it was naturally arranged in the evening.These elders in the palace will not go, there is no need for them to be present at the younger generation's birthday banquet.

After King Jia and Princess Jia left from Concubine Shu's side, the second prince came out from the inner room and looked at Concubine Shu who was leaning on the couch: "Concubine Mother behaved very well just now, and I can't see any resentment at being punished by the Queen. "

Concubine Shu rolled her eyes and said angrily, "You kid, you dare to make fun of Concubine Mother."

The second prince walked over with a smile, and lightly squeezed Concubine Shu's shoulders and neck: "Mother, don't worry, the grievances you suffered at the empress's side, I will help you get it back at King Jia's tonight."

Concubine Shu turned her head to look at him: "I heard that you spent a lot of money to buy a young lady? What do you want to do? Don't go too far. Speaking of which, I was careless this time, and let the queen catch some tricks." Fortunately, it's just a trivial matter of etiquette. Your uncle and I accept the punishment obediently, but your father thinks that the queen is making a big fuss. Don't spoil my business."

The second prince smiled and said: "Mother and concubine, don't worry, the son-in-law will do this because he loves the mother and concubine. If the father wants to punish the son-in-law, he will punish the son-in-law. The mother and concubine will not be implicated. On the uncle's side, the mother and concubine still have to carry out the punishment." Admonish him, let him be more careful in the future. The position of Minister of Rites is not so easy to take."

Speaking of her useless younger brother, Concubine Shu also felt depressed.She patted the second prince's hand, indicating that she would warn her younger brother, and then asked, "Since you said so, then I won't say more. But, what exactly are you going to do?"

The second prince was still smiling, but he refused to say what he wanted to do, and only asked Concubine Shu to wait for the news.

Thinking of the possible expression on King Jia's face, the Second Prince's smile deepened: Tonight will be a good show.

The Palace of King Jia was very lively tonight, besides the children of the royal family, many ministers also came to congratulate King Jia.

Princess Jia Lin Zhaoxiang directed all reception matters in an orderly manner, and naturally also personally served King Jia to put on the banquet attire.

A servant came to inform the prime minister's mansion that someone was coming, Princess Jia nodded and ordered Lin Zhaosheng to be brought in.

King Jia Renjia and Princess Jia combed his clothes, and suddenly said: "Your elder brother came, and you didn't go out to greet him, isn't it too unruly?"

Princess Jia looked up at him, and said: "It's just a bastard, I just feel that changing clothes for His Highness is more important than welcoming him."

King Jia didn't speak, but the smile on his face showed his satisfaction.

Princess Jia stepped aside obediently, and unconsciously touched her aching belly with her right hand. Of course, King Jia didn't see the suppressed emotion in her downcast eyes.

Lin Zhaosheng entered the door and saluted King Jia respectfully.

King Jia smiled and went to help him up: "Zhaoxing and this king have been together for many years, why are there still so many rules. It doesn't have to be like this between you and me."

Lin Zhaoxing smiled: "There are always rules." Then he presented the gifts prepared by the Prime Minister's Mansion for King Jia one by one.

After King Jia accepted it with a smile, he bowed his head and cupped his hands to Princess Jia who was beside him and said, "I've seen you, Princess."

Princess Jia nodded at him, neither her expression nor her movements showed any abnormalities: "How are your father and your two mothers?"

Lin Zhaosheng replied: "Everything is fine, Princess, please rest assured."

Princess Jia nodded and did not ask further questions.

Instead, King Jia suddenly asked, "Where is Zhao Nuo?"

Lin Zhaoxing said: "Younger brother needs to come here with the third prince."

It was only now that King Jia remembered that Lin Zhaonuo, the second son of the prime minister's family, had pointed out to his timid and weak third brother a few years ago to be his servant.Probably because Ling Wenze had no sense of existence, so even Lin Zhaonuo was left behind by King Jia.

Thinking of this, King Jia laughed and said, "I've been negligent. By the way, I heard that your wife is pregnant, is it okay?"

"Everything is well in Zhuojing, and your Highness will miss you."

At this point in the exchange of greetings, another servant came to report that the people from the palace had arrived.Lin Zhaoxing stepped aside consciously, watching King Jia and Princess Jia welcome the second, third and fifth princes who came from the palace.As a young female relative, the fourth princess is not allowed to leave the palace to attend the banquet.

The third prince presented a congratulatory gift, as taciturn as before, and even less present than his attendant Lin Zhaonuo. Lin Zhaonuo congratulated King Jia and exchanged greetings with his elder brother and sister; Sky is three years older than the fifth prince. He is the eldest son of the current general Liang Qingzhen. Now General Liang is guarding the frontier with his wife. Only the old general and his two children are in the capital. Sky also made a gift on behalf of the General's Mansion.

King Jia accepted them one by one, and the second prince said with a smile: "Brother Emperor, the second brother's gift will be presented at the banquet."

Like their biological mother, King Jia and the second prince have always been at odds, but at the moment they are doing a good job of saving face.So King Jia just smiled: "This king is looking forward to it."

When night fell, almost everyone who wished King Jia's birthday had arrived.The fine wines and delicacies arranged by Princess Jia have also been served one after another. After King Jia finished his words of thanks, everyone toasted and read the congratulatory speech. The second prince stood up and said loudly: "Brother Emperor, please allow the second brother to present a congratulatory gift."

King Jia nodded in agreement, and the second prince looked at Zhiyuan who was standing in the corner holding the qin early in the morning.

Zhi Yuan tried her best to control her trembling hands, and walked towards the center of the venue reserved for singing and dancing performances.

The second prince looked at King Jia with a flamboyant provocation on his face: "This is the number one young lady in the Yuanyang House. The second younger brother specially spent a lot of money to buy it as a present for the imperial brother. Wait for this young lady to play a song for the imperial brother." , let him spend a good night with Brother Huang tonight."

Before the words finished, King Jia's face turned pale, and his subordinates squeezed the handle of the seat tightly, and Princess Jia's face was also grim.Everyone present understood the provocation of the second prince, and they were all silent, for fear of being involved in the flames of war between the two brothers.

The second prince didn't seem to feel the strangeness of the atmosphere, he said to Zhiyuan: "Hurry up and play the piano, and wish King Jia's birthday!"

Zhiyuan sat cross-legged on the floor, put the piano on her lap, and glanced at her right hand which was still trembling.Are you scared?Of course he was afraid, but fear could not change anything.

Putting his hand on the string, Zhiyuan just moved his right hand, only to hear a "Keng", the string broke.

A dead silence.

The second prince was probably the first to react. He drew out the sword of the guard standing behind him with his backhand, and walked towards Zhiyuan step by step with a smile.

Zhi Yuan still just sat there, looking down at her bleeding fingers.

King Jia slapped the table in front of him suddenly, and loudly reprimanded: "Second brother! You are too crazy to kill someone at this king's birthday banquet!"

Naturally, King Jia wouldn't care about Zhi Yuan's life or death, what he cared about was that Ling Wencheng would unluckily end up his good birthday party with the fate of a young lady.

The second prince smiled and said: "Don't worry, brother, the second brother is not that unruly. It's just that this young man broke the string at the birthday banquet of the emperor's brother. It's really unlucky and he should be punished."

He read the word "should be punished" very emphatically, and the next moment, he swung his sword and cut off Zhiyuan's right hand.

The moment her right hand was separated from her body, Zhi Yuan didn't seem to feel anything, but the picture in front of her eyes became both clear and blurry.When the severe pain swept through the whole body, many people on the field screamed in fear.

Zhi Yuan gave a wry smile in her turbid consciousness: He, who has lost his hand, hasn't howled yet, so these onlookers seem to have been greatly stimulated.

Before passing out, Zhi Yuan heard many people exclaim: "His Royal Highness the Third Prince has passed out!"