Doudou patted his head as if he suddenly understood, "If you didn't remind me, I would have forgotten. The emperor has decreed that all the princesses coming from the country will meet together tomorrow, so today you just go back to the palace with me first. My mother saw
You will definitely be very happy, why not stay in the palace tonight."
Just as Xiaoqian was about to speak, the girl Wenyue behind her reminded her again,
"The princess wants to live in the palace, and this trip is unusual."
Xiaoqian turned back and glared at her, and said angrily:
"When will it be your turn to make arrangements for this princess? Back off."
Seeing this, Wen Yue stopped talking and took a few steps back.
Doudou naturally knew Xiaoqian's purpose of coming here, but she believed that as long as he made it clear to the emperor, the emperor would not steal his sister Xiaoqian, so she didn't have any worries.
Xiaoqian squinted at him and said directly:
"Doudou, let's go to the palace first. I also want to see Sister Mu'er. I haven't seen her for a long time."
Doudou grinned directly,
"Don't call me Sister Mu'er from now on, call me Aunt Mu'er, otherwise there's a generation gap between you and me! By the way, my mother is pregnant now, otherwise she will have to come to pick you up. My father usually
I didn't let her move around much for fear of having fetal motility."
"Really?" Xiaoqian was a little excited when she heard this, "The emperor's sister-in-law asked me to take care of you before I came here. If she knew that Sister Mu'er was pregnant, she would be extremely happy."
"Well, my aunt will be happy to hear this. By the way, why didn't my aunt come? My mother is still nagging her."
Xiaoqian stuck out her tongue and said, "Your aunt is also pregnant and has some physical inconveniences. My brother, the emperor, is also never leaving. Except when he goes to court to handle state affairs, he stays by her side almost all the time. Otherwise, she would really want to come."
Hearing this, Doudou scratched his head in embarrassment.
"I didn't expect my uncle to be so kind to my aunt, so I'm relieved. Let's go back to the palace."
While the two were talking, Wen Yue came over and helped Xiaoqian get into the carriage, and the people from Guning State rushed straight to the palace.
Su Muer had already received the news that Xiaoqian would come, so she ordered people to prepare the dinner early, and the palace was even more busy.
Ye Shihan sent the people who went out to pick up Linhai City to reply. Mrs. Zeng said that she didn't like the hustle and bustle of the capital and liked the tranquility there, so she wanted to live there and return to the city tomorrow when she had the chance. If she didn't come back, Linhai City's
Naturally, the rest of the people did not come back, and even the little girl Aqiu was unwilling to come back to Linhai City.
Su Muer understands that they have such thoughts. Why doesn't she want to spend the rest of her life quietly in a place like Linhai City like them? But reality does not allow them to do that. Ye Shihan wants to assist the emperor, and Doudou likes his life in the military camp.
, she couldn’t leave their father and son.
Sitting in the main hall, Xiaoqian bent her knees and saluted.
"Greetings to the princess."
Su Muer hurriedly raised her hand,
"Xiaoqian, please stop being so polite and sit down quickly. You must be exhausted from the long journey."
"It's not bad. We usually travel during the day and rest in the inn at night. It's not too tiring. It's just that the road is so boring. It really annoys me to death."
Speaking of this, she glanced at Doudou, stuck out her tongue and continued:
"But thinking about seeing you here makes me happy."
Doudou winked at her to show that he was also happy.
Su Muer smiled and nodded,
"We miss you too, especially Doudou, who often mentions you. By the way, Doudou, please go to the kitchen and see how soon it will be ready for dinner. Xiaoqian must be starving."
Hearing this, Xiaoqian waved her hands quickly,
"No, no, no, I'm not hungry."
Just as Doudou was about to stand up, he sat back down again. Su Muer looked at him helplessly,
"Even if she's not hungry, our palace must have good hospitality. You'd better go and have a look. I'll chat with Xiaoqian."
So Doudou stood up again, saluted her with fists in his hands, and strode out.
Seeing him leaving, Su Muer walked down the hall, stepped forward and took Xiaoqian's hand.
"Come with me for a walk in the back garden."
Xiaoqian nodded happily, "Okay, I just want to visit the palace. This is my first time in the capital."
While talking, the two people walked out of the main hall door and walked to the back garden.
A group of girls followed them not far or near.
The back garden of the palace was very spacious. Su Muer and Xiaoqian sat down in a pavilion, beckoning and retreating.
Xiaoqian pointed at the fish in the lake and shouted excitedly:
"Look at that fish. It's black. It's so beautiful."
"And that flower, it's so beautiful in bloom and the color is tender."
"That butterfly, the yellow butterfly."
Seeing her excited look, Su Muer couldn't bear to disturb her, but she had to.
"Xiaoqian, I have something to say to you."
Hearing her serious tone, Xiaoqian turned around and looked at her,
"What's wrong, Sister Mu'er? If you have anything to say, just say it."
Su Muer nodded slightly and said slowly:
"Have your imperial brother and your mother told you the purpose of your coming to the Eastern Jin Dynasty this time?"
Xiaoqian pondered for a moment, pursed her lips and nodded,
"Well, I told you, my queen mother said that the emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty was going to choose a concubine. In order to enhance the friendly relations between the two countries, they asked me to choose the concubine. But I didn't plan to come, but if I don't agree, I will
If I don’t have a chance to come here, then I won’t be able to see Doudou, and I won’t be able to see you, so…”
"I know."
Su Muer looked at her very understandingly, "I know what you are thinking, but have you ever thought about what you would do if you were chosen by the emperor?"
After hearing this, Xiaoqian waved her hands confidently,
"Don't worry about this. I've prepared the ugliest clothes tomorrow. I can't dance, I can't play chess, calligraphy or painting. If the emperor can take a fancy to me, he won't be blind."
"What if he is really blind?"
Su Muer's words hit Xiaoqian's heart like a thunderbolt from the blue. Her heart sank, and then she frowned and looked at her.
"Sister Mu'er means that the emperor will choose me?" After saying this, she smiled and shook her head, "It's impossible. You see, I don't look beautiful enough, my figure isn't good enough, I can't speak, I can't dance, I can't read Chinese characters.
I know a few women, but I don’t know how to do it. He won’t fancy me, so don’t worry.”
What she said is true. Xiaoqian grew up with Grandpa Zhuang at the foot of the mountain. Apart from medicinal materials, she knew almost nothing else. She could at least read and only knew the names of medicinal materials.
But even so, Su Muer still felt faintly worried in her heart.
The summons the next day could be said to be the most solemn banquet in the palace since the emperor ascended the throne. Not only the princesses from various countries and their accompanying ceremonial staff were coming, but also the palace ministers of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and their families, as well as the women of the right age at home.
The emperor was already sixteen years old. He had just ascended the throne and was preoccupied with the affairs of the government. There was not yet a concubine of the right age in the harem, so Ye Shihan discussed with several officials from the Ministry of Rites and held this concubine selection banquet.
Regardless of whether women from their own country or from other countries, as long as the emperor chooses them, they will all enter the palace as concubines. As for the choice of queen, it must be decided at a later date. The queen is not something that ordinary women can take on.
Although Su Muer and Xiao Yuanyuan are pregnant, they naturally have to attend such an important occasion as today.
Ye Shihan, the main person in charge of this incident, directly ordered people to prepare soft couches and chairs for the two of them to prevent them from getting tired after sitting for a long time.
In front of the gate of Qianqing Palace, there were people sitting on both sides. On the left sat envoys from various countries, and on the right sat the palace ministers of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and their families. Ye Shihan sat at the head of the hall, and Su Muer sat next to him. The people sat in rows according to their official positions.
After everyone was ready, Xiao Fuzi shook his whisk and announced,
"Your Majesty."
After hearing the words, everyone stood up one after another. The emperor, wearing a dragon robe, came to sit in front of everyone and everyone began to salute.
"Your Majesty, good luck."
The emperor waved his hand and said, "No need to be polite, please sit down."
After saying that, everyone sat back in their seats, and the place suddenly fell into silence.
At this time, Mr. Yu, the Minister of Rites, walked to the front of the crowd and spoke seriously,
"Now, let's invite the princesses of each country, the princesses of the vassal families, and the girls of the right age from the families of the princes and ministers to come to the middle, introduce themselves first, and then perform a special skill to entertain everyone, and then the emperor will choose from them. A few close-eyed people came out."
As soon as Mr. Yu finished speaking, a woman in dark green clothes somersaulted directly in front of the person. Her hair was tied up high, her big and smart eyes moved around, and there were two small bells at the end of her hair. She made a crisp sound when she turned somersaults.
Although she is petite, she has a trace of arrogance on her face, and her eyebrows are filled with a domineering expression.
She came to the front of the person and directly clasped her fists and said: "I am Princess Yongping of the Fuyang Kingdom. I am honored to be here today. I have specially prepared a martial arts show for the Emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and everyone."
As soon as she finished speaking, she opened her hands, touched the ground with her feet, and started a dancing performance.
But where is the dancing skill in her performance? It is obviously martial arts.
Just when everyone was surprised, she suddenly took out a short knife from her sleeve. This scene was clearly seen by Ye Shihan. He was about to get up to stop him when Doudou flew over from the crowd and faced Princess Yongping directly. Fight together.
Only a few shrewd people present saw the dagger in Princess Yongping's hand, so it didn't cause much of a sensation. Most of them thought Doudou was here to cooperate with her performance.
In the midst of flying flowers and rocks, two people were fighting with four fists. The emperor was sitting on the high platform and watching with great interest. Only Ye Shihan and Su Muer's eyes were full of worry.
Su Mu'er kneaded her hands together tightly. She saw clearly the moment when Princess Yongping drew out the dagger. She was now worried that something would happen to Doudou and worried that this woman was here to assassinate the emperor. Therefore, her eyes He has been following two people who are fighting each other.
Ye Shihan's handsome eyes didn't even dare to blink. He stared hard at Princess Yongping's sleeves, for fear that if she used a hidden weapon, he would do it. He would never allow anyone to harm his son, nor would he allow anyone to do so. Someone openly came to the palace of the Eastern Jin Dynasty to assassinate someone.
After several rounds, Princess Yongping finally bowed at the foot of Doudou's fist. Doudou's right hand reached her neck, squinted at her, and asked in a cold voice,
"You dare to use hidden weapons? Don't you want to live?"
Princess Yongping stuck out her tongue, then turned her head to cuff. At this moment, Doudou suddenly grabbed her wrist and took out a short knife from her cuff. Just when he was about to question her, the feel of the short knife
It really surprised him.
He frowned and looked at the dagger, and was immediately so angry that his orifices bleeded. How could this be a dagger? It was obviously a dried saury.
"this……"
When Doudou was at a loss, Princess Yongping angrily snatched the swordfish from his hand and pursed her lips slightly displeasedly:
"Who are you? You dare to rob my princess in front of the emperor? I dedicated this to the emperor, what? You want it?"
Looking at this saury, everyone including Ye Shihan and Su Muer were surprised. It was obviously a short sword, how could it turn into a saury?
The emperor, who was sitting in the middle, couldn't help but grinned when he saw the strange behavior of the two.
"Princess Yongping is interested. Please don't blame Princess Yongping. This is my younger brother and the hussar general of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. He has made great contributions in quelling the war in the Western Regions. He may be Princess Yongping's
This salted fish made him misunderstand."
Doudou looked at the salted fish in Princess Yongping's hand and snorted coldly,
"Hmph! She just deliberately used it as a cover-up. If she is discovered, she will be a salted fish, but if she is not discovered, she will be a dagger. Who knows what her intentions are? I clearly saw a dagger hidden in her sleeve."
Hearing what he said, Princess Yongping snorted at him reluctantly, then opened her arms and came to him, staring at him with an unhappy expression.
"Search and see where the murder weapon is on my body? Come on, search it!"
The closer she got, the more Doudou retreated. How could he dare to search? He couldn't bear the accusation that she had accused You Yi of being a man and a woman.
Seeing her reluctance, Su Muer hurriedly got up to smooth things over.
"Princess Yongping, please don't blame me for being rude. He was just thinking about the safety of the emperor. The salted fish in Princess Yongping's hand is indeed somewhat similar to the short sword. No wonder my son saw it wrong."
Princess Yongping looked at Su Mu'er and then politely held her salted fish in her fist and saluted.
"Looking at this woman's extraordinary appearance and high position, she must be Miss Su, one of the few female generals in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. After you led your troops southward, you returned to the capital to guard this territory for the emperor.
I’ve heard everything.”
Listening to this little girl's serious words, Su Muer frowned.
"Princess Yongping is ridiculous. I am just a woman. Everything is the work of my husband. This Su Liyang is my son. If he is disrespectful to the princess in his words or body, please forgive me."
Don’t be offended.”
Princess Yongping looked back at Doudou, then pursed her lips and began to look at him. After a while, she suddenly turned around and clasped her fists at the emperor:
"Your Majesty, the Emperor of the Eastern Jin Kingdom, my father only said that I, Fuyang, would be merging with the Eastern Jin Kingdom, but he did not say with whom. Since this is the emperor's younger brother, he is also the young prince of the Eastern Jin Kingdom. Why don't you betroth me to him?
.”
this……
This sentence made everyone present stunned. Doudou hurriedly waved his hands to refuse.
"Absolutely not, Your Majesty. I dare not have any delusions about the princess. I hope Your Majesty will be considerate."
As soon as he said these words, Princess Yongping became unhappy instantly. She glared at him with her hands on her hips and shouted coldly:
"Su Liyang, you are going too far. You dare to refute my opinion in person? What if I have to marry you? What should you do?"
"Then you can only be a concubine."
In the crowd, Xiaoqian walked over in a water-pink dress. Some people began to whisper in the crowd. Ye Shihan and Su Muer looked at each other and shook their heads helplessly.
The emperor was not annoyed, but watched this scene with relish. Everyone present was looking at the three people standing in the middle of the crowd.
Seeing Xiaoqian walking in, Doudou ran over directly.
"Yes, Sister Xiaoqian is the one I want to marry in the future."
Princess Yongping looked Xiaoqian up and down, then pursed her lips, her eyes full of disdain.
"Who do I think you are? Are you the wild princess from Guning Kingdom? I heard that you are not good at playing music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and you are not good at martial arts, so why should you be his little princess?"
Hearing this, Xiaoqian bit her lips tightly. What she said was right, she really knew nothing.
Doudou said directly:
"Although she doesn't know anything, I like her, and that's enough."
These words really made Princess Yongping very angry, "Is a woman who knows nothing worthy of being a little princess? This is simply ridiculous."
"What does this have to do with you? I will never agree to marry you anyway, so stop dreaming."
"What if I have to do this? If you don't agree, I will ask the emperor to grant a marriage. Our country of Fuyang and the Eastern Jin Dynasty have been friendly for generations, and most of the food eaten by the people of the Eastern Jin Dynasty comes from our country of Fuyang. I believe that the emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty will not
You won’t give me this face.”
When the emperor heard this, his face changed slightly. He didn't like being threatened, but what Princess Yongping told was true, which made him a little embarrassed.
After pondering for a moment, the emperor slowly said:
"Originally, today is my choice of concubine. Since both princesses have chosen my younger brother, let's choose for my younger brother first. However, you two are both neighboring countries of the Eastern Jin Kingdom and are friendly countries.
It’s hard to make this decision, let Su Liyang’s parents make the decision.”
The emperor was smart and left the decision-making power directly in the hands of Ye Shihan and Su Muer, so that he would not offend anyone.
In the corner of the crowd, Sun Mengmeng twitched the corner of her mouth with a smile on her face.
How could she not be happy when she lost two competitors without doing anything?
She had already thought about this position of queen before entering the palace, and she was determined to get it, so today she carefully prepared her dancing skills, hoping to catch a glimpse of the queen in front of the emperor and everyone.
Ye Shihan and Su Muer looked at each other helplessly, how should they decide this matter?
Su Muer couldn't help lowering her voice and said:
"This child really inherited it from you."
Ye Shihan naturally knew what she meant. Back then, Xiao Yuanyuan and Sun Mengmeng fought to the death for him, and now it was his son's turn. This was really a turn of events.
He smiled bitterly and then whispered:
"Everyone is looking at us, you make up your mind."