Zhao Jing looked away, picked up the cup and took a sip of water.
"I miss the taste of this hot pot in the palace. It's too deserted to eat alone, so I asked you to come and have some fun. Why don't Miaoya not want to?"
With a teasing smile on his lips, Jiang Miao naturally didn't dare to say she didn't want to.
"How come? It's our honor to have dinner with the emperor's cousin."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I usually don't even see Long Yan, but now that I can dine at the same table with you, let me tell you how enviable I am."
Xu Ziwen still had that playful smile on his face. He had a big heart and was not afraid of Zhao Jing at all. He only regarded him as a top who paid the bill.
Zhao Jing raised his head and glanced at him. Thinking of his purpose, the smile on his lips deepened.
"Just don't dislike me. Since everyone is here, let's order food, starting with Madam Xu."
Zhao Jing handed over the menu. Xu Zilan had lowered her head and pretended to be mute. When she heard Zhao Jing calling her, she suddenly came back to her senses, took the menu and nodded, "Just order some. There are no taboos for women."
In the past, they didn't have so much trouble eating. Most of the food was ordered by Jiang Miao. The food in this food court was all her recipe. Xu Zilan and Zhao Mingzhen trusted her taste.
It was already quite reserved to sit at the same table with the emperor, but when he casually ordered her, Xu Zilan felt extremely nervous.
"Ha! Okay, let's order one of each..."
He looked at Xu Zilan's frightened look with a smile in his eyes.
Well, he did it on purpose. Zhao Jing just wanted to find a chance to see her at this party.
Ever since she decided on the draft, Zhao Jing began to think about the candidate for the queen.
During the reign of the late emperor, he was an unpopular prince with no maids to teach him about human affairs. Later, when he ascended the throne, Rong Ning was kidnapped by the rebels. He felt ashamed of his eldest princess, and the matter of marrying his wife was postponed again and again, and even
He even thought that if he couldn't find Rong Ning, he wouldn't get married.
Anyway, he is the only heir of the Zhao family, and he can adopt one from the clan after he abdicates.
Zhao Jing never thought about what his wife would be like in the future. The officials of the imperial court forced him to establish a queen, but it was just for the sake of power. The position in the harem was not another kind of entanglement for fame and wealth.
Zhao Jing himself was the product of competition for favor in the harem. He didn't want his child to be born for this reason. His parents had no love for each other, and the child was born without expectations. Thinking about it, he felt pitiful.
But now Shen Yanqing appeared and severely restrained Prime Minister Liu's faction. He no longer had to worry about the ministers' wishes, and Zhao Jing did not need to marry the daughter of a noble family to consolidate the government.
With Jiang Miao and Shen Yanqing as his two right-hand assistants, the treasury is abundant and the borders are stable, his position as emperor will only become more secure.
The original resistance to getting married was relaxed because of the love between Jiang Miao and his wife. Zhao Jing admitted that he, a lonely man, also wanted companionship.
That day when I told Father Jixiang about the draft, Xu Zilan appeared in his mind.
Her appearance is not inferior to that of a noblewoman from the capital, and her temperament is cold and dusty, but because of her business, she has a smoky air about her.
Xu Zilan didn't want to be a concubine, and she didn't want her husband to take a concubine. She would not marry her if she couldn't find the man she liked. Anyway, she had a business and no shortage of money. No one could force her if she had money.
Compared with the noble ladies in the capital, she was more free and easy, and this made Zhao Jing's heart flutter.
He has had a bad temper since he was a child. Whether it was being ignored as a child or later ascending to the throne, Zhao Jing has never truly lived for himself.
Xu Zilan ignored the prejudices of the world and dared to break through the restrictions, which was a fatal attraction for him.
Zhao Jing thought that if there must be someone by his side for the rest of his life, he hoped that person would be Lady Xu.
During the meal, Zhao Jing called Xu Zilan several times, either to ask Eunuch Jixiang to refill her tea, or to ask her if she wanted to eat fruit. Although he would also ask about other people, Xu Zilan was always the one who asked first. This attentive person
Even Zhao Mingzhen noticed something unusual about his appearance.
She quietly glanced at Jiang Miao, "What's going on?"
Her cousin must have taken the wrong medicine.
Jiang Miao shrugged, "I don't know."
The two of them didn't think about the draft at all. Without him, their identities were too different. The Xu family was just a businessman. Generally, well-established families would choose wives from officials and wives. This was also the reason why Xu Zilan was single.
.
If she can't achieve anything high or low, she won't want to wrong herself.
Facing Zhao Jing's offer of tea and water, she didn't take it to heart at all, and even felt a little disgusted. She was not a child, so how could she not take care of herself? Besides, there were maids around, so there was no need for him.
But Zhao Jing was the emperor, and even if Xu Zilan had 800 courages, she wouldn't dare to complain at will, so she could only keep it in her heart.
After finishing the meal, only Xu Ziwen, a heartless foodie, didn't notice anything. He drank a few glasses of wine, his face was red, and he was about to call Zhao Jing brothers.
"Your Majesty, let's drink together next time. I didn't drink much today. I will show you how much I drink next time, burp!"
"Okay, you're already drunk, so don't be embarrassed."
Xu Zilan wanted to cover his mouth with a handkerchief. This man was so drunk that he didn't know how much he weighed, and he actually wanted to have a date with the emperor. Xu Zilan wanted to wait for him to sober up, and she would be frightened when she thought of these words.
Passed out.
Shen Yanqing helped hold Xu Ziwen's arm. He only drank a small cup, and the blush on Bai Yu's face disappeared after the wind blew outside for a while.
Zhao Jing looked at them with a smile and said, "Okay, I will drink with you again in a few days."
His eyes passed over Xu Zilan and he glanced appreciatively at the drunkard next to her.
Thanks to my brother-in-law's strength, this is my excuse for not meeting next time.
"It's getting late. You all should go back. Xu Qing is drunk. I'll give you a ride."
Xu Zilan's expression froze and she quickly refused.
"No need to bother the emperor, the driver of the girl's house is waiting outside. With the help of the maids and servants, the girl and her brother will be home soon."
No matter how stupid she was, she could still see that Zhao Jing's attitude was different.
Xu Zilan twisted Xu Ziwen's arm hard, and Xu Ziwen screamed out in pain, and his mind suddenly came to his senses.
"Yes, what Zilan said is that if I can leave on my own, I will return home..."
He took Xu Zilan's hand and hurriedly got into his carriage.
Although my mind was still confused, there was a sense of vigilance in my heart.
Why does the emperor care so much about their siblings?
Showing courtesy for nothing, committing adultery or stealing, even if he is the emperor.
Seeing that she was disliked by her brother and sister, Zhao Jing touched the tip of her nose.
Jiang Miao and Zhao Mingzhen looked at each other and had an idea in their minds.
"Cousin/cousin doesn't have a crush on Sister Lan, right?"
