On the school grounds of Jin'an County Prince's Mansion, the two of them had walked several times in tandem.
Su Xin had already gone to attend to matters in the house, and the remaining Ban Qin could no longer walk, so she simply waited aside with the other maids.
Prince Jin'an, who had pulled Cheng Jiaoniang out of the house in a nagging manner, stopped talking when he started walking along the school grounds.
The two of them walked slowly and silently, strangely yet at ease.
"Do you think the Chen family looks ridiculous like this?" Cheng Jiaoniang said suddenly.
Prince Jin'an was stunned for a moment and looked back at her.
After thinking about it for so long, I finally came up with this.
"How could it be ridiculous?" he said.
Marry your daughter to a fool?
"It should be pity." He smiled and said.
How pitiful?
Cheng Jiaoniang was silent.
It is indeed pitiful to be forced into this situation and have to face it head on. Knowing that you are being framed, you still have to swallow it alive.
Her steps were quick for a moment.
But it can't be said to be pitiful.
The pace slowed down again.
"It's not that there is no way out, it's just that he doesn't want to leave. This can only be said that he seeks kindness and gets mercy." Cheng Jiaoniang said slowly.
Prince Jin'an also slowed down.
"Then, he is respectable." He said.
respectable?
Cheng Jiaoniang stopped.
It is admirable to not hesitate for the sake of morality in one's heart, but what if it is wrong?
"What's wrong with being loyal to the emperor?" Prince Jin'an asked, his tone soft, as if he was afraid of scaring her.
Although she looked as calm and indifferent as ever in the past two days, it could be seen from the hand that was always clenched unconsciously that this woman was very nervous at this moment.
That's why he didn't want to leave her alone, he wanted to pester her to talk, he wanted to take her out for a walk, he didn't want to see her sitting alone and silently.
She is no longer alone now, she has him.
There is nothing wrong with being loyal to the emperor.
Cheng Jiaoniang was silent again and took a step forward.
Just like what the Cheng family believes in the way of heaven, it is right.
At the end of the Daqing Dynasty, there was a dispute among four parties. There were four orthodox factions that succeeded to the throne. Among them, the most worthy and powerful ones in the eyes of the world were King Shun and King Ning. However, the Cheng family chose Yang Guogong, who had no royal blood.
Carrying the reputation of plotting to usurp the throne, he also wanted to support a new leader.
Because that is the king chosen by Heaven, that is the king recognized by the Cheng family.
After carrying the infamy and planning for ten years, the new emperor finally ascended the throne and followed the path of heaven, but what he got in exchange was the annihilation of his family and the loss of his heirs.
Respectable? Poor? Ridiculous?
……………………………………………..
Old Mrs. Chen's courtyard fell into silence again.
There were footsteps, and Chen Shao raised his head and saw that it was Mrs. Chen who had turned back into the house.
"Father." Chen Shao shouted, leaning over again with a bit of grief, but he heard the footsteps coming back again.
"Have Madam and Dan Niang packed up?"
Old Mrs. Chen's voice rang in my ears.
Chen Shao trembled, and the old servant on the side responded.
"Then get in the car and go." Old Mrs. Chen said, "You can still make it to the inn after dark."
"Father!" Chen Shao raised his head and shouted with a choked voice.
Looking up, he saw Old Mrs. Chen holding a sword in his hand.
He just raised his head and Old Mrs. Chen raised his hand.
With a clang, the sword was thrown in front of him.
"Since loyalty and filial piety cannot have both ends," Old Mrs. Chen smiled slightly, "then you should be loyal and filial. It can be regarded as seeking benevolence and getting benevolence. You have kept the reputation of the loyal king, and the infamy of forcing your son to death belongs to me."
Chen Shao was stunned, but Old Mrs. Chen stopped looking at him and stepped down the steps.
"...Calculate some time and give us time to leave and come back."
Old Mrs. Chen passed by Chen Shao and said words that made people's hearts tremble, but his tone was as relaxed as the weather today.
"Old Master!" The old servant couldn't help but kneel down.
Chen Shao called out to his father, kowtowed to the ground and sobbed.
Old Mrs. Chen did not stop.
"If you want to stay, just stay. Whoever wants to stay, just stay." He said slowly.
Chen Shao choked and stood up, reaching out to grab the long sword.
"Master!" The old servant knelt over and shouted to stop him.
"I have four sons. If one dies, there will be three more. It doesn't matter if the three sons have mediocre qualifications. I still have grandchildren..."
Old Mrs. Chen's words continued to come slowly.
"Not only the grandchildren, but also the great-grandchildren. If one generation fails, there will be a second generation. As long as they are innocent, they can always be promoted to prime minister again."
Chen Shao held his sword and covered his face while sobbing.
"grandfather!"
There was a crisp sound coming from outside.
The three people in the courtyard were all startled and looked at Chen Danniang who ran in from outside the courtyard door.
Chen Danniang had already put on her luggage, and her face was red because she was running in a hurry.
"Danniang, why are you here?" Old Mrs. Chen said, stretching out his hand, "Come, follow grandpa."
Chen Danniang did not stretch out her hand but knelt down.
"Grandpa, I want to stay." She kowtowed and said.
Chen Shao, who originally turned around to hide his face because Dan Niang came in, turned around when he heard this, with a complicated expression.
"Danniang..." he murmured.
Chen Danniang raised her head and smiled at Old Mrs. Chen.
"Grandpa, let me stay," she said.
Old Mrs. Chen looked sad.
"Danniang, do you know what will happen if you stay?" he asked.
Chen Danniang nodded.
"Grandpa, I know. They hid it from me, but I heard it all." She said, "They want me to marry the prince."
Before Mr. Chen could speak, Chen Danniang stretched out her hand and held Mr. Chen's sleeve.
"Grandpa, I want to marry the prince." She said, blinking her big eyes, "I like the prince very much."
After hearing this, Chen Shao hid his face again.
Old Mrs. Chen shook his head and held Dan Niang's hand.
"Danniang, you don't like the prince, so you don't need to use words to trick grandpa." He said, "Come on, be obedient and follow grandpa. Let's talk as we walk."
"No, no, grandpa, I really like the prince. The prince is very nice and not scary. If you smile with him, he will smile at you." Chen Danniang said loudly.
Old Mrs. Chen didn't say anything, he just pulled her.
"Come here, why are you looking at Dan Niang?" He shouted to the servants who were following him anxiously.
The servant girls came to hug Danniang, but Chen Danniang broke away from Mr. Chen and kowtowed.
"Grandfather," she shouted, "doesn't grandfather love Danniang the most? Does grandpa want to see Danniang carry the crime of forcing his father to death for the rest of his life? Can grandfather have the heart to let Danniang do this?"
Old Mrs. Chen stiffened.
"Grandpa, I am willing to marry the prince." Chen Danniang continued, raising her head and looking at Old Mrs. Chen, "I am really willing, not wronged."
Looking at the big eyes that were as bright as sweet springs, Mr. Chen looked sad and moved his lips.
"Danniang, you don't understand," he said, "You don't understand that it is easy for you to say this, but you will face many difficult days in the future."
Chen Danniang nodded.
"Grandpa, I don't understand, but I don't want to regret it," she said.
Old Mrs. Chen shook his head and reached out to caress Chen Danniang's head.
"Silly boy, you will regret it later." He choked and said.
"Grandpa, whether you will regret it in the future is a matter for the future." Chen Danniang said seriously, "I just want to not regret it now."
At this point she smiled again and nodded.
"Yes, Grandpa, I don't regret doing this now."
Old Mrs. Chen raised his hands to cover his face. Chen Shao beside him had already choked up.
Mrs. Chen's body swayed outside the courtyard gate, and she fell limply to the ground. She couldn't help covering her face and crying.
……………………………….
The lights in the room were lit, and Banqin hurriedly led the maids out.
"That's it?" Prince Jin'an asked.
Eunuch Jin nodded and said yes.
"Master Chen entered the palace in the afternoon, but he didn't stay long and came out soon," he said.
Prince Jin'an couldn't help but glance at Cheng Jiaoniang.
Cheng Jiaoniang sat reading under the lamp nearby and seemed not to hear what they said.
"But there is no other news." Eunuch Jing said in a low voice.
Prince Jin'an nodded.
"After all, Mr. Chen resisted the decree first, and it is impossible to turn around and agree." He said, and sighed softly, "and Mr. Chen has made such a big concession, the Queen Mother will definitely give him face."
Eunuch Jing responded yes.
"But it won't take too long, just two or three days," he said.
Prince Jin'an lowered his eyes under the lamp and nodded, holding the tea bowl and saying nothing.
"Anyway, His Highness the Crown Prince is getting married." Eunuch Jing couldn't help but say, "The Chen family's daughters are always better than others..."
The prince of Jin'an County put down his tea bowl.
"You go down, I want to rest." He said.
Eunuch Jinggong responded with a sneer and walked out.
The room fell silent again.
"Go to bed early." Prince Jin'an turned to look at Cheng Jiaoniang and said, "Don't read at night, it hurts your eyes if you look carefully."
Cheng Jiaoniang didn't say anything, so Prince Jin'an walked over, smiled and pushed her arm.
"Stop looking, you can help me wash my hair." He said.
"I don't know how to wash people's hair." Cheng Jiaoniang said.
"Then I'll wash it for you." Prince Jin'an said with a smile.
Listening to the sound of water in the clean room, Banqin outside couldn't help but look over.
“….Your hair grows so well…”
The voice of Prince Jin'an could also be heard inside.
"...Is the water cold? Do you want more?"
"Your Highness really knows how to wash people's hair." Su Xin whispered with a smile.
Banqin thought of the sound of the copper basin knocking over inside, lowered her head and pursed her lips with a smile before she was about to speak, when she saw the King of Jin'an County walking out.
"Serve Madam to wash up." He said.
Banqin hurriedly responded and went in.
After Prince Jin'an came out from the bath, Cheng Jiaoniang was already lying on the bed, and all the maids and maids in the room had left. He casually picked up a glass of water poured beside him and took a sip.
"Do you still want to drink water?" he asked.
Cheng Jiaoniang shook her head.
The prince of Jin'an County put down the water glass, turned off the lamp, and after listening to the sound of the sound, he walked over to Cheng Jiaoniang and lay down on the bed.
"It's exactly what you said." He reached out and bumped into the person next to him.
"What kind?" A voice came to my ears.
Prince Jin'an turned around and lay on his side, looking at the people in the veiled tent under the moonlight.
"Just get used to sleeping on the same bed." He smiled.
Cheng Jiaoniang smiled.
"Fang Bocong." She said.
The prince of Jin'an County sighed.
"I'm fine." Cheng Jiaoniang said, "Master Chen will agree. I already knew about this."
It was already expected.
Thank you for worrying about me like this.
She understands everything, what is good for her and what is not good for her, she clearly understands.
Prince Jin'an sighed softly in his heart.
"But even if I had expected it, I would still be sad." He said, he couldn't help but reach out and stroke the long hair spread out on the pillow, and then quickly took his hand back.
"Me?" Cheng Jiaoniang said, turning her head to look at him.
A pair of eyes sparkled in the night.
"I'm not sad." Cheng Jiaoniang said, "This is not my business. How can you know the happiness of a fish if you are not a fish? Why should I be sad about other people's matters."
Prince Jin'an smiled.
"Yes, I was overthinking it." He said, and sighed softly, "Danniang is a good child, but she will be sad if something like this happens."
Cheng Jiaoniang shook her head on the pillow.
"No, she's not sad," she said.
Prince Jin'an stood up and looked at her.
"Oh?" he said with a smile, "How can you know the joy of fish if you are not a fish?"
"Because I am actually also a fish." Cheng Jiaoniang said.
…………………………………………….
It was getting bright and clear, and as soon as the city gate opened and the guards were getting ready to sweep with some sleepiness, a carriage drove out of the city gate unsteadily.
Whose house is it so early? The guards looked over with some curiosity.
This does not look like a poor person working hard to survive.
The sound of horse hooves came from the city. The gatekeepers looked over and saw a middle-aged man standing above him.
"Ms. Chen!" A guard recognized him immediately and turned pale with surprise.
Before he could salute, Chen Shao's horse had already passed through the city gate.
"Father!"
The horse was reined in in front of the car, and Chen Shao shouted in a hoarse voice. His face was pale and his eyes were red. He turned over, dismounted, and knelt down to kowtow.
"You don't have to stop me." Old Mrs. Chen raised the car curtain and said, "I will make the decision for your children, and I will make the decision for my children. Chen Shao, from now on I will treat you as my son. If you are really loyal and filial,
, then don’t bother with it anymore.”
Chen Shao sobbed and kowtowed and called his father.
"What? Do you really want to force me to obey your righteousness?" Old Mrs. Chen asked with a smile, "Do you want to force me to not forgive you and not consider you? Is it my fault?"
"I don't dare!" Chen Shao said, raising his head and his forehead was already bruised.
"It's okay if you don't dare." Old Mrs. Chen said, "Then get out of the way."
Chen Shao kowtowed again, and the old servant driving the carriage couldn't stand it anymore.
"Master, that's it, just let the old man go." He whispered.
Let go...
Chen Shao's body was shaken, he bent down deeply and buried his head. He knelt down and took two steps to the roadside to get out of the way.
The carriage swayed forward, and Mr. Chen who lowered the curtain did not look at Chen Shao again.
The carriage went further and further away, and there were more and more people on the road, but Chen Shao, who was kneeling on the roadside, never got up, allowing passers-by to point in surprise.
Seeing a black spot on Chen Shao's painting behind him, the old servant sighed and raised his head to look at the sky.
The sky in early autumn is not as high as in the past, but a little gloomy.
"I'm afraid it's going to rain." He murmured.
Old Mrs. Chen raised the car curtain and looked at the sky with a dazed expression.
"Well, it's the cotton wool clouds that are going to rain." He said, seeming to be reminiscing, "You still remember, it was like this when we first met Mrs. Cheng."
The old servant was startled for a moment, remembering six years ago, his memory was already blurry.
"If I hadn't met her, I would have been dead for several years." Old Mrs. Chen said with a smile, and then paused. "If I had listened to her at that time, maybe I wouldn't have come to Beijing."
If I don’t go to Beijing, I probably won’t have anything to do today.
The old servant looked sad.
"Old Master," he said.
Old Mrs. Chen sighed.
"Although she cured my disease, I still have to go back to the countryside, so she can cure my disease but not my life." He murmured, "You decide your own destiny, you can't blame others."
The news that Chen Shao knelt down to send Mr. Chen off to Beijing had not yet spread. Three days later, the edict naming the Nineteenth Lady of the Chen family as the Crown Princess was announced to the world.
When she heard the news, Cheng Jiaoniang was shooting archery in the school field, and the prince of Jin'an County came to tell her personally.
With a buzzing sound, the arrowhead sank into the red heart of the grass target, and its feathers trembled slightly in the sunlight.
"Although it is inconvenient for us to go out, you should still go to the Chen family." Prince Jin'an said.
He said with a wry smile.
"Xianggong Chen doesn't care if there are more impeachments and taunts because of our visit."
Cheng Jiaoniang lowered the bow and arrow in her hand, and before she could speak, Su Xin hurriedly came from a distance.
"Madam, Madam, Manager Cao is here." She shouted happily.
Manager Cao?
Cheng Jiaoniang looked over.
Banqin was a little happy when he heard the news. He finally arrived. Why was it so slow? He should have arrived two days ago.
Su Xin stood in front of him with a happy face.
"Also, Cheng Ping is here too," she said.
Cheng Ping?
Before the Prince of Jin'an County had time to respond to this name, he saw Cheng Jiaoniang dropped the bow and arrow in her hand and walked away quickly.
Throw down the bow and arrow! Step quickly!
He had never seen her walk by in such a disgraceful manner.
But the next moment, a scene appeared that made him lose his composure even more. The woman who was walking quickly started running, her blouse and long-sleeved skirt flying in the morning light.
Who is this!
The prince of Jin'an County looked stunned.
Who is this!
*************************************
Recommended "The Crowned Pet" by Princess Xiaodao, ISBN: 11046
Introduction: A stunning female general returns from rebirth and is determined to be the nemesis of men. With thirty-six moves to conquer men, I have the world! I am a general, who am I afraid of? (To be continued)
