Chapter 173 Queen Cao's Concerns
A blush appeared on Sheng Shulan's cheeks, and her eyes were like a frightened deer, full of panic. She wanted to lower her head, but was afraid that Zhao Xing would be angry. She felt shy, flustered and anxious, and there was some crystal in her eyes.
"Are you afraid of being alone?" Zhao Xing asked playfully.
Sheng Shulan nodded first, then shook her head.
"You nod and shake your head. Are you afraid or not?" Zhao Xing said with a smile.
"Slave...slave...ah..."
Sheng Shulan's mind went blank and she didn't know how to answer.
At this moment, Zhao Xing stretched out his hand to hold her waist, and pulled her slightly with force, causing Sheng Shulan to let out a scream.
When I came to my senses, I found myself sitting in Zhao Xing's arms.
Zhao Xing leaned close to her ear and sniffed gently, and smelled a fragrance, just like the sweet-scented osmanthus under the moon, warm and melodious, making people infatuated.
"Bath?"
As Zhao Xing spoke, his hot air blew into her ears, and the roots of Sheng Shulan's ears turned red.
"Yeah." Sheng Shulan nodded slightly and responded in an inaudible voice.
"That's just right."
After saying that, he picked her up and walked towards the inner room.
Sheng Shulan hugged Zhao Xing's neck shyly, not daring to move.
The yard here has been cleaned, washed, and redecorated, and everything that can be replaced has been replaced, making it look brand new.
The bedding on the bed and the curtains on the sides were also brand new.
Zhao Xing came to the bed, bent down and put her on the bed. Sheng Shulan seemed to be under a spell and dared not move. She even forgot to loosen her hands that were around Zhao Xing's neck.
"My beauty, are you reluctant to leave me?" Zhao Xing said with a smile.
Sheng Shulan opened her eyes and found herself lying on the bed. Zhao Xing leaned his head very close to her, so close that they could feel each other's breathing.
Before she could react, her mouth was blocked by Zhao Xing.
Zhao Xing's attack was so aggressive that Sheng Shulan could hardly resist and her eyes soon became blurred.
After an unknown amount of time, the tent was lowered and pieces of clothes flew out one by one.
…………
Inmyeong Palace is brightly lit.
Empress Cao sat on the couch, her arms resting on the table, her head propped up and dozing off.
Zhu Neiguan walked gently to Empress Cao and called out, "Madam."
Queen Cao opened her eyes and sat up.
"Your Majesty is coming this way."
"Oh."
Queen Cao rubbed her eyes, stood up and walked out.
When we arrived at the entrance of the hall, we saw the emperor coming towards us in a sedan chair.
After a while, the sedan chair landed in front of the hall and the emperor stood up and got off the sedan chair.
"His Majesty!"
"The Queen summoned me. What's the matter?"
The official waved his hand and walked into the hall.
He had not planned to come to Empress Cao's place tonight. After dealing with the hairpins, Eunuch Liu said that Empress Cao had sent someone to ask him to come over after he finished his work.
After being married for so many years, Empress Cao would basically never send anyone to invite him unless she had something important to do.
"Your Majesty, today Fuer took a divorced woman to the East Palace." Queen Cao said.
"Hmm?" The official frowned slightly, walked to the couch and sat down, and said, "Have you checked the woman's identity?"
Empress Cao sat down next to the official and said, "I checked. It was the eldest daughter named Sheng Wei. She had previously married a scholar from her hometown. Because the scholar wanted to marry a prostitute, the Sheng family had a rule that women from the Sheng family could not live under the same roof with prostitutes, so she proposed a divorce."
"So, there's no problem with the woman's identity. Since Fu'er likes her, let him do as he pleases," said the official.
He had been worried before because Zhao Xing did not favor women, but now that Zhao Xing knew to take the initiative to look for women, he felt happy instead.
Although the woman had been married before, the Song Dynasty did not attach much importance to chastity, and Zhu Li's theory had not yet appeared, so it was common for women to remarry.
This indifference does not mean that one does not value reputation, but that one will not discriminate against women who remarry.
Unlike after Zhu Li's theory became popular, it promoted chaste and heroic women.
"I thought so at first, but after thinking about it carefully, I became a little worried," said Queen Cao.
"What are you worried about?" the official asked puzzledly.
"The second branch of the Sheng family already has a girl destined to be a concubine. Taking another one in now would be too much favor to the Sheng family. Moreover, Sheng Wei seems to be very favored by Fu'er. I am worried that the girl will seduce Fu'er." Queen Cao said.
The emperor pondered for a while and said, "Tomorrow you send two maids to the Eastern Palace to teach her and the girl from the Yu family some manners. It will also be a good opportunity to test her character. If her character is not good, she will not be allowed to stay in the Eastern Palace."
"Well, this is the only way now." said Queen Cao.
…………
"With her hair in clouds and face in bloom, and her golden hairpins, she spends the night in the warm hibiscus tent.
The spring night is short and the sun rises high. From now on, the king will not attend the court early. "
Zhao Xing hugged Sheng Shulan's body, which was as soft as jade, and looked at Sheng Shulan sleeping sweetly in his arms. He suddenly wanted to be lazy.
To be honest, if he was born in a peaceful and prosperous era, he would rather be an idle prince.
There is no need to engage in intrigue or worry about world affairs.
They wore silk and satin and ate delicacies from land and sea.
As for beauties, there is naturally no shortage of them.
Living a carefree life is also very quick.
Over the years, he got up early every day to practice martial arts, studied hard, and his tense nerves never relaxed.
The relaxation last night made his tense nerves relax.
Zhao Xing shook his head and smiled. He didn't know if this was just a waste of time.
As a prince, and the only son at that, he will surely ascend the throne and rule the world in the future.
This is something that many people dream of, but he is still being pretentious about it.
Thinking of this, Zhao Xing sat up, lifted the curtain and got out of bed.
If you want to enjoy yourself, you have to have a good body.
After putting on his clothes, Zhao Xing glanced at the bed surrounded by the tent and walked out.
Sheng Shulan heard the sound of the door opening and closing, opened her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief.
He opened the curtain, got out of bed, walked to the screen, took off his clothes and put them on.
These clothes were naturally not picked up by Zhao Xing, but were picked up by the palace maids when they were helping them bathe after the lovemaking in Wushan last night.
Sheng Shulan was getting dressed when suddenly the door was pushed open. Through the screen, she saw several figures walking in.
"Who?"
Sheng Shulan hugged the clothes and shouted nervously.
"Noble man!"
Liu Ying led several palace maids carrying toiletries around the screen, bowed and said, "Your Highness said that the noble lady has woken up, so let the servants come in and help the noble lady wash up."
What did Zhao Xing say?
Does this mean that Zhao Xing has already discovered that I was pretending to sleep?
…………
In the open space in front of the Chaoyang Palace, Zhao Xing finished practicing a set of spear skills and felt refreshed.
He handed the gun to Gu Tingye, took the handkerchief handed to him by Sanshui and wiped the sweat from his face.
"Zhonghuai, how is your father's health?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. My father is now in better health." Gu Tingye said.
What Xiao Qin said to Gu Tingye before she was sent to the Shenjie Division planted a thorn in Gu Tingye's heart.
Gu Yankai had been injured on the battlefield in his early years and had an old illness. He was already sad because of Xiao Qin's affairs.
Later, Gu Tingye asked him again whether he knew what Xiao Qin had done, and the father and son had a big fight.
Gu Yankai's old illness caused by anger relapsed and he has been bedridden for some time.
"You are not a child anymore. I intend to send you to the border to gain some experience in two years. Ask your father to arrange a marriage for you as soon as possible." Zhao Xing said.
"How about Your Highness arrange a marriage for me?" Gu Tingye said.
Given his current relationship with his father, he was really afraid that they would start arguing again.
Gu Tingye's feelings towards his father are very complicated. There is hatred and disappointment, but also the deep affection that a son has for his father.
Zhao Xing shook his head slightly and said, "Zhong Huai, I will not grant you a marriage, lest you blame me if there is any discord between you and your spouse in the future."
If he arranges a marriage for Gu Tingye, it will represent his will, which means a marriage of convenience.
As the crown prince, his every move would be analyzed for its deeper meaning.
Even if he has no other intentions, there will still be people who think in this direction.
After saying that, Zhao Xing patted Gu Tingye on the shoulder, turned and left.
Arriving at the back hall, Zhao Xing ordered Sanshui to send someone to invite Yu Yanran and Sheng Shulan to come and have dinner together.
"Your Highness!"
After a while, Yu Yanran arrived first.
"Please sit down." Zhao Xing asked Yu Yanran to sit down beside him and said with a smile, "I'll introduce someone to you later. When I'm busy in the future, you can talk to each other."
"Yeah." Yu Yanran nodded.
Of course, she knew the news that Sheng Shulan had entered the Eastern Palace.
I originally wanted to go over to meet her and get acquainted, but Mother Xu said that she entered the palace first, and except for the Crown Princess, the women who entered the palace later should come to pay their respects to her first.
There's no reason for her to take the initiative first.
Zhao Xing and Yu Yanran chatted for a few words, and Sheng Shulan came in accompanied by a palace maid.
"Your Highness." Sheng Shulan bowed.
Perhaps because of the passionate night last night, Sheng Shulan's face was radiant. Although she still felt a little unnatural, she was not like she was last night when she didn't even dare to raise her head.
"Come and sit down." Zhao Xing pointed to the seat on the right.
Sheng Shulan came to Zhao Xing's right and sat down.
Zhao Xing introduced the two to each other, then took Yu Yanran's hand and Sheng Shulan's hand together, and said, "Now that the Crown Princess has not yet entered the palace, there are only the two of you in my harem. You should walk around more often to avoid being bored."
"Yeah." The two looked at each other and nodded.
"Okay, serve the meal." Zhao Xing ordered.
Upon hearing this, Sanshui immediately ordered the palace maid to serve the meal.
"You just arrived at the East Palace, and the kitchen doesn't know your taste. If there is anything you want to eat, send someone to notify the kitchen and they will arrange it." Zhao Xing said.
"I understand." Sheng Shulan nodded, feeling warm in her heart.
Speaking of which, Sheng Shulan's personality is very similar to Yu Yanran's.
She is gentle and virtuous, but also weak in character and submissive.
Their personalities are not suitable for being the main wife, unless they meet a family where both their mother-in-law and husband are very kind people, otherwise they will be very miserable.
On the contrary, their non-competitive character makes them suitable to be concubines.
Zhao Xing's casual words moved her deeply.
I have to say that an older sister like Sheng Shulan is very good at serving people. During breakfast, she would see what Zhao Xing liked to eat. Whenever Zhao Xing finished eating and was about to reach for his chopsticks, she would have already picked up some food for him.
(End of this chapter)