Chapter 988 295 Stepmother

After Bai Muxiao put down the pen in her hand, she walked out of the stage in a dashing manner, leaving only a slender and graceful back, with her robe fluttering in the breeze, with a rather lofty attitude.

The blue-clothed maid, who was at the desk, dried the ink, and took Bai Muxiao's poems to the Qionghua Pavilion. First, let a few judges judge, but then they would also copy a few copies to the guest seat to read.

The incense of the timer burned down little by little. At this time, most of the girls who participated in the competition felt that the time passed too fast...

Seeing that Han Qixia, who was in the field, hadn't started writing for a long time, Nangong Yue and the others in Qiushui Pavilion were also nervous for her. Although they knew that Han Qixia should not have the will to win, it was always a little unsightly to hand in a blank paper.

Yuan Yuyi looked at the incense stick in the bronze tripod from time to time, wishing to block the wind and let it burn more slowly.

Fortunately, Han Qixia finally started writing when there was still a quarter of the incense left. Looking at her bright eyes, she finally let Nangongyue's high-hanging hearts put down, and they started laughing and talking again.

After a while, a blue-clothed maid walked in with a copy of the paper, which attracted most of the attention of the autumn water pavilion.

The maid first introduced the lyricist, Bai Muxiao, who was the first to submit the book.

Following that, she recited aloud: "A new song and a glass of wine, the weather last year was the old pavilion. When will the sunset return? Helpless, the flowers have fallen, and the familiar Yan has returned. The small garden is wandering alone."

Although there were all women in the Qiushui Pavilion, all of them had studied since childhood, and many of them came from a literati family like Nangong Yue. Bai Muxiao's words immediately caused a commotion in the Qiushui Pavilion.

Over there, I heard a Hanlin lady recite in admiration: "I can't help it, the flowers are gone, it seems that I know Yan's return... Wonderful, really wonderful!"

"This white girl is really talented." Another lady also agreed.

"The so-called: it is easy to work in real, difficult to work in imaginary." A young girl analyzed admiringly, "I can't help but see Yan returning... This couplet is basically composed of empty characters, which can be called the magic of the law. Nothing!"

"Yes, what's even better is that although this couplet is composed of virtual characters, it is full and intriguing... It is really commendable."

"..."

Not only was the discussion in the Qiushui Pavilion heated, but even the guests were discussing this poem one after another, and they all felt that it was wonderful.

Soon, another maid came and read the work of the second submitter, but it was like a mud cow entering the sea, without causing a wave.

Seeing this, Fu Yunyan couldn't help but say, "Ayue, your cousin is really amazing."

Nangong Yue smiled and said meaningfully, "That's natural, my cousin has always been amazing!"

At this time, the incense of the timing has been burned out, the girls in the venue left the venue in twos and threes, and the poems were presented to the judges and spectators one by one.

In contrast to Bai Muxiao's masterpiece, the poems of other girls paled in comparison.

The Qiushui Pavilion also quickly selected ten girls to participate in the finals. Although Han Qixia's name was not among them, Nangongyue and the others did not feel sorry for her, because even if they were selected, the finals would only be for Bai Mu. If Xiao was a foil, if he abstained from the election, he would not have enough bearing, so he might as well lose the election!

But Princess Qi was obviously very unhappy, Huo Di stood up, and even gaffed and bumped into the chair behind.

She said in a cold voice, "Go back to the manor!" She headed downstairs and left Qiushui Pavilion.

When she came downstairs, the ladies and girls on the second floor exchanged glances knowingly, and some couldn't help but whisper.

Nangong Yue and the others were secretly helpless, they only hoped that Princess Qi would not be angry with Han Qixia when she returned to the palace.

So far, today's two competitions have ended, and tomorrow there will be other events such as painting and calligraphy...

When the audience in Qiushui Pavilion was almost gone, Nangong Yue and Jiang Yixi also stood up and planned to go home.

But they just walked out of the Qiushui Pavilion, but they found that there was a commotion in the direction of the garden, and there were many people around them speeding up and heading towards that direction.

The girls exchanged glances with each other, slowed down, and Lily volunteered to inquire...

On the other side, in the center of the crowd, Bai Muxiao was also looking at Han Lingfu who was standing under the green bamboo not far away. He had not seen him for a few days, but he was still so handsome and handsome. come out.

At this moment, Bai Muxiao felt as if even the hustle and bustle around her had left her...

Han Lingfu slowly walked towards her with a smile, and only her bright eyes seemed to see her, "Miss Bai."

Bai Muxiao stood there dumbfounded. She didn't expect Han Lingfu to disregard everyone's eyes and come to Guozijian to pick her up in person... After all, they broke up in the White House not long ago.

After that night, she never received any news from Han Lingfu.

She once thought he had given up!

After all, he is the high-ranking third prince, and if he can't get what kind of woman he wants, why should he bow down to himself again and again?

I didn't expect him to come!

Bai Muxiao could clearly feel the envious and jealous eyes of the girls around her falling on her, and her heart was both moved and complicated.

For this relationship, she gave her sincerity. These days, her heart seemed to be tormented in the fire, and it was difficult for her to calm herself down with reason. However, seeing him again after so long, Bai Muxiao seemed to be able to hear the sound of her sanity being shattered.

Why is he coming? I finally decided to forget him...

"Miss Bai, I admire your wonderful words today." Han Lingfu's scorching eyes fell on her. Bai Muxiao's words had already been passed on to the students of Guozijian, and he was fortunate enough to see them. Xiao's amazing talent is absolutely stunning, and it can make his heart move every time. How lucky he is to be able to get the heart of such a woman.

Bai Muxiao seemed to have recovered her own voice, looked up at him, and said with a blessing, "I have seen Your Highness."

The eyes of the two finally intertwined. For a while, no one was willing to move away. After a long time, Bai Muxiao gritted her teeth and said, "Your Highness, forgive the rudeness of the girl. The girl... retire first."

Han Lingfu watched her leave intently, his Xiao'er would definitely soften his heart, because he believed that she had him in her heart.

Lily, who was outside the crowd, could not help but twitch the corners of her eyes several times. She ran back to Nangong Yue and the others with a strange expression, and Fushen reported, "It's the third prince who has come down... It seems that he's here to pick up Miss Bai."

Yuan Yuyi blinked, unable to believe her ears.

The third prince actually came to the Imperial College to pick up Bai Muxiao in person? If this matter spread to Cui Yanyan's ears, what would she think?

Cui Yanyan, the third prince concubine, is too embarrassed, right?

Thinking of the rumors that the third prince and the third prince's concubine in the Wangdu family did not get married a few days ago, the girls couldn't help looking at each other, and couldn't help thinking: Is this rumor really true?

But whether it is true or false, it has nothing to do with them, they are just watching the fun at most.

Looking over there, it seemed that Bai Muxiao had already left, and Han Lingfu stood there for a while and then left, and everything seemed to have subsided.

But everyone knows that this matter will inevitably spread, at least to the ears of the Third Prince and Concubine.

After Nangong Yue said goodbye to Fu Yunyan and others, they got into the Zhulun carriage and returned to the palace.

The Zhu Lunche was still galloping on the streets of the royal capital, but at this time, a group of uninvited guests drove a carriage and arrived at the gate of the royal residence.

A middle-aged man in his early forties got out of the carriage with a tired look and knocked on the corner door beside the gate. The concierge opened the door and asked the identity of the person who came.

The middle-aged man hurriedly said: "My surname is You, and I am the steward on the southern side of the border. I was ordered by the princess to come to the capital to give money to the prince."

Is the other party sent by the princess Xiaofang, or the steward of the Southern Border Palace?

The concierge looked at each other for a while, and said, "Master Shizi and Concubine Shizi are not in the mansion, you..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the tour steward fell to his knees with a "thump" and kowtowed to the gate of the palace.

"Shi Ziye, the little one is guilty, and please ask the eldest son to convict..." The tour manager said with tears and snot, "The princess, at the emperor's will, ordered Xiao Xiao to escort Yinliang to the capital in person, but she didn't want to meet the mountains on the road. Bandit, the little guy tried desperately to protect the silver tael, but he was still robbed half of it... The little guy was guilty and smashed the errand." As the tour manager said, he kowtowed heavily, his forehead was bruised.

The concierge never thought that the tour steward would come to this trick, and he was dumbfounded and didn't react for a while.

The tour steward continued crying and said: "Shi Ziye, the little one is guilty and failed to keep the other money, I implore the son to see that the little one has gone through thousands of hardships and almost lost his life before he arrived at the capital, for the sake of you, you will see Small side!"

"You, you..." The concierge gritted his teeth in anger, but he had to patiently say, "You steward, I just asked you to wait for a while. As for this? If you have anything to say, it won't be too late to wait for the Shizi to come back."

The movement in front of the Zhennan Palace quickly attracted a lot of passers-by to watch, and after a while, there were dense circles of good people, whispering and making noises.

"This eldest sister, what happened?" The latecomer asked inexplicably.

A black and thin old lady immediately answered enthusiastically: "It was said that Princess Zhennan sent the silver to the prince of Zhennan, but he encountered a mountain bandit and the silver was robbed. The steward who came to deliver the silver is begging for the crime at the gate of the palace..."

"It turns out that this is the case, this mountain bandit is really rampant..."

"You are so courageous, you even dare to rob things from the Zhennan Palace!"

"..."

The tour manager saw that there were more and more passersby, and he was secretly happy, but his voice was choked: "The silver was robbed, and the little one sent a letter to the princess. Shi Ziye, even if it is smashing pots and selling iron, I will collect money and send it to Shizi, and ask Shizi to give me a few days..."

He didn't mention "returning the money" at all, he just said that he was giving money to Xiao Yi, which sounds like a slap in the face to the ears of others, begging for money from the family, and the attitude of the tour manager is obviously this " "Begging for something" is not an ordinary "begging for something"... For a time, many people's minds have images of unfilial children and grandchildren beating and scolding their parents and forcibly robbing money.

The concierge's face turned pale, and if you let the steward go on like this, the Shizi doesn't have to be a human being, but the Shizi and the Shizi are not here now...

Nangong Yue's Zhu Lunche also went to the street at this time. Hearing the noise outside, he asked Lily to take a look.

After a while, Lily came back in a hurry, retorted the behavior of the tour manager, and said indignantly: "What kind of mountain bandit robs silver, ghosts believe it! How dare you ruin the reputation of the prince and the prince. The princess is really united. sinister!"

As she spoke, she rubbed her fists and said bitterly: "Hmph, if you want to be a ****, but also want to set up a chastity arch, there is nothing so cheap in this world." She looked at Nangong Yue and took the initiative. Please Ying said, "Prince Concubine, why don't you let the slaves go out and teach this wandering steward a lesson..."

Nangong Yue narrowed her eyes slightly, but Xiao Fang's behavior was similar to what she expected. If Xiao Fang stopped at this point, she might be worried that the show couldn't continue to sing.

Mrs. Fang, treating A Yi like this for so many years, how could it be written off just by paying back the money!

Nangong Yue raised the corners of her lips and said in a good mood, "It's inappropriate for you to come forward, let Zhu Xing go. Tell Zhu Xing..."

Nangong Yue gave the order carefully, and Lily listened with a wide-eyed smile, quite eager to try.

"Go."

It's really cheap for Zhu Xing... Lily pouted unwillingly, but she still responded immediately: "Yes, Concubine Shizi. The servant will go to inform Zhu Xing." After she finished speaking, she hurriedly got off the carriage and entered the mansion through the side door to look for it. Zhu Xing went.

In fact, even if Lily didn't go to Zhu Xing, Zhu Xing had already gotten the news. Lily met him as soon as he entered the front yard, and told Nangong Yue what he meant...

When Zhu Xing brought people to the gate of the palace, it was already noisy outside. The tour manager's excellent singing and writing performance attracted more and more people to come to watch, and a dignified Zhennan palace was actually harassed by such villains. It's like a vegetable market.

The tour steward was still kneeling there, seeing more and more people, secretly delighted in his heart, and said with a loud voice, "Master Shizi, even if you want to be punished, just punish the smaller one, please don't blame the princess. On the body, no matter what the princess said, she has raised you since childhood. She has raised you for more than ten years. There is no credit or hard work. Please also look at the relationship between mother and son in the past. After a few days of grace, the princess will definitely collect the money and send it over. Yes! I beg you to see the little one anyway, don't keep the little one out like this..."

Zhu Xing strode out of the palace, his face was so gloomy that he seemed to be dripping water, and he unconsciously released a murderous aura. I really can't wait to go up and kill this bastard directly.

To actually talk nonsense here, intending to put the name of unfilial piety on the prince for forcing his stepmother, what a vicious thought!

Fortunately, there is a princess, otherwise...

Seeing Zhu Xing coming, the concierge said with a sigh of relief, "Butler Zhu..."

Zhu Xing raised his hand, indicating that he understood, and then said to the steward with a sullen face: "Steward You, right? I heard that you asked to see the prince?"

"Yes, yes..." The steward knelt on the ground and looked at Zhu Xing with a hopeful expression, "Is the eldest son willing to see the younger now?"

Zhu Xing snorted coldly: "You keep saying, you said that you came to the capital to give money to the king on the order of the princess, and you met a bandit on the way?"

"Yeah, that's right, the younger ones tried their best to protect them, but they only kept these two big boxes." The tour manager said in a hurry.

"What nonsense!" Zhu Xing suddenly raised the volume and said angrily, "How could Wang Fei let you go through the market with a few large boxes of silver? If Wang Fei wants to return the money to the prince, you can completely let you carry the banknotes on the road lightly..."

Zhu Xing deliberately used the word "return" to increase the volume on purpose.

The onlookers were also thoughtful when they heard the words, and someone immediately said to the friend next to them: "Yes, this southern border travels thousands of miles to the capital, and brings a few large boxes of silver to the market. Isn't this a clear call for people to snatch it?"

"Makes sense."

"I think there's something wrong with this." An old lady joined in the fun and said, "Did you just hear that this Princess Zhennan is here to 'return' the money! So, the last time I heard that Princess Zhennan invaded her stepson It turns out that it’s really worth it to give away money in the industry!”

"What I'm saying is, if you didn't invade the property of the prince, where would you need to travel thousands of miles to pay back the money!" A middle-aged fat man nodded.

"It seems that this palace is no different from ordinary people!" An old woman with gray hair sighed, "As the saying goes, if there is a stepmother, there will be a stepfather..."

Naturally, these words entered the tour steward's ears one by one, and his heart sank, how could this outsider's reaction be different from what the princess and he expected! Why is everyone saying that the princess has invaded the estate of the prince? Isn't this kind of thing already known to everyone? how can that be!

The princess is as expected! Zhu Xing secretly praised his concubine, squinted his eyes and looked at the steward suspiciously, and said solemnly: "Could it be that you took the opportunity to guard yourself and steal?"

"No, nothing!" The tour steward was so frightened that his face turned pale, and his back was covered in cold sweat, which was chilly, "Zhu steward, it's really the princess who asked the young man to bring silver to the capital, but unfortunately he ran into a mountain bandit... …”

"Whether there is such a thing, we will find out when the government investigates." Zhu Xing interrupted the tour steward coldly, raised his hand and said, "Come on, tie me up! As for these two large boxes of silver, just In front of everyone, I checked it out on the spot, so that everyone can testify, so that I don't understand it later."

"Okay!" Someone immediately shouted, "We are willing to be a witness."

"Butler Zhu, just order it."

"..."

Many onlookers also nodded in agreement, all in a surging mood.

It's fun to watch now! Is it the mother-son dispute between the stepmother and the stepson, or is it a slaver who is guarding himself and stealing from the Zhennan Prince's Mansion?

Tomorrow, this bookstore can have a new topic to talk about!

"No, you can't do this!" The tour manager never thought that he would be charged with colluding with bandits, and he jumped up from the ground, "I didn't... uh!"

Before he finished speaking, he was blocked by the two guards brought by Zhu Xing, and his arms were cut behind him.

"Uh...uh..." The tour manager was so anxious that he whimpered, his whole figure seemed to have fallen into an ice hole, cold to the core.

Zhu Xing ordered people to open the two large boxes on the spot, and the silver in the white flowers dazzled people's eyes under the sunlight.

Zhu Xing asked someone to count the number on the spot, and it was only three thousand taels.

The onlookers were in an uproar, and there were many discussions:

"The steward just said that half of it was robbed by the mountain bandits? Isn't it three thousand taels less?"

"The estate of the dignified son is only worth 6,000 taels? Master Pan, who makes silk and satin in our hometown, can earn 5,000 taels a year!"

"You're stupid! If you were Princess Zhennan, would you spit out all the money you finally got?"

"That is to say..."

The actual number is probably much more than 6,000 taels!

I am afraid that these ordinary people have never even seen one hundred taels of silver in their entire lives, let alone tens of thousands of taels, or even more, so they all gasped.

The more they talked, the more vigorous they were, the more exaggerated they said, and unknowingly, they all decided that Princess Zhennan had at least greed for one hundred thousand taels of the prince, no, one million taels!

Concubine Shizi said that it can be said that human words can be the most advantageous weapon if used well! Zhu Xing watched this scene happily, but his face was not obvious, and he said angrily: "I'm so cruel, I dare to guard myself and steal, I must write a letter to the princess to report it!" He waved his arms and ordered to the guard. , "Go, send this Diao slave to Jingzhao Mansion!"

Zhu Xing ordered the guards to tie the tour steward with ropes, and then rode with the guards himself, letting the tour steward drag the rope behind him, all the way to Jingzhao Mansion.

Those onlookers were still waiting for the next decomposition, and most of them trotted after them.

The team was mighty and mighty, attracting more and more onlookers along the way. In the end, even those who didn't know what to do followed behind the team. Before they arrived at Jingzhao Mansion, they had already alarmed the governor of Jingzhao Mansion.

As soon as he heard what was going on, the whole face of the governor of Jingzhao was black, how could it be this prince again!

Every time I have a relationship with the Prince of Zhennan, this matter will become very difficult to handle...

Jingzhao Prefecture Yin was thinking about whether he was feigning illness and leaving, but the bearded head hunter had hurried over: "Sir, the housekeeper of Zhennan Wangfu has arrived at the door of the government office..."

It's too late to hide now.

The governor of Jingzhao could only greet him in the lobby in person, and pretended to be nonchalant, "Mr. Zhu, you are..." As he spoke, he glanced at the bound tour administrator with a puzzled expression.

Zhu Xing recounted the ins and outs of the matter. One of the guards kicked the tour steward behind his knee, and the tour steward knelt down in embarrassment.

Zhu Xing finally clasped his fists and said, "Lord Fu Yin, our Zhennan Wangfu doesn't want to wrong an innocent person, so this person is handed over to the lord. I hope that the lord will investigate clearly and give the prince an explanation!"

The governor of Jingzhao Prefecture complained secretly, but he could only laugh and instruct the bearded class leader to accept the person, and then said righteously: "Butler Zhu, please also give a message to the prince, and I will definitely deal with it fairly." Thinking: This is obviously the family business of Zhennan Wangfu, why did you come to see him in Jingzhaofu? Either go to the king of Zhennan, or go to the emperor. How can he, a small governor of Jingzhao, treat Princess Zhennan? Not to mention that the princess is still thousands of miles away in the southern border!

Zhu Xing completed the order of the concubine, and quickly left Jingzhao Mansion with his subordinates. The crowd of onlookers gradually dispersed when the matter came to an end.

But people are scattered, but this farce is still fermenting, and it will be spread by word of mouth in a short time, one by ten, ten by one hundred...

Not only are the storytellers in the capital city talking about the two or three things about the Zhennan Wangfu, but many theaters have turned it into a playbook and sung around, and those literati and scholars are even more verbally punishing...

In the Fufeng Courtyard, Lily was talking about one of the most popular playbooks vividly. Nangong Yue heard it very interesting, giggling and fell on Xiao Yi's shoulder.

How could Xiao Yi miss this good opportunity, he immediately reached out and wrapped his arms around her slender waist, only feeling that his luck today is really good!

Seeing that Concubine Shizi listened happily, Lily spoke with even more interest. She talked about how long it took to have a cup of tea, and finally took a long breath and said with bright eyes: "Concubine Shizi, I am afraid that the scandal of Wang Fei will spread all over the world. The whole is rich!"

Previously, the incident of the stepmother's invasion of birth was a riot, but it was only limited to the vicinity of the capital, but now, as soon as these popular actors' books came out, the actors sang, and the words and writings among the scholars and scholars, the princess of Zhennan, Xiao Fang. The notoriety will only continue to spread.

Nangong Yue raised her eyebrows and said, "The emperor is wise and wise and the world is peaceful, how can there be such a bold mountain bandit!" She said, but she couldn't help laughing out loud.

The emperor has a good face. In the past few years, there have been continuous wars and chaos. Now the wars in the south and north have finally subsided one after another, but there are rumors that Dayu Mountain bandits are rampant, and even Princess Zhennan dares to "rob" the money. , this kind of reason is an excuse, I am afraid that in the emperor's view, it is deliberately provoking his imperial power.

Xiao Yisheng was afraid that she would lose his temper, so he patted her back and waved casually to Lily.

Lily looked at the sticky two people, quietly retreated, and closed the door thoughtfully.

Outside the door, she pouted her lips boringly. With Shi Ziye, Shi Zifei didn't have time to gossip with them.

Nangong Yue raised her head with a smile and said to Xiao Yi: "Ai, most of the houses and shops in the north have been taken back, and I plan to sell three of them." After the emperor officially issued the decree, Nangong Yue was too lazy to care whether the Zhennan Wang couple would return the property, so she had already ordered someone to take it back.

Xiao Yi didn't care at all, "You can decide what to do at home."

Nangong Yue leaned on his shoulder and said, "These three shops have already been tormented by the people who succeeded the wangfei. will care."

Xiao Yi's peach blossom eyes were filled with the figure of Nangong Yue, and he said with a wide-eyed smile, "Grandfather will definitely praise me for having good eyesight, and I was able to get such a capable daughter-in-law!"

Nangong Yue raised her chin and said proudly, "Of course!" She paused, and then said, "Princess Princess has occupied the position of Princess Zhennan, my mother, for too long..."

Xiao Yi was very distressed, thinking too much, if the stinky girl hadn't married him, she wouldn't need to worry so much, but even so, he was reluctant to let her go, and hugged her even tighter.

As Nangong Yue had expected, when the emperor learned about the farce that took place in front of the Nanwang Mansion in Wangduzhen, he was furious and immediately ordered the Jingzhao Mansion to investigate the matter. The mountain bandits will definitely send troops to encircle and suppress them to eliminate harm for the people.

The governor of Jingzhao Prefecture came to investigate Xiao Yi's words on this matter, and was dismissed by saying "the safety of the people in Dayu should be the most important thing", while the tour manager was left in Jingzhao Mansion in the name of assisting in handling the case. yamen.

Just as this matter is getting more and more uproar, the preliminary round of the Jinxin Club has ended. The girls who have qualified for the promotion will participate in the finals a month later, and will decide on piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, royal, etc. The leader of the six.

Each session of the Jinxin Huikui capital is the most outstanding woman in the contemporary era, with both political integrity and talent, and she has a good reputation.

The difference this year is that the finals have not yet begun, and Bai Muxiao's couplet "The flowers have fallen out of nowhere, it seems that I have met Yan returning" has already been sung among scholars and scholars. Anyone who has read this word, They all praised her for being a woman who is not allowed to be a man, a strange woman that is rare to see in a hundred years!

In the Minghua Palace, where the third prince lived, Cui Yanyan held the poem written down by the dowry maid. The paper had been kneaded and wrinkled, and her face was full of anger.

Han Lingfu personally went to the Imperial College to pick up Bai Muxiao. She had already heard that, although she hadn't entered the door yet, Bai Muxiao's status was determined by the emperor as a "concubine". To be humiliated by a concubine so far is simply a great humiliation.

Cui Yanyan took a deep breath and asked, "Where is Your Highness now?"

The dowry maid said timidly: "His Royal Highness is in the study, do you want a servant to invite him?"

"Can you please get it?" Cui Yanyan sneered, it seemed useless to wait for the third prince to change his mind, she had to take the initiative.

Cui Yanyan "Teng-" had to stand up and said, "I'll go in person."

The door of Minghua Palace's study was tightly closed, and there were two little eunuchs guarding outside. As soon as she saw Cui Yanyan, she just saluted, but before she spoke, the sound of a glass being slammed down suddenly came from the study.

Cui Yanyan was startled, knowing that today was by no means a good opportunity to speak.

At this moment, in the study, there was a torn cup and tea splashing on the ground, and Han Lingfu was shocked to confirm again: "You mean that the father emperor has allowed the fifth emperor's younger brother to be the crown prince?"

This book was first published by Xiaoxiang Academy, please do not reprint!