Chapter 613: Fighting to win over

Although Chonghua Palace is large, it is only a corner of the palace. Therefore, there has been an explicit order in the palace that only those with an official rank of fifth rank or above can enter the palace to celebrate the birthday of the Supreme Emperor. Moreover, with the exception of Wang Jue, every third-rank official and above can only bring at most one junior to the banquet.

To the west of Chonghua Palace, a waterside pavilion that is usually inaccessible is now bustling with people.

Many teenagers and young people gathered here in small groups, chatting, dancing and writing, or playing chess and drinking tea.

There is no doubt that each of these young people, outside of the outside world, are princes and grandsons with prominent family backgrounds and great names, and they have many followers everywhere they go. However, here today, each of them seems so ordinary.

Because among these people, princes and princes alone account for almost half!

It is conceivable that if nothing unexpected happens, the one or two hundred young people around this small waterside pavilion will be the ones who will dominate the empire's voice for the next hundred years.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."

Following the announcement, the high-spirited Crown Prince, dressed in a yellow robe, walked up surrounded by everyone.

It was also at this time that many people who had maintained their identities before immediately put down their airs and gathered towards the prince.

The prince said with a smile: "The lonely king is very busy today, and he has not taken good care of many things. I hope you can forgive me."

The prince was ordered by Emperor Ningkang. , hosting today’s birthday banquet. He was naturally proud of himself, because every time he presided over such an important event, he became more familiar with state affairs, and his status as prince became more stable.

Therefore, although he is busy, he does not dare to slack off at all.

Since all the princes and ministers came to the palace in advance to celebrate their birthdays, in order to reasonably arrange the time before the official start of the birthday banquet, he gathered the juniors of each family here alone. After all, adults are with adults, and young people are with young people. They have the same interests and are more harmonious.

Looking at the young talents from various families who were following him like a shadow because of his movements, the smile on the prince's face became even wider. Even if he is a prince, it is not easy to bring together so many children from powerful families.

Obviously, this is an important moment for him to accumulate foundation and select followers and loyalists.

However, after glancing at the middle of the waterside pavilion, where the third prince looked at him with a smile, and there was no sign of him coming to greet him, the smile on the prince's face faded a bit.

But he saw it. Before he came, most people here gathered in the waterside pavilion. Even now, there are still many people in the waterside pavilion. Most of them are civil servants.of juniors.

Just as he was about to step into the waterside pavilion, he suddenly heard an important name. He glanced around, and a smile appeared on his face, and then he completely ignored the third prince who had already approached to greet him. He turned around and quickly headed towards the outside.

In the fence beside the pond, the fourth prince and a few people who usually played close to him gathered here to fish.

He is the most leisurely prince. Whenever there is a grand event, he doesn't care about anything and just plays.

Suddenly seeing his companion coming back, he immediately dropped his fishing rod and ran over, but passed his companion and pounced on the person behind him.

"Hey Jia Lian, you are finally here."

Looking at the fourth prince who was always full of enthusiasm, Jia Lian took a step back, cupped his hands and said, "I have seen the four princes. Your Highness."

"You were in Chongqing Hall just now, right?"

"Back to Your Highness, that's right."

"Hey, everything is over there. They are old antiques and really boring. Why not come here to fish? Hehe, the fish in Grandpa Huang’s clear pond cannot be eaten at any time!

I have caught several Here it is, I’ll ask Zhang Bao to take it back secretly later. When the banquet is over, how about you go to my palace and we bake it together?”

The fourth prince obviously had a plan. He looked at Jia Lian expectantly.

He really admired Jia Lian in his heart. He was better at "martial arts" and better at writing poems than him. Who knew that he could actually cook food better than the cooks in his palace? Xiang, this damn guy is really a genius!

Thinking back to the last time I accidentally ate the small crucian carp that Jia Lian pierced with bamboo skewers and grilled, the taste was burnt on the outside, crispy on the inside, numb and spicy, it was... indescribable.

Later, he also asked the chefs in the house to bake it according to Jia Lian's method, but it was always a little bit different.

Furthermore, everyone said that the fish raised by the Emperor of the Chonghua Palace were spiritual creatures that gathered the essence of heaven and earth. If you could eat one, it would bring wealth and treasures, and prolong your life. Therefore, every prince and minister who received a reward from the Supreme Emperor regarded it as a treasure.

It’s a pity that even though he is a prince, he usually doesn’t dare to come in and steal. It was because of the crowds today that he became bolder and planned to steal some back early in the morning.

This kind of precious spiritual fish growing out of the dragon’s veins, coupled with Jia Lian’s miraculous techniques, the final taste... just thinking about it is enjoyable!

Seeing the fourth prince drooling as he spoke, Jia Lian couldn't help but smile. Speaking of which, the fourth prince is quite easy to deal with. This silly boy who grew up in a fine life has never eaten spicy grilled fish on the street. He is addicted to it as soon as he eats it.

However, this boy is also brave enough. He even dares to steal the fish from the Supreme Emperor. I am afraid he is the only one in the entire Wei Dynasty.

After perfunctorily saying hello to Zhang Su and others, Jia Lian was about to take a look at the catch of the fourth prince when he suddenly saw the prince coming with a group of people. Jia Lian quickly stopped. Appear properly and bow to see him.

"Haha, Marquis Zhenyuan doesn't need to be polite. I didn't think it through well. Although Marquis Zhenyuan holds an official title and is my father's most valued confidant, in terms of age, talent and appearance, he is I am the leading young talent in the Wei Dynasty.

It’s my fault that I forgot to instruct the servants below. They must have brought Marquis Zhenyuan to the Chongjing Hall just now, right?”

The prince smiled and walked within two steps in front of Jia Lian. His familiar behavior was as if he and Jia Lian were close friends. The prince showed such favor to him, which made many people behind him who wanted to say a few words in front of the prince couldn't help but look jealous.

But then, when he thought that even the prince said that Jia Lian was Emperor Ningkang’s most valued confidant, some people in the city quickly calmed down their expressions.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is serious. Your Highness has taken care of everything and arranged the Emperor's birthday banquet in an orderly manner. Just now in the Chongjing Hall, I heard many elders praising His Highness.
< br />Besides, I am just an ordinary minister. When the palace deacon arranged for me to go to the Chongqing Hall, he followed the rules and made no mistakes. However, I came here without permission, so please forgive me."

　“Haha.”

As soon as the prince laughed, the fourth prince interrupted unhappily: “Oh, we are all so familiar and we are not outsiders, why are we talking? So polite. Besides, I sent someone to call you here, so what’s the point of being unauthorized? Do you mean that I shouldn’t have called you here, or that I’m not qualified to call you here?

Brother, you are Tell me, am I qualified to ask him to come over?"

The prince did not mean to be angry with the fourth prince at all. Instead, he smiled and said: "The fourth brother is right, he is not an outsider, why should the Marquis of Zhenyuan do this? You're polite. As for the fourth brother's question, haha, of course you are qualified to call him over. Brother, I also want to thank you for helping me."

The prince looked easy-going, but when he said When he said "not an outsider", he gave Jia Lian a meaningful look.

"Brother the Great Emperor is right, Marquis Zhenyuan is famous far and wide. When he was in the Western Suburbs Courtyard of the Great Emperor, the Marquis Zhenyuan casually took out a few masterpieces, and even his brothers were attracted by them. I can only admire him.

When I was discussing literature and ink with a group of talented people, I was still sighing. It would be great if the Marquis of Zhenyuan was here. If he were here, we could recite poems and compose poems, and my talents would be fully displayed. I, the great Wei Dynasty, have the charm of a younger generation, but he just happened to be here."

The third prince came as if strolling in the courtyard. He ignored the prince's sudden furrowed brows and nodded in response to Jia Lian's greeting. He continued to smile and said: "I am fond of writing and doing arty things. I have long wanted to ask Marquis Zhenyuan to visit the palace, but I am only worried about Marquis Zhenyuan's official duties." It's so heavy that I don't dare to send someone to invite him easily.

Since today is a grand event, I would like to consult with the Marquis of Zhenyuan for advice."

"Your Highness, Third Highness, is so kind. I don't dare to show off in front of His Highness."

The people around me felt very uncomfortable when they saw that all the princes were so affectionate towards Jia Lian. They are also children of powerful people. Many of them have a much higher status than Jia Lian, but the treatment they receive is very different. This cannot help but make people feel jealous.

Especially the group of clan children who were harmed by Jia Lian and the fourth prince and were taken to the Ancestral Temple to eat white flour buns for more than a month looked at Jia Lian and almost got angry. It's just that I didn't dare to have an attack in the presence of the Crown Prince and the Third Prince.

How could the prince not know that the third prince was competing with him for someone? There was a frown on his face, but he sneered in his heart. You couldn't compete with me before, but from now on, you will have no chance.

Jia Lian is a smart man. In addition, he and this prince will soon have a new relationship, and it is even less likely that he will board your pirate ship.

Just when he was about to ridicule the third prince, one of his confidants suddenly whispered into his ear. He turned his eyes and said to Jia Lian and others: "The lonely king has something to deal with, please. Whatever you want."

After saying that, he nodded to Jia Lian, the fourth prince and others, and then led the others away.

　……

Weiyang Palace, this is the Queen Mother’s bedroom and the most majestic and solemn palace in the entire Chonghua Palace, besides the main hall.

At this time, most of the internal and external officials who came to congratulate the Supreme Emperor on his birthday, as well as the female relatives of various families, also gathered here.

Theoretically speaking, on an occasion like today, the most eye-catching people should be the most distinguished princesses, princesses, and princesses. But this was not the case in the main hall at this time. The most eye-catching person was a delicate girl in her teens.

Because she was brought here by the Queen herself, and the Queen had just introduced her to the Queen Mother in person.

Theoretically speaking, a woman who can receive special care from the queen must have an extraordinary status. But after people in the palace quietly inquired about her, they discovered that this young girl's identity was very ordinary.

The daughter of Jiangnan Weaving? It is indeed ordinary, because many young princesses and county owners have quietly asked their elders that Jiangnan weaving is only fourth or fifth grade.

The kind in JiangnanA small place, maybe fourth or fifth grade is not too small. But in today's situation, she is just at the bottom. If there is no queen, she should not even be qualified to enter!

For such a woman whose status is so far behind them, but she has received the attention of a group of elders, the young ladies feel somewhat aggrieved.

The appearance is... quite beautiful, but so thin. Their family is too poor to open the pot, starving their daughter like this!

Faced with everyone’s looks, especially the unfriendly eyes, Zhen Yuhuan, standing next to the queen and her mother, was under great pressure.

Even though her mother and others had dressed her solemnly in the morning and had given her many ardent instructions, she knew that today's trip to the palace was not an easy one. But I still didn’t expect that it would be like this.

Previously in Kunning Palace, she met countless elders under the arrangement of her mother and the queen. Those elders were either princesses or county princesses, the lowest being second or third grade imperial concubines, all of whom had a much higher status than her mother.

Her family is second to none in Jiangnan. As the legitimate daughter of the family, she can be described as a proud daughter of heaven.

But facing those princesses and princesses of the same age, she felt as if she had become a common girl. Even though she knew in her heart that wasn't the case.

It’s even better now, the Queen brought her and her mother to meet the Queen Mother! Is she really the Queen Mother? She looks so young...so beautiful...

And...

This person doesn't look easy to get along with!

Zhen Yuhuan secretly glanced at the young woman in the gorgeous palace dress opposite. Unexpectedly, the other party was also looking at her, and her indifferent eyes made her heart skip a beat, and she quickly averted her eyes.

"My dear, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived, please wait outside."

"Let him come in."

Hearing these words, I was so excited Zhen Yuhuan, who was feeling uneasy, became more and more nervous and hid her small body behind her mother.

"The prince visited the imperial grandmother and paid homage to the queen mother."

The prince walked into the palace under the guidance of the palace servants, because behind the curtains on both sides were the imperial edicts of various families. Observing etiquette, he walked up to the Empress Dowager and the Empress without squinting his eyes, and respectfully greeted them.

"No need to be polite, have you arranged all your external affairs?"

The arrangements have been made, and there are no major mistakes."

"Yes."

The Queen Mother nodded casually, then he changed his tone and motioned to the wife of the Zhen family below: "This is the wife of the Zhen family in Jiangnan. The Zhen family in Jiangnan, when your grandpa was in power, was ordered to preside over the weaving affairs in Jiangnan, and has been doing so for decades. Days of hard work have yielded great results.

The wife of their family was the 'Xiu'an County Princess' personally given by Taizu Yukou. When the Xiu'an County Lord was still young, he and the late Empress Xiaowen were close friends. My dear friend, after all that, Mrs. Zhen’s wife is also your elder, and you haven’t met her yet.”

As soon as he heard the word “Zhen’s family”, the prince’s heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously looked in the direction indicated by the Queen Mother. go.

Then his calm expression suddenly changed, and he looked blankly at the weak woman standing timidly behind Mrs. Zhen's wife.

Beside him, the young woman who had been staring at him saw this, her eyes became cold, and she immediately glanced at Zhen Yuhuan with a piercingly cold gaze.

This scene was all seen by the Queen Mother who was sitting upright above.

As someone who has experienced this, the Queen Mother naturally knows that the future of this little girl from the Zhen family will not be smooth. But that's no fault of others. From the day she chose to marry into the royal family, she should have expected this situation, just like herself.

With a slight cough, the Queen Mother said: "Prince."

The Prince then realized that he had lost his composure, and quickly bent down to give a hand to the middle-aged woman who had stood up in fear. Met with a gift.

At the same time, he couldn't help but smile in his heart. Ever since he grew up, he had never given such a big gift to a fourth-grade emperor!

I don’t know whether the old lady and Empress Xiaowen are close friends. After all, when Empress Xiaowen was young, the imperial grandmother might not have even been born yet, so it seemed a bit strange and less credible to say such words from her mouth.

But regardless of whether it is true or not, it is all a bridge they built to facilitate their marriage. He only needs to obey the arrangement. Anyway, he can marry the beautiful girl in front of him. With this bow, he It’s not a loss either.