Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 445 Chicks

"Why are you thinking so much? The girl is only coming of age in February, and the Queen Mother is in good health! Isn't it good for us to stay in the Queen Mother's Palace for another two or three years before thinking about this matter?"

Xiaohong's steady voice sounded from behind the curtain, and she got on the carriage with a bag in her arms, bowed to Daiyu,

"My Lady, I have come back to report: the Huaiyuan Marquis's Mansion has closed its doors to visitors, and the Marquis has gone out on business.

"Both the Marquis and Aunt Yun are fine. Aunt Yun was stunned for a while when she heard the news of the death of the second master of the Jia family and Caixia. The Marquis had someone help her to the back hall to cry.

"Madam Hou asked me to kowtow to the princess on her behalf. Remembering their family at this time has saved their lives. Thank you, princess, for your kindness."

Yes, if there was no connection, they would never get married.

Although the Wei and Shi families were only polite to each other when Wei Ruolan and Shi Xiangyun got married, they were close relatives long ago...

Many people, especially those in higher positions, would care about this kind of connection.

Daiyu didn't care.

As long as they can stand on the emperor's side at critical moments and maintain peace in the world and the capital, what does it matter if their previous generation and the generation before them have been on good terms with him?

After all, we all have to look forward and survive. Isn't it just the choice we make at this moment that determines whether we can walk together in the future?

"Madam Hou, you are too polite." Daiyu said simply, smiled, stretched out her hand and pulled Xiaohong to sit beside her, then turned to Xueyan, "When facing big things, you should be calm.

“You should learn this from your sister Xiaohong.

“Your daughter, although I was given the title of Princess because of my father’s merits, His Majesty’s mercy, and His Majesty’s Thousand Autumn Festival.

"But the person who spoke up for your daughter was the Empress Dowager.

"I will always put the Queen Mother ahead of everyone else!

"So what Xiaohong said is right. We still have to serve and honor the Queen Mother for a long time. What Daming Palace or Taiji Palace? Only by her side is it the place where you and I can serve and stay!"

As she said this, Daiyu patted Xueyan's head with a smile, "Okay, go ahead. Take good care of Lang'er and Qiao'er, and don't worry about anything else."

Xueyan giggled, stuck out her tongue, and jumped out of the car nimbly.

Xiaohong then smiled and said to Daiyu: "The side hall is not big, and we don't have many things to bring.

"Sister Qingwen said that she was a little afraid of the verbal battles among the concubines in the palace, so she asked me to do it for her while she stayed behind to watch the palace maids clean up the house."

Daiyu laughed, sat down more comfortably, sighed deeply, raised the carriage curtain with her bare hands, and looked out for a while.

Then he murmured softly: "I have already been in the game. If I don't understand the situation, how can I determine my fate?"

Xiao Hong was silent for a long time, until the carriage slowly moved along the red-walled corridor of the harem, then she whispered:

"The world is like a game of chess. Everyone wants to be a chess player, but who is not a chess piece? How many things can be chosen by each person?"

In other words, those who can make choices are already lucky.

Daiyu looked at her in surprise and suddenly smiled: "Since Yun'er came back, your words have become even more profound."

Xiao Hong's cheeks flushed, and she hurriedly pretended to look at the road. She also lifted the curtain to look out, and asked the driver, "How far is it?"

Daiyu chuckled.

Apart from the Empress and the four concubines, the highest ranking person in the palace was Kou Zhaorong. Her father was a soldier, and both men and women in the family practiced martial arts.

Kou Zhaorong had been practicing martial arts since she was young, so her character was particularly straightforward and strong. Raising a son was more important to strengthen his body, and the rest of the advice was just the four words "loyalty, filial piety, chastity and righteousness".

The crown prince was seriously injured, so the emperor rushed to see him, which would have been fine, but before leaving, he sent a message to take the second prince with him as well, which made Kou Zhaorong feel heartbroken.

It just so happened that the Seventh Prince had been sticking to the Second Prince all the time during the past ten days, and he felt that life had never been so interesting.

But when she woke up that morning, she suddenly discovered that her second brother had gone out with her father and had not taken her with him. She felt as if the sky was falling and she cried endlessly.

Does Kou Zhaorong have a good temper?

He didn't listen to reason on the left, and didn't believe the benefits on the right. He just opened his mouth and cried loudly until his voice was hoarse.

Kou Zhaorong became furious and ordered the people who served her on a daily basis to come over. She also brought the wet nurse and started to scold her.

After seeing the temper of his mother, the Seventh Prince finally calmed down a little, but he was still sobbing and rubbing his eyes.

Just when Kou Zhaorong was so angry that veins on her forehead were throbbing, someone reported that Concubine Dou had arrived with the third prince.

Kou Zhaorong breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly invited him in. She then handed the Seventh Prince to the Third Prince and asked him to "take him out to play."

When Daiyu arrived, two concubines came out to greet her at the same time, and the third prince and the seventh prince followed behind.

It’s such a big deal?

Daiyu was a little surprised, but still smiled, and took Jia Lan and Qiaojie to greet them.

Although Kou Zhaorong and Dou Jieyu were one bold and one shy, they were both smart. During the New Year's Day trip, they knew that Princess Zhaoqing in front of them had a special status in the hearts of the Grand Lord and the Queen Mother.

Now she can sit in the Daming Palace with the golden medal bestowed by Emperor Zhaoming. Although the name given is to "assist" Kou Zhaorong, it is obvious at a glance whose opinion will make the final decision.

Of course the two men were not willing to neglect the princess, so they held her hands, one on each side, walked into the hall, and sat opposite each other. The three of them finished their greetings.

"I never thought the situation would turn out like this." Unexpectedly, it was Concubine Dou who spoke first about what was happening outside.

Kou Zhaorong immediately continued smoothly: "Is the princess okay?"

It seemed that the two of them had just been together and had discussed the meeting with him in detail.

Daiyu's already faint and gentle smile became even warmer: "It just so happens that the Third Prince and the Seventh Prince are here."

He turned around and asked Xiaohong, "Where is the painting I asked you to bring?"

Xiaohong hurriedly took half a step forward, bowed her head, and held up a scroll high in both hands.

"This is a scroll from the "Lying and Traveling Picture" by the Suzhou talent Shen Zhou of the previous dynasty. It is a picture of chicks. The painting is authentic, simple and natural.

"I thought that among the masters of the princes, there is one who is good at painting. The princes must also be learning to paint. This one is simple, and the painting is cute and fluffy, which is perfect for copying.

"So bring it here and let Zhaorong coax the child!"

As he spoke, he motioned to Xiaohong to unfold it.

When Kou Zhaorong and Dou Jieyu heard this, they looked at each other. Although they didn't understand, they still stood up and walked over to take a closer look.

In this scroll by Shen Zhou, in addition to a little chick in thick and thin ink, there are also four lines of poetry next to it.

Dou Jieyu subconsciously recited aloud: "The fur is half yellow, why is it chirping away from its mother? The day has lasted for thousands of years, but when it urges the dawn, the day should be longer..."

The lingering sound lingered.

Among the people in the hall, except for Daiyu's side who looked normal and the Seventh Prince who didn't quite understand and had a confused look on his face, Kou, Dou and the Third Prince all changed color suddenly!