Chapter 64

After winter, the capital city is cold and windy, the clear lake water reflects the gloomy sky, and dead leaves float on the mirror-like lake surface, and there is a desolation everywhere.

Xiaoman used to like winter because he had too little fun in the prime minister's house, but it would snow in winter, so there were many interesting things.

Until two years ago, because the Cun Han grass fell out of old diseases, the body would feel unbearable pain when the weather was too cold. Snow blindness also forced her to tie a ribbon on her eyes when it was snowing to avoid being stabbed by the snow light again.

Yizhou is much warmer than the capital, and there is no heavy snowfall that can last for three days like the capital.

After Jiang Yuefu escaped from Jiang's mansion, Xiaoman never heard of her again, and naturally he could not settle the score with her for the slaughter.

After hearing Jiang Chi's rebellious words, Jiang Hengzhi vomited blood and fell into a coma in Cheng Tinglan's mourning hall.

When guests learned about this, they sighed and lamented that he was deeply in love with his first wife.

Xiaoman knew it, and his mood was extremely complicated.

Shortly after Cheng Tinglan was buried, the old lady who returned from the mountain also died of illness.

Before her death, Xiaoman rushed back and saw her for the last time.

The old lady's eyes were turbid and she could no longer see anything. After hearing her voice, she reluctantly shouted: "Xiaoman is here..."

The weak and weak sound seemed to squeeze out from the throat.

Xiaoman sat next to her couch, his hands tightly held.

The old man's hand was only a thin layer of flesh wrapped around the bones, but she was held tightly and almost used all her strength.

"Old lady?"

Seeing that she opened her mouth, Xiaoman seemed to want to say something, so he put his body closer.

"Our Jiang family is sorry for you, and your mother... Xiaoman... We must live a good life in the future. You are a good child. Grandma can't watch you get married. In a blink of an eye, why are you so old..."

The old lady could only speak like a dream, muttering irrelevant things, and finally said: "Does Your Highness like you?"

What if he treats you badly?

He is the prince. What if he bullies you and no one supports you?"

Xiaoman was sure that the old lady could not see clearly, and Zhou Gongyu was clearly standing beside her.

"The prince likes Xiaoman very much and will definitely treat her well. The rumors in the palace are all lies. He only likes Xiaoman alone and will not let her be bullied.

Please rest assured, old lady..." Zhou Gongyu said calmly, as if he was making a promise.

After hearing this, the old lady patted Xiaoman's hand, "Okay... OK..."

After saying that, there was no sound and he kept his eyes moving.

Xiaoman then realized that the old lady was leaving.

Because of Jiang Chi's affairs, Jiang Hengzhi and she didn't know how to get along with each other.

This time when she returned home, Jiang Hengzhi sent someone to the palace to spread the message, so she hurried back.

The old lady had a good ending and didn't have much pain. After leaving the house, Jiang Hengzhi, who was guarding the door, turned his face and did not look at her.

"Have the old lady gone?"

"Just leaving."

Jiang Hengzhi nodded slowly and did not speak for a long time.

On the way back to the palace, Zhou Gongyu and Xiaoman saw her depressed expression and asked, "Has Mrs. Jiang been very nice to you in the past?

I didn't seem to have heard you mention it?"

Xiaoman is a girl who is easy to satisfy, and some trivial things can make her worry for a long time.

In the past, if any maid picked beautiful flowers for her, she would happily tell Zhou Gongyu.

But even though the old lady was searching hard in her memory, she found no information.

"Mrs. I am actually very different from each other. She likes quietness, is serious and upright, and even Jiang Chi is afraid of her.

I and the old lady have never said a few words, so naturally I can't say I'm very nice to me... But when I was on my birthday, a maid next to me brought me good pastries, and I wasn't sure at that time. Now I think that the pastries should come from the old lady's courtyard."

After Xiaoman said this, he couldn't help but remain silent.

Now that the old lady has left, Jiang Hengzhi has no idea what is left.

The reduction of officials and salary penalties did not make Jiang Hengzhi's back bend.

But after these series of accidents, he lowered his neck and his body gradually became hunched.

At the age of forty, he became old.

Within a few days, his hair turned white.

Everything is fate, and in the end... it is the same.

What kind of cause and what kind of result can you bear, and you cannot blame others.

——

The original intention of Xu Yan being brought into the palace was to disgust those ministers who meddled with other people's affairs.

He does not pay attention to political affairs, but he discusses the royal family all day long. Even the little prince who is only seven years old in the Imperial College can write a big poem and essay that is not easy to write.

Zhou Gongyu brought Xiaoman back to the Eastern Palace. There was nothing wrong with it, but some people said they were unruly and they were red in the debate in the court.

He responded indifferently, silently wrote down the Chaoguan who was hiding his sword in his words, turned around and came up with a way to hurt the enemy for 1,000 yuan.

Xu Yan can indeed bear the glory and wealth she has given her this time. In just a short time, more people have offended than Xiaoman knows.

Even the queen was so angry that she entered the Eastern Palace at night and scolded Zhou Gongyu in the Prince's study.

Xiaoman happened to pass by with the cat in his arms, but turned his head and looked at it, and then he followed him to train.

Zhou Gongyu took the cat from her hand, and the two stood side by side, lowering their heads and listening to the queen's angrily scolding.

"No hope! After all, it's everyone's daughter who was stepped on by a vulgar commoner and does not take you, the future princess, into consideration.

You are fine, I don’t know what’s wrong all day long, I can’t afford the position of the Crown Princess at all, a piece of rotten wood!”

In addition to visiting those Confucian scholars, Xiaoman has not been taught a lesson for a long time, but what the queen said makes sense. She does stay in the East Palace all day long, reading books and drinking tea without any intention of making progress.

She blushed when she was said and glanced at Zhou Gongyu guiltily.

Zhou Gongyu was scolded by the queen since childhood and was accused of being old. She still smiled at her as if nothing had happened.

As soon as the two of them were circulating with each other, the queen was about to get angry, but the words she was about to say suddenly broke down, and finally realized something was wrong.

It is said that the prince pampered that concubine, and he paid for money and treasures, and he was responsible for her even if he caused trouble. He loved her very much.

But if I really like that concubine, when I look at Xiaoman, the affection in my eyes cannot be faked.

She also knows how difficult it is to guess her own son.

"Crown Prince, I ask you if you really like the rude Yan Ji."

Zhou Gongyu glanced at Xiaoman and said frankly: "Who does the mother hope that her son will like?"

"Of course..." She was about to say to Xiaoman, but suddenly stopped. Everything was understood and she couldn't help but say angrily: "You are making a fool!"

"Since the mother understands what the son minister means, it is better not to interfere in some things."

On the one hand, the queen felt very angry when she was deceived, and on the other hand, she felt fortunately that the prince was not confused. Then she looked at Xiaoman who was standing obediently beside Zhou Gongyu with his head down. Thinking that he had scolded her angrily just now, would it be too much, and his tone became gentler.

"Xiaoman, do you remember what I said just now?"

Xiaoman nodded.

"You are the Crown Princess, you must take on your own responsibilities."

Xiaoman said weakly: "But I am not..."

The queen glanced at her dissatisfiedly, "Sooner or later, you have moved into the Princess's bedroom now, so you must take responsibility early."

After the queen gave the two men a stern face and gave them a lecture, Xiaoman let out a long sigh.

"If you are unhappy, I won't let my mother bother you later."

Xiaoman took the sesame seeds back and weighed them, his tone was a little depressed.

"Not it, but what the Empress said is right. I seem to be a little less enterprising.

I feel that in the palace, everyone has their own things to do, so I might as well do something when I was in the academy.

When the sesame was first brought, it was still a small ball. Now it’s so fat. My waist seems to be a little inch thicker, and it will be like it at that time..."

Zhou Gongyu didn't expect that she looked sad because of this and smiled: "What is it that compares with a cat?

You are already thin and have bad health. It is a good thing that you have a good appetite, not to mention that I can't see any changes, and I'm still very thin."

Xiaoman sighed, not wanting to talk to him about these things, but said, "The Empress didn't like it before, but by Xu Yan's conspicuousness, she could even say what I am the Crown Princess."

“Isn’t it good?”

Xiaoman glanced at him lightly.

"Of course, I always have to leave. If the poison is eliminated, I can't continue to delay you. The Crown Princess should find someone more suitable to do it.
To be continued...