I am a prince in Zhutian Films

Chapter 386: Women Should Be Independent

For the next few days, Zhao Wei did not show up, which made Zhao Paner, who was originally calm, start to become uneasy.

I wanted to find Zhao Wei to explain, but I was afraid of disturbing him, so I could only think about it alone, and I haven't slept well recently.

Song Yinzhang and Sun Sanniang saw the situation and felt anxious, but they had no good solution and could only try to comfort them.

This morning, Song Yinzhang got up early and saw Zhao Pan'er sitting alone in the pavilion, so he walked over with his pipa.

"Sister Pan'er, are you suffering from insomnia again?"

Zhao Pan'er came back to her senses and forced a smile, "Yin Zhang, why are you up so early?"

"Sister Pan'er, didn't I tell you last night that I was going to go find Sister Haohao to practice the song today?"

"Really? Sorry, I forgot. I'll go call a taxi for you right now." Zhao Pan'er looked apologetic and was about to go out to call a taxi for Song Yinzhang.

"No need, Sister Xiaocui has arranged for someone to take me to Shuangxi Tower." Song Yinzhang shook his head and sighed, "Sister Pan'er, you can't do this, why don't you go to the palace and ask directly."

Zhao Pan'er was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Well, I'll ask Xiao Cui later. Okay, you don't have to worry about me. Go ahead and be careful on the road."

After seeing Song Yinzhang off, Zhao Pan'er received consolation from Sun Sanniang.

The meaning was similar to what Song Yinzhang said, both asking her to go directly to Prince Han's mansion to ask what the situation was, and Zhao Pan'er's answer was similar.

So, as soon as she was half-covered, Zhao Paner started asking Xiao Cui.

"His Highness has been in the palace recently and has not returned home."

After getting this answer, Zhao Paner's panicked heart calmed down a little, but she was still worried.

On the one hand, she was worried whether Zhao Wei was angry, and on the other hand, she was also worried whether something had happened in the palace.

Unfortunately, she was just an ordinary woman and had no way to enter the palace. She could only look outside from time to time, hoping to see Zhao Wei.

At the same time, Shuangxi Building.

Zhang Haohao stretched out her hand and waved it in front of Song Yinzhang, who was distractedly holding the pipa. In order to practice playing music together with Song Yinzhang, she got up early, which was rare. As a result, Song Yinzhang had been distracted and dazed three times since morning.

Song Yinzhang suddenly pulled himself back to his senses and realized that he had been distracted again, so he quickly plucked the strings and played a few notes.

Zhang Haohao pretended to sing, but found that Song Yinzhang played the wrong song, so he interrupted and said, "Wrong, it's Qing Ping Le, not Die Lian Hua."

Song Yinzhang apologized embarrassedly and hurriedly changed the tune.

Zhang Haohao felt that Song Yinzhang was not playing the song well, so he stopped it and moved closer to observe Song Yinzhang's face. He asked suspiciously, "You are distracted so early in the morning, and your eyes are dark. What's wrong? Were you thinking about your lover last night and didn't sleep well?"

Song Yinzhang hurriedly shook his head: "No, no, someone gave me a set of ancient music scores, and I was practicing new music last night, so I went to bed late."

This is the truth. Song Yinzhang did go to bed late last night because she was practicing "Liangzhou Dabian". However, she was distracted today not because she did not sleep well, but because she was worried about Zhao Pan'er.

"You're lying. For a master like you, what new piece of music is worth you practicing by candlelight?"

Seeing that Zhang Haohao didn't believe him, Song Yinzhang explained anxiously, "It's true. Someone gave me a set of ancient music scores, so I wanted to practice well. After all, I have to perform for the birthday banquet. In addition to accompanying you, Sister Haohao, I also have to go up and play a song alone."

"We have to practice hard. This birthday banquet was personally ordered by the Emperor and the Empress to be held for Xiao Xianggong who just returned to the capital. We are performing in accordance with the emperor's order, so we have to be careful." Zhang Haohao said, then changed the subject and joked, "Who is so kind to you and gave you an ancient music score? Is it Shen Ruzhuo?"

Song Yinzhang shook his head: "It's not him."

Zhang Haohao was stunned and asked suspiciously, "That Shen goes to the music hall every other day and likes to collect music scrolls. Who else could it be if not her?"

"It really wasn't him, it was someone else."

Seeing that Song Yinzhang was unwilling to say more, Zhang Haohao did not ask any more questions. After hesitating for a moment, she reminded him, "Sister Yinzhang, don't blame me for being too talkative. There is no simple man in Tokyo. Don't be tempted by a little courtesy or sweetness. Otherwise, you will cry in the future. Especially be careful of Shen Ruzhuo. He is not a good person."

"Yes, good sister, I know." Song Yinzhang nodded, and Zhao Wei's cold and resolute face appeared in his mind. Then he shook his head firmly: "But the person who gave me the music score is not the kind of person you said."

Seeing Song Yinzhang like this, Zhang Haohao had no choice but to say, "Forget it, leave it to you. Anyway, you young ladies won't listen unless you fall down. Fortunately, your sister Pan'er is here, so you won't suffer any big loss. Continue."

Song Yinzhang forced himself to cheer up and started playing music with Zhang Haohao again. The melodious and clear music once again spread over the Shuangxi Tower until the sun set in the west.

Because Song Yinzhang was worried about Zhao Pan'er, she just chatted with Zhang Haohao for a few words, then hurried downstairs with her pipa, and then she met Chi Pan.

Seeing Song Yinzhang's frightened expression, Chi Pan deliberately made a vicious face, which scared Song Yinzhang so much that he ran away, and Chi Pan laughed happily.

"What are you laughing at?"

Seeing Zhang Haohao coming down from upstairs, Chi Pan walked up to her and said with a smug look on his face, "I just scared Song Yinzhang severely. Hahahaha, I am even happier when I think that she might be in a worse situation in the future."

Zhang Haohao couldn't help but roll his eyes at him: "Shen Ruzhuo can't fool her."

"Did you remind her?" Chi Pan asked angrily.

"What's wrong with me reminding her?" Zhang Haohao said firmly, "If you are angry with Zhao Pan'er, just go find her directly. Why use Song Yinzhang as a scapegoat? She is just a poor little girl who just came to Tokyo and knows nothing. I can't bear to see her fall into the tiger's mouth. Besides, I can see that she is wary of Shen Ruzhuo. Shen Ruzhuo will definitely not succeed."

"You also said that she doesn't know anything, but Shen Ruzhuo is a veteran. As long as she is entangled by Shen Ruzhuo, it is only a matter of time before she is deceived." Chi Pan retorted.

"Yes, yes, you are all right." Zhang Haohao was too lazy to argue with him, so he sat down and poured himself a glass of water.

Chi Pan sat down next to Zhang Haohao, looked at Zhang Haohao, and asked in surprise: "Oh, you feel sorry for her?"

Zhang Haohao did not deny it: "Since she calls me sister and works so hard to help me compose music, I must be nice to her. Hey, you heard it downstairs just now, my voice matches her pipa, doesn't it sound good?"

Chi Pan took a sip of tea and praised it casually, "It's like heavenly music."

Zhang Haohao was very proud and asked, "So, who do you think is better at playing the pipa, or is my song better?"

Chi Pan picked up the grapes on the table and threw them into his mouth, while lazily replying: "If I must compare, her pipa is better. After all, I listen to your songs all day long, and my ears are calloused. In my opinion, why don't you change to a fresh tune?"

Chi Pan was so focused on talking happily that he didn't notice that Zhang Haohao's expression was gradually getting darker.

"not so good!"

Zhang Haohao stood up suddenly, knocked Chi Pan on the head, and strode upstairs angrily. Chi Pan's throat was choked by the grapes he had just eaten, and he rolled his eyes, scratched and jumped, and it took him a long time to recover.

Then, he looked upstairs and said angrily, "This life is unbearable!"

On the other side, Song Yinzhang took a carriage back to Ban Zhaimian, but found that the door of Ban Zhaimian was closed, so he had to turn back to Anyefang.

Anyefang, in front of the gate of the mansion.

The carriage slowly stopped, and Song Yinzhang came down holding his pipa to pay his respects and express his gratitude. However, just as he started to speak, he remembered that he did not know the other person's name, and was embarrassed for a moment.

The driver couldn't help but smile and said, "My surname is Xiang, my given name is You, and my courtesy name is Bowen. I am a retainer of the Han Palace, and I live next door to you, Madam Song."

It turns out that he is a retainer of His Royal Highness the King of Han. No wonder he doesn't look like a coachman, but rather a scholar, with a bookish air about him. Well, he is also good-looking.

Song Yinzhang thought so in his heart, and bowed again and said: "Thank you, Mr. Xiang, for troubling you today."

"You are welcome, Madam Song." Xiang You shook his head and said with a smile, "By the way, Madam Song, I also know a little about pipa. We can practice with each other some time."

"what?"

Looking at Song Yinzhang's stunned look, Xiang You smiled again: "Madam Song, I have no parents, wife or children. I am the only one in my family. I am currently serving as a military officer in the palace, and I am a sixth-rank official."

Song Yinzhang was confused and asked, "Mr. Xiang, why are you telling me this?"

"Because I like you and want to marry you."

After hearing these words, Song Yinzhang was completely dumbfounded.

"Madam Song, I have already inquired about your situation. I am actually a pretty good person. I also know a little bit about music, chess, calligraphy and painting. You can consider me."

Song Yinzhang had never expected that he would be confessed to. For a moment he had no idea how to respond. He seemed a little at a loss, like a frightened rabbit, and took two steps back in panic.

Seeing that Song Yinzhang was frightened, Xiang You was stunned for a moment: "Madam Song, you don't have to rush to give me an answer, I can wait, you still have to go to Zhang Haohao to practice the song tomorrow, I will pick you up then."

"Oh, okay, I'll go in first." After Song Yinzhang said this, he ran into the yard as if escaping.

Because of the sudden confession, Song Yinzhang was so confused that he completely forgot about everything else.

She sat on a stone bench in the backyard, plucking the strings of the zither absentmindedly. Under the gorgeous sunset, the sight of this beautiful lady with her eyebrows lowered as she continued to play the zither looked like a graceful painting of a lady. It was a pity that there was no emotion in the sound of the zither.

Song Yinzhang played the tune of "Liangzhou Dabian" only with the mechanical movements of her fingertips. Xiang You's words "I like you and want to marry you" echoed in her ears repeatedly, and every note on the music score seemed to turn into the word "marry you".

Sun Sanniang came over with a basin of washed clothes, and seeing Song Yinzhang sitting there, she called her over to help, but after calling her several times, Song Yinzhang finally came to her senses.

Song Yinzhang put down his pipa and walked over to Sun Sanniang. Seeing that the clothes in the basin were obviously for boys, he asked in surprise, "What is this?"

"Isn't Zifang on his way to Tokyo? I took advantage of my free time to make summer clothes for that evildoer. I washed and hung them to dry so that they are soft enough to wear. Alas, I don't know whether he still recognizes me as his mother." Sun Sanniang sighed.

Song Yinzhang had not heard Zhao Wei mention Fu Zifang's visit to Tokyo before, but Sun Sanniang mentioned it afterwards. She didn't know how to make Sun Sanniang happy, so she could only comfort her softly: "Zifang was young and ignorant before, but he will definitely apologize to you when he comes to Tokyo this time."

"I hope so." Sun Sanniang sighed again. She did not mention Fu Zifang again, but asked, "By the way, what were you thinking about just now? I called you several times but you didn't hear me."

Song Yinzhang blushed and wanted to keep silent, but suddenly he was impulsive and blurted out, "Sister Sanniang, let me ask you something. If someone suddenly said he wanted to marry you, do you think he was serious? Oh, and he's an official."

Sun Sanniang also knew that Song Yinzhang was being harassed by Shen Ruzhuo. She had originally wanted to ask Zhao Wei to help investigate Shen Ruzhuo's character, but she didn't expect that Zhao Wei had left that day and had never shown up again.

Now hearing what Song Yinzhang said, she immediately thought of Shen Ruzhuo.

"It's the guy named Shen. He said he wants to marry you?"

Song Yinzhang shook his head: "It's not him."

Sun Sanniang was stunned and looked at Song Yinzhang scrutinizingly for a long time before she spoke in a very serious tone.

"Don't be foolish and believe a man's words so easily. Have you forgotten what Pan'er told you last time? It is important for women to be independent. We women cannot rely entirely on men. We still need to have our own careers. Look at me, I am a good example. And Pan'er, if she hadn't been independent, she wouldn't have attracted His Royal Highness the King of Han. When you establish yourself in Tokyo, then naturally there will be good men coming to you to marry you. You said that the man who suddenly said he wanted to marry you must have ulterior motives."

Song Yinzhang shook his head: "I don't think he is that kind of person."

"How many men have you met? Anyway, you should be careful and don't get fooled again. But you are not talking about Shen Ruzhuo, then who is it?"

"Sister Sanniang, I will be careful and will not be easily deceived again." Song Yinzhang did not answer who meant it, and changed the subject: "By the way, Sister Sanniang, where did Sister Pan'er go? Did she go to the Han Palace?"

Sun Sanniang said as she hung the clothes, "I did go to the Han Palace, but I didn't go to see His Royal Highness the King of Han. His Royal Highness the King of Han has been in the palace these past few days and not in the palace."

"Who is Sister Pan'er going to see?"

"She went to see her grandfather and uncles. Today, Zhao Changshi brought Pan'er's grandfather and his family back to Tokyo, and Pan'er went to the Prince of Han's Mansion. I don't know if she will come back today."

That’s right, Zhao Huai’en returned to Beijing.

He returned to Tokyo in the morning, and of course Zhao Paner's grandfather and his family came back with him.

However, Zhao Pan'er was not in the palace at this time, but in Shuangxi Tower.

The reason why we are in Shuangxi Tower is that we have to mention Zhao Paner’s maternal grandparents.

Her maternal grandfather's family were all honest people. When they learned that she and the King of Han were in love and would be the future Queen of Han, not only did they not have any intention of currying favor with him, but they were very reserved and polite.

On the other hand, Zhao Pan'er had no impression of her maternal grandparents' family because they were separated when she was young, which made both sides feel quite uncomfortable when getting along with each other.

So after talking about the past, Zhao Pan'er settled her grandparents' family in Youran Ju and left on the pretext of having something to do.

Of course, it’s not really an excuse. After all, Zhao Paner did promise Zhang Haohao that she would help him connect with Zhao Huai’en.

Sun Sanniang didn't know this and thought Zhao Pan'er was still in Prince Han's mansion.

Song Yinzhang hummed, sincerely happy for Zhao Pan'er: "The elders in the family have all been brought to Tokyo. Sister Pan'er should be getting married to His Royal Highness the King of Han soon, right?"

"It should be done soon." Sun Sanniang nodded and said with a smile, "Okay, the clothes are finished hanging, you can take a rest."

(End of this chapter)