The Princess's Notebook

Zhao Feiran was so happy with Shiqi Niang's words that he got up the next day in high spirits. When Zhen, a female official, helped him get dressed, he smiled with his eyes raised. Standing in front of the bronze mirror, one could tell how happy he was without saying a word.

The female official straightened her sleeves, thinking of the recent rumors in the palace, and said carefully: "Your Highness seems to be in a very good mood, has something big happened to you?"

Zhao Feiran didn't even turn his head. "You are very smart. Although it's not a big happy event, the weather is nice. I am happy to see you, and that's enough."

Unsure of what was going on, the female official took the opportunity to secretly go to see Shiqilang standing guard outside the palace. The windows were open, the sky was not yet bright, and the faint light of the morning sun could illuminate his whole body. She nodded silently in her heart, thinking that he should be happy in this state.

I just wonder if Her Majesty and His Majesty would be happy if they knew.

After a while, everything was ready. Zhao Feiran jumped out of the door and ordered Sun Du who was under the eaves, "It's just a grand court meeting. Just choose two suitable people to follow. Don't mobilize a large number of troops." After saying that, he walked ahead.

Sun Du was puzzled. What day was it today? His Highness never cared about these things. Travel, ceremonial guards, and customs clearances were always handled by the ten marshals' offices. Now he asked this question again. Did he have any other concerns? He looked around without a clue, and suddenly Wei Shiqilang came into his sight.

This guy is really too conspicuous.

Although Sun Du was a cold and unapproachable General of the Central Army, he knew something about the rumors in the palace, so he ordered Wei Shiqilang to come and serve him and protect His Highness together with him.

From the East Palace to the Xingqing Palace, one has to cross the Jinshui River, Changqiu Palace, Wanli Palace... Along the way, officials of all ranks, as well as eunuchs and palace maids, all have different expressions and look back frequently.

Zhao Feiran was alone in front and didn't feel anything. He was the Crown Prince, and it was natural that everyone's eyes would follow him wherever he went. This made things difficult for Sun Du and Wei Shiqilang who were accompanying him. Sun Du was fine, but the rumors in the palace kept turning over in his mind.

Poor Wei Shiqilang, he was just an ordinary young man from a noble family. In this Kyoto where fame and fortune abound, when had he ever received such attention?

When Zhao Feiran entered the palace to discuss politics, the two of them waited in the corridor. Seeing that no one paid attention, Wei Shiqilang asked, "General Sun, in the past, when Your Highness entered the palace, it was always like this... Is it so crowded?"

One person has many eyes, which made Sun Du's cold face, which had lasted for more than a hundred years, have a crack. "That's not the case."

"Then why?"

Sun Du: ...

It's fine to talk about gossips behind people's backs. But even if Sun Du is good at fighting, he doesn't have the ability to bring it to the main person. He choked and asked, "When you ordered General Wei to come and protect His Highness personally, what was the order written?"

Wei Shiqi was not stupid. When he heard this, he immediately understood that it was not because of his outstanding performance in the training ground.

"General Sun, can you tell me something?"

At this point, Sun Du had nothing to say, curled his lips, and looked stern. The more Wei Shiqilang saw him like this, the more frightened he became. He kept rubbing his sword with one hand. Back and forth, sweating profusely.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is not a kind person.

In the next few days, Zhao Feiran had a lot of free time. He led Sun Du, Wei Shiqilang and other guards to play chess and martial arts. The more ordinary, the more frightening. Wei Shiqilang was already very eye-catching among the guards, and now wherever he went, everyone's eyes followed him. For a while, rumors spread everywhere.

So, taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, Supervisor Song and his apprentice started to make a scene in the classroom again.

Song Dajian: "I heard that Wei Shiqilang played chess with His Highness the other day. Were you the one who served him?"

The head of the eunuchs was Song Dajian himself, so he knew that it was his responsibility to arrange and mediate. He asked this question only because he wanted to know some details.

The young disciple was tactful and smiled, "Master, I am the disciple serving you. That day was a good day, and Your Highness had a rare moment of leisure. As soon as I returned to the main hall, I saw Shiqilang guarding the door, so I immediately asked him to come in and play a game with me."

"Is your highness happy?"

"Look at what Master said. The prince has been smiling these past few days. Not only those of us who serve in the East Palace, but even Nanny Wan beside the queen knows about it. The female official Zeng also said a few days ago that it has been a while since the prince woke up with a smile. I don't know what good things happened to him at night."

Song Dajian paced back and forth in the room, thinking: At this time, why don't we take a further step? Is he afraid that the queen will know?

This shouldn't be the case. Although Her Majesty is extremely strict with her subordinates, when it comes to Your Highness, she always lets Your Highness do as he pleases and never objects at all.

Why is this?

Supervisor Song couldn't figure it out.

Queen Zhou was also confused. Ever since she heard the news that Wei Shiqilang was accompanying the Eastern Palace every day, Queen Zhou had been worried for a long time. She knew the temperament of the son she raised by herself very well. There was no sign of such a preference in the past. She didn't believe that a good son would suddenly grow up to be bad.

Empress Zhou, who was almost suffocated, could no longer bear it and ordered someone to invite Zhao Feiran. They had not spoken to each other for a long time.

In the afternoon, the sun was shining brightly, the golden light pierced through the forest and leaves, and through the shade of the trees, casting mottled spots of light in the courtyard. Queen Zhou left everyone and only left the very considerate Nanny Wan by her side. She made tea under the shade of the tree and waited for Zhao Feiran to arrive. The curling green smoke followed the wind and meandered into the distance. Zhao Feiran, wearing a royal blue gown and a golden crown tied up his hair, came walking on the wind.

Queen Zhou looked at her son who was walking towards her. He looked very handsome. Why was he like this?

Hey, what have I usually neglected?

"Mother, what do you want from me?"

Seeing that he looked very normal, Empress Zhou was so angry that she shouted, "As a mother, you have to have something to say to your son! Whose reason is this?"

Zhao Feiran was stunned and looked at Nanny Wan who was serving on the side. She smiled secretly and shook her head. Confused, Zhao Feiran immediately moved closer and handed a cup of tea to Queen Zhou, apologizing, "Mother, it's my fault. It's all my fault. I should come to talk to you every day. Since my sister got married, Zhengyang Palace is not as lively as before. I should understand this sooner."

"Hey, when did you learn to speak sweet words? Did you not sleep well last night?" Queen Zhou said in a teasing tone.

The young man smiled awkwardly, "To be honest, mother, I don't know why these past few days, maybe because the Ye River is peaceful and the sea is calm, and all nations are paying tribute, my son is in a very good mood and sleeps very soundly."

Queen Zhou felt the hot steam from the teacup in her hand rushing straight to her head. After holding it in for a while, she asked, "Is there something you don't understand?"

The prince said seriously, "Son, I am not a saint. It is normal for me to have things I don't understand."

Queen Zhou's eyes rolled repeatedly, and she said woodenly, "If this is normal now, then you have been abnormal for the past seventeen years."

She mumbled very quietly, and Zhao Feiran felt as if there was sound, but he didn't hear it clearly, "Mother, what did you say?"

As if she suddenly regained consciousness, Empress Zhou immediately began to talk about other things.

"Nothing. I came to you just to ask you, I want to take advantage of this year's spring festival to find a new wife for you, what do you think? Is there any young lady that suits your taste?" He paused, and spoke again with great difficulty, "If there is anything else, if you like, tell mother, I will prepare it for you."

Queen Zhou thought to herself: It’s just right that you haven’t figured it out yet, so hurry up and make up your mind. By the time you figure it out, it will be too late.

Zhao Feiran was stunned. He looked at Queen Zhou and saw that she did not seem to be joking. He turned his head to look at Nanny Wan and saw her nod slightly. He looked around again and did not see anyone else. Then he turned back to look at Queen Zhou.

Puzzled, he asked, "Mother, are you looking for your son so anxiously just for this?"

The Queen said sternly: "It's not important for the Crown Prince to take a concubine?!"

"This is a matter of national importance, mother, please be cautious."

Seeing him refuse several times, the queen felt that the rumor was about to come true, and angrily said, "You don't want to find a new wife, why? Tell me the truth."

The young man was puzzled, "When my sister was here that day, I had already told my mother that women are noisy and I am very annoyed. Why did you want to get married?"

The blood rushed up, and Queen Zhou took a deep breath, "What else?"

"Anything else? Anything else? It's strange that you ask such a question, mother."

The queen took another deep breath and paused before she said, "You don't want to marry a new wife and spend all your time with those guards in the East Palace?"

This question, at this point, has become very obvious.

What can I do? What can I do? Zhao Feiran didn't think about this at all. He had no idea what Queen Zhou was worried about. He asked calmly:

"Could it be with the lady-in-waiting?"

"You!" Empress Zhou was so angry that she suddenly stood up, turned around half a circle on the spot to calm herself down, and then she said earnestly, "My son, you are the crown prince of our dynasty. When will you change your bad habits of speaking? If you were talking to ministers in the court or envoys from foreign countries, would you still talk to them like this?! Hmm!"

Zhao Feiran stood up and patted her on the back, admitting his mistakes. "Don't worry, mother. I know what's going on. I won't do this in front of others. At most, I'll quarrel with sister and Xiaoqi. It was my fault just now. I will admit it if you want to beat me or scold me. I won't say anything." Seeing that the queen's breathing was much smoother, he turned to ask, "It's just that mother, your question today is really strange. My son has been like this for many years, and you have never said anything bad about him. Why is everything wrong with him now?"

"You are feeling wronged." Empress Zhou took a deep breath, then suddenly took another deep breath, "You are already seventeen. Even if we start selecting a bride right now, decide on a candidate, have the Imperial Astronomical Observatory choose a date, and teach the palace rules and etiquette, it may not be until you are nineteen that you can be welcomed into the palace. It's not too early."

After hearing this, Zhao Feiran felt that it made sense, but he was still unwilling, "Young ladies are noisy and boring, what's the point."

Queen Zhou shouted, "Your group of guards in the East Palace are good enough?! Then Wei Shiqilang is good enough?!"

After hearing this, Nanny Wan was so surprised that she couldn't close her mouth and kept pulling the queen's sleeve. My queen, it would be bad if you explained it clearly. Don't you see that the real master hasn't figured it out yet?

Not knowing where he had gone wrong, Zhao Feiran apologized hurriedly in confusion and pulled the queen to talk with him.

"Mother, the Shishufu guards the Eastern Palace and does his job conscientiously, which is very good. Besides, Wei Shiqilang, although he was not among my son's followers before and has only been with me for a short time, he is a straightforward person, has good chess skills, and is extraordinary in his physical abilities. He is also very good."

Seeing that the prince was becoming more and more unbelievable, the queen was already furious, and Nanny Wan stamped her feet anxiously. In desperation, she shouted: "Your Highness, no matter how good Wei Shiqilang is, he...he...your Highness still has to get married?"

Zhao Feiran was even more confused. Whether he got married or not had nothing to do with Wei Shiqilang.

However, in this situation, he was a little afraid to speak. He looked around and saw that the Queen and Nanny Wan were staring at him, so he said vaguely,
"What's so good about getting married?"

With her last breath, Queen Zhou shouted, "Someone, get the fork out!"

Zhao Feiran: It's over, my mother is really angry. But, what exactly did I do wrong?

(End of this chapter)