The Way of the Consort

Chapter 142

With such a disturbing secret hidden, the more Ji Zhao looked at Princess Fuchen, the more distressed he felt, especially after Princess Fuchen came to his house specially to ask him if Pei Rong's affairs were progressing, which made him feel even worse and almost told the truth .

It is the beginning of May, the beginning of summer, the summer flowers are beginning to bloom, the yellow plums have not yet arrived, and the climate is cool. Before the summer completely enters, the half month is the most comfortable.Ji Zhao wondered if he should take Princess Fuchen to live on the mountain for a few days?It's good to relax, and besides, he heard from Zong Zhen that although Pei Rong didn't show up, Zong Mi still made a lot of small moves, and he wondered if there would be any accidents in Jinling City these days.

After all, both he and Zong Zhen knew about Pei Rong's usual tricks, and Ji Zhao had personally experienced it several times.

Those families they want to win over will have to be troubled by them if they have to do something, and it may even involve the Zhang family, and Ji Zhao doesn't want Princess Fuchen to be more troubled by this.

Princess Fuchen didn't want to go to Zhuangzi, she said: "Go to Zhuangzi again in June, when the lotus blooms, it's fine now." She really wasn't in the mood to go out to play recently, so Ji Zhao said to coax her out I want to go out to breathe.

Princess Fuchen is bothered by her own affairs these days. She was surprised that she hadn't cared about Ji Zhao for a long time, and felt a little sorry. She asked, "Zhuangzi, I really don't want to go, why don't we go to Dabaoen Temple for a few days?"

Go there and be quiet.

The Dabaoen Temple is also a success, as long as you leave Jinling City for a while, who knows if Pei Rong will go crazy?

Ji Zhao wanted to go to the Dabaoen Temple with his younger sister, but His Royal Highness was not happy. Ji Zhao watched Chen Xing pack his things while Zong Zhen was beside him sullenly.Ji Zhao said countless good things around him, but he still looked unhappy. Chen Xing and Bao Qing both started to snicker. His Highness the Crown Prince cast a cold look over him. Seriously: "Let's go outside and see if there is anything we forgot."

After speaking, they quickly slipped away.

Ji Zhao said, "She is also your sister after all, when it's so important."

"what should I do……"

"I'll be back in a few days."

His Royal Highness was still unhappy, Ji Zhao sat on his lap, pinched his face back and forth with both hands, made it into various shapes, and laughed happily "haha", Zong Zhen hugged his waist and was pinched by him Face, face was deformed, and said with difficulty: "You are not allowed to live in the same room with her, and you are not allowed to sleep across a screen."

"I know, I know!" Ji Zhao thought to himself, but he didn't know that he went to the mountain anyway.Since she was going out to relax with Princess Fuchen, she naturally had to talk with her. Chatting before going to bed is the most suitable, it must be convenient to sleep in the same room.

However, His Royal Highness said again: "I might go at night, in case I find out that you are sleeping in the same room with her—"

He glanced at Ji Zhao threateningly, and Ji Zhao stretched out his palm to cover his eyes, and said angrily, "That's too domineering!"

Zong Zhen smiled a little.

Early the next morning, Ji Zhao and Princess Fuchen went to the Dabaoen Temple together. Zong Zhen wanted to send the two of them there, but Ji Zhao sent them away on the grounds that he was afraid that Princess Fuchen would find out.Zongzhen wished that Fuchen would find out sooner, but unfortunately, his sister seemed to be the same as him, she didn't have any exquisite heart in feelings, and she was still a dead fish.

He was a little stronger in his life, but Fu Chen was still acting foolishly there.

Ji Zhao and Princess Fuchen went out of the city, Zong Zhen returned to the palace to deal with some government affairs, he returned to the East Palace at noon, and asked someone to call Zhou Liangdi over.

Zhou Liangdi came over timidly, bowed to him, but didn't dare to speak too much.

Zong Zhen told all the waiters in the room to retreat, Zhou Liangdi's legs became weak, and she almost sat down on the ground.She has heard about the matter of Meizhou, and she also knows that her uncle has been dismissed. When the matter of Meizhou is completely resolved, the successor passes away, and everything is handed over, he will come back. Fortunately, His Majesty, Your Highness is merciful, for the sake of the Empress Dowager On the road, the lives of the uncle's family were left behind, for which the whole family is extremely grateful.

At this time... It's difficult to send everyone out, has things changed?

Zhou Liangdi was so frightened that she stood there trembling, and everyone went out, Zong Zhen didn't "torture" her, and said straight to the point: "I asked Liangdi to come here today because I want to discuss something with you."

Zhou Liangdi was taken aback again, what was worthy of His Royal Highness using the word "discussion" with her? !

She didn't even dare to speak, and whispered: "Your Highness, just say it!"

Zongzhen pointed to the first seat on the right: "Sit down and talk..."

"Yes..." Zhou Liangdi sat down as she said, her palms were already covered with sweat.

"Di Liang has been in the East Palace for five or six years."

Zhou Liangdi immediately said: "If you go back to His Highness, it will be seven years."

"Yes..." Zong Zhen didn't remember clearly. At that time, the emperor's grandmother was seriously ill, and she was about to pass away from the world soon. Zhou Liangdi was given to him in front of the hospital bed. He didn't want it, but he had to. Zong Zhen said, "This For seven years, it is thanks to Zhou Liangdi to take care of trivial matters in the Eastern Palace."

The more Zhou Liangdi listened, the more disturbed she became, not knowing what His Highness was going to say, she hurriedly said: "I don't dare to be a concubine, thanks to Aunt Zhang and Miss Yuanxin for reminding me."

"Liangdi don't need to underestimate yourself, I know what you have done."

Zhou Liangdi was restless.

Zongzhen said again: "I don't want to play tricks with Liangdi, I just ask Liangdi a word, if there is a chance, would Liangdi want to leave the East Palace?"

Zhou Liangdi's eyes widened, as if her whole body had fallen into an ice cellar, she got up in a panic: "Your Highness, Your Highness—but what did I do wrong!" She thought His Highness wanted to kill her, after all, as Liangdi of the Eastern Palace, it would be a good idea to leave. mean disappear?Zhou Liangdi threw herself in front of Zongzhen and cried, "Your Highness! If the concubine made a mistake, I can correct it!"

Zong Zhen sighed: "You get up first..."

"The concubine can change, Your Highness!" Zhou Liangdi knelt on the ground and cried.

"That's not what I meant, you get up and talk."

Zhou Liangdi kept crying, crying until Zong Zhen had a headache, and said coldly: "If you continue crying, I will execute you immediately."

Zhou Liangdi was so frightened that she immediately covered her mouth with her hand, Zong Zhen frowned and pointed to the chair: "Sit down and listen to me..."

Zhou Liangdi struggled to get up, sat back on the chair, sobbed and looked at Zongzhen with tears, Zongzhen said: "You have been in the East Palace for seven years, and what happened between you and me during these seven years, you and I know very well. Asking if you want to leave the East Palace is not to kill you, let alone punish you, and it has nothing to do with the Zhou family, what I mean is literally."

Zhou Liangdi was stunned.

Zongzhen said again: "If you are willing to leave the East Palace, I will arrange for you to die of illness, but I will give you a new identity, send loyal servants to follow you for the rest of your life, and give you a house and money, enough for you to spend a few lifetimes, and even Help you get married. If your descendants ask me for something in the future, I will give you a token, and you can come to Jinling to find me at any time. There is only one request. From now on, you will have nothing to do with the Zhou family. You need to bring this secret underground , no one can tell, not even your children and husband."

Zhou Liangdi was stunned for a long time, and then asked timidly: "Your Highness, what if I don't want to "die of illness". "

"You can also continue to live in the Eastern Palace, but until my death, you will always be a Liang Di, and I will never see you again."

Zhou Liangdi understood what this meant. When she married, she saw the prince's appearance for the first time, and she had thought of being a young girl. At that time, she thought that when the prince recovered, with her beauty, family background and talent, she would also be loved by him. , she will have her own children, and she will be able to leave a name in history in the future.

Over the years, she has gradually turned her eyes away. Even if His Royal Highness is getting better, His Highness will not take a fancy to her. His Highness has no love for men and women at all.

She has already planned to spend her whole life in the palace, but sometimes she will be sad. She entered the palace at the age of 15 and is only 22 years old this year. She is still young and beautiful, and she also has the life she wants to have.

She was moved by the words of His Royal Highness, but if that was the case, she would have nothing to do with the Zhou family for the rest of her life. Even though her parents could not speak in the family, they only had her elder brother and younger brother in their eyes. Sending her to the palace was only for the sake of her elder brother and younger brother. They were also the parents who gave birth to her and raised her.

Seeing her bowing her head in thought, Zong Zhen said again: "I'll give you a month to think about it, and after you think it over, come to me anytime."

"Yes..." Zhou Liangdi stood up.

"Back off, this matter, you know and I know."

"Don't worry, Your Highness, I know the importance."

Zhou Liangdi bowed deeply, turned and left, before going out, she took a deep breath and returned to her original appearance.Her maid was waiting for her under the steps of the main hall, and when she saw her coming out, she immediately stepped forward to help her, without daring to ask more questions, and walked out with her.

When they walked out of the gate of the courtyard, they bumped into Cheng Shen who was about to go out, and Cheng Shen brought several young eunuchs behind him.

Seeing it was her, Cheng Shen smiled and came forward to salute: "Meet Liang Di..."

"Please get up..." Zhou Liangdi looked at the little eunuchs carrying food boxes in their hands, and asked curiously, "This is it?"

"Oh, the young one is ordered by His Highness to deliver some food to the son-in-law."

"Then go!"

Cheng Shen cupped his hands again, turned around and led a group of people away.

Zhou Liangdi didn't think too much at first, and continued to walk to her own room in the back hall with the maid, until there were fewer people around, her maid said: "Our Highness is really kind to the son-in-law. I heard that when the son-in-law was injured and lived in the East Palace, His Highness Feed the son-in-law with your own hands!"

Zhou Liangdi immediately reprimanded: "Shut up! The matter between His Highness and the son-in-law is also something you can arrange?!"

The palace maid was aggrieved and whispered: "The servant girl is not talking nonsense..."

Zhou Liangdi wanted to say a few more words to her, but a few thoughts suddenly came to her mind, the son-in-law often came to the East Palace, and she bumped into it once or twice, fearing that His Highness might misunderstand, she always avoided the son-in-law.But once, when it was raining heavily, she hid in the porch to avoid the rain, and saw His Highness coming back with the son-in-law, who was running around in the rain, stepping on the stagnant water on the ground to play, and His Highness ran after him holding an umbrella, and ran after him. Angry and anxious, she was frightened to death when she saw His Highness's face.

However, the son-in-law was not afraid at all, he turned his head and smiled at His Highness after stepping on the water, and then His Highness grabbed him and put him under the umbrella and refused to let him go. She saw this, and was afraid that His Highness would reprimand the son-in-law, get angry, and take advantage of them. I didn't realize that I quickly slipped out of the corridor.

Now that I think about it, would His Highness really reprimand the son-in-law?

Some things can't be thought about carefully, the more I think about it, the more confused my head becomes.

Zhou Liangdi cleared all these thoughts for the time being, and began to think seriously about what His Royal Highness said.

In the Dabaoen Temple, Ji Zhao didn't really sleep in the same room with Princess Fuchen.

He found that even in the temple, Princess Fuchen was still in a lack of interest and didn't talk much, always looking at the same place in a daze.Ji Zhao can understand that when the mood is extremely bad, he is really tired of talking, wishing that people all over the world will forget and lose sight of him.

He obediently accompanied Princess Fuchen, and if Princess Fuchen wanted to talk to him, he would respond positively.

After staying in the temple for two days, Zong Zhen came over. He didn't come alone, he also brought Ji Chongjin.

At that time, Ji Zhaozheng was planning to go to the back mountain with Princess Fuchen to see the little deer, and he was surprised to see the two of them. It wasn't Zongzhen who was surprised, but Ji Chongjin. How did these two get together?

Zongzhen said: "I went out of the palace today to see you on the mountain, so I also went to Bailu Academy to have a look. When I met Mr. Dalang, I brought Mr. Dalang along."

Ji Chongjin smiled at the two of them, Princess Fuchen looked away, Ji Chongjin was also a little uncomfortable, at this time Ji Zhao only had Zong Zhen in his eyes, and didn't find anything wrong, so he immediately greeted them happily: "It's just in time for you to come, I plan to Go to the back mountain with the princess to see deer, let's go together!"

Just as Ji Chongjin was about to agree, Zong Zhen said to Ji Zhao with a smile, "I have something important to tell you." He then turned to look at Princess Fuchen, "Fuchen, you are familiar with this mountain, Mr. Dalang is a guest, you take me with you." He went around to see the deer in the back mountain."

Princess Fuchen was not very happy, she glanced at Ji Zhao, and when Ji Zhao wanted to say something, Zong Zhen reached out to his back and patted him lightly, whether he should shut up or not.

Princess Fuchen had no choice but to say reluctantly: "Then let's go..."

She walked out of the door first, Ji Chongjin was a little bit back and forth, Zong Zhen smiled and said: "Go quickly..."

Seeing the appearance of the crown prince and Ji Zhao, Ji Chongjin's eyes have been glued to each other since they met. If there is anything they don't understand, and he doesn't want to stay to be an eyesore, he had to follow Princess Fuchen.

As soon as the two of them left, Ji Zhao turned around and said, "What do you want to do again! Why did you bring my elder brother here!"

"She must know the truth. Instead of being sad for that kind of beast, it's better to tell her to look more at the outstanding men around her."

Well, even though it was Kuaji Chongjin, Ji Zhao was still anxious: "What if the princess doesn't like it, and if my elder brother doesn't like it either, aren't you forcing me! That's how you forced me to be a son-in-law!"

Zong Zhen was startled, and after a while, he whispered: "I did it wrong."

Ji Zhao felt distressed again, and took his hand: "You are a prince, and you have been above ten thousand people since you were a child. It is too difficult for you to learn to speak from the standpoint of everyone, and I don't blame you. But you have to try your best. Think about others, especially the princess and my elder brother. They are still our relatives, and they have done nothing wrong. You can’t harm others just to let me get back together quickly, right? Maybe you really think that the princess It's a good match with my elder brother, you are kind, but people don't necessarily need it?"

Zong Zhen nodded sincerely, and promised: "I will not do this again in the future."

Ji Zhao stretched out his arms to hug him, put his face in his arms, and said softly, "If you know your mistakes and can correct them, you are a good boy!"

Zong Zhen smiled.

Ji Zhao said again: "This time, you've already brought my eldest brother, so that's fine, anyway, they are just looking at the little deer together. But this is not allowed in the future!"

"I know……"

Zong Zhen bowed his head and kissed him, reassuring.