Chapter 306: 306 Destruction of marriage
Chapter 306 Chapter 306 Broken Marriage
"ah!"
Yuan Zhitong's beauty turned pale as he fell down, and he exclaimed in shock.
Miss Lu Ba, who was walking in front of her, turned back subconsciously and saw Yuan Zhitong falling down above her.
Miss Lu Ba subconsciously turned slightly and grasped the handrail of the stairs tightly with one hand.
Yuan Zhitong let out a shrill scream and rolled down the stairs "dong dong dong". Her body was still pressed against Miss Lu Ba's shoes, and Miss Lu Ba also screamed.
The screams of the two men almost broke the roof.
The diners in the restaurant lobby also noticed this scene. Everyone who was talking, drinking, and eating stopped and looked towards the stairs. They just watched Yuan Zhitong fall to the floor of the lobby.
There was silence in the lobby.
At this moment, time seemed to freeze.
Miss Lu Ba stared blankly at Yuan Zhitong who fell to the floor. She was stunned for a moment before she came to her senses.
She endured the pain in her instep and walked down the last few stairs, shouting: "Sister Tong."
She hurriedly walked to Yuan Zhitong's side and helped her worriedly.
Yuan Zhitong's fall caused half of her delicate crescent bun to fall apart. Her hairpin was crooked, and her bangs and a few strands of hair hung messily on her forehead and ears. There was a swollen patch on her right forehead, which was red and swollen. , eyes closed tightly, seemingly unconscious.
Yuan Zhitong's maid also ran over and shouted in an almost hysterical voice: "Girl...girl, how are you?"
In the commotion, no one paid attention to Jingle, who was standing motionless on the stairs, and no one cast suspicious eyes on her.
Jingle grabbed the handrail of the stairs with one hand and quietly looked down at Yuan Zhitong below, slightly pursed her lips, and there was an invisible smile on her lips.
The lobby soon became noisy again. The diners were chatting in all directions. Some people sighed that the girl who fell down the stairs was too careless. Some people said that she would not be killed. Some people shouted at the shopkeeper and the waiter. , chaotic and noisy.
A waiter who was entertaining guests on the first floor also ran towards Yuan Zhitong and asked Miss Lu Ba incoherently: "How is this girl?"
"Is she okay? Do you want to call a doctor?"
"Come here, go get the doctor quickly..."
The noisy noise in the lobby also spread intermittently to the private seats on the second floor. Many of the private seats had their windows opened, and heads poked out from behind the windows, looking towards Yuan Zhitong who was lying on the ground.
Chu Qianchen and Gu Jue, who were in the private seats on the second floor, naturally heard something and ignored them. Only Jiang Yuan, who was kicked out of the private seats, looked down the stairs.
Chu Qianchen was happily eating the hot red bean and date cake. He took a sip of tea and a mouthful of cake. He felt that the red bean and date cake was even more delicious than usual, and he smiled with his eyes narrowed.
Gu Jue saw the deep pleasure and joy in the corners of her eyes and brows, and secretly sighed that his little girl was so easy to satisfy.
"Does it taste good?" Gu Jue picked up a handkerchief and wiped off the debris on her lips with gentle movements.
"It's delicious!" Chu Qianchen nodded.
She liked his doting tone and behavior, and moved her face towards him.
Her cherry lips are unstained and red, pink and plump, like ripe cherries, and it seems that sweet juice will flow out when you bite them.
Gu Jue's burning eyes fell on Chu Qianchen's lips.
Chu Qianchen suddenly felt as if the surroundings had become quiet, his heartbeat suddenly accelerated, beating like a drum, and he even forgot where he was now. Vaguely, she seemed to hear someone sighing lowly.
A few snowflakes floated in from the half-open window, and one of them happened to fall on her lips. The coolness of the snowflakes woke Chu Qianchen out of his daze.
Only then did she realize that snowflakes were floating in the sky outside at some point. The snowflakes were like catkins and fell in large tracts.
So cold!
Chu Qianchen felt cold just by looking at her, and subconsciously leaned against Gu Jue. Gu Jue simply hugged her on his lap and wrapped her around her with his body temperature.
Chu Qianchen was already used to sitting on him like this, nestling leisurely in his arms, leaning her back on his chest, coveting the warmth at this moment.
Chu Qianchen looked at the snowflakes flying in the sky with contentment and muttered: "I wonder if it will snow tomorrow."
"The snow should stop tonight." Gu Jue kissed her temples and whispered, his voice being blown away by the cold wind outside the window in the blink of an eye.
Just as Gu Jue said, the weather did clear up early the next morning.
Chu Qianchen stood up with a yawn at dawn, dressed up like a princess, and entered the palace on a red wheel chariot.
Today is the third princess' haircut ceremony, and it is also a big day. The queen attaches great importance to it and has been preparing for it for several months. All the wives of noble clans in the capital have received the message.
As Chu Qianchen walked along, every part of the palace was decorated. The ground from the palace gate to Fengluan Palace was covered with long brocade carpets, and the surroundings were hung with lanterns and colorful ribbons.
Chu Qianchen arrived at Fengluan Palace either early or late. Many people had already arrived in the main hall of Fengluan Palace, including Princess Li, Princess Shun and other royal concubines, as well as the eldest princesses such as Jingle, Ningde, Yunhe and others. Some princesses, county lords, etc. were sitting on both sides of the palace, all of them gorgeously dressed and jeweled.
The queen sitting on the phoenix throne was also in a good mood, her face was radiant, and her attitude towards Chu Qianchen was quite gentle, and she exchanged a few extra words of greetings.
Most of the female family members present still remember the empress’ embarrassment to Chu Qianchen the day after Gu Jue and Chu Qianchen’s wedding. The empress’s kind attitude today is completely different, making everyone understand why one moment and another moment. .
Chu Qianchen was elegant and graceful, as beautiful as the bright moon in the sky. His movements showed an elegant, noble and free and easy demeanor, just like the mountains and flowing water, and he seemed not to care about the queen's attitude.
Jingle sat opposite Chu Qianchen and smiled at her with a gentle and elegant expression.
Chu Qianchen smiled back at Jingle.
Under the guidance of the chamberlain, she sat down in her seat. King Chen had a distinguished status, and Chu Qianchen also had a high position. He sat next to Prince Li, his concubine, and his mother-in-law.
In the past ten days, Princess Li had invited Chu Qianchen to come over from time to time. She, the Crown Prince's mother-in-law, and Chu Qianchen had become quite familiar with each other.
As soon as Princess Li saw Chu Qianchen, she smiled kindly and lowered her voice and said, "Qianchen, that ointment of yours is really useful. My old man's old cold leg is completely healed now."
"Now he is so happy that he has to eat an extra bowl of rice for every meal. He takes the prince and the others to practice martial arts in the morning and evening..."
Princess Li was overjoyed when she talked about her old man. She looked at Chu Qianchen with a very affectionate look, and there was a sense of familiarity and intimacy between her words and deeds.
The high phoenix seat in front has a very good view. The queen sitting on it can take in the expressions and movements of everyone in the palace.
The queen couldn't hear what Chu Qianchen and Princess Li were saying at all. She stared blankly at their smiling faces, with a flash of doubt in her eyes.
Princess Li is not only a princess, but her natal family is equally noble. She was born in the Xinguo Duke's palace. She is quite prestigious among the noble female relatives of the clan. There are countless female relatives who want to cling to her.
With Chu Qianchen's background, how could Princess Li be so kind to her?
The answer is obvious, it must be Chu Qianchen who quietly pleased Princess Li.
The queen picked up the pastel tea cup, with a hint of sarcasm in her expression.
Below, Princess Rui, Ning De, Yun He and other eldest princesses also took the initiative to say hello to Chu Qianchen, all talking and laughing calmly.
"..." The queen paused just as she brought the teacup in her hand to her chest, and the doubts in her eyes became even more intense.
It was clear that when Chu Qianchen stayed at the Xiyuan Palace last month, he was very unfamiliar with the clan's concubine and the eldest princesses of the royal family. How could they become so familiar with each other in just over half a month? !
Could it be—
Is Gu Jue secretly liaising with the clan? !
The queen's pupils shrank slightly, and her heart also shrank suddenly.
If it were in the past when the prince's position was stable, the queen would only be uneasy because of this speculation and would immediately tell the emperor about it, but this is different from the past.
Now, as Gu Jue's power grows, the Queen becomes more and more determined to win over him. Yes, in this huge Qi Dynasty, Gu Jue is the only one who can support the prince against the emperor.
She must not push Gu Jue to side with Concubine Chu and the second prince!
Thinking that the second prince had accompanied the King of Andaman to Baiyun Temple yesterday, the queen's face darkened slightly, and she slowly raised the tea cup to block the strange look on her face.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Chu Qianchen next to Princess Li.
However, Princess Chen's surname is Chu, and she is the niece of Concubine Chu. This is a marriage granted by the emperor.
The queen's eyelashes drooped, and her dark eyes were bottomless.
Fengluan Palace was filled with laughter, and ladies-in-law arriving for banquets arrived from time to time.
The queen cheered up and greeted the women, and the atmosphere was harmonious.
For today's ceremony, Qintian Supervisor had calculated the auspicious time in advance. Eunuch Li saw that the auspicious time was coming, so he came to remind the queen.
So, a group of female relatives gathered around the queen and moved to Baohe Hall.
There were more than a hundred female guests attending today, and the atmosphere in the hall was particularly solemn.
As the chamberlain sang, "The Queen Mother has arrived," everyone stood up to greet the Queen Mother Yin.
When everyone finally arrived, a pleasant sound of sheng music sounded leisurely, and the hairpin ceremony officially began.
Today, the three princesses' haircut ceremony was hosted by the queen, with the prince and concubine as the guest of honor, the princess as the presenter, and Miss Lu Ba as the officiant.
"There is a daughter in my family who has grown up, and the third princess of this palace is having her hair hair ceremony today..."
With the Queen's solemn speech, the hairdressing ceremony officially opened, and all the female guests watching the ceremony were in awe.
After the Queen's speech, the sound of Sheng music filled the hall again. The third princess, An Le, wearing a pink dress, walked out of the middle of the east room. She added the first, second and third additions. The ceremony was carried out in an orderly manner with the cooperation of the guests, the praisers and the host.
Anle's clothes were also more gorgeous and dazzling than the last. In the end, she changed into a gorgeous and elegant true red dress with long sleeves. On her head, she wore a luxurious and exquisite Jiuzhai Four Phoenix Crown. The red gold hairpin crown was inlaid with countless gems. Pearls and emeralds, shining brightly.
The fifteen-year-old Anle was petite and pretty. When she was crowned and dressed, she seemed to have grown up a lot. When she was not smiling, she looked dignified. Under the guidance of the female officer, she walked slowly towards the queen in front of her step by step. close.
The queen looked at her daughter without blinking, thinking that her daughter would soon marry Nan Hao, her eyes were slightly moist. Even the joy of my daughter becoming an adult was somewhat diluted.
Queen Mother Yin also looked at An Le, who was wearing a bright red dress, but she thought of Chu Qianchen, and sighed softly to Chu Qianchen who was accompanying her: "Wait until August next year, Qianchen, you will also have hairpins..."
Queen Mother Yin thought in her mind that she had to find an opportunity to give her son a few words, lest the boy accidentally forget about her daughter-in-law and hairpin ceremony.
This daughter's haircut ceremony is like a wedding, which is a once-in-a-lifetime event and must be carefully prepared at least half a year in advance.
Thinking about it, Queen Mother Yin frowned slightly, feeling somewhat worried.
Under Gu Jue's control, Prince Chen's Mansion was as airtight as an iron barrel, but its shortcomings were also obvious. Except for Aunt Cai, there was no old man in the inner courtyard of the Prince's Mansion, and the daughter-in-law's hairpin ceremony in the coming year was unknown. What will happen?
Chu Qianchen didn't know what the Empress Dowager Yin was thinking. To her, the haircut ceremony was just a ceremony and didn't matter.
She leaned over with a smile and whispered to Queen Mother Yin: "Mother, the prince has promised to pick the words for me."
She smiled with her eyebrows arched, shining with anticipation.
The woman is hairdressed.
If the haircut ceremony is held before the marriage, the name is mostly chosen by the woman's elders; if it is done after the marriage, the name is mostly chosen by the husband.
This was reasonable and reasonable. However, when Queen Mother Yin and Aunt He heard it, they just wanted to sigh.
Why!
Isn’t the key point of haircut ceremony the word selection? !
Empress Dowager Yin was even more worried. As a mother-in-law, she should have presided over the wedding ceremony for her daughter-in-law, but she was trapped in the palace. Not only could she not be of any help, she was even a burden to her son and daughter-in-law, which would only be a drag. them…
"The Emperor has arrived!"
At this moment, the high-pitched voice of the servant came from outside the palace.
The emperor in a bright yellow dragon robe strode towards this side, and with him was the King of Andaman, the envoy of the Hao Kingdom.
There was a commotion in the palace, and all the female relatives bowed to the emperor.
The emperor sat on the high throne, and then the officials of the Ministry of Rites continued to sing the report. According to the process and the next step of the hairpin ceremony, the emperor, as a father, taught his daughter who was kneeling below.
Anle replied, "Although I am not sensitive, I dare not accept it." At this point, the most important aspects of the ceremony of haircut ceremony are over.
The official of the Ministry of Etiquette secretly breathed a sigh of relief. His errand here was basically completed, and the next step was...
The officials of the Ministry of Etiquette looked at the King of Andaman who was watching the ceremony, and saw Andaman walking to the center of the main hall with his head high and full of energy under the scorching eyes.
Everyone knew that the highlight of the day was coming next, and they couldn't help but look at An Le with a bit of sadness and sympathy in their eyes.
A princess is born noble, but at the same time she cannot help herself.
The queen pursed her lips, and her eyes became even more sour when she looked at her daughter Anle, her eyes slightly dazed.
"His Majesty the Emperor of Daqi," Andaman said loudly with a smile on his face and bowed to the emperor with the courtesy of the Hao Kingdom, "On behalf of the crown prince of our country, I formally propose to your majesty to marry the third princess of your country. The two countries will forever be friends."
Originally, according to etiquette, the emperor would announce the marriage in public, and then the emperor and Andaman would sign the marriage contract on behalf of the two countries, and the marriage would be considered settled.
However, after Andaman's voice fell, there was silence in the hall.
All the female family members felt their hearts pounding, vaguely guessing something.
The emperor stared at Andaman quietly, rubbing the **** of his right hand repeatedly unconsciously until the fingertips became a little red.
Andaman frowned and raised his head to meet the emperor's gaze. Just as he was about to speak again, he heard the emperor sigh lightly: "The Chinese New Year is coming soon. In my opinion, it is better to postpone the marriage until after the new year."
“…”
“…”
“…”
The whole hall was silent, the temperature seemed to drop suddenly, and the air seemed to freeze.
Not only Andaman, but also everyone else in the palace heard it and couldn't help but look at the queen beside the emperor.
The queen was also stunned and couldn't help but open her eyes. She had never heard the emperor talk about this before.
Everyone in the hall had different expressions, and they were all filled with surprise.
Andaman felt a surge of anger rushing to his forehead, and he almost exploded, but he held it back in the end.
He gritted his teeth and tried to calm down his emotions.
"What do you mean by this, Your Majesty?!" An unnatural smile appeared on Andaman's lips, and his voice was a little stiff. He spoke clearly and asked, "Could it be that Your Majesty wants to regret the engagement?"
His voice became colder and colder every word, almost like shards of ice falling out of his mouth, and he stabbed the emperor.
Regarding the marriage between the two countries, they have been discussing it intermittently for more than two months. You advance and I retreat, I advance and you retreat. Both parties have made a lot of concessions. Now they have basically agreed on it and all they have to do is sign the marriage contract. If the emperor regrets it at this time, it means regretting the marriage!
The emperor is the Son of Heaven, and he has a golden tongue. If he suddenly regrets his marriage, he will be criticized, and it is also a provocation to the Hao Kingdom.
All the female relatives held their breath, looking at the queen, Andaman, and the emperor.
In fact, most people still don't understand the situation, let alone why the emperor suddenly wants to delay the marriage.
The emperor was always concerned about face, and of course he would not regret his marriage in public. He smiled faintly and said perfunctorily: "King of Andaman County, in half a month it will be the most important festival for me in Daqi. Anle is my beloved daughter, and I am really reluctant to part with you. I want to keep her for a few more days.”
"I asked Qin Tianjian to calculate the days, and there are no suitable auspicious days in the zodiac recently."
Anyone can tell that the emperor's words are obviously excuses.
Andaman's face darkened visibly, showing even more obvious displeasure.
He stood tautly in the center of the palace, looking at the emperor without blinking, without giving in at all.
Where the two people's eyes met, the fire was radiating, and there was a sense of tension and depression, and it spread rapidly to the surroundings.
The emperor looked at Andaman, whose face was as dark as water, and his face became serious. He gripped the armrest of the throne tightly with one hand, almost crushing it.
This King of Andaman County actually dared to look down on him!
The emperor was very angry and thought to himself: If you are not of my race, your heart must be different.
These Hao people are double-dealing and trying to please everyone. They are really too greedy!
The emperor thought about it and felt that he could not be so passive and must let these Hao people know that his princess was not theirs to marry if they wanted.
The initiative for this marriage was in the hands of him, the Emperor of Da Qi. Now that Hao State was weaker than Da Qi, it was they who came to ask for marriage, instead of Da Qi who servilely begged for peace with Hao State.
The emperor made up his mind and his eyes became extremely sharp.
The hall fell into deathly silence again.
Those fateful women didn't even dare to express their feelings, and all of them secretly said something bad.
Only Chu Qianchen was calm and relaxed. While watching the show, he still had the time to feel the pulse of Queen Mother Yin, and pursed his lips with a satisfied smile. Very good, both the Queen Mother's complexion and pulse are much better than they were half a year ago.
When she gets back, she will tell the prince the good news.
Andaman suppressed the boiling anger in his chest, looked at the emperor with a heavy gaze, snorted coldly, and asked: "Does your Majesty know where Uhagal Tower is?"
The female relatives present took a breath.
They also knew that Wuhejialou was the eldest prince of the late Emperor Nanhao. He had come to the capital to celebrate the emperor's birthday before. After Nanhao's coup, the whereabouts of the former eldest prince seemed to be unknown.
No matter how much, these female family members in the inner house will not know.
The question is, what did the Hao envoy mean by questioning the emperor like this? ! The female relatives were so frightened that they did not dare to think about it.
"..." The emperor's eyes moved slightly, and a sarcastic sneer appeared on his lips.
He also guessed that these Hao people would not surrender and compromise easily, and as expected.
The emperor knew that Andaman came to the capital on the order of Emperor Hao, Wuhaduluo, with two missions. One was to marry Daqi, and the other was that Wuhaduluo suspected that Wuhagalou had been taken back by Gu Jue. In the capital, for this reason, Haoren contacted Gu Jue again and again.
Fortunately, the emperor never really trusted these Hao people and was always wary of any changes in their behavior. Sure enough, he discovered that Andaman was secretly showing favor to Gu Jue.
I'm afraid "Uha Jia Lou" is just a cover for Uha Duluo and Andaman.
Now, Andaman is threatening himself by mentioning Uhagalulu in public!
If he doesn't obey, will Andaman fall to Gu Jue on behalf of the Hao Kingdom? !
Thinking of this, the emperor's eyes became colder, scraping at Andaman's face like an ice knife.
(End of chapter)