Wearing a book, hooking him up

After seeing her brother off, Su Jingyao sat back on the phoenix chariot with a thoughtful look on her face.

In such a short time, she managed to win the brother's heart. That's quite impressive.

"Miaoyun, go to the Qianqing Palace." Su Jingyao ordered in a cold tone.

Soon, Su Jingyao's phoenix chariot arrived at the Qianqing Palace.

Along the way, the palace maids and eunuchs gave way to her, and she arrived at the imperial study unhindered.

Jun Zechen was concentrating on dealing with memorials when he felt a slight movement and subconsciously looked up.

When he saw it was her, a look of surprise appeared on his face, and the red pen in his hand stopped temporarily.

"Yaoyao, why are you here at this hour?"

Su Jingyao did not answer immediately, but waved her hand gently, signaling everyone to leave.

Then she walked to Jun Zechen.

"Is your majesty busy?"

"It's okay, just some daily memorials."

Seeing that he was not too busy, Su Jingyao lifted her skirt slightly and took the initiative to sit in his arms.

Jun Zecheng stretched out his arms and hugged her slender waist.

She leaned her head on his shoulder, making it difficult for Jun Zechen to see her expression for a moment.

Su Jingyao's tentative voice came slowly from Jun Zechen's shoulder, like a wisp of smoke, appearing and disappearing.

"Your Majesty, are you familiar with Princess Qingping?"

When Jun Zechen heard this question, his eyes flickered unconsciously like a candle flame blown by the wind.

"Of course I'm not familiar with you. Why do you ask me that, Yaoyao?"

Jun Zechen's voice was slightly tense when he answered.

Although I knew Qi Wanyin when I was a child, we were not very familiar with each other.

"Last time my mother came to Kunning Palace, she said she wanted to hold a Qushui banquet for my brother and invite the young men and women in the capital to recite poems and write couplets. My brother is twenty-four years old, and it's time for him to get married and have children."

Su Jingyao's voice was soft and gentle, but it carried a hint of something else.

"If I want to arrange a marriage between my brother and Princess Qingping, what do you think, Your Majesty?"

Su Jingyao's hands tapped his chest carelessly, and each tap seemed to hit Jun Zechen's heart.

"Princess Qingping is my cousin, but she did not grow up in the Qi family and her life experience is rather rough. Let her decide her marriage herself."

Jun Zechen frowned, his expression became a little serious, and he spoke slowly.

Su Jingyao's fingers, which were tapping casually, suddenly stopped, as if they were frozen.

Is Jun Zechen rejecting her?

Is this unfamiliar?

In this era, women's marriages were mostly arranged by their parents and matchmakers.

Although the Qi family does not recognize the identity of Princess Qingping, since the Queen Mother has raised her for a period of time, she is also a member of the Qi family.

Did Jun Zechen promise her freedom of marriage before?

Although Su Jingyao did not say that Qi Wanyin must marry her brother, Jun Zechen's attitude made her a little upset.

"Your Majesty may not be familiar with Princess Qingping, but you are certainly more familiar with her than I am. What do you think of Princess Qingping's character?"

Su Jingyao had a seemingly gentle smile on her face, but the smile did not reach her eyes.

What she just heard from her brother was all praise for Princess Qingping. She wanted to see what kind of praise Jun Zechen could come up with.

Upon hearing this, Jun Zechen frowned slightly and fell into deep thought, as if he was really thinking seriously.

He did not notice the unusual tone of the woman in his arms.

"Qi Wanyin's identity is complicated. The Qi family does not recognize this granddaughter. Her mother was asked by her father, my uncle, to take care of her, so she lived in the palace for a few years."

Jun Zechen spoke slowly, his eyes drifting away, as if he was lost in memories.

"Perhaps she is very sensible because she has been able to read people's expressions since she was young. I heard from my mother that she once studied with the princesses and was more serious than any of them."

An expression of admiration emerged on Jun Zechen's face.

"At first, the Queen Mother disliked her, but later she gradually came to like her and often praised her for being polite, chaste and filial."

"She is also a person who doesn't care about fame and fortune. She can take it and let it go..."

Jun Zechen became more and more absorbed in his conversation, and didn't notice at all that the look in Su Jingyao's eyes was growing darker.

Unfamiliar?

Su Jingyao snorted in her heart. She was almost unable to stop praising him.

Su Jingyao didn't want to listen anymore and got up from Jun Zechen's legs.

The movement was so swift that Jun Zechen was caught off guard.

Jun Zechen looked puzzled and puzzled: "Yaoyao?"

Su Jingyao still had a faint smile on her face, and did not show any dissatisfaction.

"Mother will hold a Qushui Banquet in half a month. Many young men and young ladies in the capital will attend."

"I am also going to invite Princess Qingping. As for who Princess Qingping takes a fancy to, that is up to her."

"Through your majesty's oral description, I also understand the character of Princess Qingping. On the day of the Qushui Banquet, I will carefully choose a husband for Princess Qingping. Your majesty, rest assured."

"Well, she might be more fragile and sensitive inside. Yaoyao should let her make her own choice as much as possible."

Jun Zechen's eyes were filled with concern.

"Yes, I am tired. I will go back to Kunning Palace first."

"Okay, I'll come to Kunning Palace to have lunch with you later."

Su Jingyao still had a seemingly gentle smile on her face and nodded slightly.

However, the moment she turned around, her lips were straightened and there was coldness in her eyes.

Could it be that Jun Zechen thought that she would force the Princess Qingping?

Since her brother likes her, if she forces the marriage between Princess Qingping and her brother, does Jun Zechen intend to turn against her?

The brother praised the Princess Qingping for her coldness and nobleness, while Jun Zechen praised her for her sensibleness and indifference.

Su Jingyao really wanted to get to know this woman better.

But does Jun Zechen know what kind of personality Su Jingyao is?

If this woman had any connection with him, no matter who Princess Qingping liked or disliked, she would marry her off without hesitation.

Su Jingyao's eyes were unusually firm, even a little fierce.

Su Jingyao doesn't care about other people's lives.

She only cares about her own interests and feelings.

She never thought of herself as a good person.

Jun Zechen sat on the dragon throne, his eyes following her back, his brows slightly furrowed.

I always feel like there's something wrong with her.

Then he stood up, took a few quick steps, and blocked her way.

Su Jingyao was caught off guard and was startled by his sudden action.

Her delicate body trembled, and she almost didn't have time to retract the expression on her face.

"Unhappy? Or jealous?"

Su Jingyao pursed her lips tightly, remained silent, and lowered her eyes, avoiding his burning gaze.

Seeing this, Jun Zechen sighed helplessly.

"Qi Wanyin and I have never had anything going on. She was only fourteen years old when she left the capital. Although she wanted to marry me, I rejected her at that time. It is even more impossible now."

Jun Zechen's tone was sincere and firm.

Qi Wanyin only admired him as a brother because she was ostracized when she was a child.

Qi Wanyin was young at that time, and Jun Zechen didn’t take it seriously at first, and he would not take it to heart now.

He thought for a moment and decided to speak it out, because he was worried that this woman might hear some gossip from somewhere else, and then he would not be able to comfort her.

"I didn't tell Yaoyao because I was afraid you would think too much."

Jun Zechen's eyes were full of tenderness.

"Your Majesty, do you know that your guilty look makes me think more?"

Su Jingyao finally couldn't help but speak, with a hint of anger in her tone.

Jun Zechen quickly pulled the person back, not with much force, but with a gentleness that could not be refused.

"Please stay with me in the Palace of Heavenly Purity. You can ask me any questions you have. Don't keep them to yourself."

His voice was low and gentle, as if it could melt people's hearts.

-

Half a month later, Qushui Banquet.

Today, the Su Mansion has been promoted to a Duke's Mansion.

The Qushui Banquet hosted by Mrs. Rongguo today was extremely lively.

Almost all the unmarried young men and women in the capital came.

Whether they were legitimate daughters of aristocratic families or concubines' daughters of lower status, they were all invited.

This time, Mrs. Rong held the Qushui Banquet in the Peony Garden of the Duke's Mansion.

The various colors of peonies in the garden are competing with each other in beauty, creating a scene of colorful flowers.

The young men and ladies sat at separate tables, with pavilions and towers scattered around them. The breeze brought bursts of flower fragrance.

There will be activities such as guessing riddles, appreciating flowers, and writing poems later.

Many young ladies in the capital city attend various banquets all year round, and they all have their own small groups that they are familiar with.

Some sat gracefully on exquisite embroidered stools with sweet smiles, while others stood slenderly, holding round fans with graceful postures, enjoying the flowers and chatting in soft voices.

Princess Qingping, Qi Wanyin, is only twenty years old. She grew up in the palace until she was fourteen.

Although she knew some young ladies in the capital, the young ladies who came to attend the Qushui Banquet today were all younger than her, so they did not know each other.

At this moment, she was wearing a lake blue long dress with a waistline that fluttered in the wind. A white ribbon was tied around her waist, making her figure more graceful.

She stood quietly by the pond in the peony garden, admiring the koi swimming in the pond with a focused gaze.

There was no trace of emotion on her cold face, and she seemed to be completely unconcerned about the hustle and bustle around her, like an orchid in a valley, isolated from the world.

Su Jingxuan saw her standing there alone from afar and walked over.

"Greetings to the Princess of Qingping County. Are you still used to the banquets in the capital?"

Su Jingxuan spoke in a gentle tone, with a smile as warm as a spring breeze on his face, and spoke in a soft voice.

When Qi Wanyin heard the voice, she turned around and saw that it was Su Jingxuan. A faint smile instantly appeared in her eyes.

"Mr. Su, there's no need to be so polite. I haven't attended such a banquet for a long time, so I'm a little uncomfortable with it, but now that I'm back, I'll try my best to overcome it."

There was a faint smile on her face, warm but not hot.

Mrs. Rongguo saw her son standing next to Princess Qingping from afar, frowned slightly, and sighed deeply.

Although Princess Qingping had a high status, she was after all a concubine of the Qi family and had lived in a remote place like Canglang for six or seven years. She knew nothing about his character and personality.

Thinking of this, a look of deep worry appeared on Mrs. Rongguo's face.

The Qushui Banquet was halfway through when Su Jingyao arrived amid everyone's anticipation.

Xilu's loud voice instantly rang out, echoing throughout the entire banquet: "The Queen has arrived——"

Everyone at the banquet stopped talking, and the young men and women who were reciting poems and painting also stopped what they were doing.

"See the Queen, she is a thousand years old, a thousand years old."

Everyone shouted in unison, their voices uniform and they bowed their heads respectfully.

"Flat body."

Su Jingyao raised her hand slightly, with an elegant smile on her face, and spoke in a gentle voice.

"Everyone continue, don't mind me."

Su Jingyao said this with a smile, which reduced the sense of distance and made people feel more intimate.

As soon as she arrived, a group of noble ladies instantly surrounded her, and they all spoke flattering words to her.

Upon seeing this, Mrs. Rongguo quickly sent them away and walked quickly to Su Jingyao.

Then he took her to a quiet place.

"Yaoyao, that person over there is the Princess of Qingping County. Since she came, your brother has never left her side."

As Mrs. Rongguo spoke, she shook her head helplessly, her eyes revealing her helplessness towards her son.

Su Jingyao looked in the direction her mother pointed, and coincidentally, Princess Qingping also looked up.

Her eyes were as clear as water, and then she saluted Su Jingyao with just the right smile on her face, cool and moving yet dignified.

Su Jingyao also looked at her with a smile.

She is indeed a beautiful woman with outstanding temperament.

She has a graceful figure and a pretty face, and her every frown and smile reveals the demeanor of a lady from a noble family.

When Su Jingxuan saw his sister, a hint of embarrassment instantly appeared on his face.

Then he brought Princess Qingping over.

Su Jingyao smiled and said, "The Princess of Qingping County is indeed a beauty."

"The Queen is truly a beauty, even more eye-catching than the peonies in this garden."

The voice of Princess Qingping was gentle, like a breeze blowing across the strings of a musical instrument.

She really had not expected that the queen would be so beautiful, her face seemed like a masterpiece carefully crafted by God.

"Princess Qingping is very good at talking, she is beautiful and sweet-spoken. Brother, I feel that I have a good relationship with Princess Qingping today, and I want to chat with her for a while longer."

Su Jingxuan nodded hurriedly, "Then my mother and I will go and entertain the other guests first."

After saying this, he reluctantly moved his gaze away from Princess Qingping, and turned away with Madam Rongguo.

After Su Jingxuan and Mrs. Rongguo left, Su Jingyao asked softly, "Does the county lady have someone she likes?"

Upon hearing this, Princess Qingping lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes covering her emotions like a fan.

"Have."

Her voice was as thin as a mosquito, and then she looked at Su Jingxuan's departing back with a slightly shy look in her eyes.

Su Jingyao saw her expression and understood, then teased, "My brother?"

Princess Qingping nodded slightly, her movements gentle and shy.

Then these two people are in love with each other.

but......

Su Jingyao didn't know why, but she always felt something strange in her heart.

A strange feeling lingered in her heart, making her frown slightly.

She asked tentatively, "If Princess Qingping and my brother love each other, how about I ask His Majesty to decree a marriage between you two?"

"Qingping has no family in the capital, so he will obey the Queen's wishes in everything."