Don't be a salted fish, the daily life of the concubine in the palace

Shen Wei put down the album in her hand and asked Cai Lian, "Has she done anything unusual in the palace these past two days?"

Cai Lian replied, "Princess Zhenmin has been living in the palace and rarely goes out. She often asks the old maids in the palace about Princess Zhaoyang's deeds. In addition, Concubine Shu sent her a box of Wuyi rock tea, which Princess Zhenmin accepted but put aside and did not drink."

Shen Wei seemed to be thinking about something, and after a while she said, "Please ask her to come in."

After a while, brisk footsteps were heard outside the study. Princess Donglin, wearing a light yellow autumn dress, landed in Shen Wei's study like a fluttering butterfly.

Princess Donglin smiled and said in an innocent and lively tone: "I am fine, Concubine Chen. The Shu brocade and satin you sent me today are very beautiful. Zhenmin came here to thank you."

Shen Wei said: "As long as the princess likes it."

Princess Donglin sat down and glanced curiously at the album in Shen Wei's hand.

Shen Wei said, "I am selecting a husband for the princess. The princess can choose by herself. If you like a young man, I can ask the emperor to grant you a marriage."

Cai Lian came over and presented Princess Donglin with a portrait album of the sons of the Ministry of Rites and several dukes.

Princess Donglin did not answer. She looked at Shen Wei eagerly with her beautiful eyes: "I dare not hide it from Concubine Chen, Zhenmin already has someone in her heart."

Shen Wei was slightly surprised: "Which young man does the princess like?"

Princess Donglin blushed and shyly clutched the embroidered handkerchief in her hand: "His name is Yan Yunting, and he is an official in the Ministry of Rites. When I first entered Yanjing City, I saw him from afar in the crowd. What a handsome young man, I will marry him!"

Shen Wei: ...

It was love at first sight.

Look at Princess Donglin's shy and timid appearance, she looks very much like the love-loving Nao Zhaoyang back then.

Shen Wei reminded: "Minister Yan is married and has a wife at home."

Princess Donglin said confidently, "So what! I am willing to marry him, even as his co-wife! Lady Concubine Chen, please be kind and help me this time."

Shen Wei looked deeply at the foreign princess in front of her and suddenly said, "During the two days you were in the palace, you found out a lot about Princess Zhaoyang's past."

Princess Donglin suffered a cardiac arrest.

She twisted the embroidered handkerchief in her hand and lowered her head silently. Under Shen Wei's scrutiny, Princess Donglin knew that she was seen through.

As soon as she arrived in Yanjing City, she found out that she looked similar to Princess Zhaoyang.

So she studied hard, imitating Princess Zhaoyang's makeup, clothing, walking posture, expression and tone of voice. Originally, she and Zhaoyang were only 40% or 50% alike, but after studying hard, they were at least 70% or 80% similar.

She was a princess of a weak country, with nothing, and was a gift from the Donglin Kingdom to Daqing. She had no one to lean on, so she could only plan for her future.

After a long while, Princess Donglin heard Shen Wei say, "I will discuss the matter between you and Yan Yunting with the emperor, and he will make the decision."

Princess Donglin secretly breathed a sigh of relief and revealed an innocent and lovely smile.

Choosing Yan Yunting as her husband was the best result after comprehensive consideration.

Yan Yunting is an official of the Ministry of Rites, and officials of the Ministry of Rites are rarely involved in state affairs. If she marries Yan Yunting, Emperor Qing's suspicion of her will be greatly reduced.

In addition, Yan Yunting seemed to have some feelings for her. If a man fell in love with her, her life after marriage would be easier.

...

After dark, Li Yuanjing and Shen Wei finished their dinner and took a walk in the yard full of autumn chrysanthemums to digest the food.

The autumn moon hangs high in the sky, and the yard is filled with the fragrance of chrysanthemums.

Shen Wei told Li Yuanjing that Princess Zhaoyang had fallen in love with Yan Yunting. Li Yuanjing was slightly surprised: "This Princess Donglin not only looks like Zhaoyang, but also has the same vision in choosing a husband?"

The fact that Princess Zhaoyang pursued Yan Yunting was known to everyone in the capital.

Unexpectedly, the same thing happened again.

Shen Wei held the hot soup bottle in her hand and said to Li Yuanjing, "Your Majesty, Minister Yan already has a wife. The officials in the Ministry of Rites pay attention to etiquette and demoted the legitimate wife to a concubine. The legitimate wife is really wronged."

Li Yuanjing thought for a moment and said, "I will summon Yan Yunting to the palace tomorrow."

After the morning court session the next day, Yan Yunting was called to Chang'an Palace. After learning that Princess Donglin fell in love with him at first sight and would not marry anyone else but him, Yan Yunting was stunned on the spot.

Back then, Zhaoyang also fell in love with him at first sight and would not marry anyone else but him. Could it be that God could not bear to see him suffer from lovesickness, so he sent another "Zhaoyang" to be with him?

Yan Yunting's heart was beating violently. He wanted to marry Princess Donglin home, but Tan Tairou was already at home.

Rou'er has deep feelings for him. If Yan Yunting marries Princess Donglin, Tan Tairou will have to lower her position. Yan Yunting can't bear it, as his Rou'er has suffered a lot.

One is a replica of the beautiful and lively Princess Zhaoyang, and the other is a gentle and virtuous wife. Yan Yunting's mind was in a mess, and he didn't know how to make a choice.

Li Yuanjing drank the chrysanthemum and wolfberry tea brought by Shen Wei and said with a smile: "I have discussed with the imperial concubine that we can be a co-wife. Princess Donglin and your wife have equal status, so neither of us will be wronged."

Yan Yunting's eyes lit up.

He knelt down to express his gratitude: "Your Majesty, I will obey your orders!"

When leaving Chang'an Palace, Yan Yunting's steps were light and he was in a very good mood. Marrying Princess Donglin seemed to fulfill his long-cherished dream and make up for the regrets between him and Princess Zhaoyang.

The cool autumn breeze blew his red official robe as Yan Yunting walked along the palace road with big strides.

When they reached the bend, a lively and gentle voice rang out: "Lord Yan!"

Yan Yunting paused and turned around.

Seeing Princess Donglin at the other end of the palace road, she was as pretty as a flower, with eyes and eyebrows that reminded me of an old friend.

Princess Donglin ran over happily and stood in front of Yan Yunting. She smiled at Yan Yunting and handed him a purse: "This is a purse made by Zhenmin herself. Please keep it safe, Lord Yan. Don't lose it!"

Yan Yunting took the green purse in a daze.

The purse was crudely made, with messy stitching, and the mandarin ducks embroidered on it looked like ducks.

Princess Zhaoyang also handed him a purse and embroidered handkerchief, forcing him to keep it well.

Back then, Yan Yunting was so disgusted that he threw Princess Zhaoyang's purse into the lake. Now Yan Yunting reached out and took over the regrets of many years: "Your Majesty, I will definitely keep the princess' purse safe."

Princess Donglin smiled brightly and walked away with her skirt hemmed. Her goose yellow sleeves fluttered like a peony blooming in spring.

Yan Yunting clenched the purse in his hand, his heart was beating fast and he couldn't forget it for a long time.

Princess Donglin returned to her bed. As soon as the palace gates were closed, the innocence and liveliness on her face instantly disappeared, and her eyes became as cold as a pond, without any ripples.

Calm and composed.

"Princess, please have lunch first." The maid stepped forward, "Noble Concubine Chen has instructed me to continue telling you about Princess Zhaoyang's past."

Princess Donglin nodded: "Thank you, Noble Concubine Chen."

...

Soon, Li Yuanjing issued an imperial decree to betroth Princess Donglin to the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites as his concubine.

Send the bride from the palace.

Shen Wei came to the palace where Princess Donglin was staying temporarily and gave her a precious jewel hairpin. Princess Donglin liked it very much and thanked her repeatedly.

The room was quiet and the palace maids left the hall.

Shen Wei sat down and said slowly, "I feel like we've known each other for a long time. When you get married in three days, I will give you two old maids from the palace. They are experienced and familiar with the etiquette of Daqing. More importantly, they have served Princess Zhaoyang before."

Princess Donglin clutched the jewel hairpin in her hand, her beautiful eyes frozen with a smile.

Smart people don't need to beat around the bush, they can always understand each other's ideas quickly. Princess Donglin is a drifting wood in the water, without anyone to rely on, and urgently needs to grab a backer to have a place in a foreign country. Shen Wei is willing to protect her, provided that Princess Donglin is willing to surrender.

Princess Donglin asked, "I wonder what you need Zhenmin to do?"