Looking at Tai'an from the full moon

Just a few days of peace passed, and soon the annual Qiqiao Festival was approaching.

"I heard that Jin Huan is in charge of the Qiqiao Festival this year. I wonder what this girl can come up with."

In previous years, the Empress was in charge of the Qiqiao Festival, because this was a time for her to show off her power and status, and she would not let it go. But for some reason, the Empress claimed to be ill this year and gave the task to Xiao Jinhuan, and told the Emperor that this would be a good opportunity for her to exercise. The Emperor did not care about this, so he let her do it.

Xiao Zuochen leaned back in his chair, watching Xiao Zuoqing standing in front of his desk practicing calligraphy and chatting with him.

"The Queen's mind is changeable and hard to guess. But she is willing to give up this opportunity to show off, which means she has more important things to do."

Xiao Zuoqing looked up at him.

"You look quite relaxed, aren't you afraid that she will do something bad?"

"Hasn't she done enough bad things?"

Xiao Zuochen's words made Xiao Zuoqing nod his head. The queen did a lot of bad things. Thinking of this, he seemed to think of something else.

"Is he trying to take advantage of this opportunity to mess with the fourth sister?"

Xiao Zuochen looked at him with confusion on his face.

"What's so good about Xiao Jinhuan?"

"..."

"If the queen wants to use her to do something, just tell her directly. With her brain, she won't know that she is being used anyway. But if the queen wants to mess with her, there should be no reason. There is no conflict of interest between them."

"Well, although I agree with your point of view, we can put it more tactfully."

"Ha ha..."

The two were laughing when Chu Yao walked in.

"I heard your laughter as soon as I entered the courtyard. Tell me, what interesting things are you talking about?"

"Haha, I guess you don't want to hear it. It's about the fourth princess."

When Chu Yao heard that it was about the Fourth Princess, he immediately shut up. He didn't want to see or hear anything about that woman again.

"Why did you suddenly come to Prince Yun's Mansion to practice calligraphy today? Can't you practice calligraphy in the study of Prince Qing's Mansion?"

Chu Yao put his hands on his hips and retorted.

Xiao Zuochen looked like he was enjoying the show, thinking that there was indeed something wrong with his elder brother.

Xiao Zuoqing just sighed and put down the pen in his hand.

"Don't mention it. Baili Qing has been acting strange lately. I don't know what's wrong with her."

"What's so strange about it?"

Xiao Zuochen was about to reach out to stop Chu Yao, but he still asked. Xiao Zuochen pursed his lips. This was his eldest brother's family affair, and outsiders shouldn't interfere. But Chu Yao was a curious person, and he always asked why.

Xiao Zuoqing had never encountered such a thing before, and he didn't know whether he could tell about it, so he just said it directly.

"I can't really explain it. In the past, we seemed to have a tacit understanding. We could understand each other with just a glance. But in the past month, I always felt that she seemed to have hidden meanings in her words and acted in a pretentious manner."

"What do you mean by pretending to be generous?"

Chu Yao didn't hear what Xiao Zuoqing was saying at all.

"For example, she recently suddenly asked me if I wanted to take a concubine, or if I didn't leave the house for a day, she would ask me if I wanted to go out and hang out with friends. It felt like she was testing something."

"Are you sure your princess is testing you, not trying to get you to stay away from her?"

"Hey? Don't talk nonsense!"

Xiao Zuochen reached out and slapped Chu Yao's butt hard, signaling him to stop talking nonsense. Chu Yao also covered his mouth with one hand and his butt with the other hand in embarrassment.

When Xiao Zuoqing heard Chu Yao say this, he was slightly stunned.

"Yeah, why didn't I think of that!"

After realizing this, Xiao Zuoqing quickly picked up the handkerchief beside him and wiped it a few times, then hurried back to the mansion. Seeing Prince Qing leave, Chu Yao blinked his innocent eyes and looked at Xiao Zuochen.

"Did I say something wrong?"

Xiao Zuochen gave a fake smile.

"No."

"Oh, by the way! I heard that the Qiqiao Festival is in two days. I have never celebrated the Qiqiao Festival in Tai'an City. You must take me around when the time comes."

Chu Yao really believed what Xiao Zuochen said, and thought he was right. Xiao Zuochen smiled bitterly.

"On the day of the Qiqiao Festival, all officials need to enter the palace first to have dinner with the emperor and empress. I can only take you around after you leave the palace at night."

"Wait until night? Then all the stalls will be closed and there will be nothing left."

"Don't worry, that won't happen. On the day of Qiqiao Festival, many shops will be open until midnight, because officials don't need to attend the morning court the next day, so everyone will go out and play until very late."

"Really? Then will you take me with you when you enter the palace?"

"I can't bring you into the palace. There are palace regulations that all officials can only bring their wives and children to the palace for banquets."

"Okay, but why do we have to go to the palace for the Qiqiao Festival? Isn't the Qiqiao Festival a festival for women to look forward to finding their marriage?"

"Yes, that's why all officials were allowed to bring their children to the palace for the banquet!"

"Oh~ The officials are matchmaking together!"

Chu Yao suddenly realized.

"..."

"Then I really can't get involved!"

the other side--

After Xiao Zuoqing returned to Prince Qing's Mansion, he found Baili Qing who was reading a book. She was leaning against the bed at this time.

"Qing'er, I have something to tell you."

Baili Qing was a little surprised to see him. She knew that Xiao Zuoqing had gone to Prince Yun's Mansion and thought he would not be back until the evening.

"What is the matter, my lord?"

"I have thought about the questions you asked recently. Are you dissatisfied with me? So you want to push me away."

Baili Qing didn't expect that Xiao Zuoqing would suddenly come back home and ask her this question. She didn't know what to say for a moment.

Seeing that she was stunned, Xiao Zuoqing couldn't help but soften his tone.

"If you have any thoughts about me, you can just tell me. We have been married for many years, so we won't become strangers, right?"

Baili Qing opened her mouth and wanted to mention Yunyou, but just as the words came to her lips, she remembered that Yun Wang's people had not come to Qing Wang's mansion in the past month. And Qing Wang had never seen that woman in the past month. Maybe Qing Wang had no feelings for her at all. She mentioned it at this time, but it seemed that she was asking for trouble. It must be because she often tested Qing Wang in the past month, which made him suspicious of her.

So Baili Qing shook her head gently, stood up and bowed to Xiao Zuoqing.

"I have been worrying too much for the past month and have caused trouble to His Majesty. It is my fault."

As soon as Baili Qing started to salute, Xiao Zuoqing immediately supported her.

"It's okay. You and I are husband and wife. When you encounter problems, communicate more and don't let your imagination run wild. I know it's not easy for a woman to survive in the backyard. Just relax. What I promised you will not change."

Baili Qing knew that Xiao Zuoqing was talking about taking a concubine, so she nodded and felt a little comforted.