Spring Drunk Chang'an

"Discuss it with me?" A trace of bitter sarcasm flashed in Queen Song's deep-set eyes. "Your father, he knew in his heart that the bastard who killed your grandfather was ordered by Prince Yan, but he was unwilling to punish Prince Yan. Feeling guilty, he offered your marriage as compensation!"

"What do you mean by 'your late marriage'? What did that old bastard say? Didn't he always listen to your father?"

"The Lord is old and strong, he is just afraid of you!!"

Queen Song's tone was extremely sarcastic.

The fact that the prince has a noble destiny and is not suitable for early marriage, like the saying "the noble should not move the inferior" and the royal ceremonies requiring the prince to leave the palace, are all just "excuses" for Emperor Yingwu to be partial.

"You are already twenty-two. In the past, when I said I wanted you to get married, he always made excuses. Now you take the initiative to propose it? Haha, it's really shameful!" She sneered.

Xiao Chuo lowered her eyes, staring at the carvings beside the couch, and did not answer.

Queen Song didn't need him to answer. She just grumbled a little. After she finished scolding him, she felt relieved and turned back to him, "Chuo'er, don't miss the benefits. You are not young anymore. You should get married."

"Xiao Xun is five years younger than you. There are twenty or thirty concubines and wives in the palace, and they all have children, but you are all alone. It doesn't make sense. Anyway, no matter what evidence we get, as long as we don't hold Xiao Xun responsible for harming you, your father can always pretend to be blind and let it go. Since that's the case, why not take advantage of this opportunity to get some benefits!"

"Your choice for the Crown Princess..."

"What do you think of your cousin Chinen? She's a good girl, virtuous, smart, and beautiful. She's understanding, gentle, and considerate. She's the perfect match for you."

Queen Song asked with great interest.

The perfect daughter-in-law in her mind is Song Zhinian. "In the past, your father was reluctant to have another queen in the Cheng'en Mansion. Whenever I mentioned Zhinian, he would always object. Now he is in the wrong and he must make amends."

"He should have mentioned Chinen's name, right?"

After being married for half their lives, even if they disliked each other or had a falling out, Empress Song still understood Emperor Yingwu.

"I did mention it, but..." Xiao Chuo responded, her eyes slightly lowered, her mood inexplicably complicated.

The Queen Mother mentioned that the future Crown Princess would be Song Zhinian~~

Song Zhinian~

Completely out of instinct, Xiao Chuo wanted to refuse, but why?

Just as my mother said, Song Zhinian is the eldest granddaughter of the Duke's Mansion and his cousin. She is of noble status and worthy of the position of Crown Princess. My mother likes her, and her temperament and personality are suitable. She should be the perfect candidate for Crown Princess, but, but...

For some reason, the pair of almond eyes in Xiao Chuo's mind, the lingering gentle and sincere smile, frequently appeared in front of him. That was!

"Liu Changan~"

He muttered to himself.

There was a hint of trance in his expression.

"Chuo'er, what did you say? What's An?"

Xiao Chuo's voice was too soft and Queen Song didn't hear clearly, so she leaned over to ask.

"No, nothing!" Xiao Chuo suddenly came back to his senses and quickly lowered his eyelids to hide the shock in his eyes. He clenched his fists and said quickly and vaguely: "Mother, Queen Mother, Crown Princess... Don't worry, let's solve the matter of my aunt first."

"How can I not be anxious?"

You are already twenty-two?

Queen Song frowned and wanted to object.

Xiao Chuo quickly interrupted him, "Liu Yu is still living under Qu Qiutong's control. That woman is vicious and hates the Song family to the core. Now, Liu Xiu has gone far away to provide disaster relief, and I have changed over time."

"If we delay too long, what if Liu Yu gets hurt? What about my aunt?"

"This..." Queen Song was stunned, then sighed in agreement, "Chuo'er, what you said makes sense. Then you can get busy. The selection will be held in the spring of next year anyway, so we can talk about it then."

"Maybe, think about it more. Is there any girl you like? You have to marry Chinen unless your mother forces you to!"

Queen Song said with a smile.

"I don't like anyone!" Xiao Chuo said quickly and coldly.

"Oh!" Queen Song was also used to her son's cold look and had no doubts at all. She thought to herself that it seemed that her son had no idea. Then, she should think of a way and discuss it with her mother. They should reach a tacit understanding not to arrange a marriage for Zhinian before next year's selection.

-

Empress Song did not really have a deep understanding of her biological son Xiao Chuo.

Not even as good as King Yan!

At the very least, when Prince Yan left the Imperial Garden and went to Qinglin Palace, the palace of Concubine Qu, the first thing he said to his biological mother was: "Mother, the prince has changed!"

"what?"

In front of the carved window, Concubine Qu, dressed in a gorgeous robe and with an intricate bun, looked charming and full of mature charm. She pinched her nails painted bright red, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, "Did you meet the prince?"

"How has he changed?"

"His temperament has changed, becoming more..." Prince Yan pinched his chin, pondered the words, and finally said, "He has become more human and more emotional."

"Emotions?" Concubine Qu murmured, then burst into laughter. She said in a delicate voice, "Xun'er, what you said is really confusing. The Crown Prince is always moody and unpredictable. How can you say he has no emotions?"

"Those who were whipped and beheaded by him, they refused to acknowledge it."

"Mother, you don't understand. The Crown Prince..." Prince Yan snorted and laughed, a look of contempt and fear flashing in his eyes. He paused and shook his head. "He's not as cold and cruel as he appears. On the contrary, he has a strange vulnerability. He doesn't look down on me as he appears, but rather cares for me inexplicably."

"I don't understand why. I just know that he's a little different now."

That look, that expression, that reaction to his words and actions, it was as if she really saw through him.

Prince Yan frowned, sighed slightly, and said sincerely: "Mother, we may have made a mistake in using the sacrificial ceremony to expel him from the palace."

"How could it be wrong?" Imperial Concubine Qu raised an eyebrow. Her thoughts were completely different from those of the Prince of Yan. "Xun'er, you're overthinking it. The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace lives away from home, while you, a married prince, are living in the palace, accompanying your father. You should understand what this means to the court officials and the people."

"Compared to the Crown Prince, your father values ​​you more."

"Those who live in the palace are the masters of the dynasty. After the Crown Prince left the palace, many princes and ministers turned to you. Even the princes and nobles in the royal family began to favor you."

"And Liu Xiu, ever since the Crown Prince moved into the Ningguo Mansion, he has been sending people to report his every move to you. We know everything clearly, so we can avoid his influence and plot against the Cheng'en Mansion. This is all beneficial."

"Don't get confused because of some inexplicable things and waste Qiutong's hard work."

Concubine Qu tapped her son's forehead lightly and smiled proudly.

She didn't know that her son's adoptive uncle, General Xu Chang, had just been denounced by the Crown Prince, and their plan had failed.

"What the Queen Mother said makes sense..."