The princess ran away again

Darkness envelops, and the screens are half closed.The candle flame swayed from side to side in the wind, as if it would be blown out in the next instant.Zhao Yang paced back and forth in the room, turned to Chu Zhao suddenly after a while, and asked in a low voice, "Why don't you let this princess reveal her identity?"

Chu Zhao raised his eyebrows with a bit of surprise on his face, but he didn't expect Zhaoyang to still remember this matter in his heart.She shook the numb hand that was supporting her chin, and sighed: "Is there any benefit in revealing your identity? Do you think those people will kneel down and beg for mercy when they see you? What if they say you are a fake? Luan killed you here, and then shirked it to other things, and washed away all your sins, what can you do?"

Ning Yuyao was startled, and snorted, "If that's the case, aren't they too daring?"

Chu Zhao smiled and replied: "Princess, you are in the palace all year round, how do you know the things outside? People who fear you are actually afraid of the high imperial power. Once they find a way to deal with it, why should they be afraid?" Yes? Besides, a strong dragon can't overwhelm a local snake, so in this small place, the local officials have the final say."

Ning Yuyao snorted heavily when she heard the words: "How do you know so many things?"

Chu Zhao blinked and said, "Chang'an Shifang is talking about storytellers. Do you think their stories are fabricated out of thin air? There are so many lessons learned in history books, so let's proceed with caution." There are two elder brothers who often talk about such infuriating things.

Ning Yuyao frowned, and asked again: "Then what do you think should be done?" Go back to Chang'an and tell your father?But it is very likely that as Chu Zhao said, they are all doing useless work.Is it possible that watching Ping'an County fall into a predicament, causing the people to starve to death on the street or die of illness?

Chu Zhao pondered for a moment and said: "It's better to pretend to be a businessman and communicate with people in Pingchen first. The breaking of the Yellow River not only affected Ping'an County, but also flooded a lot of fertile land in the surrounding counties. It's just that the disaster is not as good as Ping'an. The county is serious. The so-called prosperity of the county is just an illusion, and the price of rice keeps rising, and there must be someone behind it."

Ning Yuyao asked: "Do you think the merchants are driving up the price of grain?"

Chu Zhao nodded and shook his head again, seeing Ning Yuyao's eyes flickering with doubts, she explained: "The food stored in the Yicang is passive, and I'm afraid it's not just a thing in Ping'an County. There will be more or less. The county guard has not assisted Ping An so far, which shows that he is also a profiteer. The grain in the righteous warehouse is going to be sold. Naturally, it is difficult for the government to come forward in person, but they can sell it to merchants at a high price, and profit-heavy merchants will definitely Will seize the moment."

"It's disgusting!" Ning Yuyao clenched her fists tightly, her brows filled with anger, she asked, "What are you going to do?"

Every thought ran through my mind and was rejected.Chu Zhao thought about it for a while, but instead of answering Ning Yuyao's question directly, he said, "Isn't the Zhao family the richest man in Pingchen? They have become our support, and as for the local officials—" After a pause, she continued, "Let's pass the letter to the prince first." Things should not be left to him.The meaning of the emperor is very clear, her Chu family can only become the prince's help in the future.Thinking of this, a trace of bewilderment appeared in Chu Zhao's eyes.King Guang has ambitions. If she is on the prince's side, where will their friendship go in the end?

"You're distracted, what are you thinking?" Ning Yuyao's faint voice sounded.

A wry smile curled up on the corner of Chu Zhao's lips, he shook his head and said, "It's all right, let's go to bed early, and leave for the Zhao Mansion tomorrow."

It's not the first time to share the same bed. From the initial embarrassment, it has become a habit and nature now.It's just that tonight, I have so many thoughts, it's hard to fall asleep, and I flew back together with awkward emotions.There was silence in the dark room, and the sound of shallow breathing came from the ear, and the people beside him had already fallen into a sweet dream.Chu Zhao sighed softly, put his hands behind his head, and flashed scenes in his mind, from the beginning of the Baiyu Tower to the disaster in the forest, and then to such a trip—Princess Zhaoyang is still very different from what she imagined .Should I re-examine my relationship with her?The emperor will not let go, she and Ning Yuyao are bound to get married, but will they become a real "wife and wife"?I'm afraid that no one would think so, but the Son of Heaven really has a good plan. He would rather his daughter be wronged for a while, but also have a stable life for her.

Just as she was thinking about it, the sleeping person suddenly turned around, half of her body was pressed against her, and she didn't know what to murmur.Chu Zhao's eyelids trembled suddenly, and when she realized what she was doing, she had already put her hands on Ning Yuyao's body, pulling her into her arms.Under the faint moonlight, the black silk was scattered on Ruyingyu's shoulders, and the skirt of the clothes had been scattered a little due to the bad sleeping appearance, revealing a red shadow of the bellyband.Chu Zhao tucked the corner of the quilt until it covered Ning Yuyao's shoulders, and then heaved a sigh of relief.Concentrated, driving away the beautiful scenes in her mind, she murmured "Go to sleep" to herself, and slowly sank into sleep.

The dream was blurry and weird, and when he woke up, he was already covered in sweat, and his complexion was like a red glow in the sky, outlining a bright color.As soon as Chu Zhao lowered his eyes, he met Ning Yuyao's clear eyes. She didn't know when she woke up, but she was still nestled in his arms, without moving. "Are you awake?" After saying these two words, her clear eyes, like a jade pot of ice, turned into troubled eyes, like a piece of nephrite jade, which also touched people's heartstrings.

"Wake up." Chu Zhao replied in a low voice, the red glow on his face had disappeared, and the scene in the dream was completely forgotten.

Ning Yuyao's voice was a bit lazy: "Then get up."

Chu Zhao was still staring at her, and said lightly, "Hands are numb."

Ning Yuyao glanced at Chu Zhao, and spat, "It's what you deserve." She got up and tidied up her messy skirts, half kneeling on the quilt, looking at Chu Zhao's arm hanging by the side, picking it up and shaking it carelessly.She couldn't learn how to serve people. When she was young, she wanted to help her father and mother relieve fatigue and rub her shoulders, but in the end she was hugged aside. "Even my father and queen mother don't get this kind of treatment." Unconsciously, Ning Yuyao spoke out her thoughts.

"I'm terrified." He said these three words, but Chu Zhao still lazily stepped on the bed and remained motionless, squinting his eyes slightly, feeling extremely comfortable.

Ning Yuyao chuckled, with all kinds of tenderness in her eyes: "Chu Zhao, ah Chu Zhao, you are really presumptuous."

Chu Zhao was startled by her expression, his heart trembled, and an inexplicable heat flowed through his limbs and bones.She concealed her emotion and said with a smile: "Didn't the princess know about this a long time ago?"

"Hmph." Ning Yuyao snorted, and threw Chu Zhao's arm away. She kicked the quilt and urged, "It's time to get ready. Aren't you going to visit Zhao's house?"

The Zhao family is a well-known big family in Pingchen. Walking along the street, many shops have the word "Zhao" hanging on them. Chu Zhao knew where the Zhao family was when he inquired casually, and the man said kindly. : "The two young masters are going to attend the Pearl Banquet, right? Hurry up, it won't be too late."

Pearl dinner?Chu Zhao had never heard of this matter, and was about to inquire about it in detail, when the person on the way had already left quickly.The Zhao family is indeed the richest man in Pingchen with a lot of traffic, and the two lions in front of the gate are more majestic than others.Chu Zhao glanced at the people crowded outside the Zhao residence, feeling suspicious.After finally waiting for the person in front to enter the mansion, she hurriedly took a step forward, cupped her hands and said, "I want to visit—"

"Come with me." Before Chu Zhao could speak, an attendant in gray clothes interrupted her impatiently with a wave of his hand.Lead Chu Zhao and the others and the three or four people behind them to walk along the gravel road on the right.Passing through the winding corridors, bypassing the reception hall, he went directly to the backyard of the Zhao Mansion.There is an arched door on the white wall, and green vines climb the wall, swaying slightly in the wind, and the wooden plaque above is inscribed with two flamboyant characters of "Boyuan".

After entering the park, I found a square pond opened on the east side, with green lotus leaves dotted on the water surface, and patchwork rockeries falling in the middle of the water.Looking further to the west side, there is a garden, with exotic flowers and plants competing for beauty, and a half-moon-shaped open space is circled. At this time, there are small desks in it, and people are standing on one side.

The servant brought him here, then he bowed, pointed to the last two seats, and said in a low voice: "Young masters, please take your seat."

Chu Zhao and Ning Yuyao were a little unclear about the situation. At a glance, there were nearly a hundred people here, all of whom were young people at a weak age. Could it be that so many people wanted to visit Mr. Zhao?Or is it for the Pearl Banquet?Before Chu Zhao asked the people nearby to clarify their doubts, he heard a gong, and the servants of the Zhao family distributed a piece of paper with their names and hometowns written on it, and what they did for a living. Naturally, Chu Zhao answered in disorder.After a long while, he heard another shout: "The Pearl Banquet begins, the first test question is poetry." Chu Zhao turned the paper over, only to see that there was still a question written on the back.She herself was impatient to write poems, she put down the pen after scribbling a few words on the paper, propped her chin and turned her head to look at Ning Yuyao.

In about a quarter of an hour, the servants of the Zhao family came to collect the papers.There were murmurs and discussions in the quiet table.

Chu Zhao asked in a low voice, "Will you still be able to write poems after meeting Mr. Zhao?"

Ning Yuyao was also a little dazed, where had she ever seen such a situation?Is it necessary to "pass through" if you want to visit someone outside?She shook her head and whispered: "Do as the Romans do, follow their rules, or you won't be able to see the Zhao family."

Chu Zhao raised his eyebrows and said with a bright smile, "That's up to you. I don't want to write poetry, so I just scribble."