Chapter 75 – The Taste of the Small Desserts

However, the new Emperor suddenly give troubles on Cui Xingzhou, which was beyond everyone’s expectations.

 

It’s not right to call the fiancee of a meritorious official into the Palace. For a moment, the officials were waiting for Cui Xingzhou to deal with the difficulties of the New Emperor.

 

Cui Xingzhou’s eyebrows and eyes became cold. He was about to open his mouth, but the Empress who sat on the back seat and ate her pork knuckles smiled, “Your Majesty, don’t make fun of me. How can I be a teacher? Besides, Lady Liu has suffered a lot on her journey here. She should enjoy the Capital after arriving. If she were to enter the Palace and stick to the rules, she would be even more tired. But I always love the lively atmosphere and like to invite ladies to the Palace for tea parties. Lady Liu can learn more from them while they are together!”

 

Empress Shi was straightforward. She said with a smile and put a duck leg on the Emperor’s plate, which relaxed the atmosphere at once as if The Emperor was really joking with the Empress.

 

Liu Dan was so angry at the sudden saying that he forced Miantang to enter the Palace. In fact, as soon as he uttered his words, he had already faintly regretted when he saw Miantang’s sudden cold expression.

 

He embarrasses her in front of others like this and according to her temper, she will definitely be angry. He never could bear her to be angry before…

 

Fortunately, his careless Empress stopped him in time, which stabilized the precarious relationship between the Monarch and his subjects.

 

What’s more, as the Queen said, when the Queen holds a Palace tea party, he can declare Miantang to enter the Palace, and then he will naturally have the opportunity to talk to her.

 

An engagement is just a matter of marriage. As long as they have not yet become legalised, then it is not a saber rattling. He just hope Miantang will not be angry with him anymore. He now has the ability to keep her beside him.

 

When The Emperor thought of this, he also calm down his speech, “The Empress is right, it’s me who is not considerate.”

 

For a while, the Palace banquet once again restored the atmosphere of harmony, and the atmosphere changed as if it was just a split second.

 

As for Cui Xingzhou’s request, the new Emperor also readily agreed, but on the ground that the two were not engaged, not a rite, what he gave was not an edict, but the title of the Mayor of Huaisang County. At the same time, he rewarded the farm and fief, which was very generous.

 

Huaisang County has the intention of recalling the past. If it was not for the person who knew the dispute between the two, it would not be possible to realize this.

 

But Cui Xingzhou knew that The Emperor was teasing his fiancee with the bestowed County, hoping that Miantang would remember their past.

 

Unfortunately, the new Emperor used it in the wrong situation. Miantang hurt her head and forgot all about their past.

 

Cui Xingzhou is still at ease about this. The marriage certificate is written in white and black. Liu Miantang has to admit her actions. When he signed the marriage certificate with her, although it was a good deal, he promised to let her go if it turned bad.

 

But Liu Miantang, if she is so bold as to break her engagement with him in the future! Then he will let her know what it meant to get on the boat and never get off!

 

Next, both of them were busy. Of course, Prince Huaiyang has countless social engagements, and Miantang, as a newcomer to the communication circle in the Capital, also keeps socializing.

 

Now it’s not like in Lingquan Town. Every time there’s a party, she got the chance to change her clothes and appearance. Every time she attends a banquet, she has to remember the people she met.

 

Miantang is so busy every day that her mind is full of things. Sometimes, when she returned to the Mansion after washing up, so fell asleep without disassembling her hairpins completely.

 

However, she doesn’t know what Cui Xingzhou eats to grow up. He was as tired as her. But every time he came back late at night, he could wake her up and have a set of exercises with her.

 

They stayed in the Capital for a few days and temporarily lived in a Mansion awarded by Emperor Kaixuan.

 

Servant Li is now like a zither that has tightened its strings. Every day, she gives a steady clank to Liu Miantang’s ears, “Lady, if a tea party is held in The Prince Residence in the future, it will be in April. There are two places, the water pavilion, and the mountain villa. Where should the banquet be more secure? How should the arrangement of the banquet be arranged?”

 

Servant Li asked and Miantang answered seriously. As for the etiquette of the banquet, she wrote down in two large papers.

 

As for those decorations, she can’t remember fully.

 

Miantang feels that she has never tried so hard in her life, and honestly, she doesn’t like learning these things.

 

However, after the Palace banquet, Miantang felt that if she could not learn these well, she might be used as an excuse by The Emperor to coerce her into the Palace. The head is used to hang the beam and the cone is used to prick the strands, which is a change from the usual attitude of fooling around.

 

However, when Servant Li left after she was satisfied with the examination, Miantang always fell behind. She could not help thinking how happy she would be if she did not promise to sign the marriage certificate! She doesn’t have to attend so many banquets and follow the rules of these hardworking people.

 

The loss in her heart slipped out of her mouth carelessly, and the worst thing is that Cui Xingzhou happened to come back early from the banquet today and heard her.

 

In recent days, Cui has been enjoying various feasts in the Palace. Every day when he returns, he comes back with a slight smell of wine.

 

He wanted to come back and ask his fiancee to help him massage his head with her slender long finger on the pretext that he was drunk. But as soon as he got started, he heard Miantang muttering that she would not sign the marriage certificate.

 

These can be stabbed into Cui Xingzhou’s lungs. His slender body stands still at the door, covered in frost and snow, seeming to be waiting for people to coax him.

 

Miantang turns over and sees him staring at her, then turns over again and falls on the bed pretending not to see.

 

Cui Xingzhou stood still for a while, but when she didn’t get out of bed to coax him, he strode to her, pulled her ankle, and said, “How do you regret it?”

 

Miantang let him pull her, rolled into his arms, smelled a slightly strong smell of wine, and was very virtuous, “Your Highness has drunk some wine, do you want Servant Li to make you a bowl of refreshing soup to reduce your alcohol effect?”

 

Cui Xingzhou pinched her earlobe and said, “Don’t interrupt, let’s talk about what you just said.”

 

Miantang hid her hand and said, “A gentleman doesn’t stand under the wall and listen to other people’s whispers. I haven’t blamed Your Highness for not greeting me when you enter my room!”

 

Cui Xingzhou pinched her hands, pecked on her beautiful lips, and said, “You are all mine, not to mention the house!”

 

Cui Jiu, once a cold husband like a banished Immortal, has been swept away by the wind. Miantang blinked her eyes and thought that he was a bit overbearing, but it was just that unreasonable words came out of his thin lips, which made people feel slightly happy.

 

So she didn’t speak, just smiled, put her hand around his neck, and then printed a kiss. But when Cui Xingzhou wanted to deepen the kiss, she smiled and hid, “The wine stinks. Go wash up!”

 

In fact, she is lying. Cui Xingzhou doesn’t seem to drink much wine. It also gives off a fragrant smell. However, it’s still early now. It’s a bit strange to stick together like this.

 

She and he had not yet become legit, but they were already been together like an old husband and wife. Prince Huaiyang seems to be suffocating in the northwest. He is obsessed with bed and rarely had proper sleep for a night.

 

Miantang was fine at the beginning, but she couldn’t stand it after a long time. She politely asked Servant Li whether other couples were like that.

 

Servant Li whispered to Miantang that ordinary men don’t have such energy. The Prince’s spirit of dragon and tiger is incomparable to others, and it is because he loves and favors her. However, if things go on like this, it is easy to empty a man’s body, which is not good for his health!

 

Miantang remembered that he had seen those dissolute young men with dark eyes bag and empty bodies before, but were they all emptied by wine and lust? Thinking that Cui Xingzhou would be like that in the future, she was really worried and decided not to indulge him like this.

 

So when Cui Xingzhou finished washing and wanted to go back to Miantang’s house to sleep, the door had been bolted from the inside. Cui Xingzhou couldn’t open the door. Miantang shouted in the room, “It’s getting late. Please go back to your room to sleep. I’m a little tired, so I’ll sleep first…”

 

Cui Xingzhou frowned outside the door and said, “Your menstruation cycle is not today. Even if it is, I can put my arms around you to sleep. Stop making trouble and open the door quickly!”

 

Miantang just wanted to hide her head under the pillow. He even remembers the time of her menstruation cycle! If it was heard by Bi Cao and Fang Xie, what would it sound like?

 

When she signed the marriage certificate, she wanted to get along with him when they were not married. There was no hypocrisy anymore, and both of them exposed each other’s shortcomings.

 

Life in North Street is too happy. Every time Miantang thinks about it, she feels like a dream. The two people live like a loving couple that was like the stage play.

 

Maybe Cui Xingzhou insisted on marrying her because those days were so beautiful, and he may have been cheated by himself too.

 

Therefore, Miantang has changed her previous virtuous spirit of being firm and showed her stubbornness from time to time. If the Prince regrets it, she can take advantage before their marriage, and the two people can solve the marriage certificate promptly.

 

But unexpectedly, after signing the marriage certificate, there is no breaking-in that Miantang imagined, or rather, they have already ended the process of breaking-in, but it has nothing to do with breaking-in each other’s temperament!

 

Even a Jianghu woman like Miantang, who doesn’t care about trifles, thinks it’s a bit strange to be fooled around all day!

 

So today, she is determined not to open the door. She must not let him in. Otherwise, The Prince will become a black-eyed and soft-legged Prince sooner or later, and she will become a fox spirit that absorbs the spirit of men!

 

Cui Xingzhou knocked on the door a few times, but suddenly there was no sound. Miantang poked her head out of the quilt and breathed a sigh of relief. But as soon as she turned around, she saw a tall and healthy figure standing in front of her bed.

 

Cui Xingzhou has just taken a bath. He has long dark hair and a loose white robe. He is staring at her coldly!

 

Miantang looked at him coldly. She was so scared that she jumped up on the bed. She had good ear power, but she didn’t hear anything just now. she doesn’t know how he came in.

 

She glanced at the window beside the table and was broke in from the outside. It seems that the Prince has become a thief.

 

“Since you entered the Capital, you have been more and more disobedient. Today, you said you would explain your regret about signing the marriage certificate to me, and now you won’t let me enter your house. Liu Miantang, are you going to rebel!”

 

While talking, he had already picked up the person and was ready to spank her.

 

Miantang hurriedly begged for mercy, saying that they had no ceremony and were stuck together all day long. What is this like? And Servant Li said that men should not indulge themselves too much. Even if they become husband and wife in the residence, they will live in separate rooms.

 

Cui Xingzhou retorted, “In Lingquan Town, it’s you who told me the unwarmed pillow cannot be called a real husband and wife. You even reminded me not to leave you alone. Why are you pretending now?… Do you really regret following me, instead of waiting for your Ziyu to take you back to the Palace to be his Empress?”

 

Miantang didn’t expect that he would be jealous of her and Young Master Ziyu again, so she also said, “I can’t remember anymore, who wants to be nice to him. If you talk nonsense again, I will really go to the Palace to learn etiquette with the Empress!”

 

Cui Xingzhou is now full of nephrite, but his anger has dissipated a lot. Hearing Miantang was so angry that she wanted to enter the Palace, he said slowly, “Go ahead, believe it or not, once your front foot enters the Palace, my back foot will lead the army to meet you!”

 

Miantang thought that Cui Xingzhou might really be able to do such a thing. She blinked and said, “Don’t talk nonsense. When someone with bad intentions hears about it, they will think that you were plotting against it! But the Queen sent me a message inviting me to go over to the Palace tomorrow to taste the new cake created by the Palace baker.”

 

Cui Xingzhou didn’t even think about it. He raised his eyebrows and said, “No! Just tell the Queen that you are not feeling well and that you are afraid of passing the cold to the Queen!”

 

Miantang said, “You have refused on my behalf several times now, and the memorial you asked to return to the State of Zhen was suppressed by The Emperor. It’s not good to be so stubborn, otherwise, you will be kept by him for life.”

 

Cui Xingzhou snorted, “He was supported by the Empress Dowager. What can he do to keep me? But he indeed wants to share the benefit.”

 

Now in the Court, these officials are studying the division of the Northwest Army, and they ask Cui Xingzhou to hand over the military power on the ground that the local Vassal King cannot support troops beyond the limit.

 

The reason why they don’t dare to fight hard now is that the Northwest Army is just outside the Capital and only listens to Cui Xingzhou.

 

Now the three main States can be said to be at daggers drawn. In addition to the northwest army, there are also soldiers and horses of the Empress Dowager who are close to the Generals, and soldiers and horses of the old Mountain of Yang. They are facing off with the northwest army of Cui Xingzhou.

 

Some old officials also came to visit Cui Xingzhou and privately lamented that the origin of The Emperor today is not authentic. It was doubtful that all the people of the Liu family were usurpers. They hoped that Prince Huaiyang could help the Great Yan Dynasty and drive Emperor Kaixuan out of power with his strength.

 

In a word, Prince Huaiyang in the Capital is very busy. Cui Xingzhou could see the mind of Prince Sui who was far away from him.

 

Since ancient times, overthrowing the former Emperor and seizing the throne has been a dirty job, and it is impossible to hold the throne with blood-stained hands.

 

Prince Sui was addicted to playing the idle Prince and naturally would not do such dirty work. So he pushed his nephew out and took the blame of the world.

 

To be honest, Liu Ziyu has been out of the country for half of his life. His origin is really hard to criticize, and the Queen is also a vulgar person, which is not enough to convince people.

 

Now, some people encourage Cui Xingzhou to help the world. If Cui Xingzhou is ambitious and holds a heavy army, he might be moved. If he takes an action, the Capital will be in chaos.

 

At that time, someone will benefit from it. Prince Sui went out to pacify the rebellion, ascended the throne under the name of a worthy person, and gradually, became the authentic King of the Great Yan Dynasty!

 

But Cui Xingzhou is not going to be fooled. His enlightened mentor once told him that a gentleman should follow the trend and not drift with the tide to become a mainstay.

 

The soldiers in his hands were honed in bloody battles and would never be handed over to others.

 

However, if someone wants to borrow his hand to kill someone with a knife and asks him to drag Liu Dan out of power, they will not succeed.

 

But now the Queen invites Miantang and if she continues to reject it, which will inevitably cause the situation of Prince Huaiyang to be unruly and disobedient to the impasse of the current Emperor.

 

So Miantang thought for a long time today and thought that she should attend, “It’s not the way to always refuse. So when the Queen sent someone to deliver a message today, I took it.”

 

Cui Xingzhou frowned, “Aren’t you afraid he won’t let you out?”

 

Miantang smiled, “You have said, if he dares to detain me, you will send troops to pick me up. What am I afraid of? Besides, I am not going alone. Princess Jiaxuan, the favorite daughter of the deceased Emperor, was invited to go too. She is upright and has a high reputation in the Royal family. I met Princess Jiaxuan at the banquet held by Madame of the left Ministry of War a few days ago and gave her a set of miniature painting plates from the shop in Lingquan Town. She likes it wholeheartedly, so when I enter the Palace tomorrow, I will go with her. Do you think Princess Jiaxuan will leave me alone in the Palace when she comes back? ”

 

Cui Xingzhou has been busy attending banquets these days, and Miantang, the Mayor of Huaisang County who has been awarded a reward, has naturally become the favorite of the Capital’s banquets and has been entertaining all day long.

 

Cui Xingzhou knew that Miantang had excellent skills in making friends with others, but he did not expect that she could win the favor of such high rankings female members as Princess Jiaxuan in just a few days. One should know that this Princess was widowed when she was young and never remarried later, but she was famous for her eccentric temperament and high integrity. Except for a few discerning aristocratic wives, she never socialized with poor people.

 

Miantang smiled and said, “Of course, someone like me can’t get into the eyes of the Princess. But I learned that she was deeply in love with her deceased husband, so she never remarried. So I took some trouble printing the portrait of the Princess and her husband and asked Mr. Chen to paint a portrait of the Princess holding the mirror and dressing up. When drawing the eyes in the portrait, what she saw was the situation of her husband helping her to wear a flower hairpin behind her. Maybe the Princess thought I knew her feelings, so she would be kind to me!”

 

In fact, Miantang can get familiar with the old events in the Capital city so quickly all thanks to Servant Li’s great contributions. She once lived in the Capital city with the Old Princess Consort and went to the tea party of the Queen and Noble’s Ladies. She knows more than the young Ladies in the Noble families.

 

Therefore, as long as she follows Princess Jiaxuan when she enters the Palace this time, she will not be afraid of Emperor Kaixuan doing anything that does not conform to the rules.

 

Princess Jiaxuan, who has always been serious, can’t let others pull her into the muddy water, and bear the blame for losing the fiancee of the Northwest Marshal.

 

After she finished her plan, she saw that Cui Xingzhou was looking at her silently and she said, “Why, are my thinking wrong?”

 

Cui Xingzhou reached out and touched her face, feeling that his previous worries were unnecessary.

 

This woman is like a living fish. She is extremely adaptable and can be like a fish in the water wherever she goes. He just wanted to watch over her and not let her swim too far.

 

“You have made a good arrangement, and you are much more tactful than I am.”

 

Miantang saw that he has praised herself and smiled, “Isn’t this because I have no military power and can’t speak as powerfully as you? If I’m a man with military power in my hand, I don’t have to bother others so much. I can just carry a saber and kick the Palace gate in. When he wants to invite me away, he has to look at my mood!”

 

Cui Xingzhou thought about it for a while, but he thought it would not be surprising if Liu Miantang did this.

 

But now that the matter of entering the Palace is settled, he should bring up the matter of her not letting him enter the room.

 

Miantang giggled when she was judged by him, and then explain that she was worried about his body.

 

Cui Xingzhou didn’t think much of it, but said, “Do you think I’m a group of shrimp with soft feet? If it wasn’t that I’m afraid that you are fragile, and have injured your hands and feet before, I wouldn’t let you off, and you would have to suffer for being unable to get off the bed every day! I didn’t have enough of you, but now you are stopping me. You are asking for a beating!”

 

As a result, after that night, Miantang finally learned Cui Xingzhou’s virtues.

 

She laid in bed till almost noon and barely got up when it was time to enter the Palace. Her whole body was aching as if she walked 800 miles in the night like a horse in a hurry.

 

When she was dressed neatly, Princess Jiaxuan’s carriage also came to the door of the Mansion, and she followed her to the Palace.

 

But Princess Jiaxuan looked at the Mayor of Huaisang County. She was a little dull like an old woman with a waist injury. She asked, “I saw you a few days ago, and you still look fine. Why are you like this today? Did you sprain yourself?”

 

Miantang couldn’t tell the widowed Princess about the process of twisting her waist. She could only laugh and say that she sprained her waist when practicing archery, and then divert the topic to health preservation.

 

Princess Jiaxuan is old and likes to keep healthy. The medical books that Miantang studied hard in the Northwest are useful. They are very knowledgeable and professional.

 

Princess Jiaxuan thought that the County Mayor was not of high birth. However, her manners and etiquette are not inferior to others. The most important thing is that she speaks and acts to her heart. It’s really a rare person.

 

Moreover, her fiance, Prince Huaiyang, is also a rare clean, and honest man. He is brave in fighting and does not interfere with the change of government. Both the new Monarch and the Old Minister are neither humble nor overbearing, and they scrupulously abide by their duties.

 

This was also to Princess Jiaxuan’s taste, so she was very kind to the fiancee of Prince Huaiyang.

 

When they entered the Palace gate, other ladies also got off the carriage, greeted each other, and then went to the Palace to see the Queen.

 

Empress Shi is very happy today. She is wearing a pink long skirt with white flowers embroidered on it, which makes her even fatter. Originally, she was wearing red flowers, but the color matching was not elegant enough.

 

Princess Jiaxuan frowned and felt that the female officials in the Palace should resign. Why didn’t they stop the Empress from wearing such clothes?

 

Moreover, the theme of today’s tea party is absurd. It is to make people taste pastries. Does she think that the nobles and Royal Ladies in the Capital are like her?

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