0p0 Chapter 480 Things are different now
Chapter 480 Things are different now
"No, no, this is so annoying!"
Miao Miao kept shaking her head.
"Little princess, you're too young to make decisions. Quickly take us to see your mother. No matter how capable or powerful a woman is, she will eventually have to marry. You can't hide forever..."
Miao Miao had never seen such a scene before and almost couldn't handle it.
These families usually looked down on the mother and son, disliking the mother for being a second-marriage woman and having an adopted child.
And these matchmakers, I've never seen them so enthusiastic before.
Now they treat their mother and brothers like treasures.
They didn't even spare her, a little baby.
She had someone bring her a tall stool, climbed up to stand on, and finally could see the true colors of these people.
She tilted her head back and said seriously, "Aunties, my second brother isn't in a hurry to get married, my mother isn't in a hurry to get married, and I'm even less in a hurry. Why don't you help my little black dog, little white dog, little flower dog, and little green dog find companions first?"
"May I ask, Your Highness, who are they?" The matchmakers looked at each other, puzzled.
I've never heard of any other young ladies or gentlemen in this Lu Garden, and besides, their names sound like those of servants.
“They are all my good friends.” Miao Miao said, waving to Liu Yun, “Bring them out.”
The matchmakers stared wide-eyed, their eyes glued to the doorway.
One goose, one duck, one sheep, two sheep, three, four...
Surprisingly... there were wolves too.
A huge, majestic, and proud wolf.
The matchmakers covered their mouths, their eyes wide, not daring to utter a sound, and took several steps back.
They retreated again and again until there was nowhere left to retreat.
He retreated to the carriage, scrambled and rolled onto it, and ran away without looking back.
It wasn't until they had run quite a distance that they realized what had happened.
They were tricked by a little girl.
This is outrageous!
But the little girl was a princess, and still a child, so she couldn't be scolded. She could only swallow her anger and go back to complain to her master.
The marriage proposal was put to rest, but rumors about the young princess began to circulate in the neighborhood.
Princess Mingzhu was unruly, arrogant, and disdainful of everyone...
Miao Miao had no idea that she had suddenly become famous.
Within three days, her reputation as a spoiled princess was well-known in the capital, even surpassing that of her mother, the princess.
Upon hearing this, Lu Qingyao looked at her daughter with a dark face: "I said, how did you offend those gossipy women? They make a living with their mouths, they can even make the dead come back to life. Look at your reputation, you can't even salvage it now."
This is driving me crazy!
The pampered girl she had carefully raised turned into a spoiled brat in less than a day.
From now on, the noble ladies and young gentlemen of the capital must avoid her, and no one will dare to associate with her.
Lu Zifeng looked bewildered: "So what if she's a playboy? From now on, no one will dare to look down on my sister."
"Of course, I think she's perfect." Lu Ziyan patted Miao Miao's head. Why should others see how well-behaved and cute his little sister is?
Princess Yuqing didn't think so either.
"Third Sister, don't be upset about such a trivial matter. I've been through the same thing. As a member of the royal family, I enjoy the offerings of the people and provide them with some topics for gossip. It's harmless, as long as it's not slander or abuse. Being too gentle and virtuous, Miao Miao must be quite tired as a princess."
“Mother is right,” Miao Miao clapped her hands immediately.
These words really touched her heart.
Lu Qingyao's expression changed, and she suddenly stood up, looking at them with excitement: "It's a small matter! How can this be a small matter? A woman's reputation is of paramount importance. If this is not stopped, who knows what kind of rumors will spread in the future?"
"Yes, yes, yes, I'll go right away. I'll intimidate, threaten, and spend money to make those old women change their tune and only say good things about my daughter." After saying that, the princess slipped away.
What's the big deal? I've never seen Lu Qingyao get so angry.
Miaomiao, however, knew.
Because my mother was heartbroken.
It should be said that they never fell in love; the seed of love was nipped in the bud.
How can I not get annoyed?
"Mother, I'm going to my shift."
"I am coming too……"
Seeing that their mother was in a bad mood, Lu Ziyan and Lu Zifeng quickly slipped away.
When they first entered officialdom, they had to adapt to everything, doing their jobs well while also cultivating good interpersonal relationships.
Especially Lu Ziyan.
Being in the Hanlin Academy, surrounded by highly respected seniors and important ministers, it's inevitable that some people will be jealous and try to make things difficult for you, since the path to officialdom is not easy.
He became the youngest and least experienced one.
There's always a newbie phase where you're bound to be bossed around and made things difficult by others.
Prime Minister Cui pretended not to see it and let him deal with it himself.
Then I saw my younger sister get some booklets from somewhere, which contained information about all the officials in the Hanlin Academy.
He knew how many wives and concubines he had, who his favorite was, and even where his mistresses were kept.
Not only that, they also knew all the officials' little-known hobbies, or rather, preferences.
Lu Ziyan then catered to his preferences.
Lord Zhang loves writing poetry and painting, so let's send him fine brushes, inkstones, and ink.
Lord Wang is fond of sleeping, so let's give him a sandalwood pillow.
But he is also the kind of person who always seeks revenge.
Lord Li has a mistress, and they already have a son. So let's lure his wife to the mistress's door. The next day, the Li family will be in complete chaos, and Lord Li's face will be covered in bruises.
Lord Qin is a homosexual; within three days, he'll surely be caught by the censor, and then it'll be impeachment, impeachment...
Within six months, everyone in the Hanlin Academy treated Lu Ziyan with great courtesy.
Compared to his younger brother, the older brother Lu Zifeng was better off, as he closely protected the emperor and went wherever the emperor went.
Apart from the emperor, no one dared to give him a hard time.
They also accompany you for meals, conversations, and games...
Good is good.
But if the emperor stays up late, he has to stay up too; if the emperor is busy with official duties and doesn't eat, he has to keep him company.
They eat irregularly, sometimes hungry and sometimes full.
He could only confide in his sister about his suffering.
Then he was surprised to find that not long after he finished talking to his sister, she would enter the palace. After that, the Empress would accompany the Emperor to dinner more often, or his sister would accompany the Emperor to dinner.
He wouldn't have to go hungry anymore.
After spending some time by the emperor's side, he also discovered that the emperor was particularly good at pretending.
He was very serious and rarely smiled when attending court or facing his officials.
Once out of the sight of the court officials, he reverted to his original self, tired of reading memorials.
"Brother Feng, go and bring Miaomiao into the palace. We're having a barbecue today."
"Brother Feng, let's see if your kung fu has improved. Let's have a spar."
"Brother Feng, you don't need to be on duty today. Let's take your princess to enjoy the lake and flowers..."
Lu Zifeng also discovered that the emperor actually had no concubines.
When a courtier urged him to have a child, he was given beautiful women and tonics: "My dear minister, these are all women who serve me and the Empress Dowager. You must treat them well. This is deer blood, which is very nourishing."
"..."
The officials were dumbfounded.
How could the Emperor say such a thing in such a serious manner?
The courtiers who received the beauty and tonics were so ashamed that they wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.
Who would dare say another word?
……