Phoenix Hairpin

Princess Jing'an hairpin ceremony was going to be held in the palace.

  Emperor Yongjia loved the son and daughter born of Concubine Meng very much. The Eldest Prince was Emperor Yongjia's favorite son and Princess Jing'an was Emperor Yongjia's most beloved daughter.

  For the Princess' hairpin ceremony, those who were eligible to enter the palace to observe the ceremony were either members of the royal family or imperial wives of the second rank or above.

  Concubine Meng addressed the Emperor, "Your Majesty, several imperial princes have already chosen their consorts. I was thinking that in the future, they will all become sisters-in-law of Princess Jing'an. It would be lively and intimate if we allow them to attend the hairpin ceremony in the palace, along with Princess Jing'an."

  That was a good idea.

  Emperor Yongjia smiled and praised.

  Concubine Meng pursed her lips and smiled: "Your Majesty, don't blame qiè (1) for taking this decision on her own."

  Emperor Yongjia put his arms around his beloved woman, and said with a low laugh, "My love for Jing'an is the same as yours." After thinking about it, he laughed again and said: "You don't need to worry about such trivial matters. Just leave it to the Ah Jing's brothers and let them go to their in-law's house by themselves to invite them."

  Unmarried young couples, see each other more often, which could help to cultivate their feelings!

  Concubine Meng didn't care about it.

  Anyway, her son was married. What she was most anxious about now was that the Eldest Prince Consort Liang Shi had not conceived for a long time.

  "Your Majesty, Liang Shi has been in the family for more than two years." Concubine Meng said in a low voice, "Liang Shi has never been pregnant. Why don't you bestow Ah Yi a side concubine."

 Emperor Yongjia laughed casually: "Ah Yi often follows me going out to fight, and even after marriage, they have not been together that much. Don't be impatient, wait for another year or a half. If Liang Shi does not conceive by then, it will not be too late to accept the side concubine." 

Concubine Meng slightly frowned: "The Emperor will lead the army again, and Ah Yi has to go with the army. This delay will be more than a year and a half."

  Emperor Yongjia glanced at Concubine Meng: "You love Ah Yi, doesn't it mean that General Liang loves his daughter more? You also know that if I am going out to lead the army to fight, the safety of the capital must be handed over to General Liang."

  "What would General Liang think of you if you bestow Ah Yi a side concubine?"

  Concubine Meng curled her lips: "He was the Emperor's personal soldier in the past. If there was no Emperor, how would he be so famous? How dare he find fault with Ah Yi !"

  Emperor Yongjia was a little unhappy: "Back then, when I rebelled, he had been protecting me with all his might and defended me from arrows. Without him, I would have died on the battlefield long ago. I granted him the post of General of the Imperial Guard because he is the person who is most loyal to me. It is also my idea to marry the Liang family."

  "You are dissatisfied with the marriage, come to me."

  Concubine Meng had no choice but to shut up.

  These words somehow reached the ears of the Eldest prince consort. Don't mention how depressed the eldest prince consort was, and mother-in-law and daughter-in-law became more and more estranged, but let's not mention it for now.

  ...

  The Li brothers were sent by Emperor Yongjia to deliver invitations to their respective in-law families.

  It was common for the Fourth Prince to go to Puyang Houfu.

  When Zhao Yu saw her fiancé, she immediately beamed with joy, and hurried forward to meet him: "Why did Your Highness come here suddenly today?"

  The speed was so fast that Zhao Rui had no time to stop him.

  Seeing his sister's stupid look of elation after seeing her sweetheart, Zhao Rui couldn't help but roll his eyes secretly. Girls don't know how to be reserved.

  The Fourth Prince liked Zhao Yu's undisguised joy very much and said with a smile: "In a few days, it will be the second sister's hairpin ceremony. I came today to invite you, and on that day, I will come to take you into the palace to watch the ceremony."

  Zhao Yu loved to go to the palace to join in the fun, so she immediately agreed with a smile.

  Zhao Yu was one year older than the Fourth Prince. In fact, one was born on the twelfth lunar month, and the other was on the first month of the following year. The difference was only two months. The two cousins, who grew up together since childhood, were familiar with each other and had a bond of affection.

  When the two of them came together, there was endless talk.

  Zhao Rui coughed: "The Fourth Highness came to the Zhao Mansion to deliver a letter, did the Second Highness and the Third Highness also go to their future in-law's House?"

  The Fourth Prince glanced at Zhao Rui teasingly: "Yes, the third brother went to Guangping Hou's Mansion, and the second brother went to Xingyang Prince's Mansion. Cousin, Fourth Miss Lu is already my future second sister-in-law. I advise you not to think about her in the future."

  Zhao Rui had a thick skin, and said shyly, "I'm also engaged, and I'm going to get married at the end of the year. When I see Fourth Miss Lu, I just take a second look. How can this be called thinking about her?" 

The Fourth Prince hushed him with a gesture.

  Zhao Rui rubbed his nose embarrassingly, thought for a while, and sighed: "You're right, I'd better not see her in the future."

  Fourth Miss Lu was already engaged, and will soon be the Second prince consort. He should also put away all the thoughts he shouldn't have.

  Zhao Yu felt that his brother was an eyesore, so she pulled the Fourth Prince's sleeve and went to talk in the garden.

  Zhao Rui rolled his eyes again and insisted on following.

  Silly girl, you weren't married yet! Show some reserve, do you understand!

  ...

  Guangping Marquis Mansion.

  Marquis Guangping went to the barracks, and Marquis Guangping fūrén (2) met the Third Prince in the main hall.

  "Li Hao has met Guangping Hou fūrén." Li Hao bowed respectfully with clasped hands as a gesture of courtesy.

  Li Hao was born tall and handsome, with a tall and straight figure and a radiant look.

  No matter how much Guangping Hou fūrén hated Su Zhaorong, she could only be happy when she saw Li Hao. She said with a smile: "Your Highness salutes like this, it really embarrasses me."

  Li Hao stood up and said with a smile: "When you meet your future mother-in-law, you should salute as a junior."

  Then, he explained why he came.

  Guangping Hou fūrén was quite unhappy about the betrothal, but there was nothing she could do. These days, she had been training her daughter Meng Yunluo at home about various rules.

  Li Hao came to the door on purpose today, out of emotion and reason, Meng Yunluo should come out to meet him.

  Guangping Hou fūrén gave orders with a smile, and soon Meng Yunluo came.

  Meng Yunluo was born fair and charming, and she liked bright colors. Today she was wearing a carmine red dress. That glowing red eyes almost hurt Li Hao's eyes as soon as they came into view.

  A red figure flashed in Li Hao's mind, and his heart felt like stabbed with a needle.

  However, he didn't show half of it on his face.

  He smiled and looked at his fiancée, with just the right amount of joy and appreciation in his eyes.

  Meng Yunluo was also slightly reluctant about this marriage. At this moment, facing Li Hao's smiling black eyes, Meng Yunluo's heart was beating wildly, and her cheeks were suddenly bright red.

  Meng Yunluo stepped forward to salute: "I've seen Your Highness."

  Li Hao reached out his hand to offer assistance but only lightly brushed against Meng Yunluo's sleeve before retracting it. "Miss Meng, no need for formalities," he said with a gentle smile.

Meng Yunluo raised her eyes and exchanged a glance with Li Hao. Her cheeks became more and more red: "Thank you, Your Highness."

  "In a few days, it will be the second sister's hairpin ceremony," Li Hao said in a slightly low voice, "I came here today to invite you into the palace to watch the ceremony. Are you free that day?"

  Meng Yunluo replied without hesitation: "Of course I'm free, I'll definitely go."

  Li Hao stretched his brows and said with a smile, "How about I come to pick you up?"

  Meng Yunluo's eyes sparkled, and she didn't even think about saying no. She nodded her head and said: "Okay."

  Guangping Hou fūrén twitched the corners of her mouth faintly.

  Silly girl, you aren't married yet! Show some reserve, do you understand!

1. Concubine. I think she is quite informal with the Emperor given their relationship than other wives of the Emperor and doesn't refer to herself as this concubine. 

2. Madam i.e. wife of the Marquis.