Today is the first day of the first lunar month. According to the rules of the palace, the emperor should take the queen to wish the queen a New Year after dawn. However, Empress Zhang got sick the day before yesterday and had to rest in bed in the morning, so it was inconvenient to disturb him, so he made an appointment to pay New Year's greetings in the afternoon.

The Li Shi went to the imperial study room early in the morning, while Empress Cui stayed alone in the palace. Empress Cui Yuan's sister, named Cui Xiaofu, is less than 40 years old this year. She entered the palace at the age of fourteen. She was originally the servant of the late emperor Li Heng, and was named a beauty. Soon after Li Heng passed away, the new emperor Li Shi ascended the throne, Cui Xiaofu also became a monk. In order to commend Cui Yuan for supporting her, Empress Dowager Zhang took her back to the palace and conferred her as Concubine Hui. Ten years ago, shortly after Cui Yuan was promoted to the right prime minister, Empress Wei suddenly died of illness, and Cui Xiaofu was conferred the queen.

At this time, Cui Xiaofu was chatting with her niece Cui Ning who came to accompany her. They looked quite similar and had similar personalities, so Cui Xiaofu liked Cui Ning the most and called her to the palace every few days. Although they were apart for a lifetime, they talked about everything, just like sisters.

"Today is New Year, and every household is busy paying New Year's greetings, so just count the most deserted in the palace. Call you here to accompany me, you won't be angry!"

Cui Xiaofu glanced at Cui Ning, and saw that she was a little dazed, and then chuckled, "Did you make an appointment with your lover to go to the temple to burn incense, but I called you?"

"Aunt, what are you talking about!" Cui Ning's face turned red, and she lowered her head and said, "Where do I have any lover?"

"Really?" Cui Xiaofu stood up and walked slowly behind her, leaned over and held her neck and laughed in a low voice: "Even I heard that Master Chu is chasing you so hard!"

Cui Ning's face immediately became cold. Yesterday at noon, her father ordered her to go to Chu Mansion for dinner. During the meal, Uncle Chu Shi arranged for her to sit with Chu Wei. Although Chu Wei tried to please her in every way, she felt extremely disgusted.

"Auntie, don't mention him!"

Cui Xiaofu was as careful as her hair. She heard the coldness in Cui Ning's tone and was a little surprised. At this time, she found that there was a thin silver chain on Cui Ning's neck, and the other end of the silver chain was hidden inside her clothes. Her long-lived lock had always been hung outside.

Cui Xiaofu secretly pulled it out while she was not paying attention. Seeing that there was a piece of jade on the other end, she couldn't help but smile and said, "I still said that I had no love man, how could I hide it!"

Cui Ning grabbed Yu, her face flushed, and she held Cui Xiaofu's hand a little coquettishly, "Aunt!"

Cui Xiaofu smiled and sat down beside her, hugged her shoulder and said, "Tell my aunt, who is that person?"

"I don't understand what my aunt is talking about?" Cui Ning lowered her head, her voice smaller than mosquito speech.

"You silly child, my aunt wants to help you. What if your father promised to marry the Chu family?"

Seeing that Cui Ning was still bowing his head and silent, Cui Xiaofu shook her head and said, "Don't say it's impossible. This year, my elder brother's term as prime minister will be over. How can he not want to be re-elected? If he can get the support of the Chu family, he will never consider your feelings."

Cui Ning bit her lips tightly, her face turned a little pale, and her hands were at a loss. Although she had not thought about this, the matter would not be left away because of her avoidance. Finally, the secret in her heart could no longer be concealed, so she whispered: "His name is Zhang Huan, and he is the one who caught me last time."

"What did you say!" Cui Xiaofu couldn't believe her ears. Cui Ning would like to the person who kidnapped her. This kind of thing has never been heard of in the world she lives in.

"He is from the Zhang family in Hedong and a child of aristocratic families. The last time it was actually out of a misunderstanding." Cui Ning added.

Cui Xiaofu still shook her head. Even if it was a misunderstanding, it would not work. He was a child of the Zhang family. Ten years ago, the Cui and Zhang families had broken up because of Zhang Potian's incident. It was impossible for them to have any results.

Cui Xiaofu understood in her heart, but she didn't say it, so she could only sigh and said, "I will go back to Cui's family to visit relatives tomorrow. I will persuade your father about the eldest son of the Chu family."

At this time, a loud shout came from outside the door: "The emperor is here!"

Cui Ning stood up in fear, "Auntie, I'll avoid it!"

"No!" Cui Xiaofu grabbed her and smiled, "Although he is the emperor, he is also your uncle. Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year, so you should wish him a happy new year."

While speaking, the Li family had already walked in, and Cui Xiaofu hurriedly stepped forward to salute, "I'm here to see Your Majesty!"

"The queen is not a gift!" Li Shi waved his hand gently. He saw Cui Ning suddenly and couldn't help but smile: "Is Xiaoning here to wish me a happy new year?"

Cui Ning hurried forward and gave a deep bow, "Cui Ning wishes the emperor a happy new year and wishes the emperor good health and everything goes well!"

"Haha! I'll give you a reward after paying New Year's greetings, tell me! What does Xiaoning want?"

Cui Xiaofu's thoughts changed very quickly, and she immediately had a thought in her heart, and she smiled and said, "Xiao Ning is still white and it is inconvenient to enter and exit the palace. The emperor might as well give her a title like a princess, princess, etc."

Cui Ning was stunned and waved his hand quickly and said, "Aunt, how can this be done!"

Cui Xiaofu secretly pinched her and ordered her not to speak. Li Shi saw it and smiled slightly, "You are the queen's niece, what's wrong with it? But let's talk about this matter another day. Today I'm going to pay New Year's greetings to the queen mother. Time is a bit tight. I'm going to change clothes, so the queen can prepare it too!"

He turned around and went first. When the emperor walked away, Cui Ning complained: "Aunt, how could you make me a princess? Princess, I don't want it!"

Cui Xiaofu poked her forehead gently, "You little fool! Don't you want to marry Chu Wei? With the title of princess, your father can't marry you at will. Besides, Chu Wei Shang is white and can't marry you, do you understand?"

"Aunt!" Cui Ning was grateful, but she did not show it, and just whispered: "Thank you aunt!"

"Silly child!" Cui Xiaofu gently stroked her head and said softly: "The most important thing in our women's lives is marriage. Even if we can't marry the person we like, we cannot marry the man we hate."

Speaking of this, she patted Cui Ning's head and smiled, "Okay, I'm going to greet the Queen Mother. You go back first, see you tomorrow."

Cui Ning nodded, "Then I'll leave first!"

Cui Xiaofu looked at her back, and her eyes were filled with worry, "How could she fall in love with the Zhang family, and it was still at this most critical moment."

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"Empress, why did you think of letting me enthrone Xiaoning?" Li Shixiao asked on the way to Tai Chi Palace.

Cui Xiaofu sighed quietly, "Emperor, in order to win over the Chu family, my elder brother will most likely marry Xiaoning to the eldest son of the Chu family, but Xiaoning hates him very much, and I want to help her."

As she said that, she looked up at Li Shi, and saw that there was a look of confusion in his eyes, and then smiled gently: "Although I am the daughter of the Cui family, I am the queen of a country. I don't want Cui. Chu Lianwen, do the emperor understand?"

Li Si was moved. He gently hugged Cui Xiaofu and leaned her head against his chest, "I understand that you are my good queen."

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Cui Ning's carriage left the Daming Palace and returned to Cui's mansion under the escort of nearly a hundred armored guards. Her aunt's words kept lingering in her ears. Will her father really agree to the Chu family? Her heart tightened, hoping that her aunt could help her.

At this time, her hand touched a scabbard and her mind returned to Zhang Huan's body. This knife was a collection in Cui's mansion. It is said that a craftsman from Damascus drew on the advantages of the Tang Heng sword and the Damascus scimitar. It was extremely sharp. In order to save her, Zhang Huan lost the knife in the river. Cui Ning found the knife from the warehouse and planned to send it to Zhang Huan this morning, but his aunt summoned herself to the palace.

At this time, the carriage had already been on Chunming Street, and the car window suddenly became loud and loud. Cui Ning picked up a corner of the car curtain and saw pedestrians on both sides, and there were constant carriages. Everyone was wearing fresh clothes, taking their wives and children to their relatives' houses to pay New Year's greetings.

Cui Ning put down the curtain of the car, her face feeling a little dark. If she could choose, she would rather be the daughter of an ordinary family.

She touched the hilt of the knife again and ordered resolutely: "Carriage turns around and go to Pingkangfang..."

After a while, the carriage passed by Gaosheng No. 6 Inn. The hundred guards were so powerful that they scared the pedestrians and children playing on the road to hide on the side of the road.

"Stop!" Cui Ning ordered and the carriage stopped slowly.

"Miss, you can't go down." Cui Ning's twin maids were so scared that they hurriedly stopped her when they saw that she was about to get off the carriage.

"You guys go away!"

"Miss, if the master knows about this, you will not punish you, but it will also implicate Mr. Zhang."

"This..." Cui Ning hesitated a little. Zhang Huan will take the imperial examination in a few days. If his father knew that he was coming to him, it would probably really affect his exam.

At this moment, two young women walked towards the inn talking and laughing. Cui Ning recognized that one of them was Lin Qiaoqiao she had met, while she had never seen the other woman in a grenade skirt.

"Da Shuang, if you go and invite them over, just say I'm looking for them."

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Chapter completed!