Consultante de vie de la dynastie Song du Sud

Chapitre 40

"Husband, are you saying that someone you know will be coming tomorrow?" Bingning asked, looking at Yu Zhou's solemn expression.

Yu Zhou nodded and said, "Not only me, but you know them too."

"Really? I know her too," Bing Ning said uneasily, a hint of danger lurking beneath her words. Yu Qingqing suddenly felt superfluous, unable to even get a foot in the door. An acquaintance? Her brother's acquaintance. Tomorrow, she must dress prettier than Bing Ning. And prettier than that Wu Yueying. Only then could she be worthy of her brother. Yu Qingqing made a silent vow.

[Dynasty Storm: Dinner]

"Qingqing, what's wrong with you today? Don't you usually hate these kinds of banquets?" Su Rongrong looked at Yu Qingqing with some surprise. This daughter of hers had always disliked lively banquets. Why was she acting so strangely today, wanting to go with Zhou'er?

Yu Qingqing, wearing a pair of dragon and phoenix hairpins, looked at her reflection in the bronze mirror with satisfaction. Huamei said, "Qingqing just wanted to go for a walk." Su Rongrong didn't ask any further questions.

"Mother, do you think this dress looks good?" Yu Qingqing showed Su Rongrong a deep purple dress. Su Rongrong nodded. When Yu Qingqing was dressed up, Su Rongrong was taken aback. She looked so much like Yu Zhou. But she lacked Yu Zhou's stunning beauty. Instead, she appeared rather vulgar.

"Mother, I look a lot like my brother, don't I?" Yu Qingqing smiled and twirled around for Su Rongrong. Su Rongrong nodded; indeed! Qingqing did resemble Yu Zhou somewhat.

Yu Zhou and Bing Ning were already waiting in the outer hall. Yu Zhou was still wearing a black robe, a bamboo flute at his waist, and a dragon pendant. He hadn't changed much, yet he was still incredibly beautiful. He sat in the hall, deep in thought, his eyes profound.

Bingning, dressed in pink, was charming and adorable, her bright, clear eyes gazing curiously at the peach blossoms on her clothes. A simple peach wood hairpin adorned her hair. Overall, she always exuded vitality and cuteness.

"Wow, Qingqing, you're so beautiful! You're like a fairy descended from heaven. You look just like Yu Zhou!" Bing Ning stared blankly at Yu Qingqing as she slowly walked towards them, her beautiful eyes sparkling. Her radiance shone on everyone present.

"You brat! Zhou'er is a boy, how can you say such things? You really are a wild girl, you don't know any manners," Old Madam Ning said angrily. Bing Ning could only stick out her tongue.

Yu Qingqing lowered her head shyly and said, "Sister Bingning is also very beautiful!" Actually, Yu Qingqing wanted to hear Yu Zhou's praise the most, but Yu Zhou remained silent and looked at Yu Qingqing with a solemn expression.

"Husband, look at Qingqing too. Isn't she beautiful?" Bingning nudged Yuzhou. Yuzhou stood up and said, "It's getting late, let's go."

Yu Qingqing looked at Yu Zhou with disappointment, the handkerchief in her hand already crumpled many times. She could only follow him angrily. Yu Zhou, however, felt a bitter taste in his mouth. What was this? Qingqing, whose attention were you trying to get by doing this? Did you also want to marry into this unfathomable palace?

Yu Qingqing thought to herself: Why? Why won't you even look at me? Am I really that bad? Is even praise unnecessary? I spent a whole day on this, for whom? Brother, can't you see my beauty? Tears streamed down her face without her noticing. Yu Qingqing suddenly felt extremely wronged.

Inside the palace.

"Princess, are you ready?" A pair of gentle, clear, pale purple eyes, seemingly overflowing with tenderness, framed a perfectly handsome face. Long, wispy hair covered his smooth forehead, falling to his thick, long eyelashes. Beneath a white robe lay skin of unparalleled smoothness. His white robes fluttered, exuding an air of noble elegance, perfectly complementing his tall, slender figure. Wu Yueying, veiled, turned to look at Yuan Xingzhi, saying, "Brother Xingzhi, thank you for your trouble." Wu Yueying's large eyes held a hint of sorrow, her eyelashes slightly upturned as she nodded towards Yuan Yang. Wearing a long, blue-purple robe, shimmering in the candlelight, she was serene and ethereal, like a beautiful fairy descended from heaven, untouched by worldly concerns. Her hair cascaded like a waterfall over her shoulders, adorned with a butterfly-shaped hairpin, complementing her blue-purple dress. Zhan Ge, dressed in purple, wore a languid smile. Finally, they met. Yu Zhou!

Another woman, dressed in the same clothes as Wu Yueying, was led by Zhan Ge towards the main hall of Gengyue Kingdom. Yuan Yang looked bewildered, but a gentle smile graced her face. Wu Yueying walked with difficulty.

"Princess, don't worry, Xingzhi can handle the rest," Yuan Yang said with a smile. The phoenix pendant emitted a dazzling light. Her purple eyes softened.

"Thank you!" Wu Yueying bowed her head, tears welling up uncontrollably. She gently wiped them from her eyes, then gracefully walked towards the main hall of Gengyue Kingdom. Yuan Yang also suddenly felt a surge of excitement; they were finally going to meet. My Zhou'er.

Yu Zhou stared blankly at the bright yellow palace for a moment. It was time to meet, but this time it would be even more insidious than Yelü's. Yu Zhou had no confidence in cracking Yuan Yang's scheme. Every single one of the graduates from the Six Arts Academy had given Yu Zhou trouble, even trouble.

"Husband, come in quickly!" Bingning nudged Yuzhou. She really enjoyed this kind of thing, especially lively places where she could meet familiar faces.

Yu Zhou nodded and stepped across the threshold, filled with intense resentment. Yet, he was destined to be drawn into the power struggle within the imperial court. Was this his fate?

Yu Qingqing followed behind, looking unwilling. Seeing Bing Ning holding Yu Zhou's arm, she desperately wanted to separate them, but she had no right to. All she could do was furiously clutch her handkerchief.

[Dynasty Storms: The Real and Fake Princesses]

"Bingning, I'm not feeling well. Could you come outside with me?" Yu Qingqing said as she ran up to me, clutching her chest.

"This..." Bing Ning looked at Yu Qingqing with some difficulty, but seeing Yu Qingqing's frowning and uncomfortable look, she nodded. She then said to Yu Zhou, "Husband, why don't you go first? Qingqing and I will follow soon."

Yu Zhou nodded and said, "You two be careful too. I'm leaving now." He then walked towards the main hall.

"Prime Minister Yu has arrived!" the hoarse voice called out again. Yu Zhou calmly walked up. Stunning! Utterly stunning. The somewhat noisy conversations in the hall fell silent the moment Yu Zhou appeared. Everyone stared at the extraordinary, handsome young man before them, mesmerized.

Yuan Yang and the others, who were already in the hall, turned around and saw Yu Zhou's current appearance, and a hint of amazement appeared on their faces. But it was fleeting, leaving no trace.

"Your subject Yu Zhou greets Your Majesty," he said, bowing slightly and taking a deep breath.

With a smile, Shen Wuyue lazily looked at Yu Zhou and said, "This is an envoy from the Ricang Kingdom."

"Prime Minister Yu, I have long admired your name!" Yuan Yang said gently, clasping his hands in a fist salute. Zhan Ge, however, looked at Shen Wuyue's expression. "Yu Zhou dares not presume. I heard of Prime Minister Yuan's name three years ago," Yu Zhou said emotionlessly, a smile playing on his lips.

"Oh, so everyone knows each other. I won't introduce you any further," Shen Wuyue said casually, but her gaze remained fixed on Yu Zhou, a glint of something in her eyes. Yu Zhou realized once again that serving a ruler was like walking on thin ice.

Yuan Yang smiled like a gentle spring breeze, playing with the phoenix pendant in her hand.

"Your Majesty of Gengyue Kingdom, you must have heard that General Zhan and I are here," Yuan Yang said slowly, his eyes filled with confidence. His certainty was almost frightening.

Shen Wuyue did not answer, but looked at Yuan Yang, feeling somewhat uneasy.

"Please speak, Prime Minister Yuan," Shen Wuyue said softly. There wasn't much of a fluctuation in her tone.

"Princess Wuyueying of the Ricang Kingdom has sworn since childhood that only the one who can solve her puzzle can marry her. Therefore, we beseech Your Majesty, Emperor of the Gengyue Kingdom, to solve our princess's puzzle. If you cannot solve it, then we beseech Your Majesty to cede thirty cities as compensation." These words caused an uproar in the hall. Was this not a provocation? It was tantamount to an insult to the very foundation of the nation! But Shen Wuyue still smiled: "Then please, Prime Minister Yuan, pose the puzzle!"

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!" The ministers knelt, pleading, their cries drowning out the others. Only Yu Zhou watched coldly. "Prime Minister, you should also persuade the Emperor," a man said, tugging at Yu Zhou's robe. Yu Zhou thought dejectedly. This seemed to have nothing to do with her.

"Please speak, Prime Minister Yuan!" Shen Wuyue remained alone.

Yuan Yang clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Please invite Princess Wu to the palace."

Immediately, two princesses dressed in identical attire walked up, astonishing everyone. Although both were veiled, the one on the left possessed a stunning beauty, while the one on the right had an ordinary appearance.

"Actually, the question is about the real and fake princesses. In a place where morning and afternoon are indistinguishable, there are two princesses, one real and one fake. The real princess tells the truth in the morning and lies in the afternoon. The fake princess lies in the morning and tells the truth in the afternoon. How can you answer the question with the fewest questions: is it morning or afternoon, and which princess is real and which is fake? I can tell you that the one on the right is the real princess, but that's not the answer to the question. Your Majesty, please answer," Yuan Yang said with a smile. Wu Yueying gracefully bowed and said, "Yueying greets Your Majesty of Gengyue Kingdom. Please answer the question." When Wu Yueying looked up and saw Yu Zhou, she was startled and stared blankly. She was even surprised, but she was immediately pulled back by Zhan Ge's gaze.

"What are your thoughts, my esteemed ministers?" Shen Wuyue asked with amusement, though he already knew the answer. He simply wanted Yu Zhou to reply.

"Does Prime Minister Yu have an answer?" Shen Wuyue asked. Yu Zhou knew he was going to get back at him. This Shen Wuyue clearly knew the answer, but he was deliberately hiding his abilities, pushing himself into the limelight. "This humble subject will try his best," Yu Zhou said pitifully.

"I may ask the two princesses the following questions, and the judgments shall be as follows!"

The question is: Do you think the other princess would say you're fake or real?

Assumption 1, in the morning