On the tenth day of the first lunar month, a large banquet is held in Qingshou Palace to entertain the harem and clan members. On the eleventh day, it is held in Shengci Palace.
On the evening of the 13th, a family banquet was held in Shengci Palace. The Queen Mother Zhu held a banquet to entertain everyone in the harem.
Empress Dowager Xiang of Qingshou Palace came to sit down with her, met each other and then went back. Empress Liu of Chongen Palace did not come because she was feeling unwell.
After Queen Meng of Longyou Palace toasted to Zhu, Queen Zeng and Imperial Concubine Ming, she also stood up to say goodbye and left with Princess Rongguo first.
After she left, Mrs. Zhu asked someone to take down the curtain that separated the inside and outside.
"There is nothing we can do about it due to etiquette and law. It's just that the curtain is hanging in the middle, which is really uncomfortable." Mrs. Zhu said, and when she said this, she motioned to the maid next to her to pour wine for Zhao Si.
"Officials don't like to drink, and I won't advise you on weekdays. But now is a festive day, so just drink some in moderation to cheer up."
The palace maid walked up to Zhao Si lightly, with a graceful posture. She held a bottle of wine in her right hand, smoothed her skirt with her left hand, knelt down, turned sideways, then picked up the wine bottle with both hands, and carefully poured it into Zhao Si's glass.
Fill up the wine.
She lowered her head and saw only dark clouds of hair on her temples and a section of snow-white nape.
Everything was done in accordance with palace etiquette, with elegant and meticulous movements. When the wine was filled, the palace maid raised her head and glanced at Zhao Si.
At this time, Zhao Si could clearly see the appearance of the palace maid, she was charming and bright, her brows and eyes were like green indigo water, soft and graceful.
When you are fourteen or fifteen years old, you are in your golden years.
Zhao Si thought she looked familiar and looked at her twice, but said nothing.
Mrs. Zhu saw this in her eyes and did not say anything. She just advised him softly: "Guan family, have a good drink."
"Thank you, Mother, for the wine." Zhao Si picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.
Zhu's eyes jumped from Zhao Si to Zeng, then from Zeng to Ming, and then back to Zhao Si.
"In the official family, state affairs are important, but the prosperity of the heirs is also a big deal. Now that the year has expired, the decline has been over, and the path of human ethics has been fulfilled."
Zhu changed the topic and began to urge Zhao Si to give birth to an heir as soon as possible.
Zhao Si smiled faintly, "Mother reminds me, my son will definitely keep it in mind."
Shang Gong beside Zhu swayed, as if he wanted to say something, but Zhu noticed it and stopped him with a wink.
When Zhao Si, Zeng Shuhua, and Ming Zhaoxia took their leave together, Zhu said kindly to the maid serving the wine: "Mrs. Liu Sanni, you should also go down and have a rest."
"yes."
With the support of Shang Gong, Mrs. Zhu slowly walked into the dimly lit Buddhist hall. Mrs. Zhu spent most of the day here.
Mrs. Zhu slowly knelt down in front of the statue of Guanyin in white, and Shang Gong also knelt beside her. They both recited the "Guanyin Mantra" in unison.
After reading, Shang Gong poured another cup of hot tea and put it in Zhu's hand.
"Your Majesty, this Madam Liu Sanni is from Chong'en Palace. Could it be that Madam Liu's chess piece?"
"What about the chess pieces? Water flows down, and people go up. Once this chess piece becomes noble, it won't be so obedient. The sun is setting over there, and the boom is rising over there. As long as you are not a fool, you will know
How to choose? Madam Liu Sanni, I can tell by looking at her eyes that she is a smart and clever girl."
"My Lady, since you are determined to give Lady Liu Sanniang to the official family, why not take advantage of today's opportunity and give it to her directly?"
"You don't know. Of the two couples, the official and the empress, one is as rich as Yuan Ting and Yue Zhi; the other is deaf and mute, but his heart is like a bright mirror. If it weren't for the official's birth from my belly,
I was really a little scared when I came out. I don’t want to be such a bad person in the middle, so please take your time.”
Shang Gong did not persuade him on this matter. The last time Zhu asked for mercy from Xing Shu, news came within a few days that this man died of illness in the Penal Department Prison.
At that time, Mrs. Zhu spent a whole day and night reciting Buddhist sutras in front of the Buddhist hall. Shang Gong was so frightened that he was uneasy for several days. From then on, he never dared to persuade officials about anything.
It's so scary.
After a moment of silence, Shang Gong said again: "Your Majesty, the person in Chong'en Palace is still too short-sighted. I have heard some rumors from somewhere recently, and I have a prejudice against the officials not giving her a title. Servant
Are you worried that this person will cause trouble?"
"Making trouble? It's not her turn yet! If the officials don't take care of her, the queen will take care of her." Zhu paused for a while, with a little evil look on her face.
"Sixth brother only cared about military and state affairs during his lifetime, and neglected the management of the harem. He only favored the one in the Chong'en Palace and was very indulgent. The Ministry of Internal Affairs was in a mess, and oversights were everywhere. The official family stopped serving internal affairs for three years.
The purpose of recruiting new people is to completely clear it. Now it seems that it has not been cleaned up yet. The news from the outside spread in so quickly. If it can be spread in, it will naturally spread out. "
"Empress, you mean there are people outside who are causing trouble, and Chong'en Palace is one of the people who was hooked up?"
"If there hadn't been any trouble outside, why did that person in Chong'en Palace change his expression all of a sudden? A few days ago, he had tried so hard to send the palace maids over in an attempt to please me and the officials. In the past few days, I heard that
When there was some news, he changed his face. Sixth Brother, why did you find such a confused woman!"
Mrs. Zhu sighed a few times, "If she still acts like a monster, even if I want to save her and give her a good death, I'm afraid it will be difficult."
Shang Gong asked cautiously: "My Lady, is the storm a bit heavy this time?"
"Although there is no sign of wind or clouds, the undercurrent is turbulent and difficult to deal with. Strong winds and heavy rain must have the power of thunder. I just hope that this time, Brother Thirteen will not kill too many people."
Shang Gong glanced at Zhu's back and said hesitantly: "Mother, I think it would be better for the official family to give birth to an heir as soon as possible to eliminate some people's thoughts."
Mrs. Zhu suddenly raised her head, looked in a certain direction, and said solemnly: "Yes, official heirs are indeed a top priority."
"The emperors of the Song Dynasty, starting from the late Emperor Yingzong, have mostly been short-lived, so there have been many twists and turns in the crown prince's accession to the throne. If things are not prosperous, everything will turn upside down. Guan Jia is only nineteen years old, and his body must be the best among all the emperors.
, should have the appearance of longevity. The heirs are in urgent need, but there is still time to calmly turn things around."
"When this matter is finished, I will come forward. Mrs. Liu Sanni will choose one or two concubines to enter the palace, and the matter will be settled." Mrs. Zhu stopped, leaned down, and saluted the portrait of Guanyin.
"Please bless Master Guanyin..."
The next night, Zhao Si sat in the Dongyu study room and listened to the reports from eldest grandson Moli and Cao Duo.
"Is he the mastermind behind this?" Zhao Si looked at the report in his hand and asked with a frown.
"Yes, this is the official official."
"I can't see that this person is so cruel and crazy that he wants to bury millions of people in Kaifeng City with him!" Zhao Si raised his head and asked, "Are these the only clues?"
"Officials, we have basically figured out this person's whereabouts, who he came into contact with, and the help he received from those people. He stole twelve barrels of kerosene from the Lize Military Factory, and with the help of some people, he quietly transported
Entered Kaifeng City. Yesterday and today, we took action. In addition to the two barrels previously found and seized, we also seized six barrels of kerosene. At the same time, we arrested 15 party members and 63 people involved."
After hearing what Cao Duo said, Zhao Si's eyes couldn't help but become cold, "There are still four barrels of kerosene!"
Cao Duo had a little sweat on his forehead and continued to answer: "We can't find the mastermind at the moment."
"Four barrels of kerosene, and the mastermind behind the scenes, disappeared under your noses?"
"I neglected my duty! I deserve death!" Cao Duo knelt down with a thud.
Zhao Si stepped forward, helped him up, and said sadly: "If the thieves set fire to Kaifeng City tomorrow night, you and I will both deserve death!"
Changsun Moli, who was standing next to him, spoke.
"The official family, I have a plan that I can try."
He briefly stated his thoughts. As soon as he finished speaking, Cao Duo shook his head like a rattle, "No, this plan won't work! I can't let the officials put themselves in danger!"
Zhao Si thought about it and was not convinced of the danger. On the contrary, he felt that it was a feasible strategy, especially in the current impasse.
"I think it's feasible. Is it dangerous? Is it dangerous to jump through the gap between eight willows? Is it dangerous to lead Xia's army into Hehuang? This is Kaifeng City, my territory! Will you be frightened by an arrogant person? Is he crazy? I'm better than
He’s still crazy!”
Zhao seemed to have no doubt and said: "Now we will discuss the details." This chapter has been completed!