Yuanchun washed his hands and left Ning Mansion with Jia Heng seeing him off.
I had just returned to my courtyard and was about to tell Baoqin and the maid to prepare hot water for a bath.
But I saw a woman who usually served me say, "Miss, my wife has called you over."
Yuan Chun was startled for a moment, so he had to get up and go to Mrs. Wang's courtyard. When he entered the side room, he saw his mother sitting on the bed, holding a scroll of Buddhist scriptures and reading by candlelight. Her cheeks were much rosier than before.
Yuan Chun stepped forward and said, "Mom, please call me."
Mrs. Wang put down the Buddhist scriptures, reached out and patted the bed beside her, and said with a smile: "Big girl, come sit here."
Yuanchun responded with a "hmm" and sat down next to Mrs. Wang.
Yuanchun turned around and asked, "My mother is feeling better now. How is her appetite for food?"
Mrs. Wang said: "I found Master Miaoyu from Muni Yuan and read the scriptures. Surprisingly, I felt much better."
Yuan Chun breathed a sigh of relief and said softly: "Then you have to thank Master Miaoyu properly."
"I prayed to stay a few more days and rested in the nunnery in the backyard until you meet again tomorrow to talk." Mrs. Wang said with a smile.
Yuanchun nodded slightly and asked, "Why don't you see Baoyu?"
"He is in the old lady's room right now." Mrs. Wang said with a chuckle, turning her eyes to look at her daughter. She has a beautiful appearance, dignified manner, and a face that looks like a blooming peony. She looks like she is rich and powerful at first glance.
Looks good, but it’s a pity...
Mrs. Wang felt resentful towards someone again.
"Big girl, we and I are here and there are no outsiders, so we can just talk about what's on our mind," Mrs. Wang took Yuan Chun's little hand and said softly.
Yuanchun had a vague premonition in his heart, his face changed a little, and he said: "Mom, please tell me."
Mrs. Wang said softly: "As for you, you have been sensible since you were a child, and you have never let me worry about it. In a blink of an eye, you are now a big girl. Now you have been back from the palace for many days. I am thinking that life-long affairs also need to be done."
Make a decision as soon as possible."
After thinking about it, I finally felt that I could no longer let Yuanchun do what he wanted.
Yuan Chun frowned and said: "Mom, uncle's things haven't been ready these days. Let me put mine away first."
Mrs. Wang said: "I didn't say it now. I just wanted to let you know in advance. After this year, I will let your father and your uncle choose families with good backgrounds and good character in the capital.
"
Yuanchun hesitated and said: "Mom, are you too hasty?"
Mrs. Wang sighed: "Big girl, after this year, you will be on your way to your twenties. It's not good to delay it any longer."
Yuanchun's plump and jade face paused slightly, "Mom, my marriage, didn't Brother Heng say that I would..."
Mrs. Wang snorted coldly and said: "My parents' orders and the matchmaker's words, I am still here, how can I let others worry about them?"
Yuan Chun said softly: "Brother Heng is the clan leader after all, and he brought me out of the palace."
When Mrs. Wang heard this, her unpleasant memories were evoked again, and her face turned cold.
In other words, Mrs. Wang still has to maintain her kind face in front of outsiders, but in front of her eldest daughter, she has to reveal some true thoughts.
"Do you really think he means well?"
Yuanchun's heart skipped a beat and asked, "What do you mean, mother?"
Mrs. Wang looked indifferent and said: "He is now in charge of the clan and is becoming more and more powerful. Even the old lady respects him. He was anxious to take you out of the palace at the beginning because he was worried about you gaining the auspiciousness of Luan Feng.
, overshadowing him."
When Yuanchun heard this, he remained silent.
I am not acquiescing to this statement, but I am thinking of what Jia Heng said before, not to argue in case there is a grudge between mother and daughter.
Seeing Yuanchun's silence, Mrs. Wang mistakenly thought that her daughter had listened.
It can be said that Mrs. Wang's biggest concern is that Jia Heng brought Yuan Chun out of the palace.
Previously, due to Yuanchun's hardship in the palace, she couldn't speak directly. Otherwise, it would seem that she was neglecting her daughter for the sake of wealth.
Now I simply let go of the grievances in my heart and took the opportunity to express my feelings.
"Big girl, my mother knows that you have suffered a lot in the palace for so many years, but why has my mother not suffered so much? You are the meat that fell from my mother's body." Mrs. Wang said, feeling a little emotional.
: "But I understand, I don't want you to live a life of glory and dignity? But now that others are interfering with it, isn't your suffering all these years in vain?"
Yuanchun sighed softly and said: "Mother, it is not as easy as you think in the palace. The queen is in charge of everything in the sixth palace. Without her permission, whoever is restless and has extravagant thoughts will end up doing harm to himself and the clan.
It will bring disaster."
In the palace, over the years, she has seen many palace maids trying to get along with others, but in the end they all ended badly.
Although she is the daughter of a prince, she is isolated from the inside and outside, and has limited fear of the evil spirits in the harem.
Mrs. Wang added: "Didn't your uncle send a lot of money to the eunuch of the Sixth Palace? He promised that he would hear good news in one or two years."
He secretly thought that even if he didn't have the opportunity to be the concubine of Tianhuang and stay by the queen's side, he could still get in touch with some noble people of Tianhuang. I heard that the queen's two sons were very old, so being a concubine or a side concubine would not be considered as a disgrace to Yuanchun's character.
.
But it’s hard to say what’s in your heart in front of your own daughter, otherwise you’ll be targeting the emperor one moment, and if it doesn’t work out the next moment, it’s not bad to be the emperor’s daughter-in-law. This is too...
Yuanchun said softly: "It's not that easy."
After thinking for a while, he said: "The day before yesterday, Brother Heng and I also talked about this matter."
Mrs. Wang said: "What did you say to him? What can he care about? If it weren't for her, you wouldn't delay."
Yuan Chun said: "Brother Heng said that he will pay attention to it. In the next two years, he will first go to the eldest princess's house to praise the talented person."
Mrs. Wang: "..."
There was a surprise in his heart, and he asked: "In the eldest princess's house? Is it the eldest princess Jinyang who is the sister of the Holy Emperor?"
He secretly thought that if he was still in the eldest princess's house in Jinyang and still hadn't left the Tian family, he might not be able to become a princess or concubine again.
Yuan Chun glanced at the change in Mrs. Wang's expression. He didn't know what his mother had planned. He sighed secretly and deliberately followed Mrs. Wang's mood and said: "Mom, Brother Heng is the leader of the clan, even if he takes the opinions of the clan into consideration."
, he will also worry more about me. If he cares about me, there is nothing he can't accomplish."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang felt that it made sense, and nodded: "You are right, he has always been... used to doing these kind of things."
But he swallowed the donkey dung and eggs, which looked smooth on the surface.
Thinking about it this way, I suddenly felt that Yuanchun ran to Dongfu, which seemed to be somewhat understandable.
Mrs. Wang added: "However, we can't just expect him to wait until after the Chinese New Year to pay attention to my mother."
It can be said that with Wang Ziteng's loss of power, Mrs. Wang is in urgent need of a powerful person to rely on to embolden the Jia family. So what is better than finding a good son-in-law for her own daughter?
After all, he is half a son-in-law.
Yuanchun and Mrs. Wang talked for a while longer. When the time came, Fang walked back to his courtyard with tired steps, held Qin in his arms and said, "Girl, the hot water is ready."
Yuanchun responded, entered the inner compartment, put down the curtain pulled up by the golden hook, lit the bright candlelight, and was served by the maid holding the harp, she took off her skirt, revealing her plump figure like mutton-fat white jade, and her two
A pair of straight, round jade legs stepped into the tub, and the full moon sank into the water, causing splashes.
"Girl, did your wife just urge you to get married?" Baoqin asked.
"It has been quite a while since I left the palace, and my mother is a little anxious." Yuanchun said softly.
She was quite anxious about her marriage, so she should at least settle it down, not to mention getting married immediately.
Baoqin took a towel and helped Yuanchun scrub his snow-white back, and said: "Miss, you are not young anymore. If you settle down earlier, you will feel more at ease. Otherwise, if you keep delaying it, a good marriage will be delayed."
Yuanchun sighed quietly, gently scrubbing the heavy granary with his hands, looking at the candlelight on the tables, a pair of quiet, warm eyes seemed to be dancing.
Yuanchun shook his head quickly and bit his lips.
…
…
The next day, Kunning Palace
People in the palace were coming and going in a hurry, and the sound of silk and bamboo orchestral music could be heard faintly in the warm palace, mixed with laughter and laughter.
Empress Song was wearing a goose-yellow palace dress. She was sitting on a long brocade couch paved with soft mattresses. On the small table in front of her, there were melons and fruit refreshments. On the small tables on both sides of the bottom, there were rows of low-quality goods sitting with each other.
Concubines.
Concubine Duanrong and Princess Xianning were sitting on the golden pier next to Empress Song. As for Wei Wang Chen Ran and Liang Wang Chen Wei, they were sitting on a small table together.
This was not the case when King Wei gave birth to a baby. Every time there was a baby in the palace, the concubines would always come to join in the fun, in order to please Empress Song, the lord of the Sixth Palace.
Empress Song looked at Princess Xianning and said with a smile: "Xianning, the beautiful Dawan horse you gave me is a bit too expensive."
Yesterday, after Princess Xianning returned, she told Empress Song about the horse buying process in the East Market yesterday, and by the way, she also talked about the conflict with Prince Zhongshun's second son, Chen Rui.
Empress Song didn't express much about this, but she was actually somewhat happy to see the outcome.
Princess Xianning said: "My brother will open his palace next year. This is the last child born in the palace. As a younger sister, I should also give him a good horse to wish him fast hooves and a bright future."
When Empress Song heard this, she smiled gently and said, "Xianning is interested."
Not far away, by the side of the stall, Liang Wang Chen Wei said with a smile: "Second brother, how about you lend me your bloody horse for two days?"
The King of Wei smiled and said: "You and my brother say whether we can borrow it or not. If you like it, I can just give it to you."
"I don't dare. This is given to you by the fifth sister. Why don't you give it to me? I'll just borrow it for two days to ride on it." Liang Wang Chen Wei said hurriedly.
When Queen Song heard the two brothers joking, her eyes showed relief. She smiled at Princess Xianning beside her and said, "Brother Wei Wang, it is too shameful to transfer the horse you gave to Wei'er."
Princess Xianning chuckled and said: "Mother, since I gave the treasure colt to the emperor's brother, it is the emperor's business to deal with it, and it does not need to depend on my wishes."
"Your Majesty, once General Yunhui handed over the sign to the palace, I am currently meeting with the Holy Majesty in the Daming Palace." Suddenly, a female official entered the palace, walked to the side of Empress Song, and said in a low voice.
When Empress Song heard this, a smile appeared on her face and she said: "The king and his ministers will talk about business first, and it won't be too late to come over later to talk."
As long as people can come over.
Daming Palace, inner study room
After listening to Jia Heng's report on the reorganization of the Beijing camp, Emperor Chongping nodded and said: "Old Li Ge said the day before yesterday that you are leading the troops well. The troops in the Guo Yong camp are in good order and have the appearance of a strong army. He also advised me.
I have agreed to hold a military parade on the first day of the first lunar month, and you should prepare well in the coming months."
Jia Heng said: "I will definitely live up to your Majesty's expectations."
Emperor Chongping warned again: "Take your time and don't be impatient."
Jia Heng nodded.
Emperor Chongping encouraged him with a few words, handed over a memorial from the imperial case, and said: "By the way, this is the memorial from the Metropolitan Procuratorate. It says that it is unbecoming of you to erect a monument for the fallen soldiers to record the events. It is not appropriate to patrol the city."
Yushi Kang Zhixue died in a festival, and there is no such mourning and honor. I say that you value the soldiers and underestimate the scholars."
As the civil servants of the Military and Horse Division of the Five Cities invited some stone workers to start construction in the West City to erect monuments for the fallen soldiers, this scene fell in the eyes of some officials in the imperial court.
Because Jia Heng had just made great achievements, not many people went against the trend.
However, the secret political rival was unwilling to be left alone and instructed the imperial censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate to conduct an impeachment to test Emperor Chongping's will.
Jia Heng took the memorial and read it, his words as fierce as ever.
The memorial even said that he bought people's hearts and raised his hopes.
In fact, in the Han Dynasty, there were almost no officials who were not impeachable in the court. Now Jia Heng is qualified to raise the flag, and what follows is the stare of the official of the Ministry of Education. It is almost conceivable that from then on,
Such impeachment memorials will continue to flow.
Even Yang Guochang, the chief minister of the cabinet, and several cabinet ministers were often impeached by Ke Daoyan.
Jia Heng looked calm and said loudly: "Liwei Yingluo rebelled and conspired. In order to protect the peace of the god Jing, the Five Cities Military and Horse Division and the Jinyi Mansion fought bloody battles and suffered heavy casualties. I thought that I could reward them for their contribution by erecting a monument to record the events."
Inspiring the troops of the five cities to be loyal to the king and defend the country. As for the impeachment of the censor, it is pure nonsense. He allowed the civil gentry to build bridges and pave roads and set up monuments to record the events. How can he die in the affairs of the country?
They maliciously speculated, used the intention of being a general to ruin the school, harmed the saintly morality, and even intended to start a civil-military dispute with ulterior motives!"
When Emperor Chongping heard this, his face moved slightly, and he said in a deep voice: "I have planned to review and reprimand. Previously, the Military and Horse Division of the Five Cities and the Jinyi Mansion took advantage of the opportunity to protect the tranquility of the sacred capital, which was meritorious. I have already ordered the cabinet to issue a commendation and reward.
Merit, and the dispute between civil and military affairs has been around for a long time. Now that you are a military hero and have full authority to rectify the capital camp, you will inevitably receive unwarranted criticism. Just do your job with your heart and ignore it."
In fact, Emperor Chongping was really negligent in the past. He issued an order to support the Jinyi Mansion and the Wucheng Army and Horses Division, but the civil servants also ignored the bloody sacrifices of the Wucheng Army and Horses Division and the Jinyi Mansion.
Jia Heng cupped his hands and said, "The Holy One, the Holy Ming."
After thinking for a while, he reported again: "Your Majesty, the military affairs are in decline now, and the state's finances are not enough to award military merits to the land and houses. Perhaps we can make more contributions to the Airong Alliance."
Whether it is the Qin military system or the Fu military system, land is bound to military merit. Even later generations of local tyrants were attacked and the land was divided, which greatly boosted the morale of the soldiers.
But today in Chen and Han, most of the land in the world has owners, while the unowned wastelands are suffering from natural disasters.
In addition, the treasury is empty, which is reflected in the war, that is, there is no reward for meritorious service and no compensation for death. If this is the case, why do the generals and soldiers still work hard?
Since we can't give any material incentives, we should pay more attention to spiritual rewards.
He erected monuments for the Five Cities Military and Horse Department to record events, which attracted malicious slander from the civil and military officials of the court. Such a major event could only be promoted by Emperor Chongping himself.
Emperor Chongping thought for a while, and then expressed his expectations and explanations: "Even if there is no way to defeat Shi Yanran, he still needs a significant victory to stop the criticism from above and below."
The subtext is that we can't do this kind of thing now.
Jia Heng nodded.
Emperor Chongping suddenly asked: "King Wei is having a baby. Didn't the queen send an invitation to your house?"
Jia Heng said: "It is indeed true. I will go to Kunning Palace later to pay my respects to the empress."
"You go first, and I will go over to have dinner at noon," Emperor Chongping said.