Chapter Thirty-Three Entering the Palace for a Banquet
On the twenty-ninth day of the winter lunar month in the twenty-fourth year of the Sheng Yuan Dynasty, the winter solstice marked nine cold days and auspicious snow in winter. Kyoto was covered in jade and silver. This year's cold winter is already the second snow since the beginning of winter.
She stopped on the steps of the pavilion in the backyard, wearing a large fox velvet cloak. Different from the pink and jade-carved face last year, the difference is that her hair ornaments now look like a woman's.
She looked towards the frozen lake in front of her. Two inches of snow had been piled on the lake early. The servants of the house poured all the snow from the road into the lake, and it will be melted away in the coming year.
His hands were wrapped in snow-grey fox velvet manuscripts. He had been standing here for a long time. His eyes were sad and his red lips were pursed tightly. His face and nose, which were originally white, were slightly red from the cold. There were many people waiting behind him.
Dare to speak and break the long-standing stalemate.
She thought that at this time last year she was still a carefree daughter of the Yuan family, but this year she was already a scheming princess. Not only did she learn to assess the situation, but she also had to avoid open and covert attacks. If her grandfather and aunt knew that the flowers they were holding in their hands had suffered like this.
If there is too much murder, will she be taken away?
From the hot summer to the severe winter, she was always planning and planning in the past three months. Maybe Wen Zhao's drunken sex at the banquet that day was just the beginning, but if it hadn't been for that, how could Mrs. Chu approve of her and be willing to support her?
Her plan for Wenchu was just the beginning of her stepping into the whirlpool of the court.
No! Maybe it was the day she built the study library? Maybe it was the day she discovered that King Huai was related to Yun Jianlai? Maybe it was the day she returned to Kyoto? Maybe it was the day she was given a marriage... She is now
It's no longer possible to escape.
Now she not only knows that the officials who came to kill in Yunjian were all members of King Huai's party, but she also understands that this great title is not as powerful as King Huai appears on the surface, but secretly there are people competing with King Huai.
Who is it? She doesn’t know!
Under the control of the Chu family, Ma Tan is now Shangshu Zuosilang, which can be regarded as a truly important official position. However, Ma Baozhang's incident has always been a drawback for the Ma family. There are constant rumors. Perhaps when he comes to the Holy Emperor that day
, he has the ability to resist rumors.
Wen Qi and Chu Che's wedding ceremony is scheduled for March next year, but Chu Xuan's wedding ceremony is in May. The old house has prepared their wedding ceremony early.
The other family is still happy, Ma Baozhang is pregnant, and Wen Zhao wants to raise her up again. The Wen family disagrees and keeps suppressing it. This time they are eager to marry Wen Zhao a wife, but who is willing to marry a girl from a good family?
To Wen Zhao, why should we go and suffer when we know clearly that Wen Zhao loves Ma Baozhang? Wen is a good girl who wants to ruin her family again!
This year's number one scholar is from a poor family again. He inherited Ma Tan's position as Doctor of the Imperial College. It seems that this position has become a springboard for students from poor families. Ma Tan has been powerless and has been Dr. Ma for seven years. Now with the help of the Chu family
Only then did he move. I wonder if this new rich man's life is better.
At present, the Holy One has the intention to promote poor families. Perhaps the clan is too popular and will be suppressed if they do not recognize their own status. As a Nine-Five Master, one has always known the way of checks and balances. The clan has been comfortable for many years. Today, the descendants of the clan
If you can't contribute anything to the court, you can only sit back and rest on the merits of your ancestors, and from time to time you will cause troubles and squeeze the people. Naturally, the court will not raise these young masters who get something for nothing in vain.
Duke Zhengguo was like this. He relied on the honor of his uncle and the ancestors of the Hao family to cause trouble again and again, and the Holy One saw it. Maybe when King Huai came to the throne, the Holy One would deal with the Hao family, and maybe he would not consider Huai at all.
king.
The Liu family has a small population, and they have always lived behind closed doors, not allowing the outside world to argue. There are also descendants who are doing idle official posts, but they know how to hide their presence. It is a pity that Qin Mian is not coming back. If he comes back, he can fight for it.
seat.
By the way, it's the New Year's Eve, so why should Qin Mian not come back even if he's already married? The third son of the Wen family will come back when the New Year's Eve comes. Doesn't he know that there's a family waiting for him in the capital? Maybe.
This is the season for war!
She recently had the idea of expanding the student library and building a restaurant. There are so many famous students coming here, especially June and July, which are the peak seasons for taking exams. She might as well start the construction together in the spring next year, so as not to delay business and expand the space.
During the cold winter months in Pinxianju, the sea continued to wander. The sea was frozen in winter, making it difficult to salvage. She raised her clerk's wages by 50% and purchased goods at a high price. However, the selling price did not increase. Now she can only earn
She doesn't care about these furs at all. After spring, the earth warms up and everything returns to its original state. It's still a good deal!
She paused under the pavilion for a long time, and suddenly a maid called out: "See you, Madam, someone is coming from the palace!"
If it hadn't been for this sound, she might have been in a trance for a longer time. She walked towards the main house. Qiu Kang, who was delivering the order, had been waiting for her for a long time. When he saw her coming, he smiled and bowed: "The miscellaneous family meets Princess Qi, the palace.
There is an oral instruction in it, telling the empress to come to the palace to assist in the New Year's Eve banquet!"
"I'm sorry that Eunuch Qiu made this trip on a snowy day." She nodded calmly to Qiu Kang.
It is common in the palace for the princess to enter the palace to prepare a banquet. In the past, the queen or Concubine Du Shu prepared the banquet. In the past few years, Concubine Huai assisted, but this year it was Concubine Huai who hosted the banquet to assist her. Now that Concubine Du Shu has fallen out of favor and power, it is not her turn. Jianzhang
The palace was also like a cold palace. The queen wanted to train her daughter-in-law, so she wanted to help after all. She didn't understand the whole process, and she and Ning Ruoshui didn't get along, so she just went there and did more and talked less. If she could, she wouldn't interfere.
Qiu Kang was a young eunuch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He was a slave who was favored by others. He often did errands to convey orders to ministers and was familiar with many courtiers.
"Ouch! It's an honor for the Za family to deliver the edict to the Queen. Princess Huai has been in the palace for a few days. Please ask Princess Qi to leave as soon as possible. The saint in the palace is still waiting!"
"Understood! I will leave now, Si Yu will watch and reward you!"
After sending Qiu Kang away, she went back to her room to write a letter. It was not easy to send out letters after entering the palace. She would not be able to come back until after the first month of the year to explain the situation to Yongzhou and send New Year's gifts in advance.
Everything was packed and there were people to take care of her in daily life after entering the palace, so she only brought Si Yu and Qian Guanguan with her, and sent Aunt An and the servants in the mansion to go home after the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month to celebrate the New Year. Naturally, she couldn't take them with her when she entered the palace.
The guards, Su Hua and Fu Feng could only stay in the palace, and they felt a little insecure without them by their side.
At noon, the winter sun was slightly slanting, and it started to snow again after noon. She got into the carriage wearing a silver-white velvet fur coat, and drove for half an hour to the Zhuque Gate.
After walking for nearly half an hour, I arrived at Fengyi Palace, which was carved with gold and jade, to pay my respects to the queen. She stood in the center of the palace, and the queen sat on the main seat and looked at her with a smile. She was obviously thinner than before, maybe she had been ill.
Because of this, for people over fifty years old, it is difficult to make up for the loss of Qi and blood.
On the side is Ning Ruoshui, who is looking forward to it. She is very proud of getting such a good job. She wears a slim-fitting coat in Yang Fei color, with rabbit fur collar and cuffs. The material is all covered with dense patterns embroidered with gold thread.
The border is decorated with Baoxiang flowers.
If you didn't know Ning Ruoshui's personality, you would have thought that she was a virtuous and kind-hearted sister next door who was easy to get along with. Unfortunately, she was just pretending in front of the Queen.
"My son, please see your mother!" Chu Yunjing quickly stepped forward and saluted.
The queen's face was obviously covered with thick powder, and the dark blue under her eyes was looming, and her voice was much lighter: "You are here! We are all waiting for you, sit down quickly!" The queen casually pointed to the seat opposite Ning Ruoshui,
She sat on it politely.
The golden nanmu official chair in the Winter Palace was padded with thick brocade cotton cushions, making it very comfortable to sit on. She smelled the strong fragrance of phoenix marrow in Fengyi Palace, but she still vaguely asked about the smell of medicinal materials.
It seems that the queen is very ill and she is holding on to see the guests. Concubine Zhang said that the queen is sick during the hot summer. It has been more than four months. Why is it that the cold weather has not improved? Judging from Ning Ruoshui's beaming expression, it is probably not true.
Knowing that the queen was ill, the queen might not tell her son.
"On New Year's Day, we invite all the civil and military officials to gather at the Qilin Hall for a meal. You two, Si Si, remember to help each other and arrange it yourself. Don't make any mistakes that will damage the prestige of our country. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Six Shang Bureau are with you.
As for dispatch, I will send Aunt Hui to assist you!" The queen asked earnestly.
When Ning Ruoshui heard the words "Aunt Hui", her expression changed instantly. She remembered the previous incident at the Zhengguo Palace, in which Ning Ruoshui had participated a lot. Aunt Hui had a very bad impression of her. If Aunt Hui helped her, she would have no advantage.
"Don't worry, Mother! With such smart people as Aunt Hui and my siblings, I believe nothing will go wrong. Please rest well in Fengyi Palace and don't worry about it anymore." After being stunned for a moment, Ning Ruoshui spoke sweetly.
road.
Chu Yunjing looked slightly worried: "Mother, take care of yourself!"
When the queen heard this, she looked at her with a somewhat sad look, then sighed and nodded.
"Let's leave today. Let's go and have a rest, mother!" She stood up and bowed before leaving.
Ning Ruoshui originally wanted to stay for a while, but Chu Yunjing had already spoken and the queen wanted to stand up, so Ning Ruoshui could only follow her out of Fengyi Palace.
When he came out, he looked like a different person, with an unhappy look on his face, and sarcastically said: "You are here to help me, so you must clarify your position. Take care of what you shouldn't do, and do less of what you shouldn't do. You are an ignorant person."
Yes, I advise you to restrain yourself..."
Chu Yunjing really didn't want to listen to these bullshit that threatened her, so she raised her face and pouted at Ning Ruoshui nonchalantly, looked at Ning Ruoshui as if she were a fool, said "Oh~", turned around and left, regardless of how angry Ning Ruoshui was.
Jaw-dropping.
There were many palace people coming and going here, so Ning Ruoshui couldn't help but curse loudly to vent her anger, so she took a deep look at Chu Yunjing's back while holding in her breath.
The palace people led Chu Yunjing to an independent palace on the left between Shenlong Palace and Fengyi Palace - Jiuhua Palace. This was the former palace of King Qi. It had not been occupied by anyone for seven years, and now it became her residence.
There are four palaces for the emperor's heirs. The Yihua Palace behind Jiuhua Palace and the two palaces on the right back side of Shenlong Palace are for the princesses.
King Huai and the Queen previously lived in Fengyi Palace, and now the sixth prince lives in Yihua Palace, which is the prince's residence before entering the East Palace. The emperor has few heirs, so there are only a few people in these two palaces.