After Fang Zilan returned to Beijing, she was quietly sent to Fengyi Palace, as if she had never left. Everyone in Hegong, from Fang Ziqin to Qiu Shui, to the maids, acted as if nothing had ever happened.
Only Awan and Wen Ya came in and out every day and kept taking medicine, so that Fang Zilan's room was always filled with a bitter medicine that lingered for a long time.
Li Shengxuan returned to the busy government affairs. On the one hand, he discussed with Wei Subaru how to rectify the Jiangnan camp and select new generals. On the other hand, he purged the officialdom. Taking the opportunity of Jiangnan officials being buried in the flames of Zuiyue Tower, he began to crack down on corruption one after another. Corrupt actions.
Suddenly, everyone in the court was in danger, even Zhuge Yu, who was cautious in his words and deeds.
One day, when asked privately by his colleagues whether the Zuiyue Tower fire case was related to the Jiangnan Painting Boat fire case, Zhuge Yu said nothing and kept it secret.
When this news reached the ears of Ji Ningtian from Hong'an Pavilion, his face was as dark as water, and he just asked Wu Qing repeatedly: "Lan'er, did she really block the knife for Li Shengxuan, and she has still not recovered from her serious injury?"
However, no matter how many times he asked, all he got was Wu Qing's resolute affirmative answer, which made his face become more and more embarrassed, and finally he growled, "That's enough."
Wu Qing remained silent, and Ji Ningtian said in a deep voice: "The Hongtai and Honghe brothers and sisters are missing, and the bandits are leaderless. The chief and deputy generals of the Jiangnan camp have been replaced, and more than half of the officials have been killed or injured. The water has been muddied. Murong Qing, don't let me. It’s better to be disappointed.”
"Master Qi, Miluo's credentials were delivered to the capital yesterday." Wu Qing spoke cautiously, and Ji Ningtian looked relieved, "It seems that the show is about to begin."
Sure enough, on the second day after Miluo's credentials were delivered to Beijing, there was an uproar. There is no other reason than that the person requested by the credential is Li Qianning, Princess Dejia of Dajing.
When Fang Ziqin heard the news, she couldn't help but be stunned, and said thoughtfully: "Queen Miluo has been dead for less than three months. According to Miluo's rules, the mourning period has not even passed. The king of the country, Mu Churui, went to De It would be too hasty for Jia to seek marriage and marry Qin and Jin in Dajing."
Qiushui on the side couldn't help but said: "Mother, is it possible that there were rumors at the beginning of the year that Prince Zhongzheng was going to return to the country to visit his relatives, which made their king anxious?"
"You mean, Miluo's priest's prophecy?" Fang Ziqin raised her eyebrows, Qiu Shui pursed her lips and said, "I don't dare to speak nonsense. It's just..."
She didn't say any more, but Fang Ziqin understood clearly and changed her voice when she spoke again, "How is Lan'er today?"
"Third Miss is still silent today. Although Miss Awan is talking to her, she still doesn't respond." Qiu Shui looked worried, "Mother, Third Miss..."
"Let her go." Fang Ziqin stood up and straightened his sleeves. Seeing this, Qiu Shui said in confusion: "Your Majesty, this is..."
"I haven't gone to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager today." Fang Ziqin calmed down, but Qiu Shui was startled.
After the Empress Dowager returned to the palace, she did not know whether it was to avoid suspicion or something else, but she lived in seclusion all day long, avoiding the need to pay greetings from various palaces, and she seemed to be able to live in peace and contentment without interfering with the affairs of the harem.
Fang Ziqin was noncommittal, but rarely went to pay his respects. Except for the Queen Mother, King Yucheng Li Qiyou and Princess Dejia Li Qianning, there was almost no one else in Yuzhang Palace.
At this critical moment, I'm afraid that Princess Dejia Li Qianning will be here, but I don't know if she is going to ask the Queen Mother to refuse the marriage, or...
"What, are you afraid of meeting Dejia?" Fang Ziqin glanced sideways at Qiu Shui who was following her. After coming out of Fengyi Palace, she looked worried.
"Your Majesty, Princess Dejia refuses to get married, and everyone in the harem knows this." Qiu Shui said, "If we meet Princess Dejia in Yuzhang Palace at this time, I'm afraid that Your Majesty will also be involved."
"A marriage is a marriage between two surnames. This is especially true for a marriage between two countries." Fang Ziqin looked indifferent, "As the Empress of Dajing, this marriage will be placed in front of me sooner or later. By then, Dejia will marry Whether or not to marry is up to Your Majesty and no one else is allowed to decide."
Her voice was neither soft nor serious, but it had an aura of calmness and authority, which made Qiu Shui dare not say anything, so she could only lower her head and follow.
When they arrived at Yuzhang Palace, before Fang Ziqin entered, he heard a clang inside, as if something had been broken. Then Li Qianning's voice sounded, "Grandma, I won't marry! Miluo and other wild places are no better than Baiyue." The smoky land is much better. He, Li Shengxuan, can go get married by himself if he wants to, don’t even think about it..."
"Dejia, don't be presumptuous." The Queen Mother's voice was a bit stern, and Li Qianning said coquettishly: "Grandma, you love me the most, how can you bear to see me marry to a place like Miluo? Moreover, the leader of Miluo is As a concubine, the Queen Mother Lin in the palace has always had a quarrel with her. How can I survive in such a palace if I marry her?"
She said and knelt down with a plop, "Grandma, please feel sorry for your granddaughter and refuse this marriage..."
When Fang Ziqin heard this, she walked in, walked around Li Qianning who was kneeling on the ground, and bowed respectfully to the Empress Dowager, her greetings drowning out Li Qianning's complaints.
"Queen!" Li Qianning straightened up dissatisfied, looked up at Fang Ziqin and said, "I have never seen you come to my grandmother's palace to greet me on weekdays. You are so attentive today. Could it be that you are here to laugh at me..."
"Xiao Ning." The silent Queen Mother couldn't help scolding, "Don't be rude to the Queen."
Li Qianning curled her lips and turned her head, not looking at Fang Ziqin. She only listened to the Queen Mother say: "Queen, Xiaoning is spoiled by the Ai family. Don't take her words to heart."
"Dejia is still young, so I will not care about her, but..." Fang Ziqin paused deliberately for a moment, with a sharp look in his eyes, "If Dejia gets married in the future, she will still be so ignorant. , it will only make people look down upon the royal family of Dajing."
Her words were an obvious knock. The Empress Dowager and the Queen Mother had been in the harem for many years, how could they not hear it?
So the Empress Dowager immediately looked stern, "Ziqin, what do you mean by this?"
"The Miluo Certificate of Credence was delivered yesterday. I don't need to say more about what is written in it. I think both of you already know it." Fang Ziqin said word by word: "Your Majesty will decide this matter. I don't allow others to comment, but... …”
She looked at Li Qianning steadily, and her voice became colder, "If Dejia would rather die, I don't want to force it. After all, the marriage between the two countries is a major national event. If it goes well, a hundred years of peace will be around the corner. If things go wrong, there will be wars and wars, and there will be smoke and fire all over the place."
Hearing this, Li Qianning's face turned pale, but Fang Ziqin paid no attention to her meaning and continued talking to himself, "If you don't have the awareness to do such a big thing, it's better not to do it, so as not to cause unnecessary trouble."
