In the Daming Palace——
Emperor Chongping was being kneaded by Empress Song's slender hands on his shoulders, and his face was a bit happy and comfortable, and he said: "In short, it depends on him. If everything is ready, I can go with the flow and be happy to become a prince with him." Son-in-law, right now, the time is not ripe, but we can only take one step at a time."
Empress Song said: "What your Majesty said is true."
Emperor Chongping thought for a while and then reminded: "Zitong, he has just gotten married. If he doesn't have this intention, even I can't force others to do anything. Don't make your own decisions and turn good things into bad things... In addition, you also ask Ask Xianning what he thinks about his mother and concubine, so as not to make his own decisions and get resentful."
Compared with Chen Ran and Chen Wei, the two kings of Qi and Chu, as well as the empress of Song, Emperor Chongping was quite open-minded and gentle regarding his daughter Princess Xianning's marriage and daily behavior.
"I am also worried about Zhi'er. She is not young anymore." Empress Song said with a smile: "As for Jia Ziyu, I just had the idea. From what Your Majesty said, it seems that there is no trace of it. I It’s hard for me to open my mouth anymore.”
This is how marriages in the Tian family are, everything must be done with dignity.
Emperor Chongping pondered for a moment and said: "It can't be said that there is no shadow. Even if I grant a marriage, they must always be in love."
Empress Song said softly: "I saw that Zhi'er couldn't put it down these days with the book of Three Kingdoms. When I asked Ran'er and the others about some of Jia Ziyu's deeds, I paid attention. As for Jia Ziyu, I will wait until next year." After Chun'er is married, Zhi'er will be able to meet him when Ran'er opens his mansion, and we'll see if there are any signs of this happening."
When Emperor Chongping heard this, he was silent for a moment, and a bit of coldness surged in his heart.
His queen was probably looking for arms for Ran'er.
The matter of establishing a direct heir involves the long-term development of the Han Dynasty and needs to be observed slowly. If he did not choose the prince early, he would learn from the lessons of the Longzhi period and give several princes the opportunity to display their talents.
Emperor Chongping's eyes were deep and he thought deeply, "If a prince is appointed, on the one hand, the heir will be appointed early, and he will be careless and slack. On the other hand, he will be jealous of the princes, which will lead to disaster. In all dynasties, all the princes who were appointed early will be deposed. , It is for this reason that this is also a lesson learned from the tragic incident of seizing a legitimate son during the Longzhi period, and I cannot repeat the same mistake."
"That's all, you are a mother. Although Zitong is a queen, you are also a mother..."
Thinking of this and the comfortable feeling on his shoulders, the coldness in Emperor Chongping's heart actually dissipated by seven or eight points.
Empress Song didn't know that her little thoughts had already been seen through by the emperor who was sleeping with her. It was just because she cared about the friendship between husband and wife and felt a little guilty in her heart that Emperor Chongping tolerated her.
But he said that Jia Heng left the palace, mounted his horse, and walked along Zhuque Street, intending to return to Ningguo Mansion.
At that time, it was almost evening, and the sky was filled with sunset.
"Let's go to the eldest princess's mansion first." Jia Heng looked up and saw that it was still early, and couldn't help but think about it.
When you go to the eldest princess's house, you don't need to buy any gifts. Firstly, it's difficult to prepare when you are anxious. Secondly, when you arrive empty-handed, it seems intimate and casual.
In about a quarter of an hour, Jia Heng drove his horse to the eldest princess's mansion with a majestic gate tower and red eaves.
The porter under the eaves was stunned when he saw the young man sitting on the maroon horse, and asked: "Who is this general?"
Because Jia Heng was wearing the robes of a third-grade military attache, he was easily recognized by the servants in front of the Princess Jinyang's mansion.
Jia Heng turned over and dismounted. With a calm face and a clear voice, he said, "Jia Heng would like to see His Highness Jinyang. I apologize for your trouble."
When the servant heard this, he was stunned for a moment, then he realized it and smiled and said: "It turns out to be Mr. Jia. Your Highness has said that if you come to visit in person, just go to the flower hall."
With that said, he called a few servants to come up. While taking the reins from Jia Heng's hand, he said with a warm smile: "Your Majesty, please come."
Jia Heng was silent for a moment, his face paused slightly, and his cold eyes showed a bit of gentleness.
Even if the eldest princess of Han Dynasty did this intentionally, she could still be regarded as a considerate and caring person.
However, he also keenly grasped the word "visit in person". If he sent a servant from Ningguo Mansion to visit, he probably would not be able to get such courtesy.
Jia Heng put away these thoughts and followed the servant into the courtyard.
The servants of the Princess Jinyang's Mansion had already gone inside to report the news.
But in the back garden with rugged rockery and rustling autumn scenery, there is a two-story attic. Under the west window, behind the case, the eldest princess of Jinyang is wearing a light yellow palace dress, with a slender waist and high waist, and a beautiful face. Pink Dai, holding up the bun worn by women of this era, reveals a smooth and jade-like forehead, with a three-petal flower in the middle, white with a little bit of red, bright and charming.
The beauty is currently sitting behind a desk, holding a wool brush and painting with concentration.
On the drawing paper, I saw a girl in a fiery red dress, sitting in a pavilion surrounded by brilliant peach blossoms, stroking the Yao Qin, facing the waterfall hanging in the mountain stream in the distance, and the white crane flew over the blue sky.
I saw an inscription in the upper right corner of the drawing paper, "If life is just like the first time we saw it, why is the autumn wind sad painting fan..."
After finishing the last stroke, the eldest princess of Jinyang put down her pen and murmured softly: "It is easy to change the heart of an old friend, but it is easy to change the heart of an old friend."
The maid Lianxue, who was serving the pen and ink at the side, said in a clear voice: "Your Highness's painting skills have become more and more perfect, and the distant and near scenes are intertwined, but it is a pity that there is only one person sitting alone on the empty mountain."
The eldest princess of Jinyang chuckled lightly, but did not answer Lianxue's inquiry and said: "It's just graffiti. I can't compare to the Fang family, but I can't compare to your family's rich background and exquisite skills."
Lingxue lowered her clear eyes and said softly: "I haven't painted for two years, and my skills have long been rusty."
"Then it's time to pick it up. People like you and me, in this life, always have to find something to put our thoughts on." Princess Jinyang said softly and sighed quietly.
Lianxue said: "I swore two years ago that I would stop painting until my father's injustice was settled."
Princess Yurong of Jinyang paused for a moment, looking at the girl with a somewhat incomprehensible look, and said: "What happened back then was so troubled by right and wrong, so you shouldn't be too attached. You have to look forward. You You are still young and have great years ahead of you.”
Lianxue said: "Then... where is your highness?"
As he said that, he stared at Princess Jinyang.
The eldest princess of Jinyang washed her hands in the golden basin of water brought by the maid nearby, wiped them with a towel, took a cup of fragrant tea, took a sip, heard the words, waved her hand, and signaled the maid to go down.
Lifting her head, a pair of shining eyes looked at Lianxue, who was packing scrolls in front of the bookcase, and said: "The things of the previous generation, many years have passed, Chan Yue has grown up, no matter how hard she holds on to her, she can still How about it? Your father was unjustly killed, but your father was not the only one of the prince’s former members who were unjustly killed back then? If you want to be redressed, I’m afraid you have to wait decades later.”
Decades later, when Emperor Chongping's descendants ascend the throne, they will rehabilitate and show mercy to those who were wrongly accused and implicated. This is the kingly bearing of the victor.
Hearing this, Lianxue was silent for a moment.
She knew that the eldest princess of the Han Dynasty in front of her had not completely let go of the past as she said, otherwise she would not write and paint to express her thoughts.
As for who this meditation was about, she had some vague guesses.
The girl under the peach blossom tree is clearly the eldest princess still in the boudoir, but why is there no sign of the prince Zhan Shifu, the young master Zhan Shi, the former consort?
Come to think of it... there is probably a hidden secret that she doesn't know about.
"The tree wants to be quiet but the wind doesn't stop." Lianxue lowered her eyes and said softly.
I sighed softly in my heart and framed the painting in my hand.
The eldest princess of Jinyang frowned, but she pretended not to have heard these words, and asked: "Beijing, is there any news recently?"
Lianxue's busy hands did not pause for a moment, and she said in a clear voice: "In the past month or so, except for the subsidence of the war in the north, everyone in the imperial court has been paying attention to the disposal of Dongcheng's property. In addition, the Di newspaper said that Wuyingdian University The soldiers are about to leave the capital and go to the border. They will pay tribute to the fallen generals at the border and Wang Ziteng, the military governor of the capital camp, and will return to the capital from three towns in the northwest to check the border."
Hearing this, the eldest princess of Jinyang flashed her clear eyes and said softly: "Every time I go, the court is very lively. By the way, where is Jia Heng? Is there any news about Jia Heng recently?"
Lianxue pursed her lips and said softly: "Not recently... It's just that Your Highness, do you know if I should say something or not?"
Princess Jinyang's smile froze and she asked, "What should I say?"
Lianxue said softly: "My servant thinks that Jia Ziyu seems to be deliberately alienating His Highness these days. He has not visited His Majesty for more than a month since he suppressed the bandits in Cuihua Mountain and returned to the capital. If he is busy with official duties, for more than a month, It’s impossible that you can’t spare half a day of free time, right?”
The eldest princess of Jinyang was silent for a long time, and said quietly: "He has been busy with the errands assigned by the palace recently, and may not be free. Even if... he deliberately distances himself from me, I have nothing to blame him."
Her identity is somewhat sensitive after all.
Not only is the emperor's sister, but there are also some pasts that are hard to mention. If Jia Heng asked Mrs. Rongfu about her, with her mind, she would probably figure out some secrets of the Tian family and avoid her like a snake or a scorpion.
However, at this moment, I heard the mother-in-law outside calling: "Your Highness, Jia Yunhui asked for an audience outside the door, and has been welcomed to the flower hall in the front yard."
The eldest princess of Jinyang was thinking to herself when she suddenly heard the news and then looked at Lianxue. Both the master and the servant had some surprise in their eyes.
"Lianxue, some people are really careless. Let's go meet them together." Princess Jinyang couldn't help but smile, but her mood was obviously happy.
Lianxue nodded and followed Princess Jinyang down to the attic.
In the flower hall
It is spacious and elegant, the windows are bright and clean, and the decoration is exquisite and luxurious.
Jia Heng sat on the pearwood chair and took in all the furnishings in the hall. After a few months, he visited the eldest princess of Jinyang again, but his mentality was very different.
"When I think about this eldest princess of the Han Dynasty, there are many puzzling things about her. For example, why did the emperor and Empress Dowager Feng never think of choosing a husband for her while she was an orphan? She remained a widow for more than ten years. In 2006, if I was like Sister-in-law Zhu in the West Prefecture, my heart was as gray as a withered tree, but I had a wide circle of friends in Beijing. However, I haven’t heard of any banquets being held in the past month or so. I think it was due to the corruption in the northern frontier and the military situation. , and feel that it is inappropriate."
As Jia Heng sipped the fragrant tea, various speculations arose in his mind.
But at this moment, the bead curtain in the inner hall was heard rustling, and then the fragrance floated and the rings jingled.
Putting down the tea cup, he turned around and saw the eldest princess of Jinyang walking out. The beauty's pretty face was filled with a smile, and she said: "I don't know that Jia Yunhui is visiting my humble residence. I am not expecting you from afar." , I also hope Haihan."
This was a joke, just like Jia Heng's previous joke on Cai Quan.
But Jia Heng's expression remained unchanged, he was not worried or afraid, he stood up from his seat, his calm eyes fell on the beauty's smile, and after looking into those clear eyes for a moment, he said warmly: "Your Highness, I haven't seen you for a few days, how are you doing?"
The smile on Princess Jinyang's face faltered, Qiushui's bright eyes blinked, and she said softly: "Not good."
Lianxue: "..."
This conversation seems like a meeting between old lovers.
Jia Ziyu's question was nothing, she was just her princess...
Jia Heng knew that Princess Jinyang was joking, thought about it, and asked, "Why?"
The eldest princess of Jinyang's beautiful eyes twinkled and she said with a chuckle: "Mr. Xiao Jia has agreed to visit the mansion regularly to lecture on history. I have been waiting eagerly in the mansion for many days, but I have not seen Mr. Jia. There is also the Three Kingdoms dialect book. , I have already read it, and I am thinking about the follow-up, do you think I can get better?"
As he said that, even when he was sitting on the main chair, his plump and plump chest seemed to tremble slightly because he was sitting so hard.
"What is Mr. Jia busy with recently?" Beauty asked with a smile.
Jia Heng was silent for a moment, then cast his clear eyes at the eldest princess of Jinyang, and said in a clear voice: "Your Highness, the princess, knows everything, so why do you ask questions even though you already know it?"
He didn't come to visit, and the princess didn't come to call him. When he came, she ordered his servants to lead him into the flower hall.
Women's hearts are like needles in the sea. Sometimes they don't even know what they are thinking.
Because psychological activities change instantaneously, later generations have the word "window period".
Of course, this is an inappropriate example, and you can't follow their lead too much.
When the eldest princess of Jinyang heard this, her heart trembled slightly. When she met the scorching eyes that were looking directly at her, she didn't dare to look at them for some reason, and she stopped laughing for a while.
Jia Heng looked indifferent and said as if he was talking to his family: "Some time ago, things at home and in the court were intertwined. All kinds of things were intertwined and there was no time for them to happen. I have some free time today. I came back from the palace and stopped by to see His Highness. Of course, there is something I need to discuss with His Highness."
When the eldest princess of Jinyang heard this, her bright eyes shone with soft light, and a trace of curiosity appeared on her jade face. Her round and round voice couldn't help but be a little softer, and she asked: "What's the matter?"
When Lianxue saw this scene, her heart moved. She didn't know if it was an illusion, but she always felt that the eldest princess at this moment regarded Jia Heng opposite her as a peer.
Jia Heng secretly thought that indeed, this was the result he had just created intentionally.
In fact, as his status improved, his relationship with the eldest princess of Jinyang also became more or less subtle, not that subtle between men and women.
It’s about equality and possibility in relationships.
In the past, he had no official title, and Princess Jinyang's gentleness, kindness, and generosity were all a kind of overlooking from high to low. Perhaps the kindness of charity was just one facet of a noble person.
And when he was knighted, no, or after he was favored by the emperor, this kind of overlooking from high to low gradually came down from the clouds, and there was some real sense of equality.
"Perhaps the reason why I avoided this single mother before was because I subconsciously...had this strange feeling of being overlooked. The eldest princess of Jinyang just now deliberately created the conversation and laughter of old acquaintances, which was more like being on guard and vigilant. She is also adjusting and adapting to her performance. This is a period of rapid turbulence in interpersonal relationships, and I just..."
Jia Heng thought about this, his eyes moved slightly, and a strange feeling came into his heart.
No, I was just secretly attacking her?
Because the adjustment of social positioning is precisely ambiguous and turbulent, in other words, the direction is uncertain.
And because he was habitually strong during this period, he was trying to dominate interpersonal relationships, which vaguely created an effect that was not a strategy, but like a strategy.
Jia Heng's mind was spinning, he suppressed the weirdness in his heart, looked at the eldest princess of Jinyang, and said: "When I just met the saint, I made a suggestion to the saint to hand over some of the business affairs copied from the Sanhe Gang in the East City to His Highness. Business.”
When the eldest princess of Jinyang heard this, her beauty suddenly changed, and she said in surprise: "Run it by me? Mr. Jia... I don't understand what you mean?"
Jia Heng said: "There are some businesses that make a lot of money. It would be a pity if we sell them all at a discount. I think His Highness can take over part of it and take care of part for His Majesty. Last time in Chang'an County, His Highness's grain shop was given to I was very impressed.”
The eldest princess of Jinyang listened to Jia Heng's words. For a moment, her face showed thoughts, as if she was also considering the feasibility. She said softly: "Shouldn't those businesses be included in the Ministry of Internal Affairs? Oh, yes, some The shop cannot be charged into the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
Looking at Princess Jinyang who suddenly asked and answered questions for herself, Jia Heng nodded and praised: "Your Highness is extremely smart and hit the nail on the head."
Even though he clearly knows that fighting for dominance in interpersonal relationships can easily have negative effects on conquering a nobleman, his behavioral habits and temperament do not allow him not to try to gain dominance in interpersonal relationships.
The eldest princess of Jinyang hesitated for a moment and said softly: "Merchant and merchants, I am not good at this either."
"I see that His Highness owns many shops and they are running them very impressively. Is it possible that His Highness... is still ashamed of his words?" Jia Heng's voice was extremely gentle, but his words were somewhat oppressive.
Princess Jinyang's face paused slightly, her bright eyes flashed, and she couldn't help but feel strange in her heart. Perhaps it was Jia Heng's attitude that triggered the noble girl's psychological defense mechanism.
But Jia Heng's attitude was sincere, which created a contrast. Although the eldest princess of Jinyang felt strange in her heart, she was not unhappy, so she fell silent for a while.
Jia Heng said slowly: "Nowadays, the treasury is insufficient and there is too much internal money to make any progress. Your Majesty is worried about it. Your Highness Jinyang is your sister. If you share your worries with Your Majesty, Your Majesty must be very happy."
Hearing this, the eldest princess of Jinyang raised her eyes to look at Jia Heng and chuckled: "Ziyu, are you here to be a lobbyist for the emperor's brother?"
In the end, the name of wavering was fixed on the word, which is exactly like the beauty's state of mind.
Jia Heng said: "This was originally my suggestion. I originally thought His Highness was the most suitable. Of course, His Highness found it difficult, so just pretend that I didn't say it."
Hearing this, the eldest princess of Jinyang looked at Jia Heng and said, "I am busy worrying about my brother. I am the eldest princess of the Han Dynasty. How can I fall behind others? I have accepted your request."
It's also a good thing for her. It's hard for Jia Heng to think of her.
The reason why she hesitated just now was because she was worried about the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Her brother Wang was not a master who would suffer.
Thinking of this, I looked at the young man opposite, feeling a little suspicious.
She remembered that Ning Rong's second residence had a feud with her brother Wang...
