Wuying Hall, West Pavilion
When Jia Heng saw Princess Xianning making the bed and folding the quilt, he had no choice but to get up. He looked troubled and said, "Your Highness, how can this be done?"
At this time, Princess Xianning turned her head and looked at Jia Heng with bright and clear eyes. With a cold smile on her face, she said: "Sir, there is no need to do this. You can read the official document first."
As he said that, he got busy.
This princess originally had a slim and tall figure with slender legs. Now she bent down slightly. She was worthy of practicing dance for a long time. She has a graceful figure and curvaceous curves. She stretched out her hands and the sheets were spread on the quilt with a "swipe" sound. superior.
The sheet was larger, so the girl tucked it under the quilt, then took the pillow from the female officer's hand and placed it on the bedside. Then she smoothed the sheet back and forth with her hands, her movements clean and neat, without any sloppiness.
With the movement, the pearl hairpin pinned between the temples swayed slightly.
Jia Heng frowned and said: "Your Highness..."
Princess Xianning smiled and said: "Sir, do you think that I am not diligent in all aspects of the palace, do not distinguish between grains, bossy, and are unruly and arrogant?"
Jia Heng raised his eyes and looked at the girl with pretty eyebrows. Due to the light, her icy skin and delicate face had soft lines. His eyes lingered on the tear mole on the corner of her eye. He shook his head and said, "Chen Jue No such intention.”
"When I first met my husband outside the city of Shenjing, this is what my husband thought, right?" Princess Xianning's narrow phoenix eyes shone brightly under her willow-leaf eyebrows, and she looked at Jia Heng unwaveringly.
She remembers that when they first met, she felt that the person in front of her had an unyielding arrogance hidden in his eyebrows, which left a deep impression on her. Therefore, what she just said seemed like yesterday, and it was not a polite compliment.
Jia Heng was silent for a moment and said, "Your Highness said something serious."
"Sir, he has a beautiful heart and a good plan. At that time, Xianning didn't know about him." Princess Xianning's clear phoenix eyes were shining, and her voice was clear, like broken jade falling on a porcelain plate, which was pleasant to the ear.
Jia Heng said: "Your Highness knows the book and is polite. At that time, Jia didn't know His Highness."
When Princess Xianning heard this, Yurong paused, and for some reason, she suddenly felt a little ashamed.
But when I think about the fact that this person may have an affair with my aunt...
Princess Xianning was silent for a moment, then changed the subject and said seriously: "The princesses of the Han Dynasty are no better than before. Those who are pampered and superior are common, and those who are arrogant and lawless are rare. As for me, I am not a pampered child. I usually work on my own. As long as I wish in my life, I also imitated Princess Pingyang in the Tang Dynasty, who was able to fight abroad and take care of her father's worries, so she has been practicing archery since she was a child, and she often made public appearances. There is a person named Xia Houying in Aunt Jinyang's house, sir, do you still know her?"
Jia Heng was thinking about these words. He was startled when he heard the words, nodded and said, "I know you, but I'm not very familiar with you."
Xia Houying is the bodyguard beside the eldest princess of Jinyang, and she has been given the title of commanding the general affairs in Jinyi Mansion.
"I was taught swordsmanship by her and have practiced it for two or three years. Although I dare not compare it with my husband's sharp swordsmanship in the past, I also think that I am not a weak woman without the power to tie a chicken. I just regret that I have no place to use it. ." As Princess Xianning spoke, a look of sadness appeared on her pretty face.
Jia Heng said: "His Royal Highness does not like red makeup and prefers weapons, which really surprises me."
He really didn't know much about Princess Xianning before. His impression of the princess was that she could ride a horse, shoot a bow, and dance.
Princess Xianning sighed: "But the way of this world is too difficult for women. Although I often read military books and strategies, I can't understand them, and I don't have any good generals to teach me. Speaking of which, Mr. Three Kingdoms is easy to understand." , study it often.”
She has a cousin who is the daughter of Uncle Zhou Wang. She played with her when she was young and was influenced by her, but later...
Jia Heng looked at Princess Xianning and saw a look of ecstasy on the girl's face. She felt a little emotional for a moment. If she hadn't been a daughter, maybe nothing would have happened to King Wei, right?
The eighth son of the emperor, Chen Ze, seemed to be born smart, handsome, and talented. But I wonder what kind of character Duanrong, who raised a pair of children, was like?
Um?
Jia Heng quickly dispersed some chaotic thoughts and asked: "Your Highness originally wanted to be a female general. Does Your Majesty know your Highness's ambition?"
Princess Xianning chuckled and said, "I know that. My father encouraged me with words, and I couldn't help the Third Emperor brother and I being enthusiastic about martial arts, but my mother and concubine didn't take it seriously."
We will get engaged in one or two years, so we can only think about this in our dreams.
Jia Heng nodded and said: "His Highness has this intention, the Holy Emperor must be pleased. If His Highness is interested, why not go to the Beijing camp to practice?"
Female generals are not that easy to be. We didn’t mention it at the beginning of the founding of the country. The dynasty has been established for a long time. For the sake of the royal family, Princess Xianning is not allowed to be a female general. Not to mention that she has no eyesight with swords and guns, even if she is scratched a little. Even the skin can make Concubine Duanrong feel distressed.
When Princess Xianning heard this, her bright eyes flashed slightly and she said, "Sir, are you serious about what you said?"
Jia Heng thought for a while and then said: "I will talk to the Holy One when I have the opportunity."
Princess Xianning said happily: "I have taken note of what you said."
Although I felt that I would probably not get the answer, it was rare for the person in front of me to have this intention.
Jia Heng nodded and said nothing else.
At this time, it happened that the female official Zhixia who had been sent out earlier had led a group of palace maids over, holding quilts and carrying incense burners. Princess Xianning took the quilt and helped unfold it.
Seeing this, Jia Heng was helpless for a moment and could only let Princess Xianning take care of it. He sat behind the desk and read by the light.
Just at this time, Dai Quan entered the West Pavilion dormitory and saw the busy scene of Princess Xianning. He couldn't help being frightened and said hurriedly: "Oh, my little ancestor, why are you still busy?"
As he said that, he looked at the several eunuchs and palace guards with a gloomy face and said, "A group of people who have no eyesight, do you want Your Highness to take action?"
Then he looked at Jia Heng, complaining, and said, "Mr. Jia, our family just went out for a while, why did it happen... like this?"
Jia Heng stood up and was about to explain.
Princess Xianning spoke first: "Eunuch Dai, I have nothing to do, so I helped you. Doesn't Eunuch Dai think it's inappropriate?"
When Dai Quan heard this, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He winked at several internal prisoners and asked them to wait outside.
Jia Heng's expression paused. This was different from the "clumsy" thing Princess Xianning said just now. This was because she was worried about implicate the palace maids and the eunuchs. Based on this alone, Her Highness Xianning was kind-hearted.
"Your Highness is a nobleman of Tianhuang, how can you do this?" Dai Quan said with a smile.
Princess Xianning said: "On weekdays, I often come by myself. This is my habit. There is nothing I can't do."
When Dai Quan heard this, he glanced at Jia Heng and said to himself, his good luck made people jealous, so it was hard to say anything, or maybe, just because of his status, he should remind him when he saw him.
"Okay, I won't disturb Mr. Director, but don't stay up too late." Princess Xianning finished packing, turned to Jia Heng, and said with a smile.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Jia Heng nodded, cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, walk slowly."
At this time, Jia Heng took the stack of books that Dai Quan asked the internal prison officer to bring and began to read by the light.
…
…
But it was said that Princess Xianning left the west pavilion of Wuying Palace and led the female officials to walk along the corridor in front of the palace. Her slender and tall figure stood out among the female officials. Suddenly she stopped and looked at the female officials beside her. The voice said: "What I just saw is not allowed to be told outside. Do you hear me?"
The female officer Zhixia lowered her head and responded: "Yes, Your Highness."
At the same time, Dai Quan gave almost the same order.
Princess Xianning returned to the palace where she lived, Shuyu Palace. Before she entered the palace, she saw two beauties in gorgeous clothes and rich ornaments sitting together talking under the bright lights in the palace.
Princess Xianning's heart skipped a beat and she asked the female official beside her in a low voice, "When did the Queen Mother and the Concubine Mother come?"
"When I took the quilt, I didn't see it." Zhixia said in a low voice.
"Yes." Princess Xianning breathed a sigh of relief, walked into the palace, and called: "Mother, mother."
Empress Song raised her hibiscus jade face and asked with a smile: "Zhi'er, have you been sent to Wuying Palace?"
It turned out that not long after Jia Heng left, Emperor Chongping had a few words with Empress Song, and without waiting much, went straight back to the Daming Palace to review the memorials. Empress Song thought for a while, and then came to the palace where Princess Xianning lived. When I met Concubine Duanrong.
"It has been sent over." Princess Xianning said softly, "It's so late, why don't you rest?"
Empress Song smiled and said: "I couldn't sleep for a while, so I came over to see you. I happened to see your mother and concubine coming over. Zhi'er, come and sit."
Princess Xianning said "hmm" and sat down quietly.
Concubine Duanrong glanced at her daughter. This fair-skinned beauty had eyebrows and eyebrows similar to those of Princess Xianning, but her eyes had a little more of the charming charm of the Huaxin young woman. Her beautiful eyes turned to look at Empress Song, She said softly: "Sister, I met the young lady from the Wang family in Nan'an County yesterday. Although she comes from a martial arts family, she is well-read in poetry and speaks elegantly. She is indeed a good match for Ran'er."
Generally speaking, the daughters of nobles and nobles, after generations of genetic optimization, are often not too ugly in appearance, but it is difficult to say whether they are good at studying or not.
The prince of Nan'an County obviously attaches great importance to his daughter's education. Maybe he has some plans for this, but it is unknown.
Empress Song nodded and said with a smile: "Then the matter will be settled, and I will be half-decided. From now on, it will be Wei'er's business."
After saying that, he glanced at Princess Xianning and said with a smile: "Speaking of which, Zhi'er is not young anymore. What do you think, sister?"
Although she is the Lord of the Sixth Palace and Zhi'er's legitimate mother, she still has to ask her sister, the biological mother, for her opinion.
Princess Xianning frowned as she listened to the two of them seeming to be discussing their marriage. She felt a little restless for a moment.
Concubine Duanrong said softly: "Zhou, the imperial wife of Gao Zhongping's family, the governor of Sichuan, sent a letter the day before yesterday, saying that her family's Sanlang was of marriageable age, so she asked the concubine what she meant. It turns out that they were together at the beginning. I grew up, but later the Gao family settled in Sichuan, and the younger generation had less contact, so maybe they were a little unfamiliar."
The governor of Sichuan, Gao Zhongping, has three sons. The eldest son and the second son are both married. The third son, Gao Yong, is twenty-two and is still unmarried. He is clearly targeting Princess Shang.
Empress Song smiled without comment, turned to look at Princess Xianning, and asked: "Zhi'er, you are usually a decent and generous person. There are no outsiders here. Your mother and concubine are also here. What do you think?"
As Wei Wang Chen Ran's marriage has been settled, Princess Xianning's marriage proposal will also be moved up the agenda.
Princess Xianning's jade face was as cold as frost, she shook her head and said: "Mother, my sons and ministers have never had any other intentions for Sanlang of the Gao family. Kuang had spoken to the queen before. Now that the northern border is unrest, my father is worried about it. My sons and ministers." If you marry, you must marry someone who will take care of the affairs of the country for your father."
"You might as well just call her by name." Concubine Duanrong said calmly, her face slightly cold.
In addition to Jia Heng, there were other people in the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty.
Princess Xianning's pretty face was slightly red, her eyebrows were lowered, and she said, "I don't know what my mother and concubine are talking about."
"You know better than anyone else, but you just pretend to be confused." Concubine Duanrong said quietly.
When Princess Xianning heard this, her heart skipped a beat, her cheeks were hot, and she said, "Concubine..."
"Zhi'er, you go back to the palace to rest first, and I'll talk to your mother and concubine." Queen Song couldn't help laughing when she saw this scene.
"I'll leave you there." Princess Xianning stood up and led the female officials to the back hall, but after thinking about it, she left and returned, hiding herself behind a beam and eavesdropping on the conversation between the two.
Empress Song looked at Concubine Duanrong and said softly: "Sister, Zhi'er has grown up and has her own ideas."
Concubine Duanrong frowned and sighed: "What ideas could she have? In the past, whether she went out for hunting or dancing, it was always up to her temper. I didn't bother to care about her, but now she As I get older, my thoughts become more and more serious, and I hold the Three Kingdoms dialect book every day. Last time, I was in front of the Queen Mother... I have heard some rumors in the past two days, and if I continue to let it go like this, I am afraid that in the future... sigh."
Princess Xianning mentioned Jia Heng's Three Kingdoms to Empress Dowager Feng before, which naturally fell in Concubine Rong's eyes. Then she looked for the female official to ask about her daughter's situation, and she had some doubts.
"Sister, what you said is serious. Although Zhi'er often goes out hunting with the noble children, she knows it well, and Ran'er is there to take care of her." Empress Song said softly.
This means that he has never exceeded etiquette or done anything to disgrace the royal family.
Concubine Duanrong sighed and said, "Sister, you are too spoiled to her."
"I don't have a daughter at my knees, so I do love her more." Empress Song took Concubine Duanrong's hand and smiled sweetly: "Besides, your Majesty has already decided on Zhi'er's marriage. Sister, just relax."
Concubine Duanrong was slightly surprised and asked, "Sister, what you are saying is that Your Majesty already has someone you like?"
Queen Song nodded.
When Concubine Duanrong heard this, her heart moved and she asked, "Can you tell me which family it is?"
Empress Song winked at the nanny beside her, and immediately, the maids serving on her left and right slowly retreated, moving further away.
Empress Song echoed: "Actually, he is the person my sister mentioned before. Let me tell my sister in advance. This matter is not yet decided and cannot be spread."
"This?" Concubine Duanrong's beauty changed suddenly, her mouth opened slightly, and she whispered: "He is a married man, how can this be done? Unless... he is divorced?"
"It's not that he is divorcing his wife. Your Majesty said there is a way to solve it, but I don't know what it is." Empress Song frowned and said, "Maybe it's a marriage? But it also requires him to make great contributions, so wait for now. It’s hard to spread the word.”
After hearing this, Imperial Concubine Duanrong pursed her pink lips. As her thoughts turned, she somewhat understood her husband's thoughts and used her daughter to win over important ministers.
For a moment, I felt a little uncomfortable.
On the other side, Princess Xianning listened secretly. She saw her maid backing away and biting her ears. She knew that something must be important. Her heart tightened and she couldn't help but feel anxious. Then she saw her mother and concubine looking surprised, and even more so. He was very confused and finally saw that the two of them stopped talking and could only return to the dormitory, feeling uneasy.
…
…
Prince Zhongshun's Mansion, Backyard Study Room
In front of a mahogany writing desk, candlelight was bright and glowing. King Zhongshun was crouching behind the desk, burying his head in the official document. There was some concentration on his old face.
Due to an injury on his butt that has not fully recovered, King Zhongshun, who is in charge of both the Imperial Household and the Internal Affairs Office, is basically "working from home".
At this moment, a thin figure was reflected on the screen with pictures of ladies from long to short. Zhou Changshi entered the study, stood on the Persian tribute carpet, raised his hands and said: "Your Majesty, Mr. Pan from the Ministry of Industry and Luo The doctor comes to pay homage to the prince."
King Zhongshun put down his writing brush, rubbed his wrist, and said: "I thought it was time for the two of them to come over, so let them in."
Not long after, Pan Bingyi, the left minister of the Ministry of Industry, and Luo Chengwang, the lieutenant of the Construction Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, entered the study together. They greeted Prince Zhongshun who was sitting on the Grand Master's chair and said, "I have met the prince."
"Sit down." King Zhongshun waved his hand, looked at Pan Bingyi, and asked, "Master Pan, why don't you see Master Lu?"
Pan Bingyi was in his early forties, with a short beard under his chin, and a smile on his face. He said: "Your Majesty, Lao Lu has been feeling unwell these days. Please ask me to come with you."
King Zhongshun frowned and said, "Zha Zi brought it."
Pan Bingyi took out the note from his sleeve and said, "I brought it here. Please read it."
On the other side, Luo Chengwang also took out the papers from his sleeve, handed them over with both hands, and said: "Your Majesty, please check the papers for the first half of the year."
Generally speaking, why do corrupt officials have such things as account books? Because there is an open account and a secret account. Without accounting, they don't know how much money they have embezzled.
The supervision of the construction of imperial mausoleums is a large-scale project involving three bureaucracies, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Household Affairs.
The Ministry of Household Affairs approved the money to the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Works undertook the work. They did not keep separate records to check, so who got how much money and who got how much benefit, it was all a mess.
King Zhongshun took the zazi and said, "Put it here first. I will ask the accountant to match a pair."
Pan Bingyi said: "Now it's up to the household department."
Luo Chengwang, a doctor in the Construction Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, said: "Your Majesty, Mr. Liang has gone to Yangzhou."
"Master Qi is not going to Yangzhou. These two will come back soon. It won't be too late to wait for another month to reconcile the accounts and destroy them." King Zhongshun said in a low voice.
As he said that, he looked at Pan Bingyi and said, "Last time, how was the progress of what I asked you to do?"
"Back to your lord, Jia Zheng has been sent home now." Pan Bingyi said with a straight face: "The one who asked the censor for questioning last time was sent away by his subordinates."
King Zhongshun said: "Where is Qin Ye? He is now the doctor of the camp and maintenance department, so he can also take care of it."
"Qin Ye is old and is also under investigation this time. However, he took a leave of absence and seems to be resigning." Pan Bingyi said in a low voice.
"Resign?" King Zhongshun's eyes flashed sternly, and he said, "Master Pan, see if you can find any faults in him. It would be best to go to jail and question him."
Jia She didn't kill him completely with that knife, so naturally he couldn't understand his hatred, so he slashed his son-in-law with the second knife.
Pan Bingyi looked hesitant and persuaded: "Your Majesty, this son-in-law is from the Ningguo Mansion. It's just a matter of dismissal. If he is trapped in death, is he pushing too hard?"
Keep a thin line in life so that we can meet each other in the future, whether it is Qin Ye or Jia Zheng, if they are just dismissed from office, then they will try to retaliate in the future, and they will be punished to death right now, I am afraid they will never stop.
Zhou Changshi smiled and said: "Master Pan is not ignorant. The Jia family is the enemy of our prince. Now it is just in time for the Beijing Police to capture Qin Ye. In addition, Master Pan didn't say last time that the Ministry of Industry The account books did not match up a year ago, which caused Mr. Zhao Ge to get angry, and it happened to fall on Qin Ye. Isn't this difficult for Mr. Pan? "
Pan Bingyi's face was unclear and he said: "It's not difficult, but if the prince provokes revenge from the Jia family, we won't end up well."
King Zhongshun said coldly: "It doesn't matter. I am the eldest brother of the Holy Emperor. Where can he take revenge? Besides, he is also a grasshopper after autumn and cannot jump far."
Pan Bingyi was helpless for a moment, so he had to respond: "Your Majesty, I will go back and think of a solution."
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival everyone!
(End of chapter)
