ㅤ
The night falls and everything is silent.
A bright moon like a jade plate climbed up to the tops of the parasol trees, casting thousands of cool moonlights. The octagonal palace lanterns had already been lit in the palace garden. The bright lights swayed with the cool breeze in the night, and were as bright as water. Circles of red and yellow light and shadow appeared on the pill.
Under the carved beams and painted pillars, there is a plaque with the words "Kunning Palace" written in seal script hanging vertically inside the palace. The lights are bright, the eyes are full of beauty, and the water-clear floor reflects the figures of palace maids and eunuchs standing with hands hanging down.
Empress Song was entertaining Song Jing, his wife Shen, and niece Song Yan. Concubine Duanrong was sitting with her two children, Princess Xianning and the eighth son of the emperor Chen Ze. In addition, Qinghe County was also a guest in the palace. Lord Li Chanyue, and Liang Wang Chen Wei.
"When you arrive at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, you must do your job well and don't let down His Majesty and my expectations."
The Empress of the Song Dynasty was dressed in a vermilion dress embroidered with phoenixes and hibiscus. She stood tall and beautiful in her bun. She had a bright and graceful face like a peach pistil in March. Under the light cast by the crane-shaped palace lantern, she had willow leaves under her slender eyebrows. Her long and narrow phoenix eyes are bright and lively, and the eye shadow is gorgeous, but there is a solemn look on her face, which makes the plump beauty a little more gentle and maternal.
Song Jing listened to his eldest sister's instructions and nodded in response: "I will be cautious and meticulous and handle the errands assigned by Your Majesty well."
Concubine Duanrong smiled at the side and said: "Sister, Shuyu has always been diligent, but he doesn't need to tell you from ear to ear."
Empress Song said softly: "The Ministry of Internal Affairs is not as good as other places, and the Kuaiji Department is even more responsible for spending money and food. It has a humble position and power. After all, Shuyu has never done this in Honglu Temple before, so he needs to be extra careful."
Mrs. Song Jing, Mrs. Shen, said with a smile: "What the empress said is that it is not a bad thing to be more careful. I should remind the master when I go back."
Queen Song nodded and was about to say something. Suddenly, the eunuch's sharp call came from outside the palace: "Your Majesty has arrived."
Everyone stopped talking and stood up.
Not long after, Emperor Chongping, surrounded by Xiang Daiquan and a group of internal eunuchs in the Daming Palace, entered the palace like stars over the moon. His majestic gaze glanced at the few people in the palace, and his eyes fell on Song Jing's face, and he paused.
"Wei Chen (concubine) has met Your Majesty."
Song Jing and his wife Shen quickly came over to pay homage to Emperor Chongping.
Concubine Duanrong and Princess Xianning also left their seats and stood up, saluting Emperor Chongping.
Empress Song smiled and said, "Has Your Majesty had your dinner?"
"It's already been used." Emperor Chongping's face softened a bit and he said softly. Then he sat down on the main seat, looked at Empress Song, with a smile on his face, and asked, "What did Zitong say just now? Does it look so lively?”
Empress Song smiled, her voice as soft as water, and said: "I just told Shu Yu that when we go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, we must handle our errands well and live up to His Majesty's expectations."
When Song Jing heard this, his elegant face showed a respectful look, and he explained: "Just now, I was listening to the empress's teachings."
Emperor Chongping pondered for a moment, with a somewhat unnatural look on his face, and said: "I'm afraid I have to look at the errands of the Ministry of Internal Affairs again. After all, Shuyu has never been accustomed to general affairs. What I mean is that he might as well be transferred to the Materials and Estimates Office of the Ministry of Industry first. As a doctor, since the collapse of the imperial mausoleum, the project needs to be rebuilt again, and the progress needs to be accelerated compared to before."
Empress Song's originally dazzling smile froze on her face. She was slightly frightened and couldn't help but whisper: "Didn't Your Majesty say before..."
Emperor Chongping said: "The Ministry of Internal Affairs has been searching many prisoners recently. I saw that there are several big boxes of account books stacked up. After all, Shuyu used to be a guest at Honglu Temple and suddenly went to the Kuaiji Department to write off the account books. He may not be familiar with affairs. , I thought that I might as well go to the Materials Appraisal Office first to estimate and sell the civil engineering materials for the imperial mausoleum, and at the same time, I can hone my skills in general affairs, so that they can be put to great use in the future."
Emperor Chongping felt a little embarrassed as he spoke.
Without him, Jun has no joke. He had promised well before, but now he suddenly changed his mind. Fortunately, he did not issue an order, otherwise it would be even more embarrassing.
Secretly, Jinyang gave him a difficult problem.
Just when the air in Kunning Palace suddenly became quiet and several people looked at each other, Song Jing was stunned for a moment and said quickly: "What your Majesty said is true. I told the empress before that my brother has never done anything like this. I am afraid that I will not do anything like this." I didn't know what was going on. I originally thought that if I really couldn't do the job in a month or two, I would ask your Majesty to resign. Now His Majesty asked me to go to the appraisal office and help (this chapter is not finished yet!)
Chapter 528 Yuanchun: Big deal...
Supervising the construction of the imperial mausoleum and working with colleagues from the Ministry of Industry, I gained a lot of knowledge, which was exactly what I wanted. "
At this moment, Empress Song's face was pale, and the handkerchief in her sleeve was clenched tightly by her bare hands. Although she was disappointed, she still smiled and answered: "Your Majesty, it's okay for Shuyu to go to the Ministry of Industry, I am my concubine." I think the Ministry of Industry is short of people recently, so it would be a good idea to let Shuyu go and train."
Emperor Chongping also felt that what he had done was a bit unethical. After thinking about it, he said: "Shu Yu goes to the Ministry of Works to do a good job. If the mausoleum is completed in one or two years, all the officials in the Ministry of Works will have to express their merits. Then It is not impossible to make Shuyu a third-grade minister."
When Queen Song heard this, her face paused slightly, she suppressed the strange feeling in her heart, and said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, Shu Yu did not come from the imperial examination. I'm afraid that if he is really a minister, there will be criticism from above and below."
"People who were born in the imperial examination may not necessarily be honest officials. I think Pan Bingyi and Lu Chengan were originally from the imperial examination. But once they became powerful, they were greedy for profit and became crazy. They followed the common man Chen Rong to tamper with the imperial mausoleum." Emperor Chongping said. In the end, he looked ugly and said in a deep voice: "This time, the two ministers and officials of the Ministry of Industry cannot limit themselves to the career of the top class."
In fact, being born in the top tier of academic disciplines is only restricted by yamen such as the Hanlin Academy, Zhanshifu, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate. Especially for the former, one must not only be born in the second rank of Jinshi, but also be ranked among the top two.
Facing Empress Song's gaze, Emperor Chongping muttered: "The court recommendation will be made in the future. Zhao Yi, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, has returned to the headquarters to serve as director. If there is a minister to assist him, it will be enough to handle the affairs of the Ministry of Industry."
It was said that this was a temporary idea, and the Ministry of Works only left one minister, an official, but this undoubtedly made what he said just now a little more convincing.
Instead of going to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he went to the Ministry of Works. After completing his errands, he was promoted to the Ministry of Works.
Moreover, when the minister of the Ministry of Industry was vacant, the Qi and Zhejiang parties took notice of the situation, but he did not intend to use it.
Queen Song's heart moved slightly, but she frowned and said: "Bubu Tang, Shu Yu's talents may not be enough for the job, your majesty still has to make a decision."
The original plan was to go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and work with the prefect in a year or two. The Ministry of Internal Affairs would collect money and food. In the future, Jinyang would not be allowed to go back, and the fourth brother would be able to take charge of the power alone. Ran'er would definitely benefit from it at that time, but now it is not. Somehow, he changed his mind again.
But you must not show other emotions at this time.
Emperor Chongping nodded and said: "Shu Yu is cautious and careful, and went to the Ministry of Industry to participate in the construction of the imperial mausoleum. I can rest assured that the Prince of Qi and the King of Chu are young after all and have experienced little. This is the first time that an imperial mausoleum is being built. Shuyu has been there, and since he is an elder, he can also help with some advice."
At this time, seeing what was said, Song Jing hurriedly said: "Mother, my brother has not been in the office before, and he hastily led the Ministry of Internal Affairs to send dispatches. I don't know how many things will go wrong. As your Majesty said, this It is a good thing for Ban to go to the Ministry of Works to supervise the construction of the imperial mausoleum and hone his surveying skills."
Thunder and rain are all due to your kindness. At this time, I can only make mistakes and go to the Ministry of Works to take up a job. I will be the Minister of the Ministry of Works in the future.
Seeing this, Empress Song couldn't say anything else, and warned: "You should do your errands well when you go to the Ministry of Works. There was such a big mistake in Gongling. When you go to the Ministry of Works, you should do your errands carefully."
Concubine Duanrong looked at this scene and sighed in her heart.
Song Yan held the handkerchief and looked at her father, her bright eyes showing concern. The cardamom girl's soft and white face, and her facial features were very similar to Empress Song.
Emperor Chongping sat for a while, gave some instructions, and without staying much, led the eunuch back to the Daming Palace.
Empress Song ordered the female officials to send Song Jing's family of three away from the palace, and Princess Xianning and Princess Qinghe gradually dispersed.
Empress Song took Concubine Duanrong's hand and sat down on the phoenix couch in the inner wing of the palace. Confusion appeared on her beautiful face and she asked: "Sister, why do you think His Majesty changed his mind?"
Concubine Duanrong shook her head and said softly: "Who knows? But your Majesty has always been true to his word, and today is indeed a little unusual."
Empress Song frowned slightly, turned to look at the female official on the side, and whispered: "Go and tell Xia Shouzhong to ask who went to the Daming Palace to see His Majesty this afternoon."
She always felt that this place was unusual.
The female officer immediately took the order and went.
After a while, the female officer came back, walked quietly to Queen Song's ear, and whispered a few words.
Queen Song's white face was suddenly covered with a layer of frost, and a cold light flashed across her phoenix eyes (this chapter is not finished yet!)
Chapter 528 Yuanchun: Big deal...
.
"Sister, what's wrong? What is this?" Concubine Duanrong said softly.
"This afternoon, Jinyang went to the Daming Palace." Empress Song's beautiful face returned to her soft beauty and she said with a chuckle.
"This..." Concubine Duanrong frowned slightly. Yurong was stunned for a moment and asked doubtfully: "Jinyang, what is she doing this for?"
She neither liked nor disliked that sister-in-law, but her daughter had a good relationship with Jinyang.
Queen Song licked her pink lips and felt annoyed.
That sister-in-law, she has always been patient, but she has pushed the envelope. Now her fourth brother is going to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and he is not in anyone's way. How can he interfere with it?
Seeing Empress Song's expression of concern, Concubine Duanrong gave a low-key advice and said, "Sister, it's actually a good idea to go to the Ministry of Works. Didn't His Majesty just say that you will wait a year or two before preparing for your fourth brother's promotion to the Minister of Works."
She had previously felt that it was not appropriate. Her fourth brother had gone to the House of Internal Affairs. If she needed money, her fourth brother would not refuse to go to the House of Internal Affairs. If things continued like this, there would be unforeseen disasters.
But she knew what her sister was thinking.
Queen Song's beautiful eyes narrowed, and she nodded and said, "I didn't say it was inappropriate here. You might as well go to the Ministry of Industry."
Jinyang had the support of the Queen Mother, so there was nothing she could do for the time being, but she remembered this matter.
…
.......
Lixiangyuan
Night has enveloped the mansion, and a bright moon hangs in the sky. The moonlight shines on the earth, covering the deep Lixiang Courtyard in the courtyard with a layer of silver gauze.
Under the eaves of the corridor, Baochai and Ying'er opened the cotton curtain, and the light suddenly poured out of the room, illuminating the gilded couplets on the corridor pillars in a golden light. When the master and servant entered the wing, Baochai untied his cloak and handed it to Ying'er.
Aunt Xue was sitting in front of the high table, sipping the fragrant tea. She raised her eyes to look at Baochai and said with a smile: "My dear, I'm back."
It turned out that Baochai went to Dongfu to talk to Qin Keqing after listening to the play in the afternoon.
"Mom, why are you back so early?" Baochai sat close and asked.
"I'm a little tired today, so I'll come back early to have a rest." Aunt Xue said softly, looked at her daughter, and said with emotion: "Brother Heng still helped your uncle to accomplish that thing. I don't want you to be a fourth-rank official." .”
Thinking back to the afternoon, when I saw the unconcealed joy in my sister's brows and eyes, my wrinkles almost stretched out, and my thoughts were a bit complicated.
The same mother and sister, but my elder sister married well.
Baochai sat down on the embroidered pier, took the tea cup from Ying'er, and took a sip. The girl's muscles and bones were smooth, her manners were elegant, and when she lowered her head, the airy bangs in front of her forehead were also covering her face. The next shadow became gentler and gentler than water. He raised his bright apricot eyes and said softly: "Mom, when did Brother Heng never fulfill his words?"
Since he can fulfill his uncle's affairs, he can also fulfill his promise to her.
Aunt Xue nodded and said: "Yes." However, there was a strange feeling in her heart, and Bao Yatou's words were vaguely...
Aunt Xue suppressed the sudden strangeness in her heart and asked: "Good girl, I heard that the father of Brother Dongfu Heng's daughter-in-law is also in the Ministry of Industry and is a doctor in the first division. Good girl, tell me about your brother Heng, will you know?" Do you have a plan?"
Baochai looked stunned for a moment and said in a low voice: "I don't know about this. If Brother Heng doesn't tell me about this, it's hard for us to ask. But Mr. Qin was originally a doctor, and he will never be lower than his uncle." That’s right.”
Sister Qin's father is also in the Ministry of Industry, and he is of the fifth rank. With his temperament, he would not favor one over the other. I don't know whether he is the fourth rank or the third rank.
If it is the third grade...
The young man's words echoed in Baochai's mind. At that time, he was wearing a scarlet official robe and showing off his official career.
Seeing this, Aunt Xue opened her mouth and finally sighed: "Good girl, alas."
She couldn't explain why, and she felt sour in her heart.
Looking at my own family, my daughter cannot get married, my son is still in prison, and people are comparing themselves to each other, which is very annoying.
"Good girl, do you think Brother Heng can help manage your brother's future?" Aunt Xue thought, suddenly her heart moved, and she asked expectantly.
Baochai paused and said softly: "Mom, there is a layer between her and ours after all. Besides, my brother is not the material to be an official. (This chapter is not finished yet!)
Chapter 528 Yuanchun: Big deal...
"
"Can't he still be a general in the army? Brother Heng is in charge of the Beijing camp now. If your brother is in the army, he can become a general, guerrilla or something, and it's not a matter of his words? I have heard that the same clan All the men here are serving in the military." Aunt Xue lowered her voice and said.
Clearly seeing Jia Heng helping Jia Zheng get promoted, Aunt Xue's thoughts were inevitably aroused.
Baochai:"……"
His eyes flashed, and he persuaded: "Mom, have you forgotten that my brother was injured that time? Those who have no eyesight in the army are not easy to deal with. Wealth and honor are only gained in danger."
With my brother's reckless temperament, he went to the army. If something happened, my mother would have no choice but to complain and comfort him. This would not be a good thing.
But his brother couldn't help him, after all...
Baochai sighed quietly in his heart.
Aunt Xue smiled and said: "I don't think so. I think your brother is very lucky. Besides, as long as Brother Heng wants to cultivate him, he doesn't have to take too many risks. You see, your brother doesn't have to eat anything in the prison." suffering."
Baochai sighed softly and said, "But our homes are separated by one floor after all."
This is actually a kind of guidance. There is a layer of separation. If I become your old son-in-law, there will be no layer of separation.
"Yes, Brother Heng said he was good to his relatives, but I think there are differences between closeness and distance." Aunt Xue said, feeling a little sour.
"It's a pity to say that if we had come here half a year earlier, Brother Heng hadn't gotten married yet, and Mom would have asked for anything..." Aunt Xue looked at her daughter, and paused quickly as she spoke. Accidentally speaking your mind.
No one is stupid, Aunt Xue can naturally tell the good from the bad. With such a wealthy husband in the East Mansion, how could he not have thought about it?
Baochai said angrily: "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"My dear girl, alas, it's too late to say anything now." Aunt Xue sighed, feeling depressed, and sighed: "Look at Brother Heng's daughter-in-law, how old is she? She's just a first-class official. , I see that your appearance is no worse than hers... That's all, there's no point in talking about it now."
But when he saw Baochai blushing with embarrassment, he paused and said nothing.
But suddenly he remembered something, and he stared at his daughter and said solemnly: "Girl, you are always looking for Brother Heng. Mother knows that Brother Heng is so young, looks so good, and has such a powerful position. But don’t get carried away, he now has a wife, even if he is an ordinary wife, even though he doesn’t talk about the size in private, the government has not recognized it, so it was impossible to seal the imperial edict at that time."
In the Tang Dynasty, the practice of marrying one's own wife was particularly popular, and among the people of Chen and Han Dynasties, they were also known as equal wives. However, due to the limitations of etiquette and laws, they were not recognized by the government. Otherwise, the etiquette of ritual inheritance would be shaken from the bottom up.
Baochai suddenly blushed this time and said angrily: "Mom, why are you talking about me again?" With that, he got up and returned to the room.
"Okay, okay, Mom won't talk anymore." Aunt Xue quickly reached out to hold Baochai, smiled and said: "My dear girl is a sensible and sensible person. She doesn't need Mom to remind her, she already knows what she is thinking."
Previously, I saw my daughter frequently interacting with Brother Dongfu Heng because of Pan'er's affairs, and I was worried. However, considering Brother Heng's temperament and my daughter's intelligence since she was a child, it shouldn't be anything.
Baochai sat down again and changed the subject: "Mom, stop talking about this. Well, where is my brother? Why haven't you come back yet?"
Because Xue Pan is still guilty, if something happens outside, I'm afraid even his face will not look good.
As he was talking, a familiar voice suddenly came from outside, "Sister, are you looking for me?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xue Pan shook his big head, walked into the side room with one foot high and one foot low, and said with a smile: "After worshiping the ancestors, I had two drinks with some men from the Jia family. I have to go there tomorrow. It’s the prison.”
Originally, I wanted to go to Cuihong Mansion to listen to music, but who would have thought that I would be stopped as soon as I left the house.
"My son, why do you eat so much wine?" Aunt Xue asked with worry when she saw that Xue Pan's face was red and she was staggering when she walked.
Xue Pan smiled and said: "It's not easy to drink wine in prison, so I took two more cups."
As he said that, he glanced at his sister and asked with a smile: "Why did you hear mom talking to your sister about cousin Heng just now?"
But I listened outside for a while.
(This chapter is not finished yet!)
Chapter 528 Yuanchun: Big deal...
Aunt Xue said: "Well, just talk casually."
"Mom, my sister doesn't need you to worry about it, she understands it better than anyone else." Xue Pan said with a smile.
He looked at his sister and cousin Heng riding in a carriage today. Who knows if there was anyone in the carriage... Hehe.
Given Cousin Heng's powerful position, he probably wouldn't treat his sister badly, and of course, he wouldn't treat his brother-in-law badly either.
Aunt Xue said angrily: "You've eaten too much and drank too much, so you're just being careless here. Go and wash up quickly. You have to leave tomorrow."
As he spoke, he gradually became sad, his eyes were slightly red and he said, "I only saw him once in half a month."
Xue Pan smiled and said, "Okay, it's not like I won't come back. I'll be back in a few days."
After that, without saying much, he returned to his residence with the support of Tongxi Tonggui.
But he said that in the courtyard of another Wang family's daughter, the candlelight was burning in the wing, reflecting two figures on the window screen.
Mrs. Wang also held Yuan Chun's hand and sat on the bed, while the two of them talked to each other.
"Big girl, I haven't seen you for a few days. Are you okay at the princess's house?" Mrs. Wang asked with concern on her face.
Yuan Chun said softly: "Mom, I'm fine." Mrs. Wang nodded and said: "That's good. I'm worried that if you leave home, you will end up serving noble people and be bullied by others."
Yuan Chun pursed her pink lips and said, "Don't worry, Mom. Brother Heng often comes to see me and will take care of me."
The words were a bit of a pun at the moment, but Hengdi also "bullied" her.
"No matter what he says, he is not as precious as the princess. If something happens, he may not be able to protect you." Mrs. Wang sighed and said.
Her eldest daughter almost regarded the man from Dongfu as her biological brother, and her elbows were turned outward.
Yuan Chun said softly: "Mom, don't misunderstand Brother Heng. Isn't it Brother Heng who is in charge of father's affairs this time?"
If possible, she still wanted to resolve the grievances between her mother and him.
"That's what he should do. He has become the patriarch of the clan. You tell me how many things have happened in the family. You were fine in the palace, but he insisted on taking you out. Now your marriage is not good enough, so why not?" There is something about Baoyu." Mrs. Wang whispered, seeing Yuan Chun frowning, she said: "That's all, I know you don't like to hear it, so I won't say this anymore. Your father listens to him now, and you are in the palace. Mom knows how hard it is, and it’s actually the right thing to come out, but you should drink less of his **** soup. Mom is also watching how he arranges your marriage."
Yuan Chun's heart skipped a beat and she felt the jade tiger was slightly hot, causing her delicate body to tremble. She almost thought her mother had discovered her affair with Hengdi.
However, she probably drank Hengdi's soup, and remembered that it had a bit of salty smell...
Um?
Why did she think of this again in front of her mother? It's... so shameless.
Mrs. Wang sighed and whispered: "Your father is okay. I don't care whether he can be a third-grade official in the future. The key is that your brother is still young and he cannot ignore Baoyu's future."
He said that he didn't care about the third-grade official, but he kept it on his lips. It was obvious that he didn't care about it.
Yuan Chun's beautiful eyes were slightly focused, and her face, as soft as a spring flower, was stunned. After a moment, she comforted her: "Don't worry, Mom, he will take care of Brother Heng."
With her here, Baoyu's future will be settled. The big deal...she just needs to "serve" Hengdi well.
Mrs. Wang sighed and said: "Well, there is one more thing. Last time I saw Mr. Qin, he was so old and his hair was a lot whiter. He should be taken care of properly. I don't know. What is Dongfu’s plan?”
She was also a little curious. From her point of view, she should be old and prosperous. She shouldn't be promoted to a fourth-rank official, right?
"I don't know either. Brother Heng doesn't usually talk to me about this." Yuan Chun said softly.
Mrs. Wang said: "You ask him about the good things you do in your daily life, and about your brother, you also take the time to talk to him."
Yuanchun's heart skipped a beat and he said, "Mom, I'll ask."
Mrs. Wang sighed again, with a hint of worry in her heart.
Ever since the big house in Rongguo Mansion was deposed, I feel like everything has changed.
In the final analysis, it is still the title, and the title is the protection from drought and floods (This chapter is not finished yet!)
Chapter 528 Yuanchun: Big deal...
Harvested iron crops, no one can be an official for a lifetime. It would have been better if the eldest girl had been made a concubine and Baoyu had been the uncle. Even the Zhen family would be much better than it is now.
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Chapter 528 Yuanchun: Big deal...
