Kunning Palace
It was mid-afternoon, and the sun was shining brightly. Although there were a few ice cubes placed in the hall to cool down the heat, it was still a bit hot.
Empress Song looked at the Emperor with concern with her beautiful eyes, looked at the young man in python suit beside her, and asked: "Zi Yu, why is Your Majesty so drunk?"
Jia Heng explained: "Today, Grand Scholar Qi and Grand Scholar Li returned from Peiping. His Majesty was very happy, so he drank two more cups."
Empress Song hurriedly came over to help support Emperor Chongping. She felt a smell of alcohol mixed with a heavy weight and said, "Ziyu, help him to sleep in the bedroom."
Jia Heng nodded and felt a fragrant wind blowing towards his nostrils. The refreshing breath floated on his nostrils, making people feel distraught.
Empress Song whispered: "Just rest on the couch in the bedroom."
Jia Heng and Dai Quan helped Emperor Chongping rest on the bed. This was the first time they saw Empress Song's bedroom.
The curtains are all around and tied up with gold hooks. A three-foot-square dressing table made of mahogany is under the west window. The light and shadow of the bronze mirror are microwaved. There are gold hairpins and jade hostas in the box, and there is no smoke in the sandalwood incense cage. It is dense, but the aroma fills the room, mixed with the rich fragrance of seductive meat.
Jia Heng didn't want to look too much. He held his breath and concentrated. Suddenly, he heard the beauty's whisper in his ears. Her voice was round and round, like a sweet spring flowing into her throat on a hot summer day. The tail tone had a hint of a warbler's cry, and she said: " Ziyu, please help me over here."
Hearing this, Jia Heng helped Emperor Chongping lie down on the bed. The emperor's figure was somewhat thin, like a withered pine tree.
Jia Heng sighed secretly.
At this time, Queen Song took the pillow and leaned against it quickly. As she lowered her body, the full moon trembled, its white color was eye-catching, and a glistening bead of sweat on her beautiful neck flashed, as if she had fallen into a deep ravine.
This was already a hot summer, but Queen Song didn't cover herself up too tightly in her palace.
Jia Heng glanced at it, his heart skipped a beat, and he didn't want to take another look. He whispered: "My Lady, if there is some sour plum soup, you can give your Majesty some to drink, so that you can sober up."
Suddenly, a strange feeling came to my mind. I always felt that this scene was a bit like Ximen Daguan sending a drunken Hua Zixu back to his house to talk to Li Ping'er. Well, it was still Yang Simin's version.
Well, he had a little too much to drink.
However, before "Dream of Red Mansions" came out, "Jin Ping Mei" was indeed one of the Four Great Wonders.
Empress Song was wiping the sweat from Emperor Chongping's cheek with a handkerchief. The beauty had slender hands, but she didn't look thin. Her skin was fair and her arms were as white as snow.
Hearing this, her pink lips slightly opened and she said softly: "Danzhu, go and tell the imperial kitchen to prepare sour plum soup. Well, prepare more."
The extra sour plum soup was naturally for Jia Heng to drink.
A slim female official next to Empress Song responded crisply, and then went to the imperial kitchen to prepare sour plum soup.
Empress Song used a handkerchief to help wipe the sweat from Emperor Chongping's temples and cheeks, and ordered the female official beside her to fan Emperor Chongping with a cattail leaf fan.
Then he slowly got up and left the dormitory. Jia Heng had no choice but to follow the general out, passed through the bead curtain hanging like a rain curtain, and entered a side hall warm pavilion.
Empress Song sat on the soft couch in the West Nuan Pavilion of the side hall, her two willow-leaf slender eyebrows slightly raised, her charming and gentle phoenix eyes raised a little, she looked at the boy in the python suit, and said softly: " Your Majesty has not drank much in the past few years, but he has drank a lot in the past year, because the war in the north is going smoothly, and he feels a little happier."
It was all because of the young man in front of him who won the battle against the captives. The country, which had been in decline, gradually recovered, and His Majesty became much more relaxed.
Jia Heng looked at Empress Song. The beauty was sitting on a soft couch. She was wearing a vermilion dress embroidered with patterns of luan and phoenix, with peonies on her breasts. Her hair was dignified and graceful in a lush bun, and her plump, white face was Her face has not experienced the baptism of time. Her nose is delicate and straight, and her red lips are rouged, as if they were full rose petals.
A plump and charming aura silently flowed out from every gesture.
Jia Heng did not dare to take a closer look, so he looked away slightly and said, "Your Majesty, your Majesty is not in good health. Your Majesty usually advises you to take care of your dragon body."
"It would be great if I could persuade your majesty." Empress Song seemed to sigh with emotion. There was a touch of sadness on her plump and graceful face. She glanced at Jia Heng who was standing and said: "Zi Yu, stand here. What are you doing? There is an embroidered pier over there, sit down."
With that said, he stretched out his hand to screen away the female officer.
Jia Heng thanked him gently, and then sat down on the embroidered pier. The sunlight from the Xuan window shone on the young man's sharp eyebrows and deep face. Hongqingquan flows to the heart of Queen Song.
"It's a little hot today." Empress Song chuckled, her voice round and round, seeming to contain a hint of joy.
I don't know why, but I felt younger and more cheerful when talking to this young man. I had never felt like this when talking to Ran'er, Wei'er, and Xianning in the past.
In fact, this is the same as a fat middle-aged man with a big belly who likes to find young and beautiful college students. The aura of youthful vitality cannot be hidden.
As for the lady who has been lonely in Wutong Garden for a long time, she usually has no contact with men other than her family members, and she is as old as a wolf. When she sees a young man with a handsome appearance and a cold temperament, there will inevitably be some confusion between her words. close to.
Of course, it's not cheating.
Jia Heng said: "Recently, there has been a severe drought in the northern provinces. Even after a heavy rain, the heat has not subsided. Your Majesty and your Majesty should pay attention to sun protection and prepare more ice cubes to avoid heatstroke."
At this time, the extreme weather characteristics of later generations were already present, but first there was a wave of high temperature and drought, followed by typhoons and heavy rains.
Well, put it this way, by this time, the rains and floods in the south of the Yangtze River should be quite severe.
At this moment, Empress Song had already picked up the tea cup on the coffee table and took a sip. Her pink and red lips pressed against the Xiangyun porcelain cup, and her slightly raised neck was like a swan, white and swaggering.
At this moment, Jia Heng glanced at her. There was a pearl necklace hanging on her beautiful neck. It was soft and white on the fragrant skin, like a trace of putty on the crystal-covered sweat beads.
She secretly said, she is really a snow beauty.
At this moment, Queen Song was drinking tea, and suddenly she felt something strange in her heart. The phoenix eyes under her beautiful eyebrows raised a gleam, and met the slightly lost gaze.
Why... why are you looking at her again?
Queen Song felt ashamed and annoyed, but deep down in her heart there was also a trace of complacency that she was not aware of.
But upon closer inspection, she saw that the young man had looked away. Empress Song paused and said, "Ziyu, when you went to check the Zhen family, did you ever come into contact with the Jinling Weaving Mansion?"
Jia Heng didn't know Empress Song's intentions, so he thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, the Zhizhi Mansion was originally handled by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and I don't know much about the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau."
Empress Song carefully considered her words and said softly: "Now that Jinyang is away, during the recent preparations for the wedding, we need to supply a large amount of brocade, silk and even specialties from the south of the Yangtze River. The Ministry of Internal Affairs is not very satisfied with this palace."
Jia Heng said: "But a big wedding? Do you need so much silk?"
Empress Song looked at the young man with a look of surprise on his face, smiled and said: "You just don't understand. The ceremony of a royal wedding is very meticulous. It will still be the wedding of Ruran'er." , the wedding will be held in Xihe Palace, and then you will be welcomed to the Princess's Mansion and wait for Xia Shouzhong to tell you."
Jia Heng thought for a while and said: "Weichen believes that simplicity and grandeur are the most important, and it should not be too extravagant and wasteful."
Empress Song glanced at the young man and said angrily: "Didn't you wrong Xianning and Chanyue? It would make others laugh in the eyes of officials. This kind of marriage happens only once in a woman's life, even if it is extravagant. it's nothing."
Jia Heng looked at the charm and coquettishness flowing between the beautiful woman's eyebrows and eyes, which seemed to be natural, and the beauty's voice was like an oriole, sweet and sweet.
Of course, he would not think that he was so charming that Empress Song would actively seduce him. It was just the graceful manner of this woman's smile that made it difficult for him to control himself.
Jia Heng lowered his eyes and said, "I don't know much about this even though I'm a minister. Everything is arranged by the palace."
Empress Song took advantage of the situation and said: "Yesterday, Xia Shouzhong said he was going to the mansion. Now he is making preparations in the Sixth Palace. Many of them need the help of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but now there is no one in charge in the capital. Jinyang She is still in Jinling at the moment, and I don’t know what she is busy with. Chanyue and Xianning are getting married, and she won’t come back.”
Jia Heng said: "Over in Jinling, after the imperial court opened the customs, the three major weaving bureaus in the south of the Yangtze River of the Ministry of Internal Affairs carried goods to Nanyang to increase internal funds. Nowadays, everything in Jinling is complicated, and it is impossible to do without His Highness Jinyang."
Jinyang stayed in Jinling not only because she was pregnant, but also to open up trade routes to Southeast Asia for the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
According to reports from Jinyi Mansion in the South, since the opening of the sea, officials, civilians, and gentry have been vying to buy ships to trade at sea, and they have been actively selling goods to Southeast Asian countries. Thousands of sailboats competed for crossing the sea, and there was a lot of traffic. In just half a year, Jinling Customs collected seven pieces of Guan Yin. One hundred and fifty thousand taels.
This undoubtedly surprised the officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs.
The earliest opening of the sea was when he went to Haojing to purchase Hongyi cannons. He took the lead in piloting it from Guangzhou and used the Guangdong Navy's anti-smuggling fleet. Guangzhou was much more peaceful and smooth, while the opening of the sea in Jinling followed in the 16th year of Chongping. Later, together with Hangzhou, it was behind Zhangzhou and Quanzhou.
But a new problem arose, that is, pirates contacted some desperadoes to rob coastal merchants.
The Jiangnan navy has not cleaned up the sea entrance, but the waters of Fujian and Zhejiang have become the hardest hit areas. In other words, there are many islands and reefs in this area, and bandits are often hiding there. After contacting the barbarians and Japanese ronin in Jilong Mountain, they are at sea. Engaged in the business of robbing families and homes.
The three southeastern provinces obviously did not establish a coast guard system to patrol the sea and clear out pirates. Therefore, Wang Shuirong of Beijing sent a letter to the Jiangnan Navy to ask the Jiangnan Navy to join forces with the navies of Hangzhou and Fuzhou to clear out the pirates.
Empress Song looked at the young man with a gentle voice, and said softly: "Zi Yu, I think that Xian Ning will not be someone who has nothing to do after marriage. It's better to let her and Chan Yue go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to help. ?”
Jia Heng said: "I have no objection. When the time comes, Xian would rather ask the Holy One for orders."
Empress Song still didn't give up the idea of reaching out to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but there was nothing wrong with Xianning and Chan Yue going to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and it was considered to be convenient for him.
Empress Song picked up the tea cup, looked at the young man with soft phoenix eyes, and said softly: "Zi Yu, Wei'er has mentioned to me several times that he also wants to go to the Beijing camp to train with the army, which is a good idea. His father shared his worries. He heard that you were fighting in Northern Xinjiang some time ago, and Wei'er talked about it a lot."
Jia Heng deliberately pretended not to understand what he meant and asked: "Didn't the King of Liang go to the Ministry of Punishment to observe the government? If he wants to become a general in the army, I think the empress can explain it to the emperor."
This is the second time the beauty in front of me has mentioned it, and this time they meet in private, it is undoubtedly more formal.
When Queen Song heard this, her eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she looked at the young man intently, feeling a little annoyed.
If she hadn't tried so hard to bring him together, supported Xianning to go to Henan, and persuaded Concubine Rong's sister, could this young man have done anything good with Zhi'er?
And if she insists on opposing it, how can it be done concurrently? Let this young man return home with a beautiful woman in his arms, and now he will repay her like this?
Rejected again and again? Wei'er is not the boss, so what if he goes to the Beijing camp to gain experience? Why are you so afraid?
Deep in Empress Song's heart, the resentment due to the emperor's past suspicion and jealousy surged out uncontrollably. Coupled with Jia Heng's stimulation, her crystal jade face gradually became covered with a thin layer of frost, and she looked at the young man with a serene gaze.
His lips moved, but it was hard to say anything.
Jia Heng felt something. He raised his eyes and looked up. He did not avoid her, but just cast a pair of scorching eyes on the beauty. However, Empress Song's mind was greatly shaken, and she gradually looked away.
But the anger in the beauty's heart seemed to be getting stronger. She put one hand on the small table, tilted her head slightly, pursed her glossy pink lips slightly, and said nothing.
Looking at Empress Song who didn't hide anything, with a beautiful face and a bulging look, Jia Heng felt funny for a moment, but also felt a little inexplicably...cute.
Queen Song probably wanted to say, are you worthy of me? If it weren't for me, how could you and Xianning be successful? You heartless person.
But such tacit words cannot be said, otherwise it will break the relationship, and it will also insult the face of this beautiful lady, the owner of the Sixth Palace.
Was it for the sake of his two stupid sons that Hezhu had deliberately tried to help bring him and Xianning together?
Jia Heng thought for a moment, softened his tone, and persuaded, "My dear, please listen to what I have to say."
Empress Song raised her head, her pink and peach-blossom cheeks, and looked at the young man, her phoenix eyes shining brightly.
Jia Heng said: "Mother, the King of Liang discussed the change of government affairs with the Holy One beforehand. The Holy One must have some deep meaning in sending him to the Ministry of Punishment."
When Jia Heng said this, he glanced in the direction of the bedroom.
Empress Song obviously understood what he meant, and pursed her pink lips slightly. She was startled by Jia Heng's actions, and she felt anticipation in her heart.
Jia Heng's face was calm and he lowered his voice and said, "Your Majesty, there is no need to worry about King Wei."
Queen Song's heart was shaken, and her eyes stared at the young man under her delicate and beautiful eyebrows.
Jia Heng glanced in the direction of the bedroom and said in a low voice: "His Royal Highness the King of Wei is blessed with a rock-like safety. Your Majesty, you don't have to worry."
He also needs to be Li Ji at this time, otherwise he will not be able to withstand Queen Song's pressing pressure.
Queen Song glanced around, her heart beating wildly, her voice trembling for some reason, and she said, "Zi Yu."
It's so pitiful that this little fox finally... really didn't let go of the eagle when he saw the rabbit.
Her understanding of His Majesty's thoughts is really not as clear as the person in front of her.
Jia Heng said in a low voice: "Your Majesty has the ambition to rejuvenate, and has made comprehensive plans for the empress' worries. In fact, you still value your highness. Your highness should put filial piety and brotherhood first, self-denial and self-cultivation, and serve you wholeheartedly. Don't worry about the rest."
When Queen Song heard this, she felt her delicate body tremble slightly, and her heart surged with joy.
Is Your Majesty taking things seriously? But why hasn't it been established for a long time? Even after the chaos in Henan last year...he still didn't mention it.
Obviously this beauty could not understand Emperor Chongping's political intentions, but she did understand the words "filial piety and brotherhood" mentioned by Jia Heng, and looked thoughtful on her face.
Jia Heng was not easy to point out, and said: "As for the free and unrestrained temperament of King Liang, he does not like to follow the rules, and he may not like the restrictive life in the military camp. If King Liang is really interested, wait and see when the minister comes back from the south. The empress is still not as good as before." quiet."
If he proposed to let the King of Liang go to the capital camp, although it would not give outsiders the impression that he supported the King of Wei, it would fall into the eyes of the emperor.
Although he is now married to Xianning, he still does not want to make himself a party to the King of Wei.
However, it is quite normal for Empress Song to ask for something in return.
He and Xianning seemed to be in love with each other, but Empress Song's encouragement must account for more than half of the credit. Otherwise, he was a married man. If Empress Song, the lord of the Sixth Palace, beat the couple, the marriage would never be mentioned.
You must know that Concubine Duanrong did not agree with Xianning marrying him at first. It was Empress Song who was busy helping with the work.
Jia Heng said: "Mother, this is the first thing to happen."
Although Empress Song wanted to ask again, she also knew the stakes of this matter, which may not be explained in a few words. She smiled and comforted: "We are all one family, you don't have to be too cautious."
Jia Heng nodded and did not continue the topic. Instead, he looked at the beauty who was smiling and charming like a spring flower. He felt a little emotional. He was really sulking one second and smiling the next.
Just like a little woman...
Queen Song took advantage of the situation and changed the subject, saying: "After Xianning and Chanyue got married, you were very tolerant. These two little girls are not very sensible sometimes."
Jia Heng's face paused slightly and he said seriously: "Don't worry, Madam, they will marry Weichen, and Weichen will not let them suffer the slightest injustice."
Empress Song looked at the young man with clear eyebrows and screamed. For some reason, she felt a sense of sadness in her heart.
While I was dazed, the female official's voice suddenly came from outside, saying hello: "Your Majesty, here comes the sour plum soup."
With that said, he and several palace maids carried a porcelain urn, several jade bowls, spoons and other objects into the heating pavilion in the palace, and placed them on the small table aside.
Empress Song stood up and ordered the female official: "Put a bowl over here and give Ziyu a bowl too. I'll go see Your Majesty."
Female officer Danzhu bowed her knees and said softly, "Yes."
Jia Heng glanced at Empress Song who was walking away gracefully and sighed secretly in her heart.
Empress Song's forced statement would not be limited to this one time. He could not cheat every time, so he had to find a way.
Not long after, Empress Song finished feeding Emperor Chongping and returned with the soup bowl. Seeing the young man in python suit drinking sour plum soup with his head down, the beauty's phoenix eyes flashed, but she didn't say anything.
"Your Majesty." Jia Heng felt something. He put down the sour plum soup and asked with concern, "How is your Majesty?"
"After drinking the sour plum soup, I'm going to sleep now." Empress Song smiled sweetly, said softly, sat down on the soft couch, waved her hand to send people off, intending to continue talking about King Wei.
Jia Heng's hearing was sharp, and he heard the loud snoring coming from the back room of the dormitory. He sighed secretly in his heart, picked up the sour plum soup on the side and took another sip.
Then he put down the teacup, looked at the beauty with a lazy look on her snow-skinned face, and said softly: "It's getting late, I'll take my leave first."
He felt that if he stayed here any longer, he would be forced to make suggestions by Empress Song if he couldn't help himself and did something he would regret.
Empress Song looked at the young man with a bright smile and said softly: "Wait a moment, Xianning is in Tangli Palace right now. Let her see you off later. I have some things to do at the moment." Please teach me."
Jia Heng was invited to a banquet by Emperor Chongping, and Princess Xianning, who was living in Tangli Palace and receiving instructions from Princess Qinghe together with her grandmother and etiquette officer, who was familiar with the wedding ceremony, naturally knew about it.
Seeing this, Jia Heng could only sit down again, but did not answer the question. He no longer planned to talk about the matter of seizing the legitimate son.
There was a hint of disappointment in Queen Song's beautiful eyes under her willow eyebrows, and with a full smile on her face, she asked softly: "Zi Yu, her fourth uncle in Xianning said the other day that he would be returning to Beijing to attend your wedding in a few days. It's just the right time. I haven’t seen you for many days.”
Jia Heng looked at Empress Song and asked, "Xu Weichen is busy with other things these days. I wonder how Uncle Song's fourth uncle is doing in Kaifeng Mansion?"
Empress Song smiled and said: "He has been an official in Kaifeng Mansion for a year. Several letters have come in, and I have asked people to inquire about him. His official reputation and political achievements in the local area are still impressive, but not It is embarrassing for me and Concubine Rong, but as an official outside, it is somewhat inconvenient to come and go. I am thinking about when he can be transferred back to the capital and he can be taken care of. I don’t have much trouble with the court. I understand, Ziyu, what do you think?"
Jia Heng said: "Wei Chen thought that Uncle Siguo of the Song Dynasty could serve in Kaifeng Mansion for three years and then leave before it is too late."
"Oh?" Queen Song raised her eyebrows and said in surprise.
Jia Heng said: "Recently, the imperial court is going to implement a new policy. It is piloting in Jiangsu and Henan in the north and south. It is the time when capable ministers and officials make contributions. For example, the four uncles in the Song Dynasty have political achievements. If they are promoted to the central government, they will be more able to win the hearts of the people."
When Queen Song heard this, her charming eyes flashed, she nodded, and said with a smile: "In that case, I will follow what Ziyu said."
His Majesty never told her about these foreign government affairs.
It seemed that it was right to leave Ziyu alone to talk, and just now... I felt much more at ease.
