Yong'an Palace
As the night progresses, the palace is still lit with lights and candles.
The queen, dressed in formal attire, sat in the hall with an indifferent expression, looking at the kneeling eunuch below, reporting something.
"So, Your Majesty wants to see me now?"
"Your Majesty, your Majesty misses your Majesty and would like to ask you to come over." The eunuch lay on the ground and said respectfully.
It's against the rules to invite the Queen over so late.
However, almost all the rules in the entire palace serve the emperor, and the emperor can make changes. Whether the rules are in compliance or not is not important.
The queen had already heard about the emperor vomiting blood, but she pretended not to know and just asked the eunuch: "I heard that Su Ziji returned to Beijing today?"
"Madam, Mr. Su has indeed returned to Beijing today."
"Do you know his current situation? Has your Majesty summoned him?" the queen asked.
Eunuch: "When I return to the empress, your majesty gave Mr. Su a residence in Wanglufang. As soon as Mr. Su returned to Beijing, your majesty sent someone to invite him to the house. Along with Mr. Su's family members, they also went to the pier to greet him. It should be at this time Already settled in the new mansion."
"Really?" After hearing the eunuch's report that the emperor did not summon Su Ziji immediately, the queen's reaction actually coincided with Su Ziji's first reaction.
He was obviously very anxious to summon Su Ziji to Beijing, but after entering the capital, he was not in a hurry to see him. Could it be that he had a grudge in his heart and had some regrets?
Thinking about the fact that Su Ziji had to marry a civilian woman because he was living among the people, the queen felt that her grandson was too wronged.
"However, although Ye Buhui is from an ordinary background and is not worthy of Ah Fu's son, but..."
Thinking of the scene when she saw Ye Buhui a few days ago, her heart, which had hardened over the years, actually softened again for some unknown reason.
"I originally thought that Ling Ye Buhui would only be Su Ziji's concubine. Although he was a concubine, he could be transformed from an ordinary person's main concubine to a serious concubine of the emperor's grandson. This can be regarded as an improvement in status, and it is not a humiliation. she."
"Even if she doesn't want to, then let her fake her death, then give her a thick dowry, and let her remarry on her own, that's fine."
"Su Ziji is about to be naturalized, but after all, he is many years behind the other kings. There are not many people available for him. If he can choose a suitable marriage, he can also have a suitable in-law."
"But when I saw the child, I didn't know why, but my heart softened. I couldn't say a word to persuade him."
Maybe the couple started out in times of trouble, or they may have arranged things better than they had planned.
The queen comforted herself with such words.
However, there is no need to fight for anything else, only the status and title must be fought for.
Sitting quietly thinking about this, until she came back to her senses, the queen sighed softly: "That's all, since His Majesty invites me, how can I not go? Come and prepare the chariot!"
"Yes, concubine!"
Following the queen's order, the phoenix chariot was prepared, and they got on the phoenix chariot in the night and headed towards the palace.
In the palace, not to mention at night, even during the day, there is a kind of silence and loneliness that is not found in the Shenmen Courtyard.
At night, the exquisite palace lanterns hanging on both sides of the road sway gently with the breeze.
The bright lights are like sparks in the vast night, one after another, stretching into the distance.
It is already winter. Although it has only snowed sporadically this year, the coldness in the middle of the night can already be felt through the oncoming wind.
On the phoenix chariot carried by eight people, the queen was sitting upright, with light makeup. She was not young anymore. Although she was once a beautiful woman, she was now just a woman who had lost her beloved son and had gone through painful vicissitudes for more than ten years.
Ahead was her nominal husband's residence, but her heart was calm.
When they arrived, the phoenix chariot was gently lowered at the entrance of the palace. The chief eunuch who had been serving for a long time, together with a group of palace maids and eunuchs, stood at the door eagerly waiting. When they saw the queen arriving, they all hurriedly ran over and saluted the queen respectfully.
"I have seen the Queen. She is a thousand years old!"
After uttering flattering words, the eunuch on duty today hurriedly helped the empress in as soon as he got back to his feet. The empress's female officer took a look at her and took two steps back.
Like the master of Yong'an Palace, the female officials of Yong'an Palace have a transcendent status in this palace. Even the emperor's eunuchs do not dare to offend easily.
The queen gently placed her hand on the female officer's hand, and with her support, she walked step by step into the palace that she had been to some time ago.
Last time, she came here because of Su Ziji. This time, she came here because of her grandson.
If it weren't for Ah Fu's only descendant, the queen would have been so heartbroken that she would close the palace door and no one would be seen. Why would she need to deal with this cruel person?
But as she walked in step by step, smelling the strong smell of medicine in the air, the queen lowered her eyes slightly, her eyes became hot, and she almost couldn't control her expression.
Fortunately, she had long been accustomed to control and tolerance, so when she arrived in the palace where the emperor was, her eyes were calm.
"Queen, you are finally here." The emperor, wearing a white coat and outer robe, stood up to greet the queen upon hearing the announcement.
Seeing that he was doing better than she thought, he seemed to have recovered a lot, and his face looked rosy. The queen smiled slightly and said warmly: "I have met your Majesty."
"Ahem! You and I are husband and wife, why do you have to be so formal?" Seeing the queen saluting him, the emperor hurriedly helped her up, and at the same time held her hand and asked her to sit on the dragon couch with him.
In front of the couch, there was a low table with pens, ink, paper, inkstones, and some folding papers on it. The emperor coughed lightly and motioned for the queen to look over.
"Queen, I have prepared to give Su Ziji a name. According to the rules, the prince and grandson are first granted the title of Marquis, and then they are granted the title of Marquis. Take a look, what can you choose?"
It is in line with the rules to create a marquis first, no more, no less.
The queen's eyes darkened slightly and fell on the low table. She saw the emperor picking up a piece of plain paper for her. She reached out to take it and saw that it was a simple map with the names and directions of various countries on it.
Like the previous dynasty, Zheng Taizu established Dazheng. In the first month of the third year of Qingwu, Hanxue decreed that the names of third-class countries were divided into large countries, secondary countries, and small countries for the purpose of conferring titles.
When a prince is first granted a title of marquis, he must be a prince, unlike a meritorious official, and he will be granted the title of duke and king successively.
Although princes are conferred, "country" is actually just a concept, and it does not really allow the princes and grandsons to govern themselves. Due to the many feudal rebellions in the past, since the previous dynasty, a set of inherent patterns has been formed for the management of princes, princes, and grandsons. .
Generally speaking, once you have a fief, you will not become a vassal, but part of the fief's output and taxes will become the source of the prince's daily expenses, so that he can enjoy his wealth.
The queen looked at it and directly ignored the big countries Qin, Qi, Wei, Yan, etc.
"My grandson will definitely not be able to get the title at the first step. Although the emperor seems to let me choose, if I choose a big country, he will definitely not allow it."
As for small countries, they were always given to the unfavored princes and grandsons. Naturally, the queen looked down on them and jumped over without even looking at them.
She mainly chose among those sub-states. There are still several sub-states that have not been enfeoffed. The queen hesitated for a moment and said: "The country of Dai is not bad. Although it is not a rich place, it has always been very peaceful. Just like how I treat my grandson." son’s expectations.”
"Daiguo?" The emperor nodded: "Yes, then I will make Su Ziji a Daihou."
