Yang Yi returned to Cining Palace and sat on a chair, thoughtfully looking at the waterside pavilion in front of him.
"Yier, are you worried?"
Yang Guizhi came out, looked at her thoughtful niece, and frowned slightly.
"You're drinking again!"
"Auntie, your complexion looks much better."
Yang Yi was noncommittal and laughed.
It has to be said that although my aunt is over sixty years old, she has keen observation skills that are not comparable to ordinary people.
I think Zhou Xiuniang and Cuizhu knew that I was drinking, but they just didn't say anything. What does it mean?
"With nothing to do and calm weather, I naturally feel at peace."
Yang Guizhi sat down, she looked at Yang Yi, and the latter was angry.
"Aunt, don't look at me like that, it makes me feel weird."
"You've been hanging out for more than half a year, and you've spent a lot of money, right?"
"Aunt, you also know this."
Yang Yi was a little embarrassed.
She was short of money, and the only person she could borrow was Ge Hong, Shangshu of the Ministry of Justice.
"Ge Shangshu came to my place. I helped you pay back the three thousand guan you borrowed. There is also the two thousand guan you took from the Wu Mansion. You don't have to pay it back."
Yang Yi had gone out to borrow money, and the savings on hand for the dowry must have been spent.
"Thank you, aunt."
Yang Yi said nonchalantly, feeling a little embarrassed and feeling much more relaxed.
In the past, when Wei Jinyu and Zhen Zhidao were in Lin'an City, these two dandy boys paid for their food, drinks and entertainment. Others also fawned over their aunt Yang Guizhi because of their reputation. Now he only owes Ge Hong three thousand guan, and they are all chasing him to the palace.
Has the Yang family lost power? How could it be like this now?
"Yi'er, what do you want Cuizhu to do?"
"Aunt, do you know this too?"
Yang Yi looked at her aunt in surprise.
What just happened was caught by my aunt. It seems that my aunt has many eyes and ears in the palace.
“I’ve been here my whole life, what don’t I know?”
Yang Guizhi looked at Yang Yi, and his expression turned serious again without realizing it.
"It's good that Cuizhu used to be my maid, but she is the emperor's woman now. You have to be careful and don't just come and go when you call her. Cuizhu is sensible and won't care about you. She is your wife in the palace. Aoyuan, you have to treat her well and don't treat her like a servant. Do you understand?"
"I know, aunt!"
Although she was very reluctant, Yang Yi nodded.
Cuizhu was just her aunt's maid. She knew Zhao Hong first, but Cuizhu became the emperor's concubine first.
"Also, Cuizhu's family is poor and she has many brothers and sisters. She still has to support the family, so don't make it difficult for her. I'll get you some money, and you can pay all the external bills."
"Then I'd like to thank my aunt!"
A smile immediately appeared on Yang Yi's face. After a moment, he frowned, as if he was worried.
"The emperor brought back a Xixia princess from Shukou, and he favored that Taizhou beauty. Are you worried about this?"
Observing words and expressions, Yang Guizhi keenly captured the changes in her niece's emotions.
Li Wei became a princess of Xixia and was brought back to Lin'an City by Zhao Hong, which was known throughout the court. This matter has been spread to the palace. She has also met Li Weiming several times. He has a graceful demeanor and can indeed be a concubine in the harem.
As for Jia Sijin, she is thrillingly charming. The emperor is a man, so it would be strange not to be tempted.
"That's right. I just feel upset."
Yang Yiyan said something sincerely, and could not hide the sadness on his face.
There are more and more women around Zhao Hong, including Xixia Princess Li Weiming, the noble daughter Jia Sijin, and Cuizhu sent by her aunt. She felt that she was dispensable and did not seem to be taken seriously by Zhao Hong.
Just like Cuizhu, she only slept with Zhao Hong a few times, behaved herself, and lived a boring life.
Is this what she wants?
"I only see the smiles of the new ones, but not the sorrows of the old ones. Zhao Hong is a king, how can there be only one or two women around him. You yourself have been married before, and you are not young. Don't you know it in your heart?"
Yang Yi couldn't help being startled and avoided Yang Guizhi's gaze.
"It's not that my aunt is telling you that you are not as young as Li Weiming and the others. Take advantage of Zhao Hong's kindness to you and your good health to enter the palace and have more children with Zhao Hong. A mother is more valuable than a child, and Zhou Xiuniang is an example. "
"I can also choose to leave, I don't have to follow him."
Yang Yi paused for a moment, still making the final argument.
She and Zhao Hong were in love, so why did Yang Guizhi tell her that she was just like a prostitute waiting for a price, determined to please men.
"Of course you can leave. Ask yourself, you spend your whole day drinking, drinking, eating and clothing. Who can satisfy you except the Emperor of the Song Dynasty? To be honest, you are pampered and can only eat, drink and have fun. You don't know how to do anything else. What's the point? Choose?"
Yang Guizhi's words gave Yang Yi a headache.
"Auntie, the concubines in the palace only give me a small amount of money every month. Once I enter the palace, can I live and drink like crazy?"
Zhao Hong required frugality in the palace and strictly prohibited extravagance. Zhou Xiu Niang's food and clothing were simple, and the other concubines would not be superior to Zhou Xiu Niang.
However, Yang Guizhi's words awakened the dreamer.
Zhao Hong treated him well, but she may have overestimated her status in Zhao Hong's mind.
"100 guan a month, food and drink without spending any money, is not enough for you? Not to mention there are rewards in the palace. My aunt wants to remind you, either leave Zhao Hong, or let him welcome you into the palace as soon as possible. In any case, you You have to change those bad habits, otherwise you will regret it sooner or later!"
Yang Guizhi took the matter seriously and warned her niece.
Yang Yi remained silent, obviously resisting in his heart. Yang Guizhi changed his tone and returned to political affairs.
"The emperor made peace with Xixia, and although he brought back the Xixia princess, if he wants to use troops against the Tatars, I'm afraid it won't be that easy."
Implementing the New Deal, establishing the Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall, training troops and dispatching generals, and forging firearms, everything Zhao Hong did was to prepare for future wars.
From now on, it is just to fight the Tatar army.
"Bold! Do they dare to stop the emperor from using troops?"
Yang Yi was shocked again.
Those ministers in the court who only know how to be romantic, dare they disagree with the emperor's use of troops?
"Zhao Hongcheng's palace is very deep, and everything is done without leakage. However, the ministers in the court are not vegetarians. Their altars and pots are all in the southeast. They will gain nothing if they win. Once they lose, they will lose the most. You Think, are they willing to fight?”
In the Great Song Dynasty, most of the ministers were from the Zhuhe faction and enjoyed prosperity and wealth. Zhao Hong wants to go to war with the Tatars, who are at their peak, but probably not many people will agree.
"So that's it!"
Yang Yi suddenly realized it and said something resentful.
"It's best if the emperor doesn't send troops. Then Xixia will be destroyed by the Tatars. How long can that Xixia princess be arrogant?"
Yang Guizhi looked at Yang Yi who was gloating about his misfortune in surprise, and was secretly surprised.
Speaking of jealousy, women in the Yang family don't have a fuel-efficient lamp.
"Follow Zhao Hong well, don't be jealous, and don't mess around. Auntie, a hundred years from now, the prosperity and wealth of the Yang family will all depend on you!"
Yang Guizhi warned Yang Yi with serious words.
It's rare that the emperor likes Yang Yi now. If he doesn't seize this opportunity, the Yang family will have no future.
"The emperor hired all the new rich, the Zhou family, Xu Liang, Tian Yi, and the martial artists from the Jinling Martial Arts Hall. No one from the Yang family was in power, and their power was not even comparable to that of Xue Ji Xuanzhen. The Yang family wanted to gain power. , I’m afraid it’s difficult!”
Yang Yi shook his head and said sincerely.
Once upon a time, the Yang family was so illustrious that even the powerful Prime Minister Shi Miyuan was afraid of him, let alone all the officials in the court, big and small.
Nowadays, no one in the world knows that the Yang family has lost power since the palace failed.
Yang Guizhi felt lost, silent and looking into the distance.
The Yang family has no outstanding talents, and there is no one in the court. The fate of the Yang family seems to have been determined.
