The Royal Palace, Cining Palace.
The queen sat lazily on the soft couch, her eyes slightly narrowed, and she didn't know whether she was pretending to be dead or thinking about something.
Concubine Chen, who was sitting next to her, saw this and said, "Sister, Ning Guogong hasn't come to see us since he got married. Do you want to break up with us? You don't think of a way."
The queen chuckled lightly and said, "You little girl, why are you so restless? Duke Ning Guo has just gotten married, so naturally he is not interested enough in the face of his bride. It is right to spend more time with her.
Men are all virtuous, preferring the new and hating the old, and like excitement. Putting our status as sisters here will make countless men dream about something happening with us, and Ning Guogong is no exception. That guy is very courageous and won't be reluctant to give up. He should be here in a few days. "
The Queen is also a person who has experienced newlyweds, so she naturally understands the truth behind this.
Later concubines like Concubine Chen were, to put it bluntly, the emperor's playthings. If they remembered that they were favored once, they might not be able to see the emperor for months or even years if they couldn't remember.
The current Emperor Longqing is more diligent in his work, and coupled with his failing health, these concubines in the harem are almost like widows.
Although the queen can be seen often, she only talks to her and rarely stays here overnight.
This is also the reason why both of them focused on Jia Cong after being succeeded by him.
Concubine Chen, in particular, can be counted on one hand the number of times she has been favored by Emperor Long Qing, and coupled with her health reasons, it is almost the same as being tickled.
There was no need to compare. After seeing Jia Cong's strength, he was immediately shocked and was immediately surrendered by Jia Cong.
All my heart was focused on Jia Cong, and I was looking forward to Jia Cong's private meeting.
Compared to the Queen's calculations and use, Concubine Chen's feelings for Jia Cong were more pure.
It's just that she is young after all, and when it comes to scheming, she is far from the scheming queen.
In terms of value to Jia Cong, the queen played a greater role, while Concubine Chen was just a lucky vase at best.
Concubine Chen also understood what the queen said, but she was missing someone in her heart.
"It's true that Mr. Ning Guo comes to the palace every day and doesn't come to see us. Sister, how is your plan for that matter? How sure are you now?"
The queen sighed and said, "I have already persuaded Duke Ning Guo. With his help, I am very sure. But I am afraid that something will happen when the time comes. If Duke Ning Guo is not in the palace, it will be a big trouble."
Concubine Chen asked doubtfully: "Why is Ning Guogong not in the palace? Doesn't he come every day? Is my sister too worried?"
The queen raised her eyes and glanced at Concubine Chen, and said helplessly: "Your Majesty came to me two days ago and talked about Duke Ning. If the war situation in Shaanxi continues to be unfavorable, Your Majesty would like to send Duke Ning to quell the rebellion.
Your Majesty was also concerned that it would be unreasonable to send Ning Guogong to the battlefield now that he had just gotten married, so he thought of waiting and seeing, and giving Ning Guogong some time by the way. Once Ning Guogong goes to the battlefield, it is hard to say when he will come back. I am not sure whether he can return to the palace and serve in the palace. I have also been a little worried recently. "
"Ah, then our good days will be gone. What should we do? Sister, can't you find a way to stop it? That would be more beneficial to your plan. If this goes to the battlefield, what if Ning Guo The public is good or bad, what can we do?"
Concubine Chen couldn't help but feel a little panicked after hearing the queen's words.
He was sad because he could not see Jia Cong, but also worried that Jia Cong was about to go to the battlefield.
The queen sighed again and said: "Of course I know the pros and cons clearly, but after thinking about it for a long time, I still can't do anything. Maybe this is fate."
Concubine Chen frowned and said, "Sister, have you told Mr. Ning Guo about this?"
The queen shook her head and said, "I haven't seen him recently, so naturally I can't tell him. It won't be too late to tell him when he comes."
Concubine Chen said
: "Sister, it's better to send someone to call him and tell him as soon as possible. Maybe he can do something. Even if there is no way, let him be mentally prepared in advance to avoid being caught off guard.
By the way, doesn't he want to marry a girl from the Xue family? The wedding date has been set, so you can't let them get married, right? "
The queen pondered for a while and said: "What you said makes sense. I will ask him to come over later and tell him about this matter to see what he thinks. But don't have too much hope. I think Ning Guo My father likes to go to the battlefield more, so our worries are unnecessary."
Thinking of Jia Cong's achievements in Liaodong, the queen couldn't help but sigh deeply.
Keeping Jia Cong in the capital is like trapping a tiger in a cage. Once he is released, the tiger will come out of the cage.
The value of Jia Cong can be brought out even more on the battlefield.
Immediately, he called his confidant eunuch and asked him to find Ning Guogong, intending to tell him what Emperor Longqing wanted.
······
Jia Cong is in the Forbidden Army camp, thinking about his upcoming marriage to Baochai.
Time flies so fast. It has been more than half a month since I got married to Lin Daiyu. During this time, the two of them were together every day, loving each other, sleeping together at night, practicing martial arts together in the morning, and sending Jia Cong off after dinner. When you are on duty, you live a happy life.
Jia Cong also enjoyed this kind of warmth, and his relationship with Lin Daiyu grew deeper and deeper.
It's just that in about ten days, it will be the day when he and Baochai will get married, but he has to prepare in advance.
Although Lin Daiyu was a little bit sour, she was not a stingy person after all. She took the initiative to take over the matter and took Youshi, Zijuan, Yuanyang, Ping'er and others to be responsible for preparing for the next marriage, which made Jia Cong relaxed. A lot.
When the day comes, all he has to do is pick up the bride in person.
I hope that after Baochai comes over, the two sisters can get along harmoniously, otherwise it will be difficult for me to be caught in the middle.
While he was thinking, the door was pushed open, and Li Biao walked in with a young eunuch.
Jia Cong took a look and recognized the person who was the queen, and signaled Li Biao to retreat.
The young eunuch cupped his hands and said, "I have met Duke Ning Guo. The Queen has invited Duke Ning Guo to visit Cining Palace."
Jia Cong smiled and said, "Thank you, father-in-law. I will go see the queen right away."
When Jia Cong heard that the queen was looking for him, he didn't think much about it. After all, during this period of time, his thoughts were all on Dai Yu, and he really ignored other people.
Even the women in his own family only ate together in the morning and evening, and all looked at him with resentment.
There was nothing I could do about it. I had no other way to do it. If I wanted to spend the honeymoon with Sister Lin, I could only make them wait for a while.
Following the young eunuch to Cining Palace, he saw the Queen and Concubine Chen waiting for him. Apart from the two of them, there was no one else in the room.
Jia Cong didn't see anyone else and came directly to sit next to the two of them.
"The Queen has summoned me, but what's the big deal?"
The queen said with a half-smile, "Ning Guogong is newly married, so he must be living a very happy life."
"Yes, yes, they have probably forgotten about us sisters."
Concubine Chen stood up and came to Jia Cong's side, looking at him with a resentful look.
Jia Cong stretched out his hand and pinched her little face, and chuckled softly: "We haven't seen each other for a few days, and she is almost turning into a resentful woman. I am a newlywed after all, so I should spend more time with the bride. I am an errand in the palace. , I will have plenty of time to accompany you in the future, so why be in a hurry."
After hearing what Jia Cong said, Concubine Chen's face improved a lot.
Then he seemed to have thought of something, and frowned and said, "I'm afraid your errand will change. Let my sister tell you."
[In view of the general environment,
Jia Cong had some doubts in his heart and looked at the Queen with a puzzled look on his face and asked, "Queen, what's going on?"
The Queen sighed and said: "This is what Your Majesty wants you to go to Shaanxi to quell the rebellion. I should be looking for you soon. Although I don't want you to
Go, but there is no other way. You should be mentally prepared in advance. "
Jia Cong was also a little surprised when he heard this.
He said with a surprised look on his face: "Aren't you afraid that I will get more military honors and my prestige will increase, so you are a little jealous of me and want to suppress me? Why would you send me to Shaanxi to quell the rebellion?"
The Queen said: "In the past, Your Majesty and the ministers were afraid that you would be in trouble, so they thought of suppressing you. Now the situation in Shaanxi is very unfavorable to the court. All the reinforcements sent have been beaten. After retreating, the court was somewhat helpless.
At this time, you are the best candidate, after all, your previous record is there. In addition, you are now married and about to have a child, and you have a bond in your heart. Your Majesty will feel more at ease if your wife and children stay in the capital.
What's more, you have behaved well in the past few years, thinking only about making money, developing Ningguo Mansion, and enjoying a luxurious life. You have not shown any ambition or dissatisfaction, and you have been very filial to His Majesty, which made His Majesty put down his guard against you.
For these reasons, His Majesty decided to send you to Shaanxi to quell the rebellion. Shaanxi is a mess right now. No one wants to wade into the muddy waters, and I don’t want you to go either. But I really don’t know how to persuade His Majesty. "
Concubine Chen also said: "Mr. Ning Guo, I don't want you to go to war. The battlefield is fierce and dangerous. My sister and I will be worried about you. If you have a way to push it away, then just push it away and stay in the palace." How wonderful."
After listening to their words, Jia Cong finally understood what they were thinking.
In short, I just want to find a way for myself to continue to stay in the palace as an errand.
Firstly, for his own safety, and also to be able to see himself from time to time, and secondly, the queen's plan cannot be separated from her.
Without the help of herself and the imperial army, the queen's plan has almost no chance of success, which is why the queen is worried.
However, once Emperor Longqing made a decision, he could not refuse and could only accept the order.
Jia Cong said: "To be honest, I don't want to go to the battlefield now. I just want to marry a wife and have children, and promote our Ningguo Mansion. It's just that the emperor's order is difficult. Once His Majesty gives the order, I can't refuse it. If I refuse forcefully, I will only If you offend Your Majesty, I'm afraid the gains will outweigh the losses.
It's just the Queen's matter that I can only worry about anymore, and I can't make any guarantees now. "
The Queen sighed and said: "People plan things, and God makes things happen. I did not expect such a change. If it is really God's will, we have to accept the fact. Regarding this matter, you can make up your own mind in advance. Let me tell you, you can also consider it more."
Jia Cong said: "The possibility of rejection is unlikely, but the time can be postponed. After all, the wedding date of the Xue family girl and I has been set, which will only last more than ten days. The marriage must be consummated. This No one says it will work. There should be no problem in delaying it for a month. After all, sending troops is not that easy. Soldiers, horses, food and grass need to be prepared in advance."
The queen said: "You have made your own decision, and I won't advise you anymore. Be careful on the battlefield, take care of yourself, and be sure to come back alive."
Jia Cong smiled and said: "Before the edict is issued, everything is unknown. Don't think too much. We just sit back and wait for the result."
Concubine Chen said: "Mr. Ning Guo, since you are here, please stay with us. I have missed you so much during this time."
Jia Cong nodded in agreement and stayed with the two of them until an hour later before leaving Cining Palace.
······
Returning to Ningguo Mansion, Jia Cong called Li Biao, Tiezhu, and Qingwen to the study.
Now that he knew Emperor Longqing's plan, it was impossible for him to refuse. Even if he was pretending, he had to pretend to be loyal to the emperor and patriotic.
As the saying goes, life is like a play, it all depends on acting skills.
In this feudal society where the king wants his subjects to die, they have to die, and the father wants his son to die, and the son has to die, no matter how reluctant you are, you have to pretend on the surface.
Moreover, Jia Cong was not as worried as others about going to the battlefield.
As soon as his secret weapon is revealed, even the most elite army will fall into disarray.
Jia
Cong glanced at the three of them and said, "I received news from the Queen today that Your Majesty intends for me to go to Shaanxi to quell the rebellion. Although the decree has not been made yet, it should be true. I believe there will be news soon."
Qingwen said: "Master, in about ten days, aren't you going to marry Miss Xue? The date has been set, how can you regret it? This is too unreasonable."
Jia Cong said: "Isn't it true that the decree hasn't been issued yet? His Majesty probably wants to wait for me to get married before issuing the decree. Even if the decree is issued, it can still be delayed. The troops, horses, food, and other things need to be prepared. Yes, these all take time.
What I mean is that everyone prepares in advance. Li Biao will distribute all the iron swords he has made to his soldiers so that everyone can get familiar with them for a while. Tiezhu, what is the situation now of the people who were sent there before? Please explain it carefully. "
The two agreed in unison, and Tie Zhu said: "Sir, the people we sent to Shaanxi have already integrated into the rebels and have been able to grasp some of the information, but no one can enter the high-level."
Jia Cong said: "That's enough. You can summarize the news and send it to me. In addition, send some people to set up a forward station and find out for me the situation of both the enemy and us over there." Lest we get a black eye later."
Tie Zhu cupped his hands and said, "Yes, I obey."
