"I have heard for a long time that the Marquis of Nanning is a woman who is not inferior to men. When the Marquis of Nanning patrolled Guangxi and conquered Annan, it was the Marquis of Nanning who led the frontal attack and captured Lang Son, which attracted attention in the south of the world, and enabled the Marquis of Nanning to lead a surprising army and march directly to the east. Guan (note: that is Shenglong, the city was also called Dongdu in Annan, and the Ming Dynasty called it Dongguan.), so Jiaozhi was decided.
Later, the father and son of Mang Yinglong and Mang Yingli in Burma rebelled, and the War of Yunnan and Burma broke out. In addition, Mrs. Hou personally led her elite troops across the sea to attack the bandits, and defeated the more than 200,000 thieves in one fell swoop outside Dongxu City. "
The Empress Dowager Cisheng smiled and recounted Huang Zhiting's achievements back then, and then asked curiously: "By the way, the Ai family heard that Mrs. Hou later stayed in Siam for a long time as the deputy governor of Annan, so she even Do you have to go back to Beijing for more than a month?"
Huang Zhiting didn't know whether Empress Dowager Li's compliment was sincere, nor did she know what she meant by asking. However, these were things that everyone knew, and Huang Zhiting didn't have to hide them, so she felt slightly blessed and replied: "Back to the Queen Mother." In other words, I am a chieftain, so I have a permanent position. Moreover, the emperor has decreed that Annan should be in charge of Siam and other places. However, Annan’s envoy, Mo, needs to stay in Annan, so I have to go out to control Siam. This is the emperor’s territory. , I dare not slack off, so I can only return to Beijing once a year to report on my duties."
Huang Zhiting's identity is quite special. On the one hand, she is a married woman, also known as a married woman. When she was first named a married woman, her husband Gao Pragmatic was still a minister, so Huang Zhiting was named a third-grade married woman "Shu Ren" at that time. Later, as Gao Jingshi's status improved, so did her status. From Madam (second-grade) to First-grade Madam, and then to Madam Hou, she was already second only to the "Mrs. of the State" among foreign wives.
But on the other hand, she is not only a marquis wife, but also a serious court official and a general in Xinjiang - the deputy commander-in-chief of Annan Dutong Envoy and the third rank of Yizheng. Oh, by the way, she is also the hereditary Anbang Xuanfu envoy under the Annan Metropolitan Envoy Department, and governs Haidong Prefecture.
"It's not easy!" The Cisheng Empress Dowager nodded repeatedly and said, "Mrs. Hou has given up her family to serve the country. How come the Ai family didn't hear about the emperor's reward for you? This can't be done. The emperor will come later. I'm sorry. I have to ask him what's going on, wouldn't this be disrespectful to Zhongliang?"
Huang Zhiting was very surprised when she heard this. Regarding Annan, or the situation in Southern Xinjiang as a whole, in fact, the emperor and his husband had a tacit understanding for a long time, and the imperial court did not care about the affairs of Southern Xinjiang at all. Since he didn't ask about it, he naturally couldn't talk about giving him any reward for his so-called defense efforts.
Besides, how to award a reward? The countries in southern Xinjiang all maintained their original kingdom structure, but they claimed to be three proclamations and six consolations to the Ming Dynasty. For example, the Nanzhang Kingdom calls itself the Lao Military and Civilian Xuanwei Division, Siam calls itself the Babaidian Xuanwei Division, Bago calls itself the Dagu La Xuanwei Division, and so on.
Huang Zhiting is already the vice-president of Annan. If the reward is given further, which "Xuan Comfort Envoy" should be removed? Basically it should be impossible, because it would affect the stability of southern Xinjiang.
Of course, Huang Zhiting was more concerned about Queen Mother Li's intention at this time. Logically speaking, the harem is not allowed to interfere in politics, and even affairs in southern Xinjiang do not seem to be considered serious government affairs. But after all, it is nominally a territory of the Ming Dynasty, so it is hard to say that it is not government affairs, right?
At this time, the Queen suddenly interrupted and said: "The Queen Mother is unaware of something. The Emperor once thought of rewarding the Marquis's wife, but..." She paused for a moment, and Hao Ran smiled and said: "They were all declined by the Marquis of Nanning. "
"Oh, that's it." Empress Dowager Li suddenly understood and nodded: "It's fine if the emperor has this intention. As for the Marquis of Nanning...well, the Marquis of Nanning is the king of the world. Since he declined, he must have his own reasons. Ai Jia I won’t say much more.”
After a pause, Empress Dowager Li asked Huang Zhiting again: "The Ai family heard that Mrs. Hou's eldest son is also thirteen or fourteen years old this year? Haha, his father had already taken three cases when he was less than ten years old. I don't know what he did. Is there a heart that is better than blue?"
Gao pragmatism was the first case in Xinzheng County in the first month of Xinwei in the fifth year of Longqing, the first case in Kaifeng Prefecture in March, and the first case in April on Daoyu Road. These three heads were also the first three of his "six top picks", and he was indeed less than ten years old at the time.
However, Queen Mother Li's question is actually not easy to answer, especially given Huang Zhiting's identity. She hesitated for a moment and replied: "Although Quanzi has a father's heart, I don't know if he has the talent to continue his career. As my husband is an assistant minister, Quanzi is not allowed to refer to it, so Quanzi has been studying for many years, but he has not been awarded a tribute. I really don’t know what my talents are.”
When the Queen Mother asks about political affairs, Huang Zhiting calls herself a minister; when the Queen Mother asks about personal matters, Huang Zhiting calls herself a concubine. This shows that she now has a certain sense of control over her identity.
When she heard what she said, Queen Mother Li looked very regretful and sighed repeatedly: "Isn't this delaying the child? Nanning is in his prime. Although he is now the first assistant, he is not yet forty years old, and he will still be thirty in the future. With a future of more than 10 years, the child can’t take the exam again after more than 30 years, right?”
Huang Zhiting felt a little sad when she thought about this, and said with a wry smile: "It is true, but it is the same all over the world, but one cannot make an exception for one person. Therefore, to be honest with the Queen Mother, I have already given up on the matter of Quanzi tribute. Fortunately, my husband Now that I have a title, even if I am not allowed to take the imperial examination, I will still have an identity in the future."
Empress Dowager Li lamented: "This is a pity... Speaking of which, it would have been better if he was younger, but... he is a bit older."
Huang Zhiting was surprised and said: "I am stupid, I don't know what the Queen Mother means by this?"
Empress Dowager Li said: "The Marquis of Nanning was the emperor's companion when he was the crown prince. If your son is not much different in age from the current prince, he can actually be the prince's companion. But he is more than ten years older than the crown prince, so this is a problem." It’s a bit difficult.”
Huang Zhiting didn't expect Queen Mother Li to have such thoughts, but she was not too disappointed. After all, she had already made psychological preparations and arrangements. She felt that it would be good if Gao Yuan could inherit Southern Xinjiang in the future. As for the prince accompanying him...he didn't If you have the opportunity to take the imperial examination, it doesn't make much sense to do it with the prince.
However, at this time, the queen suddenly interjected: "I never thought that the children of Nanning Hou's family would lose the opportunity to take the imperial examination and become officials for this reason. It is indeed disappointing. However, although Mrs. Hou's eldest son is too old because of Therefore, I cannot be with the Crown Prince, but I suddenly thought that Madam Hou’s third legitimate son is not much older than the Crown Prince, so I might consider entering the palace to accompany the Crown Prince in a few years.”
Huang Zhiting was stunned at first, then suddenly realized, and subconsciously glanced at Princess Yongning. The eldest princess was obviously feeling guilty. She did not dare to face Huang Zhiting's gaze and looked down at her toes with restraint.
Empress Dowager Li coughed lightly and said with a smile: "This is a good idea. Madam Hou, Gao Yuan is your child. Although Gao Luo was adopted by Yao, he is also your child... Do you think Gao Luo should be the prince's companion? how?"
"Back to the Queen Mother, it seems that the Emperor should decide who should be the Prince's companion. I'm afraid it's inconvenient for me to comment." Huang Zhiting said this in a somewhat harsh tone, but she immediately realized that such a tone was a bit disrespectful, so she calmed down a bit. After feeling the mood, he added: "However, if the Queen Mother just asks me what I think, I... 'As a mother', I will naturally agree."
Although her words were a remedy for her previous tone, she couldn't help but add "as a mother" to her tone, as if to remind her: I am just a "biological mother" in name only. It's not enough for you to take advantage of her once. If you continue to take advantage of me, do you really think I have no temper at all?
However, although Empress Dowager Li was indeed a little wary of Gao Pangshi, she had no such worries about Huang Zhiting. She just pretended that she could not hear Huang Zhiting's resentment and said with a smile: "Since Mrs. Hou also agrees, it will be easier... ...Based on the friendship between the emperor and Marquis Nanning, as long as Marquis Nanning brings it up when he has the opportunity, the emperor will definitely agree."
When Huang Zhiting heard this, she was furious.
Okay, not only do you want to use me, but you also want my husband to personally request the emperor? What's the matter, your face is all about face, but my husband and I are shameless?
Because you yourself are inconvenient to be involved in politics, you don't want to take the initiative to mention this matter to the emperor, but you ask my husband to speak. Does it mean that if my husband speaks out, his words will not be spread? Huh, someone will definitely leak it by then, and then the outer court will definitely put this shit basin on my husband's head. Do you think I can't see it?
Huang Zhiting's face turned cold and she said indifferently: "Queen Mother, how my husband behaves is beyond my control. If the Queen Mother means that I want to encourage my husband to do selfish things, please forgive me for not daring to follow this decree." "
As soon as this statement came out, the whole room was shocked. No one expected that Huang Zhiting's answer was so firm, with no room for maneuver!
At this moment, everyone suddenly felt that the Madam Hou in front of them was indeed a heroic woman, a heroine, and a famous southern general who had defeated an army of 200,000 in one battle.
It was fine when she spoke as "Mrs. Hou" just now. Once she transforms into the character of a Jiang minister and general, her heroic spirit is beyond the reach of ordinary women. It is really like autumn chrysanthemums under the frost and cold plums in the snow, awe-inspiring and majestic. Inviolable.
After Empress Dowager Li was stunned, she took a deep breath, her face darkened, as if frost was covering her face, and she seemed about to speak out. Seeing that the situation was not going well, the Queen on the side quickly stopped the conversation and smoothed things over: "Mrs. Hou, you misunderstood. How could the Queen Mother mean this?"
She deliberately slowed down her speech so that she could think about countermeasures. Seeing that the Queen Mother did not speak for the time being because she interrupted, she quickly said: "Mrs. Hou, what the Queen Mother just said was not an order from Yi, but just a suggestion. You think, Gao After all, Luo is the child of Marquis Nanning and you. If he can be the prince's companion in the future, it will be of great benefit anyway...both to himself and to the Gao family. Does Mrs. Hou think so?"
Similar to Huang Zhiting's emphasis on "being a mother", the queen also emphasized the words "Nanning Hou" in "Nanning Hou and you", and finally emphasized the words "for the Gao family". , obviously they all mean something.
Huang Zhiting fell silent, but her expression lost the coldness and seriousness before. After a while, she calmly bowed to the queen and said: "Meng Meng is so kind to me, and I thank you on my behalf."
——
Thanks to book friends "Cao Mianzi" and "I am Liao Zhenxin" for their support, thank you!
Thanks to book friends "Ding Qi Zhao Bi Xin", "malyvu", "Apodes", and "I am Liao Zhenxin" for their monthly ticket support, thank you!
(End of chapter)
