Zhu Wanqing said blankly: "Uncle Li, isn't this the most basic morality for people?"
Li Qing's face darkened: "Are you calling me a human being?"
"No."
"You say I have no morals?"
"..." Zhu Wanqing was speechless and angry, snorting: "Uncle Li, if you do this, the emperor will definitely punish you."
Li Qing curled his lips and said: "What do you know? How many times have I told you not to use your cleverness to look at the temple? Also, you think Uncle Li is too weak."
Zhu Wanqing was unconvinced: "Don't forget, I am the king and you are the minister."
"After you return to Jinling, tell your father this again and see how he reacts." Li Qing rolled his eyes: "I don't tolerate anyone."
"Blow it, just..." Zhu Wanqing didn't believe it, but she didn't dare to continue the argument. At least... Uncle Li didn't spoil her.
If she continues to argue, her eldest brother will not be able to protect her.
Her little head turned and she said with a sweet smile: "Uncle Li, it's almost the Chinese New Year. Isn't it almost time to give out red envelopes?"
"We'll send it again on New Year's Eve." Li Qing gathered the gold together and took it back to his room while humming a little tune.
Zhu Wanqing said in dismay: "Brother, why do you think Uncle Li is so stingy?"
"Uh..." Li Hong scratched his head and said, "Maybe this is why my godfather is rich."
"...There's nothing wrong with it." Zhu Wanqing said speechlessly.
~
Two days flew by.
On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, less than an hour after midnight, Li Qing was awakened by a knock on the door.
"Uncle Li, it's time to get up."
"Hmm..." Li Qing replied, sat up from the bed, put on his green robe, opened the door and walked out of the room, "It's cold, go back to sleep."
Needless to say, this cheap niece is more reliable than his godson. Yesterday he set two human alarm clocks, but the other one...
Hearing the snoring in the next room, he was furious.
"Uncle Li, the hot water is warm. Go and wash up quickly. There is no room for carelessness on the emperor's wedding day." Zhu Wanqing said.
"Well..." Li Qing resisted the urge to beat his son and went to the East Kitchen instead.
After locking the door, washing briefly, and re-dressing his disguise, Li Qing came out. Hearing his godson's snoring, he became angrier as he thought about it, and stepped forward to kick open the door.
"哐——!"
"Who, which one... God, godfather, you..." Li Hong stammered, "My child is about to call you."
Hmm... The idea is clear... Li Qing said calmly: "Get ready. I will come back after my work and help you brush up on your master's Tai Chi."
"Daddy, please listen to the child's quibbles... No, listen to my explanation... Goddad, goddad..."
Li Hong was about to cry but had no tears, so he said to the little girl, "Sister Wanqing, next time something like this happens, you should call me first."
"Hmm...Okay, but..." Zhu Wanqing said coquettishly, "Brother, I'm hungry."
…
At Yin Shi, the palace door opened.
In the Fengtian Palace Square, the eunuchs and maids were busy preparing, and Xiao Hengzi supervised them personally.
Li Qing did not stay and went directly to the court room.
He rarely came to the court, because when he went to court he always went directly to Fengtian Palace.
There are not many people in the court room. The emperor is getting married today and will not attend the morning court. Only a few ministers who went to welcome the bride are waiting here.
The arrival of Li Qing broke the lively atmosphere among several people, and the court room fell into silence.
Then, stand up and go forward to salute.
Yao Kui, the Minister of Rites, said with a hint of teasing, "Master Hou is always on time. I didn't expect to come so early today."
"Well," Li Qing hummed a syllable through his nose, ignored him at all, and said to Li Xian, "When we get there in a while, who will read the book?"
Li Xian cupped his hands and then said: "The emperor wants Marquis Yongqing to serve as the envoy to welcome the bride, so it is natural that Marquis Yongqing will announce it."
Then, he said to Yao Kui: "Yao Shangshu, quickly hand over the book to Yongqing Hou."
Yao Kui was angry. This book was written with great effort by lighting a lamp and boiling oil. However, he didn't want to take advantage of Li Qing.
Sun Jizong, the Marquis of Huichang, spoke up and said, "Yao Shangshu, why are you lingering? Why don't you quickly hand over the book to Marquis Yongqing?"
He can be regarded as a person who has experienced great storms. He was almost killed in prison by his nephew. Now his nephew has become the emperor. It seems that he has grown up a generation ago, but in fact, the situation is over.
The Empress Dowager Sun has passed away. Now the Zhou family is in power in the harem, and there is a new queen below. The Sun family can no longer afford to make trouble.
Several big shots in the current situation are closely related to Li Qing. If he can establish a good relationship with Li Qing, he will naturally work hard for it.
Yao Kui had no choice but to reluctantly take out the book, handed it to Li Qing, and said: "The article is a bit profound. If the Marquis has something you don't understand, just ask me."
Li Qing said indifferently: "It doesn't matter whether you understand or not, I'll just read it out once."
"..." Yao Kui felt even more uncomfortable. The masterpiece he regarded as a treasure was so underestimated by Li Qing, but... it was a fact.
Sun Jizong praised: "It makes sense!"
Yao Kui: "..."
Li Qing walked to the side and sat down, unfolding the book and reading silently in case he got stuck.
However, while reading the book, he was also thinking about the current situation of the government.
It is foreseeable that after the New Year, this stable court situation will experience some turmoil. The reason is very simple. The new emperor must support some of his own power.
And in this way, there will be conflict with the old forces.
The size of the turmoil depends on the intensity with which Zhu Jianshen cultivates his own power. The greater the intensity, the greater the turmoil.
Judging from the fact that Zhu Jianshen wanted to control the army since he came up, he was very ambitious.
But... I have the absolute right to speak now. If that kid can't be promiscuous, well... it's not a big problem.
In fact, Li Qing also wanted Zhu Jianshen to take power. If the emperor did not take power, it would be empty air. However... he did not know Zhu Jianshen deeply and had yet to investigate, and he did not want to help Zhu Jianshen fight for power.
According to his current 'age', he is only over fifty years old, and he still has ten to twenty years of political career, so there is no need to rush.
'Squeak~' Xiao Hengzi pushed open the door and said with a smile, cupping his hands: "My lords, the auspicious time has come, it's time for us to set off."
Li Qing regained consciousness, put away the book and stood up.
Sun Jizong, the Marquis of Huichang, hurriedly walked up to Li Qing and said, "Marquis Yongqing is the envoy to welcome the bride. Marquis Yongqing invites you first."
Faced with this naked approach, Li Qing acted very calmly and walked out of the court room first.
Sun Jizong was a little embarrassed, but he quickly adjusted himself and followed up...
Like a long queue, the team left the palace and headed straight to the commander Wu Jun's residence.
Wu Jun is a native of Shuntian, and he is an official in Beijing, so his home is not far from the palace.
At three o'clock in the morning, the wedding team arrived.
Wu Jun is obviously more calm than Qian Gui at the beginning. The firecrackers were set off at the right time and the reception was orderly.
Li Qing dismounted and stepped forward, cleared his throat, and read out the text:
"There is a daughter of the Wu family, who is a member of the Wu family. She is a member of the Yuxiu Xun family. She is endowed with pure qualities; she has the virtue of being dignified and quiet, and has the kindness to be gentle and kind..."
Barabara...
Then, take out the imperial edict, this is simple.
Make Wu Jun the governor and magistrate!
This is the treatment of the father-in-law of emperors of all dynasties, and it can be regarded as the real betrothal gift of the royal family.
After a long ceremony, the new queen took a carriage to the palace, her lifelong residence.
To be precise, it's the harem...
Qianqing Palace.
Zhu Jianshen woke up from Wenrouxiang and saw that it was already dawn. He immediately became anxious. Today was the day of his wedding to the queen. If he was late... it would be unreasonable.
"Zhen'er, where are my clothes from last night?" Zhu Jianshen shouted anxiously.
Zhen'er pulled up the quilt and said, "That's right, it's on the ground."
Zhu Jianshen didn't care anymore, jumped out of bed and started to put it on, almost tripping over.
"Why is the emperor so anxious?"
"I'm getting married today. Didn't I tell you before?" Zhu Jianshen said as he put on his clothes. "Come and help me. I don't have much time."
Zhen'er didn't dare to neglect, and she didn't care about being exposed. Anyway, there were no outsiders.
She quickly put on her clothes and helped Zhu Jianshen put them on.
Of course she knew about the emperor's wedding. Zhu Jianshen told her about it on the first day back, but because last night was too harmonious, she forgot about it.
Zhen'er was not dissatisfied, not to mention that she was a lot older. Even if she was in her twenties, there was absolutely no reason to usurp the emperor.
Since ancient times, which emperor has only one woman?
However, she felt a little disappointed after all. She knew that she was not young anymore and was worried about gains and losses.
Zhu Jianshen didn't notice her mentality. He was almost late and was in a hurry to go to Kunning Palace for the wedding.
"It's almost done." Zhu Jian took a deep look and said, "Zhen'er, please stay in the inner hall for now. Don't expose yourself. I will come to see you tomorrow."
"Yes, I obey your order."
Zhu Jian was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly: "Don't worry, I'm not someone who likes the new and hates the old. I can't delay what happened today. I'll make it up to you later."
Seeing him like this, Zhen'er felt much better. At the same time, she also realized that she had gone too far and hurriedly urged: "Your Majesty, please go quickly."
"Um…"
Zhu Jianshen hurriedly left the inner hall...
~
Zhen'er returned to the bed and sat down, picked up the scattered clothes on the bed, and put them on one by one. Then, she took out the bronze mirror and looked at herself in the mirror, sighing quietly.
Finally...the years are gone.
She whispered to herself: "Don't be greedy. What you have today is a blessing that cannot be obtained in eight lifetimes. At least you will have enough food and clothing for the rest of your life.
Moreover, the emperor also loved her sincerely. Although it may not last long, he finally enjoyed the good things. Even if he wakes up from the dream, it is enough to remember. "
Zhen'er adjusted her mentality, sat back on the bed, and was lost in thought.
She knew that she was a canary, a canary in captivity and unable to see the light of day.
But she didn't feel sorry for herself or complain about anything. Compared with other palace maids, she was already very lucky.
It's just... I don't know how long this luck can last.
Zhen'er said to herself: "Concubine, I don't want to do that anymore. While the emperor feels guilty for me, let's find him a position as a female official in the palace tomorrow. He still has to do something."
Logically speaking, as long as she is not the late emperor's woman, all the maids in the palace can be blessed by the emperor.
I'm a bit older, but as long as I don't get canonized, don't show it in public, and secretly carry someone behind my back, it shouldn't be a big problem... Zhen'er thought.
