"Welcome to you, empress!"
In Chang'an Palace, which is closest to the east side of Qianqing Palace, more than a dozen maids and young eunuchs are kneeling there.
Empress Dowager Jiang personally held Lin Qingping's waist and said, "Walk slower and be steady."
"... Queen Mother, I'm fine."
Lin Qingping had not shown her pregnancy yet, but Empress Dowager Jiang was extremely nervous.
As soon as she heard that Lin Qingping was pregnant, she took Lin Qingping to live in Qingning Palace.
Now the emperor was about to officially select his concubine. In order not to move around later, he cleaned up and arranged Chang'an Palace in advance.
Chang'an Palace is not far from Qingning Palace, and the emperor and the queen mother often come to visit.
"You all have to serve me with all your heart! If something goes wrong, you all know what to do!"
Empress Dowager Jiang came here in person to give one more warning to the maids and eunuchs arranged to go to Chang'an Palace.
Lin Qingping's status is special. After all, she was just a female official before.
But for Empress Dowager Jiang, Lin Qingping grew up in the palace and was one of the most trustworthy people in the palace.
To be honest, I was surprised that my son didn't just know a little about "Zhou Gong's etiquette" from her, but he didn't give any medicine...
Now Empress Dowager Jiang is concerned about other things.
After letting everyone else leave, she took Lin Qingping's hand and asked seriously: "Is everything you said true? Is the emperor true..."
Lin Qingping's face was filled with joy. She knew that the Queen Mother was still asking about private matters, so she could only nod her head: "It's true... Queen Mother, have you also read Huang Jinji's brochure... In addition to the previous menstrual period, Your Majesty, in addition to the before and after, There will be many days between them. I just think it is because the state affairs are busy and your Majesty can control himself..."
Empress Dowager Jiang was a little dazed: "This child...where did he learn these secret techniques...is he really so particular about it?"
Lin Qingping lowered her head: "Anyway, after making the exception, the menstrual period will not come next month..."
"It's really amazing..." Empress Dowager Jiang was overjoyed. "Huang Jin reported it to me in the first month. I was worried for several months, but there was no news."
Empress Dowager Jiang only cared about three things when she entered the palace: the emperor, the throne, and the prince.
I have entrusted Lin Qingping to know that she is stable. She can not only persuade or restrain the emperor not to carelessly visit the palace maid to get sick, but also entrust her with the important task of educating the emperor.
As a result, I discovered that my son was too diligent. Where was he interested in any palace maid last year?
But silently, Lin Qingping suddenly came to her again.
How could Huang Jin hide such a big thing from the Queen Mother? The emperor did not ask him to hide it. Empress Dowager Jiang was very concerned and would often ask about Huang Jin.
So when he went to pay New Year's greetings to the Empress Dowager, the Queen Mother, and the eldest princess on the Zhengdan Festival, Huang Jin reported the good news.
Then came the news that I hadn’t been pregnant for months!
Empress Dowager Jiang only heard about the special process during a secret chat with Lin Qingping in the Qingning Palace, and now she is completely relieved.
The child likes to read, and the Empress Dowager Jiang knows that. However, I don’t know where he saw the secret technique, and he succeeded in just one try!
I just made an exception and chose that auspicious day and I got pregnant, which shows that the method is very effective and the dragon species is also very healthy!
In Chang'an Palace, Empress Dowager Jiang, who had a leisurely life, refused to stay here.
Zhu Houcong was in Renshou Palace.
Empress Dowager Zhang was in the Buddhist hall, and Zhu Houcong was not here for her.
After the Fang Muxian case happened last year, Xia, who was so frightened that she became seriously ill, looked even weaker after her recovery.
Zhu Houcong said with a smile: "Prince Chongren is the second son of King Yi. The eldest son of Prince Chongren is named Zai Zeng, who is six years old. Prince Chongren also has a second son named Zai Tulu, who is three years old. Both children are in poor health. He is healthy and smart. The clan government and the Ministry of Rites have discussed with King Yi and Prince Chongren. If the emperor’s sister-in-law agrees, both the eldest son and the second son of Prince Chongren can be adopted into the clan of the emperor’s brother.”
Xia just replied in a low voice: "But I will obey your Majesty's orders."
"Then why not choose the younger one? A three-year-old child is still ignorant of the world. When he grows up, he will be closer to the imperial sister-in-law."
"...Thank you for your grace."
Zhu Houcong nodded and looked at her who lowered her head, then looked at the side room. He knew that Empress Dowager Zhang must also be listening, so he said: "Then I will arrange the adoption and canonization ceremony. The place to establish the vassal will be in Hengzhou, Huguang. Fifteen years after the death of Uncle Yong Wang, Yong Wang's Mansion is still there. After renovation, we can become a feudal lord."
"yes……"
Xia didn't know exactly where Hengzhou Mansion was, but the current situation was not one where the emperor would just do whatever he said?
Hengzhou Prefecture is located in the south of Huguang, bordering Changsha Prefecture to the north, Guangzhou Prefecture to the south, and Jiangxi Prefecture to the east.
In Huguang, fifteen princes have been sealed so far. Seven of them were removed from the vassal for various reasons, and one was from the Xingwang clan and is now the emperor.
In other words, there are currently seven vassal kings left in Huguang. Now another one will be added, the stepson of the previous emperor of the Ming Dynasty, the vassal Hengzhou.
He chose the fiefdom of King Yong who had just been exonerated due to childlessness, and the palace was ready, which was in line with the court's current policy of increasing revenue and reducing expenditure.
The emperor already has a daughter, so it is inevitable to solve the hidden dangers in the palace.
The transfer of the lineage preserved the blood of Emperor Zhengde. As for whether King Yi, who was granted the title of Jianchang Prefecture in Jiangxi Province, would have any action with the lineage of King Rui in the future, morally Zhu Houcong had nothing to blame.
Whether these things are needed for fishing or for clarifying the legal system, let the people of the world guess.
When Zhu Houcong returned to Qianqing Palace, many scrolls had been hung on the ground in front of Qianqing Palace.
"...That's how you choose?" Zhu Houcong looked at Gao Zhong and Huang Jin.
Gao Zhong bent down and said with a smile: "In the past, the queen mothers and concubines chose these two. Your Majesty only has to watch the last three people selected to choose the queen. If your Majesty doesn't want to look at the scrolls of beautiful ladies to choose, I will make arrangements for you. Your Majesty It’s okay to see it for yourself.”
The portraits created by the painters were all relatively abstract, and Zhu Houcong felt a little dazzled looking at the densely packed scrolls.
Of course, if you imagine those three hundred showgirls standing in front of you one after another, you will probably be even more dazzled.
Zhu Houcong asked: "How many names did Sun Ming say?"
Gao Zhong was frightened and reported truthfully: "There are fifty-three people."
"So many?" Zhu Houcong was a little surprised.
Gao Zhong just nodded: "Yes."
After the empress mastered this "power", she named fifty-three names. Whether this was because the emperor was testing her or something else, Gao Zhong did not dare to speculate.
He knew that he was far behind even Wei Bin, let alone his majesty who had managed all his advisers to be obedient and dared to kill people with his own hands.
Zhu Houcong said simply: "Then these fifty-three people will be removed from the three hundred people first, and none of them will be allowed to stay in the palace by invitation."
"My slave obeys the order!"
Gao Zhong thought that although Empress Lin was pregnant with a dragon fetus, His Majesty seemed to have great faith in the Empress.
He immediately went to the bottom of the steps and took down many scrolls one after another according to the names.
"Get the rest of the roster."
At the gate of Qianqing Palace, Zhu Houcong sat down and looked at the conclusions after more than three months of "training inspections."
This level depends on talent and female popularity.
During the more than three months of training, female officers and eunuchs will also observe whether their temperaments are submissive and jealous...
After generations of selections over the years, the palace has its own rules and regulations.
Zhu Houcong picked up the record of one person, and Huang Jin loudly said the name to Gao Zhong, while Gao Zhong took out a scroll from underneath and ran to the cloud platform to let Zhu Houcong see the portrait.
A tick of the ink pen is a person's destiny.
…
In the three courtyards where the beautiful ladies live on the north side of Qingning Palace, Sun Ming has stayed here for more than three months.
These days, there are no longer various "courses" and "assignments" as before.
"Sister Ming, what is your identity?"
On the bench under the courtyard corridor, Wen Suyun asked Sun Ming curiously again.
Wen Zhengming was invited to worship at the Wanfa Hall and was sent by His Majesty to Guangdong on missions. Many people knew this information.
After seeing Wen Suyun's appearance and talent, the palace maids and eunuchs did not dare to look down upon her, thinking that she might be one of the future empresses of the Twelve Palaces.
Therefore, among the three hundred beautiful women, only Sun Ming and Wen Suyun were both of a certain background.
After more than three months, Sun Ming had some changes. Hearing this, he forced a smile and said, "You'll know soon, won't you?"
Wen Suyun stood up and changed direction, sat on the other side of her and held her arm: "Could it be that you are a palace maid who lives with us and secretly checks on us? Female officer? Have you met His Majesty?"
"...Suyun, don't ask." Sun Ming felt a little lonely.
Five days ago, His Majesty told the Fengtian Palace that the female official Lin was pregnant with a dragon fetus. Naturally, the eunuchs and maids also knew about it.
After all, having lived in the palace for such a long time, His Majesty obviously wanted to publicize such a happy event widely, so he did not avoid talking about it with the ladies.
Even Sun Ming didn't know if this was a test question for the show girls to see how they would react to this matter.
In fact, Sun Ming didn't have much other thoughts, she just often recalled His Majesty visiting the garden with her.
During these three months without seeing each other, His Majesty was blessed with someone else and had a dragon fetus.
So she is lonely after all.
Wen Suyun moved to the other side again, lively and gossipy: "Have you seen it before, right? What does His Majesty look like? We are the only two sisters who are the best friends here. I saw you secretly wrote your name and gave it to the little father-in-law!"
Sun Ming looked at the beautiful ladies sitting and chatting in other places in the yard.
Some of the eyes that looked over were filled with envy and doubt, and some had hidden hostility.
This is because in the past three months, those show girls who deliberately said some weird words to her were subsequently punished more or less.
Sun Ming did not complain, and she understood that it was probably just the palace maids and eunuchs paying attention to every move of the show girls. When she sees someone offend her, the future empress, she will naturally punish them quietly, so that she will remember it in her heart.
But if you have already secretly decided on your destiny, why do you have to go through these three months by yourself?
"Suyun, do you want to be selected or go home?"
Wen Suyun was stunned, and his eyes lit up: "Is it true that only those who write their names can be selected?"
Sun Ming thought it was just the opposite, but she just looked at Wen Suyun.
"Then don't write me, just write Qinghe's name." Wen Suyun gritted his teeth and said, "Wasn't it because Empress Dowager Cishou sent people to pre-select her at that time? They all bullied her!"
Zhang Qinghe was not in the same hospital as them, and Wen Suyun felt sorry for her.
The reason is that the treatment Zhang Qinghe received was opposite to that of Sun Ming and Wen Suyun.
The female officials were nonchalant and unfaithful, so other showgirls with thoughtful intentions were also excluded.
Sun Ming wrote down the names and handed them over. Most of them were people who bullied Zhang Qinghe.
"I'm asking about you." Sun Ming held her hand and asked sincerely, "Do you want to stay in the palace or go home?"
Wen Suyun immediately said: "I want to go home, my father also wants to take the exam again, I know!"
"Didn't His Majesty say that even if you are selected, your father can continue to take the exam and become an official in the future?"
"My dad..." Wen Suyun said with a narrow smile, "He would definitely rather get admitted by himself. Also, I have been in the capital for so long and I am so tired. If I am selected, I will not be able to leave the palace in the future. Look at the wild flowers, but I can’t go fishing with my dad.”
Sun Ming smiled, a little envious of her liveliness and freedom.
The daughter of four great talents in Wuzhong has indeed developed a unique charm since she was a child.
"Okay, then I'll help you."
"Really?" Wen Suyun was inexplicably surprised, and then she held Sun Ming's face in her hands and looked at it, "I know! You are so beautiful, you must be His Majesty's personal maid! You can't get out, for sure There will be a title, right? In the future, I will definitely marry a capable husband. After becoming a married woman, I can still come to the palace to see you! I will bring you delicious food, I know what you like to eat! "
Sun Ming's face was squeezed by her, and there was a smile in her eyes. After holding her hand and putting it on their knees, she said: "Okay, then you must marry a husband who loves you."
Wen Suyun clenched his fist: "If he doesn't feel sorry for me, I'll make him feel pain! I've even beaten Uncle Tang!"
Sun Ming chuckled: "Mr. Bohu?"
"Yeah, dad asked him to help me paint, and he painted me into a big cat!"
The autumn air is crisp, and the beautiful ladies are still chatting in the forbidden palace.
Before Sun Ming had time to give the little eunuch arranged by Gao Zhong a new name at night, Gao Zhong came in person.
"Those whose names are mentioned in our family should take care of themselves tonight. Tomorrow at twilight time, the emperor will choose the concubine!"
He read out the names one by one. Sun Ming, Wen Suyun, and Zhang Qinghe were all listed. The total number was... forty-nine.
Subsequently, the names of fifty-three more people were read out, and without asking their wishes, they were sent directly out of the palace and sent back to their hometowns with gifts.
The remaining one hundred and ninety-eight people had different expressions, and the female officials began to consult them about their wishes: whether to stay in the palace and start as maids, or to go home.
Wen Suyun was a little panicked. She took Sun Ming and hid in a corner and asked, "Is it still too late?"
Except for Empress Lin, these forty-nine people must stay in the palace. Although not all of them will have titles, they will have the most basic grades, such as nobles, talents, selected attendants, ladies, etc.
Sun Ming looked at her and after a while said, "What if, in fact, I want you to stay in the palace?"
"……Why?"
After a pause, Sun Ming smiled reluctantly: "We want to be good. I can't get out, so I hope you stay in the palace with me. However, if you don't want to stay, I can let you leave. "
"...Sister Ming, what is your identity?"
Sun Ming looked in the direction of Qianqing Palace and said quietly: "You will know tomorrow. If I make this request, Your Majesty will probably agree. Your Majesty is a very easy-going and tolerant person."
The news of Empress Lin's pregnancy spread throughout the harem together with the news that His Majesty was so heroic in killing people with a knife in the Fengtian Palace.
So, is it right or wrong to submit so many names? Is what His Majesty once said true or false? What was behind his smiling face at that time?
Sun Ming had experienced the right and wrong among these three hundred beautiful girls for three months, and she began to feel tired.
So suddenly there were tears in her eyes and she took Wen Suyun's hand: "If you want to leave, tell me, and I will go and see His Majesty later!"
Wen Suyun looked at her quiet and weak appearance, and suddenly felt sour in her heart, and her eyes became red: "The roster has been decided, will you offend His Majesty by doing this? It will be fine if I stay. Didn't you say that the Royal Garden is very big? ?”
Tears fell from Sun Ming's eyes.
Yes, the imperial garden is very big, and the palace is not small either.
But after she becomes queen, she will have no friends.
Only in these three months did she have a close friend.
But what about after tomorrow? What if she becomes the queen and Wen Suyun becomes one of the concubines?
PY A friend's book "My son Cao Ang has the appearance of a great emperor": The two capitals and thirteen states of the Han Dynasty are all on my shoulders.
(End of chapter)