female concubine

Chapter 29 Keding Jue Family

In the early morning of the next day, a group of people galloped into the city from Nanxun Gate. The iron armor collided, and the horseshoes sank into the white snow. The palm-wide hoof prints extended all the way to the gate of the Founding Duke's Mansion in the south side of Xincheng City.

"His Majesty, news from the Imperial City Division, the founding father of Longde has returned to Beijing and has just entered Nanxunmen."

The vermilion pen for review was suspended in the air, and after a pause, he wrote two red words at the end of the memorial, and immediately put the pen down, "It's here so soon?"

"Tomorrow is the first day of the first month of the first lunar month, and there will be a lantern festival tonight on New Year's Eve..."

——Pi Li Pa La——Before Zhao Ci finished speaking, firecrackers rang out outside the Hall of Wende, Zhao Ci turned to smile and said: "I think the exorcism of ghosts has started, Your Majesty wants to go out and have a look?"

The emperor shook his head, and continued to pick up the pen, dipping it in cinnabar, "It's like this every year, there's no need for it."

"Qizou Your Majesty, King Zhao is asking to see you."

The emperor raised his head, looked at Zhao Ci and said, "I still have a few final instructions here, so go and deal with him for me first."

"Yes."

Before Zhao Ci could go out, King Zhao came in by himself, happily trotting up to the emperor, "Daddy."

"Greetings to daddy, auspicious snow heralds a prosperous year, next year the Song Dynasty will be peaceful again." Wei Yunsheng immediately stopped in front of the emperor's table, bowed and bowed down, "Your Majesty is wise!"

After the emperor approved the last paper, he pointed at King Zhao with a smile, "You child, you are so smooth-tongued, tell me, what else do you want from your father and me?"

King Zhao got up with a silly smile, and leaned in front of the emperor, "It's still father who understands the child."

"I'm here to greet you, and I also want to ask my father to write a pair of peach charms, so that I can hang it at the gate of the palace, and be alert every day."

The emperor patted the back of King Zhao's head lightly, and called out to Zhao Ci: "Zhao Ci..."

"Don't bother Zhao Weng anymore. Daddy writes, and my son will help Daddy grind the ink."

In the Founding Duke's Mansion, the servants had just finished clearing the snow in the courtyard of the mansion when there was the sound of horseshoes at the door.

"Has Weng Weng come back?" Xiao Youqing got out of the car in a hurry, Xiao Xianrong went to the Criminal Department before dawn, and the person who came out to pick him up was Xiao Yunze.

"Why did Sanniang come back? I heard what happened yesterday from my father. Is my brother-in-law okay?"

Xiao Youqing frowned.

"Weng Weng hasn't come back yet. I thought it was Weng Weng who came back from the sound of horse hooves just now, but I didn't expect it to be you, Sanniang." Xiao Yunze looked at the water leak beside him again, "Looking at the time, Weng Weng should be here soon. It just so happens that the peach talisman for the Founding Duke’s Mansion hasn’t been written yet, and tonight coincides with New Year’s Eve, and Sanniang’s handwriting is beautiful, when Weng Weng comes back, next year’s peach talisman will also be written by you and Weng Weng together.”

"What time is it!" Xiao Youqing scolded, looking at his brother coldly.

Xiao Yunze sat down unhurriedly, shrugged his shoulders and said in disapproval: "I know, it is not an easy matter for any clan relatives to be imprisoned in Zongzheng Temple." The person who knew the urgency of the situation still looked relaxed and said: " But it will be different when Weng Weng comes back, don’t forget, who brought down the land of Song Dynasty!”

"shut up!"

"Am I not right?" Xiao Yunze also lowered his face, "Your Majesty is suspicious of this and that, not to mention dividing the military power of the Xiao family, and even sending Weng Weng to the bitter cold place in the southwest. I think when Taizong was alive, he would Congratulations to Weng three points."

While speaking, there was a sound of hooves trampling outside the mansion, and not long after hearing the sound, the servant at the door ran into the interior.

"The owner is back!"

At the gate, Xiao Huaide, the founding father of Longde, jumped off his horse, took off his helmet and threw it to the boy beside him.

"Hurry up and get my official uniform!"

"Yes."

Xiao Youqing rushed to the east courtyard in a hurry, and immediately after entering the hospital, he eagerly asked the maid who had just come out of the room, "Where is Weng Weng?"

"Go back, girl, changing clothes."

The New Year's Eve is today, and if the King of Chu has not come out of the Zongzheng Temple after the New Year's Eve, he will really lose the opportunity to go out to the outer court.

Xiao Youqing stepped into the room, across the screen.

"Does Weng know that King Chu was imprisoned by His Majesty in Zongzheng Temple?" I haven't seen my grandfather for a year, even on the day she got married, Xiao Huaide didn't come back, but only sent a letter from home.

Now that grandfather has just returned home, the first words Xiao Youqing said to him was not greetings.

"Your second uncle sent me a letter when we were resting at the inn. Otherwise, how could this old man rush back overnight, but... I will return to Beijing, and I have to see Your Majesty in a while."

Xiao Huaide took off his armor and put on a purple official uniform, straightened his handkerchief and walked out from behind the screen, ready to go out, glanced at the granddaughter who was wearing a maid's uniform, but just passed by without saying much, this move was a bit obvious Cold-blooded.

Xiao Youqing turned around and choked up: "I beg Weng Weng to save the King of Chu."

Immediately, the sound of kneeling and begging came from behind, which shocked Xiao Huaide, stopped and turned to look at Xiao Youqing, opened his eyes and said tremblingly: "In 21 years, you were just like your mother, stubbornly refusing to bow your head, and never Anyone ever said a word of begging."

Xiao Huaide stood coldly, looked down with his hands behind his back, and said extremely indifferently: "He is the prince of the country, and he has his own Zongzheng Temple to take care of him. I am just a courtier with a foreign surname, so how can I intervene? He is the flesh and blood of the official family. Zongzhengsi won't do anything to him, so it's good to temper your temper now."

Xiao Youqing kowtowed, "That's not tempering your temper, Weng Weng will know what Zongzheng Temple means!"

Xiao Youqing is the youngest daughter of the Xiao family, and she has been favored since she was a child. Xiao Huaide couldn't bear it, stepped forward to help her up, and sighed helplessly, "Even if you don't ask me, since he is the king of Chu that our Xiao family likes, , I will save him too."

"She is the husband of my grandson!"

Xiao Huaide was stunned, his white eyebrows moved slightly, looking at his granddaughter's rosy eyes, he stretched out his hand to smooth the messy hair on her forehead, and said lovingly: "It's not a loss that he married you." Then he turned and left.

In the Hall of Wende, Zhao Wang happily put away the paper peach charms written by the emperor, "Daddy, I want to ask for a pair."

"Oh, why didn't I know that there are two gates in my Saburo's hidden residence?"

"No, daddy, this pair..." Wei Yunsheng seemed a little hard to say, "I begged for Liu Lang."

The emperor's kind face instantly turned cold, "Why didn't I know that you and the King of Chu are also getting closer?"

"Father...Your Majesty, the King of Chu is the brother of the minister, and the family of the future wife of the minister will also be the mother family of the King of Chu. On this New Year's Eve, family letters and Taofu gather together to celebrate the new year, and Liu Lang stays alone in Zongzheng Temple. How about this elder brother? Can you bear it, and turn a blind eye to my brother's suffering?"

After finishing speaking, King Zhao went to the emperor's desk and knelt down, "I am not afraid of your majesty's punishment, but I am afraid that father and sixth brother will hurt the relationship between father and son."

The emperor had a gloomy face, rubbing his hands on the chair, "You go down first, this matter is not allowed to be mentioned again, and it is not allowed to speak to outsiders."

"Daddy!" Wei Yunsheng raised his head.

"Go down."

King Zhao could only frown and nod, "Yes."

"There is more!" The emperor called Zhao Wang again, raised his head and said calmly: "You should take it easy when you leave the court."

The emperor's words shocked King Zhao, "Father..."

The emperor was not angry and arrogant, "Back off!"

After King Zhao left, the side hall of Wende Palace was empty, with only one old eunuch beside him. The emperor pressed his forehead and called hoarsely, "Brother Zhao."

Zhao Ci approached, "The villain is here."

"My emperor, it's too difficult...too difficult."

"Your Majesty's civil and martial arts have stabilized the internal affairs, and he has expanded the territory. His political achievements far exceed those of Emperor Taizong."

"But all of my sons want to fight for this seat, and my ministers are all flattering and currying favor with them. Tell me, why did Dalang separate me from Liulang? Liulang is an honest boy, but he is also a stubborn one. "

"Your Majesty thinks... His Highness the Crown Prince did it?" Zhao Ci looked at the emperor and asked.

"I... don't want it to be him, but what's the use if I don't want it? He's already the crown prince. I gave him the Zhongshu and let him secure the position of prince. What dissatisfaction does he have?"

"Since Your Majesty knows that the six kings were wronged, why..."

"I, like the prince, don't want him to appear in the court, nor do I want the Xiao family to support him, but..."

"Don't stop me!"

"Chen Shilang, don't be impulsive. You can't be impatient about this matter. You have to talk about it carefully."

"I want to see if there is any king law in this world."

A small yellow door rushed inside to announce, "Your Majesty, Lu Nehan and Chen Shilang are asking to see each other, and Chen Shilang..."

"Let me in, I want to ask His Majesty to understand!"

The emperor sat upright with his forehead supported, "Let them in."

"My lord, please be safe." Lu Wei saw Chen Yu entered the palace and still did not change his angry face, so he tugged on his sleeve while saluting, and said in a low voice, "Pay attention to etiquette before the emperor."

Chen Yu glanced at him coldly, shook his hands, and asked the emperor straight forward, "Your Majesty, what crime did the king of Chu commit? He was not punished enough in court, and he was imprisoned in Zongzheng Temple on the New Year's Eve?" On New Year's Eve, the families of scholars and concubines will sit around the stove to watch the new year.

This is the case from the emperor down to the common people. No matter how busy they are, they will rush home. This is also the time of the year when family members are most reunited.

"If Your Majesty can't give a reasonable reason, then I will seek justice for the King of Chu even if I lose this hat!"

The emperor sat on the seat, lowered his head and pulled his face, and said in a muffled voice: "Qing, do you want to take care of my family affairs?"

Chen Yu took a step closer and straightened his waist, "The family and the country are the world's affairs, I dare to ask Your Majesty, what family affairs require people to be imprisoned in Zongzheng Temple and beaten to death?"

The emperor suppressed his anger, and said in a low voice, "It's not up to you foreign ministers to point out the father's discipline!"

"Hmph, why didn't I see that His Majesty was so attentive when the Six Kings were young?"

--Snapped! ——The table case was knocked, and even the water in the teacup rippled.

The emperor pointed at Fei Pao, "Chen Yu, don't be too presumptuous!"

Lu Wei, a scholar of the Hanlin Academy, saw that the monarch and his subjects were already blushing, and glanced at Zhao Ci, only to get a slight shake of his head, so he bowed and said, "Your Majesty, calm down."

"Chen Shilang don't say a word, before the matter is clarified, it is disrespectful to ask questions in front of the emperor."

Chen Yu stopped talking, just stared at the emperor, as if he was not afraid of death.

Lu Wei continued: "Your Majesty, what exactly did the King of Chu commit? You want to punish him so severely. Once the eldest son is imprisoned in the Zongzheng Temple, the book will be written in black. This book will be with the King of Chu for the rest of his life. All the ministers are waiting for His Majesty's news." Lu Wei pointed to the Chuigong Hall in front of Wende Hall.

"Disobedience to the emperor's father is for lack of filial piety. Colluding with the sinners of the previous dynasty is tantamount to treason. Is this reason enough?" The emperor raised his head and looked at the two red-robed veterans with a gloomy expression.

Both Chen Yu and Lu Wei were startled, "Colluded with criminals from the previous court?"

"But the six kings were born in the second year of Daye after His Majesty ascended the throne. The records of the previous dynasty had been destroyed as early as when His Majesty ascended the throne, and it was expressly forbidden to discuss it. The minister and Li Shilang are the teachers of the Six Kings. Since the Six Kings came out of the cabinet From time to time, he accompanied and counseled him, and never mentioned it to him, how could the six kings know about the previous court affairs, and how could they collude with each other?"

"The six kings have a generous temperament. Even if they are a bit playful, they will not abolish the etiquette. How dare you disobey your father before you?"

"Where's the living man?" The emperor frowned furiously, regretting that he appointed these two old men as staff members of the Chu Palace.

"Your Majesty, the living man is waiting outside the palace."

"Bring me the record from that day."

"Yes."

Qi Jilang presented the booklet recording his words and deeds on weekdays.

"Second gentlemen, take a closer look!"

Chen Yu was only 30 years old when he became a Jinshi of this dynasty, and he didn't know anything about the internal affairs of the palace in the previous dynasty. He didn't think there was anything wrong with the note written by the living man, "I don't even know that the six kings who have always loved to play have the power to govern the country." talent," and sneered: "Is this the reason of His Majesty?"

Almost suppressing his anger, the emperor clenched his fist on the armchair, "You don't know, I don't blame you!"

Chen Yu didn't know about it, but Lu Wei went through Taizong's two dynasties. He was wise and protected himself during the internal struggle. What the king said must have been instigated by someone behind the scenes, and the six kings are still young and untouched by the world." Lu Wei knelt down immediately, his old eyes reddened, "It's no wonder if you don't know, didn't your majesty tell the ministers the same way at the beginning?"

"How can Qing's events be compared with what this Li Zi did?" Lu Wei is a smart man who knows how to be flexible, which is why the emperor valued keeping him.

"Your Majesty is wrong..."

"Your Majesty is wrong!" Different from Lu Wei's gentle and weak voice, this voice that came from the outside to the inside was full of energy.

"Your Majesty, the founding father of Longde is asking to see you." Xiao Huangmen hurried inside.

Entering Wende Palace, there is a general dressed in purple and gold, with a white beard, but he is tall and tall, with extraordinary bearing, which makes everyone who sees it intimidating.

When the emperor saw it, his eyes widened.

Lu Wei looked behind him, pulled Chen Yu who was beside him, and said in a low voice, "It should be fine when Duke Kai comes back."

Since the Founder elected the King of Chu, he would not just sit idly by when something like this happened. If what the Founder said was useless, then it would be useless even if the two of them said that they broke the sky, so they saluted the emperor again, "Your Majesty, The founding father of Longde came back from a long distance, and he thought he had something to say, so I will take my leave first."

The emperor nodded in acquiescence.

After everyone had left, the emperor got up from his seat, stepped forward, changed his previous seriousness, and greeted him with a smile: "Fourth Uncle arrived in Beijing much earlier than expected, why didn't you send someone to inform you in advance? I will send someone to meet you."

Xiao Huaide bowed his head, and immediately put his hands together, "My lord, please be safe."

"Fourth uncle don't need to be too polite, come here, give me a seat, and watch tea." The emperor stepped forward and bowed his waist to help him up.

"No need, Your Majesty, the reason why I came here early in the morning is to ask for something."

The emperor's hands on Xiao Huaide's arms suddenly froze, and he straightened up and turned his back, "Did the founding father also come to intercede for the king of Chu?"

"If the founding father came to plead for his son-in-law, don't say I won't agree, even the patriarchal clan of Zongzheng Temple will not agree!"

"No!" Xiao Huaide denied, "The minister is here to tell His Majesty that His Majesty is wrong, very wrong!"