Chapter 45(1/2)
Now everyone in the palace knows that the little emperor is partial, but Li Zhongxian feels that he can save his master's reputation. In order to show respect for the empress dowager, when he goes to the harem to announce the imperial edict, he is the first to go to Tingzhu Palace.
Regarding Zhao Sansi's amnesty order, the empress dowager, who had never enjoyed any benefits, did not come up immediately after hearing Li Zhongxian's words, which scared Li Zhongxian very much. She quickly helped deliver tea and calmly. When she saw that the person was awake, she dared to wipe the cold sweat from her forehead.
"Emperor... The Emperor is here to place the Ai family! Where is the Ai family!" The Empress Dowager grabbed Li Zhongxian's hand to wipe the sweat, and his face was very ferocious. "When the late emperor was there, he had already praised people to heaven. Now, in order to let that guy continue to return to Changle Palace to be the lord of the palace, is the emperor going to make trouble here?"
The empress dowager's words came to an end, and Li Zhongxian's forehead sweated more, and he struggled secretly. Unexpectedly, this sick and delicate empress dowager was so strong that he felt so distressed. "Too... Empress dowager, the emperor asked these concubines to return to their palaces for no reason. He treated the concubines of the late emperor equally, but..."
"Are your father-in-law lying to himself? Or is he lying to the Ai family?" The empress dowager interrupted him, and his long tone seemed to be mourning. "If the emperor wants to raise up, the Ai family can turn a blind eye, but that guy can't, no..."
The Empress Dowager could not see the situation clearly, and the endless crying made people feel very frustrated. Li Zhongxian suddenly turned cold, "Please be careful of the words. Don't say that the emperor has no such intentions, just say that the emperor has such intentions. The Empress Dowager's aggressive posture today is probably easy to make the emperor unhappy."
In the past, when your serious husband was in power, you couldn't handle the affairs of the harem. Now the one in power is just a husband's younger brother who you have never met several times. Do you still want to handle it?
Li Zhongxian snorted coldly in his heart. It was not that he bullied others with his power, but that the empress dowager is really displeased. As the emperor's sister-in-law, when she first met the younger emperor, the younger brother, she did not show the kindness of the eldest sister-in-law as a mother. Instead, she scolded the person with her own temperament, and now she is pretending to be the eldest sister-in-law.
The Empress Dowager was shocked at first when she was cut off by Li Zhongxian's calm face. In her opinion, the General Manager Li had always respected her very much, and had not heard from anyone in the harem that he was unfair in dealing with things. The Empress Dowager only reacted after a moment and became more angry. "The father-in-law said that the Ai family was aggressive? That was because the emperor was too unscrupulous and his every word and action was too partial. However, the Ai family mistook her father-in-law. She thought her father-in-law was still a wise man, but now she was also a person who could not distinguish right from wrong."
Li Zhongxian lowered his eyes, not wanting to argue with her. Taking advantage of the gap when she was lost, he struggled hard and shook her hand away, but his tone was no longer as respect as before. "What should the Empress Dowager think? Whatever you want to do? By the way, it is the season for cherries to pay tribute to Lingbei. When the emperor heard that the Empress Dowager liked it, he asked the slave to send some to the Empress Dowager. However, the emperor is the most fair person. He is afraid that he will only reward the Empress Dowager and not the other masters, which is criticized, so he asked the slave to send some to each palace. Therefore, the empress dowager can eat less cherries this year than in previous years."
After saying that, he didn't wait for the empress dowager to speak and asked the palace servant to put down his things, so he took his leave.
After leaving Tingzhu Palace, Li Zhongxian looked back at the palace that seemed luxurious but was actually remote and lonely, and there was no more pity in his heart.
Women in the harem cannot be favored by the emperor, and they are fake no matter how arrogant they are. Outsiders know very little about the relationship between the late emperor and the empress dowager, but he knows very well that the late emperor is praising and killing the nominal lord of the six palaces, and he used to be a little pitiful to her.
Now... this empress dowager is no different from other women in the harem.
Li Zhongxian thought without any hesitation, and came to his senses, and couldn't help but reflect on it again, feeling that his heart had also been biased with the little emperor. But so what if he was biased? Just as the little emperor said, God is biased, how can they really treat the world with ordinary people?
After thinking about this, Li Zhongxian felt refreshed again, and then took his people to the palace of the four concubines led by Concubine Yu to announce the imperial edict.
Concubine Yu was the leader of the four concubines in the past. Among the concubines, her status was second only to the Empress Dowager and Gu Xizhao. The Yihua Palace was naturally very grand and luxurious. It is naturally good to be able to move back to her palace now. However, when she thought of Gu Xizhao being able to move back to Changle Palace, she felt that she was still at a disadvantage. But she didn't dare to say something like the Empress Dowager. Since she didn't listen to the advice of the old nanny in her palace, she went to Changle Palace for a private fight. After being sent to the Buddhist temple, her grandfather secretly sent someone to scold her. Now she didn't dare to act recklessly, so she led another concubine who lived with her to take the order respectfully.
Li Zhongxian breathed a sigh of relief. He thought he would still have to get entangled here. After receiving the order, he gave them the cherries with a smile.
For a group of concubines who had not received such rewards, they were all a little flattered. When they reacted, they all thanked them happily.
Although Lingbei is rich in cherries, the journey to Beijing is long and it is difficult to preserve when the cherries are ripe. The ministers who pay tribute to cherries every year send people to send two best-growing cherry trees. But even so, when they arrive in the capital, there are not many intact cherries hanging on the trees.
When the late emperor was still alive, he could get some of the cherries he received every year except the Empress Dowager and the former Concubine Xi, and even Concubine Yu rarely gets a reward.
Now everyone has a share, and these concubines are naturally grateful and need not mention the changes in their hearts of the little emperor.
Li Zhongxian passed by in the order of his former position and finally arrived at Mingxing Palace.
Concubine Ning led everyone to accept the order. After thanking her for her kindness, everyone looked different, but Gu Xizhao still knelt down and didn't get up.
Mrs. An, the former nobleman An, knelt beside Gu Xizhao. Seeing her kneeling in place and still unable to get up, she said sarcastically, "Take, who is Mrs. Gu doing this again? According to me, the emperor's will, you should be most grateful and counted you Mrs. Gu. Look, you are so lucky that you have lost any position. Now you can still return to Changle..."
"Madam An." Before she could finish her words, Concubine Ning raised her hand and slapped her, "You are so presumptuous."
The lord of the first palace has the right to teach low-ranking concubines in the partial palace.
Mrs. An covered her slapdated face, dared not speak out, and faced with the vulgar Concubine Ning, who could only grit her teeth and said blessedly: "I don't know what I said wrong and made the concubine angry?"
Concubine Ning glanced at her, "You dare to criticize and speculate the emperor's will, and this is wrong. This is still there. Even if Mrs. Gu did something wrong, it would not be your turn to say anything. Mrs. An, you have exceeded the rules."
It is reasonable and irrefutable.
Mrs. An knelt down, "I know my mistake."
Concubine Ning: "You are no longer a person in this palace, and you will not be able to control it in the future. Today I will go back to the house to think about your mistakes."
Mrs. An was unwilling to accept it, but she only dared to stand up reluctantly and go to her palace.
It was not until the man left that Concubine Ning glanced at Gu Xizhao. Seeing her getting up, she said to Li Zhongxian: "Let your father-in-law make a joke."
Li Zhongxian raised his eyebrows and felt more and more that Concubine Ning was a wonderful person. "Concubine Ning was too worried."
Concubine Ning nodded to show her reply, and her eyes swept over Li Zhongxian and Gu Xizhao's face. After moving his mind, she took the initiative to take the initiative to take the initiative to take the initiative to take the initiative to take the initiative to take the initiative to take the initiative to take the initiative to take the initiative to take the lead.
Li Zhongxian was satisfied with her tactfulness. The eunuch behind her life praised all the cherries. When he heard his words, the concubines naturally exclaimed, and thanked each one with joy.
Gu Xizhao looked at the reactions of these concubines coldly, but she muttered the little fool who could act like a good person thousands of times in her heart.
After Concubine Ning and everyone retreated, Li Zhongxian lowered his expression and lowered his head and said to Gu Xizhao: "Empress, the emperor will not give up until he invites you back to Changle Palace. Just do it as she wishes."
Gu Xizhao was silent for a moment before looking at Li Zhongxian. The curiosity in her tone was very obvious, "Does the court officials not object to such an obviously inconsistent with etiquette?"
Ming Xing Palace has many people with different eyes, and Ning Taifei seems to be unconcerned about the world, but in fact she is also a person who is hidden. She dare not believe it at the moment, so she cannot leave the handle in her hands. Therefore, Jiang Ming’s affairs are not easy to investigate. Returning to Changle Palace is the best thing for her. But she is really curious about how those pedantic ministers would agree to the little fool’s obviously inappropriate decree.
"The court officials are against it." Li Zhongxian did not lie to her. To be honest, "but the emperor quickly cut off the mess and retorted the criticized court officials. Taking advantage of the lack of no one to speak, he made a decision directly..."
Thinking of the little emperor's arrogant behavior that was almost like a child, Li Zhongxian's expression became very subtle. "When she decides, the court officials will criticize him again. It's too late."
Gu Xizhao opened her mouth slightly, and after a long time, she said in disbelief: "She still has the courage to fight against those ministers?"
"The emperor has always been very brave in your affairs." Li Zhongxian was not surprised. "Before the servant came to announce the imperial edict, the emperor was afraid that you would think she was going on his own, and he specially asked the servant to tell you that she was not going on his own this time, but that all the court officials agreed."
My heart felt warm and a little awkward. Gu Xizhao lowered her eyes and clenched her fingers unconsciously, as if she was talking to herself, "Isn't this just going on one's own will, what is it?"
Li Zhongxian heard it clearly, and remembered the little emperor who was troublesome, and had completely lost his temper. He paused and advised: "I have been in court these two days. I have asked in private, but I haven't heard any minister say something bad about the emperor. I have heard a lot of praise for the emperor. The emperor is sometimes a little willful, but he is not a fool to do things. He re-arranges all the concubines to the previous palace so that you don't want you to go back to Changle Palace. This idea is taken by the Grand Tutor. Although she was determined in the court, she has been mentioned in the open. If the minister is really dissatisfied, there are not many places to criticize in the future. I'll just go back to Changle Palace with peace of mind."
Nowadays, there are widows in the harem. In order to avoid suspicion, they are unable to have too much contact with the palace ladies in Zhao Sansi's palace, so there is very little news. Gu Xizhao likes to listen to the news about Zhao Sansi. After a moment, she remembered something and asked, "The Taifu helped me get the idea? Is it the Taifu Su?"
"That's right." When talking about this, Li Zhongxian was also puzzled. The old man, the Grand Tutor, read too much sage books and did things in a manner that was the most orderly manner. He asked the little emperor to ask people for ideas on this matter, just to make the little emperor angry. Unexpectedly, the old man really gave someone an idea, but he still hadn't figured out the reason yet.
"Can the Taifu help the emperor come up with such an idea?" Gu Xizhao still didn't believe it. "As far as I know, the Taifu was very dissatisfied with me in the past."
Li Zhongxian leaned closer to her and lowered his voice, "The Prime Minister scolded the Grand Tutor at the gate of the palace for this. Besides, the emperor said to the Prime Minister himself."
Gu Xizhao moved her lips, and when she thought of herself, she couldn't help but smile again. What's wrong with believing? Isn't that little fool just such a charming person? It's said that he is the most exquisite person, and he was willing to stay in this deep palace by the little fool for a few words.
Seeing Gu Xizhao's expression relaxed, Li Zhongxian also breathed a sigh of relief, "Did the Empress agree to move? Otherwise, the slave would not be able to work with the emperor."
Gu Xizhao opened her red lips lightly: "Move."
Regardless of whether she is determined to do so, at worst, she will help her to pay more attention to the future.
"Okay." Gu Xizhao let go, and Li Zhongxian's remaining half of his breath was relieved, so he quickly agreed, "Then please prepare earlier. I will send someone to Changle Palace to clean up first. When I don't know the problem in the afternoon, I will send someone to move for you."
Gu Xizhao knew that this was the kindness of the little fool, so she swallowed the words "No need" from the mouth, "Then I'll trouble Mr. Li."
"You and the slave are so polite, you are the slaves." Li Zhongxian smiled and said politely, glanced at the sun, said a few more words, then hurriedly retreated and returned to Chengqian Palace to report his life.
Zhao Sansi heard that Gu Xizhao agreed to move, so she happily ate another bowl of rice at noon. In order to thank the Taifu for her suggestions, she originally wanted to study hard to make the Taifu happy, but the Taifu took a sick leave, which made her feel so sad.
Perhaps this morning I tasted the sweetness of "golden mouth and jade words" and Zhao Sansi felt that she should work hard to be a wise king. So, although there was no tutor to teach in the afternoon, she was also reading and typing big characters in the imperial study alone, which surprised Li Zhongxian and Cai Jun.
The two of them looked at each other secretly, and their eyes were filled with relief.
Zhao Sansi, who had been studying for an afternoon, felt that he worked very hard today, and he reduced the guilt of deciding to go to the dog cave to see the concubine at night.
After dinner, Zhao Sansi picked up the box of cherries and looked around Chengqian Palace.
"Your Majesty, are you looking for?" Li Zhongxian was waiting around her, watching her walking by the box of cherries holding her, and then asked.
Looking at the Chengqian Palace surrounded by guards, Zhao Sansi felt bitter in his heart. She opened the box, took out a cherry and licked it. She swallowed it in one bite, still felt bitter in her heart. She took another one and ate three in a row. She quickly closed the box and then whispered to Li Zhongxian: "Where is the fewest person in Chengqian Palace?"
Li Zhongxian pretended not to see her stingy look when she was eating cherries just now, and looked at her nose and his heart. When Zhao Sansi suddenly opened his mouth, he didn't realize what she meant, "I don't know what the emperor said?"
Zhao Sansi looked at his careful appearance and pulled him to hide aside. After hesitating for a long time, he picked a cherry with a small head from the box in his arms and "put his hand out."
Li Zhongxian didn't know what he meant, so hesitated for a moment and reached out his hand.
Zhao Sansi stared at the cherry and then reluctantly put it in Li Zhongxian's hands, very serious.
"Emperor... Emperor..." The little emperor had to lick and lick a cherry after eating it. It can be seen that he liked it very much. He actually gave himself one so generously. Li Zhongxian was so moved that he almost burst into tears.
Zhao Sansi was a little reluctant, but he still said it very generously, "I will give it to you."
Li Zhongxian's legs were weak and he knelt down. He was moved, "I thanked the emperor for the reward."
Seeing his gratitude and tears, Zhao Sansi was a little disgusted when he thought of what he was about to say. After he hesitating for a moment, he took two more and handed them to his palm, "Get up first, I... I'm not giving you for nothing. I'll discuss with you if you have something to do."
Li Zhongxian's tears suddenly retreated, "What's the matter with the servant?"
Zhao Sansi looked around and then came to Li Zhongxian's ear and said, "I want to go to Changle Palace to find the imperial concubine tonight. I will be open and honest. If you see it, you will definitely cause trouble for the imperial concubine again. But there are too many guards in Chengqian Palace, so I will definitely not be able to escape..."
Li Zhongxian: “…”
At this moment, the three red and beautiful fruits placed in the palm of their hands are not tributes, but hot potatoes.
Zhao Sansi saw that Li Zhongxian didn't say anything, staring at the cherry on his palm in a daze. She hesitated for a moment, then slowly opened the box, and took another one and placed it in Li Zhongxian's palm.
Li Zhongxian still didn't speak.
Zhao Sansi put another one.
Li Zhongxian continued not to speak.
Zhao Sansi took another one with pain and put it down, "The last one is there, there can't be more."
Li Zhongxian seemed to have woken up from a dream, quickly spread his cherries and put them on the ground, "Your Majesty, this is a tribute, and I dare not accept it."
"It was my reward, not you stole it." Zhao Sansi curled his lips, not knowing that Li Zhongxian's heart was full of collapse and overwhelming. He was still continuing the topic just now, "So when I want to sneak away later, you can give me some cover."
Li Zhongxian still couldn't kowtow, "I don't dare."
Zhao Sansi pursed his lips and looked at the bright red fruit spread in front of him. He endured it and wanted to eat it. He wanted to secretly take one from Li Zhongxian, but in the end he held it back, "I have experience in sneaking to Changle Palace. I'll just leave Chengqian Palace later."
Li Zhongxian: "Slaves have no experience and dare not."
Zhao Sansi was angry, "Look at how good I am to you, one, two, three, four, five, six, I rewarded you with six cherries."
To be continued...