Chapter 4 Kangzong Chapter 7 The Queen Mother and the Concubine
"The Queen Mother has summoned her and asked the concubine to come with her maid!" In front of the Ciming Palace, a pleasant-looking female official greeted Xiao Chuo respectfully.
Xiao Chuo nodded, responded softly, and then silently followed the female officer towards the palace. Although Xiao Chuo, who was fifty-five years old, had long lost the appearance and beauty of his youth, his demeanor remained the same as before.
The white hair on the temples is the accumulation of time, and it seems to reflect the light of wisdom.
After the death of Emperor Taizong, Xiao Chuo was naturally promoted to the concubine, left the palace and moved to another courtyard. Emperor Taizong's harem was so thin that they could be counted on one hand. Only Murong, Zhao and Xiao had a strong sense of presence.
These three concubines.
Empress Murong was promoted to the Queen Mother and still showed off her power in the harem. Concubine Zhao and her son Wen Huan were driven to Annan to go to the country. Concubine Xiao Chuo moved to Linzi Palace, and the remaining concubines who had no children were moved to other places.
Palace, centralized support
In the past two years, Xiao Chuo has been very low-key and kept a respectful distance from the emperor and Empress Dowager Murong. If he could not avoid it, he would maintain a more humble and respectful posture than before.
Obviously, in the eyes of Mrs. Xiao, Murong and her son are very dangerous existences, especially to them.
Empress Dowager Murong was obviously not very broad-minded, and she had an "adoption" relationship with Concubine Xiao's mother and son. In his later years, Taizong hated the harem disputes, and was particularly indifferent to Murong and Zhao. On the contrary, he was closer to Xiao Chuo.
, which led to a period of "special pampering for virtuous concubines".
These two incidents have become a knot in the heart of Empress Dowager Murong. Xiao Chuo also knew this very well. He was deeply aware that this was the source of danger and never dared to be careless, even if Empress Dowager Murong was blocked by the ministers.
In the Ciming Hall, Xiao Chuo still did not dare to relax. After all, the person sitting on the throne of the Nine-Fifth Emperor was the son of the Queen Mother.
For two years, Xiao Chuo lived in Beijing and quietly paid attention to the situation in the court. Even though there were not many sources of information, with his innate political awareness and excellent analytical skills, Xiao Chuo was able to be more accurate with the limited information.
Grasp the development and changes of the DPRK situation.
In Xiao Chuo's view, three years after entering Pingkang, the situation of Zhu Fu in charge of the country has become increasingly difficult to maintain, and the emperor is not far away from taking charge of the country. In this process, contradictions and struggles are inevitable.
Full of danger.
Even if the changes in the court situation did not directly affect him as a concubine, Xiao Chuo did not dare to be careless in the slightest when considering his son Liu Wenji, King of Linzi. While cultivating his character, he also remained vigilant at all times.
At the same time, past experiences have proved that Empress Dowager Murong has not forgotten their mother and son, and once she remembers her, she will announce her entry into the palace, talk about things, and make things happen at home.
Last winter, when Empress Dowager Murong summoned Concubine Xiao, she complained that he had been humiliated by a group of "rebellious ministers" and lived in seclusion in the palace. Xiao Chuo slapped Empress Dowager Murong for her undisguised complaints.
Make up your mind, stay away from them, and treat them with caution.
What chilled her the most was what Empress Dowager Murong said, saying that they had both worked hard to serve Taizong, and they were as close as sisters. She had always treated Linzi King Liu Wenji as her own son.
At the end, the subject changed and he asked Xiao Chuo why he deliberately distanced himself from her and did not take the initiative to visit her. Is it because he felt that she had lost power or for some other reason? Regarding Empress Dowager Murong's "questions", Xiao Chuo naturally acted with sincerity and fear.
He denied the situation and admitted his mistake, but also said that he would visit the palace more often and accompany him.
This time, it was the first time since the beginning of the new year that Xiao Chuo took the initiative to enter the palace to pay a visit to Queen Mother Murong.
Before entering the palace, an old minister in purple clothes was coming out of the palace. When he saw Xiao Chuo, he narrowed his eyes and bowed three steps away: "Dongchuan Capital Commander Murong De
Chen, I have met the Dowager Empress!"
Looking at Murong Dechen, who was respectful and restrained, with a calm and capable air, Xiao Chuo suppressed the surprise in his heart, showed a gentle smile on his face, stretched out his hand to indicate that he was exempt from courtesy, and said: "Murong Commander, this is the east."
Sichuan returns to Beijing to report on his work? Thank you for your hard work!"
"Thank you very much for your concern, the Imperial Concubine. All veterans should do their duty!" Murong Dechen expressed his gratitude, and then said goodbye: "I won't delay the Imperial Concubine's visit. I will retire!"
"Let you go slowly!"
Murong Dechen is the nephew of Wei Gong Murong Yanzhao and the son of the late Guangning Bo Murong Yanqing. He is a noble son with both civil and military skills. He is considered a relatively talented person in the huge Murong family. He has been engaged in politics and the military for decades.
A lot of credit has been accumulated.
During the rebellion in central Sichuan, he also accompanied Liu Tinghan to fight against the thieves and achieved meritorious service. This time, he returned to Beijing from his post in Sichuan East Road to report on his duties, and his appearance in the Queen Mother's palace was not so surprising, but also showed that he was capable.
So slightly unusual
Xiao Chuo glanced at Murong Dechen who was slowly walking away from behind. Xiao Chuo was thoughtful, but soon his eyes returned to calmness. He raised his head and looked at the solemn Kunming Hall again, gathered his mood, and went into the hall to pay homage.
.
Queen Mother Murong has been in a really good mood recently. The reason is very simple. Her emperor's son has begun to "rise up". The emperor's voice in the court has become louder. The emperor's will is beginning to be conveyed downwards, and the imperial power is recovering.
Since Lu Mengzheng was demoted to Jiangnan, Emperor Liu Wenpeng's presence in the center of the imperial court has been significantly strengthened. He must be present in all important meetings of the imperial court. No matter what the final decision is, his voice can always be heard in the decision-making process.
Liu Wenpeng also interfered more in other affairs of the court. The political situation of the Han Dynasty has also undergone some real changes in the two years since he took the throne. The trend of the court has inevitably changed accordingly. The frequency of internal and external ministers meeting the emperor to report their duties has increased significantly.
,Similarly, the conflicts between the emperor and the ministers are also deepening.
The little emperor's governance and the governance of Yongxi's ministers obviously cannot be consistent. Especially for Zhang Qixian, the minister who adhered to Yongxi's administration, he was deeply annoyed by Liu Wenpeng's arbitrary ideas and decisions. However, many
Sometimes, it seems very weak.
After all, he is the emperor. When the emperor begins to unleash his aggression, it is not easy for his subordinates to bear it.
The emperor is on the rise. As the emperor's mother, Empress Dowager Murong is naturally proud of herself. This pride is also vividly displayed when facing the concubine Xiao Chuo. When she is doing things, she always has a little smile on her lips.
meaning.
"I wonder how Wenji is doing in Jiangnan?" During the conversation and laughter, Empress Dowager Murong mentioned King Linzi unintentionally.
When Xiao Chuo heard this, although there was still a smile on his face, he was extremely vigilant in his heart, and he responded naturally: "The rich land in the south of the Yangtze River, the flowers and beautiful scenery, are countless, I'm afraid he has been confused.
.Wu Nong’s soft words and romance have already made him intoxicated.”
Hearing what Xiao Chuo said, Empress Dowager Murong wondered: "I still remember that Wen Ji was a calm and simple boy. His political achievements in Jiangnan were highly praised by the late emperor!"
Noticing the suspicion in Empress Dowager Murong's eyes, Xiao Chuo smiled bitterly and said: "Jiangnan is such a gentle place, and he has already lingered there for a long time. In two years, he took in five concubines. However, it is his blessing to be a free and easy prince. How can he do it again?
Expect anything else?"
Hearing what Xiao Chuo said, Empress Dowager Murong couldn't help but smile: "The beauties from Jiangnan are famous for their aura and aura. I have always been worried about the emptiness of the official harem. Maybe I should choose some to fill the harem."
Xiao Chuo immediately echoed: "The continuation of the bloodline of the Tian family and the expansion of the royal family are matters related to the country, the country, and the country. The Queen Mother's concerns are not unreasonable!"
Empress Dowager Murong was quite satisfied with Xiao Chuo's attitude. She sighed and mentioned another matter: "The official family has become increasingly busy with state affairs recently, but after all, they are young and lack experience in governance, so they will inevitably be oppressed by the ministers.
I think the official family still needs some people they can trust to help. Wen Ji also accompanied the official family on their southern tour back then. The relationship between the brothers has always been harmonious. There is no one more suitable to assist than Wen Ji.
Wenji was also a sect king who had been deeply influenced and taught by the late emperor. How could he sit back and watch him indulge in the romance of Jiangnan and live in mediocrity for the rest of his life?
In my opinion, Wen Ji should be recalled to the court to assist the officials in handling state affairs. What does my sister think?"
When asking this question, Empress Dowager Murong stared at Xiao Chuo closely, as if she wanted to capture every change on her face.
After hearing this, Xiao Chuo's face was calm, and his heart had already been shaken. Almost without thinking, Xiao Chuo sighed: "The Queen Mother's kindness, I thank Wen Ji for it. It's just that I just received Wen Ji's letter the day before yesterday.
He said that he was in bad health and was planning to resign from his job and go to Suzhou to rest peacefully."
"What a coincidence?" Empress Dowager Murong asked in surprise: "What's the reason? Have you ever found a good doctor? This is a serious mistake. Do you want to send an imperial doctor to take a look?"
Faced with the Queen Mother's concern, Xiao Chuo showed an unspeakable expression on his face and flashed: "The specific cause of the disease was not mentioned in the letter. However, I can basically guess the information from the people.
Too much drinking and debauchery. If the Queen Mother hadn’t asked about it, I, as a mother, would be too embarrassed to say anything.”
Hearing what Xiao Chuo said, Empress Dowager Murong couldn't help but feel happy, and said with a smile: "The man is so beautiful, it's human nature, it's not a big deal, but you still need to pay attention to your body."
Then the topic finally changed from Linzi King Liu Wenji. The Queen Mother and the Dowager Concubine were chatting and laughing very harmoniously, and the Queen Mother did not mention the matter of Liu Wenji returning to the court again.
From the time she left the Kunming Palace to the time she boarded the carriage leaving the palace, Mrs. Xiao always had a modest and natural smile on her face.
Of course, when I was alone in the car, all the smiles and even all the expressions disappeared. A pair of female eyes were extremely serious. I thought over and over again in my mind about today's conversation with the Queen Mother Murong, and kept reflecting on whether my response was good or not.
What is the problem.
Today, Empress Dowager Murong's test may not be clever, but it is enough to make Xiao Chuo feel pressure. After all, if the Empress Dowager and the emperor really want to do something against their mother and son, they have little ability to resist. The case is fishy.
Maybe it won't be as bad if it is left to its own devices, but it's still not much different.
Xiao Chuo, who returned to Linzi Prince's Mansion, immediately entered the study room, turned away everyone, and after careful consideration, he bent over his desk, picked up his pen, and wrote a letter slowly and carefully. However, when he looked up, he read "Mother, I am here" and the handwriting was also Linzi.
Wang Liu Wenji's handwriting
After a long time, I just finished writing, sealed the letter, and put it in a brocade box on the bookshelf specially designed to store letters from Jiangnan.
After everything was done and he sat down again, Xiao Chuo sighed sadly, a trace of fatigue lingering on his pale face.
After a while, Xiao Chuo exhaled a breath of turbid air and ordered: "Come here, call Xiao Hui!"
"Yes!" the servant waiting outside the door responded.
Before long, a young man in solemn clothes walked quickly and announced his entrance. When he saw Xiao Chuo, he bowed down and saluted with a very respectful attitude: "I'm seeing the concubine. I wonder what the concubine's orders are when she summons the ministers?"
In the past thirty years or so, tribes from the Khitan in the northern part of the Great Wall have continued to move south, including some with big Khitan surnames. The "Xiao family" is the largest group. After all, there is a lineage of "Xiao Siwen" who has established a firm foothold and has even integrated into the upper class of the Han Dynasty.
Especially after the Mobei Khitan completely surrendered to the empire, paid tribute, and accepted the title granted by the ancestors, this trend became even more obvious. Even though going south was likely to be rejected by the officials and people of the Han Dynasty, the colorful world of the southern country still made it difficult to bear the bitter cold in Mobei.
A large number of Khitan tribe dignitaries yearned for it.
As for the "Xiao family" supported by the Xiao family, there must be thousands of people, big and small, old and young.
However, due to the low-key style of the three generations of the Xiao family, the Xiao family did not dare to show off. Even when Xiao Siwen served as the vassal envoy, there was no favoritism in the settlement of the Xiao family members.
Few of the Xiao clan members who came from the south entered the Han dynasty, and even fewer became officials, but everyone who held a position was a capable person.
The rest of the Xiao clan mostly did business, studied in the Han Dynasty, or relied on successful clan members. In this way, after more than thirty years, the Xiao clan has taken root in the Han Dynasty, survived and multiplied.
There is no doubt that no matter how they develop and grow, the Xiao clan of the Khitan clan in the Han Empire all have "Xiao Siwen's lineage" as their sect leader, and now they are under the wings of Princess Xiao and King Linzi. This is also the case.
It is caused by blood, an undeniable fact.
After more than thirty years of development, the Xiao family has basically integrated into the Han Dynasty. At the same time, even if they are low-key and restrained, many talents have emerged. After Liu Wenji opened his mansion, he also consciously cultivated and appointed elites within the Xiao family.
It’s the same reason as Kang Wang Liu Ye promoted and reused civil and military officials from the Yao ethnic group.
At this time, Xiao Chuo summoned Xiao Hui, a young talent who has emerged in the Xiao family in recent years. He was only twenty-five years old. He was born and raised in the Han Dynasty. He studied Chinese studies, knew military affairs, and was accredited by civil and military officials. Counting several generations up.
, they are all relatives, that is a certain thing, and after Xiao Hui moved out of the palace from Xiao Chuo, he entered the Linzi Palace to take up a position.
Facing the calm and collected Xiao Hui, Xiao Chuo secretly praised him, but kept a serious face and solemnly warned: "Go to the south of the Yangtze River, meet the King of Linzi, and give him a word, tell him to let him
Take good care of your health, and you won’t be able to return to Beijing easily!”
Xiao Hui heard the order and was puzzled, but he had no doubts and immediately said: "Yes!"
"This statement must not be known to the fourth person!" Xiao Chuo stared at Xiao Hui with sharp eyes.
Facing the concubine's gaze, Xiao Hui felt a surge of momentum coming towards him, which was so overwhelming that he could hardly breathe. He calmed down and responded solemnly: "I understand!"
"And!" After a pause, Xiao Chuo continued: "When you get to Jiangnan, just stay with King Linzi and listen to him!"
Xiao Hui was slightly surprised by this, but quickly adjusted, suppressed the secret joy in her heart, and bowed again: "Yes!"
Obviously, being on duty by Mrs. Xiao's side is not bad. However, a Linzi palace without Prince Linzi is not the most suitable place for an ambitious young man, especially if he has somewhere to go.