An island in Xuanwu Lake was formerly a royal garden. It has an elegant and exquisite small courtyard, planted with bamboos, various rare flowers, and rare animals such as cranes, swans, and sika deer. It was pushed over by the engineers of the Red Shirt Regiment overnight.
The land became flat, and thatched sheds, pig pens, and duck houses were built. Flower beds were turned into vegetable plots, bamboo forests were turned into crops, and even the painted boats on the small pier were turned into dilapidated sampans. A group of simply dressed people
Fishermen were brought in overnight and moved into this village built overnight.
In a small hut near the lake, Zeng Cheng, wearing an indigo sarong, was sitting in front of the stove burning a pot. He was pulling the bellows and passing firewood into the furnace. His fair face was stained by pot ashes.
Yes, but her expression was very happy and beaming. She was humming a tune while cooking the pot. There was white rice cooking in the pot, and there were two big fat fish waiting to be picked up beside her. After a while, he would go to the city to sell them.
When the fish comes home, he can have a hot meal, and, yes, there are also two ounces of white wine from the village wine shop to satisfy his craving.
The man in Zeng Cheng's heart is Liu Ziguang, the man he has not yet consummated. Now the two of them have left Hongze Lake and moved to this paradise-like island. There are no officers and soldiers, no water bandits, no rich bullies, no
Excessive taxes and miscellaneous taxes are imposed, and all that is left are beloved people, kind neighbors, and this vast blue lake.
Of course, this was what Liu Ziguang told Zeng Cheng. The poor eldest princess had been severely stimulated, and her brain tissue had been severely deprived of oxygen. All her memories had stayed at the state before entering the palace, and there was a possibility of deterioration at any time, if she was not careful.
, will become mentally retarded.
So everyone chose the nearby Xuanwu Lake as a place to recuperate. This lake was originally a royal property, and now it is even more heavily guarded. There are imperial guards stationed every twenty steps on the long shore of the lake. It is strictly forbidden for idlers to get close to the fishing boats in the lake.
They are all specially arranged. The residents of the fishing village have also undergone strict training. There are rules on how to speak and how to act. Anyway, Zeng Cheng cannot be treated as the eldest princess, just treat her as an ordinary fisherman girl.
.
In order to treat her daughter's encephalopathy, Empress Nangong also took off her phoenix robe, put on a Jingchai sarong and moved into a fishing village to accompany her daughter through the hard life. Their new home was two thatched houses and a shed without walls, which was simple and simple.
There are still Spring Festival couplets and door gods bought during the Chinese New Year on the wooden door. On the stove is the Stove Lord. The rice tank at home is filled with half a tank of rice. Cured fish, bacon and dried chili are hung on the wall. They are hidden in the cabinet.
The new quilt with red silk cover was used when getting married. Thinking of getting married to his sweetheart, Zeng Cheng felt filled with sweetness in his heart.
The meal was cooked, and his sweetheart came back. Liu Ziguang, wearing a short-sleeved shirt and straw sandals, looked like a real fisherman. According to the script, he gave up his official status and accompanied Zeng Cheng to the lake to live in seclusion.
They were plowing the fields and fishing at the same time, and they were going to get married in a few days. This time the man went to the city to sell fish and also buy some sundries for the wedding along the way.
"Chengcheng, look what I bought for you." Liu Ziguang tied the sampan to the tree, jumped onto the shore and shouted.
Zeng Cheng heard the call and hurriedly took out a small egg-shaped mirror from his arms, looked at it in a hurry, wiped the pot ash on his face with his sleeves, and replied crisply: "Here it comes."
He ran out of the shack, jumped up to Liu Ziguang, tilted his head and guessed: "Is it a red-head rope?"
"Chengcheng is so smart. Not only does he have a red headband, but he also has a red hijab, a red skirt, and red embroidered shoes." Liu Ziguang opened the baggage and counted all the treasures for Zeng Cheng.
"How many copper coins will this cost? Will selling half a boatload of fish be enough? It's better to buy some cloth and needlework and make it myself. My own handicrafts don't cost money." Zeng Cheng was obviously distressed, but he felt relieved after holding those gifts.
Reluctant to let go.
"It's not expensive. It only costs a fortune. I can make forty or fifty cents from selling fish every day. In addition, our family still has three-thirds of paddy fields. As long as we work hard, we will have a good life." Liu Ziguang smiled.
He said hehe, pretending to be a poor fisherman was still a bit difficult for him. Not only did he have to learn to cast a net to catch fish, but he also had to learn to get used to the embarrassment of having only a few hundred copper coins in savings at home.
"Well, good times come with good fortune. There are no official tax collectors here, and our lives will definitely get better." Zeng Cheng said with confidence. When he lowered his head, he saw that the straw sandals on Liu Zi's bare feet were torn, and he quickly ran back to the hut and took out a new pair.
The straw sandals said: "Look, your newly-made straw sandals are worn out. You can't work well with worn-out shoes. Hurry up and replace them with new ones."
Liu Ziguang took the straw sandals and put them on, and couldn't help but praise: "Chengcheng, you are so kind. I am really lucky to marry you."
"Bah, who wants to marry you?" Zeng Cheng's little face was flushed, and he said he didn't want to marry, but his body couldn't help but lean towards Liu Ziguang, who gently took Zeng Cheng into his arms, and on the lake
The sky is full of rays, the spring breeze is beautiful on the island, and the silhouettes of a pair of lovers are bordered by a rose-colored edge by the sunset.
On the willow trees by the lake, two magpies were chirping, and on the lake in the distance, the fishermen returning late sang loudly melodious fishing songs. At this moment, time seemed to have stopped, and the entire Xuanwu Lake was enveloped in the atmosphere of love...
Liu Ziguang paddled the sampan "into the city to sell fish", but he was actually going to find someone to discuss the matter. Zhu Youxiao and the queen stayed on the shore, always paying attention to the progress on the island. It was already certain that his sister would marry Liu Ziguang.
It's something, this
Who dared to say no at that moment? As for the fact that Liu Ziguang was a married man, everyone had selectively forgotten it. There was a tacit understanding that no one would say anything. The most important thing today was the eldest princess's encephalopathy, which delayed this.
No one can afford to suffer.
But the princess is a princess after all. Even if she loses her memory, she is still the daughter of the late emperor, the elder sister of Jin Shang, and the eldest princess with golden branches and jade leaves. How many pairs of eyes are staring at the imperial court. The matter of the castration of the number one scholar two days ago has been spread among the upper class society in the capital.
Everyone knew that this was the underworld of Marquis Zhenwu, in order to seize the throne of the Prince Consort. Naturally, those dignitaries who refused to change the past were on the side of traditional ideas, and there were many voices of overt and covert opposition.
No matter how the world objects, Empress Nangong and the emperor are determined to marry the princess to Liu Ziguang. The princess's marriage is a big event. Setting the date, setting up the ceremony, and banquet for the ministers must be done by the Tianjian and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
With the participation of Honglu Temple, the Ministry of Rites and other institutions, the Qintian Supervisor is a bunch of shrewd and shrewd people, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs is a sycophantic and slick one.
The eunuchs are not afraid of them jumping out to object, but Honglu Temple and the Ministry of Rites are more troublesome. They are a group of stubborn feudal ethics defenders. It is almost impossible to get them to support the princess marrying Marquis Zhenwu, especially the Ministry of Rites.
Shangshu Hou Xun, that is Liu Ziguang's mortal enemy. If he gets the handle, he will not be able to give his enemy some trouble.
After this incident, Empress Nangong's attitude has undergone a 180-degree turn and she has become a staunch supporter of Liu Ziguang. Although Liu Ziguang's kindness in saving the two of them in the past few times was profound, it was far less shocking than this time. In the past, it was just
It doesn't cost much to help the weak. This time Liu Ziguang is just playing
Three thousand milliliters of blood is a big pot of blood. Anyone who has even the slightest selfish thoughts in his heart would not risk his life like this. Therefore, the empress is really touched and very pleased. What else can she do if her daughter marries such a person?
For those who are not at ease, as for the various worldly shackles, let them rest wherever they feel cool.
Just like a mother, like a son, Zhu Youxiao even approved of Liu Ziguang becoming his brother-in-law with both hands and feet. The queen also stood firmly on Liu Ziguang's side. As for Liu Ziguang's house, there was a strong voice of approval.
Sister Peng Jingrong even lived in a fishing village on the island in the middle of the lake and worked as a sidekick.
Actor, supports her husband (brother-in-law) with practical actions. When Liu Maomao heard the adults talking about the royal palace and the princess's consort, her eyes lit up and she meowed wildly to express her support. In fact, she was thinking of the palace in the royal kitchen.
There are all kinds of delicacies and delicacies. I thought that if I and Ouchi were relatives, I could go in and eat at will.
The small life on the island in the center of the lake continues. Every day Zeng Cheng raises chickens and feeds pigs at home, repairs fishing nets with the neighbor sisters (friendly guest appearances by the Peng sisters), and cuts window grilles with red paper. Liu Ziguang goes to the lake to fish, and his mother
Her mother took the sampan into the city to help people wash clothes, and her life was very nourishing. But she didn't know that after Liu Ziguang and his mother took the boat ashore, they changed their clothes and got on a sixteen-carry sedan to enter the palace for discussion.
Things are gone.
In the Cining Palace, Empress Nangong was sitting on the phoenix chair, and the emperor and the queen were sitting on the left and right. Everyone listened with gloomy faces to the impassioned speech delivered by Hou Xun, the Minister of Rites.
"This is a violation of the rules! This is a manifestation of the collapse of etiquette and the disgrace of the Ming Dynasty. It is ridiculous for the majestic princess to marry a married man as a concubine! This will only make the world laugh.
Let all the countries around the world be disappointed in our Chinese etiquette
, From now on, the situation of all nations coming to court will no longer exist, and our Ming Dynasty’s tradition of ruling the world with etiquette will become a laughing stock. Marquis Zhenwu, don’t look at me like that. I am definitely not a person who avenges private revenge. This is all for my Ming Dynasty.
His decency."
"That's enough." Empress Nangong was already very impatient, her brows were furrowed and she looked extremely unhappy.
However, Hou Xun obviously had no intention of keeping quiet. He knelt down on the ground with a plop and said: "My queen, even if you punish me, I will remonstrate to my death. You must not let the princess marry Marquis Zhenwu."
"Hou Shangshu, what do you want?" Zhu Youxiao asked suppressing his anger.
"I don't mean anything personally. Everything should be handled according to the ancestral system. It is nothing more than selecting unmarried men with equal talents, learning and appearance from good families for the empress and the emperor to choose, and then let Qin Tianjian analyze the birth dates and select the most suitable ones.
It is only right for a man to marry a princess." Hou Xun's righteous and stern expression made Zhu Youxiao feel very sad and wanted to kick him in the face.
"Then the princess herself has no right to choose?" the emperor asked with a sneer.
"How is it appropriate for a woman to choose her own husband? No matter whether she is a private woman or a royal noble, she cannot do such immoral things. This is absolutely inappropriate." Hou Xun replied without thinking.
"It's not your daughter. Of course you don't feel bad. The Ai family has heard enough! This daughter of the Ai family has suffered a lot since she was a child. The Zhu family owes her too much. Now the Ai family wants to compensate her well. Who dares to let her go?"
If the princess feels uncomfortable for a while, the Aijia will make him feel uncomfortable for the rest of his life!" The empress was really angry, and she could drive the good-tempered Empress Nangong into a rage. Hou Shangshu was considered the first person in history.
"I would rather die than agree to this! Please think twice, my empress!" Hou Xun was determined to be a strong and honest minister who would leave a name for eternity. He twisted his neck and refused to let go.
"You..." My mother's face turned black with anger and she couldn't speak.
Hou Xun's face was calm, and he knelt on the ground and looked at everyone coldly. This time he was really going all out and would not give up until he caused some trouble for Liu Ziguang.
"Hou Shangshu, you may not know the fate of those who bullied the eldest princess. Now let me tell you that since last year, a total of 352 people have been beheaded, 13 families have had their homes confiscated, and four people have been tortured.
, two people were castrated, two magistrates were dismissed, and one became a general.
A censor was dismissed from his post, and this was all done by me, so don't challenge my patience and determination. You have to do this if you agree to the eldest princess's marriage, and you have to do this if you don't agree." Liu Ziguang couldn't help it.