Zhao Qingzhu smiled and shook his head, "The Empress asked the Commander-in-Chief of the Guards to send a message, saying that Qingzhu will go to Beijing as soon as the next governor arrives. I heard that the Empress is planning to open a royal private school, and Qingzhu is going to take office."
"Really? Qingzhu is going to the capital? Oh, what a happy event." The village chief clapped his hands happily.
But Father Li's face was a bit grim, "Village Chief, if Qingzhu goes to the capital, what will the children in our village do?"
Qingzhu is the only child in the village who has read a book. If he leaves, won't the children in the village not be able to attend private schools?
"Yeah, why did I forget this?" Hearing Father Li say this, the village chief looked a little sad.
Zhao Qingzhu stood up and walked to sit next to the village chief. "Don't worry, village chief. The queen has also made plans to open a private school in several nearby villages. There will always be teachers. Qingshan City is also a big city after all."
, there is no need to worry, and the Queen will also implement some specific measures, such as the private school examination every year, and the top five children in the examination will be exempted from one year of schooling."
"Free tuition? Is it true?" Father Li and the village chief were very happy. They are both farmers and they don't earn much money every year. It's great to be able to do this.
"Yes, the Queen is a wise woman, and she is a blessing to the people." Zhao Qingzhu also admired that woman in his heart. She was not older than herself, but she always thought more thoughtfully than anyone else. She was worthy of being the mother of a country.
.
Seven days later, Nangong Mo and his entourage arrived in the capital. As soon as they arrived outside the city gate, a group of important officials from the imperial court swarmed in, kneeling down and shouting.
"I respectfully welcome the Emperor and Queen to return to the court."
Surrounded by hundreds of officials, the luxurious carriage drove into the city gate, and the people on both sides of the spacious bluestone road knelt down and shouted long live a thousand lives, creating a peaceful scene.
"We've only been away for a month, but it feels like we haven't been back for ten or eight years." Xia Bingyan sighed softly.
"Just get used to it." Nangong Mo hugged Xia Bingyan gently, facing the opened car curtain, smiling and waving to the people outside.
When the carriage arrived at the palace gate, Xia Bingyan felt that her cheeks were going stiff.
Being a queen is so troublesome.
When she arrived at the Wolong Palace, Xia Bingyan realized that those common people and officials were nothing. The real things to watch should be now, when hundreds of flowers are really blooming, and everyone will be jealous.
"I respectfully welcome the Emperor and the Queen to return to the court. Long live the Emperor. Long live the Queen. May the Queen live a thousand lives."
"My beloved concubines, please stand up." Nangong Mo smiled lightly and asked them to stand up.
Xia Bingyan waved her hand and walked into Wolong Palace, "I'm going to rest first while you guys chat."
She had been working in a carriage for seven consecutive days, and she was already exhausted, and her back was sore. When she came back this time, she didn't want to say those disgustingly hypocritical polite words to these women again.
"Sister-in-law Huang, you are back. Yuhua misses Sister-in-law Huang to death."
When a crisp sound like a silver bell came, Xia Bingyan sighed helplessly, forget it, it's still early to take a rest.
"Yuhua is here, sit down." He raised his hand to greet Yuhua and sat down next to him.
Yuhua took Xia Bingyan's hand enthusiastically, her little face shining with excitement.
"Sister-in-law, tell me, is it fun outside? Where did the sister-in-law go?"
"You're a little girl, you just know how to play." She raised her hand and sighed softly at Yuhua's smooth forehead, "The emperor's sister-in-law went to visit the victims of the disaster, how could she lose her play."
"Victims? What kind of disaster?" Apart from the palace and other courtyards, she has never been to other places. The only people she met were government officials, officials' ladies, or relatives of the emperor. How could she know about the victims of the disaster?
Xia Bingyan held Yuhua's hand and talked to her about what she had seen along the way. She could hear Yuhua's pink little mouth opening and closing.
"What? Someone else is starving to death?" She was shocked. Would she starve to death? What would that feel like?
"Of course there is. Yulong has a vast territory, and different places have different habits and customs, as well as different geographical climates. Some places have a lot of rain and will suffer from floods, and some places will have droughts if it doesn't rain all year round. But no matter what
No matter what kind of disaster, as long as there is such a situation, many people will not have enough to eat or wear, and the people will suffer. People in the palace will not be able to cover everything." Ancient times and modern times also have a lot in common, but in modern times, droughts and the like
It's not that serious, at least there is artificial rainfall.
"But don't they have any food storage?" They should, right?
"This is also a sad point. Nowadays, all land is usually in the hands of some large households, and some tenants are hired. Part of their harvest is given to the landlord, part is paid to the national tax, and the rest is only enough
They have enough food and clothing for a year. Maybe Yuhua doesn't believe it, but the brocade coat Yuhua is wearing is enough to feed and clothe dozens of farmers for a year." She raised her finger and pointed to the colorful brocade she was wearing.
Silk embroidered gown.
Yuhua was so surprised that she couldn't shut her mouth.
"Sister-in-law, are you telling the truth? How is it possible, Yuhua doesn't believe it." This dress is still a very ordinary one, it is enough for dozens of households for a year? Are you kidding, she
Do not believe.
"I knew you wouldn't believe it. When there is a chance in the future, the emperor's sister-in-law will take you out to see it." This little girl is not bad, and her thoughts are very simple. She does not want her to be polluted by such a large harem in the future, so she is absolutely
I will teach her carefully.
Just because she is Nangong Mo's most cherished imperial sister.
Hearing that she could go out to play, Yuhua excitedly hugged Xia Bingyan's arm and laughed non-stop.
"Sister-in-law Huang, you treat Yuhua so well. Yuhua loves Sister-in-law Huang the most."
Xia Bingyan shook her head and laughed, tapping her little nose, "You are the only one with a sweet mouth. Didn't you hate the emperor's sister-in-law's tightness at first?"
Yuhua's pretty face flushed, "Sister-in-law, please don't argue with Yuhua. Yuhua was ignorant at that time."
"If you know your mistakes and you can correct them, you can never do good. The emperor's sister-in-law will not argue with Yuhua." This little girl is really lovable.
"Thank you, Mrs. Huang."
Outside the Wolong Palace, Nangong Mo looked helplessly at the woman disappearing into the palace, and smiled bitterly as he dealt with the group of women in front of him.
"The emperor has been tired from traveling all the way. He must be physically and mentally exhausted. Why don't you go to my concubine's palace and I will make some tonic for the emperor." Concubine Wan raised her little face with a smile, and the admiration in her eyes was clearly revealed.
"Sister, it's true, Yu'er also wants to invite the emperor to Qinglu Palace." Concubine Yu's charming face is smiling, her eyes are affectionate, and she is shy and timid.
"No, Your Majesty, you haven't been to my concubine's Chen En Palace for a long time." Concubine Li was not willing to lag behind, and stepped forward and said hurriedly.
Other women with slightly lower scores also looked at Nangong Mo with eyes full of admiration.
Nangong Mo looked at a group of warblers and he felt tired for the first time. Even in the past, he could deal with it with just a few words and go wherever he went. But why was he so irritable now? For the first time, he felt tired.
Too many women are a problem.
Also, why didn't that little woman beg him to go to Fengqi Palace? She was so sure that he would go there on his own initiative. But it was really like this. If he couldn't see her for a day, he would feel awkward and panicked.
"Stop arguing. I have just returned to the palace. I am busy with state affairs and have no time to go to the harem. You all should go back."
After saying that, he lifted up his robe and stepped into Wolong Hall.
The women who were noisy just now suddenly became quiet, and it took a long time for them to come back to their senses.
"It seems that Concubine Wan is nothing more than this in the emperor's heart." Concubine Li hummed, turned around and left with the help of the palace maid.
"Sister Concubine Wan, all sisters, I'm sorry to be with you." Concubine Yu also left.
After seeing the two high-ranking concubines, the others didn't wait any longer and left one after another.
Concubine Wan's hand hidden in her sleeves was held tightly. She could never compare to that woman. There used to be Concubine Zhen, but now Concubine Zhen is still in the clothing bureau, but that queen has been in the same place for several months.
, the crown fills the harem and prevents the emperor from entering the palaces of other concubines. It is really a great ability.
And since Concubine Zhen was demoted, her low position as Concubine Wan has been losing prestige. She was able to suppress Concubine Yu and Concubine Li, but now it is becoming more and more difficult to control them. They still dare to confront her openly.
.
Even so, she did not dare to tell her father, just because his father only has the current emperor in his heart and his loyalty remains undiminished. If she complains because of competition for favor, she is afraid that she will completely lose her father's love. In that case, she will be even more troubled in the harem.
Like walking on thin ice.
The Shangshufang has always been a place for royal children to study, but because Nangong Mo has no children, the children studying there now are all the descendants of princes and third-rank officials or above.
On this day, the Shang Shufang welcomed a special person, the current empress Xia Bingyan.
"I have met the Queen." An old man with half-white hair put down his book, walked over in a neither humble nor overbearing manner, and bowed slightly.
"Old sir, there is no need to be polite. I just want to take a look." She smiled softly.
"yes."
Standing outside the window, looking at the pink and jade-carved children inside, she seemed to see herself as a child, the difference between heaven and earth, clouds and mud.
The youngest among them was three or four years old, and the oldest was only eleven or twelve years old. They were all full of energy and listened very seriously.
After returning to Fengqi Palace, she was alone in the study, writing and drawing for an hour before stretching lazily.
"Zhang Bing." He shouted toward the door.
Zhang Bing, who was waiting outside the door, heard the sound and pushed the door open.
"Mother, my servant is here."
"Take this drawing and find a few people who are good at repairs to renovate the study room as shown above."
After handing the drawings in her hand to Zhang Bing, she stood up and walked out of the study slowly. She still had to talk to Nangong Mo about this matter. After all, if she broke the law privately, she might be accused of damaging the feng shui of the royal family.
.
"Yes, I'll go right away." Zhang Bing bowed, turned around and left Fengqi Palace.
She walked leisurely all the way through the Imperial Garden. Summer was in full bloom at the moment, and all the flowers were in full bloom. As far as the eye could see, there were all kinds of flowers in bloom.
"Sister-in-law, here, here." Yuhua's cheerful voice came from the pavilion not far away. Looking over, she raised her hand and waved vigorously at her.