On September 27th of the fourth year of Yonghe, Emperor Qianyuan abdicated and his throne was crowned Prince Wei.
But the matter was not decided so quickly. According to the regulations, the prince had to cry and resign, but the emperor insisted again and again. Only after three attempts, the name was officially changed.
Of course, everyone has already started preparing for the new emperor's ascension to the throne.
Zhang Chun, who was the first hero to support the founding of the People's Republic of China, had a busy family. People came and went, the concierge was overwhelmed, and the servants were busy. Most people left after handing in posts and gifts. Only some relatives and friends could be invited.
Go in and have a cup of tea.
The male guests were entertained by Zhang Chun's eldest son, while the female family members were accompanied by Zhang Chun's wife.
"Where is Mr. Jiangzhou?"
Are you busy with the new emperor's ascension to the throne?
"I'm going to the academy. I have a few books to talk about and articles to write." Zhang Chun's eldest son said with a smile.
The guests were stunned when they heard this. What kind of academy are you going to lecture on at this time?
"The life of the people has been established, but the sacred science still has a long way to go. My father dare not slack off." Zhang Chun's eldest son replied.
Does it mean that Zhang Chun will not take court affairs as a priority? He will not succeed Chen Shao as prime minister, but will still be his official collation?
Why bother?
However, everyone was relieved immediately. Even if he was not the prime minister, Zhang Chun's life-saving grace to the Queen Mother and his support of the new emperor would ensure that his status in the court would be stable and important in the future.
The hall became more lively and joyful.
In the inner house, people were also laughing and talking.
"Today we have to stay for dinner before leaving." A lady said with a smile, "It's hard to find a cook at your house, so why not come to your house and try out the cooking?"
This statement made other ladies in the room smile and respond, and some people started to order food.
Mrs. Zhang smiled and shook her head.
"What a coincidence," she said, "even if you come to my house, it's hard to find a cook."
The people in the room were stunned.
"The cook is not at home today." Mrs. Zhang smiled and said, "I have something to do."
The servants of my family have gone out because of something? Couldn't the mistress call her back with just a word? What could happen to the servants? The mistress's affairs are the most important thing for the servants.
The cook in this house is really... extraordinary.
"Of course it's extraordinary." After leaving the Zhang family, a lady whispered, "Have you forgotten whose family this Banqin cook in the Zhang family originally belonged to?"
The women looked at each other and suddenly understood.
Crown Princess!
No, it’s not just the Zhang family’s cook, there are several cooks in the capital who claim to be trained by the Crown Princess.
Those from other families are just that, they are all sent as apprentices by their own servants, but the cook girl from this family is a real member of the Cheng family, and was given to the Zhang family by the Crown Princess when she was in Jiangzhou.
Now that the Crown Princess is about to become the Queen, the Zhang family's cook, who is a former servant, is not ordinary. How can the Zhang family treat her like an ordinary servant and call her around.
"but."
A lady suddenly thought of something and lowered her voice.
"Can the Crown Princess still become the Queen?"
When the prince becomes the emperor, the husband and wife become one, and the husband is honorable and the wife is noble. At other times, naturally, the crown prince should be canonized as the queen, but at this time, the crown prince is a little different.
"The one who is very ill is in a coma." A lady whispered, "Just like the Supreme Emperor, it has been almost two months."
This is so!
The ladies looked at each other.
That's a serious disease. Even in ordinary homes, it can be treated in another hospital, even if it's seven months old.
"Isn't the Supreme Emperor also awake?" someone said.
"But if the Supreme Emperor is unable to speak or move, it's the same as waking up and not waking up." Some people shook their heads and said, "Do we want to canonize a queen like that?"
At this point, she paused.
"It is possible to pursue the title. I heard that the Queen Mother is already preparing to choose a concubine for the emperor, and Princess Xiu also brought several young women to the palace to ask for an audience with the Queen Mother. I dare not say anything else. At least on the issue of heirs, the Queen Mother and
Princess Xiu should be of the same mind."
…………………………………………………….
Noon is the busiest time in Taiping Residence. There is a long queue of people waiting for a table in front of the door. There is a straw hut set up with several tables and hot tea and snacks.
"We might as well set up a table outside." Someone said, holding a tea bowl and drinking tea. "In summer, you can have cold tofu and you won't be afraid of the heat. In winter, you can have fun and be comfortable and you won't be afraid of the cold."
Others stood in front of the door and read the words on the door plaque.
"This is Madam Cheng's authentic work."
"It's a different font from Maoyuan Mountain."
"Why are you still calling her Mrs. Cheng? She is the Crown Princess, so she is the Queen."
"There are thousands of crown princes and queens, but there is only one, Mrs. Cheng."
"Peace, peace, it is indeed peace with Mrs. Cheng here."
There was chatting and laughing in front of the door, and someone hurriedly came over and squeezed through the crowd.
"Hey, wait in line." Someone shouted quickly.
The man looked back.
This is a young woman who looks ordinary but is dressed unusually.
"Miss Banqin is here." The waiter in front of the door greeted us hurriedly.
It turned out that he was not a diner, so the guest in front of the door ignored him and watched the woman hurrying up the stairs.
"Miss Banqin."
A clerk knocked at the door of a house.
"Miss Banqin is here."
A half-hearted girl said two things.
The door of the house was opened and the girl hurried in and saw Banqin standing up.
"Why are you here?" Banqin said tremblingly, looking at the girl and taking a step back, as if he didn't want to see her.
"Sister Banqin, don't be afraid." The girl said, "There is no news about my wife."
No news is good news. Banqin put his hand over his heart and sat down to breathe a sigh of relief.
"I can't do it, so I don't dare to stay in the capital. I'm afraid that I can't help but run to the palace to find my wife. Hiding here is at least better." She said, raising her hands to wipe her tears.
"The emperor has woken up, and the throne has been given to the prince. The prince is about to ascend the throne." The girl said.
Banqin raised his head and looked at her.
"Then can we see my wife?" she asked urgently. Whether the emperor is awake or dead, whether the prince is enthroned or not, these things that are being discussed by everyone in the capital are of no importance to her.
There is only one problem.
The girl forced out a smile.
"Soon." she said.
Banqin was happy when he heard this, turned around and knelt down to worship the Bodhisattva standing beside him.
Looking at her, the smile on the girl's face turned bitter.
…………………………………….
In the Immortal Residence, Su Xin, holding a calculation chip in her hand, raised her head when she heard the words.
"The old lady said something like this?" she asked.
The girl nodded, the smile she showed just now in Taipingju was not at all on her face, instead it was filled with sadness.
"Yes." Su Xin murmured, looking out the window, "How can they accommodate such a queen? They can only accommodate a posthumous queen. They have gained both fame and profit, and they will not delay the appointment of a new one.
.”
"Sister Su Xin, I'm going to beg the master, we don't want anything else, we don't want the queen, we don't want anything, as long as the wife is returned to us, we can go far away," the girl cried.
"Yes, we can ask for the posthumous queen, as long as they are merciful and hand over the posthumous queen to us." Su Xin said, standing up, "I will go too, I will also go and beg the master."
The girl nodded and quickly stood up.
"There are many people at home, so I have hid out in the academy." She said, "Let's go."
The two of them drove quickly to the academy in a carriage, but did not see Zhang Chun.
"Please, just tell the master that it's Banqin, and it's Banqin who wants to see him." The girl said with tears in her eyes.
The child sighed.
"Sister Banqin, the reason I recognize you is not that I didn't tell the master, but that the master went out," he said.
Not in the academy?
"Then where did the master go?" Su asked anxiously.
The child shook his head.
"Sister Banqin also knows the master's habits." He said, looking at the two maids.
Hiding, hiding.
If you avoid the complimentary guests at home, avoid them too.
How could someone as smart as Zhang Jiangzhou not think of this?
Su Xin slowly closed her eyes, tears remaining.
"My wife has never asked for help before." She murmured, "No matter how big the trouble is."
As she spoke, Cheng Jiaoniang's description seemed to reappear in front of her.
"No, I'm not there yet, when I have no other way to go."
The woman's expression was dull and indifferent.
"I just don't like to place my hopes on others, that's all."
So what happens now? Is she in a coma and unable to take care of herself? Is she at the end of her rope? Where is her hope?
…………………………………………………….
At this time, the gate of Puxiu Temple, which is full of incense, is closed tightly, the courtyard is empty, and the monks coming and going look solemn.
The bell suddenly rang in the temple, long and soft.
A young chamberlain stepped forward and stretched out his hand. Fang Bocong touched his arm slightly and stood up from the kneeling mat.
"May the Holy Father be in peace," he said.
"The Buddha knows that Your Highness is sincere," Zhang Chun said.
Neither of them wore formal clothes, Fang Bocong wore a plain green robe, and Zhang Chun wore a half-worn Confucian shirt.
Fang Bocong stepped out of the Buddhist hall, stopped and took a look, then stepped forward again. Zhang Chun followed a few steps behind, and the servants in front and behind him dispersed.
"The court is very busy now, so I came here to hide and be quiet." Fang Bocong said with a smile.
The ceremony of the emperor's enthronement cannot be neglected. Nowadays, the whole court is busy day and night just for this matter.
"The roster was handed over a few days ago, and it said that the Grand Cavalry needed 11,300 people." He continued, "Is it too many?"
Zhang Chun nodded.
"This is based on the old practice of Zhenhechu," he said, "but during Jianxing, the number was reduced to 6,800."
"Gu Xiang will be reduced again." Fang Bocong said, "His Majesty is still seriously ill and Prince Xuanwen has just been buried. It is not appropriate to overdo it. Gu Xiang can be reduced to 3,300 people."
Zhang Chun nodded.
Eunuch Jing, who was following behind, frowned slightly.
This sudden visit to Puxiu Temple, and the quiet visit of Zhang Chun, could it be that they were here to attend the canonization ceremony?
How many people are needed, how are the vehicles driven? The Liuyin Suzaku Team often talks about trivial matters such as a few routes, a few rows, a few people, etc. There is no need for the emperor or an important minister to talk about it, right?
What exactly are you going to say?
"...The Empress Dowager and the Queen follow the etiquette..."
Zhang Chun said earlier, when these words reached his ears, Eunuch Jing's heart skipped a beat and he suddenly realized.
It turns out that this is what I wanted to say.
He couldn't help but take two steps, lowered his head and listened carefully.
"The queen is ordered to line up with a yellow staff and a heavy Zhai chariot upon receiving the title, and congratulate and present gifts to the officials in the Zichen Palace." Zhang Chun continued.
Fang Bocong suddenly stopped.
"Why did Mr. Jiangzhou ask to see Gu in private today?" he said, interrupting Zhang Chun.
"I don't dare. His Highness summoned me." Zhang Chun said with a smile.
"I want to pray for His Majesty, but Mr. Jiangzhou has specifically come to Puxiu Temple." Fang Bocong said, turning to look at him, "Sir, I don't like to talk, but what I say is never nonsense."
Zhang Chun smiled and saluted.
Fang Bocong turned his head and continued walking.
"Ms. Cheng once saved your father?" he said suddenly.
"It's just a chance meeting," Zhang Chun said.
"A meal of kindness will be repaid, and a drop of water will be repaid by a spring. Sir, you are so virtuous." Fang Bocong said, "Sir's kindness has brought blessings not only to her, but also to many people, including Maoyuanshan brothers, and
solitary."
He looked at Zhang Chun as he spoke.
"Whatever she wants to do, just help her do it. This is the so-called repayment of kindness."
Zhang Chun smiled hurriedly and saluted.
"Your Highness is joking," he said. "I don't dare to take it seriously. I didn't do anything. I just acted according to my heart."
Fang Bocong smiled and said nothing. He stood still and looked up in front of him.
At this time, they had reached the stone tower behind Guanyin Hall.
The wind blows, and the copper bell on the tower makes a crisp sound.
"You all have true intentions, and so does Gu." Fang Bocong said, "It's just that you don't believe it."
Before Zhang Chun could speak, Fang Bocong raised his finger and pointed at the stone tower.
"When the tower was first built, it was tilted to the northwest," he said.
Zhang Chun was stunned for a moment and looked up.
Naturally, he knew the legend about the origin of the stone pagoda in Puxiu Temple, and he was not a foreigner who came to Beijing for the first time.
"...Some people questioned him at that time. Da Gong said that he would be right after a hundred years." He hesitated for a moment and then took over the topic.
Fang Bocong suddenly laughed and turned to look at him.
"...It's enough for a hundred years now. You can see that it's really correct now." He raised his voice and said with bright eyes.
Zhang Chun nodded.
"As long as you are not blind, you can see." Fang Bocong said, smiling slightly, "Even if you are blind, you can still listen to what others say."
Zhang Chun looked at him, smiled slightly and bowed his head to salute.
On the tenth day of October in the fourth year of Yonghe, Emperor Qianyuan abdicated, and his throne was crown prince Wei, who was renamed Yuan Tiansheng.
On October 11th, Emperor Tiansheng ascended the throne.
The daylight was bright, and Fang Bocong in the Qinzheng Hall looked at the gold book brought by the chamberlain.
"Emperor," the Queen Mother sitting aside said, "Do you really want to do this?"
Fang Bocong looked at the golden book.
"The Queen can also be canonized later." The Queen Mother continued.
As soon as he finished speaking, Fang Bocong raised his head and looked at her.
After the enthronement ceremony, the emperor's majesty gradually emerged.
The Queen Mother slightly avoided his sight.
"I don't mean anything else," she said, "I just thought that since she is ill now, I don't know if she can bear to go through the canonization ceremony. It may not be a good thing. Besides, how can she be canonized?"
Fang Bocong smiled.
"I will carry her to be sealed." He said, lowering his head, picking up the jade seal and covering the gold book heavily.
Now I grant the Cheng family the golden seal of the phoenix, the honor of the empress, who is of the same body as me, inherits the ancestral temple, mother of the world, and the people of the new era, I admire this.
…………………………………………
"Report!"
With smiles on their faces, the two teams of chamberlains each held the imperial edict, the golden book, the phoenix seal, the ceremonial dress, and the phoenix crown and walked out of the palace gate and walked slowly down the imperial street to announce it to the world.
On the second floor of the Immortal Residence, Su Xin stretched out her hands to cover her face and shed tears.
Don't worry, don't worry.
The door was pushed open.
"Miss Su Xin." A small yellow doorman came in with a smile and saluted her, "Please go back to the East Palace."
Su Xin turned around and ran out. Her eyes were blurred by tears and she couldn't see the road clearly. She bumped into the small yellow door and shopkeeper Wu who was coming over. Li Dashao and others stumbled downstairs amidst the murmur of caution.
Lady, lady.
……………………
"Report."
The gate of the East Palace was wide open, and the maids on both sides saluted in unison, watching as the servants passing the imperial edict filed in.
In the prince's bedroom, the door was opened and the bead curtain in the inner room was raised.
The maids in the room knelt down, stretched out their hands to take the golden phoenix seal gowns and phoenix crowns, kowtowed their thanks to the Holy Grace, then got up and walked slowly into the inner room.
The curtain in front of the bed was slowly opened, and the woman under the brocade quilt was lying peacefully with bright makeup and neat hair.
"Congratulations, empress."
The maids knelt down and saluted in unison, holding gold volumes, phoenix seals, gowns and phoenix crowns.
After three prostrations, he stood up and came forward, placing the golden book of phoenix seals next to Cheng Jiaoniang, and the phoenix crown of the dress was hung on a hanger nearby to be worn at the Queen's Ceremony tomorrow.
After doing all this, the maids bowed and left, leaving only two maids who were waiting closely.
"Are you going for a walk today?" one said, looking at the sky outside.
"Go ahead, Your Majesty has ordered that your daily routine should not be disrupted," another said.
"Isn't it a great day today?" said the first one with a smile.
"Why are you so happy? I heard that on the second day of your majesty and your concubine's wedding, your concubine got up as usual to practice archery." The one said with a smile.
They both started laughing.
"Go and pass the sedan chair." One said, walking towards the couch and preparing to help Cheng Jiaoniang up.
That one walked out. Before she reached the door, she heard a scream inside and a popping sound at the same time. She quickly looked back and saw the maid in the inner room fell to the ground, moving backwards with her hands on the ground.
, and the sound of ahhhh was still coming out of his mouth.
"What's wrong?" She rushed in and as soon as she looked at the bed, she also fell to the ground and let out a sharper scream.
"Someone, come here."
The maids and maids in the courtyard had not yet dispersed when they suddenly heard the shouts in the room, and their expressions suddenly changed.
No way?
They all know about the Crown Princess. It's been so long. Isn't it finally possible?
But at this time when I was canonized as a queen, does this mean that I am not blessed to be able to enjoy it?
It seems that this queen will have to choose someone else to be her.
Everyone hurriedly rushed into the room, but when they looked inside, they were all stunned.
The woman on the couch was slowly standing up.
Her movements were stiff, and she pushed herself up inch by inch. Her face was as pale as jade, and her eyes that were originally closed slowly opened and looked at the crowd. They were filled with white kernels and dotted with black pupils.
The people in the room suddenly screamed louder.
Some even stumbled out, while the rest either hugged each other or knelt down.
The noise almost overturned the house.
Along with this chaos, the eyes of the woman on the couch moved, the white eyes faded away, and the black pupils gradually condensed, but her entire face was as dull as her body.
