When he got up in the morning, Sheng Hong couldn't help but mutter: "Shan Zhang and A Luo should be arriving in the capital soon!"
Xie Mingxi's expression was gentle, with a gentle light shining in her eyes: "How can it be so fast? Master is old and A'luo is still young. I warned in the letter that there is no need to rush. Everything is safe. Say less.
It will take more than a month to get to the capital."
Lian Shuyuan personally led two thousand Shu soldiers to escort Gu Shanchang and A Luo back to the capital.
Zhou Quan had been eagerly awaiting the return of his beloved wife a month ago.
Three days after the couple got married, Lian Shuyuan went to the military camp. A few days later, Lian Shuyuan led the Shu soldiers to the Shu land. The couple got together less and separated more, eagerly waiting to be reunited.
Xie Mingxi and Sheng Hong were also waiting anxiously. They were almost counting the days.
After the emperor and empress were dressed neatly, they went to Cining Palace to pay their respects to Empress Dowager Li.
After Empress Dowager Yu fell ill, Empress Dowager Li was in a happy mood and her health was getting better day by day. Now she can walk around the palace without anyone's support.
When the emperor and empress arrived at Cining Palace, Empress Dowager Li was strolling under the eaves.
Sheng Hong smiled and stepped forward quickly, holding Empress Dowager Li's arm: "Why didn't Grandmother get up so early when she didn't sleep for a while?"
Empress Dowager Li's forehead was full of wrinkles like chrysanthemums. She grinned and said, "The Ai family is old and can't sleep, so I just got up early and walked around. Ming Xi also said that walking around more will be good for the Ai family's health."
His speech is still intermittent and not very fluent. However, from being unable to speak a word to now stumbling over a few words, his progress is very obvious.
As he spoke, he looked at Xie Mingxi, his eyes soft and loving.
Xie Mingxi stepped forward with a smile and held Empress Dowager Li's other arm: "My grandma's body is getting stronger and stronger, and my granddaughter-in-law feels happy in her heart."
Empress Dowager Li, with the support of the Empress, slowly walked around under the eaves of the corridor, and asked as usual: "Is the Queen Mother's body feeling better?"
Xie Mingxi deliberately sighed softly: "The envoy from the Zhao Yuan said that my mother has become ill with worries and her mood fluctuates from time to time, which is not good for her recovery. After this month, she has not improved, but there are some signs of serious illness."
"My granddaughter-in-law is also very worried!"
Several daughters-in-law took turns to "take care of the illness", and from time to time they would say something to prick the heart of Empress Dowager Yu. How could Empress Dowager Yu be able to relax and recuperate?
It’s good if you don’t get mad to death!
Empress Dowager Li was very happy to hear this. She grinned even higher and sighed: "There is nothing here in the Ai family. You can go to Fulin Palace and have a look, and let the imperial doctor take good care of the empress dowager."
Having died a hundred times, living a life worse than death is the greatest torture.
Xie Mingxi pretended not to hear the viciousness in Empress Dowager Li's words and agreed with a smile.
…
The emperor and empress left Cining Palace and went to Fulin Palace.
Fulin Palace was filled with the unique bitter medicinal smell, mixed with the scent of sandalwood that expels dampness, forming a strong and indescribable smell.
Queen Mother Yu's eyes were dim and she looked sick, lying on the bed helplessly.
When the emperor arrived, Xiao Yuhan and others immediately moved away from the bed and watched the drama that was going on every day.
"Mother, are you feeling better today?" Queen Xie's voice was soft and her face was filled with concern.
Immediately afterwards, Emperor Sheng Hong asked with filial piety and concern: "Has the queen drank the medicine in the morning? My sons and ministers are waiting for the queen to drink the medicine."
The two most disgusted faces dangled in front of his eyes, and their "concerned" voices kept ringing in his ears. To Empress Dowager Yu, this was like a punishment. The punishment was not severe, and it was far from fatal.
However, I always come here once a day.
Like a dull knife cutting flesh.
Empress Dowager Yu had a habitual surge of energy and blood. She did not cooperate with the empress's interest in acting and simply closed her eyes.
The emperor and empress didn't show the slightest hint of embarrassment, and just stayed by the bed, continuing to whisper comfort.
When Queen Mother Yu was disgusted enough, Sheng Hongcai said: "My son, I will go to court first. When you are free after the court is over, I will come back to accompany my mother."
The emperor left, but Queen Xie did not leave. She stayed for an extra hour to burn incense. She summoned the envoy from Zhao Yuan and other imperial doctors to ask about his illness.
All in all, it has done a good job of showing off. No one can find anything wrong with it.
Yin Xiaoxiao didn't know what others thought, but she had already admired Xie Mingxi so much.
If it were her, she wouldn't have such a wealthy and acting skills.
Xie Mingxi asked Xiao Yuhan softly: "Did the imperial sister enter the palace today?"
Xiao Yuhan quickly glanced at Queen Mother Yu and responded softly: "The Gu and Zhao families are busy getting married these days. The imperial sister has not entered the palace for several days."
When she heard Princess Changping's name, the veins on Queen Mother Yu's forehead jumped. Soon, she turned her head to the inside expressionlessly.
Zhao Changqing and Yin Xiaoxiao exchanged knowing glances.
Due to Gu Shujin's marriage, Princess Changping and Queen Mother Yu were completely divorced. A month ago, Queen Mother Yu was so angry that her illness worsened. After that, every time Princess Changping entered the palace, Queen Mother Yu refused to see her.
After Princess Changping was rejected several times, she entered the palace less and less.
Liu Yushi took a long sick leave, and the officials who were attached to the Yu family were almost completely dispersed. The defection of the Gu family was also a heavy blow to the Queen Mother Yu. At this point, the Queen Mother Yu had almost no influence on the court.
In the harem, Xie Mingxi was also very clever. He first sent Empress Dowager Yu's men out of the palace, and then selected young and outstanding female officials to enter the palace.
There were already female officials in the palace to help manage the harem. However, the rank of female officials was not high, and all the power came from those in power. It was a bit like the stewardess in the backyard of the inner house.
Nowadays, Xie Mingxi has set up six bureaus and one department in the harem, including Shang Gong, Shang Yi, Shang Fu, etc. to assist her in managing the palace. The female officials in charge of the six bureaus and one department all have formal official positions. Among them, the highest official position is the fifth rank Shang Gong.
The selection of female officials was all handled by Xie Mingxi. The establishment of six bureaus and one department was also personally handled by Xie Mingxi. With the emperor's full support, the matter went smoothly and did not cause much criticism in the court.
As the matron of the house, she can choose the housekeeper as she wants. It is also the matron's duty to improve her rank and earn more wages. It is not the turn of the courtiers to make irresponsible remarks.
Of course, there were some people with keen intuition and sense of smell who noticed something strange. However, at most, they thought that Queen Xie promoted and appointed "new people" in order to suppress Queen Mother Yu.
No one would have thought that the emperor would replace his eunuchs with female officials.
The courtiers at this time would never have imagined what would happen a few years later.
The outstanding female officials in the palace closely surrounded the first empress of Da Qi, forming a force with huge influence on the court.
The Da Qi Dynasty, known as the "Prosperous Age of Industry" by later generations, began in the second year of Jianye!
