The court halls of the Great Zhou Dynasty suddenly became quiet in recent days. The civil and military officials who had jumped up because of the murder of Kang Zizhen some time ago suddenly became silent as if they were hibernating insects after learning about the case.
Maybe it’s because the weather is too hot. After June, the annual scorching day in the capital comes again. Officials may be tortured by the heat and have no interest in fighting. Or maybe it’s not the weather, but passion.
Then the refractory period came. After the big case was settled, many people felt their interest was dull and began to save energy for the next explosion.
Even the chief officials of the Zhengshitang have stopped recently. The three-day newspaper that could not be beaten before has quietly stopped. This even made Emperor Guo Chong feel a little uncomfortable. Suddenly, Prime Minister Lu and the others began to treat
The disadvantages of the new law were not mentioned at all? Suddenly he figured it out? He no longer used those annoying things to disgust himself? This change was too sudden, which made Guo Chong feel quite uncomfortable. So,
After a morning meeting, Guo Chong also specifically asked about the newspaper. Lu Zhongtian's answer was very perfunctory. He only said that things have been busy recently. Vice Minister Wu was busy with the relief work caused by the floods caused by the rainy season in the south. He himself also
Being busy with official documents and miscellaneous matters, the Ordinance Department should take the initiative to report the matters in the newspaper, so he did not do it for him.
Guo Chong felt that what he said was untrue. They were busy before. Didn't they report every three days? Why did they use busyness as an excuse now? Maybe it was his attitude that made them feel boring. Those newspapers were piled high into a mountain.
They didn't mention it publicly. They knew that they actually didn't like what they were doing, so they simply stopped.
No matter what the reason is, Guo Chong does not want to delve too deeply into it. The rare peace in the court is precious. In the past few years since he sat on the throne, Guo Chong has never had a moment of peace. Now that the new law is being advanced in an orderly manner, Yan Zhengshu and Fang Dunru
He would not come to the palace every day to annoy himself. Lu Zhongtian and Wu Chunlai did not need to report to him to disgust him. Yang Jun would not come to the house even if there was no important matter. If he wanted to see him, he would have to send someone to invite him. In this case, why not enjoy it?
This rare quiet time.
One afternoon, Guo Chong took a nap and felt full of energy. So he took his servants for a stroll in the harem. Although the weather was hot, the flowers and trees in the harem were dense and well-watered, so the sun was blocked by thick shade and the flowers were in full bloom. Walking in the harem, Chang
In the corridor, it didn't feel too hot.
Guo Chong originally wanted to go to Rongxiu Palace to talk to Concubine Rong. Although Concubine Rong was no longer as beautiful and attractive as those young concubines, Concubine Rong's identity was out there and he couldn't ignore her. He ignored Concubine Rong.
The concubine will make the queen mother unhappy. Even if she goes to walk around, talk, and express her attitude, it is still a gesture.
However, Guo Chong changed his mind halfway through. Concubine Rong had been a little uneasy recently. He went to see her a few days ago. When he talked to her, she was a little absent-minded and her answers were wrong. Let Guo Chong
Chong was a little unhappy. If she went there today, if she was still like that, her good mood would be gone. Concubine Rong didn't talk much to begin with, and she was very formal when talking to herself. To put it bluntly, she was a bit boring. If
If you want to relax, it’s better to go to Mei Fei’s place. Mei Fei is quirky and funny and makes people happy. She is completely different from his father Lu Zhongtian. Although he is not young anymore, he is still as cute as before. Go talk to her
Going there is obviously more in line with today’s leisurely mood.
To the northwest of Yanfu Palace in the harem, there is an artificial hill on the side of the northwest lake. In the flat terrain of the Imperial Palace, this artificial hill is the highest. There is a Cuiwei Hall built on the hill, which is Mei Guifei.
of residence.
Logically speaking, it is somewhat illegal for Concubine Mei's bedroom to be located on the hill at the highest point of the palace. It is not allowed for a concubine to live on a higher ground than the palace where the emperor, queen and even the queen mother live. In fact, the Cuiwei Palace was originally
It was the residence of the former Empress Dowager. It was left idle after the death of the old Empress Dowager. No one of the concubines dared to propose living in Cuiwei Palace. After Guo Chong ascended the throne, no one lived in this palace. Until one day Concubine Mei said that her bedroom was
The ventilation was poor, the winter was damp and cold, and the summer was unbearably hot. It was really uncomfortable to live there. Guo Chong asked her where she wanted to live, and Mei Fei said she wanted to live in Cuiwei Hall. Guo Chong agreed to her without thinking too much.
This incident also caused some minor turmoil in the harem. Some people say that this is because Concubine Mei wants to be superior to the queen in the harem and suppress the queen and Concubine Rong from Feng Shui. She wants to overlook the world of the harem mother. These
When the words reached Guo Chong's ears, Guo Chong laughed it off. In fact, the Cuiwei Hall had no advantages other than the higher terrain. The ground on the top of the mountain was narrow and the palace was not big. There were only seven or eight pavilions and courtyards in the side halls of the main hall and other buildings.
The palaces are simply incomparable. Guo Chong does not believe in the theory of Feng Shui suppression. He believes that where Mei Fei lives is really because the people living there are uncomfortable, not anything else.
But Mei Fei is really a clever person. After he lived in Cuiwei Hall, the top of the small hill has changed. Although the palace cannot be expanded, Mei Fei has done a lot on the side slopes of the hill.
.She changed the stone steps going up the mountain into a path that goes around the hillside. Along the path, she built Fanying, Xuexiang, Pifang, Qianhua, Qionghua, Wenqi, Jiangcalyx, Hongluan, and Green at appropriate locations.
Qi and other nine pavilions. Just by hearing these names, you can tell how much care she put into it.
Then there is the greening. Each pavilion has its own scene, and the flowers and trees planted are also different. For example, five-color flowers are planted outside Fanying Pavilion, and colorful flowers such as peonies, peonies, roses, and camellias are concentrated on the paths above and below the pavilion.
It means 'flowers blooming like brocade and fallen flowers blooming', which coincides with the name of 'Fanying Pavilion'. Another example is Pifang Pavilion on the west side of the mountain, facing the northwest lake in the west. Although the place is small, it can be used cleverly to cross the palace.
Seeing the angle of the shore of Northwest Lake, the wall ordered people to plant weeping willows all over the northwest lake. When sitting in the pavilion for a nap, you can see the pleasant scenery of thousands of silk ribbons draped in fragrant green. This shows that he acted according to the situation and was unique in ingenuity.
The place of luck.
The rest of the pavilions are also carefully designed and arranged, which coincides with the theme of the name of the pavilion. On the short two-circle route up the mountain, it can be said that the scenery changes with every step, and the winding paths lead to secluded areas. Every time you walk, the scenery changes.
Each one is different, turning an ordinary artificial hill into an exquisite place with excellent scenery.
Guo Chong was greatly impressed by this and came here a lot more often. What he appreciated was Concubine Mei's ingenuity. Although it cost a lot of money, the beautiful scenery was worth it.
Accompanied by his chamberlain, Guo Chong slowly walked along the path to the Cuiwei Hall on the top of the mountain, admiring the beautiful scenery along the way. Every time he came, this place seemed different. Although it was the hot summer season, it didn't help.
No matter what method, the flowers and trees on the mountain path here are still thriving, and there is no sign of withering.
Finally, Guo Chong and others reached the top of the mountain, rested for a while in Green Qi Pavilion, and walked towards the small square in front of Cuiwei Hall. The weather was hot, and the two chamberlains in front of Cuiwei Hall were dozing off with their heads tilted. Chan De, who was accompanying them,
Lu wanted to raise his hand to wake up the two lazy people, but Guo Chong stopped him.
"It's not easy to be on duty in the palace. I have to take care of them morning and night. It's very hard. If I can sleep in this weather, I must have stayed up all night to be on duty last night. I am considerate of people and teach them to sleep. Afterwards,
There is no need to reprimand them," Guo Chong said.
Qian Delu almost cried. It was a great reward for the emperor to sympathize with the hard work of the slaves. Qian Delu himself was one of Guo Chong's personal servants. He knew the hard work. Qian Delu could only sleep without sleep every day.
For three hours, you still have to be energetic in front of the emperor. If you are not careful, you may be at fault, and all your hard work to get to where you are today will be gone.
Guo Chong took Qian Delu and others directly into the Cuiwei Hall. Because the servant in front of the door fell asleep, no one reported it. In the afternoon, the slaves also rested in different shifts. It was a hot day, so few people wandered around in the corridor.
No one was encountered along the way, and everyone headed directly to the residence of Concubine Mei in the apse.
Entering the small courtyard in the back hall where Concubine Mei lived, it was quiet here. When the two maids in the corridor saw the arrival of the holy driver, they were so frightened that they knelt down and saluted. Guo Chong waved his hand and asked in a low voice: "Where is the empress? Are you taking a nap?"
But don’t disturb her, I’ll go in and sit down.”
A palace maid hurriedly said: "Your Majesty is not sleeping, please go in and report."
Guo Chong asked: "Why didn't you sleep? Doesn't your mother-in-law like to take naps?"
Another palace maid hurriedly said: "Prince Huai is here and is chatting with the queen."
Guo Chong said oh, walked to the door and listened. He heard what seemed to be people talking and laughing inside, so he smiled. His second son, Huai Wang Guo Xu, was quite satisfactory to him. He also knew that he often came to talk to his mother and was filial.
Guo Xu is very good. He can be said to be both civilized and military. He is also famous for being a virtuous man, and he is smart and knows etiquette. He also led troops and fought on the border between the Zhou Dynasty and the Liao Kingdom, and won praises and reputations from above and below. Guo Chong has always been very fond of him.
He also liked it very much and often took him with him to drive him around and give him some personal teachings. So when he heard that Guo Xu was here, Guo Chong immediately wanted to go in.
Suddenly, the sound of mother and son laughing could be heard inside. They were laughing very wildly, which was completely different from the laughter that Guo Xu and Mei Fei had in front of him. Guo Chong stopped and thought to himself: Usually they laugh in front of him.
He had never laughed so loudly in front of me. It seemed that he was afraid of himself and had restrained himself. By going in, he had disturbed the conversation between his mother and his son. It would be better to sit outside and wait for the two of them to talk more about each other.
So, don’t be constrained by going in by yourself.
So Guo Chong quietly ordered someone to move a stool and sit outside the curtain outside the room to wait. Qian Delu and the palace ladies had no choice but to wait silently. They brought herbal tea for Guo Chong to drink to quench his thirst. They tiptoed and didn't dare to
Make a sound.
In the inner room, Concubine Mei and her son seemed to be talking about some interesting topic and kept laughing. Guo Chong listened to every word outside the curtain and smiled from time to time. Guo Xu was talking about something about his grandfather Lu Zhongtian.
This must have been asked by Concubine Mei. Concubine Mei was concerned about her old father, so she might have asked Guo Xu to move around more, so that when he came to see her, he could talk about his parents' family affairs, so as to relieve the pain of missing him.
"Mother concubine, my grandfather is in good health and in good spirits, but he sometimes gets confused. It is said that he was thirsty when he was painting a few days ago. He reached out to drink the herbal tea brought by the maid, and ended up emptying the inkstone.
I drank a lot of ink, which made my mouth full of black ink. I asked him how it tasted that day, and he clucked his lips and said, "It tastes pretty good." He also suggested that I give it a try. Tell me, is it right?
Is it funny?" came Guo Xu's voice.
"Hahaha, oh, my dad, I have been like this all my life. Sometimes I am so focused on doing things that I forget about things outside my body. What's so good about ink? Dad, why are you still so confused? Why are you still so confused?
I suggest you drink it. Have you drank it? Don’t listen to him stupidly." Mei Fei said with a smile.
"Mother and concubine, I don't think my grandfather is stupid. I think my grandfather is reminding me to study more. Asking me to drink ink, isn't it just asking me to study more? My grandfather must be saving face for me and not wanting to be direct.
I pointed it out, so I used this to remind me that I have indeed read less. I really need to study more in the future. I am going to invite some great scholars to come to the house to teach me. If you don’t study, you will not understand. If you don’t read enough,
I don’t understand many things at all, so I have to work hard,” Guo Xu said.
"Well, I, Xu'er, am very good. I really need to study more. You like to dance with guns and sticks when you are urinating, but you don't know that my most important thing is academics. You are right to work hard in this area. Mom is very happy."
Mei Fei smiled and said,
Guo Chong, who was sitting outside, also smiled and secretly praised him. Maybe Lu Zhongtian was just teasing him casually and did not imply that Guo Xu wanted to study, but Guo Xu could realize this on his own, which shows that he has very high requirements for himself.
Xu rarely has the arrogance and coquettishness of a prince, which is far inferior to Guo Mian. Although Guo Mian has read more than Guo Xu in terms of talent and learning, he is far inferior to Guo Xu in terms of knowledge and understanding.
"Mother, concubine, what has your father been busy with recently? I haven't seen my father for a long time. I have many things to do now, and my father is tired every day. As his son, I can't share his worries. I feel really ashamed and guilty.
pole."
"Xu'er, if you have such a heart, your father will be very happy to know it. Yes, the emperor has been very tired and nervous recently. Those people below and the things in the court are very troublesome. He has lost weight.
A lot, and there are a lot more gray hairs on the head. Your second uncle and the others also didn't let your father calm down, and they caused those things some time ago. Your father was angry and sad. Tell me, why do these people do this?
Why don't you look forward to a good week? You have to work endlessly to do anything. When the week is over, aren't everyone doing well? Xu'er, you should go see your father and ask for some errands. Don't be like other people
They only know how to eat, drink and have fun, and they lie on the big tree like Da Zhou like vampires sucking blood, but they don’t know how to protect Da Zhou. If the tree falls and the hozens scatter, no one will have a good life."
"My mother's words are serious, right? How come the tree fell and the hozens dispersed? Even if I am a tree, it is a tree with deep roots and flourishing leaves. It will not fall. I don't know what happens to others, but
If I were here, I would work with my father to support the giant tree of Zhou Dynasty from falling, and to shade the world forever." Guo Xu's voice was decisive.
"My son is so ambitious. Your father will be extremely happy to know your thoughts. My prince, if they all think like you do, what else do we have to worry about in Zhou Dynasty? What does your father have to worry about? It's a pity that they don't
Not everyone is like you. Why is your father suffering from weight loss and having frequent gray hair? You don’t know what happened to them. Take the matter of your second uncle as an example. Do you know how bad this has caused?
Influence. Your second uncle killed Kang Zizhen out of anger. The officials at all levels were very angry, and your father was also very angry. This was a blatant contempt for the law and the court. But what can be done? The Queen Mother came out to speak,
Your father is an extremely filial person, so he had to settle for a less painful punishment. Those ministers were not convinced. Although your father knew this, there was nothing he could do about it. Sometimes
I feel really aggrieved for your father. Alas!" Concubine Mei sighed.
Guo Chong frowned. The conversation between mother and son involved government affairs, and Guo Chong did not want to hear it. The harem was not allowed to interfere with government affairs. Although Concubine Mei said these things, they were right, but they were inappropriate.
"Concubine, I don't know if you know something, and I don't know if I should tell you." Guo Xu said softly.
"What are you hiding in front of me? Do you want to hide anything from your mother?" Mei Fei said angrily.
"No, no, no, I don't dare. I think this matter might cause trouble, so I don't want to create any trouble."
"There are only two of us here, mother and son, what kind of trouble will there be? That's it."
"According to the order of the mother and concubine. What I want to talk about is the case of the second uncle's murder of Kang Zizhen. I heard that the reason why my father dealt with it this time was because the emperor's grandmother came forward to plead for my second uncle.
"Guo Xu said in a deep voice.
"Do you need to say this? I have known about this for a long time. If the Queen Mother had not stepped forward, how could this matter have been settled like this? Your father is no longer a human being inside and outside." Mei Fei said angrily.
"Concubine, do you know why the Imperial Grandma came forward? We all know what the Imperial Grandma is, and she is strictly opposed to the harem interfering with the court. The Imperial Grandma has always been virtuous and holy, and it is impossible for her not to know about this.
This matter is detrimental to the dignity of the father, and it is impossible not to know that this matter has set a very bad precedent. In fact, anyone with a discerning eye knows that the second uncle's murder of Kang Zizhen was because of the new law. It is impossible for the father to do so.
Spare him. It's impossible for Grandma Huang not to know this. If she says that she is protecting her second uncle, I don't believe it. Before the national law, Grandma Huang will never stand in a position to violate national law." Guo Xuchen.
vocal tract.
"Yes, the Queen Mother has always been wise. Regarding your second uncle, at first we thought she would not speak out. But in the end she did speak out, which surprised us all. Someone told me that day that the Emperor was
We even had a dispute with the Queen Mother. This has never happened since I married your father. So, I am also a little surprised." Concubine Mei said.
"That's where the problem lies. I heard that someone went to see Grandma Huang the night before. I thought it must be because of this. Grandma Huang was persuaded by the lobbyist, so she came forward to speak.
"
"Oh? You mean, someone went to express love to the Queen Mother? So the Queen Mother came forward for this matter?" Mei Fei said in surprise.
"That's exactly what I think. The lobbyist must have been entrusted by my second uncle and wanted to use the help of the emperor's grandmother to reduce the punishment. Everyone in the world knows that my father is most filial to the emperor's grandmother. If the emperor's grandmother comes out to speak, my father will
It’s impossible for the emperor not to listen.”
"Who is that? Who is so bold? How dare you secretly intercede after such a thing? Is it the princess? Or someone else?" Mei Fei said angrily.
"Concubine, as far as I know, the princess and the prince's son-in-law Lin Jue arrived in Beijing by boat in the middle of the night. A few days later, someone from our palace secretly left the palace and met the princess in the theater in the south city of the Jiangnan Grand Theater. You
Who guessed the princess?" Guo Xu said.
"How could I guess that? Come on, don't sell yourself off. Do you want to rush me to death?" Mei Fei said angrily.
"Concubine, the one who left the palace is Concubine Rong. She left the palace incognito and went to the Nancheng Theater. She said she was watching a show, but in fact her real purpose was to see the princess."
"What? Is it her? How did you know it was her?" Mei Fei asked in shock.
"Although Concubine Rong was in disguise, she got out of the car on the road and bought food on the street. Just like that, she was discovered by people from the Imperial City Department." Guo Xu said in a deep voice.
Concubine Mei was silent for a moment and said coldly: "I understand. Although the princess did not go to the palace to plead for mercy in person, she did plead to the Queen Mother through Concubine Rong. Needless to say, the person who went to the Queen Mother to plead for mercy must be Concubine Rong. No wonder,
I asked why the Queen Mother agreed to speak out. It turned out that she was interceding for others. She was the one who hurt the Queen Mother the most. She was the Queen Mother's biological niece. The Queen Mother could not open her eyes with laughter when she saw her. If she had begged for mercy.
, How could the Queen Mother not allow it? Well, they did this behind the scenes and kept us all in the dark. Concubine Rong is interfering in the government's affairs. She is the one who broke the rules."
Guo Xu said softly: "What the mother-in-law said is absolutely right. This is what happened. In order to deceive others, they used curves to intercede. In fact, it is okay to ask someone to intercede. It is also human nature. But the method they used
But it has ulterior motives. Putting pressure on the Queen Mother is itself disrespectful to the father. Taking advantage of the father's weakness to achieve his goals is even more despicable. That case is secondary, this way of doing things and the scheming are the most serious.
of."
Concubine Mei said angrily: "I want to report this to the emperor. I'm afraid the emperor doesn't know what's going on here. Fortunately you know, otherwise we would all be kept in the dark. Is the relationship between Concubine Rong and the palace so good?
She actually came forward for them at this time? Didn't Concubine Rong have no contact with Shen Akui for a long time? After all, they had a close friendship. She came to intercede for Shen Akui at the critical moment. Huh, even the emperor was deceived, and it was in vain that the emperor treated her like that.
good."
"Mother and concubine, it's better not to report this matter to your father. I'm not hiding this matter deliberately. I don't want my father to be in a bad mood. My father must be very unhappy when he learns about this matter. And this matter... my father...
I always feel that something is strange. The relationship between Concubine Rong and the palace should not be to the point of taking risks for them. After the second uncle's case came out, everyone was afraid to avoid it. Why did she come forward for this matter? I suffered from not knowing that they were there.
What was discussed in the Jiangnan Grand Theater may have some exchange conditions. Or maybe there is some mutual agreement." Guo Xu pondered.
"My son doesn't know that Shen Akui and Concubine Rong were good sisters back then, and they had a very good relationship. In the middle... there are other things, which I can't tell you. I always feel that there is something between Concubine Rong and the palace.
