With the exception of a few people involved in the series of disturbances that occurred on New Year's Eve and the first day of the Lunar New Year, officials from both the DPRK and China avoided talking about them, whether they were paying routine New Year greetings or visiting relatives, and even never mentioned these matters. Even those few
As a royal censor, their relatives and friends all kept a distance from them, even their colleagues who had worked with them to attack Zhao Guogong Zhu Jing and his son.
Being treated like this, being alienated and even isolated, the censors were naturally flustered and resentful. They naturally hugged each other tightly, and at the same time hoped that the person who gave them such an idea would come up with the next step.
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And on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the backup plan they had been waiting for finally came. Zhang Shou, Zhu Ying and Princess Yongping were born on the same day in the same year, the same month, and this news that only a few people knew was almost like a whirlwind.
It spread throughout the capital, and its meaning shocked countless people.
Although the officialdom is temporarily calm, and few people will discuss the news when they meet, the common people are not so aware. This kind of thing is that the law does not punish the public, and the law cannot stop rumors, regardless of those who whisper.
Its number.
"It's not just three people who were born on the same day! I heard that Dr. Zhang from the Imperial College, the eldest daughter of Duke Zhao and Princess Yongping were all born on the same day and in the same place! Brother, if you are older, Yongping
What happened on the Mid-Autumn Festival on the fifteenth day of August in the tenth year of Chen?"
"Hey, you're right to ask me! You were young at the time, so you didn't know that when the common people rebelled on the Mid-Autumn Festival, the whole capital was in chaos. It's hard to guarantee that something messy happened on that day... Speaking of which, the same thing happened on the same day.
Born on the same day, if the three children hold each other in the wrong arms... bah bah, brother, just pretend that I didn’t say anything and just forget about it!"
"Brother, don't be so taboo, there's no one else here! Considering the caution of the palace and Duke Zhao's government, it's definitely impossible to get the wrong child. Let me tell you, a marriage with such a huge disparity in family status is not guaranteed.
It was decided because of the fate of being born on the same day. But why Dr. Zhang and the eldest daughter of the Zhu family? Maybe it’s Princess Yongping and Dr. Zhang?"
"Huh? That makes sense! I heard that when the emperor chose his son-in-law before, he wanted to choose two consorts and two guests of honor. But after the final news came out, there was only one consort and two guests of honor. Princess Yongping suddenly
Not getting married... Could it be that the eldest lady of the Zhu family, who is more domineering and domineering than the princess princess, has snatched away the consort Princess Yongping had chosen in the early years? "
When such rumors gradually spread into various mansions, and even into the inner gardens of the palace, the reactions of each family were completely different. In Zhao Guogong's mansion, before the Imperial Academy started school, Zhang Shou came and went as usual, and Zhu Ying
As usual, I often went next door to visit the Wu family and discuss how to renovate the Luwang Villa.
Mrs. Tai and Jiuniang did not even forbid the servants from discussing this matter. Both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law knew that it was possible to prohibit it on the surface, but privately the discussion might be more severe. In this case, it was better to ignore it.
Of course, the attitude of the two was so open-minded, but it was because Zhu Ying came back with joy on the night of the first day of the first lunar month. While conveying Ge Yong's clear protective attitude, he also told them Zhang Shou's words with joy. After learning that the children were indeed
They are in love, and of course they have nothing to worry about anymore.
Compared with the stability and peace of Zhao Guogong's palace, the Yonghe Palace of Concubine Yu in the palace is really dark clouds that are about to destroy the city. Since the incident in Yongchen ten years ago, the straightforward but stubborn Jiu Niang Dun
After entering Zhaoming Temple, Concubine Yu changed from being lively and cheerful to being taciturn, which inevitably affected Princess Yongping.
Therefore, when the news came to Yonghe Palace, because Concubine Yu and Princess Yongping had a harmonious relationship with their mother and daughter, the two chamberlains and most of the palace people all tacitly concealed the news from them. But after all, paper could not cover the fire.
, first Princess Yongping heard the news from Princess Deyang because the palace maid leaked it, and then Concubine He who came to visit broke this layer of paper to Concubine Yu.
When Princess Yongping came back, what she saw was her mother dressed in sapphire blue, carrying a sword, and looking heroic...or rather murderous. At that moment, she, who was used to seeing her mother with a sad face and a gloomy look, simply couldn't bear it.
I feel like I'm in the wrong place.
Seeing her return, several palace officials who had been blocking Yufei were relieved. One of them hurriedly rushed towards her, knelt down and begged: "Princess, please give me some advice, Princess Yu.
She said...she said she was going to Kunning Palace to seek justice!"
"Mom, do you also think that it is the Queen who is stirring up trouble and causing trouble behind the scenes?"
Without looking at the frightened palace man, Princess Yongping stared at her mother, and then Concubine Yu smiled at her: "Mingyue, do you think I am really a Bodhisattva who doesn't care about anything? This is ridiculous.
Besides that woman, who else could use this trick? I’ve tolerated her for so many years, but she really thinks I’m a bully?”
Concubine Yu casually swung her hand, causing several of the palace men who were blocking her to stagger. She flicked the sword lightly, and her face showed a sharpness that she had never seen in these years: "I tolerate her, but it's just
In order to seek peace and quiet, so as not to displease the Queen Mother and worry the Emperor, she has become more and more domineering! I have not been cultivating my character over the years, but I just don’t want to lose everything!"
"My son has not been raised well. It was because she had a crooked upper beam and a crooked lower beam. Now she is accusing you of having problems with your life experience. She has such a face!" How were the soldiers of the common people drawn to her and her back then?
In the temple where Jiuniang offered incense, was there really no guessing when it came to measuring her? You must know that the emperor and Zhao Guogong Zhu Jing accompanied them there on an impromptu basis!
In the past, when a palace servant in the Yonghe Palace secretly discussed the queen, Concubine Yu would step in to stop her. But now she actually explicitly accused the queen of being immoral. Naturally, everyone below was dumbfounded. However, after the initial accident, Princess Yongping tolerated it.
I couldn't help but laugh. Not to mention the anger I felt today, even the grievances I felt before seemed to have disappeared.
Without thinking, she strode forward and held her mother's sword-holding hand tightly with both hands: "Mom, I know you are unfair for me! However, going to Kunning Palace like this will make it difficult for your father. How about that?
How about you show me how to dance the sword in front of the Yonghe Palace? After all these years, in fact, I envy Zhu Ying the most for nothing else. It is her good riding, archery, and martial arts! Even if I have learned it, I dare not use it!"
Concubine Yu suddenly raised her eyebrows. She stared at Princess Yongping with complicated eyes for a long time, and finally nodded and said: "Okay! But Yonghe Palace is too small, you go and change clothes, and we go to the Imperial Garden! Some pampered Huahua
Cao Cao, I haven’t tolerated it for a long time!”
When Princess Yongping changed into a riding costume and came out, holding a sword in hand and following Concubine Yu out of the gate of Yonghe Palace, several palace servants and chamberlains looked at each other for a moment, and the leading maid immediately hurried to Qianqing Palace.
At this time, we can only count on the emperor to persuade the empress who wants to show off her power!
The people in Yonghe Palace were certainly relieved that Concubine Yu did not name Kunning Palace, but there was a clump of rare peonies that Queen Kunning Palace loved growing in the imperial garden! If Concubine Yu really said what she said just now, she would have What's the difference between killing these empresses and directly confronting Kunning Palace?
The eldest maid of Yonghe Palace rushed to Qianqing Gate to report the news. When the emperor learned about Concubine Yu's abnormal behavior, he was slightly stunned at first, and then laughed: "I thought her temperament has become increasingly peaceful over the years. , I didn’t expect that the passion was just suppressed in my heart. Don’t worry that she will destroy the flowers and plants in the imperial garden, she is not someone who vents her anger on external things!”
"With that skill, she will definitely smash the Kunning Gate first!"
Having said that, the emperor still stood up without thinking. He had already guessed that when Concubine Yu said these words and made such a gesture, she did not really want to smash the Kunning Gate, or in the Imperial Garden. He is causing a huge commotion, obviously to lure the Queen out of Kunning Palace. If he doesn't go now... he will probably have to face a big trouble when he comes back!
Sure enough, when the emperor arrived at the Imperial Garden, which he did not often go to on weekdays - after all, there were often concubines and palace people who liked to wait there, waiting to meet him by chance - he heard the sharp scolding of the queen inside at the door. .
"Concubine Yu, you clearly know that this top-quality Guan Qunfang plant belongs to me, yet you still use a sword to chop off the branches and leaves. Do you still have any rules? What's your intention?"
"It is true that this Guan Qun Fang is a rare and famous product in the imperial garden, but why does the Queen say that it is yours? This flower was not planted in Kunning Palace, and there is no sign on it saying that it belongs to the Queen. Idle people retreat, I am just dancing with the sword here with Mingyue, could it be that I have violated the palace rules?"
Princess Yongping had never seen her mother, who was always kind to others and silent and patient in front of the queen, have such a sharp and prickly side!
At that moment, she had been trying her best to imitate Yu Fei, hoping to be more like Yu Fei's daughter, but she couldn't help but feel confused. She just felt that her consistent imitation was to draw a tiger instead of a dog, as if it was a joke.
The queen also didn't expect that Concubine Yu, who had been keeping her own rules all these years, would dare to talk back to her. She was so angry that she was shaking all over: "What a sharp-tongued Concubine you are! This crown of beauty is a tribute from other places. The Queen Mother rewarded Kunning Palace." Yes, this matter has been documented, how can I allow you to quibble! You can't go anywhere with a sword, but you have to do it in front of this crown of beauty. Aren't the branches and leaves all over the place evidence?"
"In the whole world, is it the land of the king? On the shore of the land, is it the king's ministers. From the people to the land, everything in the world belongs to the emperor. Is it possible that this is not the case when it comes to the palace? In the palace, people and things are all there. , it is all owned by the emperor, how can there be any private property? Otherwise, wouldn’t the concubines in the palace be able to take the so-called private property to support their parents’ family?”
Concubine Yu nodded calmly, and when she saw the queen's expression turned cold, she couldn't help but smile.
Over the years, the empress's family has been deteriorating, but she can still use money to support the eldest prince, the eldest son of the emperor who has the best chance of taking over the East Palace. Where did the money come from? Didn't the empress secretly send those imperial guards in the early years to provide for Kun? Ning Gong's jewelry and even porcelain were sent to her natal family in the name of rewards, and then her natal family mortgaged these things to buy property and operate it for profit?
However, Concubine Yu did not finish her words: "As for the Queen's wife saying that I chopped down this crown so that it was full of branches and leaves, that would be even more ridiculous. Why not ask a gardener to identify it and see if it was blown down by the wind?"
Are they the branches and leaves, or are they the branches and leaves I cut with my sword? Are they the branches and leaves on other flowers and plants, or are they the branches and leaves on this crown of flowers, the queen of yours?"
The queen's face suddenly turned red. She hurried over after hearing the news, and sparing flowers was the next best thing. Taking this opportunity to hit Concubine Yu severely was the real purpose. But she never expected that she would actually fall into
Trap!
Seeing that the corners of Princess Yongping's mouth turned up as she stood behind Concubine Yu, as if she was mocking her for stealing the chicken but losing the rice, she was immediately furious. She didn't remember any taboos or restraints at the moment, so she spoke without hesitation.
"You have a sharp tongue that confuses right and wrong! But no matter how eloquent you are, you can't hide it from me! Not to mention that you, the woman from the Zhu family, and the widow Zhang gave birth to each other on the same day, and the lives of the three children
It was originally confusing. It was the marriage contract announced by the Zhu family, but there was no marriage certificate at all. Who knows what happened!"
"I don't know if you and the woman from the Zhu family wanted to save your own lives and asked Po Wen to deliver the baby to you first, thus killing Widow Zhang! Otherwise, how could that woman from the Zhu family agree to marry the arrogant and domineering Zhu Ying to a person like Zhang Shou?
You poor man! You are dragging on Yong Ping’s marriage. Do you think Zhang Shou is good and plan to seize this son-in-law, or let Yong Ping and Zhu Ying serve the same husband together? "
Concubine Yu deliberately came to this farce, just waiting for the queen to be overwhelmed by anger and make a big fuss. But she was clearly mentally prepared. When she was really poked by her, she was still furious.
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Old and new hatreds came to her mind. When she saw Princess Yongping was so angry that she was about to come forward to argue, she suddenly swung her sword with her right hand to stop her. Seeing the queen's pupils shrink when she saw the sharp blade in her hand, she smiled and used the sword to calm down.
Step forward.
At this time, the queen was suddenly frightened. She knew how unusual Concubine Yu was among the palace concubines. She thought that in that desperate situation where she was almost certain to die, she could compete with Mrs. Zhao Guo Jiuniang and Widow Zhang.
They worked together to fight out, and finally gave birth to their son safely. How could she possibly survive?
Almost subconsciously, she shouted loudly: "Come, come quickly! Concubine Yu is going to assassinate me..."
Just when her voice was at its loudest, a voice suddenly came over: "Is that enough?"
Hearing the sound in front of the door, the emperor rushed over quickly and glanced at the queen angrily. When he saw Concubine Yu calmly sheathing her sword and curtsying, he reached out and snatched the sword away angrily.
He lowered his head and glanced down, and his sullenness increased even more. Then he glanced at the queen again, whose throat seemed to be pinched by some invisible hand, so she suddenly stopped speaking, and then said with a sullen face: "Assassination"
?The queen has ever seen someone stabbing with a blunt sword that has not been sharpened?"
He casually handed over the sword, and when he saw that the queen was so frightened that she took a step back and did not dare to take it, he immediately became even more angry: "I remember that I had issued a ban on what happened that day, and you are not allowed to talk about it on your own, queen.
As the Lord of the Sixth Palace, he talks freely, as if he is afraid that the trouble outside is not fierce enough? Moreover, every word is exactly the same as the rumors outside, Kunning Palace is well-informed!"
Without waiting for the pale-faced queen to defend herself, he said calmly: "Someone, take the queen back to Kunning Palace!"