In the northern urban area of Jiankang, near Xuanwumen.
Today's Jiankang City is much depressed compared to the last time Cheng Jinyang arrived.
There are still sporadic outbreaks of the puppet plague in the southern urban area. Although they are quickly suppressed by the Habayashi Army each time, each attack increases the panic and flight tendency of Jiankang citizens.
Puppet cannot be killed completely, they will be resurrected.
As for the mechanism of demon resurrection, no one knows the specific principle. They only know from what corner they will reappear after a period of time.
Therefore, it was only a matter of time before Jiankang City was completely abandoned like Songjiang.
There were two escape directions for the citizens: one was Lin'an, which was located in the hinterland of the southeast, and the other was Wuchang, which was located on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.
Of course, some people choose to go to Jingkou City on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Although it is located in Jiangbei where the surrounding situation is more dangerous, it is said that the garrison is very strong and the overall situation is safer.
Although citizens are gradually moving out, the cabinet team and royal family members still stay in Taicheng.
They need to still maintain the majesty of this city as the center of the empire before completely abandoning Jiankang.
While waiting for the summons from Her Majesty the Queen Mother outside the gate of Xuanwu City, Cheng Jinyang remembered Wang Wanrou's words and called Yu Yuangui.
"I understand." Before he could mention his intention, Yu Yuangui said directly, "I will explain this matter clearly to Your Majesty. You can just enter the palace directly after His Majesty summons you."
Cheng Jinyang:?
After hanging up the phone, he was still a little confused.
What happened?
Wait, according to Yu Yuangui, Her Majesty the Queen Mother should have changed her mind for some reason. This matter reached Yu Yuangui's ears, so he hurriedly called to persuade the Queen Mother again... It should be something similar.
After continuing to wait for a while outside Xuanwu Gate, the messenger from the palace finally arrived belatedly.
She is actually my sister-in-law.
The eldest princess of Luling walked outside the palace gate, waved her hand proudly, and said to the guards:
"Let him in."
Then the guards moved to both sides to clear the way.
"Did you see it? These guards are all robots." Luling said at the same time as he led Cheng Jinyang into the palace.
"No wonder he just stood at the door and said nothing." Cheng Jinyang laughed.
"As long as I give the order, they will arrest you." Luling proudly raised his chin and said.
"If you want to arrest me, why do they need to do it?" Cheng Jinyang responded, "Can you tell your sister and I will arrest you without any help?"
"Humph, my sister is reluctant to arrest you." Lu Ling said angrily.
"So, who is the person who wants to arrest me?" Cheng Jinyang asked tentatively.
Luling suddenly stopped talking.
"Is it that one?" Cheng Jinyang pretended to be shocked.
"It's my uncle's problem." Lu Ling said hesitantly, "He used Sheji as a threat to force the queen mother to agree to let her sister marry you."
"Although my mother agreed at the time, I don't know which clan and my mother later slandered me, saying that I could use the royal majesty to suppress you and force you to bow my head, so my mother is hesitant now."
Cheng Jinyang:…………
He felt a little guilty after hearing the previous words, because strictly speaking, he was indeed not a qualified prince-in-law.
He who marries a princess as his head wife is called a consort!
Moreover, the prince-in-law is not allowed to marry a concubine (but the princess can find a bride), nor is it allowed to divorce (but the princess can ask for separation). Even in the era when the imperial power was the most powerful, the candidate for the prince-in-law must have a "clean resume", and even the first love partner is not allowed.
Not allowed.
Although the imperial power is declining now, it is estimated that it will be difficult for the Empress Dowager Yu in the palace to change her thinking for a while.
To put it bluntly, I feel very unhappy when I think of the princess sister getting married and not having the position of a head wife.
Thinking of this, Cheng Jinyang felt a little guilty, but when he heard the "coercion" from behind, he had to keep his face straight and laughed secretly in his heart.
I am in control of Jingkou and in charge of Beifu. I have all the nobles as my backing. You use the majesty of the royal family to suppress me?
As for Miss Wang’s previous reminder, he also suddenly realized:
If he stepped into the palace rashly, he might be arrested by the repentant Empress Dowager Yu.
Then came the anger of the nobles and the chaos in Jingkou. No one can say what will happen to the upper-level politics of the empire in the future... But one thing is certain, the princess sister will definitely be caught in the middle and be in a dilemma.
However, after Wang Wanrou's reminder and Yu Yuangui's persuasion, Empress Dowager Yu knew what "the situation is not up to anyone", and she would not take risks and overturn the table.
Entering the palace, Cheng Jinyang saw Queen Mother Yu sitting on the throne, looking at him with a cold expression.
The princess sister stood nearby, showing a reassuring smile.
"Cheng Jinyang." Queen Mother Yu asked in a cold voice, "The late Emperor made an appointment with you as soon as possible, and you also promised to marry Nankang as your wife. Why do you regret it now?"
Luling looked at his sister in surprise, because the queen mother originally wanted to use "the crime of deceiving the emperor" to suppress him. I don't know what method her sister used to persuade her, but now the queen mother did not mention the crime of deceiving the emperor, but just asked him "Why?"
Regret”.
When Cheng Jinyang heard "the late emperor", he was startled at first, then lowered his head, squeezed out a few tears, and said sadly:
"Returning to Your Majesty the Queen Mother, before Wang Chuzhong rebelled, it is true that I was favored by the late Emperor and was interested in giving him a consort."
"It's just that not long after the rebellion was put down, the late emperor suddenly died. I, I, I..."
He soon couldn't speak anymore and almost burst into tears.
After all, he is a former patient with depression, and his mind is full of painful memories, such as being irrational and losing his parents... Not to mention crying on the spot, he can even act out by crying.
Seeing Cheng Jinyang mentioning the late emperor and crying with sincerity, Empress Dowager Yu was also aroused for a while and said softly:
"The late emperor indeed left too early. Before leaving, he also said that he originally wanted to choose a son-in-law for Nankang, but unfortunately his health was not good anymore."
She took out her handkerchief, wiped the tears from her eyes, and continued to sigh:
"It's just that since you have been entrusted by the late emperor, you should come to the palace as soon as possible. Can the Ai family still ignore the late emperor's orders and prevent you from doing things with Nankang?"
Cheng Jinyang heard this and secretly cursed: Good guy, it sounds like the truth.
At that time, I, the Cheng family in the capital of God, did not even have a fifth rank. If I rashly entered the palace to propose marriage, I would not be beaten out by you with a stick?
Of course, he couldn't say this, so he looked hesitant and said hesitantly:
"My lord, I don't know whether to say it or not..."
"If you have something to say, it's okay to say it." Queen Mother Yu raised her eyebrows.
"I actually came to the palace to see you." Cheng Jinyang said in a low voice, "Master Zhongshu received me at that time, and promised that as long as I perform well in Su Zigao's rebellion, it is not impossible for me to become the consort."
As soon as these words came out, Queen Mother Yu fell into awkward silence.
How dare the late emperor's original will be used as a political bargaining chip by her brother to blackmail Cheng Jinyang into serving him!
Cheng Jinyang did not despise the royal family. If Yu Yuangui hadn't interfered, the marriage would have been decided long ago...
"Ahem." Queen Mother Yu coughed, and the princess sister next to her immediately passed the tea cup knowingly and said with a smile:
"Mother, please don't be tired. Drink some tea first to moisten your throat."