Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 134 The Crown Prince is not anxious, the Queen Mother is anxious

Wei Tai stood there, watching Deng Changen leave in shame with a strange look on his face.

At this point he still hadn't reacted. This Deng Chang'en had previously vowed to meet the emperor, but in the blink of an eye he fled. What kind of person was he?
Just as he was in a daze, Qin Chang came up from behind him with a few young eunuchs holding several thick stacks of memorials waiting for the emperor's approval.

"Who is that?"

Qin Chang was old after all, and he squinted his eyes to look at the man but couldn't recognize who he was from the back.

Wei Tai said disdainfully: "Who else could it be? Deng Changen."

Because Wei Tai was angry, he called him by his name.

Qin Chang immediately realized something was wrong. After asking in detail, he learned from Wei Tai roughly what had happened before.

Tan Chang said with emotion: "Although we should not support your majesty's favoritism of alchemists, even alchemists can be divided into different levels."

It can be said that Deng Chang'en should be considered as one of the lowest ranking alchemists.

Wei Tai said angrily: "Since he has no confidence in predicting the Imperial Concubine's condition, why did he insist on coming to the palace and insisting on appearing before the Emperor?"

Qin Chang said helplessly: "Everyone in the world says that I am a gentleman and everyone else is a villain... Until now, can't you see who the real opportunist is?"

Wei Tai burst out laughing.

Deng Chang'en enjoyed scolding Li Zisheng very much, but in fact, in terms of responsibility and demeanor in dealing with people, he was far inferior to Li Zisheng. In comparison, Deng Chang'en was no different from a shameless villain.

"Your Majesty has something to do with the Crown Prince's selection of a concubine, and he needs to report it to Qingning Palace immediately. You should go there immediately. After you are done with your business, return to the Silijian duty room."

"Yes."

After receiving the order, Wei Tai hurriedly turned to Qingning Palace.

……

……

Inside Qingning Palace.

Zhang Yu slept quite well last night. Maybe because she was heartless, she was not afraid of strangers. She could fall asleep peacefully even on a makeshift couch in Qingning Palace.

The other two women who came with her did not have her same psychological quality.

Early in the morning, someone in Qingning Palace prepared fragrant bath water for them, and palace maids prepared clothes... In order not to appear special, Empress Dowager Zhou prepared a new set of clothes for each of them. Except for slightly different colors, other aspects were basically the same.

Try to reduce the visual sensory differences caused by differences in clothing and accessories, so as to avoid affecting the final results of the selection of concubines.

Zhang Yu was originally quite confident. After all, he slept well, so he was in good spirits and looked radiant.

But when she went to the dressing table to dress up, she found that she was not at an advantage.

The other two girls, one surnamed Wang and the other surnamed Song, both came from good family backgrounds and were obviously ladies of noble birth. Although they were not as beautiful as her, they were obviously more familiar and skilled in using rouge and powder than her.

She usually doesn't see outsiders at home, and her mother is always busy with the family's daily necessities. How could she have the time to teach her how to put on makeup and dress up?
Besides, it is useless to dress up normally, after all, she never goes out to show it to others. And in the eyes of Zhang Luan, an old-fashioned man who has been poisoned by feudal ethics, a woman's appearance is determined at birth, and it is self-deception to modify it later. She should be pure and untainted, preferably without makeup, and be elegant because she is well-read...

In the end, it is just an excuse for the Zhang family's poor situation.

This has brought a lot of pressure to Zhang Yu right now.

"My dear ladies, it's time to have breakfast... After breakfast, please go and pay your respects to the Queen Mother and the ancestors, and then go to the side hall to learn the court etiquette. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will be here any moment."

When the female official came over to pass on a message to a few people, Zhang Yu just reluctantly put some blush on her face.

When she looked in the mirror, she felt very awkward and quickly took a wet towel to wipe off the blush.

……

……

Queen Mother Zhou got up very early that day.

After meeting the three grandson's wives, she was very satisfied and felt that their looks were not much worse than those she had chosen for her son before. She then sent someone to the East Palace to tell her grandson to come over early...

But after waiting for more than an hour, there was still no sign of the prince.

"Grandfather, please don't be anxious... Didn't we agree that it would officially begin in the afternoon?"

Chen Gui said with a smile.

It’s true that it’s the Crown Prince who is not anxious but the Empress Dowager is!

The people involved are not nervous and are doing things according to the routine. Why are you so anxious, old man?
"This child, too. Doesn't he know that this is his big marriage? Doesn't he want to come over earlier to take a look at the concubine I carefully selected for him? "

Queen Mother Zhou was an elder with a strong desire for control and liked to have everything done according to her own wishes.

Why is it held in the afternoon? Who stipulated this?
I can do it whenever I want!

Chen Gui lowered his head, smiled bitterly, and was unable to answer.

"Has anyone come from the East Palace?"

Queen Mother Zhou asked again.

"Yes, Tan Ji has been waiting outside the palace for a long time... He said that the prince is studying hard and will come to pay his respects to the old ancestor in the afternoon."

Chen Gui said respectfully.

Queen Mother Zhou shook her head helplessly, then a mischievous smile appeared on her face, and she ordered: "Take out the note written by Zhang's girl yesterday... and call Qin Ji in!"...

……

Tan Ji came to meet Empress Dowager Zhou on behalf of Zhu Youtang, and he was also prepared to confirm the process of selecting a concubine on that day from Empress Dowager Zhou so that he could go back and let Zhu Youtang prepare.

"Your servant pays respect to Her Majesty the Queen Mother."

Qin Ji was very cautious when he met Queen Mother Zhou.

He did not think much of being punished for his inappropriate behavior, but he was afraid that it would affect the prince's image in the eyes of Queen Mother Zhou.

Queen Mother Zhou looked lazy, raised her finger and said kindly: "We are all old people in the palace, why are there so many etiquettes? Let's stand up and talk."

"Thank you, Queen Mother."

Qin Ji stood up, still standing with his head bowed.

Queen Mother Zhou said meaningfully, "I sent someone to Duanjing Palace early in the morning to tell the Crown Prince to come over earlier... We have been busy selecting a concubine for him for a while. Even I did my best yesterday and made many plans for him. It is difficult to select a woman who is not only good-looking, but also can hold the scene and even be the mother of the country from a group of girls who are all fat or thin and have similar looks."

When Qin Ji heard this, he was frightened.

Especially the words "Mother of the World", which seemed to hit the point that he feared the most.

Given his cautiousness, he was most afraid that others would think that the prince had ambitions to seize the throne. He also couldn't let the prince be branded as someone who hoped the emperor would die quickly so that he could ascend the throne earlier.

Qin Ji said quickly: "The prince said that everything is up to you, the Queen Mother... The prince is confident in the Queen Mother's vision. With you taking care of everything, he doesn't need to ask about it personally."

"Tsk tsk, how can this be possible? My grandson is very filial, but the wedding of the Eastern Palace is of great importance and may even affect the Ming Dynasty. How can he not come and see it in person?"

Queen Mother Zhou suddenly narrowed her eyes and asked, "Qin Ji, tell me the truth about the Crown Prince's attitude towards the selection of concubines. What I want to ask is, does he show enthusiasm for this matter? Or does he take it lightly?"

"This……"

Qin Ji was embarrassed for a moment and didn't know what to say.

Given his personality, he really didn't want to hide it from Queen Mother Zhou.

"Tell me the truth. No matter what happens, can I blame my own grandson? It's not a good thing to be secretive. It only makes people suspicious!"

Queen Mother Zhou said coldly.

"Yes."

Qin Ji said respectfully, "In reply to the Queen Mother, ever since the Crown Prince knew that he was going to choose a concubine, he has... not been very enthusiastic. He said that the most important thing right now is to study. Only reading can enrich his heart. He can learn about the past and present from books, and he can also better behave himself and respect his elders."

Tan Ji has brains.

He knew very well that if the prince was unusually enthusiastic about choosing a concubine, it might be interpreted by some people as the prince being resentful of the emperor for not letting him choose a concubine.

Only if he doesn't care at all will it seem that the matter of selecting a concubine is dispensable to the prince, and only then will the emperor completely lose his guard against the prince.

Of course, the prince was not that enthusiastic about selecting a concubine.

Qin Ji knew clearly what could be said, what could not be said, and what should be said truthfully.

Queen Mother Zhou nodded repeatedly: "This child not only studies hard, but also applies what he learns in real life. His kindness and filial piety are commendable! No wonder he has been able to be kind to others and be humble and courteous over the years. It is reading that has enabled him to distinguish right from wrong, and he has not stirred up any waves of struggle in his heart. Well, he is a good child."

When Qin Ji heard that his goal had been achieved, he did not say anything, but continued to listen to the Queen Mother Zhou's teachings with his head down.

"But how can he study all the time? Don't let him become a bookworm in the end... When he reaches a certain age, he should get married. Only then can he be considered a real adult in the eyes of others, take on important responsibilities, and have a mature and stable image in front of his father, and share the affairs of state. Doesn't this child even understand such a simple truth?"

Empress Dowager Zhou seemed somewhat dissatisfied with this.

Tan Ji replied, "This is what I and others usually tell the Crown Prince."

Queen Mother Zhou laughed and said, "My grandson is not in a hurry to get married. It's not that he doesn't want to get married, but he hasn't met the right person yet... If he really has someone he likes, what's the point of studying?"

Tan Ji smiled bitterly.

I thought to myself that you are really humorous and witty in your speech.

"take it."

Queen Mother Zhou pointed at Chen Gui standing beside her, and Chen Gui immediately understood and handed a piece of fine rice paper to Qin Ji.

"Yesterday when I was selecting my grandson's wife, I found a girl who was not only eloquent but also talented and pretty. She spoke a few words and seemed quite opinionated and talented. I wrote a couple of poems for her.

"Since the prince likes reading, I think he has a talent for writing. Now I have found him a maid who can accompany him all the time. Isn't that good?"

Qin Ji took the note, put it away respectfully, and did not dare to open it on the spot.

But he was curious inside.

He thought to himself, how do you know that the prince likes to write poetry?

Red sleeves add fragrance...

It sounds great. I think this candidate for Crown Princess should be to the Crown Prince's liking, right?
Queen Mother Zhou smiled and said, "Tell him to come earlier after reading the note, and also tell him that if he comes late, he may not be able to see him."

Qin Ji was confused again after hearing this, and wondered to himself, haven't the final three candidates for the Crown Princess been decided?

How can she be sent out of the palace again?
(End of this chapter)