good season

Seeing the weak but sincere smile on his eldest brother's face, Zhao Tingxuan felt a pang of regret. If he had gone today, then those things that happened later would not have happened. His eldest sister would not have scolded him, and his youngest sister would not have been angry. But at that time, his mother cried so sadly, how could he bear to abandon her and leave?

My mother is already very pitiful. My father is gone, and my second aunt has done something like that. The one who is most sad is my mother.

Thinking of this, Zhao Tingxuan regretted deeply about questioning his mother in Suining Palace just now. His tone was too harsh and he shouldn't have done that.

After all, he was the person who grew up in front of her eyes, and the ever-changing expression on Zhao Tingxuan's face did not escape Zhao Yunnuan's eyes.

She could guess what Zhao Tingxuan was thinking at the moment without asking.

He must have been thinking of going to Suining Palace to be his filial son.

Next, Zhao Tingxuan asked about Zhao Tinghan's health, and Zhao Tinghan also asked about his studies. Zhao Tingxuan also comforted Zhao Shiqing in a timely manner and promised to accompany her to watch the lanterns during the Mid-Autumn Festival, but he forgot that because of the death of King Liang, there would be no flower show in Liang this year, whether it was Mid-Autumn Festival or Spring Festival.

He even forgot the news coming back from the capital, that Zhao Tinghan would not be able to eat mooncakes this year.

You know, although Zhao Tinghan has returned, except for Zhao Yunnuan, Zhao Shiqing, Doctor Hu, and Zhao Tinghan's close associates, everyone else in the mansion thought that Zhao Tinghan only had more than a month to live.

The light in Zhao Yunnuan's eyes faded little by little, replaced by disappointment.

She did not go to see Zhao Tingxuan, but said to Zhao Shiqing: "I have already met Big Brother. You must be tired after coming back from Baihe Mountain. Go back and rest, and let Big Brother rest too."

Zhao Shiqing said "oh", put down the food in her hand and stood up. Zhao Tinghan said with a smile: "You two take all these snacks away. I can't eat them now. They are all yours."

Zhao Shiqing cheered exaggeratedly and held up the box like a treasure: "Brother, don't regret it. If you wake up in the middle of the night and have no snacks to eat, you can't blame me and my sister."

Even though he knew that she said that on purpose to liven up the atmosphere, Zhao Tinghan still couldn't help feeling distressed. How could his mother have the heart to hit such a lovely little sister with a brass incense burner?

Zhao Yunnuan put her arm around Zhao Shiqing's shoulders and said, "Let's go, little greedy cat."

Zhao Tingxuan also said goodbye. The three of them walked out of Changchun Palace. Zhao Tingxuan said to Zhao Shiqing, "Qingqing, during the time you were back at Baihe Mountain, Liangdu opened a new pastry shop. I'll have someone tell them to send their best pastries to you for you to try."

"Okay, thank you, second brother." Zhao Shiqing was not polite. She knew that Zhao Tingxuan was coaxing her because of what happened in Suining Palace today. She had already been wronged, so wasn't it her duty to coax him?
As early as ten years ago, after Zhao Shiqing was officially adopted by King Liang, she moved out of the small courtyard in the corner of the garden and lived with Zhao Yunnuan in Duanxiu Palace, which was also the residence of princesses of all generations.

Duanxiu Palace was not originally big, but there was a princess named Princess Liang who gave birth to three beautiful daughters in one pregnancy. This was a rare thing not only in Liang but also in the whole Dayong. These three princesses were doted on since childhood.

As a result, the three princesses were all somewhat spoiled. The clothes they wore and the things they used had to be exactly the same. Even the jewelry in Prince Liang's mansion had to be three identical sets, otherwise someone might die.

When the three princesses grew up, they moved out of their mother's palace. Although Duanxiu Palace could not accommodate three masters, they had to live there, otherwise they would burn down Duanxiu Palace and no one would be able to live there.

In desperation, their father had to expand the Duanxiu Palace. Other palaces were built according to the layout of the imperial palace in the capital. Only in the Duanxiu Palace, there stood three embroidered towers that were exactly the same from the inside to the outside.

The Duanxiu Palace also became the largest palace in the entire Prince Liang's Mansion.

After Zhao Shiqing moved in, she and Zhao Yunnuan each lived in an embroidery building. Zhao Shiqing usually lived in Baihe Mountain and only came back during the holidays. After Zhao Yunnuan took charge of the Royal Guards, she converted the other vacant embroidery building into her study, where she met guests and received military generals. In order to avoid affecting the women in the harem, she asked someone to look at the feng shui and opened a door closest to the Duanxiu Palace. Outside this door was a long corridor that led to the main gate and back door of the Prince Liang's Mansion.

When Zhao Shiqing came back today, she went through this door. Yuan Xiaotang and Old Man Han also entered Duanxiu Palace through this door with her.

The stubborn poison in Zhao Tinghan's body has not yet been eradicated, so Old Man Han has to continue giving him acupuncture. Now the Jinyiwei and the people in the palace are still in Prince Liang's Mansion. If he wants to hide from the eyes and ears of these people, it is safest for Old Man Han to live in Duanxiu Palace.

As for whether it would damage the princess's reputation if the news got out, neither Zhao Yunnuan nor Zhao Shiqing cared.

The reason why Zhao Shiqing wanted to bring Yuan Xiaotang into the mansion was because he didn't know how to settle her down.

She didn't need to worry about Shen Guanyue and the Loach brothers. She let them find an inn to stay in first. When she was done with her work, she would take them back to Baihe Mountain.

Yuan Xiaotang also wanted to stay in the inn, but Zhao Shiqing did not agree. She had a hunch that if her elder brother knew that she let Yuan Xiaotang stay in the inn, he would definitely feel distressed.

Sure enough, today in Changchun Palace, she quietly told Zhao Tinghan about this matter, and she clearly saw the joy in her brother's eyes.

Even if I can't see him/her, I feel sweet inside just thinking that he/she is living under the same roof with me.

Of course, these words were not said by Zhao Tinghan, but were read by Zhao Shiqing in a storybook. She felt that they were very suitable for her eldest brother.

After returning to Duanxiu Palace, Zhao Shiqing told Zhao Yunnuan what had happened in the capital during these days, as well as what happened to Yuan Xiaotang. Zhao Yunnuan was distressed and shocked. She guessed that her elder brother's return must be related to her younger sister, but she didn't expect that her younger sister had done so much.

She thought of Nie's attitude towards her younger sister and felt even more distressed. She hugged Zhao Shiqing in her arms, wanting to comfort her, but she didn't know what to say. After all, the person who hurt her younger sister was her own mother.

Zhao Shiqing noticed her sister's change of mood, and she said with a smile: "Sister, Sister Yuan lives next door to me, do you want to go over and meet her?"

"Of course I have to go. Come on, let's go and take a look." Zhao Yunnuan stood up.

After leaving Changchun Palace, Zhao Tingxuan sent someone to notify the newly opened shop and asked them to make some of their specialty dim sum and snacks and send them to the palace for the second young lady to taste.

Zhao Tingxuan thought about it and felt that this was not enough. His younger sister was still a child and had been wronged this time after all, so he still needed to coax her more.

He also asked someone to send the set of mechanical birds that he treasured in his study to Duanxiu Palace. My younger sister has always liked this set of birds. She should be happy now that I give this to her.

We are a family, so there is no overnight grudge. Just coax each other and everything will be fine.

After coaxing his younger sister, Zhao Tingxuan thought of Zhao Yunnuan again. He couldn't help but shrink his shoulders. The younger sister is a child, and children are easy to coax, but the eldest sister is not easy to coax.

He thought for a long time but couldn't figure out how to please his elder sister.

I can’t think of it, so I just give up thinking about it. I’d better go to Suining Palace to see my mother. She is very sad today.

Zhao Tingxuan could never have dreamed that at this moment, Nie, whom he thought was crying sadly, looked at the thin pages of letter in her hand and a long-lost smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.

Until now she still couldn't believe that Qiao Zhenzhu actually wrote to her!
Qiao Zhenzhu, the daughter of a minor official who once had difficulty even seeing her, has now transformed herself into an imperial concubine who is loved by everyone!
Nie could no longer remember what Qiao Zhenzhu looked like. She only remembered that she was a rustic and inconspicuous little girl.

At that time, she even laughed at Qiao Zhenzhu's name. Only a family like the Qiao family, who had never seen the world, would name their daughter Zhenzhu.

How can she be called a pearl? She is just a fish eye.

Thinking of these past events, Nie felt sad and uncomfortable.

Later, Qiao Zhenzhu entered the second prince's mansion as a concubine. When she heard the news, she sneered, thinking that the Qiao family was really despicable to send their legitimate daughter to be someone else's concubine.

However, Qiao Zhenzhu also had some means. Less than half a year after she entered the Second Prince's Mansion, it was rumored that she was pregnant. Just after she gave birth to a son, the wife died of illness. Because the death of the wife was related to a concubine, the concubine was deposed. The Second Prince and the wife were deeply in love, and he was reluctant to remarry, but promoted Qiao Zhenzhu from concubine to concubine.

Qiao Zhenzhu was lucky. A few years later, the crown prince passed away and the second prince was made crown prince. He ascended the throne the following year. Qiao Zhenzhu was only a concubine for less than a year before she was named a noble concubine.

Before the empress was enthroned, Qiao Zhenzhu's status in the palace was equivalent to that of the vice empress. Even after the empress entered the palace, Emperor Yongjia conferred the title of imperial concubine on her in order not to make Qiao Zhenzhu sad.

The title of Imperial Noble Consort has not been available in every dynasty.

Since the establishment of the Dayong Dynasty, there have only been two imperial concubines.

One was at the beginning of Taizu's reign. In order to balance the interests of all parties, he added another imperial concubine above the four concubines.

The other one is Qiao Zhenzhu. The Qiao family was neither a founding father nor a prominent family. Qiao Zhenzhu was conferred the title of Imperial Noble Consort entirely out of Emperor Yongjia's favor for her.

But now, Emperor Yongjia's beloved darling wrote to her.

In the letter, Concubine Qiao first comforted Nie and then recalled her past events when she was young. Every word between the lines was full of attempts to win her over.

Nie pondered for a moment and understood what Concubine Qiao meant.

Although King Liang is dead, whoever becomes the next King Liang will be her son.

The current crown prince is the son of Empress Yuan of Emperor Yongjia, but it is said that the third prince born to Concubine Qiao is far more outstanding than the crown prince. Concubine Qiao wants her son to become the crown prince, so she naturally hopes to get the support of the eight kings.

In Liang, her status as a lady was equal to that of the empress dowager!

Nie let out a long sigh and suddenly felt proud.

Neither Zhao Yunnuan nor Zhao Tinghan would have dreamed that she would have such connections as Concubine Qiao.

Since Concubine Qiao wanted to use her, she must also use Concubine Qiao.

With Concubine Qiao whispering in the emperor's ear, could Zhao Tinghan still occupy the position of crown prince?

But Nie changed his mind and felt that this network of contacts could not be used casually, otherwise the desired effect would not be achieved.

For example, in the case of the Crown Prince, even the imperial physician said that Zhao Tinghan would not survive this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which is only more than a month away.

Although the emperor ordered that Zhao Tinghan should get married within a year, even if Zhao Tinghan got married tomorrow, given his current physical condition, he might not even be able to have a wedding night, let alone leave offspring in just one month.

A month later, Zhao Tinghan died without leaving any offspring, so the position of crown prince, no, the throne of King of Liang, had to fall on Zhao Tingxuan.

Therefore, there is no need for Concubine Qiao to persuade Zhao Tingxuan, the throne will belong to him.

just
Nie sighed. What she was more worried about now was not that Zhao Tinghan did not die when the time came, but the two troublesome girls, Zhao Yunnuan and Zhao Shiqing.

She was worried that they would do something weird and stir up trouble in the palace. More likely, they would corrupt Zhao Tingxuan and alienate the relationship between mother and son.

This was what she was most worried about, and this was something that Concubine Qiao, who was far away in the capital, could not help with.

When Nie thought of this, she became even more determined. She must keep Zhao Tingxuan by her side and not give those two girls the chance to alienate them.

So, from that day on, Nie suffered from many illnesses, both serious and minor. Zhao Tingxuan was extremely busy because Nie was determined to die and refused to take any medicine. Only when he personally prepared the medicine and brought it to Nie would she take it.

Zhao Tingxuan stayed in Suining Palace almost the entire day, and could only entrust the matter of entertaining Deputy Envoy Yin and Zhao Sheng to Zhao Yunnuan and Zuo Changshi.

As they were from the same clan, Zhao Tinghan didn't have much time left, so Zhao Sheng wanted to make friends with Zhao Tingxuan. However, he stayed in the Prince of Liang's Mansion for three days and only met with Zhao Tingxuan once. During that meeting, Zhao Tingxuan came and went in a hurry. This made Zhao Sheng very puzzled. When he was still on the road, he had already determined that Zhao Tingxuan wanted to replace his eldest brother to inherit the throne, otherwise he would not be disrespectful to his brother. So shouldn't Zhao Tingxuan win over this relative who has a certain say in the clan?

The royal families in the capital city seem to be prosperous on the surface, but in reality they are already weak inside. Some of them even rely on selling the property left by their ancestors to support their appearance.

Although Zhao Sheng did not go to this extent, he could not come up with any extra silver.

Therefore, when Zhao Sheng came to Liang this time, he was prepared to make a small profit.

Who will give him money?

Of course it couldn't be Zhao Yunnuan, the unmarried princess. It couldn't be the newly widowed Princess Liang either. It couldn't be Zhao Tinghan, who was dying, even more impossible. So the only person who could give him the silver could be Zhao Tingxuan.

If Zhao Tingxuan wanted to succeed his brother to the throne, he needed the support of the clan government.

But now there is no trace of Zhao Tingxuan, who can he ask for money?

Zhao Sheng cursed Zhao Tingxuan in his heart, "How can you pretend to be so noble? You are a prostitute and you want to be a saint. Ugh!"
Deputy Envoy Yin was also cursing in his heart.

This time, Deputy Envoy Yin came to Liangdi with a secret mission. He wanted to understand the military situation in Liangdi.

But during his conversation with Zuo Changshi, he learned that after the death of Prince Liang, the Royal Guards became like a pile of loose sand, and now the one in charge of the Royal Guards is actually a girl named Zhao Yunnuan!
You must be kidding! This is absolutely ridiculous!

He tried to test Zhao Yunnuan, but the princess couldn't even clearly say how many guards she had. One moment she said it was five thousand, the next moment she said it was three thousand. After asking her in detail, he found out that the princess felt that it was too expensive to maintain an army, so in order to save money, she sent two thousand of them to the farm to farm! Farm!
It is said that the eldest princess originally wanted everyone to farm, because the farm could not accommodate so many people and needed to build new houses. The eldest princess was reluctant to spend money on building houses, so she only sent two thousand people.

As expected, he has long hair but short knowledge. Deputy Envoy Yin felt that the emperor was wasting his talent by sending him here. Sending anyone else would be more than enough to deal with this bunch of useless orphans and widows.

The fate of the Liang Wang family has come to an end! (End of this chapter)