Madam Hou

Chapter 73

When Yinniang returned to Fengyi Palace, Lin Fengqi had already returned to the queen's place from the imperial study.The door of the main hall was open, and the maids on both sides of the main hall bowed their ears respectfully. Lin Fengqi was sitting in the center below the queen, answering the queen's questions.Mrs. Ying and Mrs. Yang sat on the left and right of the empress, and listened to the young general's answer attentively. However, Princess Shouyang, who was still in the palace, was not there. She presumably went to the Fushou Palace to meet her mother, Mrs. Cao Gui. concubine.

When Yinniang entered Fengyi Palace, she could hear her husband's voice coming from the palace intermittently, loud and clear.

"Northern Qiang this year suffered severe drought and severe cold, lack of grazing grass, many casualties of cattle and sheep, and many people died of starvation. However, at this time, Zhang Yanping, the captain of Longxi County, bullied and killed the Qiang people at will, and the Qiang people could not live in peace. Only then did the northern Qiang resist the invasion"

"Regardless of the reason for the Qiang's invasion, but the kingdom of gnats dared to invade the Celestial Dynasty, and allowed it to break through the Longxi Pass, killing and looting the people in the pass. After all, this violated the prestige of the Celestial Dynasty."

"Hussar General Xue Jian and General Guangwei Xue Wei were ordered to fight against the invasion of Qiang people. The two generals Xue were brave and good at fighting. He is a Northern Qiang warrior, after this battle, the Northern Qiang may not be able to recover in two or thirty years, let alone invade Dayan."

Then there was Xiao Yang's sighing voice: "Although it is the duty of a general to kill the enemy on the battlefield, the method of the two generals of the Xue family is really too cruel to order the beheading of [-] captives, but it is also like The style of that government."

The two generals Xue came from Duke Ning's mansion. General Hussars Xue Jian is the younger brother of Duke Ning and the second uncle of Concubine Xue Shu, while General Xue Wei of Guangwei is the eldest son of Duke Ning. The same mother and brother.

Duke Ning's mansion was flourishing. In Duke Ning's generation, there were four brothers who were descended from the direct line, and three brothers who were descended from the concubine.When the old Duke Ning passed away, he separated the three sons of the concubines, leaving the four brothers who were the descendants in the Duke Ning's mansion, but they were separated from each other.The four brothers from the direct descendants have reproduced with their offspring. Up to now, in Duke Ningguo's mansion, there are seventeen brothers and sisters in Duke Ningguo's generation.

Since the founding of Dayan, Duke Ning's Mansion has controlled the army and horses in the northwest area. During the first emperor's reign, he tried his best to take back the power of the army and horses in the world, and the power of Duke Ning's mansion in the army has weakened.But in the later years of the first emperor, the princes competed for the heir, and the eldest prince invested by Ning Guogong was about to lose power. Seeing the signs, Ning Guogong cut off his arms immediately, and abandoned the eldest prince and turned to Emperor Jinghui, who was the fourth prince at the time.After Emperor Jinghui ascended the throne, with Conglong's achievements, the power of Ningguo Duke's government in the army has risen. Up to now, the influence of Ningguo Duke's government in the army in the northwest and southwest cannot be underestimated.

When they arrived at the entrance of the hall, Aunt Du who led Yinniang in wanted to lead Yinniang directly into the hall, but Yinniang stopped at the door and said to Aunt Du: "Your Majesty is talking about things with the prince, so it's not good to disturb your mother." , I'll just wait here."

The empress and Lin Fengqi were talking about government affairs, it's better for her to listen less as a married woman.

Aunt Du was stunned for a moment, but then she couldn't help showing a little praise.Although this wife of the eldest son is a little too cautious, in the palace, being more cautious is better than those women who pretend to be smart and meddle in men's affairs at will.It is said that this newly married Mrs. Shizi has not yet reached the age of hairpin, is young, and has come from a barren land. She has such awareness, but it is also worthy of praise.

Aunt Du's expression couldn't help being sincere, and she smiled at Yin Niang: "It's okay, Madam is not an outsider, and Madam will not see outsiders."

Just after Aunt Du finished speaking, Qingzhu, another court lady next to the empress, came over from the hall, and after giving a blessing to Yin Niang, she said to Aunt Du: "Your Majesty asked if Mrs. Yongninghou Shizi is back, and your Majesty asked Mrs. Jiang to come in." .”

Aunt Du nodded, and said to Yin Niang: "Madam, you come with your servant."

The queen asked someone to come out to invite her, and Yin Niang naturally had no reason to refuse.Following Aunt Du's entry into the hall, she bowed to the empress at the top of the hall.After the queen invited her, she asked someone to give her a seat beside Lin Fengqi.

After Yinniang Xie En sat down, the queen asked Yinniang: "I have seen your sister, how is Concubine Chen recovering?"

Yin Niang said: "Go back to your mother, my sister is still in good health, when the minister's wife left, my sister was letting the maid help the second princess to learn to walk."

"Oh, I don't know that Fuqing has already started to learn to walk. This child is growing fast. I thought of her being a small ball like a cat when she was born."

Ying Shi, the wife of Duke Kang who sat below her, said with a smile, "The Second Princess will be one year old in a few days, and it's time to learn to walk."

The queen nodded, and said to Aunt Du beside her: "Later, you can go to Concubine Chen's place and bring the little princess over for me to see. I may not have seen Fuqing for a long time."

Aunt Du smiled and answered yes.

Then the queen asked Yinniang some matters about her newlywed life to express her concern, and told Yinniang to follow the example of "Nvjie" and "Book of Filial Piety" to serve her uncle and aunt, stabilize the inner house and so on, and then rewarded some cloth, gold and silver objects some type of.

Yin Niang and Lin Fengqi Xie En accepted the reward, and saw that the queen was faintly absent-minded, so they, Ying Shi and Xiao Yang Shi, bid farewell and left the palace one after another.

After leaving the palace gate, the carriage of Duke Kang's mansion was the first to arrive. Ying resigned from Yinniang, Xiao Yang and others, and left first in her own carriage.

After Mrs. Ying left, Yinniang thought of Sister Yun, so she asked Mrs. Yang, "Auntie, how is Sister Yun?"

Miss Yang thought of her daughter who had been pampered and raised, and couldn't help sighing, and replied: "The nunnery is miserable, how could it be better?"

Young Master Wang married Dongyang Bo's girl, and Xiao Yang originally wanted to settle the marriage between Sister Yun and Princess Ningyang's second son as soon as possible, so as to calm down the rumors about this matter.Young Princess Ningyang's second son, Xiao Yang, went to see it in person. He is a good-looking talent, and he has no troubles with lust. In terms of conditions, Princess Ningyang loves this second son so much that he is no worse than that kid from the Wang family.

But Sister Yun admitted her death, she was unwilling no matter what, and threatened them with scissors that if she was forced again, she would wring her hair and become a sister-in-law.Mrs. Yang was angry and hated, and Mrs. Jiang Tai was so angry that she fell ill on the bed. After waking up, she said directly: "If she wants to be a sister-in-law, let her do it, and immediately ask someone to pack her things and send her to the hospital. Go to the nunnery, our Jiang family does not have such a disappointing girl."

Sister Yun is stubborn, no matter what, she really plans to go to the nunnery.

Xiao Yang knelt down in front of Mrs. Jiang Tai to intercede with Sister Yun.The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship between Mrs. Yang and Mrs. Jiang was not good. This time, she resented Mrs. Yang for not being able to teach her daughter, closing the gate of the courtyard, and allowing Mrs. Yang to kneel outside, refusing to talk about it.

Mrs. Yang couldn't help it, but she also thought that it would be good for Sister Yun to live in the nunnery for a few days to calm down, so she helped Sister Yun pack her things, and picked a dozen trustworthy maids to go with Sister Yun The nunnery not only takes care of her daily life and food, but also provides her with companionship.

Although outsiders knew that Weibeihou's girl lived in the nunnery, they thought it was because the Jiang family wanted to reduce the influence of the Wang family's refusal to marry Dongyang Bo on their own girl, but they didn't know the real reason.Although Yinniang vaguely knew that things were not that simple, she didn't know the specific reason, but when she heard that Sister Yun had gone to the nunnery, she sighed deeply for Sister Yun.

Seeing Xiao Yang's haggard and gloomy face, Yinniang couldn't help sympathizing with her, and said to her, "Don't worry, Auntie, maybe one day sister Yun will figure it out, so she will come back by herself. After a few days I will be free, I will go Look at her."

Xiao Yang held Yinniang's hand, patted it lightly a few times, and said gratefully: "Good boy, thank you, auntie."

Yin Niang said a few more comforting words, and then the carriages and horses from Weibei Hou Mansion and Yongning Hou Mansion also arrived.Yinniang and Lin Fengqi said goodbye to Xiao Yang again.

Lin Fengqi helped Yinniang to get into the carriage first, then jumped up himself, and after entering the carriage and sat on the couch covered with brocade halls, Lin Fengqi pulled his little lady over and asked with concern: "Are you tired? "

Yin Niang shook her head and said, "Not tired!"

This is the truth.Although there are many rules in the palace, today is not a big occasion after all, and the empress is a kind person, so there is nothing to waste her energy on.Just thinking of the third prince who looks like his sister, and the sister who hasn't seen the little prince since giving birth, I can't help but feel sad for my sister.This sadness was directly expressed on her face, Yinniang couldn't help sighing: "I met the third prince today, he looks so beautiful, he looks like my sister. But it's a pity, my sister hasn't seen him yet."

Because of the cold wind blowing when leaving the palace, Yinniang didn't wear gloves. At this time, both hands were icy cold. Lin Fengqi was helping Yinniang rubbing her hands with his head down. Hearing Yinniang's words, he couldn't help but She raised her head and said: "Your sister is a smart person, she keeps her duty and knows how to be content, she will be a blessed person in the future."

Yin Niang glared at Lin Fengqi with her round eyes, and said with some displeasure: "Look at what you said, it seems that my sister will not keep her duty and be satisfied when she sees the little prince."

Lin Fengqi was not worried that Yinniang would be angry, but felt that Yinniang's way of staring at people with her eyes was a bit coquettish, like a cat gently scratching a few times in a person's palm, making people feel itchy.Lin Fengqi smiled and pinched Yin Niang's nose, and said: "I didn't say that, you are thinking wrongly. But since the little prince was raised by the empress's side, the concubine Chen avoided getting close to the little prince. It’s always good for the prince to still be Empress Chen.” After speaking, he put Yinniang’s hands under his clothes to help her keep warm.

Yinniang said: "My child can't get close to him. I don't know what good it is." As she spoke, she felt her hands in her husband's arms itch, and she couldn't help complaining: "Oh, don't scratch me. The palms are so itchy."

In Fengyi Palace.

The queen sat on the seat at the top of the hall, put her hands on the table in front of her, tapped the table lightly with her fingers, her eyes were blurred, and it was impossible to guess what she was thinking.The queen has maintained this posture for a long time, and has maintained this posture since Mrs. Kang Guogong's wife and Mrs. Weibeihou left.

Aunt Du couldn't help but yelled worriedly: "Your Majesty!"

The queen heard the voice, and then slowly opened her eyes.The queen asked: "Is Chen'er asleep?"

Chen is the name of the third prince.The surname of Dayan State is Li, and the princes follow Yu for a generation. For example, the first prince is named Qi, and the second prince is named Fing.On the fifth day after the birth of the third prince, Emperor Jinghui chose the character Chen as the name of the third prince from the four characters sent by the clan mansion.

Chen means treasure.The emperor chose this as the name of the third prince, from which it can be seen that the emperor attaches great importance to the new prince.

Aunt Du replied: "Yes, the nanny has just fed the milk and has already put her to sleep."

The queen nodded to show that she understood, and then asked: "A few days ago, you were sent out of the palace to see the old man. How do you see the old man's physical condition? Is it really as bad as the doctor said?"

Aunt Du couldn't help but hesitated to speak, not knowing how to reply to the Queen's words.

Seeing Aunt Du's appearance, the queen couldn't help but sadly said: "You can tell from your appearance, the situation is probably worse than what the imperial physician said."

Aunt Du said: "Ma'am, please forgive me!"

The queen was brought up by Kang Guogong, and the relationship with Kang Guogong is naturally deeper than other sisters.Hearing that Kang Guogong is not good, no matter how happy and angry he usually is, he will inevitably show a sad look at this time.I also thought of my natal Kang Guogong's mansion, my father and brother were both incompetent, and my adult concubine was not close to me, and he was so ambitious and selfish, my direct brother was still young, not to mention my cousin, who died last year It's a conspiracy.After the old man left, there was not even a single person who could support the family in the entire Kangguo mansion, which was incomparable to the lush and leafy Ningguo mansion.

The queen just felt sad for a while, and soon returned to her normal expression.The queen asked again: "How is Concubine Shu?"

"These days are tight, the gates of the palace are closed, and the scriptures are copied every day, and even the concubines who are close to her don't do anything excessive."

The Queen nodded.Thinking about it, I know, anyway, it's only a few days, when the two Xue generals of Duke Ning come back and the emperor returns to favor her, it won't be too late to settle some accounts, so why should she make trouble at this time.

The queen couldn't help but said helplessly: "I don't know how much effort I have spent in these years. Only when Concubine Shu gave birth to the eldest prince, did she push Concubine Shu to the position of Concubine Shu. This time, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep it down." , the status of a noble concubine is indispensable."

Aunt Du comforted: "Your Majesty, even if you are a noble concubine, you still won't be able to get past you. What's more, the emperor may not have plans in mind because of the fact that the mansion is easy to gain power and has a radical temper."

The queen waved her hand and said: "Forget it, I can only think this way." After finishing speaking, she cheered up and said, "There have been a lot of happy events in the court recently, and the harem should also share the joy of the previous court. Chen Pin and others have added a new prince to the emperor, which is also a great achievement for the royal family, and their status should also be promoted. There are also those new sisters in the palace who have made meritorious service to the emperor, and they should also be promoted."

(End of this chapter)