A Thousand Hills

Chapter 50

It snowed heavily all night, and it was still falling when Xie Moru woke up. The snow was too heavy, so he couldn't go for a walk in the garden.

Xie Moru put on the crane cloak, the wisteria held the umbrella, and the phoenix tree followed. The master and servant went to the garden, picked a few plum blossoms, and returned to the house to put vases to enjoy.

Nanny Zhang smiled, "This flower is really energetic."

Xie Moru pointed to another vase of flowers and said, "Send it to the second uncle's courtyard."

Nanny Zhang said, "Second Master probably rested at the Princess' Mansion yesterday." I haven't heard of him coming back.

"If you can't come back, send it to the second uncle." The relationship between the second uncle and Princess Yi'an is still very good, and they often stay in the princess mansion.

Nanny Zhang said, "Why don't you break a few more branches and give them away to every courtyard."

Xie Moru just smiled and said nothing, Zhang Nanny knew that there was no need to say any more, and sent Wutong to send flowers.Xie Moru put the pruned flower branches by the makeup mirror, if you are kind to everyone, then no one will miss you.And she doesn't need to be nice to everyone.

For a while, after breakfast, Xie Moru went to Songbaiyuan to pay his respects.

Mrs. Xie smiled, "I was just about to say, on such a snowy day, it doesn't matter if you don't come."

Xie Moru saluted, sat down and said, "It's cold and in good spirits, with such a beautiful snow scene, I'm willing to come out for a walk."

Xie Moyou came earlier than Xie Moru, and said with a smile, "Yes, when I came here, I deliberately went around to the garden, and several plum blossoms were in bloom. Grandma, when the snow stops, let's go enjoy the plum blossoms."

Mrs. Xie smiled, "OK."

Su Lan brought hot tea, Xie Moru took it, and said with a smile, "Yesterday, when grandma went to Cheng'en Gong's mansion, Mrs. Shou'an's birthday banquet was still lively?"

Mrs. Xie smiled, "It was very lively, several princes and princesses also went, His Majesty gave calligraphy, and the Empress Dowager gave many birthday presents."

Xie Moru was very willing to know some outside things, and said, "Which princes and princesses are there?"

"The eldest prince and the second prince, and Princess Yongfu, Princess Jingjiang, have all gone."

Xie Moru's heart moved, "Princess Changtai didn't go?"

Mrs. Xie glanced at Su Lan, and Su Lan went out with her maid, Mrs. Xie said, "I was too far away, and I didn't see the little princes and princesses clearly. This is what I heard later. I haven't heard of Princess Changtai."

There were grandparents and grandchildren in the room, and Xie Moyou dared to speak more, and said, "Maybe it's Princess Changtai, what's the matter?"

"It's also possible." Xie Moru asked again, "Grandmother, is Princess Yongfu and Princess Changtai's birthday ceremony also in the twelfth lunar month?" Hearing Mrs. Xie mention it yesterday, Xie Moru is not quite clear about the details.

Mrs. Xie said, "The twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month. In fact, the two princesses have similar birthdays and similar ages. The Qintian Supervisor has calculated that it will be an auspicious day, so the palace plans to do it together. At that time, the imperial family ordered the wives to enter the palace. Congratulations."

Xie Moyou was curious, "Grandmother, it seems like ordinary people's daughters and daughters and Ji Li, they always invite their wives who are highly respected to be the guests of honor. If the princess and Ji Ji are the guests of honor?"

Mrs. Xie laughed, "Usually, it is the Empress Dowager who personally puts the hairpin on the princess's hair. Like this time the two princesses were married together, it is probably the Empress Dowager who put the hairpin on the princess's hair. Your empress presided over it." There are examples to follow.

Xie Moru was puzzled and said, "I read in the book that princesses are usually titled after the wedding ceremony. The two princesses have not yet arrived, so why are they given titles?"

Mrs. Xie sighed, "Empress Chu had a difficult childbirth when she was born to Princess Changtai, and she will die when she gives birth to Princess Changtai. Your Majesty is the heart of Queen An, so he gave the princess the title at that time. Princess Yongfu is a few days older than Princess Changtai. My sister With the title, Princess Yongfu is the older sister, so the title was added in advance. The remaining three princesses are young and don't have titles." Mrs. Xie said, and she understood in her heart, no wonder Princess Changtai didn't go to Chengen The government must have remembered the birth mother.

Xie Moru's eyes also flashed, since Queen Chu's memorial day is approaching, this is indeed a very good reason not to go to Cheng'en Gong's Mansion.

It seems that not all the princesses raised under the Empress Dowager Hu have the same heart with Duke Cheng'en's mansion.

Mrs. Xie took this opportunity to spread the word about the royal event to her granddaughters, that's all.Even at home, it's not easy to talk about royal affairs all the time.

Instead, Princess Yi'an sent someone to say that Princess Wenkang's mansion will have a plum feast tomorrow, and asked the two girls if they would like to go with them.

Princess Wenkang's family has no friendship with Xie's family, and now Princess Yi'an sent someone to ask, and the two girls were also asked.Xie Moru said that he would not go, seeing that Xie Moyou was a little moved, Xie Moru smiled and said, "I offended the eldest princess too much, so I don't want to go. My sister wants to go, just go. Last time we met Li Shizi, it was so kind However, there is a princess taking you with me, so there is nothing more appropriate."

Mrs. Xie also laughed, "The Merlin of the Princess's Mansion is famous even among the emperors." Princess Yi'an's kindness, Xie Moru is really not good at going to the Princess's Mansion, Xie Moyou is fine.

Xie Moyou then said generously to the female official, "Auntie, tell Your Highness that I will go with His Highness tomorrow. I just don't know when is the right time for me to go to the Princess Mansion?"

The female officer laughed, "It's good for the second girl to go there after breakfast."

Xie Moyou agreed.

Mrs. Xie left the female officer to say a few words, and the female officer left.

After the female officer left, Xie Moyou said, "Eldest sister, if I see the eldest princess, do you want to compensate for you?" She hurriedly added, "I just think that if the eldest princess really remembers it in my heart, Not too good."

Xie Moru smiled, "If Princess Yi'an is not sure, how can she take you there? Since she took you there, she is sure that the Eldest Princess will not care about what happened that day, at least, she will not blame you. I guess the Eldest Princess mentioned I don’t know how to mention it, don’t worry, and don’t need to make amends. Just act as if nothing happened, just play for a day.”

Xie Moyou nodded, feeling a little annoyed in her heart, she also understood what Xie Moru said.But, like a thin layer of window paper, Xie Moru could see through that layer of window paper, but she couldn't.Hey... Xie Moyou is discouraged.

Xie Moru took a sip of tea, what does Princess Yi'an mean?Make friends with her in-laws, or let the Xie family understand that the target of the Hu family is not the Xie family, but her Xie Moru?

No, it is wise to make friends with your in-laws, but it would be foolish to think otherwise.The Xie family is not someone's vassal, the Xie family is Xie Shangshu's Xie family.Even if the Xie family knew that the Hu family was targeting her, it was impossible for them to give up on her.The Xie family may not be able to control her, but she will not let the Xie family feel that she will lose control. She and the Xie family will always share common interests.

But no matter what, Princess Yi'an offered to extend her hand, and the Xie family would not refuse.Let Xie Moyou go, family children, marriage, future, the family serves the clan, and at the same time, the clan must also give back to the family.

Mrs. Xie was very attentive to Xie Moyou's teaching, letting her confidant Qi Nanny follow Xie Moyou, naturally hoping that Xie Moyou would have a future.

Xie Moyou needs such an opportunity, and the family is also happy to see it.

Sure enough, Mrs. Xie was already telling Xie Moyou, "Tomorrow, just dress up and play for a day, and let Mammy Qi go with you, and the rest of the girls, whoever is sensible, you can arrange it yourself." .”

Xie Moyou obediently agreed.

In the evening, Xie Bai came home from the yamen. He knew that Xie Moyou and Princess Yi'an would go to Wenkang Princess's mansion to enjoy plum blossoms tomorrow, so he said with a smile, "Go. Every year when it snows heavily, there will be plum blossoms at the Princess's mansion." Banquet, it's just that we didn't have any friendship between the two houses. Now that you are grown up, just follow the princess and play for a day."

After going back to his courtyard, he changed into his regular clothes, saw the plum blossoms in full bloom on the table, smiled and said to Mo Ju, "This flower is pretty good."

Huang Mei spoke quickly, and said, "Early in the morning, the eldest girl sent Wutong to deliver it."

Zigui said, "The eldest girl is also interesting, and the second master is not at home, so I sent it to the second master. I only sent a bottle to our yard, and there are no other yards." It was an honor to say .

Xie Bo sighed with a smile, "It's better than this temper."

Resting in the house for a while, Xie Bai went to the Rhododendron Courtyard and called Xie Moru to the Songbai Courtyard for dinner.

Mrs. Xie was very happy that the youngest son came home for dinner, so she called the eldest son, together with the grandchildren, sat down happily at the table, and made the wine hot, and said with a smile, "It's so cold, have a drink." Warm your body with wine." I'm happy, I'm so happy, Lord Shang, you can still meet Princess Yi'an, a good-tempered princess, good luck.The son and the princess can also get along well, as can be seen from the fact that the son stays in the princess mansion from time to time.Princess Yi'an is also polite to her in-law's family. If she has any diplomatic activities, she can still think of her two nieces from her in-law's family.

What a pleasure.

On the second day, the men went to court early, Xie Moyou took his maid and mother-in-law to Songbaiyuan to pay her respects after breakfast. The two personal maids who followed Xie Moyou went to Princess Yi'an's mansion.

Xie Moyou came back in the next noon, looking very happy, not only did Princess Wenkang not mention Xie Moru's incident at all, she also met many ladies at the Princess' mansion.Although Xie Moyou was born as a concubine, she has been favored more than Xie Moru since she was a child. A child who is favored has confidence and is full of momentum.What's more, Mrs. Jin Ninghou also took the girls from the house.Mrs. Ning's biological mother, Mrs. Ning, is the daughter of Mrs. Jin Ninghou. Even if Ning is a concubine, it is true in terms of blood relationship.Xie Moyou's own quality is not bad, and she went with Princess Yi'an, and the girls of Jin Ninghou Wang's family are willing to take care of her.Xie Moyou was very happy to meet a few ladies, and greeted Mrs. Xie when he came back, and went back to Shaoyaoyuan to change his clothes, and then came to Songbaiyuan to talk.It's nothing more than what ladies and plum blossoms you see.

Seeing her granddaughter happy, Mrs. Xie also beamed.Xie Moyou is a concubine, but she is not an ordinary concubine daughter. The Ning family is also an official family. Although Aunt Ning is locked up, when Xie Moyou talks about marriage in the future, if it is true that she is a concubine, even Mrs. Xie will not be reconciled. of.Cultivation at home is one aspect, and girls need to go out to learn more, and when they have their own qualities, they have to be known by outsiders.If outsiders know about it, they will naturally be able to talk about a good marriage.As for Xie Moru, according to Mrs. Xie, Xie Moru's marriage is nothing more than a good match, Xie Moru's marriage is hard to say, in terms of ability, only others are not worthy of Xie Moru, no one is not worthy of Xie Moru of.Alas, I just don't know if His Majesty will intervene... After all, there are things from the eldest princess's mansion back then, and when Fang's family married to Xie's family, the dowry was not inferior to that when Princess Wenkang married Yong'an Hou... This People, you can't live without money.Being too rich is also worrying.Thinking about it now, Mrs. Xie began to worry about Xie Moru.

However, the two granddaughters are still young, and Mrs. Xie still has a few years to think about.Now there is another big event.

On the second day after Xie Moyou came back from Wenkang Princess's mansion to appreciate the plum blossoms, the Empress Dowager fell in the palace, and all the mansions ordered everyone who heard the letter to hand over a sign to say hello.

In fact, when the news reached outside the palace, it was already the third day.After Mrs. Xie handed over the signboard and waited for a reply, it would be the fourth day to be able to enter the palace to say hello.

In the evening of the third day, Princess Yi'an came back from the palace and came here to thank the family. She inevitably talked about the empress dowager's phoenix body. The doctor said that he could get off the kang and walk around a few years ago." As he spoke, he frowned slightly, "It's just that the ceremony of Yongfu and Changtai is just in front of us. It was said that the empress dowager would tie their hair and add hairpins to them, but now the empress dowager can't move , but what should I do?"

Mrs. Xie said in her heart, it doesn't matter if we talk about it, so I can only worry about it with Princess Yi'an, "Yes." She said again, "If you want to come to the palace, you have to worry about it."

Princess Yi'an seemed to have no intention of saying, "Today, when I entered the palace, I heard my mother talk about it. She said that Mrs. Shou'an is of high virtue and is an old birthday star. Let Mrs. Shou'an be the guest of honor."

Mrs. Xie pretended to be listening respectfully, but did not speak.Princess Yi'an sighed, "I don't know what to do. What does Madam say?"

Mrs. Xie smiled, "If you want me to say, I don't have a clue what's going on. But the Ministry of Rites in the court is in charge of etiquette and law, and the learned adults in the Ministry of Rites are asked to participate in the auspiciousness and auspiciousness. Can't go wrong again."

Only now Princess Yi'an knows the ability of her mother-in-law, she is respectful and respectful, kind and kind, but when encountering major events, she can play Tai Chi very well, she really deserves to be the head mistress of the Shangshu Mansion.The key is that everything they say is correct.That's right, for matters of etiquette, ask the Ministry of Etiquette.

Princess Yi'an could only laugh, "That's what you said." I don't know if the Xie family doesn't want to get involved in this matter, or if they don't want to see Mrs. Shou'an as the princess and Jili's official guest.

Mrs. Xie smiled, "As long as the Empress Dowager is in good health, my wife can rest assured. My wife has a good peach blossom wine here, which is made by Abo. It's getting late, how about a taste, Your Highness?"

The relationship between Princess Yi'an and Xie Bai is still very good. Hearing what Mrs. Xie said, Princess Yi'an smiled, "I'm bothering Madam."

"What's the trouble, I can't ask for it."

When Xie Bo returned to the mansion, he said, "Go to the princess' mansion and say you are here." He asked Princess Yi'an, "Is the empress dowager all right?"

Princess Yi'an smiled, "The imperial doctor said that there is no bone injury, and he will be able to get off the kang and walk around by the end of the year."

Xie Bai stepped forward and took Princess Yi'an's hand, and smiled, "Come, come with me to our courtyard."

Princess Yi'an blushed slightly, she got up and nodded slightly to Mrs. Xie, and followed Xie Bo.Xie Bo changed into his regular clothes, and said, "It's snowing, it's cold, and the ground is slippery. You should be careful when you walk in the palace."

"I know." Princess Yi'an sat on the couch, looked at her husband's handsome face, and asked with a smile, "Is the new yamen busy?"

Xie Bo changed his errand and went to Honglu Temple since he was the Lord. The official was promoted, but his future was far less than that of the Hanlin Academy.Xie Bo smiled, "Honglu Temple is not busy at other times, but it is busy at the end of the year. It will be fine after being busy for a while."

The husband and wife sat on the couch and talked, and the maid brought hot tea. Princess Yi'an talked about Princess Yongfu, Princess Changtai and Jili, and discussed with her husband, "I think the Queen Mother means to let Mrs. Shou'an do it. Zhengbin, what do you think?"

Xie Bo said, "It stands to reason that the empress should be the one to preside over the princess's hair. But since the empress passed away, the post in the palace was empty, so it is reasonable for the empress to preside. It is also the first grade, but the two princesses are both princesses, so it is inappropriate for Mrs. Shouan to add hairpins to the princesses."

Princess Yi'an said, "Then who do you think is suitable?"

Xie Bo said, "This matter has been established for a long time. In the past, Princess Wenkang and Ji, it was Princess Ningping who put hairpins on her hair. Now that the queen mother is injured, Princess Wenkang can do it. It is suitable in terms of seniority and status. "

Princess Yi'an looked distressed, and Xie Bo remembered that Mrs. Shou'an was Princess Yi'an's grandmother. Xie Bai persuaded her, "Lady Yi'an is the grandmother of His Majesty, but she is not from the royal family." Why do you You can make an exception to be a princess, is it because your mother's surname is Hu? Wrong, it's because your father's surname is Mu!

Princess Yi'an said, "Sister Wenkang is indeed the right candidate, but Aunt Ningrong is the eldest princess. Although Aunt Ningrong is no better than Aunt Ningping, she is also the daughter of the Empress Shizu. If you bypass Aunt Ningrong directly, let Sister Wenkang presides over it, and Aunt Ningrong might lose face. I think it can be avoided if Mrs. Shouan presides over it."

Xie Bo didn't like Eldest Princess Ningrong, so he simply said, "It's none of our business, just don't meddle in it. As for what happens, it depends on His Majesty's will." Could it be that His Majesty was made by mud?My aunt, Princess Ningping, can kill her, so will His Majesty look at Princess Ningrong's face?This is too underestimating His Majesty.

Princess Yi'an smiled, "That's true too."

In the evening, Xie Bai and Princess Yi'an had a dinner at the Songbai Courtyard. Mrs. Xie and Xie Shangshu privately said, "I think the princess means to be a lobbyist for Mrs. Shou'an."

Xie Shangshu is indeed Xie Bai's biological father, the old man thought for a while and said, "Don't get involved in this matter, even if the Queen Mother fails, it will not be Mrs. Shou'an's turn. Isn't Princess Wenkang a hundred times more suitable than Mrs. Shou'an?" Was it the foot or the head that fell?How could you propose Mrs. Shou'an!
"I think so too." Mrs. Xie said, "Is the princess close to the Hu family?"

Xie Shangshu said, "After all, it is the mother clan of the princess. It is human nature to be close, but you can tell right from wrong. I will talk to Abo." She is not a real brand princess, I am afraid that Princess Yi'an lacks confidence , so it is inevitable that some want to rely heavily on the Hu family.It's just that the serious husband's family is here, so the Xie family is no better than the Hu family!Be a princess honestly, and you will have a lifetime of wealth and safety!
Alas, none of these women's brains can compare to Xie Moru's, and they always want to do some speculation.

That's not how speculation works.

Thinking that the old wife will enter the palace to pay her respects tomorrow, Xie Shangshu said, "If you see the noble concubine, don't tell the noble concubine not to talk about this matter. If you have to say something, you can talk about the Ministry of Rites, you can talk about the eldest princess, but you must not talk about it." Mrs. Shou'an and Princess Ningrong."

Mrs. Xie agrees.

After thinking for a while, Xie Shangshu said again, "Concubine Zhao Gui has the eldest son of the emperor in the palace, but if there is anything in the palace, tell the concubine that you can't compete with Concubine Zhao. If you can let it go."

Mrs. Xie said, "I know, your empress is not that competitive."

Xie Shangshu secretly sighed, how could he secure the position of imperial concubine without fighting for strength, how could he give birth to a prince without fighting for strength.It's just that the queen mother is partial to her mother's family, and Zhao Guogong's mansion is not small. For Concubine Xie, retreating is a struggle.

Cheng En Gong Mansion.

Princess Ningrong discussed the matter with Cheng Li, and Cheng Li said, "The queen mother is injured, according to the etiquette, it should be Princess Wenkang."

Princess Ningrong said, "How can I not know this, but the queen mother personally said that the old lady should be the guest of honor. In terms of seniority, the old lady is the grandmother of Wenkang's direct relative. The queen mother has said all this, and Wenkang is not good at it." fight."

Cheng Li said, "The Censor of the Ministry of Rites will not just sit back and watch."

"That will have to wait until the ceremony is over."

"His Royal Highness, when the censor hears about the typhoon, he will write the book. The old lady's generation and status, the censor will not participate in the performance at will, but if this matter is settled, it is difficult to guarantee that there will be no movement in the Zhao Guogong's mansion." what."

Princess Ningrong said, "Could it be possible to ask the old lady to resign?"

"Why don't you resign? Not only do you want to resign, but you must also ask the eldest princess and the old lady to persuade the queen mother, and ask the noble concubine to preside over it."

Eldest Princess Ning Rong raised her eyebrows, "Concubine?" Then she smiled again, "There are two concubines in the palace."

Of course a noble concubine is not allowed, but Cheng Bie had intentions, he smiled slightly, "Back then, Princess Wenkang and Ji were supposed to be presided over by the Empress Dowager. Humble, only the Empress Dowager was named the Noble Concubine. The Empress Dowager passed away, and Princess Ningping was in power, but she still refused to be the Empress Dowager in the Palace of Mercy, and when Princess Wenkang and Ji Ji, Princess Ningping thought that the Noble Concubine was not the Empress Dowager I personally preside over the Jiji ceremony for Princess Wenkang.”

"On that day, Xie Moru dared to mention Wang Mang at the Duke's residence. Today, you might as well use the noble concubine to remind His Majesty how Ning Ping used the courtesies of the eldest princess Wenkang to humiliate the empress dowager who was still a noble concubine." Cheng Li said softly. Said, "In this way, two birds with one stone will win, and the holy family will return to Cheng'en Gongfu!"

(End of this chapter)