In the original plot, Zhao Yijing relied on Xiao's guilt and self-blame, while recklessly pouring dirty water on Xiao's head, while spreading rumors, and finally forcing Zhao Lingwu to lock Xiao's house in the Buddhist hall.
At this moment, Meng Zezhi gave Zhao Yijing a hat of filial piety without saying a word. If it wasn't for Zhao Lingwu, who came late, he suppressed this matter with thunderous means. As long as the slightest bit of news spreads, Zhao Yijing can be buried by the excerpts that the imperial censor will play the next day.
Thanks to this incident, for the next two years, Zhao Yijing and Xing Xiaoya did not dare to jump around in front of people to brush their presence.
In the blink of an eye, it was the 23rd year of Guangde.
On the one hand, half a year ago, Meng Zezhi was promoted due to his contributions to the compilation of the History of the Song Dynasty and the History of the Yuan Dynasty. Under the promotion of Emperor Guangde, he was transferred from the Hanlin Academy to the Ministry of Household Affairs, and served as a senior official in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. .
The Qing officials in Jiangsu and Zhejiang were in charge of taxation, money and grain in the two provinces of Jiangxi and Zhejiang.
On the other hand, Zhao Lingwu, who was supposed to be seriously ill this year, is alive and well. The last time he fell ill was a few years ago.
In Zhao Lingwu's original words, this is all due to Xiao's daily cooking of medicated meals.
Meng Zezhi couldn't guess Xiao Shi's thoughts more and more.
On the fifth day of the sixth lunar month, on the 50th birthday of Emperor Guangde, he hosted a banquet for civil and military officials in Huangji Hall.
Contrary to Zhao Lingwu, in the plot, Emperor Guangde, who was originally strong and could live to 60 years old, has been in poor health in recent years, and he will get sick every three or five years. I'm afraid it won't last a few years.
As a result, the struggle for succession between the Second Prince's Party and the Seventh Prince's Party in the court became more and more intense.
But none of this has anything to do with Meng Zezhi. The household where he belongs has always been firmly in the hands of Emperor Guangde. The second prince and the seventh prince never dared to pull out their teeth, and they didn't have the time to woo him, a fourth-rank petty official.
Meng Zezhi also didn't need to stand in line, because he wore the halo of six yuan and the first rank on his head. As long as he didn't die, no matter who the next emperor was, he would be treated favorably.
"Come on, try this new robe I made for you."
Mrs. Xiao took a red robe from Mammy Zheng and put it on Meng Zezhi himself. The front and back of the robe were embellished with Yunyan patches.
Meng Zezhi lowered his head and let Xiao help him put on the black gauze hat.
"Really handsome." Xiao shi straightened his hair for him, with a smile on the corner of his mouth, looking extra gentle.
Today's Xiao, wearing a big red sleeved shirt, wearing a gold embroidered Yunxia Zhai pattern, and a pearl jade crown, looks particularly dignified and solemn.
Meng Zezhi always felt that there was something elusive in Xiao's expression, but he didn't take it to heart, because compared to this, he wanted to know how Xiao, who had been dormant for two years, would deal with the upcoming What happened at the Guangde Emperor's birthday banquet.
- If he remembers correctly, at noon today, Xing Xiaoya will be revealed to be the leftover daughter of the late Empress Xiaogong Qian, and then be named the eldest princess of Ning by the overjoyed Emperor Guangde.
"Madam, Master, the carriages and horses are ready, it's time to go." Shiqin walked in and reminded.
Hearing this, for some reason, a feeling of sadness came to her heart, Xiao Shi kept her face away, so that Meng Zezhi could not see the tears in her eyes, she said slowly, "Let's go then."
On the other side, Zhuyuyuan.
Zhao Yijing is also bathing and changing clothes under the service of the maid.
"Huh?" He touched the collar, always feeling that the touch was not as comfortable as before.
As if guessing what Zhao Yijing was thinking, the maid bowed and said, "If you go back to the prince, the plain satin sent from the mansion some time ago was taken by the prince's wife to make the little prince's clothes, so... this robe on your body I used cloud satin."
Zhao Yijing's good mood disappeared instantly.
If this was in the past, whenever there was something good in the mansion, it would definitely follow him closely. But since the incident two years ago, Xiao's attitude towards him has not been as good as before, saving him and Xing Xiaoya's daily peace of mind, but instead digging into Meng Zezhi's heart and lungs. Whatever he has, Meng Zezhi must also have it, and it will only be more than him, not less than him. If you think about it, you know that it will naturally account for his previous share.
Zhao Yijing didn't take this matter to heart at first. It's better for Xiao's to distance himself from him. Without Xiao Shi's fault, he and Xing Xiaoya lived a comfortable life. Anyway, he had Zhao Lingwu's backing, and Meng Zezhi couldn't shake his position in the imperial palace.
It wasn't until a year ago that Mrs. Xiao said at Meng Zezhi's coming-of-age ceremony that after a hundred years of her life, all the bodies around her would be left to Meng Zezhi.
Zhao Yijing changed his face on the spot.
Why
Don't look at the Xiao family as just a deep niece, but her net worth is equally high.
The Xiao family is an aristocratic family that has been inherited for two hundred years. The background is extraordinary. As the second son of the family, Xiao's father has been divided into 20% of the family property of the Xiao family, and most of them are isolated calligraphy and paintings. These things are worthless in the troubled times. Anything you take out is worth a thousand dollars.
And this is the second thing. Father Xiao was the first clan to defect to the rebel army. During the period, he followed the Emperor Taizu to fight in the north and south, siege the city and sink the city, and the spoils of war were not few. It's a pity that Xiao's father died early. If he can survive until Dayang establishes a country, he will definitely not be able to escape the title of an earl.
Father Xiao only had the daughter of the Xiao family. After his death, the family property would naturally belong to the Xiao family.
Zhao Yijing originally regarded these as things in his pocket, but Meng Zezhi stole it from the tiger's mouth. Can he not hate it
Just thinking about it, Xing Xiaoya came over with a box.
"Yijing." Xing Xiaoya opened the wooden box, and inside was a white jade pendant of mutton fat. She took out the jade pendant, bent down and hung it on Zhao Yijing.
A flash of surprise flashed in Zhao Yijing's eyes, and he asked, "Where did this jade pendant come from?"
Xing Xiaoya, who has lost the aura of a wealthy businessman, is just an ordinary woman. Only by relying on Zhao Yijing can she survive in this deep-sea-like palace compound.
Because her background was too low and her reputation was ruined, even a little maid next to Zhao Yijing could bully her when she first married into the Duke's Mansion.
It took her two full years to defeat Zhao Yijing's four maidservants, relying on her ability to win over men with one hand.
She put her arms around Zhao Yijing and said with a smile, "My father gave it to me. When I asked him where he got it, he didn't say anything, he just said it was for my dowry. From the first time I saw it, I felt Especially for you. I think that we have been married for so long, and I have never given you any special gift. Just, this gift for you is regarded as a token of my love for you. "
Hearing this, Zhao Yijing's eyes flashed with emotion, he kissed Xing Xiaoya's forehead, and put his left hand on Xing Xiaoya's stomach, feeling the temperature on it, his expression softened slightly.
Two years later, Xing Xiaoya is pregnant again. Thanks to the blessings of the two stable mothers sent by Zhao Lingwu, Xing Xiaoya's child is sitting extremely stable, and the child in her womb is already five months old.
Zhao Yijing felt a lot of relief when he was pregnant with his beloved wife and son.
According to the seat arrangement of the birthday banquet, the first- and second-rank ministers and the noble seats of the princes are in the hall of Huangji Palace, the envoys of the vassals are under the hall corridor, the third-rank officials are on Danbiyong Road, and the fourth-rank and lower officials are in Danchi (Palace). The buffer level between the outer steps and the steps) left and right, the inner and outer women are uniformly received by the empress.
Therefore, as soon as he entered the palace, Meng Zezhi separated from Xiao Shi and others.
As soon as noon arrived, the banquet started on time, and the Zhonghe Shao music was played. Under the service of the princes, Emperor Guangde ascended to the throne of Huangji Palace. Civil and military officials presented fifty golden ruyi woven with gold threads, and alternate officials presented longevity screens...
After each procedure, the officials present had to kowtow, stand up, and return to their seats with the orders of the minister of Honglu Temple. This was repeated six or seven times, and finally it was Emperor Guangde’s turn to personally witness the birthday ceremony of the ministers’ tribute.
The officials finally had a chance to breathe.
…
A member of the Ministry of Rites held a gift list and read: "Prince Qian of Zheng Guo will take a dragon boat to celebrate the birthday of the immortals with ivory carvings."
Then there were two inner supervisors carrying a dragon boat.
Zheng Guogong immediately took his son out of class to pay homage: "Wei Chen congratulates you on a long life, such as the East Sea, and your longevity as Nanshan."
Just look at the dragon boat, which is divided into upper, middle and lower layers. The upper layer has dragon and phoenix flags, lids, and umbrellas.
"Okay, okay." Emperor Guangde was overjoyed: "Empress Zheng Guogong has a heart, reward!"
The eunuch Tao An immediately unfolded the imperial decree in his hand and read: "The royal bestows Zheng Guogong a jade Ruyi handle, fifty taels of gold..."
This decree was written long ago.
"Long live, long live, Xie Wuhuang."
After speaking, Zheng Guogong bowed and stepped back, but his expression changed drastically when he passed by the seats of Zhao Lingwu and Zhao Yijing.
The Minister of Rites continued to sing: "The Duke of Qi is dedicated to offering..."
"Zheng Guogong?"
"Where did your jade pendant come from?"
A loud shout interrupted the words of Ribu Langzhong, and also attracted the attention of all the officials in the palace.
"What's going on?" Emperor Guangde asked.
Zheng Guogong reacted incoherently: "Long live, long live..."
With that said, he ran to the front of the hall, holding the jade pendant he snatched from Zhao Yijing in his hand, knelt down, and shouted with a trembling voice, "Look, what do you think this is?"
The moment the jade pendant entered his eyes, Emperor Guangde's expression froze, and his pupils slowly tightened. He staggered to his feet, got off the dragon chair, walked to Zheng Guogong, took the jade pendant with trembling hands, and said with a sob, "Zi Zi Tong, Zi Tong…”
The next moment, he came back to his senses and asked, "Where did it come from, where did this jade pendant come from?"
Zhao Yijing immediately got off work and knelt down: "Long live, this jade pendant was originally a dowry given to my wife by my father-in-law, and then my wife gave it to me."
"Your father-in-law is in the capital now." Emperor Guangde barely maintained his composure, with an indescribable excitement in his heart.
"If you go back to His Majesty, you are in the capital."
Years ago, Xing Xiaoya took her family to the capital.
Zhao Yijing's heart was beating like thunder, and there was a bold guess in his heart.
"Tao An, Tao An—" Emperor Guangde shouted loudly.
"Follow the decree." Tao An knew what to do without Emperor Guangde's orders.
In the Jiaotai Hall, the queen was accepting a group of women to pay homage to her, and suddenly an internal supervisor walked in in a hurry: "Qi to the empress, long live to summon the prince and wife of the Duke of Song."
In the audience, the queen didn't ask much, just nodded and asked, "Where is the prince and wife of the Duke of Song?"
"The minister's wife is here." Xing Xiaoya, who did not know why, immediately stood up and bowed in response.
"Long live calling you, go."
"Yes." For some reason, Xing Xiaoya suddenly felt a strong unease in her heart.
Seeing this scene, Xiao shi's brows and eyes drooped slightly, and a sneer flashed on the corner of his mouth.
On the other side, outside the Royal Palace.
"What's the matter, why is there no sound inside?"
"I don't know."
Just as he was talking, the eunuch Tao An hurried out of the palace with his footsteps and disappeared at the gate of the palace.
Just when the officials were puzzled, about half an hour later, Tao An came back, followed by a timid middle-aged couple.
"Where did you get this jade pendant?" Emperor Guangde asked anxiously.
Father Xing was crawling on the ground, he didn't dare to take a breath, his mind was in chaos, and he said incoherently: "Hui, Hui, long live, this, this jade pendant was picked up by me..."
"Pick it up?"
the more you hope, the harder you fall.
Emperor Guangde couldn't bear such a blow, his face paled, he stumbled, and almost fell to the ground.
"Long live." The eunuch Tao An quickly reached out to support him.
Then I heard Father Xing say: "I was with my little daughter, right by the Yellow River, and there was a female corpse lying beside her. I saw that she was still alive, and I couldn't bear it, so I took her home. The jade pendant is worn around my daughter's neck."
"Daughter?" Emperor Guangde's eyes lit up, his eyes fell on Xing Xiaoya, who was on the side, breathing quickly: "Is it her, is it her?"
"Yes."
Emperor Guangde took a deep breath, took two steps forward, hugged Xing Xiaoya who pretended to be dazed after the ecstasy, and instantly burst into tears: "Like, these eyes really look like..."
Xing Xiaoya is the daughter of the late Empress Xiaogong Qian.
Xing Xiaoya is Zhao Yijing's wife.
Zhao Yijing is his companion.
What a help this is.
The second prince's heart beat faster, and without hesitation, he knelt down and shouted, "Congratulations to the emperor, congratulations to the emperor, Hexi, the emperor, on the Longevity Festival, I found the emperor's sister, and I am more than happy."
The officials under him immediately knelt down: "Long live congratulations, long live congratulations, on the Longevity Festival, the princess is found, and it's even more congratulations."
The seventh prince reacted and his face sank, but he didn't dare to sway Emperor Guangde's enthusiasm at this juncture, and objected to something, so he could only clench his teeth and knelt down.
"Okay, okay." Emperor Guangde was overjoyed, he helped Xing Xiaoya up from the ground with his own hands, and then with a big wave, he made Xing Xiaoya the eldest princess of Ning, father Xing the marquis of Huai'an, and mother Xing the first-class wife.
They also ordered people to add places for them in the main hall.
What does it mean to fly on the branches and become a phoenix, and what does it mean to end the hardships, that's all—
Xing Xiaoya smiled, proud, surprised, excited...
Then she remembered Xiao Shi, and a sharp look flashed in her eyes.
Zhao Yijing was also very surprised. In this way, after a hundred years of Zhao Lingwu, he would not have to downgrade the emperor.
And Shaw...
Once the news is out.
In the Jiaotai Hall, the inner supervisor who came to report the letter was sent away. After the sourness was over, the queen was overjoyed. What the second prince could think of, she could naturally think of it.
The second prince is her son.
As if remembering something, she looked at Xiao Shi with a smile: "Congratulations to Mrs. Song Guogong..."
But she didn't want to face Xiao Shi's pale face, her voice was stagnant.
Xiao shi stared, as if thinking of something, trembling all over: "Impossible, how can..."
As she said that, she rolled her eyes and fainted.
"Mrs. Song Guogong?"
The scene was instantly chaotic.
I don't know who said it: "I remember that Mrs. Song Guogong seems to be at odds with Princess Ning!"
The scene fell silent again in an instant.
Everyone looked at Xiao Shi with a hint of pity in their eyes, miserable, really miserable, once the daughter-in-law turned over, Xiao Shi's future life might not be easy.
They only thought that the other party fainted because they were afraid of Xing Xiaoya's revenge.
Outside Huangji Hall, outside Huangji Hall, Xiao Deren was shocked, and with a snap, the wine glass in his hand fell to the ground and was torn apart.
The ceremony continues.
"Li Wentian, the right servant of the Ministry of Rites, presented the Duan inkstone, and the Dali Temple Qingzong and friends presented a set of Yixing purple clay pots..."
"Reward." Emperor Guangde was a little impatient. Rather than sitting here admiring these flashy gifts, he wanted to find a quiet place to talk to Xing Xiaoya about his father-daughter relationship.
"Xiao Deren's offering to the Imperial College..."
The Libu Langzhong who sang the ceremony suddenly lost his voice.
"Huh?" Emperor Guangde looked back at him.
The Minister of Rites blinked and reassured that he was not mistaken, and then read in a changed voice: "I will present a jade pendant to Queen Qian for the sacrifice of the Imperial Prince Jian."
"what?"
Xing Xiaoya was shocked.
Emperor Guangde's expression changed.
For a while, everyone's eyes in the hall were focused on Xiao Deren.
Xiao Deren reluctantly maintained his composure. The matter had come to this point, and he could no longer be allowed to go back on his regrets. It was just like this, I was afraid that he would be sorry for Zhao Yijing, but he thought of Zhao Yijing's withdrawal from his relatives, which led to his young daughter being old because of her old age. His husband's family couldn't be found, his face sank, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Wei Chen congratulates you on a long life, such as the East Sea, and your longevity as Nanshan."
Emperor Guangde came back to his senses and only said, "Bring up that jade pendant."
The big eunuch Tao An immediately took the brocade box from the little eunuch and presented it to Emperor Guangde.
Emperor Guangde picked it up and looked at it, but it was a piece of jade pendant that was not very good, and the pattern was roughly the same as that of the white suet pendant.
He frowned slightly: "What does Aiqing mean?"
"Rongchen is in charge," Xiao Deren tried his best to keep his tone calm: "The matter needs to start from 21 years ago. Back then, Zen Master Huihe gave orders to my little nephew, saying that before the age of 22, he could not marry a wife and have children. Otherwise, there will be fear of life. In fact, this is just one of the sentences, and the other sentence is indescribably expensive."
"The cousin of the minister was apprehensive after hearing this. How can these four words of indescribable value be used by ordinary people..."
Hearing this, all the officials present nodded in agreement.
"The cousin of the minister has gained a lot of attention because of this, and also sees the appearance of the little nephew of the minister," Xiao Deren lowered his voice a bit: "It really doesn't look like the grandfather of the country."
Emperor Guangde reacted and asked, "Your little nephew is Zhao Yian!"
"Yes."
He looked at Zhao Lingwu subconsciously, and when he thought about it carefully, it really didn't look like it.
Zhao Lingwu's expression was complicated, and he didn't know what to think in his heart.
Xiao Deren continued: "So Chen's cousin found Wei Chen, and wanted to ask Wei Chen to help him to investigate one or two. It happened that day was Aunt Song's death anniversary... Aunt Song was the biological mother in the name of An, and he wore it that day. A piece of jade pendant came to my house, this jade pendant is the relic of Concubine Song."
"The wife of the minister was shocked when she saw this jade pendant. She once handed over a handkerchief to Empress Xiaogong Qian, and she was familiar with the pattern of this jade pendant... So Wei Chen followed this line to check, and finally found the The truth of the matter was found out last month."
He took a deep breath: "In the third year of Guangde, the Tartars invaded the border, and the capital fell. Aunt Song and maid Qingqiu, who were pregnant with Liujia, were unfortunately lost in the war and gave birth to a daughter on the way to escape. She was disappointed, just because She gave birth to a daughter, so she can't be a pet for herself. Just at this moment, she found a female corpse and a baby boy crying weakly by the Yellow River.
"Later, she felt sorry for her daughter, so she took off a piece of suet white jade pendant hanging from the baby boy's neck and hung it around her daughter's neck, thinking that with this jade pendant, the family who adopted her would definitely Treat her well... Later, Concubine Song, who returned to the government's mansion, was full of remorse, and hated why she only thought of stealing the boat instead of using the baby boy and her daughter as twins. With guilt for her daughter, she entrusted her with someone else. Created this jade pendant."
After a long silence, Emperor Guangde said, "Is there any witnesses?"
"Long live, Concubine Song's personal maid, Qingqiu, is waiting at Wei Chen's house."
"pass-"
Emperor Guangde paused: "Xuan Zhao entered the temple with An'an."
The author has something to say:
Meng Zezhi: Bring tea to the mother (elder) and relative (old man)!