When the twilight sun filled the earth, the entire imperial palace was shrouded in a touch of golden yellow. With the coolness of the morning, the palace people hurried to the direction of the palaces. At the same time, the atmosphere in the huge Golden Luan Hall was solemn.
The courtiers have been discussing the salt tax case recently, and this time it involves members of the Liu family, and they don't know how the emperor will make a decision. The servant Liu was demoted last time, and they feel that the emperor is likely to start suppressing the Liu family.
"There are many doubts about this matter, so I will hand it over to Prime Minister Lu to investigate and deal with it. We must find out the dishonest person as soon as possible!"
After the words of the people on the dragon chair fell, Prime Minister Lu immediately bowed and stood up, "I must strictly investigate!"
Seeing this, other people's minds instantly became active. No one knew that the relationship between Prime Minister Lu and the Liu family was in dire straits. It seemed that the emperor was determined to take care of the Liu family.
There was a lot of discussion below, the people on the dragon chair suddenly chuckled, and said in a serious voice: "I have always taken the advice of my lovers to heart last time. It is indeed time for the prince to start a family. Candidates?"
The sudden words made all the courtiers stunned. You must know that the emperor has always avoided talking about this matter in the past, but today he took the initiative to mention it. After the shock, who still remembers the salt tax? Word.
"My Majesty, I think that the candidate for the crown princess must be dignified and virtuous, without losing her talent and appearance, so that everyone can be convinced, and Prime Minister Lu's daughter is a unique choice."
It was the servant of the Ministry of Rites who spoke, and then an old censor next to him also stood up, "Your Majesty, although Prime Minister Lu's daughter-in-law is good, it is well known that she has a gentle and quiet temperament, but she lacks atmosphere, which may be unconvincing. Liu Shangshu's daughter is not only a childhood sweetheart with His Highness the Crown Prince, but also has a good temperament and courage, so I think she can become a role model in every palace just like the empress."
Speaking of this, someone immediately sneered, "Liu Yushi, you are also a scholar, how can you take savagery as courage, it is really ridiculous, and the daughter of Liu Shangshu can't read big characters, how can she become a prince?" concubine?"
For a moment, everyone was arguing with each other. Liu Guozheng stood there with a calm expression, as if the matter had nothing to do with him, watching the people arguing endlessly.
At this moment, an academician of the Imperial Academy suddenly said: "My lord Zhang's words are wrong. I heard what Shen Taifu said. Although Miss Liu has a short education, she is very intelligent and exquisite. Choosing the crown princess is not about picking the champion. What's the use of being good at writing?"
Everyone didn't expect that the Liu family's hands had reached out to the Hanlin Academy. Who didn't know that Liu Yin was reckless and aggressive, without any restraint from a woman's family, how could Taifu Shen say such a thing.
Hearing the endless disputes of the people below, the person on the dragon chair just said meaningfully: "I think the proposals of the Aiqings are all good. The daughters of Lu Aiqing and Liu Aiqing have their own merits, but there is only one princess. What do you do, my lord?" look?"
In an instant, everyone turned their attention to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince who had been silent all this time. No one knew how the Crown Prince hated the Liu family's concubine daughter so much, how could he marry such a rude and pungent woman back home.
Facing everyone's gaze, Qin Yan suddenly took a step forward and nodded slightly, "My cousin is just straightforward, and my son... also likes it very much."
As soon as the words fell, the entire hall was silent, and even the sound of breathing was so clearly audible, everyone looked at their unpredictable Prince Highness as if they were seeing a ghost, and they did not regain their senses after a long delay.
How could His Royal Highness want to marry such a woman? !
It must be to win over the Liu family! It must be so!
Not to mention other people, even Liu Guozheng, who has always had nothing to do with himself, has a slight change in his eyes. The biggest stimulus he has received in his life is at this moment. He thought that it would take a lot of work to make his daughter a princess. He refused to accept the Liu family's overtures, but when everything came so easily, he felt that it was so unreal!
Of course, he must know that the prince's words are just superficial, and he is only willing to marry his daughter because of the Liu family. He would never dare to dream of liking his daughter.
The hall was still so quiet, the emperor looked at his son with deep eyes, and suddenly said, "In that case, the Ministry of Rites will take care of this matter, and we will get married on a good day and auspicious day. As for Lu Aiqing's daughter... then give it to the emperor." How about being a side concubine?"
The calm voice immediately brought everyone back to their senses, and Prime Minister Lu immediately said respectfully: "Thank you, Your Majesty, being able to be your Highness's side concubine is naturally a blessing to the family of the humble minister, and it is also a blessing that the little girl has cultivated throughout her life."
The others also quickly echoed, "Your Majesty is wise!"
The sound in the hall was deafening, Qin Yan stood there without making a sound, his expression was as calm as water, without any waves.
Until the court came down, everyone still couldn't figure out what the emperor meant. Since he wanted to attack the Liu family, why did he let Liu Yin become the princess? It's really unpredictable.
As for Liu Guozheng, he could only wait until the end of the court to dismiss the congratulations from his colleagues, and quickly caught up with the prince, while the others around him also retreated wisely.
It wasn't until there was no one else around the palace road that Liu Guozheng smiled and waved his hands to the prince, "The empress empress has never given this minister any information about this matter. Your Highness's suddenness really frightened this minister."
He just wanted to know what the prince meant, how could he really accept the Liu family's overture
Looking at each other, Qin Yan stopped in his tracks, and said in a gentle voice, "This matter is indeed sudden, but uncle can rest assured that Gu will not treat my cousin badly."
Looking at the young man in front of him, Liu Guozheng was still full of doubts, he couldn't help vomiting, "But... Your Majesty..."
"It's getting late, I have to go to the council hall alone, and go first." After speaking, he turned and left.
Liu Guozheng was left there alone, frowning, and made her daughter the crown princess, and made Lu Lixing's daughter the side concubine. The emperor was clearly restricting their Liu family, but the strange thing was that the prince had never Said these superficial words, otherwise he would not have been ignoring his daughter, and now he said that he would not treat Yin'er badly, which is really strange. It seems that he has to discuss it with his sister.
Changchun Palace.
Just after leaving the morning parlors of the various palaces, the queen stood in front of the window, holding scissors and trimming the potted plants without haste, while slowly saying: "The emperor only went to Concubine Li for a few days. The palace is showing off its power, it really doesn't know good and bad, when the emperor succeeds to the throne in the future, I will see how arrogant that cheap hoof is."
In the inner hall, only the red apricot was waiting there, and the scorching sun shone into the hall through the window sill, sprinkled a piece of golden yellow, she lowered her head and echoed: "Concubine Li is indeed ignorant of current affairs, and I don't think there is a fifth princess here." , I am not afraid that you will find a bad marriage for the fifth princess in the future."
Speaking of this, the queen suddenly raised her phoenix eyes, and cut off a branch and leaf with a "click", "You are right, the emperor has always wanted to win over the poor, and when the time comes, he will marry the fifth princess to a sour scholar. In order to win over the officials again, it also made that scumbag helpless, let's see how she can still hold her head high in front of this palace."
"Your Majesty's words are very true." Hong Xing laughed immediately.
"My lady! My lady!"
At this time, a palace lady rushed in from outside the palace, and the empress frowned with displeasure on her face, "Why are you so panicked, there are no rules at all now."
After taking a breath, the court lady immediately fell to her knees in fear, "Your Majesty, forgive me! It's just that the servant just got the news that the emperor granted marriage to Miss Biao and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and now the imperial decree has come out of the palace."
There was a crisp "click", and a branch fell into the pot in an instant. The queen quickly put down the scissors, her dignified and beautiful face was full of surprise, "You...you say it again!"
It was Hong Xing who came back to her senses first, and said with a smile, "Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations, you finally got your wish."
All this has never happened so suddenly. The queen was stunned for a long time. After a long time, her shocked face was filled with joy. She thought it would take a lot of twists and turns, but she didn't expect it to come so fast, and the emperor still had a little wind There was no leak, and besides, the prince actually agreed to marry his niece, which really caught her by surprise.
At the same time, Liu Yin, who was in the Liu Mansion, was still learning embroidery with her mother. Although she didn't like this boring thing, she still gritted her teeth and learned there patiently.
The room was silent, and after finally finishing embroidering a flower, she couldn't wait to hand it over, "Mother, do you think you have made great progress?"
Although the stitches of the flowers on the embroidered handkerchief are extremely rough, they still have a look, unlike the past when her daughter was unwilling to touch the needles. Knowing that her daughter is already sensible, Mrs. Zhang touched her head with satisfaction, "Very good, practice again." In a few months, I will be able to embroider one for your father."
Hearing this, Liu Yin immediately put down her needlework and rubbed her numb wrists, her face was full of displeasure, "I won't embroider for Dad, but yesterday I asked him if he wanted a second painting and he didn't want to give it, it's really stingy."
"That's your father's collection, and you don't know how to appreciate paintings, so what do you want it to do?" Mrs. Zhang nodded her forehead reproachfully.
When the words fell, Liu Yin immediately explained, "Father has so many collections, what's wrong with giving me a pair, then Taifu Shen is so kind to me, he doesn't dislike my illiteracy at all, and he is so patient, and he doesn't accept other valuables. I just want to send some calligraphy and painting as a token of appreciation, isn't it forbidden to build good relationships with others?"
Seeing her getting sharper and sharper, Mrs. Zhang shook her head helplessly, "Your father will take care of this kind of thing, as long as you, a girl, do your own thing well."
"But I also have to—"
"Ma'am! Ma'am!"
At this time, the door was suddenly pushed open, and a maid in green came in panting, as if there was something urgent, Liu Yin supported her head and glanced at her, "Sister Ping'er, why is it so urgent? My brother returned to Beijing early?"
"No...not..." Ping'er panted heavily, perhaps running in a hurry, sweating all over his head, pointing to the outside of the house and saying: "The palace...someone is coming from the palace..."
Hearing this, before Liu Yin asked, Ping'er continued: "The emperor granted marriage to the second young lady and His Highness the crown prince, go out and receive the order!"
After the words fell, even Mrs. Zhang's expression changed, and she put down the needle and thread in her hand instantly, with a serious expression. Liu Yin also sat up straight, and looked at the other party with a confused expression: "You...what did you say?"
"It's true!"
Ping'er stomped his feet, quickly pointed to the outside of the house and said anxiously: "If you don't believe me, you can go out and have a look, now everyone is waiting in the hall!"