***
In Nanjing city, the number of people who came to Xu's house to submit letters of visit suddenly increased in the past few days. Xu Yongshun was not a nouveau riche. He had enjoyed wealth and glory for generations since the generation of Xu Da in the Ming Dynasty. He had a profound foundation and naturally knew that he should keep a low profile at this time.
He simply hid in Longjiang Shipyard to supervise the shipyard's R&D department to speed up the development of iron-hulled ships. Those who came to visit were all told that the host was not at home, and they could only leave a visiting card and go home.
As for some dignitaries who should not have been offended, Xu Yongshun would choose a day to return and apologize based on the visiting card.
Now that Xu Zhaoyi in the palace has given birth to a prince, as the saying goes, a mother's status is determined by her son, it is probably only a matter of time before Xu Zhaoyi is promoted to a noble concubine.
Who knows what changes will happen in this world in the future? It will always be beneficial to build some connections now.
In this regard, Yang Tinglin, who was only one street away from the father-in-law's house, was very calm and turned a blind eye. But Madam Yang was a little restless, and she visited the homes of the powerful and wealthy in Beijing to chat with the first-rank and second-rank ladies more often.
That day, Yang Tinglin returned to the palace after court and found that his wife was not there again. When he asked the servants, they said that she had gone to visit the Duke of Xin again. When Yang Chen returned home in the evening, Yang Tinglin could not help but get furious.
After he drove all the servants out, he shouted, "What do you want to do? Are you deaf and dumb to be the emperor? I tell you, nothing in the capital can deceive the emperor. Hurry up and put away your little tricks and don't bring disaster to the queen, the prince and my Yang family."
Yang Chen was startled and replied somewhat aggrievedly: "Master, I just went to visit and didn't do anything. Why are you so angry? I am doing this for my daughter and the prince, right?"
"You have long hair but little knowledge. This is a way to bring disaster upon yourself. From tomorrow on, you stay at home and don't go anywhere. Do you hear me?" Yang Tinglin shouted with a cold face.
"Master... You also said that if it weren't for you, I wouldn't be worried about this now."
"shut up!"
After Yang Tinglin finished scolding, he sighed and said earnestly: "The last time Li Jiqing's incident almost brought disaster, now Zhi'er is the queen. Your Majesty treats Zhi'er well, as long as Zhi'er is still the queen, there is nothing to worry about.
"You are going from one house to another now, which will give you a handle. Once this matter is spread to His Majesty's ears, it will only backfire. You are harming Zhi'er and the prince. Do you know that?"
"But sir, this Xu family is different from others. Liu Changzuo and more than a dozen other powerful families of the previous dynasty are all tied to the Xu family. Although these people do not hold high positions, they have a strong foundation and are definitely not ordinary families. I heard that they have a special relationship with Eunuch Han in the palace. If these people do something bad, I am afraid that Zhier... ... ... ..Alas!"
"You don't have to worry about these. His Majesty is a wise and enlightened monarch. He has intentionally or unintentionally supported these dignitaries from the previous dynasty. Maybe he has other intentions, but the more so, the less likely it is that the prince born to Concubine Xu will threaten the crown prince's position as the Eastern Palace."
"Master, why is this?"
"You don't need to ask any more questions. Just stay at home."
***
The Qin Palace was filled with joy these days; the royal family had a new son, and the emperor gave wine and food to the families of ministers in the capital to celebrate.
After leaving Xu Ruoshi's bedroom, Qin Mu held Yang Zhi's hand and took a walk in the imperial garden. The autumn colors were reflected on the pond, the pavilions and gardens were quiet, but there were autumn chrysanthemums blooming in the frost, and the fragrance was everywhere.
"My dear, you have worked hard these days."
Yang Zhi smiled gently and replied, "Your Majesty, please don't say that. These are all my responsibilities. Your Majesty is busy with state affairs all day long. As a woman, I will be satisfied if I can manage the harem well and not cause trouble for Your Majesty."
Although Yang Zhi is already the mother of two children, she is actually still very young. She was only seventeen years old when she married Qin Mu, and now she is just a young woman. If it were not for her status as queen, which requires her to dress and behave in a dignified and appropriate manner, she would even look a bit like a young girl. Now she has to manage such a large harem, and manage it well, which is actually not easy.
Her sincerity and kindness are her greatest personal charms. In addition, she abides by her duties and sets an example in everything. Others cannot find any fault with her and are generally respectful of her.
Qin Mu didn't say anything else. He just held her hand and walked freely. Yang Zhi really liked the time when he held her hand and they walked together. The sunset dyed the majestic palaces red, the water reflected the sky, and the autumn wind was cool, but Yang Zhi's palms were warm, and that warmth penetrated into her heart.
At this moment, her dignity was filled with tenderness. She lowered her head and asked softly, "Your Majesty, do you still remember the first time you saw me?"
"I remember if you call me husband, but I don't remember if you call me Your Majesty." Qin Mu laughed.
"Your Majesty!" Yang Zhi stamped her feet, which was rare, and then changed her words to call out softly, "Husband."
"By the way, my lady, let me take a look." Qin Mu pinched her chin and asked her to lift her head up.
Yang Zhi thought he was going to kiss her in this imperial garden, her face instantly turned red, and she took a step back unconsciously. Qin Mu laughed: "My wife, why are you hiding? Your husband wants to see if there are any scars on your neck."
It would have been better if Qin Mu hadn't said anything. Yang Zhi, knowing that she had misunderstood him, blushed even more. Qin Mu gently pushed aside her collar, and there was still a faint scar on her neck, as thin as a thread, and it was impossible to see without careful observation.
"My husband, if that criminal had really hurt me, what would you...what would you do?"
Qin Mu didn't expect her to ask such a question, so he blinked and smiled, "Madam, do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"
"Of course I want to hear the truth."
Qin Mu hugged her and said with a smile: "If you tell a lie, your husband will be very sad. He will be sad and guilty for the rest of his life..."
"My dear husband, I have already said that I want to hear the truth."
"Haha, the truth is, I didn't know what would happen to me, because I didn't have time to think too much at the time, and I didn't want to think too much. For some things, if you think too much, you will have more concerns, and in the end, it will be worse."
Yang Zhi felt that his words were very honest and in line with his character. She held Qin Mu's hand tightly and said, "My husband, I am still a little scared when I think about that incident. If it weren't for Your Majesty, I would not have survived."
Qin Mu originally wanted to say that you also risked your life to save me once, so we are even, but he took the words back when they were on the tip of his tongue. That time, she rushed towards the gun regardless of her own life, and the incident involved her father. It is better not to mention this unpleasant thing again.
"You are destined to be my wife. No one can take you away. Hahaha..."
After Qin Mu finished laughing, he noticed that there were bursts of scolding and triumphant cheers coming from the Zhaoyang Palace opposite.
Qin Mu and Yang Zhi went over to take a look, and saw that it was Hong Niangzi and her two personal maids practicing swordsmanship again. Yun Qiaoer was watching like a big show, her eyes were shining and stars were popping out of her eyes, and she was cheering from time to time.
Seeing this girl like that, Qin Mu and Yang Zhi couldn't help but smile at each other. This girl really is indispensable wherever there is fun.
Just as Qin Mu was about to go in, the female official Li Shuang'er came over quickly, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to see you."
Qin Mu patted Yang Zhi's hand apologetically and said, "My wife..." Yang Zhi smiled and shook her head, asking him not to say anything. "My husband is the king of a country, so he should put state affairs first. The ministers must be asking for an urgent meeting at this time. Husband, go quickly."
Qin Mu nodded with a smile, gently let go of her hand, and strode to the Huagai Palace of the former dynasty.
Huang Zhenlin bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have just received an urgent report from the ambassador to Japan, Wei Zhengdao, that the shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu has passed away, and the military scholar Yu Jing Zhengxue has instigated a ronin rebellion in an attempt to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate, causing chaos in Edo.
Wei Zhengdao has received some unconfirmed information that the ronin riot instigated by Jing Zhengxue was probably secretly supported by the Japanese Emperor Masahito, and the situation is very complicated.
Qin Mu didn't know much about Japanese history, but according to the previous report from the Chinese ambassador to Japan, Wei Zhengdao, Tokugawa Iemitsu didn't give birth to a son, Tokugawa Ietsugu, until he was 38 years old, and now Tokugawa Ietsugu is only ten years old.
The Tokugawa shogunate and the emperor in Kyoto have been fighting openly and secretly for a long time. With the death of Tokugawa Iemitsu, his ten-year-old son was left behind, and he probably couldn't control the situation.
The policy of Daqin towards Japan is to make the Tokugawa shogunate and the Japanese emperor check and fight each other. If the Tokugawa shogunate falls, it will affect Daqin's series of policies towards Japan.
No wonder Huang Zhenlin rushed over to ask for a meeting when it was almost dark. This was indeed a tricky matter.
****************************(To be continued...)
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