West Palace.
Tuoba Tao's West Palace is not the palace on the west side of the palace, but because the Pingcheng Palace is too small, it had to be built between the imperial city and the capital. One-tenth the size of the palace.
The West Palace, as the place where the class bestowed and rewarded ministers, had the largest area among the four palaces. Except for the front hall, which was used for banquets, other places were used by the Tuoba Tao Palace.
Even the covered palace was extremely spacious compared to Tuoba Tao's harem.
Helian Ding was given to live in the "Tiantian Hall" in the "West Palace", Helian Pearl was in the "Jinhua Hall", and Helian Zhishui was in the "Pan Hall". Not much bigger than Helianding's former plain mansion.
Originally, Helianding didn't feel how favorably he was being treated by Tuoba Tao, but when he visited the imperial city and went to the Northeast and Northwest Palaces, there was only silence.
Nangong can go directly to Pingcheng Market, the highest position, climb up and overlook, you can see the panoramic view of Pingcheng. The North Palace is where the old palace and the official servants who entered the palace because of their crimes are placed. There are about a thousand people. Although the area is not small, there are "more than a thousand servants, weaving brocade, selling cloth, wine, raising pigs and sheep. , grazing cattle and horses, growing vegetables, and chasing profits", used to supply the needs of the palace, more like a rural credit cooperative than a palace.
The East Palace is the "Grand Palace", where Tuoba Tao lived in those days, but the East Palace is "a tiled house with four-cornered towers, where concubines and concubines live, all of which are earthen houses".
The Prince's Palace is still like this. The South Palace is a garden, and the North Palace is a storeroom. The West Palace, which is "luxuriously decorated" for the emperor's banquet, looks luxurious.
There were also many concubines in Tuoba Tao's palace who envied Helian Mingzhu for having such a good brother, so he didn't have to live in the crowded harem. Since Helian Mingzhu has been living with the Empress Dou and Mrs. He in the Ci'an Hall, she gradually became acquainted with the princesses. Gong, princesses and clan daughters often come to the West Palace to visit Helian Pearl.
Everyone said that Helian Ding directly took the treasury of Western Qin as his own after he conquered Western Qin. He went to Wei to pay tribute to Wei, all of which were doubled back to Wei. Instead, he was richer than before he entered Wei. .
It is natural to have "random encounters" with Heliangong, but unfortunately Helianding is quite a tyrant in front of women, and he is the kind that treats women as nothing. After a long time, these women have lost their curiosity about Helianding, but they are more interested in Helianding. Lian Mingzhu's feelings belonged to curiosity.
Several of Tuoba Tao's younger sisters even used their favorability ratings to get Helian Mingzhu to marry Tuoba Tao, just to be able to speak kind words to Tuoba Tao in front of her.
Today, many princesses have gathered in the West Palace again for nothing but the recent rumors in the palace.
"The palace was already crowded, and there are people coming!" Princess Shiping was a senior, tall and tall, not inferior to a man, so she couldn't stand the cramped palace.
"Whenever I want to be able to get married, it's good. I live in a big mansion alone, isn't it more comfortable than the palace!"
Hu Nv is generous by nature, and she doesn't hesitate when it comes to marriage.
Helian Mingzhu had a residence in a palace before getting married, so he didn't know how to answer the call, so he could only look at Shiping innocently.
Princess Wuwei on the other side suddenly snickered: "Can't you hear it? She wants to get married! I heard that the emperor wants to marry one of us to Huwei General Hua Mulan. She is the oldest, and she is probably the one who married her. , I'm in a hurry now and I can't make an order!"
Princess Wuwei and Helian Mingzhu are about the same age and have a lively personality, so Helian Mingzhu and her speak more of the same language. She speaks quickly, but Helian Mingzhu is startled, and the teacup in her hand also falls to the ground. shattered...
"What did you say? Who wants a wife?"
"Hey, you don't know?" Wuwei leaned over to look at her hand, and seeing that the fingers were not injured, he breathed a sigh of relief: "That General Huwei has caught the eyes of so many nobles, probably because Brother Huang is about to have an election again, and I heard that the door of his house is blocked by people with girls in the family every day, and those who want to see their parents, those who want to send worship, and those who directly ask for relatives have stepped on the threshold of his house..."
Princess Wuwei smiled and shook her head: "I've seen that general as well. He's average in appearance, and he's not tall. He's just born with great strength and can fight. There are not many people who can fight in the world. Treat him as some kind of unparalleled hero!"
"Why is he not a hero when Hu Xia rescued the emperor from the chaotic army, and killed Datan with his hands to pacify the chaos of Xiutu?" Shi Ping glared, "How far do you have to be thrown out like the prince Juqu you admire? , from now on, only those who are sick are considered heroes?"
Princess Wuwei stomped her foot, "I told you not to mention Juqu Mujian. Who knows that he is a worthless scumbag! He is still lying in the embassy, and he wants to go back to China every day! Brother Huang didn't stop him. He, he can leave if he wants, and we have to send him back!"
"Didn't you say that he is handsome and burly, and that Prince Beiliang is born noble? According to you, Mulan is not a hero, so he is a hero?"
Wu Wei rolled his eyes angrily, pulled Helian Mingzhu straight and shouted, "I know you must be from Mulan's side, but am I wrong? Do you think Mulan is handsome?"
Helian Mingzhu wished that all the princesses hated He Mulan, and immediately shook his head decisively: "Not only is he not handsome, but also extremely boring!"
Princess Wuwei showed a "Look at" expression and clapped her hands happily: "A sister is so beautiful, she married an ugly one, and the child she gave birth might not be good-looking, that would be bad!"
She was only fifteen years old, and she was used to being spoiled. She spoke without restraint. Even if Helian Mingzhu wanted them not to pay attention to He Mulan, she frowned when she heard the words: "It's just not handsome enough, but not ugly... "
"You only know how to look at your face!" Shi Ping laughed and scolded, "It's suitable to be deceived by a 'beloved' who has a good appearance! You have children and children all day long, you just marry me in front of me, sir and children!"
Helian Mingzhu was shocked when she heard the news brought by the two of them, and when she heard the fight between the two, she couldn't help but feel sad when she saw the faint smiles on the corners of the mouths of several other princesses or clansmen.
She is just a princess who has lost her country, and she can survive in Wei State by taking shelter. If she is still the princess of Xia State, what hero in the world can't marry?
Helian Mingzhu took a closer look at Princess Shiping's appearance. She looked a bit like Tuoba Tao, that is, like the late emperor of the Wei Kingdom. Her face was soft, but she was somewhat resolute and had a big skeleton. more beautiful than her.
If it is Hua Mulan, I don't know what he likes.
Judging by his attitude towards himself, he seems to be a lecherous one.
Helian Mingzhu rubbed his sleeves in frustration. What she is most proud of now is her brother's strength and her own beauty, but she can't bring her brother to lean on her face and recommend herself to force a kiss, right?
Where did she do it, everyone said she was a sister!
"You are all worrying too much. No matter which princess you point to him, he has to be honored, and he has to be happy. He is just the son of a military family, and the house is given by the court. I heard that the family has four walls. Even the servants can't afford it, and it's hard to get married."
A woman from a certain clan said coolly, "It's just that His Majesty is going to have a general election recently, and there will be fewer daughters in the capital. There are more males than females. It is serious for you to pay more attention to other handsome men in the capital."
As soon as the woman of the imperial family made a sound, the entire palace fell silent, and then the atmosphere turned to discuss which better men were in the capital.
He Suhejun, Dugu Nuo, and several of the younger disciples around Lian Gu Bi were all beaten around, and finally the inexplicable topic turned to Tuoba Tao.
Helian Pearl is extremely complicated to Tuoba Tao. For a great man like him, it must be false to say that he is not in love with him.
But he was an emperor, with many wives, concubines, concubines and concubines in the harem. During the time she was serving him, she witnessed how he treated the women in the harem. She really ran away when she was done running, and she was slowly freezing cold after a little bit of heat.
What's more, Madam He treated her so kindly, and she felt a deep sense of guilt when she faced Tuoba Tao again.
At this time, hearing the princesses discuss Tuoba Tao without any taboos, Helian Mingzhu felt even more uncomfortable.
"I heard that the one from the Buliu family also ran for election this year. She was crying and arguing at home that she wanted to marry Hua Mulan, and finally threatened her own brother before he obeyed..."
A clan took this as a joke.
"His Majesty likes plump women the most. This Bu Liugu has an enchanting figure. It is impossible to say that he will be favored as soon as he enters the palace."
"The woman the emperor likes has remained the same for hundreds of years..." Princess Wuwei laughed and teased: "If you want a big face, a small neck, a big chest, a big waist and a thin buttocks, it's better to be a little more glamorous. Madam Dugu, Yuchi Zhaoyi, and Mrs. He Lai who is pregnant again, which one is not like this!"
"Speaking of this standard, the Wang family girl who is the daughter of Wang's and Yuwen's parents seems to be very suitable? And I heard that she is also proficient in martial arts. Has she run for election this year?"
Shi Ping was deeply impressed by Wang Muyun, who studied martial arts from Yuwen's family, and immediately asked many girls.
A female clan family had an affair with the Yuwen family, so she nodded immediately: "I heard that the Wang family is unwilling to marry their daughter into the palace, and they dare not take a concubine or a distant house to make up for it, so the girl is allowed to participate in the general election. The Lu family and the Cui family I also sent people in, but they are all girls from the side, so Your Majesty will definitely despise them."
"Then Wang Muyun is also willing?"
Shi Ping's eyes widened, "Isn't it quite arrogant?"
"I really know this." Another girl interjected, "I heard that the Wang family promised her that if she is willing to run for election, her father's name will be added to the family tree again. I heard that the Wang family's uncle and the Yuwen family are out in the mountains again. Playing in the water, you don't necessarily know that Wang Muyun was picked up by the Wang family, otherwise you don't know what will happen again. My family has been talking about this for the past few days, and the Yuwen family seems to refuse!"
"The Wang family is too. The aunt of the Yuwen family is no longer worthy of the Wang family! People who asked for marriage in Pingcheng back then could also go out of the city..."
Shi Ping's mother was from the Yuwen family, so she was particularly unhappy.
A group of girls were talking, and Helian Mingzhu became more and more irritable when she heard something in her heart, and suddenly Shiping suddenly mentioned her name:
"Mingzhu, in a few days, His Majesty's 'first choice', we will all go to see the excitement, will you go? If you go, I will send a chariot to pick you up in the morning!"
Helian Mingzhu was about to say no, but Princess Wuwei laughed and said, "I think you want to see Hua Mulan, right? Who knows that as long as His Majesty appears in a crowded place, he must take Hua Mulan as his bodyguard. of!"
Mulan's superb martial arts skills have spread throughout the four kingdoms, and Tuoba Tao couldn't resist the demands of other ministers, so he had to take Hua Mulan with him when it came to offering sacrifices, hunting, and patrolling.
Because of Hua Mulan's calm personality, she could sometimes reject Tuoba Tao's nonsense suggestion, so other close officials saw Hua Mulan even more pleasing to the eye, wishing she could just stick behind Tuoba Tao's back when she was in the capital.
Princess Wuwei said that Hua Mulan was also there, and Helian Mingzhu's heart moved. Looking at Princess Shiping's questioning eyes, she nodded unexpectedly.
Everyone knows that when the princesses go to "see the fun", they must be secretly watching. They spy on the emperor because they are princesses, and when Helian Mingzhu was caught, it is really hard to tell.
So after Helian Mingzhu agreed, she felt regretful, but how could she quit after these few people had the courage? One by one, the tickets must be picked up early, and they must be seamless.
During the conversation, someone outside reported that it was Duke Helian who had returned to the palace.
For a while, the atmosphere that was still full of pink bubbles suddenly stiffened.
"I think there are still some things in the palace, I have to go first."
"The sash I woven for the emperor is still half-finished. I'm going to present it to him when he is elected. I'd better go back..."
"That... I've been nagging for a lot of time today... "
One by one, the girls stood up one after another, and the Jinhua Hall, which was still lively just now, was suddenly cleared up. The female officials and eunuchs who were waiting outside carried the chariots, and the horses led the horses, waiting for Helian to leave. When entering the Jinhua Hall, only the scene of people walking tea to cool off was left.
Helianding didn't seem to be in a good mood. As soon as he entered the room, he sat down with his legs crossed, glanced at his sister and raised his eyebrows: "Is anyone visiting today?"
"Yes."
Helian Mingzhu glared at her brother in disgust.
"Look at your black face, it's no wonder that so many princesses and county masters talk about you, and when they hear you come back, they run clean!"
"What can I say with these little girls..." Helian Ding was in his thirties, and when he mentioned a group of teenage princesses, he naturally called himself "adults". "It's good to go, let's go clean, we are just talking."
Helian Mingzhu had just promised to make a fool of himself with a group of "little girls", and he was feeling guilty. Hearing Helianding's words, he asked uncomfortably, "What did you say?"
Devour Novel Network
Helianding stretched, leaned on the thick cushion left by a certain princess, and dropped a sentence that was enough to frighten Helian Mingzhu to death: "I went to Mulan in the morning to force a kiss. I looked left and right, only He is the most suitable for my brother-in-law Helianding."
Helian Mingzhu covered her mouth and exclaimed, "Impossible!"
Helianding frowned when he heard the words: "What's impossible? What can't I be Helianding's brother-in-law? If it wasn't for the fact that Xia Guo had already surrendered to Wei, you would be a dignified princess, and anyone in the world could marry, not to mention Hua Mulan, who was born in a grassy field? Not to mention, I also moved most of the fine products from the Western Qin treasury to the past... "
Helian Mingzhu's face turned even paler.
Seeing that his sister's face changed, Helianding asked in confusion, "Why, are you unhappy?"
Helian Mingzhu picked up a beauty fist and threw it at her brother, almost not crying: "You are telling the world that I am a gift to give? If you want something, you have to marry your sister, I You are so humble, you have to get married like this?"
How could Helian Ding know the thoughts of these daughters' families, staring at his neck: "Which princess is not rich in dowry? I'm just afraid that he thinks that the Xia Kingdom is ruined and you have no wealth! For a poor family like him, you bring your belongings with you. Marry the past to live, why do you still blame me?"
"You don't even ask me! What if I don't want to marry! What if he doesn't like me?" Helian Mingzhu slapped her brother, almost desperately trying.
After He Lianding was politely declined by He Mulan, he guessed that something must have happened between the two, and it was probably related to Tuoba Tao.
Her younger sister worked as a personal eunuch by Tuoba Tao's side for several months. It was said that she was the one who helped change clothes, wash, and go to the toilet. Women were easily emotional, so maybe there was something at that time.
Now she said that she did not want to marry, probably because she was afraid that she would not be able to compete with the concubines of the whole palace and would not be favored. If that was the case, he would have to change his mind.
So Helianding pretended to be frustrated and nodded: "Indeed, Hua Mulan has rejected me."
Helian Mingzhu covered her face with her palm and fell back with a cry, not wanting to see her brother again.
However, Helianding continued as if stimulating Helian Mingzhu was not enough: "Hua Mulan said, Emperor Wei told him that he loves you like crazy, and has the aura that he will win."
"As a minister, he must not have any ambiguity with the woman the king likes, otherwise he will get the reputation of 'the king seizes his wife' or 'privately grants and receives', which will damage the reputation of the country and the king. Hua Mulan You know his temperament, he is not a liar, and since he said so, it means that His Majesty really cares about you..."
Helianding lowered his head and looked at his sister: "What's going on? Although I respect your choice, if you have already made a private lifelong relationship with that majesty, you shouldn't hide it from me!"
"I didn't! It was he himself who said 'it is inevitable' and said that I was responsible for him..." Helian Mingzhu was frightened by his brother's terrible eyes and was incoherent, "I, I, I was just scared and didn't refuse. , but I never thought that I must enter his harem!"
"Huh? That's what happened once?"
"No!"
Helianding was given a headache by his sister's attitude of "saying there is no, but I don't know if I don't", so he simply stood up and shook his head again and again.
"I'm not forcing you. You have to think that His Majesty is not good, and don't regret it in the future. From the perspective of a man, Hua Mulan is indeed a good match, but it is a pity that his background is too low, and he is a pure minister, so he has too many concerns. If the emperor takes a fancy to you, then you will never be able to marry in Wei."
"Can't you take me with you when you return to the fief?" Helian Mingzhu's eyes filled with tears, "I don't want to marry, can't I take care of the house for you?"
"Okay. It's best if you and your new sister-in-law get along well. If you don't get along well, Zhishui will end your life." Helianding stood up and answered her casually.
Helian Mingzhu was startled when she heard the words: "Brother, is he going to marry a wife?"
"If you don't marry a wife, do you have to be a widower and live in the West Palace of His Majesty?" Helianding showed an irritable expression: "I'm only thirty-six, not sixty-three, and I can continue the string at sixty-three, why don't I? Can you? It's just that it's hard to find candidates now, and I don't want to make do with it... "
Helian Mingzhu was dumbfounded.
"Then what are you looking for, brother?"
"I'm afraid that if I don't find another one, His Majesty will match any woman to me. If I want to leave the West Palace justifiably, I must leave in the name of getting married and establishing a mansion. It's just that I don't go out in the palace, how can I know which girl is better? ? Now I just meet His Majesty's big wedding. All marriages have stopped. I don't know how long I will stay here..."
Helianding really didn't want to stay. First, the palace people in the West Palace were all from Tuoba Tao. Xia Guo's "West Palace" is for the Queen. Every time he hears what others say about the West Palace, he feels blocked and uncomfortable.
The better Tuoba Tao treated him, the more he worried that he was defending himself. Only by really letting him out of the palace will he get rid of this feeling of being dominated.
So far, he felt that Tuoba Tao's personality and strategy for governing the country were quite to his taste. Before the two became suspicious due to some external forces, Helian decided to keep a certain distance.
Not to mention his sister is sandwiched between the two...
No, he wants to go to the palace to meet the Buddha and ask him what he thinks.
If his sister didn't want to marry, but gave this His Majesty the wrong message, it would be a mistake!
***
General Tiger's Mansion.
He Mulan finally sent Helianding away, finally heaving a sigh of relief. She kept sending Helianding all the way, and then she remembered that she had disturbed the neighbors a lot in recent days, so she scoured a lot of apology gifts from her home, and brought Chen Jie and Gai Wu, one by one, to the door to apologize in person.
It's easier said than done to apologize, but she is now a popular person in Pingcheng. No one can't help but stay for a while. Even though there are only four or five families in Changpingfang, but because they are divided into several alleys, He Mulan is stunned. It was dark enough to return home.
He Mulan's stomach was already grumbling with hunger. When the doorman met her, she was about to pass on something, and they all gave her a sentence, "I'll report it later after I have eaten." Side door, go straight to the banquet hall.
Now that the father and mother are all in the house, she knows that the two elders will not cook until she returns. If you are hungry, you will be a small thing, and if you are hungry, the whole family will be a big thing.
He Mulan went straight into the banquet hall where he ate, rubbed his eyes as soon as he entered, turned around, walked out and walked back, pointed to the front and said to Gai Wu:
"Gai Wu, are my eyes wrong?"
"Haha, my aunt's surname is Yuan, and my surname is Yuan. Maybe we are from the main family. Where is the aunt's ancestor? Judging from your temperament, you should be from a big family, right? General Hua can read, which is rare in the Xianbei military household!"
The young man with a rounder smile sat beside Yuan Shi, coaxing Yuan Shi to be happy while waiting for dinner.
Yuan Fang, who is not the eloquent lotus, who else is there?
Yuan Shi was just a woman in the countryside, but her father and brother were both literate and willing to teach her, so she knew some commonly used characters. It was her uncle, her own brother, who really taught Hua Mulan to write. Are you related?
Don't even think about it.
But this "temperament" Yunyun really made Yuan Shi's heart flutter, and he didn't want to let go of Yuan Fang's hand, not even Hua's father stared hard.
"Oh, you little man can really speak. My family Mulan can write because she likes to learn, but I don't dare to take credit. Since you will be working under Mulan in the future, you might just live in the same place as Na Luohun and the others..."
"Mother!"
He Mulan's complexion changed greatly, and she led Chen Jie and Gai Wu into the hall.
When Yuan Fang heard He Mulan coming, he immediately stood up with a smile and bowed to He Mulan.
"I have seen my lord."
"What's going on?" He Mulan frowned and looked at Yuan Shi and then at Yuan Fang. "Shouldn't you be in the sky prison? How did you get to my house? And grandma, why did you put everyone in?"
"It wasn't me. He was holding the imperial order from the palace, and someone from the palace sent it. It's just that you weren't at home. Your grandfather and I had to welcome them first and wait for you to come back..."
Yuan Shi had never seen such a serious daughter, and pointed at Yuan Fang with some grievances.
"He's calling you lord..."
He Mulan stretched out his hand.
"What imperial order?"
When Yuan Fang saw He Mulan asking him seriously, he put away his usual smiling face, took out a silk cloth from his arms, and explained it to He Mulan.
"Your Majesty said that it will take a few years for the plan to be implemented that day. He was so loved by His Majesty that he could not bear to suffer in prison, so he released me. But now I am guilty, and even if I leave the prison, I can't run around. …”
He saw that the more He Mulan looked at that Feng Yuling, the more ugly his face became. In the end, he even shouted "nonsense". He couldn't help scratching his nose and said to heaven:
"That's why Your Majesty asked me to come to your house and make you a master book."
After reading the nonsense imperial order, He Mulan was about to curse, and then she rolled her eyes when she heard Yuan Fang's triumphant tone.
"Your Majesty said that you are really poor and pitiful, you can't even buy an acre of land, let me give it to you..."
Yuan Fang spoke indifferently in Yuan Shi's "So it is" expression.
"Make some money to support your family."