Because of this trivial matter, I felt even more disappointed with the emperor. If this was the case as soon as he ascended the throne, what would happen if the tree grows bigger and has deeper roots
He looked at Yue Pengju and shook his head. Yue Pengju also shook his head. Seeing what he meant, Zongze actually understood what he meant. He patted the young man on the shoulder, sighed, turned around and left.
It was busy until evening, when the little prince had gone to bed with his wet nurse and the guard's shift was over, Hua Rong dragged his tired legs, turned around and almost ran out.
As soon as her body disappeared, Zhao Deji came out surrounded by concubines. From the corner of his eye, he saw that she was chasing Yue Pengju. He sneered and returned to the imperial study.
Just as he returned to the study, Xu Caizhi hurriedly came in: "The official family, Mr. Zong has a private memorial."
He opened it and took a look, but it was written by Zongze himself, saying that his subordinate Yue Pengju's wife was on duty in the palace, and he hoped that your majesty would protect her. At the end of the letter, he also said that he had only recently learned that Hua Rong had experience fighting against the Jin people and knew how to understand Jurchens. The language will be of great use on the battlefield. I hope Hua Rong can be allowed to join the army and so on.
Zhao Deji sneered: "Zongze, this old man, is really lenient."
Xu Caizhi did not dare to answer and just stood aside.
Since Zongze had written such a letter, he wanted to let himself understand that it was known to both the government and the public that one could not seize the wives of his ministers. Yue Pengju was a mere young general and had no influence in the court. He originally did not take it seriously, but Zongze To come forward, Zongze, a veteran of three dynasties, was famous all over the world and was the cornerstone of the empire. He had to be afraid of three points.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and he threw the memorial on the ground. He was the emperor, and it was so difficult to get a woman. Isn't this a blatant contempt for the supremacy of monarchy
He said angrily: "I decreed to accept Hua Rong as my concubine..."
Xu Caizhi hurriedly knelt down and said, "The official family should calm down. Hua Rong and Yue Pengju are already married, and the official family has just ascended the throne. I'm afraid..." He did not dare to directly say that "the emperor will seize the minister's wife", and only said, "What's more, the official family will also I know Hua Rong is stubborn, but what’s the point of not obeying until death?”
"If she doesn't obey, I will kill her!"
Xu Caizhi was shocked, "I hope the officials will forgive her this time for the sake of saving her life."
Eunuch Kang on one side saw that the situation was not good and said: "There are so many beauties in the world? They all compete to serve the officials, why should the officials care about her? Besides, the emperor is happy to have the dragon son, so it is time for the world to be granted amnesty to show his grace... "
Zhao Deji sat on the dragon chair and rested his forehead on his hands. He didn't know if he thought of those old memories. After a while, he said: "Okay, from now on, Hua Rong will no longer be summoned to the palace, and she will be completely dismissed from her position as bodyguard and instructor." .”
"Then, how will she arrange it?"
"talk about it later."
Xu Caizhi originally wanted to ask, in this case, whether Hua Rong could be allowed to leave, but seeing that the emperor was still angry, he did not dare to ask anymore and quietly retreated.
Hua Rong rushed out of the palace gate. The temporary school grounds were already empty. Yue Pengju had already left.
The sky was not yet dark, so she sat blankly on a big rock, looking at the last blood-red cloud in the sky, tears falling unconsciously.
I have to say goodbye to Pengju, but I don’t know when we will meet again.
The weather was so hot, but my heart felt cold. I sat there until the night dew was thick, and then I slowly got up and walked back.
The room was empty, but there were still tea sets. When Yue Pengju was here, she used to make tea for him every day and wait for him to drink it. Now, the building is empty and the sky is far apart. Where should she go from now on
She sat down and suddenly saw a letter on the desk. She hurriedly opened it, and it was Yue Pengju's handwriting: "Sister, don't be afraid, I have left Zhang Xian outside the city to take care of you."
She was surprised and happy, and immediately closed the door and went out, knowing that as long as she found Zhang Xian, she would soon catch up with Yue Pengju.
However, after taking two steps, I felt something was wrong. If I left secretly, wouldn't I be running away openly? That was a capital crime and would also bring disaster to Yue Pengju. She hesitated for a moment and opened the door. When she looked, she found four guards standing outside the door.
She said coldly: "What are you doing?"
"According to His Majesty's order, protect Coach Hua."
She slammed the door and finally understood that she had been placed under house arrest by the emperor. It would be as difficult as climbing to heaven to leave Yingtian alone.
After that, Zhao Deji was immersed in the joy of the birth of the prince, and would visit his son in person every day after going to court. Pan Yingying's mother was named a virtuous concubine because of her noble son, Zhang Yingying was named a talented person, and Wu Jinnu was also named a concubine because of her meritorious service in serving the prince. Noble man, more than ten other concubines were named "Mrs. of the State".
Soon, he was worried about the safety of the little prince and felt that Yingtian was not safe, so he decided to send the little prince to Yangzhou first, because the only escapee was the Queen Mother who lived there.
He sent his trusted aides to escort him in person, but when it came time to ask someone to take care of him, Pan Yingying was not happy, for fear that if she followed her son away, she would have to leave her husband behind, and other women would take advantage of her.
Seeing this, Wu Jinnu immediately volunteered to go to Yangzhou to take care of the little prince.
Zhao Deji immediately agreed, and everyone secretly disguised themselves and went on the road to escort the little prince to Yangzhou. As soon as Wu Jinnu left, Yingtian Palace became a stage for Pan Yingying and Zhang Yingying to compete for favor. In order to "spread their branches", the emperor quickly added to the number of beauties in the harem. 500 people.
Hua Rong lived alone in that small courtyard house and was not allowed to leave a mile outside the house all day long. Fortunately, she never received any call from then on. In addition to being depressed, she could only read and practice calligraphy in the house alone.
Most of these books were the same carts that Yue Pengju brought back last time, which was enough for her to pass her time. In this way, although she was living as a prisoner, she was enjoying herself. But every time she thought of Yue Pengju, not knowing when they met, she couldn't help but burst into tears.
On this day, the weather was extremely hot, and in the evening, the heat did not subside at all.
The room was too stuffy, so she went to the yard and sat under a huge locust tree, looking at the locust flowers falling all over the ground. Because she had insomnia last night, when she sat down, she felt that the heat was gradually fading, and she couldn't help but slowly fell asleep. .
A hand fell on her shoulder, and she suddenly woke up and shouted: "Who is it?"
"Rong'er..."
He held her shoulders tightly with both hands, lifted her up and walked into the house.
She shouted in panic: "Your Majesty..."
However, Eunuch Kang pushed open the door, lit a candle, and then exited. Xu Caizhi stood guard at the door of the small courtyard and quietly closed the door.
Zhao Deji put his hands on her chest like iron bands. She turned over and sat up. She could smell the faint smell of alcohol on his body. Zhao Deji held her down and said, "Rong'er, you will sleep with me tonight..."
"Your Majesty, please spare me..."
"Rong'er, you already know how I feel about you, so why do you try to shirk it in every possible way?"
"It's just because Hua Rong is already married to someone else."
Seeing Hua Rong shrinking, he said angrily: "Rong'er, this shameless Yue Pengju actually negotiates peace in the army without a matchmaker."
"No, I am willing to marry him!"
Zhao Deji was even more angry: "Why do you want to marry that Yue Pengju? In what way is he better than me? I am completely obedient to you, and I have never been like this to any other woman in my life. Why do you want to marry me even though you know that I like you?" others?"
Hua Rong also took the risk: "Your Majesty has so many beauties in your harem, but Hua Rong is jealous by nature and doesn't want to be with other women! He would rather be together for the rest of his life!"
"So what? I promise you that as long as you enter the palace, I will make you a noble concubine immediately. If you give birth to a prince one day, I will definitely make you the queen..."
"Hua Rong thinks that he cannot please you, and there is absolutely no way he can be jealous of other women and try to please His Majesty every day."
He looked at her in disbelief, forgetting even his anger: "Rong'er, do you want me to dissolve the harem because of you?"
Hua Rong laughed: "If that's the case, I will marry you!"
Zhao Deji was so angry that he was livid, but Hua Rong felt as if he had won a big bet. She was familiar with his psychology. She was the king of her generation and had the whole world in her hands, but because she couldn't get it, she longed for it even more. But in order to get one person, she had to It is absolutely impossible to give up Pan Yingying, Zhang Yingying and other beloved concubines and an endless stream of other beauties from then on to face one woman all day long.
Regardless of her life or death, she gave it a try and saw him slowly let go of his hand and sat slumped beside the bed motionless.
"Ninth Prince..."
The sound of "Nine Princes" was like an enlightenment, as if he had returned to those difficult years. Zhao Deji said in a daze: "Rong'er, I am the emperor because I cannot have one husband and one wife. Is this why you refuse?"
Her voice became softer: "In the official family, Rong'er has followed you for a long time. He not only respects you as the emperor, but also regards you as a friend, brother and idol in his heart. If Rong'er enters the palace and becomes a concubine, he will be nothing in the world. If you have another woman who fights and is jealous every day, over time, the affection will wear away, and you will feel that Rong'er is disgusting and vulgar. However, if Rong'er is outside, he will do his best to be loyal to the official family and will never change in his life. Official family, please help. !”
Under the candlelight, her eyes were so soft and bright, her tone was so gentle and gentle, but her attitude was extremely firm.
"A woman should not marry two husbands!" Her voice was even gentler and her words were sincere, "Please, the Ninth Prince, remember the past relationship and let Hua Rong go. If you are forced, you can only die to repay the past kindness."
Zhao Deji was disheartened and left the house.
"Guan Jia, please allow me to leave here."
He didn't look back or answer.
On the first day of July, the wind was howling and the rainstorm was wailing in the city of Kaifeng.
On this day, the cornerstone of the empire, the old general Zongze who stayed in Kaifeng, was seriously ill and completed the last journey of his life. During his lifetime, he was working hard, hoping to lead Yue Pengju and others to cross the Yellow River and recover the northern land that fell to the hands of the Jin people. But he died before he left the army. He shouted "cross the river, cross the river, cross the river" three times and passed away.
When Zongze died, bells in major temples inside and outside Kaifeng continued to ring in mourning. Zongze's generals, disciples, sons and nephews organized funeral arrangements for him.
As soon as the funeral was over, news was received that the Jin army was launching another large-scale invasion southward.
Ying Tianfu.
That evening, Zhang Yingying, Pan Yingying and other concubines were cooling off in the back garden.
The palace maid brought mung bean soup to relieve the heat. Zhang Yingying accidentally picked up the bowl and took a sip. When Pan Yingying saw this, she was very angry and slapped Zhang Yingying immediately.
Zhang Yingying did not dare to say anything more, and immediately knelt down: "I have not served Madam Pan well, and I have offended you so much. I beg Madam Pan to forgive me."
Pan Yingying was still angry and scolded her a few more times.
While she was cursing, she suddenly heard the little eunuch cough. She turned around and saw the official standing next to her at some point. She was so frightened that she quickly knelt down and said, "I, my concubine, deserve to die."
Pan Yingying has become more and more arrogant since she gave birth to the prince. Zhao Deji has long been dissatisfied with her, but strangely enough, before and after he ascended the throne, he has favored more than ten women, but no one has become pregnant.
Because of the identity of the only biological mother of the prince, even though he was angry, he still had to leave some dignity to Pan Yingying, so he just shouted and asked her to retreat. Zhang Yingying knelt aside, with pear blossoms in the rain. He sighed deeply and asked Zhang Yingying to wait for her that night. When he was sleeping, he suddenly asked Zhang Yingying: "Doesn't the lady have any resentment in her heart?"
Zhang Yingying said with a smile: "She is a virtuous concubine, and a slave is just a talented person. There is a difference between superiority and inferiority. 'A small stick will lead to acceptance, and a big staff will lead to walking'. How dare you resent her?"