Before dawn, when Ling Qingyu was wearing the full outfit of Mrs. Yipin Guo and left the small courtyard in a small sedan chair, there was still laughter and chatter by the side of the waterside pavilion. He Li Gaoliu, who was in full armor, and Ram, who was dressed as a messenger, followed beside the sedan chair They left the inner courtyard together, and left after Ling Qingyu got into the carriage.
In addition to the eunuchs, there was also a female official of high rank who greeted them at the gate of the palace. Ling Qingyu patted the hands of Ying Shisan and Ying Jiu reassuringly, and followed the female official into the palace gate.
She didn't come early this time, the long corridors in the palace were full of noble ladies who came to see her, and when she saw the leading lady and the clothes on Ling Qingyu's body, they moved slightly to avoid it.
"Huiniang? Lin Huiniang?!" An old woman next to her called out softly first, but seeing that Ling Qingyu ignored her, she called out loudly.
After hearing that person call it several times, Ling Qingyu realized, isn't this name the original owner's name? Unconsciously, she stopped, looked at the old woman, and asked, "Madam is calling me?"
"It really is you?" The old woman looked suspicious, her fingers trembling when she pointed at her, and said, "Aren't you dead already? How come you are still alive?"
The female officer shouted with anger on her face: "Madam be careful!"
The old woman was startled, she hurriedly took two steps back and put down her hands, the middle-aged woman beside her hurriedly supported her and said: "Auntie, forgive me, my aunt is entering the palace for the first time, and she doesn't know the rules of the palace yet."
Looking at those two people, Ling Qingyu felt amused, Wu Feiren's mother and the Wu family from Bianjing? She thought for a long time before recalling the memories from many years ago. At that time, the Lin family was still a wealthy family. Although the Wu family was a scholarly family and official family, but a side branch, widowed mother and orphan, was not valued by the family at all. How well can your family live? If it wasn't for the financial support from the Lin family, where would the money come from to go to school? As a result, as soon as something happened to the Lin family, they immediately withdrew their marriage, and then went to Bianjing with a share of the money. Without the acquiescence of the Wu family, how could the Lin family be so bold
"Mrs. Wu?"
It was not yet clear, and the light from the lanterns in the corridor was dim. Ling Qingyu stood in the middle of the road and looked at the old woman with eyes as cold as ice. The cold voice made the old woman startled, and said what she had in mind. Can't come out, a cool feeling came from behind.
"Back then, the property of the Lin family supporting the Wu family was probably no less than 100,000 guan. When my father and brother died, my mother and I had not received any news, so we received your family's divorce letter first." The voice was not loud, but it happened to be able to Let the people around hear, Ling Qingyu turned around slowly and said: "Why, Madam Wu wants to continue the old relationship now?" He nodded to the female officer and followed her forward.
The old woman's face suddenly turned pale, and she felt that people around her were looking at her wrongly. Just as she was about to open her mouth, Mrs. Wu held her back and said in a low voice, "Auntie, what are you doing? This is Mrs. Dingguo!" Mrs. Yang, who dares to fight against queens, noble concubines and princesses, what do you want to do? It turned out that I knew that the money that this side branch suddenly became rich in was not authentic, so it was like this!
The old woman muttered but stopped talking, just lowered her head and followed the people forward. The original Lin Huiniang has now become the Duke's wife? ! Why did the son never say it? Didn't the Lin family send a letter saying that she died when she went to sea? Why are you still alive? She actually became the Duke's wife? Would that be bad for my son
Seeing Ling Qingyu coming in with the female officer, Princess Huaying went up to meet her, pulled her hand aside, and said, "Madam Yang, please sit here. It's too cold today. I heard that Madam is not in good health, so it's warm here."
Seeing Huaying's smiling and affectionate, Ling Qingyu also smiled amiably, thanked the female official first, and when he held her hand, he put a purse in her palm, then turned around and sat down on Princess Huaying's table. Beside, chatted in a low voice.
That day, Princess Huaying was always very happy when she heard the good news from the fourth prince. With the support of the people from Heishuiguan, the chances of the fourth prince's victory will be much greater, and her future will be guaranteed. The marriage promised by sacrificing her mentality was also rejected by the fourth prince, which made her even more happy. After all, she is also a fifteen-year-old girl like a flower. Years old, and he is still a brutal big man who kills without blinking an eye, no matter what he thinks, he is unwilling.
Thinking of what the fourth prince said, those warriors are very affectionate and respect Madam Yang very much. Now that the two palaces have offended Madam Yang, as long as they show kindness here, Madam Yang will definitely make Madam Yang speak well. Of course, Huaying ignored what the fourth prince and concubine mother said later. At that time, Concubine Li and Concubine Hui told the fourth prince that they must find a way to keep Ling Qingyu in Bianjing. If the people in Heishuiguan are loyal, then She is the best hostage.
Thanks to the goodwill of Princess Huaying and the Gao family, and the fact that the queen didn't even glance at her out of the corner of her eye, the audience ended safely.
The atmosphere of the meeting in the harem was peaceful, but the grand meeting of the previous dynasty was quite turbulent. Emperor Xiwen directly announced two things at the meeting. The first thing was to marry Zhao Yinfeng and Princess Huaying, and then he was coaxed into elation by Zhu Luoguo's envoy, who gave the envoy an extremely generous reward, and even gave the envoy a fourth-rank vacant position.
As soon as the peace agreement was concluded with the Liao Kingdom, he was immediately promoted to the border general, and he gave the border general a marriage proposal. The rest of the matter can be imagined with his feet. The marriage to Princess Huaying is naturally to win over the Zhao family for the fourth prince. , He Li's promotion, but the second prince has been mentioning it on the side of the Ministry of War. Today, Emperor Xiwen announced that it was probably to support the second prince. Thinking of this, the people on the side of the first prince began to become anxious.
Then there was a half-month vacation. After the year, it was the busiest time for banquets and guests. The women in the backyard chatted and became the younger generation's friends. The men in the front were planning all kinds of conspiracies. lively.
On the seventh day of the lunar new year, Ling Qingyu came to Zhao Yinfeng's small courtyard again. This time Zhao Yinfeng prepared more things. After a lot of tossing, Ling Qingyu didn't even have the strength to move his fingers.
Holding her tightly in his arms, Zhao Yinfeng wrapped his fingers around her forehead and said lazily, "I'm afraid they won't let you go out of Beijing."
"Um?"
The body was still in the aftertaste of happiness, Zhao Yinfeng's voice was full of lust, and he said in a low voice: "He Lisheng is too high, and he doesn't have any family members, the only thing he can grasp is you, this paragraph He has been living in your house all day, and outsiders know that you have a close relationship, and arresting you will at least make him feel a little jealous."
Ling Qingyu didn't make a sound, when she was chatting with Hua Ying in the palace, she felt that this would be the result.
"The emperor wants to use Huaying to tie the Zhao family and the fourth prince together," Zhao Yinfeng said with a hint of sarcasm, and gently stroked her face with his finger, "Look, there won't be a single one." Yue, the old man and Zhao Mingliang can make this matter go away."
Ling Qingyu raised his head and glanced at him unconsciously. When he came back that day, Cheng Jia said that this matter would definitely not work out. Zhao Mingliang was jealous of Zhao Yinfeng in the first place, so how could he let him have the status of a son-in-law to seize his world in the future? For so many years, Zhao Yinfeng, who is good-looking, well-born, and high-ranking official, has never been married. He can think of the following things. Zhao Mingliang and the old man are worried about finding a high-ranking one. Only when he died in battle or when he was old, it would be easy to find a low-class one. Speaking of it, this person is indeed a bad luck child.
"If this trouble continues, Bianjing will definitely be in chaos." Zhao Yinfeng looked down at Ling Qingyu, the worry in his eyes was clearly visible, and said, "Have you thought about how to escape?" Seeing the look of surprise in Ling Qingyu's eyes, Zhao Yinfeng smiled wryly After a while, he said: "Now the situation among the princes is in turmoil, and Zhao Mingliang and the others have also started to attack. Once it breaks out, it will not be these trivial quarrels in the court. There are twelve battalions of imperial guards inside and outside Bianjing. Now the commander inside The frequent transfers are because the princes are placing their own people. Don’t make any plans on the side of the fourth prince. Kou, the king's loser, fights with a knife. No matter how noble he is, he will write history books according to the victor's will. Now the forces in Bianjing are mixed with each other. The second prince and the first prince are infiltrating each other. It is a century-old family with intricate in-laws, and there are several big families behind it as support. No matter how powerful the Wang family is, it took so long for it to take office. I'm not sure who the guard commanders will support in the end, and who will die in the end."
"You know all about it?" Ling Qingyu's expression of surprise became heavier, Cheng Jia and He Li repeatedly said that this person is definitely not simple, but they knew so well in their hearts, but they didn't do anything
"I'm just a soldier, and it's my duty to guard the pass and prevent foreigners from invading." Zhao Yinfeng pressed her head on his chest and said in a low voice: "Actually, in this world, whoever is the emperor is different. As for the matter, which prince finally sat in that seat is none of my business, even if the Zhao family wants to do something, if they don't say it, I can only pretend that I don't know."
"Are you an ostrich?" Ling Qingyu took his hand away, propped it on his chest, and asked while staring at him.
"What ostrich?"
"It's a bird that can't fly and can only run. Whenever it encounters danger, it sticks its head in the sand. It can't see itself, so it pretends nothing happened."
"Really?" Zhao Yinfeng brushed his fingers across her lips, looked at the face looking down on her, and said with a soft smile: "Then what can I do? They don't want to meddle in the royal family's own affairs." It's not going well, as for the Zhao family, you know, they don't consider me their own family at all, so why should I interfere?"
"When will they do it?" Ling Qingyu asked.
"It depends on when the emperor will appoint the fourth prince as the prince." Zhao Yinfeng said lightly, looking at Ling Qingyu, sighed and said: "Although He Li is close to the second prince on the surface, but this time the promotion is not the same. It was the efforts of the fourth prince, Qing Yu, many people have already seen through your tricks, the second prince will not trust you, the fourth prince is useless, you have to make plans early."
Pulling her into his arms again, Zhao Yinfeng took out a waist card from under the pillow and put it in her palm, saying: "The guard at the east gate is one of my brothers, who was put into the guard camp by Zhao Mingliang the year before last. , now you have taken refuge with the second prince, if something happens to Bianjing, you can go out of the city from here, I have 500 people in the official house by the east gate, you take this token and let them escort you out of the city .”
Ling Qingyu looked at the waist card in his hand, the middle is not the word Zhao but the word Feng, Zhao Yinfeng is not stupid, he actually has his own arrangements already, right
"I'm usually not in Bianjing, so I don't have much power to use here." Looking up at the gray sky outside, Zhao Yinfeng said: "You can't move now, you don't know what you want to do, I feel that Bianjing is a very good and safe posture, so that they will feel at ease with you, but you have to be careful, no matter which one of them makes a move, they will send someone to control you, in case Heishuiguan, especially Gaoliu in Tianjingguan There are changes."
"I see." Ling Qingyu got up, ready to get dressed and leave, looking at the waist card in his palm, but also knew that Zhao Yinfeng's gift was indeed not light, a guard, if he really opened the door for her , then he will be in danger, even with him himself, not to mention the soldiers he left behind in Bianjing.
Untied Nuanyu from his neck and put it on Zhao Yinfeng's chest, Ling Qingyu said: "This, I will repay your favor."
The jade sticking to his chest brought a little bit of warmth, Zhao Yinfeng was startled, this is warm jade, warm jade that is hard to find? Looking at Ling Qingyu who was dressed, a faint joy welled up in his heart, and then it filled his chest. When Ling Qingyu was about to go out, he said loudly: "I will ask people to keep an eye on the movement of the imperial guard camp here. If something happens, I will Let me tell you, you remember, the person who comes will hold a waist card like yours, if you can't get out by other means, you can lead someone to rush out through the east gate, and I will definitely lead my troops to meet him."
Ling Qingyu turned around in astonishment, and said, "Come from Youzhou?" Then he smiled, shook his head, opened the curtain and walked out.
Flipping the piece of warm jade with his fingers, the smile on the corner of Zhao Yinfeng's mouth grew bigger and bigger, my people are not limited to the five camps in Youzhou? Since I was a child, I was taken to the battlefield by my father, and started as a pawn at the lowest level at the age of ten. Ling Qingyu, Zhao Jiajun has 200,000 battalions and 400,000 people, and more than half of them are mine. Be kind and move my mind, I can't just let others slaughter me.
On the eighth day of the lunar new year, all the generals on the frontier side returned to the base camp. Although reluctant to part, Mengsu Guanxiao and He Li Gaoliu went to Heishuiguan with a thousand guards, accompanied by a carriage full of rewards. Ten million taels of silver and one million taels of gold. On the tenth day of the Lunar New Year, when the envoy returned, Lamu acted in vain, and took the twenty maids sent by Ling Qingyu to the south of the Yangtze River. After the fifteenth Lantern Festival, Han Bian began to deal with the remaining goods, and sold those targeted shops one by one to the jealous people who came to blackmail them.
Years later, Duke Dingguo's mansion still had its gates closed, and entry and exit were cautious, but occasionally small banquets were held to entertain some close female relatives. Some news that Mrs. Yang is very happy, peaceful and satisfied with the current situation continues to spread to the ears of those who want to know.
Sure enough, it was a female stream. After the second prince waved back, he looked at the counselor and said with a smile: "Look, I said that you should worry too much. The Ling family was born in a small family, and it was a coincidence that they married Yang. Zhao, how could she be dissatisfied now that she has the title of Mrs. Yipin and lives in such a large Dingguo mansion? I’m afraid she won’t leave Bianjing now.”
The counselor stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Your Highness said that in two months, Yang Zhao will pass away for a year. I think that although He Li and the others say they are kind and righteous on the surface, they are actually greedy for their own interests. As long as the second prince gives a lot of money, they will definitely not make a move, I am afraid that the fourth prince will use a bamboo basket to fetch water in vain."
"Hehe, what I'm talking about is that the father is also an old fool. The fourth brother knows a little about governing the country besides reciting poems and painting. If the country is given to him, he will be defeated within two years."
"Your Highness, now that the imperial concubine has been released, shall we also send a few women in, let the empress watch and give them to the emperor, so that the emperor can enter the empress's palace, so that the empress in the harem can talk more easily."
"It's not urgent. My father likes those two child molesters very much now. However, Mr. Zhao refused the marriage because of Zhao Yinfeng and Hua Ying's characters. I am afraid that my father will not like the Zhao family. At this time, it is better Let the concubine mother live in peace, it is safer to be confined in the palace."
"Your Highness is wise."
At the beginning of March, He Li, who had taken the post of command envoy of Shaanxi Road, used thunderbolt high-handed means to seize the power of Wudang Gong, and delegated the position of envoy of the prefectural regiment to Wei Lang. Lang joined together and formed a siege of Xingzhou with Du Ming's department in Yanchi.
In the middle of March, it was a time when people were in a hurry, but because of the new law of young crops in the Zhengshitang, more refugees began to make trouble, and help books from various states entered the Zhengshitang like snowflakes.
In April, the most beautiful season in Bianjing, Han Bian has disposed of most of the stores in Bianjing, leaving only some inconspicuous daily shops, and most of the eye-catching shopkeepers have been evacuated. Ling Qingyu asked him to take the remaining The goods were sent to Heishuiguan, and began to inspect the farm below.
In mid-April, the anniversary of Yang Zhao's one-year death, Ling Qingyu, unable to leave Beijing, could only burn paper to worship Yang Zhao in his backyard. At the end of April, Cheng Jia's painstakingly written national policy was completed.
After finishing the last stroke, he put the pen on the pen stand, and Cheng Jia covered his mouth and coughed lightly.
"Young master!" Shuan called out heartbroken. Since the year, Cheng Jia's health has become worse and worse. Others only see him and Ling Qingyu playing piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, admiring flowers and swimming in the lake, but they don't know that as long as he is not with Ling Qingyu That night, Cheng Jia spent all night writing the national policy. Now that the national policy is finished, he has lost several laps.
Cheng Jia smiled lightly, sorted out the thick stack of national policies, and then asked, "Has Madam's guest left?"
"Let's go." The book case replied.
Cheng Jia nodded, picked up the manuscript, got up and went to the nearby Guan Guan Yard. Since the autumn hunt, those families have been walking with Dingguo Mansion, and after the year, they brought other families to visit. Every time they come, Cheng Jia can only hide in Qi'ao Courtyard, but let him What makes him happy is that he is not the only one who is avoiding, but also Yan Qi who has been hidden by Ling Qingyuxue.
All the maids in Jiangnan had already been sent back, and only Bai Wei and the four maids were left to insist on not leaving. The courtyard where Ling Qingyu entertained guests was placed in Taoyao Courtyard, which was some distance away from Guanguan Courtyard. It's enough to hire some women to ensure that the tea and water are not wrong when the guests come. According to Ling Qingyu, anyway, she has been positioned as a small upstart from a small family. These aspects are not good, but it is reassuring.
Fortunately, Ling Qingyu was still in his filial piety, and those people had to restrain himself, and the number of visits was not too high. If Cheng Jia and the others hadn't complained, Ling Qingyu would have jumped up himself.
Before reaching the door of the main house, Ling Qingyu could hear Ling Qingyu yelling in the room that she was so tired, Cheng Jia walked into the bedroom with a smile on her lips.