Because the question was about the royal family members, the current Emperor Chengtai did not summon Feng Shi and Feng Liao in his Qianyuan Palace, but summoned them together with the Queen Wei in the Queen's Kunde Palace.
After listening to Feng Shi and Feng Liao's narration of the Yang family's affairs, Emperor Cheng Tai and Empress Wei were speechless for a long time, and then each sighed.
"In this matter, after all, I and the empress are ashamed of the Yang family..." Emperor Chengtai shook his head and remained silent.
Empress Wei also sighed: "At first the Yang family didn't want to have this marriage, but Xing'an wanted to marry Yang Jingyue wholeheartedly, and my concubine acted as a matchmaker for the sake of the six younger siblings and the deceased sixth younger brother, so Mrs. Yang reluctantly agreed. I didn't expect it to end like this..."
Of course, she was a matchmaker with the consent of the emperor, but it's inconvenient to say it clearly at this time.
"It's useless to talk about these things now, and we can only try to compensate the Yang family!" Cheng Taidi said, "I will decree that Mrs. Yang Tai will be named the wife of the country, and Yang Qilang will be given a higher-level honor, so that they Things will be more decent after his death. Yang Jingyue... I will punish him lightly."
After talking about the compensation method for the Yang family, he said to Feng Shi and Feng Liao: "Go back and tell Xing'an: I will settle with her later. Now she'd better recuperate honestly. If she dares to do anything again If she is a moth and acts recklessly, I will throw her into Pu Hui Nunnery to chant scriptures!"
Puhuian is the family ancestral home of the royal family, and it is a place where the royal family members who have committed serious mistakes are disposed of, and the childless and low-ranking concubines of the late emperor who were forcibly shaved.
Feng Shi and Feng Liao quickly bowed and agreed.
Emperor Cheng Tai was about to send them away, but Feng Liao lifted his robe and knelt down: "Uncle Huang, my nephew has one thing to ask: I ask uncle Huang to allow me to let my nephew choose his own wife!"
Feng Liao couldn't just say: I won't marry a wife anymore, I just live in my concubine's room. Therefore, he could only ask the emperor to allow him to choose a wife by himself. In this way, when he is choosing a fiancée, he can pick and choose the candidates one by one, delay it for a few years, wait until he and Ruoruo have children and the situation has changed, and then propose not to marry a wife, which is more conducive to achieving his goal.
"Choose a wife by yourself?" Emperor Chengtai raised his eyebrows slightly, and exchanged glances with Empress Wei, "The matter of marrying a wife has always been the order of the parents and the words of the matchmaker. How can anyone choose a wife by himself?"
Feng Liao knelt on the ground, bowed to Emperor Chengtai and Empress Wei, and said very sincerely: "Uncle Huang, Aunt Huang, my nephew is really scared! If husband and wife do not get along, it is more than four words that can describe the restlessness of the house. , Sometimes, even the family will be ruined. My nephew only wants to be safe and successful in this life, so I want to choose a wife who gets along well.
After Cheng Taidi heard his words, he was silent for a while.
Empress Wei asked him gently: "Which girl do you have your eye on?"
Feng Liao shook her head resolutely: "Really not!"
Emperor Cheng Tai asked Feng Shi: "What do you think?"
Feng Shi respectfully said: "Reporting to Uncle Huang, my mother and concubine once jokingly said that she would report to Uncle Huang and Aunt Huang, marry him a powerful concubine, and take good care of him. This made me burst into tears Nao, Sapo, and the concubine were so angry that the mother and concubine said directly: Don't care about this devil king anymore! My nephew was also forced by him to agree, don't force him on this matter... "
Emperor Cheng Tai sneered, turned to Feng Liao and asked, "So, today you want to make trouble with me again?"
Feng Liao laughed, salivating and said: "How can it be? My nephew is begging my uncle emperor in a serious manner! That day, I didn't mean to be rude, it's because my concubine's way of talking is too serious, my nephew is in a hurry, so I take it seriously!"
Emperor Chengtai was silent for a while, and then slowly said: "If I want you to agree, it's not impossible..."
Feng Liao was overjoyed and kowtowed: "Thank you, Uncle Huang!"
"Don't be in a hurry to thank me, I haven't finished talking yet!" Emperor Cheng Tai said with a half-smile, "Next spring is the draft period, if you can do ten hard tasks for me before the draft next spring, and do it well If I am satisfied, I will allow you to choose one of the women I have selected to be your concubine. Otherwise, you can obediently marry the concubine I have selected for you! If you dare to make trouble with me, I will take your poor The man has a knife!"
Feng Liao's complexion changed drastically, and she lost her voice and said, "Uncle Huang... the majestic Wan Cheng, actually used a woman to blackmail my nephew! It's too shameful!"
He was in a mess, he never thought that Emperor Chengtai would threaten him with Ruoruo!
what to do? If he agrees, even if he doesn't get involved in the battle for the heir apparent, the second brother will be afraid of him, and he will have no way out. If he doesn't agree, how can he fulfill his wish to stay with Ruoruo for the rest of his life
"What's there to be ashamed of?" Emperor Chengtai sneered, "You used to be that hob meat, and I had nothing to do with you, so I had to let you wander around all day long. Now, since you have something to ask of me, naturally you can't be like that in the past. You are just idle, otherwise, why should I give you such a favor?"
"Uncle Huang, it's not that my nephew doesn't want to serve the court, it's just that my nephew is blunt by nature, and I'm afraid that if I miss something, I'll embarrass Uncle Huang for nothing!"
"Didn't you do a good job of bringing down Wei Yaozu's family and avenging the Yong family's grievances?"
"That's not my credit! The first half was Zimo making up his mind, and the second half was second brother who helped me. Right, second brother?!" Feng Liao turned her head, winking at Feng Shi anxiously, seeking for support : Second brother, please! Say something for me!
Feng Shi kept his head down, listening respectfully to the emperor's instructions, and when he heard Feng Liao's words, he glanced at him, but said with a smile: "Third brother, don't underestimate yourself, you brought people to find out those witnesses, brother Yu just said Just a few words."
Feng Liao stared at him dumbfounded, never expecting that at this moment, he was not speaking for herself, but helping the emperor suppress her.
Emperor Cheng Tai eased his tone, and said to Feng Liao: "When you do business for me, you can also continue to bring people from the Hengjun Palace as helpers. The imperial court assigns civil and military officials to the palaces, not just to let them look after the house. Hospital, housekeeper and financial management. If you need your second brother's help, your second brother will not refuse... "
He turned his head and asked Feng Shi with a smile: "Is that so, Feng Shi?"
"Yes!" Feng Shi cupped his hands towards Emperor Chengtai, and said to Feng Liao with a smile on his face: "The third brother has any needs, and the second brother is not talented. I would like to help!"
Feng Liao looked at Feng Shi, her heart was filled with strong disappointment. He couldn't help asking himself: Is the tacit understanding between me and my second brother just my own illusion
Emperor Cheng Tai glanced around between Feng Liao and Feng Shi, smiled and said to Feng Liao: "You don't have to make a decision now, I will give you a month to think about it. After a month, you come to make a decision." I replied. Well, get out!"
———
Yong Ruo was sitting in the study in the East Wing of Wuchen Ju, reading a book, when Huarou came to report: Miss Zhu Ying from Shou'an Hall is here.
Yong Ruo looked away from the book, put the book on the desk casually, and said with a smile, "Call Zhu Ying to come in!"
Zhu Ying lowered her head, walked in with Jiao Tong, and blessed Yong Ruofu: "Slave Zhu Ying, I have seen my wife!"
"You don't need to be too polite!" Yong Ruo said very gently, "Have all the luggage and bedding been settled?"
"Thank you Madam for your concern, it has been settled!"
"Is your hand... still cramping?"
Zhu Ying broke into a slight cold sweat: "Madam Lao is worried, it's gone."
"That's good!" Yong Ruo nodded, then asked Zhu Ying: What are you good at? Literate? How many times have you been out with the concubine? Which houses have you been to
Zhu Ying respectfully answered one by one:
Good at cooking, can make some delicious home-cooked dishes, and is also very good at making soup for snacks;
Literate, have practiced calligraphy for several years, and barely read a few books of poetry;
Concubine Shen wants to take her with her seven or eight times out of ten when she goes out, and the people she has been to have...
Yong Ruo nodded secretly after listening: This is indeed a good employee who is diligent and motivated!
The things Zhu Ying is good at are very suitable for pleasing men, such as food, such as poetry and books.
And from the number of times Shen Taifei took Zhu Ying out, and Zhu Ying's participation in private affairs such as administering sterilization drugs, it can be seen that Zhu Ying is Shen Taifei's confidant. Concubine Shen is actually willing to give herself such a confidant, which further confirms her previous guess: Concubine Shen took the opportunity to stalk Feng Liao.
Yong Ruo felt a little emotional in his heart: Concubine Shen persevered in giving her son Zhang Luo's concubine, what kind of feelings is this? Or is it good for ancient mothers-in-law
As for Zhu Ying, whether she will be reused or suppressed by her in the future depends on how she chooses.
"Today, what Concubine Concubine Ying, Concubine Ying, Concubine Su and others said in Shou'an Hall are very reasonable!" Yong Ruo said slowly, "I thought about it carefully, this matter must be prepared for a rainy day, and you can't hold Buddha's feet temporarily. So after you go back First, write me a pamphlet, which should list: the people in the family who have frequent contacts with the mansion, what each person likes and dislikes, and the relationship between their marriages, etc. The more detailed the better. Three days Time, is it enough?"
Zhu Ying hesitated a little, but she still blessed her obediently: "Servant, try your best!"
Yong Ruo asked Mr. Jiao to furnish Zhu Ying's room with desks, pens, ink, paper and inkstones, etc., and said: "From now on, Zhu Ying will take care of the 'big things' when I go out with me, and take care of such small things as daily life. Don't bother her, or I will not forgive you lightly! Do you understand?"
Jiao Tong, Hua Rou Yujing and the others agreed obediently and repeatedly, promising not to bother Miss Zhu Ying with these daily trivial matters.
After explaining the business, Yong Ruo waved his hand: "If you have nothing else to do, then step back!"
Jiao Tong saluted and said goodbye.
However, Zhu Ying hesitated: "Today in the Shou'an Hall, the servant's hands were cramped, and he accidentally dropped the teacup, but he never received the reward from the madam. I don't know now..."
She glanced at a cup of tea on Yong Ruo's desk, meaning: Do you want to reward me with a cup of residual tea now? Then reward it! I have eaten as many cups of tea as there are no sterilizers!
Yong Ruo smiled lightly, and picked up the book on the table again: "There is also a fate between master and servant. Since you dropped your teacup with cramps at that time, it is God's will, so there is no need to make it up later. Back off!"
Zhu Ying had no choice but to bow and retreat anxiously.
Yong Ruo hooked his fingers towards Huarou, Yujing and other maids, and told about today's admiration of red cherry leaves and tea in Shou'an Hall.
He also said slightly sarcasticly: "I was just looking for an excuse to give her an authority, so that she would know the superiority and inferiority. In case she came to Wuchenju, relying on herself as a concubine's concubine's concubine's concubine, she would be defiant, and give us Adding to the trouble. But it was funny that she dropped the cup of tea because of cramps in her mouth and hands!"
Huarou, Yujing and the others all giggled when they heard this. Yujing smiled and said: "When I first heard this, I still felt sad! When I first visited my wife, why didn't I get a cup of tea from my wife? Could it be that Madam despised my servant, and didn't want to be with her and never leave? ?”
After laughing, Yong Ruo said again: "Tonight, Zhu Ying will definitely ask you for proof, to see if my family really has the custom of rewarding new servants and maids for tea. At that time, you can mention her a few words: as a slave , the most important thing is to be loyal, tell her not to take the new owner seriously by relying on herself as the concubine's reward."
"yes!"
After letting the girls back down, Yong Ruo continued to read.
When she was reading, she didn't like to be surrounded by a bunch of girls, and usually only left a girl outside who could do her bidding.
After a while, Hua Rou came in by refilling the tea, and whispered beside Yong Ruo: "Ma'am, Zhu Ying smashed that cup of tea, probably because she knew that the cup of tea was not clean, so she didn't dare to drink it? Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that you would have a cramp in your mouth and hands at the time?"
Yong Ruo raised his eyebrows slightly, and looked up at her: "Not clean, what do you mean?"
Huarou's face was a bit solemn: "I don't want to talk about this matter, but I once heard an old lady say that the most sinister and vicious thing in the back house is to play tricks on food, tea, and soup. Zi Si. In that cup of tea, you wouldn’t have done such tricks, would you?”
Yong Ruo praised Huarou in his heart, but said: "Whether it has tampered with it or not! Anyway, I didn't take a sip of that cup of tea."
Huarou was overjoyed immediately: "This way I can rest assured!" Then she asked Yongruo with some doubts, "Could it be that Madam also suspects that there is something wrong with the tea, so she didn't drink it?"
Yong Ruoxiao: "How can it be? One is that I am not thirsty, and the other is that I am not interested in knowing whether the tea is good or bad. Then I think about how many people have used that teacup, and I don't know if the girls have washed it clean. Yes, I don't want to drink at all!"
Huarou smiled softly: "Unexpectedly, Madam's obsession with cleanliness would have such benefits! Madam did the right thing! In the future, when you go to Shou'an Hall, don't eat or drink if you can. Princess Xing'an hates Madam so much, I don't know if she will Who will bribe someone to plot against Madam!"
Yong Ruo nodded: "You make a lot of sense, I remember it! But you and I know about this, don't make it public, lest we suspect the wrong person and cause some trouble. If people doubt me If you separate the prince, mother, son, and brother, then I will be in big trouble!"
"Madam, don't worry, this servant understands!"
Yong Ruo's eyes fell on the medical book in his hand again, and he casually said to Hua Rou: "And have you forgotten? Yesterday my fingers were cramped too, so it's not impossible for Zhu Ying to have cramps in her hands. Don't worry." Think too much! Especially don't talk nonsense in front of the prince."
"Your servant has written it down!" Hua Rou quietly retreated, feeling an indescribably strange feeling in her heart.
Madam's hand cramps yesterday, and Zhu Ying's hand cramps today, is it really a coincidence