Since ancient times, any good story between a monarch and his subjects would be widely known and recorded in history, such as Jie Zitui cutting off his own flesh to serve his monarch, and Emperor Taizong of Tang viewing Wei Zheng as a mirror.
The next day, all the officials in the capital knew that Emperor Yuanyou had braved the severe cold to personally escort Chen Tingjian out of the palace and bestowed a cloak on him. Some expressed envy and looked forward to the day when they could also be favored by the emperor. Others, upon learning that the emperor treated Chen Tingjian so well, became more afraid of the Prime Minister.
Chen Jingzong was absolutely unwilling to tell Huayang about his old man's glorious deeds. Huayang had not been out recently until Princess Nankang came here with her daughter as a guest.
The last time Huayang saw Nankang was at the end of May when he went to the imperial mausoleum to commemorate his father's first anniversary. At that time, Nankang just cried and the two of them didn't speak to each other.
Afterwards, my aunt often brought news about Nankang, only to find that Nankang was living in seclusion and becoming increasingly haggard.
Huayang understood Nankang's difficulties in having a rebellious brother, but Nankang had never treated her well, and it was impossible for Huayang to rush to ask about her well-being like an aunt.
But Huayang is not a narrow-minded person. Today, Nankang came to visit him for the first time, and Huayang also treated him politely.
In the west warm pavilion, the sunlight shines through the glazed windows and illuminates most of the room. Various potted flowers and plants are blooming quietly, competing with each other in beauty as if it were spring.
At this time of year, only someone of Huayang's noble status can afford to raise these flowers that are more delicate than humans.
Nankang was, after all, one of the only two daughters of the late emperor. She had a glorious life in the past, but she learned to be a lowly person since last year.
Nankang envied the magnificence of Huayang, but he was not surprised by the eye-opening scene.
Her five-year-old daughter was different from Princess Jing. She was born in the Marquis of Jing'an's Mansion and was treated worse than her mother since she was young. Last year, the entire mansion was shrouded in dark clouds. Everyone lived in fear, wishing they could dig out their loyal hearts and offer them to the Empress Dowager and the young Emperor in the palace. They dared not waste money on food and clothing, let alone take good care of the flowers and plants.
Stepping into the warm room of her aunt's house at this time, compared with the bleak winter outside, He Jing felt as if she had stepped into a fairyland on earth.
She couldn't hide her liking for him.
Huayang: …
She felt that the little girl looked somewhat pitiful.
Hejing is the emperor's first grandchild. When she was just one year old, she was given the title of "Princess Hejing" by her father himself. Hejing, Hejing, my father must be hoping that this child will grow up to be a gentle and quiet girl, and not learn Nankang's difficult, willful, and jealous character.
After being amazed by the scenery inside the warm room, He Jing stood beside her mother and looked timidly at the noble and unparalleled beautiful aunt.
Children's eyes are mostly clear and innocent. He Jing is beautiful, and it is hard for Huayang not to feel soft-hearted when he looks at her so restrainedly.
She smiled at the little girl and held out her hand: "I haven't seen He Jing for a while. Come and sit on the couch."
He Jing looked at her mother.
Nankang turned his face away, pushed his daughter with one hand and secretly wiped his tears with the other.
Huayang pretended not to see it. When the nanny brought by Nankang helped Hejing take off her shoes, Huayang touched the little girl's face and then her soft little hands, both of which were warm. He felt relieved and gently coaxed Hejing to eat some cakes.
Nankang calmed down and sat opposite her.
Huayang asked: "Why didn't you bring Dun Ge'er with you?"
Nankang didn't dare look her in the eye, and said with his eyes downcast: "I caught a cold, and I'm almost well, but I still have a little cough, so I didn't bring him out."
Huayang nodded and glanced at Nankang: "You have lost so much weight, and you have lost your appetite because of your father's death?"
Nankang clutched her handkerchief awkwardly.
Huayang: "Or are you afraid that the emperor will be angry with you because of Prince Yu's matter?"
Nankang’s chin almost touched his chest.
Huayang: "Don't worry, as long as you behave like the eldest princess and don't think about things you shouldn't think about, the emperor won't be unable to tolerate you."
Nankang wanted to cry again.
The nanny knew that the master had come to confide her secrets, so she smiled and carried the little princess to the south window to admire the flowers.
Huayang watched He Jing walk away, then continued to look at Nankang.
Nankang cried quietly, "I know the emperor is kind and will not vent his anger on me, but people outside are bullying me. It's ok for them to mock me, but those five or six-year-old children have learned to follow the adults' lead and dare to ridicule Hejing. I can bear it myself, but I can't stand the children being wronged, so I shamelessly came to my sister. I hope my sister will forgive my past mistakes and give us three some face, so that people outside won't trample on us too hard."
Huayang: "I am the eldest princess, and you are also the eldest princess. You can have the same prestige as I can. If anyone dares to disrespect you, you will be able to show your former arrogance."
Nankang said aggrievedly: "How can I have the confidence? I had my father to support me before..."
Huayang: "My mother is also your mother, and my brother is also your brother. If you are really bullied, they will not stand idly by. Just don't cause trouble yourself."
Nankang stopped crying and looked at Huayang in disbelief.
Huayang: "You are just stupid. You refused to admit it before. I am the eldest princess like you. When I encounter problems, I have to go to the palace to ask my mother and brother for support. You come to me, you might as well go to the palace more often to honor my mother and please my brother."
Nankang said embarrassedly: "The emperor has never liked me, mother, I am afraid of her."
Even Huayang would change from a proud little phoenix to a well-behaved little rabbit in front of Empress Dowager Qi. It would be strange for Nankang, a princess born out of wedlock, not to be afraid of Empress Dowager Qi.
Hua Yang: "I have already pointed out the way for you. It is up to you whether you listen or not. But I have to say this in advance. I hate trouble the most. Don't expect that if you run into trouble in the future and come to me to cry, I will come to the palace to plead for you."
Nankang felt both discouraged and helpless.
However, Nankang was very satisfied that Huayang was willing to meet her and say these words to her, and did not take the opportunity to add insult to injury or make sarcastic remarks.
She knew very well that if she and Huayang exchanged identities, she would definitely have a different face.
So Nankang finally accepted the fact and was convinced as to why his father favored Huayang more.
She used to be carefree and fearless, but now her father is gone, and that Princess Nankang is gone too. From now on, she is just the Princess Nankang and the mother of two children.
When you come as a guest, it is not enough to just ask someone to do something for you. The most important thing is to maintain a good long-term relationship.
Nankang started to gossip, including things in the Marquis of Jing'an's mansion, such as how the old marquis still treated her politely, how Meng Yanqing tried to cheat on her several times but was scolded and beaten by the old marquis, how her eldest sister-in-law was really virtuous, but her second sister-in-law mocked her openly and secretly, and how Hejing had been bullied by her cousins, and how Dun'er was only two years old and didn't understand anything, so it was okay for the time being.
Huayang quite likes listening to these family gossips. They don't involve her emotions and are fresh and interesting.
Moreover, she believed that once Nankang turned the corner and recovered its spirit, no one like Meng Yanqing and Second Sister-in-law would be able to defeat Nankang.
After talking about his own troubles, Nankang started to flatter Huayang again, envying the dignity of Huayang's eldest princess and envying Huayang's good marriage.
Nankang finally became a little smarter. He did not dare to praise Chen Jingzong, for fear that Huayang would bring up old issues. Instead, he focused on praising Huayang's father-in-law Chen Tingjian.
Nankang always used to go against Huayang, but now he is very eloquent in trying to please Huayang and makes Huayang laugh from time to time.
Huayang was in a good mood and invited Nankang and her daughter to have lunch at his house at noon.
She also gave Hejing a jade bracelet.
After the mother and daughter left, Huayang tidied up and lay down on the bed to take a rest.
Huayang was not sleepy for the moment and thought about his previous life.
Nankang had never come to see her in her previous life. It was probably from the first month of the second year of Yuanyou that Nankang suddenly became active and often went to the palace to serve his mother. Huayang was wondering why Nankang had changed his temper, and her aunt came to help her solve the puzzle. It turned out that her aunt couldn't bear to see Nankang's frustration, so she pointed out a clear way for her.
Hua Yang was simply curious: "She knows how to please the Queen Mother, why doesn't she try to please me?"
Even if it was just a courtesy, Nankang shouldn't ignore her.
The aunt was overjoyed: "She is stupid. I also reminded her to please you. Guess what she said? She said that you are a lonely widow. Seeing her children have a pair, she is either jealous or sad. If she comes here, it will only make you upset. Once she makes you upset, you will dislike her even more!"
Thinking of this, Huayang was amused again by Nankang's cleverness.
In the previous life, he was afraid that she would be jealous. In this life, Chen Jingzong is still fine, so Nankang is not afraid that she will be jealous.
In the evening, Chen Jingzong returned.
Because he can now return home two quarters of an hour earlier, Huayang is willing to wait for him to have dinner together.
"Nankang came to see me today." After eating for a while, Huayang mentioned it casually.
Chen Jingzong looked up at her, confused: "Who is Nankang?"
Hua Yang raised his eyebrows: "Why are you playing dumb? Father has two daughters, how can you not recognize them?"
Chen Jingzong: "As for her, there is no one around me who talks about her, so how can I always remember her title?"
Huayang: "Now I can see her face, right?"
Chen Jingzong: "No, I forgot what it looked like."
Huayang: "It's quite white."
Chen Jingzong: …
He lowered his eyes and stared fiercely at her collar: "I only like your whiteness, no matter how white others are, I'm too lazy to look at them."
Huayang glared at him.
Chen Jingzong picked up a piece of meat and continued to stare at her while chewing.
Huayang frowned: "If you do this again, I will eat first and never wait for you again."
Only then did Chen Jingzong withdraw his gaze.
Huayang: "She talked to me a lot, and even mentioned that the emperor gave my father a cloak. Why didn't you tell me about this beautiful story between the emperor and his subjects?"
Chen Jingzong: "Others say it's normal, but if I tell you, wouldn't it be shameless to praise my own family?"
Huayang: "You and I are husband and wife. Your father is also my father. Why distinguish between our own family and our own family?"
Chen Jingzong: "Then your brother is also my brother. Is it worth mentioning that family members send their own family members out?"
Huayang: "You are just ashamed."
Chen Jingzong glared: "Why should I be ashamed?"
Huayang: "My younger brother knows that it is bad for our father to work too late and miss dinner, but you have never advised him against it."
Chen Jingzong: "I come home so late every day, not much earlier than him, why don't I see anyone feeling sorry for me?"
Huayang: "How old are you and how old is your father?"
Chen Jingzong: "Okay, wait, I'll tell you a good story about our father and son."
.
On the morning of October 23, the sky was still dark, but all the civil and military officials were standing in front of the Huangji Palace.
The atmosphere was solemn until the prince consort strode in wearing a black leather cloak, walked majestically among the civil and military officials, and came to the front. Then he untied the cloak in front of everyone, and facing the old man's incomprehensible look, he rudely put the cloak on the old man.
Chen Tingjian dodged and scolded, his official hat tilted: "Nonsense! Back off!"
Chen Jingzong chased the old man to tie the belt: "You are old and can't stand the cold, put it on quickly."
Chen Tingjian just wanted to kick his son hard. He came here wearing a cloak, as did several other cabinet ministers. Because they were about to enter the palace, they took off their cloaks in advance and handed them to the eunuchs next to them. Now his son insisted on putting it on him. Isn't this nonsense
Chen Bozong and Chen Xiaozong finally arrived, and each of them grabbed one of their brothers' arms and dragged them away.
Not long after, the door of the Huangji Palace opened, and a eunuch came over and summoned all officials to enter the palace.
After all the officials entered the hall and stood in line, Emperor Yuanyou entered the hall from the front side door and sat on the dragon throne. Emperor Yuanyou looked down and found that Chen Ge Lao had an angry look on his face and was quietly adjusting his clothes, while some officials were laughing, unable to suppress their laughter.
Emperor Yuanyou asked: "Just now I heard a commotion outside the palace, what happened?"
Everyone looked at Chen Tingjian and his son Chen Jingzong.
Chen Tingjian pursed his lips and was about to explain when Chen Jingzong stepped out first and complained, "Your Majesty, yesterday the princess heard about the good story of you sending the Prime Minister out of the palace. She looked down on me at the dinner table, saying that I was unworthy of being a son and that I was not as sympathetic as Your Majesty to the Prime Minister's hard work. Just now, I followed Your Majesty's example and lent my cloak to the Prime Minister, but he did not appreciate it at all and instead scolded me."
Chen Tingjian bowed to the dragon throne and said, "I am about to enter the palace, what do I need his cloak for? This boy is naughty, Your Majesty, please do not pay attention to him, let's discuss the matter."
Emperor Yuanyou: …
Chen Tingjian and his son Chen Jingzong were enemies, and everyone in the capital knew about it. Emperor Yuanyou had even heard with his own ears all the complaints and criticisms Chen Jingzong had made against the old man.
The elder sister privately blamed Chen Jingzong for being unfilial. Could Chen Jingzong accept it? Forcibly borrowing the old man's cloak seemed to be a deliberate attempt to irritate the old man again.
My sister is really something. One moment she treats the prince consort well, giving him a horse and celebrating his birthday, and the next moment she finds fault with him...
Well, it must be that the prince consort has made my sister angry again recently, so my sister treats him like this!
(End of this chapter)