After Chen Jingzong left, Huayang picked up the three visiting cards on the table.
The Princess of Xiang and the Lady of Lingyuan County are both relatives, and the prominent Bai family has produced several high-ranking officials in this dynasty. Their mistress, Madam Ji, is indeed qualified to pay a visit to her.
Apart from Madam Ji, Huayang had only heard of the Princess of Xiang and the Lady of Lingyuan County but had never seen them in person.
There are too many vassal states in this dynasty, totaling more than 100,000 people. Huayang was only impressed by these two people, all because of his previous life.
In May of the same year in the previous life, Lady Lingyuan hanged herself at home. Her son was heartbroken and ran to the Lingzhou Prefecture's yamen in mourning clothes to accuse the King of Xiang of being unjust and luring his mother Lady Lingyuan to the palace to rape her.
The prefect at that time was Huayang's uncle Chen Bozong.
Chen Bozong sent someone to invite the King of Xiang to the government office for a confrontation, but the King of Xiang said that he was drunk and met Lingyuan County Lady while wandering in his garden. He was dizzy at the time and did not recognize her. He thought that it was a maid in the palace who seduced him, so he took her to the garden to accomplish the affair. After the incident, the King of Xiang sobered up and found that the woman next to him was Lingyuan County Lady. The King of Xiang was furious and denounced her for being shameless to seduce a fellow clan member. He also believed that Lingyuan County Lady was ashamed to see such a talented person and went home to die.
The Prince of Xiang also brought several of his servants as witnesses, but there were no witnesses on the side of Lady Lingyuan except for a maid who disappeared at the time of the incident.
In this kind of case, Chen Bochong could not convict the Prince of Xiang because there was no evidence.
But soon after this case, Huayang's father-in-law Chen Tingjian suddenly submitted a memorial to the capital, listing thirteen charges against the Prince of Xiang, including raping women, taking human lives, and seizing people's land.
My father sent two imperial envoys to Lingzhou Prefecture to thoroughly investigate the crimes of Prince Xiang. One of them was Shi Yao, an old friend of my father-in-law, and the other was Zheng Hong, my father-in-law's enemy.
When the Prince of Xiang heard that the court had sent an imperial envoy to investigate him, he actually raised a large banner in front of the palace gate with the words "Banner of Suing for Injustice" written on it.
A banner is a marching flag. Unless it is used normally in the army, only a rebel would raise this kind of flag. Shi Yao reported to the court that Prince Xiang intended to rebel. Although Zheng Hong believed that there was insufficient evidence to prove Prince Xiang's rebellion, his father still demoted Prince Xiang's entire family to commoners and exiled them to the frontier.
At this point, the case seemed to be closed, but when the father-in-law passed away, the former Princess of Xiang suddenly came to the capital with her son and accused her father-in-law of abusing his power for personal gain. Because the Chen family had an old grudge against the Prince of Xiang, she instructed Shi Yao to falsely accuse the Prince of Xiang of treason. At the same time, Zheng Hong also submitted another memorial to prove that the Prince of Xiang had indeed committed many evil deeds, but had never intended to rebel.
After a thorough investigation by the Imperial Guards, there was one more item added to the order for my brother to punish my father-in-law - false accusation of a relative of the vassal state!
Of the seven charges, Huayang was most dissatisfied with this one. Just based on what the King of Xiang had done, there was no evidence to prove that his father-in-law had instructed Shi Yao to falsely accuse the King of Xiang of rebellion. Even if he had, the King of Xiang deserved it. His father-in-law was actually getting rid of harm for the people! So what if they were relatives of the vassal state? The old man Taizu hated evil the most. If he were alive and knew that there were such unfilial descendants in his family, he would probably punish them even more severely.
Huayang didn't know what had hit her brother's head in the previous life. Anyway, in this life, she had made up her mind. She didn't need her father-in-law or the Chen family to help. This time, she would deal with the King of Xiang herself! .
Around noon, Chen Jingzong, wearing a dark brocade robe, went out with his servant Fugui.
The master and servant each had a horse.
Looking at Fugui climbing onto the horse, Chen Jingzong said disdainfully, "Have you gained weight?"
Fugui blinked his eyes, lowered his eyebrows, and pretended to cry: "Fourth Master, I..."
Chen Jingzong: "What Fourth Master? Call him Prince Consort."
Fugui's well-prepared mood was interrupted for a moment, but he immediately took it up with full emotion, saying miserably: "My Lord, this is not my fault. Although I have been eating vegetarian food and chanting sutras with the masters this year to commemorate the old lady, you and the princess live deep in the inner house without any errands, and I have been bored in the house every day. My hands and legs have strength but nowhere to use them, so I have become weak. If you don't believe me, pinch my arm, it's just puffy, and I haven't gained any meat!"
Chen Jingzong didn't pinch his arm, but just said, "The eunuchs around the princess are all handsome, and you are the only one available by my side. You'd better dress yourself up as soon as possible and don't embarrass me."
Fugui straightened his back immediately: "Don't worry, you are going to work now, I will run with you every day, I will definitely lose weight in three to five days!"
Chen Jingzong said no more and let him lead the way.
Long before the appointment document from the Ministry of Personnel was delivered to the Chen family, Chen Jingzong asked Fugui to come to Lingzhou City first to inquire about everything that needed to be found out.
Fugui reported in a low voice while riding his horse: "The commander of Lingzhou Guard is called Xiang Baoshan. Like the other thousand households and hundred households in the guard, he is an official inherited from his ancestors. He is not bad looking, with arms and waist like an ape. He married a favorite concubine daughter of the King of Xiang and is usually very close to the King of Xiang."
"There are two commanders above you. The fat white one is called Wang Feihu. He is not good at martial arts, but is good at flattering and manipulating people. You will recognize him when you see him. The other one is called Lin Yan. He is nine feet tall and strong. He is the most capable in the garrison. He married Xiang Baoshan's sister, so he is like Xiang Baoshan."
"The other deputy commander who is on the same level as you is called Luda. He is a man of temperament and is often excluded by those three people. He is 25 years old and has not yet married."
In the following year, Chen Jingzong had to deal with these four people frequently, so Fugui inquired about them very carefully and told them all the big and small things.
We have arrived at Zuixianju.
When Chen Jingzong reined in his horse, four figures walked out of Zuixianju from the front and back.
The leader was wearing a royal blue robe. He was tall and handsome, and his smile was as refreshing as a spring breeze. He must be the commander Xiang Baoshan.
He was followed by two men, one fat and one thin, who could easily match up with the Wang and Lin mentioned by Fugui.
The other one walked alone behind, with a stern face, looking at Chen Jingzong with a look full of inquiry and a bit of vigilance.
"This young man is handsome and dignified. Is he the prince consort from the capital?"
Xiang Baoshan smiled and bowed.
Chen Jingzong dismounted and politely returned the greeting: "I am the new assistant commander Chen Jingzong, and I am honored to meet you, Your Excellency. We will serve together in the garrison from now on, and you can just call me by my name."
Xiang Baoshan said with a smile: "No, no, I'd rather call you Prince Consort."
Chen Jingzong didn't argue with him and looked behind him.
Xiang Baoshan introduced Wang, Lin and Lu to him one by one.
After the greetings, the four of them moved to the private room on the second floor.
Zuixianju is the most famous restaurant in the area. In addition to delicious wine and food, it also has beautiful singers.
Xiang Baoshan behaved calmly and properly, but Wang Feihu, who was sitting below Chen Jingzong, looked at Chen Jingzong with a bit of flattery after drinking a round of wine, and said meaningfully: "Your Highness, you are new here, so you may not have heard of the three signature dishes of Zuixianju. In addition to the delicacies and fine wines, Zuixianju also has a singing girl named Yu Niang. She is as beautiful as a fairy, and she has a great voice. One of her songs can linger in our ears for three days. Why don't I ask her to come over and sing a couple of songs to entertain us while we drink?"
There are few men in this world who are not lustful and greedy for novelty.
No matter how beautiful Princess Huayang is, the prince consort Chen Jingzong might get tired of her after living with her day and night for such a long time. Besides, the princess might be strict and not allow the prince consort to have a concubine. Now that he has the opportunity to cheat, can Chen Jingzong resist the temptation
Wang Feihu secretly exchanged glances with Xiang Baoshan and Lin Yan.
They can also make a rough judgement on how they should get along with Chen Jingzong in the future through this meal.
Only Lu Da snorted with disdain after Wang Feihu spoke.
Chen Jingzong smiled faintly, playing with the edge of the wine bowl and said: "Chen is a rough man, I am not good at music, and I can't appreciate it. I think it's too noisy for my ears."
Wang Feihu immediately said, "No problem, no problem. Then let's just drink. Come, I'll toast to the Prince Consort!"
Xiang Baoshan's eyes lit up: "Your Highness has a good alcohol tolerance, I'll toast you a bowl too!"
Chen Jingzong drank as usual.
Lin Yan also toasted, but Lu Da just drank his own cup.
After three rounds of drinks, the waiter started to serve the dishes. After a full table was set, a woman in a red dress with a veil on her face walked in from outside the door. She stood gracefully opposite Chen Jingzong and bowed gently to everyone.
Lin Yan explained, "Prince Consort, this is the rule of Zuixianju. Whenever a distinguished guest comes, we have to ask the waiter to announce the names of the dishes."
While he was speaking, Lu Da frowned and looked at the prostitute. He saw that the veil on her face was as thin as a cicada's wing, as if she was not wearing any, revealing a pair of watery eyes and a pair of fiery red lips. It was obvious that she was hired by Xiang Baoshan and his two men to seduce Chen Jingzong, so he snorted again.
Chen Jingzong said nothing.
Lin Yan winked at the woman in the red skirt.
The woman in the red skirt began to introduce the name of the first dish, but she had only said three words when Chen Jingzong suddenly left the table and said in a cold voice, "Drink if you want to. I hate it most when someone is talking in my ear. Sorry, I won't accompany you."
After saying that, he turned and walked out.
Xiang Baoshan hurriedly grabbed his arm, winked at the woman in the red skirt and told her to go down, then apologized and persuaded Chen Jingzong to stay.
The woman in the red dress turned pale, she was proud of her beauty, and seeing that the nobleman she was going to seduce today was so handsome, she also secretly dreamed of sleeping with the princess's man. But she never expected that the other party hated her so much and didn't even look at her
The woman in the red dress retreated in great shame.
Xiang Baoshan and Lin Yan held Chen Jingzong down on the left and right, and each drank three bowls of wine in a row to make amends.
Chen Jingzong generously forgave their mistakes, and the men continued to drink.
At the beginning, Xiang Baoshan and the other two took turns to get Chen Jingzong drunk. As time went on, Xiang Baoshan, Wang Feihu and Lin Yan all fell drunk on the table.
Chen Jingzong drank the most, but his expression did not change. He poured himself another bowl and glanced at Lu Da who was sitting opposite him.
Lu Da finally said, "The prince consort can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. I admire you."
Chen Jingzong: "Why don't you toast with me?"
Lu Da: "Drinking is harmful to the body and can easily lead to mistakes. I don't like drinking, and I don't force others to drink."
Chen Jingzong just sneered, drank slowly and ate some food. When he was full, he didn't care about Lu Da and left.
Lu Da followed him downstairs, but he was still a step too slow. Chen Jingzong had already mounted his horse and had no intention of talking to him anymore.
In the private room on the second floor, Xiang Baoshan hid behind the window and watched Chen Jingzong ride away on his horse. He then looked at Lu Da who was still standing downstairs. He turned around and asked Lin Yan and Wang Feihu who had also woken up: "What do you think of this prince consort?"
Lin Yan: "I see that he walks like a dragon and a tiger, so he must have some real skills. It's definitely not just the rumors that he was chosen as a son-in-law because of Lord Chen."
Wang Feihu: "I don't understand that. It's true that he's not lustful. But Yu Niang has that small waist and small voice. If I take a look at her and hear her say something, she won't listen to me."
Xiang Baoshan pondered and said, "The Chen family has an old grudge against the prince, and Chen Jingzong is still unclear for the time being. Before we can control him, you should all hold on tight and don't let him catch you."
Wang and Lin nodded in unison.
Ning Garden.
Huayang ate lunch alone. Guessing that Chen Jingzong would not be back for a while, she went to take a rest.
Chao Yun helped her master comb her hair, looked at herself through the mirror, and asked curiously, "Princess, are you really not worried about your husband and his family listening to the music and watching the dance at the banquet?"
Hua Yang smiled and said, "Why worry? If he dares to have affairs outside, I will divorce him."
Compared with her previous life, she has been much better to Chen Jingzong, but since Chen Jingzong himself doesn't cherish him, she has no regrets.
When Chen Jingzong came back, he didn't even look at the Qifeng Palace and went straight to the Liuyun Palace.
Fugui asked curiously, "Aren't you going to look for the princess?"
Chen Jingzong: "I smell of alcohol. I'll be looked down upon even if I go."
Fugui thought for a moment and advised, "Then you should go to the princess first, otherwise the princess will think you are covered in powder and she will be too guilty to see anyone."
Chen Jingzong: …
He slowed down his pace, and after a while, he really went to Qifeng Palace.
Huayang was sleeping soundly when suddenly a smell of alcohol hit her face. She opened her eyes and saw Chen Jingzong standing by the bed, looking at her with an unclear expression.
Hua Yang was about to ask him to leave, but Chen Jingzong said, "At noon, they asked me if I wanted to order a singing girl, but I didn't. Later, they changed the way they asked a woman to announce the dishes, but I scolded her and she left."
Hua Yang listened and said sarcastically: "These colleagues are very nice to you."
Of course, this time she was satirizing outsiders.
Chen Jingzong: "No, since you are awake, come and smell it."
Huayang: "What do you smell?"
Chen Jingzong: "The smell of powder, to prevent you from being suspicious and accusing me of wronging you."
Huayang: …
She only smelled the strong smell of alcohol, and turned her head away with her hands covering her nose: "Don't worry, I don't doubt you, go take a shower quickly."
Chen Jingzong glanced at her half-exposed snow-white arms before leaving.
(End of this chapter)