Zhou Shoufu is not a fool, and the emperor's decree to regain his love is enough to show that his eldest son has been working for His Majesty all these years, and His Majesty has far more trust in him than himself, the current Shoufu.
But for so many years, he has allowed his wife to oppress the eldest son. Even he himself has ignored him who was in trouble many times in order to support his son. What kind of father-son relationship is so weak that it can almost be ignored.
Suddenly recalling the deal he made with Wei Junhang earlier, he swayed, and finally understood the meaning of his last meaningful look.
That's the look of a fool!
"Master, master, something is wrong, something is wrong!!" The housekeeper's panicked cry was accompanied by his hurried footsteps, he tried hard to swallow the fishy sweetness in his throat, and scolded , "How decent is it to yell!!"
"Master, it's too bad. His Majesty has just issued an imperial decree to welcome Princess Rui back to the palace as the original wife!"
Zhou Shoufu jumped up from the grand teacher's chair with a 'thump', and before he could say anything, he couldn't lift it up in one breath, and fell down with a 'thud'.
"Master..."
Earlier rumors that Princess Rui was still alive had been flying all over the sky, but no strong evidence had been obtained, and no one dared to ask Emperor Yuanyou for proof, so this matter has been spreading true and false all the time.
Now this imperial decree has clearly stated that those earlier were not rumors.
Princess Rui, Princess Zhao, was still alive, and was about to be welcomed back to the palace by Emperor Yuanyou as the original wife.
The emperor's original wife, isn't that the empress? So, where is Queen Zhou in the palace
Immediately, some courtiers said on the spot that this matter was absolutely wrong. There was already a queen in the palace, so it would be a mess to welcome back Princess Rui with the queen's gift.
This time, if you welcome Mrs. Zhao into the palace with the gift of the original wife and wife, will it be Empress Zhou who will let her go next time? Empress Zhou has been in the middle palace for many years, and she has never heard of any wrongdoing. Could it be that because of Zhao's death and resurrection, this empress will be abolished
Naturally, some courtiers disagreed.
Princess Rui is His Majesty's original wife, so why not welcome her back with the gift of an original wife
The two sides immediately refused to give in, and neither would accept the other.
It's just that Emperor Yuanyou had made up his mind a long time ago, so how could he allow the courtiers to object, simply ignoring it and directly issuing an order.
At this moment, the government and the public were in an uproar, and their eyes fell on Zhou Mansion.
Your Majesty's move is a blatant slap in the face of Queen Zhou and the Zhou Mansion!
Everyone was waiting for Zhou Shoufu to show up, but at this time, Zhou Shoufu had already lost his will and fell ill in bed.
Shen Xinyan was also taken aback when she heard the news, she didn't expect that Jinshang would welcome Princess Rui back with such great fanfare. It's just... the gift of the original wife
She shook her head, although there were many ladies and ladies in Beijing who secretly said that His Majesty had deep affection for Princess Rui, no matter how the courtiers objected, they insisted on giving her the decency that the original wife should have.
But she didn't take it seriously.
So what if you welcome her back with the gift of a regular wife? What about after we welcome back? And how to arrange it? Now His Majesty's first wife has someone else. Empress Zhou is not good in every way, but her empress position was sealed by His Majesty himself.
Even, combined with the earlier rumors that Princess Rui is still alive, she has reason to suspect that His Majesty has always known that Princess Rui is not dead. If this is the case, it is none other than himself who caused Princess Rui's embarrassing situation today.
Of course, these are just her guesses, so naturally she won't tell others. The matter between the empress and Princess Rui is not something she can discuss.
No matter how others objected, in the end, on the auspicious day of the zodiac chosen by the Qin Tianjian, Princess Rui, Princess Zhao, was grandly welcomed into the palace as a queen.
As everyone expected, for the status of Princess Rui, a fierce debate was launched in the court again. After all, there is only one empress, but the emperor has two "principal wives". For respect, it is true that the public says that the public is right, and the mother-in-law says that the mother-in-law is right, and no one can convince anyone.
Some people think that Princess Rui is the original concubine bestowed by the first emperor to marry her, and that Princess Rui is a well-known imperial concubine. His Royal Highness King Rui succeeded to the throne as emperor. Empress Zhou was originally only the side concubine of King Rui, and she mistakenly thought that the concubine would only be sealed after her death. Now that the concubine returns, the position of empress will naturally return to the original owner.
Others insist that the queen is the mother of a country, so how can they just change it. No matter what kind of mishaps there were back then, since Empress Zhou is now in the middle palace, and she has never made any mistakes, how can she lightly abolish her position!
The two sides refused to give in, and they quarreled until their faces were red.
Wei Junhang said these things while chatting with Shen Xinyan and his wife, and Shen Xinyan just listened and didn't take it too seriously.
After all, whether the queen's surname is Zhou or Zhao has nothing to do with her.
She also said this to Wei Junhang, and Wei Junhang laughed out loud after hearing this, and kissed her hard on the face.
Shen Xinyan covered her face and glared at him reproachfully.
"But speaking of it, Princess Rui's life is a bit too bitter. The Zhao Mansion... ah, a good family, because of the murder of a traitor, it broke up like this." Thinking of the prefect Zhao's mansion and the Zhao family who were killed unjustly, Shen Xinyan couldn't help but sigh.
"I don't know if there are any descendants in the Zhao family?"
"Your Majesty has already tried his best to find the descendants of the Zhao family. It will not be long before there will be news. However, Zhao Quanzhong's line is probably broken. We just want to see if he can succeed from a side branch to maintain the incense." Wei Junhang Caressing her long hair, he didn't hide it from her.
"It's been so many years, it's probably difficult. Then is it possible that Zhao Zhifu doesn't have a direct child?" Shen Xinyan asked again.
"There used to be an only son, but he also passed away with Mrs. Zhao Shao." Speaking of that child, Wei Junhang felt a little regretful.
How wonderful it would be if the child survived!
However, on such a high cliff, even Mrs. Zhao Shao died, so how could such a small group survive, I am afraid that they have already returned to the dust along with those loyal servants who have not been found.
"My son, come here to report, saying that the Duke is looking for you!" Xia He came in to report.
Hearing that the old man was looking for him, Wei Junhang got up in a panic, straightened his clothes quickly, said "I'll go and come back" and strode away.
Shen Xinyan was a little funny.
How is this appearance different from that of a naughty boy who went to meet his majestic father
Speaking of which, apart from the eldest princess, there is probably no one in the whole family who is not afraid of the Duke. Even her daughter, who was always crazy about people, was very honest in front of the Duke, not to mention making trouble, and she didn't dare to say a few words easily.
"Let's go, don't make father wait too long." Seeing Lai Fu waiting outside the door, Wei Junhang said without thinking.
Laifu walked behind him for a long distance, then trotted to catch up with him, and said in a low voice: "My son, it is not the Duke who is looking for you, but Your Majesty!"
Wei Junhang stopped, gave him an annoyed look, and cursed: "If he looks for it, let him look for it, why are you bluffing me with father!"
Lai Fu giggled: "Speaking of the words of the Duke of the country, the son's movements will be more agile."
Wei Junhang didn't bother to pay attention to him.
***
"Prince Cheng has escaped!" Emperor Yuanyou said as soon as he saw him.
Wei Junhang was stunned: "Run away? Can you let him run away with so many guards?"
Emperor Yuanyou said bitterly: "Who would have thought that the old man would stay behind! This time I was careless!"
"This is the return of the tiger to the mountain! Although there is no king in the world, it is not easy to find someone who is willing to hide." Wei Junhang's face was serious.
Emperor Yuanyou didn't know why, but he didn't expect that King Cheng risked his life not to stay behind, and rescued his eldest son, and now Prince Cheng's son might have brought the last bit of strength he left behind. escaped.
If you cut the weeds but don't remove the roots, you're afraid of endless troubles!
"The matter has come to this point, we can only look for it slowly." Wei Junhang said helplessly.
Emperor Yuanyou rubbed his forehead with some headache. After a while, she said bitterly: "Just now in front of the courtiers, she stated that she would like to serve the Zhou family as her queen..."
Wei Junhang was a little surprised, but he seemed to be expecting it.
"I failed her..."
Wei Junhang remained silent.
In the past, everyone had to do all kinds of things, but now things are changing, things have changed, and mentioning them for many years will not help except add melancholy.
Emperor Yuanyou was extremely disappointed. Obviously she is his original wife, but she has been hiding in the dark all these years, fearing that King Cheng's family will find out that she is still alive, which will arouse their vigilance. It is even more difficult.
But now that all the dust has settled, he just wants to return them to their respective places, can't he
After a long time, he let out a long sigh, collected his mood, and said slowly: "There is one more thing. Mrs. Zhao's maid remembered that when the killer of King Cheng came to the front, Mrs. Zhao seemed to have sensed it, and ordered the housekeeper Zhao Bao to take it. Leading the youngest son and grandma back to Beijing by another route, but I remember that you didn't find the remains of Zhao Bao and Young Master Zhao?"
"Your Majesty means..."
"I suspect that Zhao Quanzhong's only son may still be alive!"
"Is there evidence?"
"Yes, Zhao Bao is still alive!"
Wei Junhang's eyes widened in surprise: "What about the other person? Where is he?"
In the east hall, Mrs. Zhao was sitting by the window, and the maid beside her disapproved and said: "Why should you give in, you are the concubine of King Rui bestowed by the late emperor, so naturally you should be the empress."
Zhao Shi smiled, but didn't say anything.
Bestowed by the first emperor? She was bestowed to death by the first emperor!
If you talk about the "bestowment" of that stupid king, wouldn't you be dying of yourself
Without the protection of the family, what can be done even if you are a queen? It would be better to show weakness first, take the initiative to give in, and increase His Majesty's guilt towards his mother and child. Sometimes a man's guilt is more reliable and useful than his oath.
Only by firmly grasping his guilt can she be more confident in seeking more for herself and her son.
What's more, the Zhou family has been operating in the palace for many years, how could she, a newcomer, be able to easily shake her!
What is the position of queen? Only the one who laughs last is the real winner!
After more than half a month of fighting for the ownership of the latter position, the result finally came to fruition.
Because Princess Rui repeatedly backed down, Emperor Yuanyou had no choice but to decree that the Zhao family was conferred the title "Rui". The former Princess Rui became the current Royal Concubine Rui.
As soon as this decree came out, the ruling and opposition parties were shocked.
The word "Rui" was the title of His Majesty when he was still a prince, but now it is given to Concubine Zhao, what does it represent? It means that in His Majesty's mind, the imperial concubine is his real wife!
What shocked the courtiers even more was yet to come.
Emperor Yuanyou made another decree, posthumously conferring the title of Duke Cheng'en on the father of the noble concubine, and the title of Marquis of Zhongyi, Zhao Quanzhong, the elder brother of the noble concubine.
As soon as the decree was issued, the courtiers knelt down and begged His Majesty to take back the decree.
Cheng Engong was a favor given to the mother family of the queen of the dynasty, but now it is given to Concubine Rui, which is simply absurd!
Emperor Yuanyou walked away without paying any attention.
It's just that the ruling and opposition parties have seen a way.
The name of the queen was given to the Zhou family, but the reality of the queen, I am afraid that His Majesty intends to leave it to the Zhao family.
In this struggle, did Zhou's faction win or Zhao's faction won? No one dared to say anything.
There are more noble concubines Rui in the palace, so it is natural for all the government orders to enter the palace to have an audience. Although it is only a noble concubine, anyone with a wink can tell that this noble concubine is the number one person in His Majesty's heart. If she hadn't backed down, the empress position might not be impossible.
Before entering the palace, the imperial concubine suddenly had a will, saying that she wanted to meet the junior girls from various mansions. Everyone guessed her thoughts and brought the most proud juniors in the mansion into the palace together.
In the British government, because the imperial concubine had a decree of favor, the three sisters-in-law each brought their children and followed the eldest princess into the palace this time.
"Auntie, get down quickly!" Taking advantage of Concubine Rui's coming down to help the eldest princess herself, Shen Xinyan couldn't restrain her curiosity and looked at her.
No one can't help being curious about this legendary woman who was able to attract the madams and misses of Jingzhong to emulate with any random makeup, and who has gone through hardships and finally returned to the eyes of the world.
However, when she met a pair of beautiful smiling eyes, she was stunned.
Yuwei? wrong!
The eyes are still those beautiful eyes that people can't forget at first sight, but the appearance is different from each other.
It's just that when she thought of "Aunt Yan" who died of a sudden illness a few days ago, she had another guess in her heart.
Since Yan entered the mansion, she was like an invisible person, so that no one cared about her "death". When Shen Xinyan reported it to the eldest princess, the other party just said "I see" and then said nothing.
A childless aunt who entered the mansion in such an unbearable way, the eldest princess naturally looked down on her.
After seeing the ceremony, she asked the younger generation to come forward to pay respects to the noble concubines and concubines. Mrs. Zhao rewarded them one by one with a smile. After the youngest Wei Yingzhi passed away, she couldn't help being a little disappointed to see the other younger generations in the British government.
What about the kid who was hit by him last time? Why don't you come? Isn't he a child of the British government
For some unknown reason, although it was only a one-time relationship, she felt an indescribable intimacy with the child.
Mother and child have been separated for many years, and the child born in the palace has a sense of alienation from her, and is no longer the child who loved her mother and acted like a baby.
Every time she met the alienated eyes of the emperor's eldest son, her hatred for the late emperor and King Cheng deepened.