Qing Yuan Hall.
Due to the assassination, Yan Emperor Murong Cheng's dragon body deteriorated again, and his complexion improved after resting for two days.
As soon as Murong Ci stepped into the main hall, he heard the laughter of his father and Concubine Xiao's soft and coquettish anger from the sleeping hall, so he stopped in front of the sleeping hall.
"Your Majesty is resting in peace. The assassin has been punished. The concubine ordered Director Liu to clean up all the palace people and guards. All suspicious people have been dealt with. Similar things will not happen again."
Concubine Xiao Gui's eyes were bright and kind, and she touched his chest with her slender hands, touching his face with joy, and laughed loudly, "I am very relieved that my concubine is in charge of the harem and Liu An is in charge of the inner court."
Her beautiful eyes flickered and sparkled, "Speaking of which, Zhaohua and Yuwang have contributed the most this time. If Zhaohua hadn't happened to be here, her maid Yuanxiu would not have been able to stop the assassin in time; if it hadn't been for Yuwang The king arrived in time and waited outside the hall, but he couldn't catch the assassins. His Majesty should reward them to show that His Majesty is clear about rewards and punishments."
"Of course I want to reward, but I haven't thought of rewarding Zhaohua and Yuwang." Murong Cheng frowned slightly.
"According to my concubine's humble opinion, Yu Wang is in charge of the government. He is the regent personally appointed by His Majesty. It is his duty to protect His Majesty. His Majesty rewards him with bird's nest, ginseng and other tonics to nourish his body. Zhaohua, this child is desperate to escort him. It's rare, and it needs to be rewarded properly." Concubine Xiao's beautiful eyes smiled, and her oval face, which was as radiant as snow, glistened, "I just remembered, isn't Your Majesty going to choose a son-in-law for Zhaohua who is both civil and military?" Shallow idea."
"Oh, let's hear it"
"There are martial arts contests among the people, and hydrangea ball throwing to recruit relatives. There have also been royal princes in various countries to choose concubines. Why not hold a grand contest for Zhaohua's son-in-law?" For a son-in-law who is both complete and of high character, then there are two competitions, the literary test and the military test."
Murong Cheng was very interested, his eyes sparkled, "It's a good idea. The descendants of the fourth-rank and above Beijing officials, regardless of their concubines, can sign up to participate in the competition, and finally choose the three best future son-in-laws for Zhen and Zhaohua to personally participate in the competition." pick."
Concubine Xiao smiled and said: "Yes. The literary test only needs one session. When the military test arrives, we will see how many people have signed up to participate and then decide whether to divide it into a first session and an final session."
He grinned from ear to ear, "Before, I always had a headache which family to choose, Zhaohua would be satisfied. The idea of Aifei solved my troubles, and I deserve a reward."
She squinted at him softly, "It is the duty of a concubine to share His Majesty's worries and problems, and this concubine only hopes that His Majesty will recover soon."
The natural obsequiousness made Murong Cheng Xinsheng sway. He reached out and touched her chin, then slid down and rubbed her shoulders, causing her to turn her head shyly and groan softly. However, right now he can't bear this delicate and soft beauty, he can only see and touch but not enjoy.
Murong Ci coughed lightly, bowed and cupped his hands, and raised his voice: "I pay homage to my father."
Murong Cheng put down his hands in embarrassment, looked outside the bedroom, with a cold face.
"So it's the prince who came to pay his respects." Concubine Xiao Gui stood up, raised her eyebrows and sneered.
"Father, today is better." Murong Ci walked into the bedroom, saw Father's cheeks flushed, presumably it was due to the upward flow of Qi and blood.
If she didn't come in in time, if the emperor couldn't control it, the consequences would be disastrous.
Murong Cheng said lightly, "I'm much better."
She hesitated to speak, but finally plucked up the courage to persuade: "Father, Divine Doctor Xue said that you must rest for half a year before you have any hope of recovery. Father, don't destroy the dragon body for a moment of pleasure. You should always remember Xue It is what the genius doctor ordered. If I know that someone has seduced my father in order to win the favor, so that my father's dragon body will wear down again, I will never let it go."
The last sentence is sonorous and resounding.
She glanced at Concubine Xiao Gui, her eyes were cold.
Concubine Xiao's exquisitely painted face flushed instantly, due to her words alluding, and due to the rising anger in her blood, Concubine Xiao's face turned green and then white, and finally turned into a liver color. She gritted her teeth and said, "What do you mean, Your Highness?"
"The prince is worrying too much. I will remember Miracle Doctor Xue's advice, take care of myself, and not mess around." Murong Cheng said displeased, with a cold expression on his face.
"Your Majesty" Concubine Xiao Gui was wronged and acted innocently.
"I know you don't." He comforted him gently, then turned to Murong Ci, "The prince has something important to do."
"Your Majesty, the prince is not young, and it's time to learn how to behave. Zhaohua's selection of a son-in-law is better left to the prince's supervision." She laughed suddenly, her eyes shining like a knife's edge, "Zhaohua is the prince's emperor." Sister, the concubine feels that the prince will definitely do his best for his sister's marriage."
"Alright." Murong Cheng agreed without hesitation, "The prince has any objections."
"I will do my best to handle this matter with all my heart, and choose the most outstanding and outstanding man in Yan Kingdom for my imperial sister."
How could Murong Ci not know that Xiao Guifei made this proposal because she wanted to use it to determine Zhaohua's life, and Yuwang would not sign up to participate, so no matter how she chooses, she can't pick him.
Furthermore,
Concubine Xiao Gui suggested that she should be in charge of it, because she wanted her to be busy and not have time to investigate Zhao Concubine's death.
It's a good strategy to kill two birds with one stone.
Murong resigned: "Father rests well, son and minister leave. By the way, noble concubine, the emperor's sister chooses a son-in-law. I have some ideas and want to negotiate with her. Can she move?"
Murong Cheng said with a smile: "I'm tired, I need to rest for a while, you guys go outside to negotiate."
Concubine Xiao and Murong Ci retreated and came to the corridor outside the hall. Murong Ci walked east for a while, stopped, his bright eyes were as cool as water, "Did the Concubine lose something valuable?"
Concubine Xiao's heart skipped a beat, her slender eyelashes trembled slightly, but her expression did not change, she sneered as usual, "No. Why does Your Highness ask that?"
"The imperial concubine remembers clearly." Murong Ci stared at her with a sharp look in his eyes.
"Of course I remember clearly." Concubine Xiao Gui held her head up and said, her face as cold as autumn water.
"I picked up a brocade box by accident a few days ago, and there is a golden hairpin of pine, bamboo and plum in the box." Murong Ci raised his hand and moved slightly, and continued, "I remembered that the imperial concubine seemed to have a golden hairpin of pine, bamboo and plum, so I came to ask Concubine."
Qin Ruo came over and offered a mother-of-pearl brocade box.
Murong Ci took the brocade box and opened it in front of Concubine Xiao, "Look, Concubine, is this pine, bamboo, plum, and gold hairpin from Concubine Xu? Concubine has lost it for a long time and forgot."
Concubine Xiao glanced at the pine, bamboo, plum, and golden hairpin, her beautiful eyes narrowed, and she immediately disappeared as soon as the cold air appeared, she said indifferently: "Looking at my memory, I really forgot. This golden hairpin was worn three months ago. It was lost, but it was stolen by some lowly hoof, and it fell into the hands of His Highness, thank you Your Highness for finding it for this palace."
She took back the brocade box, "I think this golden hairpin is not dignified enough, so I threw it aside. I can't find it after it is stolen, so I don't remember it."
Murong Ci smiled lightly, hiding a thin silver needle in his smile, the tip of the needle was as bright as a sword's edge, "Imperial Concubine, if you want others to know, you have to do nothing about it. Maybe this time I just lost a golden hairpin, and the next time it may be lost." It’s fate, after all, I often walk by the river, so there’s no way your shoes won’t get wet, right?”
How can Concubine Xiao not understand the outer strings of these words
"Your Highness is smart, so you should know that meddling too much is not necessarily a good thing. Your Highness, if you lose this pine, bamboo, plum, and gold hairpin, you will lose it. It's a trivial matter, so why make a fuss?" She smiled softer and softer, her smiling eyes were as bright as blades Stabbing, "Your father is recuperating and cannot be stimulated. If His Highness is truly filial, then he will put the overall situation first and His Majesty's dragon body as the most important thing, and handle Zhaohua's selection of a son-in-law well, so that His Majesty will be happy."
"I will naturally handle Zhaohua's matter well and not let my father worry about it. But I would like to advise you, the noble concubine must not walk at night, otherwise there will be evil spirits lingering on you, making you restless day and night." Murong Ci's voice was very low, but his words were sharp.
After that, she turned and left.
Concubine Xiao Gui stared coldly, this idiot prince actually threatened her
However, Prince Lang dared not spread the word about it.
The Ministry of Rites is fully responsible for Princess Zhaohua's selection of her son-in-law, and Murong Ci supervises it.
After the Rebellion of the Seven Kings more than ten years ago, the royal heirs were thin, and there was only one prince left. The princesses included Princess Zhaohua and the underage Princess Jinyang and Princess Huiyang. Therefore, this matter was spread through the Ministry of Rites, and the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty were full of enthusiasm. Those who wanted to be promoted, to be rich, to glorify the lintel, and to consolidate their status were gearing up one after another. Fighting with guns and swords, the threshold of the Ministry of Rites was almost broken.
In just two days, the Minister of Rites counted the talented young officials and princes who signed up for the selection, and there were thirty-six of them.
When Murong Ci learned that so many people had signed up to participate, he couldn't help but sneer.
There is no prince in the court who can let those rich and powerful families send out their daughters to consolidate their position in the court or increase their power, so becoming Princess Zhaohua's son-in-law is one of the few opportunities in the past ten years. Everyone rushed to prepare for the battle. Princess Zhaohua's selection of a son-in-law immediately became the hottest topic in Jingxiangmo, the capital city.
Princess Zhaohua in Jinghong Palace didn't know it, she was happily thinking about how to hook up with Yu Wang, and what excuse she would use to go to the study to find him.
When the court lady hurried back to tell her this, she was beyond shock.
After being reminded by Yuan Xiu, she froze for a long while before rushing to Yuxiu Palace where her mother and concubine belonged.
"Mother, is it true?"
She grabbed Concubine Qiao's spacious sleeves and asked anxiously, her beautiful eyes shining like pearls.
Concubine Qiao was taken aback by her nonsensical words, but she quickly guessed what her daughter was asking. She calmly pulled her daughter to sit down, but her daughter shook her hand and shouted excitedly: "Mother Concubine, tell me quickly."
"Zhaohua, please calm down first." Concubine Qiao comforted softly, "This is something your father has decided on, and you can't do it if you don't want to."
"Mother Concubine, why didn't you tell Erchen earlier?" Murong Chang was angry and sad, and Mother Concubine deliberately hid it from her.