On that day, the emperor made a clear decree, canonizing the three princesses as Princess Heshuo Wenxi, marrying Kui Lang, the new king of Baiyue, as queen, and getting married ten days later.
This sudden decree surprised the entire capital.
In the early court, it was obvious that the candidate had not yet been decided. With the emperor's indecision, all the officials thought it would take another ten days and a half months. Unexpectedly, in just a few hours, the dust had already settled.
Han Lingchao and Han Lingfu, who were still in Taibai Restaurant, couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when they heard the news, and the result was exactly what they wanted.
Han Lingguan locked himself in the study for an entire hour, and then called Pingyanghou and several staff.
As for the Baiyue envoys who live in the Wuyi Pavilion, they don't seem to care about this matter. Also, to them, it doesn't matter who the relatives are, what matters is whether Dayu is willing to borrow troops...
The Ministry of Internal Affairs hastily organized the marriage of the three princesses, and the emperor summoned several ministers from the cabinet and the Ministry of War to the Imperial Study Room to discuss matters overnight, and even the official Yubai was announced.
There was a gust of wind and clouds in the capital.
Fortunately, the southern border thousands of miles away has not been affected, especially Luoyue City, which is still peaceful.
In the morning, Nangong Yue finished taking care of the trifles in Bixiaotang as usual, and was called to the study in the inner courtyard by Zhennan Wang shortly after lunch.
"Father!"
Nangong Yuefu saluted. In the study, apart from King Zhennan, the side concubine Wei was also there. I saw her wearing a Yunxia Zhaiwen beige, with a thin powder and light application. She was elegant and dignified, but her eyebrows and eyes were revealing. With a little bit of charm, it is no wonder that she has been favored by Zhennan King since she entered the palace.
Nangong Yue glanced at Wei Shi without any trace, and the maid Peiyu next to her was holding a very familiar red sandalwood box in her hand.
Early this morning, Nangong Yue thought that the matter of applying the medicine was almost on track, so she ordered Baihui to return the pair of cards from the Wangfu to Wei Shi.
Only an hour after the pair of cards were handed over, King Zhennan sent someone to invite her over.
Thinking about it, Nangong Yue's eyes flickered, and she and Wei Shi met each other gracefully.
After sitting down, she bowed her body and asked respectfully: "I don't know what orders the father and the king have for calling the daughter-in-law?"
The King of Zhennan did not beat around the bush, and said in a clear voice: "Concubine Shizi, your mother is not in good health recently..." At this point, he couldn't help coughing dryly, and said, "You have been in southern Xinjiang for two months. You should be familiar with it, this king plans to let you take over the management of the palace in the future, what do you think?"
This idea was not a whim of King Zhennan. Ever since Princess Yongyang came to Southern Xinjiang, he felt that it would be inconvenient for the palace to be managed by a side concubine. The side concubine is a concubine after all, and it always seems that the name is not right.
Over the past few days, he has also carefully inspected it. The concubine Shizi is still gentle and virtuous, and she has rules in her affairs. Bi Xiaotang is also in order, and even Xiao Yi's rebellious son is not so disobedient now... Marrying a wife requires Marry a virtuous man, this statement seems to be true. King Zhennan gradually began to think about it.
Just after he returned to the mansion, the Wei family came here to report that the concubine Shi Zi returned the pair of cards. Seeing that the concubine Shizi is not someone who will not let go of power, King Zhennan finally made a decision, so he ordered someone to call her over.
Nangong Yue stood up, did not shirk, and humbly blessed her body: "My daughter-in-law will definitely live up to my father's trust."
Nangong Yue is not surprised, the situation in the palace is so delicate, as long as she doesn't make mistakes, the gift will be handed over to her after all, it's just a matter of time...
"Good! Good!" Zhennan Wang stroked his beard and smiled, while Wei Shi who was at the side secretly heaved a sigh of relief, thinking: Finally, I have given away this hot potato. For more than a year, she did not ask for meritorious deeds but for no faults. Hey, although the concubine of the palace is a favorite, but there is a concubine, how dare she, a concubine, take care of the affairs of the concubine all the time... Her daughter still Little one, in the future it will depend on the son and concubine.
Wei quickly winked at Peiyu, and Peiyu held the red sandalwood box in her hand to Nangongyue, opened the box to Nangongyue for a look, and then respectfully presented it to Baihui.
Huamei couldn't hold back the joy in her heart, she was very happy for the master, and letting the concubine Shizi take charge of the palace should be regarded as the greatest affirmation of the King of Zhennan. Since then, the Crown Princess has finally gained a firm foothold in the palace.
Now that he had finished talking about the business, King Zhennan didn't stay with Nangong Yue any longer, and waved her away.
As for Nangong Yue, everything has just begun.
Wei sent someone to order all the nuns in charge to go to the Youning Hall where the daily director was, and accompanied Nangong Yue to go there.
Those nuns in charge are all human beings, and even a little trouble in the mansion can't be hidden from their eyes and ears. The news that the crown prince is going to officially start to take charge of the palace seems to have grown wings, and spread throughout the palace in an instant.
For a time, it was really a few happy and some sad.
The whole family knew about such a big event, even if Nanny Qi wanted to hide it, she couldn't hide it from Xiao Fang.
If it weren't for the fact that he was still under restraint, Xiao Fang would almost rush to the outer study to find King Zhennan.
But now, she can only—
"boom!"
"Snapped!"
"Wow!"
She threw the cup for a while, threw the vase for a while, and swept the teapot and teacups on the table to the ground. The broken porcelain and tea splashed all over the floor, but Xiao Fang's mood did not get better because of this.
The servant girl who served in the house was used to it, she lowered her eyebrows and kept silent.
Ever since Madam was grounded by the prince, her temper became more irritable than in the past. Throwing some cups, dishes and pans was considered minor. Last time, there was a little maid who was almost blinded by the splashed tiles that slipped past the corner of her eyes.
Seeing that there was nothing to smash, Xiao Fang finally sat down, gritted his teeth and said: "This Wei Shi is really useless!"
She never expected that Wei Shi would hand over the middle prize of the palace so easily - without delay, without pushback, Wei Shi actually handed over the pair so simply!
Xiao Fang desperately rubbed the handkerchief in his hand, his teeth itching with hatred. Once this person has tasted the taste of power, how can he let go so easily... Xiao Fang originally thought that if Wei and Nan Gongyue fought to the death for power, then he could fight with snipe and clam, and reap the rewards profit.
However, things backfired!
Is Wei Shi really willing? Or is she pretending to be virtuous and handing over the right card because she doesn't want to lose the favor of Zhennan King
Xiao Fang's eyes were dimmed, and the movement of rubbing the handkerchief in his hand finally eased a lot.
Seeing that Xiao Fang's mood had calmed down a bit, Nanny Qi ordered the servant girl to make tea again, and then leaned over to comfort her and said, "Ma'am, don't be so angry, it's not worth it to be so angry." Of... the days are still long!"
Xiao Fang narrowed her eyes slightly, thinking of something, and instantly calmed down.
"Well said, the days are still long!" Xiao Fang straightened her back, with a cold smile on the corner of her mouth, and patted the table sinisterly. This palace!"
As soon as Nanny Qi's eyes lit up, she understood immediately, and complimented her graciously, "Ma'am is still brilliant!"
The maids in the room heard their eyelids twitch and lowered their heads even lower.
From the next day, King Zhennan found that his life seemed not to be so smooth.
Early in the morning, the servant girl was about to help him put on the starched robe, when he smelled a faint smell of dragon's brain on the robe. King Zhennan's robes are generally scented with several types of incense that he is used to, and it is unknown who changed it without authorization. King Zhennan frowned, and immediately ordered someone to fetch a new suit.
In the afternoon, King Zhennan was resting in his study outside when the concubine Zheng, who was eighteen years old, suddenly came and cried, saying that the prince had promised to send her head, but the storehouse hadn’t delivered it yet. Don't take her seriously.
That night, the sweet-scented osmanthus that he didn't like the most was put in the supper delivered by the small kitchen. King Zhennan didn't even taste it, so he ordered people to remove it.
These trivial things reached Nangong Yue's ears early the next morning. When she was washing and dressing, Que'er told her one by one from the side, with a look of worry on her face: "Prince Concubine, will the prince Will... "Think it's your housekeeper who is unfavorable
Huamei interjected angrily: "Concubine Shizi, this is too ridiculous, the washing room has been washed, fumigated and ironed by the prince for so many years, how can he not know the prince's preferences, and the prince's small kitchen is only for the prince every day. The prince is in charge of tea and making some snacks for supper..."
The more Huamei talked, the more angry she became, her ruddy mouth pouted.
No! Nangong Yue smiled faintly, and while facing the bronze mirror, she slightly adjusted the position of her hairpin, and said in her heart: Obviously, someone is tripping her up!
And who would be idle to do these things
The answer naturally emerged in her heart...
Nangong Yue was not in a hurry, she got up and said, "Let's go to Youning Hall."
Because she was going to the horse market in a while, Nangong Yue advanced the director's time to a quarter of a hour. When she arrived, the nuns in charge were already waiting, and they all bowed their eyebrows and looked down, very respectful.
There was a smile on Nangong Yue's lips. After she sat down, she said lightly, "Something went wrong in the washing room yesterday, in the small kitchen and in the warehouse. Mother Li, Mother Zhou, Mother Xu, can you accept your punishment?"
These three are the maids in charge of the washing room, the small kitchen and the warehouse. The three of them couldn't help but be surprised when they heard this. Li Madam immediately said: "Shizi Concubine, I don't know what mistakes the slaves have made. What happened yesterday may be from the underworld." people… "
"The three of you have been in charge of this errand for more than a year and a half, but you have allowed the subordinates to do wrong things, and if you are not punished, do you let this concubine fight with those little maids for right and wrong?" Nangong Yueduan Picking up the teacup, she flipped the tea leaves lightly and said, "I don't care what the rules of the palace used to be. From now on, the rules you have to abide by are sitting together. Whoever's subordinates commit crimes, whoever is punished for her. For the time being, this concubine thinks that the three nuns are the first offenders, and this time they will be fined for two months."
The three sisters looked at each other, and Mother Li and Mother Zhou lowered their heads one after another, but Mother Xu said with a face of dissatisfaction: "Concubine Shizi, what do you mean? You are right!"
Nangong Yue smiled, and asked casually: "Nurse Xu, are you dissatisfied?"
Madam Xu poked her neck and said, "This slave is not convinced!"
"In that case, you can go home."
Such an understatement shocked everyone in You Ning Hall, and Madam Xu said in disbelief: "Concubine Shi Zi, you, how could you..."
"Why not." Nangong Yue's lips twitched slightly, and said as a matter of course, "I am a majestic concubine, do I still want to see the face of a servant like you? Today, this concubine doesn't want to use you, so I can withdraw you naturally. even sold you…”
These nuns in charge have been in this position for a long time, do they really think that they can dictate and be the masters of the house
When the water is clear, there will be no fish. Nangong Yue understands this truth, and doesn't care about their innocuous behaviors on weekdays, but they must recognize their identities.
Xu Momo's eyes widened, but Nangong Yue was already too lazy to listen to her, so she waved her hand and said, "Take it down."
Immediately, several women walked over with a smile on their faces.
"The slave is not convinced! The slave... oh!"
Mother Xu still wanted to speak, but the women gagged her mouth with a veil and dragged her out.
From now on, she is no longer qualified to step into this You Ning Hall.
Everyone was silent.
I have always heard that the concubine Shizi has a good temper, and she was born in a scholarly family, she has a bookish air, but she did not expect that she is so swift and resolute in her actions.
Nangong Yue put down the teacup in her hand, and said gently: "What do you need to report today?"
Although she had a gentle smile on her face, the nuns in charge didn't dare to take it lightly, and responded carefully one by one.
It was more than half of the time when everything was settled, and on the way back to Bixiaotang, Baihui said with some concern: "Concubine Shizi, what should I do if the servants at the palace make trouble?"
These nurses in charge had been serving in the palace when they were the old prince, and they thought they had some face, the concubine was just in charge, if they disobeyed and caused any trouble, the prince might get tired of the concubine.
Nangong Yue waved her fingers with a smile, and said: "Madam has lost both the reward and the imperial order. Her prestige in the palace has long been inferior to before. Although she still has cronies, there are not many of them. Therefore, Madam now The only things that can cause trouble are these small things, and whoever dares to be the first bird, I can still easily get rid of them."
She can't tolerate being a slave to bully her master!
"When they know that their wealth and lives are in my hands, they don't dare to have other thoughts." Nangong Yue said casually, "After all, the foundation of our palace is only twenty years old. If those In a mansion of a century-old family, generations of families have luxuriant branches, and the roots and branches are intertwined, and the interests of each house are involved, so it is troublesome."
Que'er jokingly said, "The imperial concubine is wise!"
Back at Bixiao Hall, Nangong Yue hurriedly changed into clothes that were convenient for traveling, and went to Yunli Hospital. Yong Yang, Fu Yunyan and Xiao Fei were already ready, and soon, an ordinary carriage drove out of the East Street gate of the palace.
The horse market they were going to today was located on a large piece of wasteland in the southwest of Luoyue City. It was said that this horse market had a history of a hundred years.
A military strategist said: "The horse is the foundation of the armor and the great use of the country."
Since ancient times, because horses are associated with military affairs, the number of horses is a symbol of a country's strength. Therefore, whether it is the previous dynasty or the current Dayu Dynasty, those in power have taken a large number of horses to make military horses, resulting in a shortage of horses among the people. Every year, the horse market is extremely lively and lively.
The reason why the horse market was chosen in the wilderness outside the city was that it was originally a privately run horse market, avoiding the government, and it was mostly traded secretly in the middle of the night, until the dynasty changed, and it was not until the Dayu Dynasty that Ming road.
Nangong Yue thought she came early, but she was taken aback when she arrived at the destination. On weekdays, one tent after another was set up on the wasteland, and every few feet, there were circles of fences around the horses, stretching all the way to the sky.
The horse market is already bustling with people, shoulders rubbing against each other, and at a glance, it is not known whether it is more people or more horses, the sounds of people and horses are interlaced, and it is very lively. There is a very complex smell in the air, the strong smell of horse manure mixed with horse sweat is really "lifting".
Fu Yunyan looked around excitedly, and almost couldn't wait to get into the crowd. But at least her reason is still there, and she still remembers to remind: "Ah Yue, Ah Fei, there are three kinds of teachings and nine schools in this kind of place, dragons and snakes are mixed, don't get separated, and be careful of pickpockets." Twice to make a pickpocket gesture.
While talking, several people had already entered the horse market, and saw a red, white, black, or brown horse in the enclosures, swinging their long tails, shaking their heads and neighing from time to time. Outside the fence, many spectators pointed at the horses. If they had further intentions, they would ask the horse owners to pull the horses out and negotiate the price privately.
Everyone watched dazzledly, Yong Yang commented a few words from time to time, Fu Yunyan and Xiao Fei nodded in response. However, Nangong Yue was confused. After a while, she heard them say, "The first class can catch deer, the second class can catch moose, the third class can attack crows, and the fourth class can manage the world." Such as tired ko", and then said "water and fire desire to be distinct", all kinds of horse scriptures are numerous.
It's really a heavenly book. Nangong Yue sighed secretly, anyway, today's protagonist is the horse, she is just a companion, just take care of casually looking around.
Suddenly, there was a loud noise in front, and the heads of the surrounding people rushed forward frantically.
A middle-aged man shouted excitedly: "Brother Wang, hurry up, someone is betting on a horse over there!"
"Then you have to hurry up and join in the fun." Another big bearded man hastily echoed.
"I don't know who is lucky today..."
After hearing this, Xiao Fei blinked her eyes suspiciously: "I heard that horse hunting is at the end of the daily horse market..." Why is it suddenly early today
Baihui immediately went to the passers-by to inquire about it, and then she came over and said: "Master, I have inquired about it. This is a private betting on horses run by those horse farm owners. It is actually against the rules."
In other words, it is a black market.
After a pause, Baihui continued: "The horse-spotting activities held by the Jockey Club provide good horses, but those horse owners who bet on horse-spotting in the black market often unscrupulously mix some sick horses and old horses with them." It’s just that this horse market only has one day a year, and by the time you find out that it’s a sick horse, you’re often too late to regret it, and the owner who sells the horse has long gone.
Yong Yang raised his brows and said with a smile: "There is nothing left and right, let's join in the fun!"
The girls naturally had no objection, surrounded Yong Yang and walked forward along the crowd, and soon saw a middle-aged man standing on a wooden box in front of him, shouting to the surroundings: "Look, look, look!" Take a look, the exciting horse-hunting game has begun! You can get a thousand-dollar BMW for only twelve taels of silver, everyone, Bole, hurry up and have a look!"
The price of horses fluctuates every year, but basically it will be between 8 taels and 20 taels. In the past two years, Dayu has fought repeatedly, and the shortage of war horses has also raised the price of horses a lot.
The horse owner's price of twelve taels was quite attractive to many people. Even if he didn't meet BMW, he would not lose a few taels of silver if he sold the horse after changing hands.
But after they surrounded them, they found that the matter was not that simple. The owner of the horse specially built two circles of fences to separate the buyer and the horse by more than two feet. horse.
Soon, a young man shouted in a rough voice: "Boss, this is too far away!"
"That's right!" Immediately, someone echoed repeatedly, "How can you make a fool of yourself!"
The owner of the horse didn't take it seriously, and said with a smile: "Hey, I just want to add some excitement to everyone."
One sentence drew booing from the surrounding onlookers, but the crowd did not disperse because of it.
Looking at the people in front of them surrounded by three layers and three layers outside, Nangong Yue and the others felt like retreating, but at this moment, they heard a male voice from behind saying excitedly: "Master Ning Here we come! It's Master Ning."
The crowd around them all boiled up, and they all followed the prestige, only to see a man in his thirties, wearing a brown brocade robe, and a man of medium build walking towards this side, where the man passed, the flow of people automatically divided into two Half, let him go in the direction of the fence.
Fu Yunyan curiously looked for an aunt beside him and asked, "Auntie, who is this Master Ning?" Could it be that he is a big horse buyer
The aunt sized up Fu Yunyan and Nangong Yue beside her, and said, "Are you foreigners who came to Mashi for the first time?"
Fu Yunyan nodded, she is indeed a foreigner, and it is also the first time she has come to Mashi.
The aunt got excited, and said with great interest: "Master Ning is a famous horse hunter in the vicinity. Basically, he can pick out famous horses when he comes to the horse market every year. In the horse meeting event held by the Jockey Club last year, it was Ning. The master caught sight of the hard-earned horse among a hundred horses, and won the title of Bole!"
The aunt got excited, and said with great interest: "Master Ning is a famous horse hunter in the vicinity. Basically, he can pick out famous horses when he comes to the horse market every year. In the horse meeting event held by the Jockey Club last year, it was Ning. The master caught that bloody horse out of hundreds of horses at a glance, and won the title of Bole!" The master clicked enviously, "We people only hope to follow Master Ning and listen to his advice. , Maybe you can meet a fine horse and earn a few taels of silver."
After finishing speaking, the aunt happily followed.
Nangong Yue and Yong Yang exchanged a look, and followed the flow of people who automatically separated.
"Master Ning," a young man in gray shorts greeted Mr. Ning graciously, "Look, how do these horses look?"
The eyes of all the people present were focused on Master Naning, and their eyes were so hot that they almost surpassed the rising sun at this moment.
Mr. Nan Ning is obviously used to being the focus of everyone. While stroking his beard, he walked along the fence and observed the horses. Wherever he went, the crowd was surging, and everyone whispered to each other, but no one dared to disturb this Ning. master.
Master Ning stopped suddenly, pondered for a moment, looked at the owner of the horse standing on the box, and said, "There are wild horses in your group of horses!"
It was as if a drop of water fell into a hot oil pan and exploded all around. It's not that the wild horses are bad, it's just that the domestic horses have been tamed for many years and are docile by nature. The wild horses are not inferior. How can ordinary people have the time and thought to tame the wild horses! Although there are BMW horses among the wild horses, they will be caught by these horse dealers The ones that arrive are basically inferior horses that lag behind the horses.
Sweat dripped from the horse owner's forehead. Today he met a knowledgeable man, but he still insisted: "You, don't talk nonsense!"
Nangong Yue, Fu Yunyan and Xiao Fei couldn't help but glanced at Yong Yang, who also nodded. It seems that Master Ning still has some real skills.
Master Ning straightened his chest and said confidently: "Because wild horses eat wild grass, moss, and withered grass for a long time, their mouths are relatively wide, while domestic horses are used to eating concentrated feed, so their mouths are thin and long. Wild horses have short and thick limbs, and their hooves are tall and thick round and smaller; while domestic horses have relatively long limbs and relatively large hooves."
The onlookers took a closer look, and found that there were indeed some "heterogeneous" among the horses in the enclosure. It was only at this time that they suddenly realized that it was no wonder that the horse mainly asked them to view the horse from a distance.
Seeing the owner of the horse opening and closing his mouth but unable to speak, the onlookers didn't know what was going on, and the crowd dispersed immediately.
Yong Yang's eyes flickered, the owner of the horse was indeed a little dishonest, but—
Yong Yang smiled, and said loudly: "Boss, I want a horse!"