In front of Tang Wanzhuang, Zhao Changhe could only deny his relationship with the imperial concubine: "What are you thinking? Isn't it natural for me to look at her twice more because she is pretty? It's human nature, human nature..."
Tang Wanzhuang stared at him without saying anything.
Zhao Changhe said carefully: "In fact, I stared at you longer at the beginning, didn't you feel it..."
Tang Wanzhuang glanced around subconsciously, and said expressionlessly: "Remember what you said."
The meaning was to remind him that everyone had agreed not to be interested in the marriage, so he should not go back on his word.
Zhao Changhe rolled his eyes. They could flirt with each other in Gusu before, but now they are in Beijing, they start flirting again. She is so naive, and she won't go to anyone else.
Tang Wanzhuang ignored his expression and continued to ask: "It's okay to just look at her a few times, but it's also human nature for you to want to stay in the Huangfu family?"
"I have no place to live, can I live here with you?"
Tang Wanzhuang: “…”
She found that she had no position to argue, so she could only say: "Anyway, whether you admit your identity or not, you are still a noble concubine. Even if you are just an ordinary commoner, you can't covet it, be careful of your head. And according to that identity, it is even more..."
Zhao Changhe felt a little guilty and said helplessly, "What are you talking about? What's wrong with you today? You keep talking about this kind of thing. Isn't it just a matter of looking at it a few more times? Isn't this the perspective that we, the Tang leader, should look at things from?"
Tang Wanzhuang also felt that she had lost her composure. She lowered her head and sipped her tea to adjust her mood before slowly saying, "Because I know that she doesn't take this so-called imperial concubine seriously, and your Majesty doesn't take it seriously either. So I am a little suspicious."
Zhao Changhe became interested: "How do you say that?"
Tang Wanzhuang hesitated for a while. Of course, she couldn't tell anyone about this kind of thing. But if this person was Zhao Changhe, would it be considered a family matter in some sense? Would it be better to let him know
After hesitating for a long time, he finally said: "The Huangfu family is a military family in the northwest, and they originally did not live in the capital. Since several of their sons died in battle, His Majesty allowed Marquis Jingyuan to return to the capital to retire, and he treated them with great kindness..."
Zhao Changhe said, "Are you afraid that your achievements will overthrow the emperor? Or are you afraid that General Huangfu will lose too many sons and his mentality will explode? He said he returned to the capital to retire, but in fact he retired from the army and took away the military power. He also asked people to leave their ancestral residence and keep them in the capital."
"Maybe... a little." Tang Wanzhuang said, feeling that it was not nice to hear, and tried to defend the emperor: "But your majesty has not yet executed any meritorious officials, which is rare in history. It is indeed not a good idea for a military family to be stationed in the border for a long time... and the Huangfu family is a surrendered minister of the previous dynasty, so it is understandable that the emperor should be on guard."
Previous dynasty... This was the first time Zhao Changhe remembered the existence of such a concept. Daxia had been established for several decades, and the concept of previous dynasty had long been faded out among the people, and no one had heard of it for such a long time.
Having said that, it is normal for Miss Huangfu Qing to have rebellious thoughts in her heart after what happened to the Huangfu family, but I don't know what the family thinks. So she joined the Four Symbols Sect herself? I wonder if her father knows... Anyway, at least the Demon Suppression Division doesn't know, otherwise Tang Wanzhuang would not have this attitude.
He also declined to comment: "And then?"
"The Huangfu family entered the capital more than a decade ago. At that time, Huangfu Shaozong was still wearing open-crotch pants, and Huangfu Qing was in her teens. Her reputation spread throughout the capital..."
"Where were you then?"
“…” This question was indeed the precise entry point for solving several cases.
Tang Wanzhuang really didn't want to answer, but she could only answer expressionlessly: "Traveling around the world... studying in Beijing."
Zhao Changhe quickly suppressed his laughter.
You are about the same age, about the same beauty, and have similar family backgrounds. I guess your talents are not much different. Maybe you are better at martial arts than her... Zhao Changhe had not thought that Winged Fire Snake was Suzaku, otherwise even their martial arts would be similar.
A girl from a water town is gentle, elegant and serious; a girl from a general's family is impetuous and maybe a little bit coquettish.
One is a pillar of the court, the other is a traitor behind the scenes.
They are like fire and water, with two sides, light and dark. It would be strange if these two people didn't dislike each other since they were girls. It is likely that this quarrel has become natural, and the whole capital is used to watching the fun.
Time flies, one became the first, the other became a concubine, and they still quarreled...
If Zhao Changhe could connect it to Zhuque, he would know that recalling the time at Luojiazhuang, in that tense atmosphere of massacre and extermination of the entire family, Zhuque's first words when he saw Tang Wanzhuang were: "The name of the Chunshui sword technique is a bit vulgar, but it's still nice to look at." The little taste in those words is really not something that can be told to outsiders.
Tang Wanzhuang looked unhappy: "What's with that expression? Do you think I told you not to get close to her because we don't like each other?"
Is not it
Zhao Changhe sat obediently and drank tea with his head down.
Tang Wanzhuang knocked on the table: "What does this have to do with me? It's about the Huangfu family's entry into the capital! Don't change the subject!"
"Hmm, then what?"
Tang Wanzhuang stared at him for a long while, and finally got back to the point: "In general, the court was defeated in many subsequent wars with the Hu people, and many elite border troops were killed. The so-called stupid moves of your majesty in his later years led to chaos in the world, which can also be considered as one of them. Marquis Jingyuan really couldn't sit still, and repeatedly requested to go to war."
Zhao Changhe said: "So sending your daughter to the palace is to reassure him? What kind of reassurance can a daughter give him? It's useless. It's more meaningful to let Huangfu Shaozong live in the capital."
"Obviously, the real proton is Huangfu Shaozong himself, not Huangfu Qing. I don't know if Huangfu Shaozong himself has figured it out."
"… In other words, there is no need for Huangfu Qing to enter the palace."
"Yes, it's unnecessary and meaningless. In this matter, it is very likely that Huangfu Qing and the Jingyuan Marquis family are separated... At most, it is better to let Jingyuan Marquis use the name of a foreign relative to lead the troops, which is better than holding someone else's son in Beijing. But I still think it is Huangfu Qing's own business."
"So it's because Old Xia had lustful intentions and forced her into the palace?"
"No, His Majesty has not been interested in women for at least ten years, or perhaps even longer. He hasn't even selected a concubine in the past twenty years." Tang Wanzhuang said seriously, "In fact, when His Majesty has reached the level of unity between man and nature, he will no longer be interested in these things. I have never seen anyone on the Heavenly Ranking who is interested in them. For example, Cui Wenjing, he probably hasn't touched his wives or concubines since Cui Yuanyang was born. This is also the reason why His Majesty has only one prince. According to my secret sources in the inner palace, His Majesty hasn't touched Queen Wang for at least fifteen years. Maybe the Luo family's affairs are his last interest..."
"..." Although it was consistent with the judgment of Huangfu Qing being a virgin, Zhao Changhe's CPU was about to burn out again.
Since entering the palace has no meaning for the Huangfu family, why did she enter the palace? To seduce the emperor? The emperor is no longer interested in women. It seems that many people know about it. It makes no sense that you don't know, so why would you seduce her? And this kind of thing is not like the temperament shown by the Winged Fire Snake.
It's understandable that she deliberately entered the palace to cause trouble for some purpose, such as plotting to assassinate the emperor. But Xia Longyuan's explanation was not justified. Since they didn't even choose concubines, why did they find a concubine for no reason? Did they think they didn't have enough to do? Maybe she killed your son, and you don't care
But fortunately, this matter probably doesn't require any brainstorming. I can just ask Huangfu Qing directly later and she should be able to tell me.
Damn, at worst I can just join the church in exchange.
Tang Wanzhuang said: "In short, your majesty and Huangfu Qing are definitely not in a relationship between an emperor and his concubine. It must be just a name, and they are cooperating for a certain thing. Your majesty's idea may be barely explained as promoting a concubine to pressure Queen Wang, but I really don't understand Huangfu Qing's purpose. It is impossible for her to have a son. What is she trying to do? To assassinate? In short, this woman is very dangerous, especially with your identity..."
She paused, frowned and said, "You shouldn't have come to the capital. There is not much difference between you coming to the capital and announcing your succession to the throne. What does Queen Wang think? What does Huangfu Qing think? The attitude of the officials... Your Majesty's own attitude. I can't deduce the troubles here for a while. Why are you going to the capital now? It's not the right time."
The shadow of Xia Chichi flashed through Zhao Changhe's mind, and he knew that his trip to Beijing this time was not entirely the result of Yihuoshe's deception. The reason for going to Beijing was not that important.
The real reason was Xia Chichi's sigh. She felt that her father was going to die, but she didn't even know the situation.
Zhao Changhe took a deep breath. "The Wang family is in turmoil. I think Queen Wang has leaked some serious information to the Wang family. I want to know the real situation of His Majesty, and I will leave when I know it. You said you have a secret agent in the inner palace, can you give me a definite answer?"
Tang Wanzhuang shook her head. "According to my information, His Majesty looks fine. I don't know how the Wang family judged that. He even attended court this morning and sent more troops south. There is nothing wrong with him at all."
Zhao Changhe scratched his head and thought to himself, "If you don't let me contact Huangfu Qing, I'm afraid it won't work. I have to ask Huangfu Qing about this anyway..."
Just as he was thinking this, a report came from outside from the Demon Suppression Division: "Master, Young Master Huangfu is outside and said he would like to invite Zhao Changhe to the banquet."
Zhao Changhe looked at Tang Wanzhuang pitifully. Tang Wanzhuang glared at him unhappily, then shook her head and laughed: "Go ahead, go ahead. Now that you are here, how long can you hide? Come and see whether Moments in Peking is what you wish."
(End of this chapter)