On this day, Pei Youan had just experienced a life-and-death assassination on his way to the capital. At the same time, the Zhen family in Quanzhou, thousands of miles away, was destined to be an unusual day.
In the past year, many places sandwiched between Yunnan and the capital have been affected by the war, large areas of farmland have been deserted, and people have fled. Although Quanzhou still looks like the old days, it is not completely unaffected. When the war required money, the imperial court naturally set its sights on a wealthy place like Quanzhou. The government forcibly increased taxes three times in a year, and the top had to be stripped layer by layer. Finally, it was apportioned to each household, the big family and the small family. The households were not spared, the people complained constantly, and the tax officials complained a lot. In the past, the people used to have the mentality of watching the excitement and heatedly discussing which of the emperor and the third prince could win. Later, it became hoped that the battle would be over soon. No matter which one wins, let them restore their former peace. Days, that's what matters.
In the afternoon, Zhang Da heard the concierge shouting all the way to report, saying that someone from the government was coming, and thought it was coming to apportion again. In the past year, such a person has come to the door I don’t know how many times, he cursed in his heart, frowned and said. : "Come when you come, shout what you want, and startle the old lady." Unexpectedly, the concierge said again: "It was the governor, Lord Gao, who came in person! He said that he had obeyed the imperial decree!"
Zhang Da was stunned: "What did you say? Lord Governor? Imperial decree?"
The concierge nodded quickly: "It was said that it was here by the emperor's decree, and I asked Quan to come out and receive the decree!"
The governor of the province is a high priority on weekdays. Although Zhang Da is often in and out of the government, it is limited to the Quanzhou prefecture at most. Have you ever seen a top local such as the governor? Hearing that he actually came down to his house in person today, he couldn't help being surprised.
Some time ago, there were rumors in Quanzhou that the third prince was about to conquer the capital. Zhang Dagang wanted to ask which emperor it was.
The doorman shook his head. Zhang Da immediately called someone to inform the old lady and the others. He took care of his clothes and quickly greeted him. When he arrived at the door, he saw a row of dozens of official sedan chairs parked there. In the middle was a large square sedan, and on the side were officials from the state government. , a group of yamen officers carried the guard of honor in a dignified manner, attracting many passers-by to watch, not knowing whether it was a blessing or a curse, suppressing the anxiety in their hearts, they rushed out and knelt under the steps: "I don't know if you have lost your distance when you come here. Welcome, sin deserves death!"
The curtain of the official sedan door was lifted, and Gao Huaiyuan, the governor of Fujian, showed a face with a smile on his face: "No ceremony.
…
Mrs. Hu brought Zhen Yaoting out soon, and respectfully introduced Gao Huaiyuan and his party into the lobby.
Gao Huaiyuan said: "King Shun'an has gone against the law and is chaotic, and now he has been put to death. I have ascended the throne to the new emperor. Vientiane has been renewed, and a special list has been issued to the world to appease the hearts of the people. , I have another imperial decree here, and the Zhen family listens to the decree."
The old lady hurriedly led the family to kneel and listened to Gao Huaiyuan read it in cadence. The general idea is that the Zhen family has been a prominent local family from generation to generation, built roads and bridges over the years, built roads and built warehouses for disaster relief, and did good deeds. The daughter immediately went to Beijing to face the saint. The rest of the rewards will be issued in the future.
After Gao Huaiyuan finished reading, the Zhen family was stunned, and then they were ecstatic. Madam Hu came back to her senses and kowtowed to thank her. She was half-hearted and uncertain.
After Pei You'an left, the old lady has been paying attention to the news outside for more than a year. A few days ago, she finally heard that King Yunzhong was about to enter the capital. She was relieved and began to count the days in her heart, while waiting for Pei. The father and son came to propose marriage, but he was worried that if he became rich and powerful, he regretted his original promise, and did not want to wait until the Pei family sent someone to propose marriage, but waited for an imperial decree like today.
Even though she has been shrewd all her life, the old lady Hu at this moment is still not sure what this imperial decree from the new emperor means. It was vaguely known that some noble person in the new dynasty had fallen in love with his granddaughter. As for who the noble person is and how he found out about his granddaughter, he is really at a loss.
The old lady suppressed her doubts, thanked Gao Huaiyuan, and wondered why the imperial decree specified that her granddaughter should be brought to Beijing.
As the old and new imperial courts are replaced, Gao Huaiyuan, as a local official, is particularly sensitive at such times. He smelled the meaning behind the imperial decree, so he went to Zhen's house in Quanzhou to convey the imperial decree in person, and after listening to the question from the old lady of the Zhen family, he changed his official tone and said with a smile: "Old lady, don't be polite, in front of this official, go to There is no need for more courtesy later. According to this official's opinion, the new dynasty and the new spirit should be the emperor who also knew the name of your mansion's great virtues, and this is the only way to reward him. People can help one or two.”
The old lady agreed, and Gao Huaiyuan said: "The imperial decree is very clear that the girls of your house should enter the capital immediately, and this matter cannot be delayed. This official is about to enter the capital to pay homage to the emperor, and when the preparation of your house is ready, this official can bring someone. On the road together, we will take good care of you on the road, the old lady can rest assured."
Thanks a lot, the old lady sent her away, and immediately called Meng Shi and Jiafu to tell the story again.
Confused, Mrs Meng was talking to the old lady there, expecting that it was Emperor Pei You'an who asked for grace in front of him. Jia Fu was by the side, without saying a word, but an intuition developed in her heart.
It could never be Pei You'an.
Even if he wants to marry her, with his character, it is impossible to do such a inspiring thing.
It must be related to Xiao Yintang.
As she knew, King Yunzhong finally became emperor, and Xiao Yintang was under one person and over ten thousand people, and, obviously, even though it had been more than a year, he still refused to Let go of her.
This is a proof.
In the past, every time she thought of Xiao Yintang, Jiafu would feel fear and disgust from the bottom of her heart, but now, maybe she is numb, or maybe she doesn't care, even in the face of such bad news that is a bolt from the blue for her, she actually I didn't think it was too scary, I just quietly listened to my grandmother and my mother's discussions. Naturally, the result of the discussion was to let her go to Beijing with the governor and wait for the news.
Other than that, what else could it be
The person who gave this order was the new emperor.
The next day, under the advice of the old lady, Jiafu, accompanied by her mother Meng Shi and Zhang Da, followed the governor Gao Huaiyuan and set foot on the road to Beijing.
When Quanzhou was left behind again, Jiafu knew that the peaceful life that had been stolen in the past year would probably be far away from her and would never come back.
On this day, one year and twenty-three days have passed since Pei You'an left last time.
…
In order to arrive in the capital before the new emperor's enthronement ceremony, Gao Huaiyuan rushed all the way as if his ass was on fire. He finally arrived in the evening of this day. There were still three days before the enthronement ceremony. Before tomorrow, he immediately went to the Ministry of Rites to report the matter of the Zhen family, while Jiafu went home with her mother.
Before they left the capital after the last meeting, the Zhen family had an old servant and a couple to guard the house. Over the past year, the old couple took care of the house very well. In those few days, the old couple closed their doors tightly without any loss, but after the chaos was over, they never dared to open the door at first. Until the last few days, I heard people say that the emperor has been changed, except for the night curfew in Beijing. , It was still bustling during the day, and it looked the same as before, and I was relieved. I didn't expect the master to come today, and I was happy to welcome him in. After some resettlement, it was dark, and the next morning, the palace came. People, the leader is a tender-faced eunuch, Jiafu recognizes him, this eunuch's name is Cui Yinshui, he is the godson of the great eunuch Li Yuangui. Geng Geng, in the years when Xiao Lie was the emperor in the previous life, he was very popular in the palace, but later, Xiao Lie died of a sudden illness when he was less than fifty years old. The eunuch seemed to hate it very much, and it didn't take long for him to find an excuse and beat him to death.
Today's Cui Yinshui has just stepped into the palace with his godfather, and his future is bright. How can he know his future destiny? At this moment, he is smiling, and the little eunuch who was ordered to follow him raises the reward, and faces the kneeling Meng Shi and Jia Fu. , I read an imperial decree, saying how good the daughter of the Zhen family is. She has the style of Banji Xie Ting in ancient times. When the prince is named a prince, she will be made a concubine, and she will be encouraged. Finally, let her stay in Beijing temporarily and wait. Subsequent registration.
In his heart, Mrs. Meng had long believed that Pei You'an was her son-in-law, and she only wanted to marry her daughter to him. Although she was worried, she still held some hope that the emperor would point her daughter to Pei You'an. Hearing such news early in the morning, he was immediately there, motionless.
Cui Yinshui thought she was overjoyed, and said with a smile: "Mengshi, you still don't take your daughter to accept the order to thank you? Your mansion will soon have a noble person, which is gratifying."
Mrs. Meng was speechless, looked at her daughter, but saw Jiafu saying, "Thank you, Eunuch Cui, for your troubles, Eunuch Cui, can you pass the message on behalf of the people's daughter, the people's daughter knows that her aptitude is low, how dare you insult the royal family, and I implore the emperor to take it back."
Cui Yinshui was stunned for a moment, a little disbelieving his ears: "This is a great gift. You don't want to?"
Jiafu said: "Eunuch Cui, it's not because I don't want to, but because I don't have merit, I don't dare to accept the salary, not to mention it is such a great gift. The people's daughter is bold, and I beg the father-in-law to tell me, what kind of virtue and how can a people's daughter be able to achieve such a high status today. Kindness?"
Cui Yinshui glanced at her.
When the new emperor was busy, why did he issue such an imperial decree? Cui Yinshui naturally knew it, thinking that the prince had fallen in love with the daughter of the Zhen family, and he was just begging to be in front of the new emperor. Before he came, he was still a little curious, and he didn't know what kind of beauty she would be. When he saw it just now, she really had dark eyebrows and green temples, and her beautiful face was so beautiful that it was difficult to describe. Words are not good. Hearing the tone of the daughter of the Zhen family, she didn't want to, and she didn't know whether she was really asking for nothing or pretending to be evasive. She couldn't decide for a while, so she lowered her face: "Miss Zhen, do you know what you're talking about? If you don't answer, then Anti-Ji, have you figured it out?"
Meng Shi's heart skipped a beat, and she was about to stop Jiafu when she saw her kowtow: "How dare the people of the country resist the edict. I just said it before, but I know that I am rude and can't afford to be such a grace as the royal family, so I implore the emperor to take it back. ."
Cui Yinshui was stunned, thought for a moment, and said, "That's it. I'll see it again. If you insist, I'll go back and tell you something, see for yourself..."
He wanted to say, "Look at your own good fortune", but he swallowed it back, and didn't even drink the tea, he turned around and led someone out the door.
As soon as the eunuchs left, Mrs. Meng led Jiafu into the house immediately, closed the door and said, "Afu, don't be afraid! When the eldest son came last time, he gave your grandmother a jade pendant, saying it was left by his father before he died. For him, he left it as a token for your grandmother. Before going out this time, your grandmother gave me the jade pendant and said that if it was no longer needed, she would ask me to find a chance to return it to the eldest son. Although the others don't know where they are now , but with this token, my mother will go to Mrs. Pei and ask Mrs. Pei to come forward, maybe I can stop this."
Madam Meng was flustered and turned around to go out, but was stopped by Jiafu, shook her head and said, "Mother, the eldest son was just talking about it that day. Now that so much time has passed, maybe people have changed their minds. Don't involve the Pei family in this matter. , so as not to drag people into the water. I'm not afraid. Everything has been said, let's see. I just don't want to marry his son, could it be that he wants my head?"
Meng shi looked at her daughter, saw her calm expression, and was stunned. She tossed and turned without sleep that night. The next day, another person came to the palace. This time, in addition to the Cui Yinshui who came yesterday, there was also a middle-aged eunuch with a kind face. Meng He heard that he was the big eunuch in front of Jin Shang, surnamed Li, and hurriedly greeted him with respect. Seeing that his attitude was quite friendly, he didn't seem to be here to find fault, so he calmed down a little.
Li Yuangui asked Mrs. Meng to call Jiafu, and screened the person. She was the only one left. He looked at her for a moment, and said, "My son told me everything about you. I was afraid that you were ignorant, so you didn't report it first. Come over and ask yourself. What's the matter with you? You are so bold! How many people can't ask for such a good thing! How dare you be disobedient?"
Jiafu knew that the big eunuch in front of Xiao Lie had an upright temperament and was not a vicious person, so she calmed down and said, "Thank you Eunuch Li for your sympathy, the people are very grateful. In the emperor's decree, there was no mention of why. To bestow such a great favor, Minnu thought about it and remembered one thing. Once upon a time, Jinyiwei came to Quanzhou, blocked the whole city, arrested people everywhere, my house broke into a nobleman, and finally I was arrested. The man took the carriage and covered him out of the city. The situation at that time was extremely dangerous, and I still remember it vividly. The girl dared to guess that the noble man of that day might be the current prince."
Li Yuangui was silent.
Jiafu knelt down to him: "Eunuch Li, when the emperor was hoeing a traitor, I also heard in Quanzhou that the emperor's army passed along the way, and he did nothing to the people, love the people like a son, and everyone in the world praised them. Admiration. The girl also said to Eunuch Cui yesterday that she knew that she was mean and would never dare to humiliate the royal family. If the emperor had given me a generous favor to my Zhen family for that matter, I beg Eunuch Li, can you speak on behalf of the girl? I beg the emperor to give me another grace?"
After Jiafu finished speaking, she touched the ground with her forehead, unable to kneel for a long time.
Li Yuangui stared at Jiafu, his eyes gradually showed a hint of surprise, he pondered for a moment, and said, "Forget it, I thought you were ignorant and talk nonsense at first, so I came to take a look and see that you know, that's the case, go back Let me tell you, as for whether it will be successful or not, it depends on the emperor's intentions."
…
When Li Yuangui returned to the palace, Xiao Lie was still busy. In the evening, when he was resting for a while, he finally remembered and asked, "Can you see that girl from the Zhen family for me? Although the Zhen family had rescued Yintang that day. She has merit, but since she is a concubine of the side, her talents must be passable."
Li Yuangui said: "Report to the emperor, the Zhen family's daughter is not a problem, but there is one thing, I don't know if it should be said or not."
Xiao Lie flipped through the book in his hand: "Tell me."
Li Yuangui said, "The servant went to see the girl and heard what she said. The servant will learn from the emperor." Then he repeated what Jiafu told him, word for word.
Xiao Lie was still flipping through the book at first, but gradually stopped, with a slightly unhappy expression on his face, and snorted: "So, she is not happy with this arrangement?"
Li Yuangui said: "I don't know what the servants do, so I turned the words to the emperor. The emperor is wise, just look at it and do it. It's just a girl from a merchant, how much knowledge can you have?"
Xiao Lie pondered for a moment, then said lightly: "Forget it, she doesn't want to. It's hard to put on a high hat for me. I can't force it. You can go tomorrow and give me something else to send people back."
Li Yuangui smiled and said, "Your Majesty is wise. The servants know."
"emperor!"
A female voice suddenly came from the entrance of the hall, Li Yuangui raised his head, saw Princess Zhou dressed in a gorgeous palace dress, and came with a palace maid behind her, holding food in her hand, she smiled, greeted her, and called out "Princess".
Princess Zhou came to Xiao Lie's side, stood still, and glanced at Li Yuangui. Li Yuangui hurriedly backed out. The palace maid put down the bowl and left.
There was no one in front of her, and Concubine Zhou said softly: "Your Majesty, you didn't go back to the bedroom last night. I heard from Yintang that it's dawn when you are reviewing the book. I'm not at ease. Come and see you, take a break and have something to eat. How are you?" He walked behind him and slowly rubbed his shoulders for him.
Xiao Lie said with a smile: "Take your worries. The new dynasty is just set, and things will inevitably be more. After this period of work, I will be empty. You should go back to the bedroom first, later, after reading the excerpts today, I will go back."
Concubine Zhou slowly let out a breath, withdrew her hand, and said with a smile, "Then I'll go back first. Your Majesty, don't be too hard on yourself."
Xiao Lie nodded with a smile and watched her figure gradually leave. When she bowed her head, Concubine Zhou suddenly stopped and turned around and said, "Your Majesty, I didn't eavesdrop on purpose, but just came to the front of the hall and overheard a few words by accident. The daughter of the Zhen family is really ignorant of flattery. Relying on sending Yintang out of the city that day, she doesn't care about you, the emperor! How can the emperor still indulge her?"
Xiao Lie raised his head, glanced at her, and said lightly, "Then according to your opinion, how should it be?"
Concubine Zhou said: "She is disobeying the decree! I don't have to make her my son's concubine, she doesn't do it, many people want to do it. Put her in the clothes washing bureau, and I will see you in a few days. I don't believe she dares to be so daring."
Xiao Lie frowned: "That's it, the daughter of the folk, who doesn't know the rules, why bother with her. That's all for this matter, you go."
"emperor!"
Concubine Zhou was still waiting to speak, when Li Yuangui hurried in, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Madam Pei from the Duke's Mansion is here, asking to see your Majesty."
Xiao Lie was taken aback and said, "Where is the old lady?"
"Still waiting at the gate of Huayang Palace."
Xiao Lie immediately wrote and stood up: "Quick, welcome her old man in!"