Wealth and glory seek stability

September 6th, the 1567th year of Xuanwu.

The empress selects her harem.

The noble men were unwilling to be inferior to others and all claimed to be sick.

However, there are always people who are jealous of such great power and wealth, and most of the noble families who are eligible to run for election chose children from side branches to run.

In order to revive their families, the declining families have gone to great lengths to select men with outstanding looks, hoping that they will be favored by the empress.

Ruan Chizheng was wearing a white dress embroidered with gold. He looked at Zhang Qiao across from him with peach blossom eyes that contained resentment. "Qiao'er, are you really going to select a harem?"

Zhang Qiao wore a black and purple imperial robe, with all his black hair tied up behind his head. The pearl and jade tassels strung with colorful threads on his head fluttered in the wind. "Chi Zheng, I am the emperor first, and Zhang Qiao second. The subordinates who follow me need a promise. Marriage is the safest way."

Ruan Chizheng chuckled softly, "You really are His Majesty. Even the name you address me has become 'I'."

"How dare you!" Zhang Qiao scolded. Looking at Ruan Chizheng's frightened eyes, he could not use his status to force him to submit. He sighed and said:

"We have known each other since childhood. You should know my temper. I have put in so much effort to get to this position. Marriage is inevitable."

Ruan Chizheng hesitated for a moment, and tens of millions of reasons to persuade Zhang Qiao to change her mind surged through his mind. At this moment, they all seemed pale and powerless. He stood up dejectedly, with a struggle in his eyes, as if he had made some kind of decision.

"Since your majesty has made up his mind, I have no choice but to take my leave."

After saying this, he bowed and turned to leave.

"Ruan Chizheng!"

Zhang Qiao's voice was a little hoarse, and it sounded a little forced because of anger.

Ruan Chizheng stopped, the sixteen-year-old boy looked a little thin, "Your Majesty, what do you want..."

"what!"

Suddenly, he felt a pulling force on his waist and Ruan Chizheng exclaimed, "What are you doing?"

Ruan Chizheng was about to get up when his back touched the cold ground, when a soft body suddenly pressed down on him. Ruan Chizheng couldn't tell what the scent was, but it was warm and had a hint of milk.

The face of a bold and beautiful woman came into view. Ruan Chizheng's face seemed to be flushed and he stretched out his hand to push Zhang Qiao away.

Zhang Qiao raised her red lips, picked up a strand of hair that was scattered on Ruan Chizheng's hairline and pinched it in her hand, smiling wickedly, "Brother Chizheng, I taught you martial arts myself, are you sure you can beat me?"

Ruan Chizheng's tongue was almost tied. He felt a soft touch on his chest. He didn't know whether to move or not. "You, don't do this."

Zhang Qiao gently pulled Ruan Chizheng's hair, and Ruan Chizheng suddenly felt a slight tingling pain. The pain was like those spots of sparks that began to burn as soon as they touched his body. Only the contact of his back with the ground could bring him a moment of clarity.

There were only the two of them in the silent palace, and Ruan Chi could clearly see the fine hairs on Zhang Qiao's face.

Their breaths intertwined as Zhang Qiao slowly approached Ruan Chizheng. Her red lips looked as if smeared with the finest imperial wine, making people intoxicated before they even tasted it.

Ruan Chi was slowly closing her eyes, and her neat eyelashes were trembling like straight little brushes.

His Adam's apple slid up and down, and his mouth felt a little dry.

The softness of expectation never falls.

Ruan Chizheng opened his eyes and met Zhang Qiao's playful eyes, which seemed to say, see, I knew you like me.

coax!

Blood rushed to his head, and a burning sensation came over him. At this moment, Ruan Chizheng felt as if his face was on fire. Looking at Zhang Qiao's teasing, he uttered:

"You're so mean."

Zhang Qiao laughed out loud, "Hahaha, you're so funny."

When the delicate body moved away, Ruan Chizheng felt a chill all over his body and an inexplicable sense of emptiness in his heart.

Zhang Qiao was sitting on the ground, with the crown tassel that she had casually thrown on the ground next to her. She picked it up and put it on her head, but she couldn't fix the bottom part in place.

Ruan Chizheng sighed softly, then knelt on the ground to help her adjust the position and fix it.

"Chi Zheng, next to us is Cai Xiu Pavilion. Today is the day of the election. Your Ruan family has already decided that you will participate. As long as you come, I will definitely choose you as the ruler."

Ruan Chizheng felt bitter, "Can't I just not participate?"

Zhang Qiao said sternly, "No, if you don't participate, I will punish your family. By then, your family will beg you to participate. You don't want to see this."

"Why are you forcing me? There are so many men who want to enter the royal court. I just want to find someone to understand me and live a peaceful and stable life with. Ah Qiao, your heart is destined not to belong to me alone."

Zhang Qiao raised her right hand, twisted Ruan Chizheng's chin, forced him to turn around and face her, and stared straight at Ruan Chizheng and said, "I won't let you marry anyone else. You are destined to be mine. I am the empress now. There is only one thing in this world that I don't want. You can't refuse me."

As he spoke, the pearl necklace on the crown hit Ruan Chizheng's face, and his warm and soft lips came up.

Passionate and wild, that's just the impression Zhang Qiao gives people.

Ruan Chizheng's hands unconsciously embraced Zhang Qiao. Her body was even thinner than he had imagined.

Ended with a kiss.

Zhang Qiao's clear eyes were fixed on Ruan Chizheng's confused expression, and his slender hands with thin calluses were hooking a white object.

Ruan Chizheng subconsciously reached for his waist and asked in panic, "What are you doing with my belt?"

Zhang Qiao stood up, took out another plain white belt from his sleeve and threw it over. However, the lapis lazuli inlaid on it was only used by the Xuanwu royal family, and the Xuanwu totem was embroidered around it with fine silver thread.

"Your belt belongs to me. I'll give you one of mine. Take it to the Caixiu Pavilion next door. I'll be there in a moment."

"I don't want it." Ruan Chizheng threw the belt aside.

Zhang Qiao sat leisurely on the warm chair, holding Ruan Chizheng's belt in his hand, "It's up to you. If people see you leaving my place in dishevel, they will know that something happened between us. The Ruan family will definitely want to pack you up and send you to me immediately."

Ruan Chizheng was furious, "You are despicable."

"Thank you for the compliment. The ceremonial lady will come over to help me change my clothes in a moment. If you want to stay here, you can."

"Goodbye." Zhang Qiao stretched out a hand and made a gesture of invitation.

Ruan Chizheng was helpless. He bent down, picked up the belt on the ground and walked out.

Try to avoid the palace servants passing by on the road.

Caixiu Pavilion.

Ruan Chizheng went anyway.

Just like Zhang Qiao said, even if he didn't go, his clan and family members would find ways to get him to come.

The Ruan family was wealthy and resourceful, and sending men into the harem was also a way of showing goodwill to the new emperor.

The intrigues among men are no easier than those among women.

The belt around Ruan Chizheng's waist clearly showed that the two had a close relationship.

Not surprisingly, Zhang Qiao chose Ruan Chizheng as the principal ruler, and selected five concubines in succession, all of whom were men from aristocratic families.

During the first month of their marriage, Zhang Qiao stayed in Ruan Chizheng's palace.

Ruan Chizheng felt that the royal court was the most beautiful place in the world, with a lover by his side, as well as countless fine clothes, delicious food, wealth and power.

In such a huge royal court, there are only two masters, him and Zhang Qiao.

In the first month, Zhang Qiao became pregnant.

They had their first daughter, Zhang Lan'er.

Zhang Qiao said, "Lan means ethereal and otherworldly, which is very similar to you."

However, not long after Zhang Qiao ascended the throne, she had to rely on ministers for many things. Under pressure from the court, she began to favor the concubine.

Ruan Chi was sleeping alone in the magnificent palace, feeling that everything in the world was impermanent, and that he was filled with endless loneliness and coldness. Even if he was surrounded by lit charcoal basins and stoves, he could not dispel the coldness.

In five years, Zhang Qiao gave birth to two more children.

Ruan Chizheng could only tell himself in his heart that they were just acting for the sake of the situation and everything was for the sake of state affairs.

Until Li Tu appeared.

He was the lowest-ranking guard in the royal court and a male favorite sent to the palace by the Li family. At that time, Ruan Chi was newly married, and Zhang Qiao casually threw Li Tu out of her mind.

During a drunken visit to Li Tu, Zhang Qiao became pregnant with Li Tu's child and gave birth to the fourth prince Zhang Xuanyu.

A few years later, Zhang Cen'er was born.

Zhang Cen'er's personality and appearance are exactly the same as Zhang Qiao when he was young.

at that time.

Ruan Chizheng also understood that the friendship of youth might have existed, and perhaps it was mixed with some calculations.

The past is gone with the wind and can never be returned.