female concubine

——Eastern Palace——

It wasn't until December was approaching the end of the new year that the crown prince learned that the courtiers had chosen a new concubine, Cao Shi, for him after questioning his personal servants, and then he struggled to get up from the couch regardless of obstacles.

"Your Highness?" Prince Shaozhan stood in front of the pale crown prince.

"Tang Shaozhan's matter, His Majesty re-elected the Crown Princess for the palace, is there such a thing?"

Prince Shao Zhan raised his sleeves and bowed, "Return to Your Highness, there is indeed such a thing."

"Why didn't you tell me?" The crown prince glanced at him, and then passed by.

"Where is Your Highness going?" Prince Shao Zhan turned around.

"I'm going to ask Your Majesty, I can't waste the girl's life for no reason."

"Your Highness thinks, is it useful to go down? The imperial decree has been issued, and the official documents of the imperial court have been sent from the capital to the prefectures and counties. Now the candidate for the new crown princess has been spread throughout Tokyo. It will not be effective to ask His Majesty." On the contrary, it will only be more irritating and self-defeating." Prince Shao Zhanshi took the cloak from the servant and immediately retreated.

The crown prince turned around, "My wife just passed away this year..."

"But Your Highness is the Crown Prince," Prince Shao Zhan stared at him, "Since Your Highness has lost the position of Crown Prince, you must understand what you are carrying, otherwise, why did Your Highness accept this order?" Prince Shao Zhan Shi was in charge of teaching with the prince since he was a child, and immediately took a step closer, "Your Highness has become the crown prince but still wants to have an affair. What is your Highness thinking, and what is he concerned about?"

The crown prince lowered his hands, his eyes were full of loneliness, "I don't know."

"The old minister has been with His Highness for nearly 20 years. Does His Highness have to cover up with the old minister? If His Highness doesn't want it, why would he ask the emperor to marry the Crown Princess Xiaoyi to win over the Zhao family? Now the Cao family and the Zhao family What's the difference?" Prince Shao Zhan sighed, then stepped forward and put the cloak in his hand on the crown prince, "Cao is the great-grandson of Cao Yun, and also the great-grandson of the eldest princess of the Sui Kingdom. The emperor supported by the eldest princess of the country, His Highness accepted her great-grandson, which is the greatest help to the East Palace. The last time His Highness was ill, the minister asked His Highness whether to sit in that chair. Does His Highness still remember that he is the emperor? How did you answer?"

"It's what I deserve..." the crown prince said in a daze, and then he looked up at his confidant and veteran, "So what's the request of the courtiers?"

Prince Shao Zhan Shi nodded, and the crown prince immediately let go of his strength and fell into Prince Shao Zhan Shi's arms, "Uncle Tang."

The veteran sighed again, "After all, His Highness is still too kind. No matter who it is, especially the emperor, His Highness has always longed for it, but the Emperor is a king, and if you give one, there will be no two. The king of a dynasty has never been so kind." No, but if you want to be the emperor, you can't be indecisive." Immediately, he helped the crown prince back to the bedroom, "Before the wedding, the emperor should send the prime minister to visit the East Palace."

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On the first day of the first lunar month in the 30th year of Qianyuan, due to the death of the concubine Xiaoyi, the Zhengdan Grand Court Meeting was suspended, and only a spring banquet was held at the Daqing Hall. The Shangyuan Lantern Festival was held in front of Xuande Building, and the emperor Yu Xuande Building watched the lanterns with all the people.

Since Jiang Qi resigned from office and went back to seclusion, the Hanlin Academy of Painting was led by Shizhao Xu Chongju, and on the Shangyuan Festival, he led various art schools to paint on the Xuande Tower.

More than a dozen servants carried the food boxes and walked up the tower, "This is the floating yuanzi specially ordered by the government to send to the painters. Xu Shizhao has worked hard."

Feipao stopped the paintbrush in his hand, "I'm sorry to trouble the chief, and I will thank you for your gratitude."

In the spring of February 30, Qianyuan, the emperor issued an edict ordering the Ministry of Industry to resume construction and start the construction of the imperial mausoleum.

In April of the same year, Xiaoxiang, the Crown Princess of Xiaoyi, Princess Le'an, and officials of the Eastern Palace went to the Mausoleum to pay homage. In May, the Ministry of Rites and Taichang Temple began to prepare for the Crown Prince's wedding. The Shangyi Bureau sent a female historian to the Crown Prince Etiquette and palace rules are taught at home.

On that day, the emperor issued an imperial edict to write the envoy to issue the book, and Liu Miaoyi, a member of the Privy Council, was appointed as the emissary. In the middle of May, Zhan Shi, the prince of Zhan Shifu of the East Palace, was appointed as the envoy to Cao's residence. , Ask the name, and send officials from the Ministry of Rites to visit Jingling Palace to report to heaven, earth and ancestors.

In the last ten days of May, the canonization case of the Ministry of Rites engraved and printed the booklet written by Wang Wenfu into a gold book, and prepared the Crown Princess' clothes, crowns, and Jingjie. By the end of May, officials were dispatched to send the clothes, crowns, and Jingjie to the Crown Princess. house, and set up a curtain in front of the princess house.

In the midsummer, the emperor's health deteriorated, and all court attendants in the Chuigong Hall were changed to the Funing Hall, and all the ministers were invited to see the emperor by the neidongmensi's internal attendants.

Wang Wenfu made a list of the ministers who have been sent out these years and those who have been imprisoned in the prison by the Imperial City Department. There are dozens of important ministers who have been sent out, and a group of civil servants are also detained in the prison. To gather does not imply recall and release.

"The essay for the canonization of the crown princess has been written and handed over to the Ministry of Rites to engrave a gold book. It's just the body of His Royal Highness. If I go to visit, I'm afraid I won't be able to welcome it in person."

"Then from the East Palace... Forget it, and choose a minister from among the courtiers as a personal envoy to replace the crown prince and go to the crown prince's house to personally greet her."

"Yes."

Lying on the wooden chair, the emperor closed his eyes and said: "Go down to the Qing family, and I will trouble the Qing family with many things in the future." The feeling of being unable to do what he wanted made him feel that his life seemed to be slipping away bit by bit, and the emperor opened his head sideways. Eyes fixed on the stack of list books.

"I hope Your Majesty will take care of your body."

Wang Wenfu left the Funing Hall, and when he arrived at the Inner East Gate, he met Princess Yiguo who was entering the palace.

"Princess."

Princess Yiguo also stopped to bless her, "Wang Xiangguo." Then she approached and asked, "Daddy, is he alright?"

Wang Wenfu bowed, "He has nothing to do with the official family, but... Princess Yiguo please stay with the official family, now only the princess and Princess Le'an can make the official family happy."

"I see." Princess Yiguo entered the inner east gate with her servants and palace servants.

After looking through the roster presented by Wang Wenfu one by one, the emperor put it into a box and hid it in a bookcase.

Princess Yiguo walked into Funing Hall, and the emperor stood in front of the bookcase, his back was extremely thin, making the creases on his clothes obvious, "Daddy."

The emperor pushed the box into the bookcase and turned around, "It's Ruhua."

Princess Yiguo approached and raised her hand to support the emperor, "Is Daddy feeling better recently?"

The emperor nodded, "With so many imperial doctors in the Imperial Academy, Daddy will be fine."

Princess Yiguo supported the emperor to the wooden couch and sat down, then squatted on the emperor's knee and raised her hands to beat gently, "Daddy."

"Ok?"

"Brother isn't going to greet you personally in a few days."

"Yes, there will be a happy event in the East Palace soon," the emperor let out a long breath, "I hope your eldest brother can come out as soon as possible."

"Daddy," Princess Yiguo raised her head, "my daughter wants to be an official."

There was neither surprise nor joy in the emperor's eyes, "Why do you suddenly want to be an official?"

"Is Daddy afraid that all this will be overthrown by greedy ministers after eldest brother?" The innocence in Princess Yiguo's eyes gradually disappeared, "I can keep it, not as a king, but as a minister."

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On the first day of June in the 30th year of Qianyuan, the crown prince was scheduled to hold a personal welcome ceremony on June [-]. The emperor suddenly ordered Princess Yiguo to replace the crown prince in person as a personal welcoming envoy.

"What's the proper way to let an unmarried princess of the country serve as a personal envoy instead of the crown prince?"

"In ancient times, there was a bridegroom who was seriously ill and was greeted by a family brother. But the princess...the crown prince is the prince, and the official must be an important minister in the court. This...is not in compliance with the rules?"

"Which one of the things the officials do is in compliance with the rules?"

"Why do you want the princess to be a welcoming envoy?" The officials sat beside the ice cubes to cool off the heat. "Could it be that the officials want the princess to come out of the court? Build a mansion and perform canonization ceremonies..."

"Won't there be another storm of competition for storage?"

"The prince of the East Palace is the most popular now, and Yi Chu is unlikely."

"His Royal Highness has a body like this, and the emperor's grandson is young, so it's hard to say."

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On the next day, the ceremony was held in the ban, and the Emperor Yuwende Palace Linxuan issued a booklet, replacing the crown prince with wine and food, and greeted him in person on June [-].

Early in the morning, the Crown Princess waited in the house with a guard of honor. After more than ten years, the faces of the palace officials in each bureau had changed. It was the same scene when Crown Princess Xiaoyi got married. The setting sun shone on the two youthful youths. At that time, "the woman raised her hand to look at the sun above her head, even in the afternoon, the sun was still scorching, "but The warm sunshine of spring and flowers.”

In Cao Shuyao's boudoir, a group of swift-handed palace people were busy dressing her up, and there were two little girls standing beside her, one of them was holding a little girl from Zha Zongjiao next to her, "Sister looks really good today."

Cao Shuyao turned around and raised her hand to touch the little girl, "When San Niang grows up and gets married, she will definitely look better than sister."

"Then I must marry a general like Weng Weng."

Near the dusk palace, people changed her into a nine-colored four-phoenix crown and a rich diary. The female envoy held a bronze mirror and came to her. Cao Ji's eldest wife, Zhang Shi, stepped into the room wearing a commanding woman's dress.

"lady."

"lady."

The female official in charge led a group of palace people out of the room with great interest, and the second daughter of the Cao family also led her younger sister away.

Mrs. Zhang was so bitter that she couldn't speak, but silently twitched her nose and wiped her tears, "Shen?"

Cao Shuyao gently shook her head with the phoenix crown, and immediately went to her mother and raised her hand to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes, "If this is my fate, I will gladly accept it."

"It wasn't His Royal Highness the Crown Prince who greeted him personally, but His Royal Highness's younger sister, Princess Yiguo, and she was the one who lifted the curtain in a moment." Mrs. Zhang felt aggrieved for her daughter.

"Mother don't have to feel wronged." Cao Shuyao held her mother's hand, "Nirvana or broken wings, this is my own choice, and I have no regrets about the choice."

At dusk, the welcoming team was fully prepared in front of the gate of the East Palace, and Princess Yiguo entered the East Palace to visit the crown prince's bedroom.

"Even if it's not for yourself, for Chen'er and Sheng'er, the eldest brother must take good care of his body."

The crown prince looked a little pale, leaning on the pillow and looking at Princess Yiguo, "Please..."

"Princess, the time is coming." The servant reported to the door.

"Your Highness, please take good care of your illness. I will welcome the Crown Princess back to the East Palace on your behalf."

"Please apologize to me for Mrs. Cao."

Princess Yiguo was stunned for a while, then folded her sleeves and bowed, "Yes."

The red horses driving the carriage all wore gold masks and chest bells around their necks. The servants followed Princess Yiguo to the side of the white horse in front of the frame. The horses were equipped with golden saddles. The officials cupped their hands one after another, "Princess."

The servant helped Princess Yiguo onto the horse, "Let's go."

The welcoming carriages, guards of honor and drum music left from the East Palace. Princess Yiguo rode on a horse. The welcoming team went south from Huangjianyuan Street, crossed the Si Bridge and entered Madao Street. She was hit on the right side of the face from the west, and the people on both sides of the street looked up, causing heated discussions.

After the cumbersome ceremony, the officials of the East Palace carried two wild geese with their relatives to welcome the envoys to the Crown Princess's home, and the personal welcoming envoys handed over the geese to the Crown Princess's biological father.

"Your Majesty only has one son, His Highness the Crown Prince, and it is inconvenient for His Highness to welcome him personally, but he has no brothers, so I, the only younger sister, will replace him. I hope Mr. Haihan."

"The princess is the only daughter of the official family, just like the prince, and now I welcome you personally, I am very grateful."

Princess Yiguo just lowered her head and smiled slightly, then turned around and left from the east steps, and the etiquette officer took her to wait in front of the gate of Cao's residence.

The phoenix sedan chair was parked in the arched gate of the outer courtyard, and the guard of honor of the Crown Princess surrounded Cao Shuyao, walking in front of the Crown Princess with palms and feather fans together, and the palace officials led the Crown Princess's relatives to greet her.

When the Crown Princess stood still, Princess Yiguo stared at the peacock feather fan without moving, and the little girl who held candied haws at the Shangyuan Lantern Festival ten years ago immediately appeared in her mind.

"Please welcome the envoy to lift the curtain on your behalf."