National Division

There is a name in the capital for the emperor's talent show, which is called Xuanhong, so the banquet arranged by the concubine Xian, although it is said to be an appreciation of osmanthus, is actually called the Xuanhong Banquet by the people in the palace.

"The emperor wants me to go too?" Concubine Xian asked the palace man who came to deliver the message with surprise on her face, "Isn't there a queen mother?" She is a concubine, and the emperor was not born by her. Why would she join in the fun by choosing the red banquet?What's more, the host is Concubine Xian, she is a Concubine Xian, in fact, it's better to avoid it.It's not good to bump into a title in this palace, who knows if Concubine Xian will be unhappy?Now that the empress has lost power, Concubine Xian is number one in the palace.

Her personal maid, Yulan, smiled all over her face: "Concubine, think about what clothes to wear. The emperor sent a message saying that our third highness is not too young, and we should make a marriage in advance. This time, it is for you Go pick out a daughter-in-law. If you are chosen, the emperor will give you a marriage." She lowered her voice, "Feng Neijian, who is beside the emperor, quietly told the slaves that when the third highness gets married, he will be crowned king. Is it going to be sealed in the Shandong area, and he is allowed to take you out of the palace as well."

Concubine Xian was so surprised that she was speechless.The third prince is much younger than Qi Jun, since Qi Jun ascended the throne, the third prince has been idle in the palace with nothing to do, his status is neither awkward nor embarrassing.Although Concubine Xian was very worried, she didn't dare to mention it, she was afraid that the emperor would be jealous, and she was afraid that because there was King Ping, the emperor would not let the brothers out, so she could only worry about it.

Who would have thought that the emperor would still remember that he had a younger brother, that he would let her, his own mother, choose a daughter-in-law in person, that he would even be crowned king, and that he would allow his son to take her out of the palace to take care of him?My God, if he could follow his son to the feudal land to be the old matriarch, who would care about living in this deep palace?

"Hurry up, hurry up and get out that green palace dress from the Palace, and that white jade head mask..." Concubine Xian was a little incoherent with excitement, "No, no, go and find out what clothes the Empress Dowager is going to wear first, don't talk to me about it." The empress dowager clashed." She had been in the palace for many years, and she was able to give birth to the prince between the empress and concubine Ye Gui, of course she was not a fool.

"I don't know which ones the emperor has chosen." Concubine Xian calmed down a little, "Yulan, you can find a way to find out——no, since the emperor is so concerned about the third highness, you might as well ask Feng Nei directly. Superintendent, which one did the emperor choose, we can't compete with the emperor." Everyone is upright, thinking that the emperor was upright when he was still the prince, so she should vote for the emperor, and she must not spoil her son again. thing.

At this time, Qi Jun was taking the portrait and the roster to admire the beauties with the national teacher at the star observatory.

"These horoscopes don't really match you very well." The national teacher sat cross-legged, barefoot, wearing only a white silk jacket, and was solemnly pinching his fingers and calculating.

And His Majesty the Emperor was lazily lying beside him, squinting at the scrolls: "But the calculations by Qintian Supervisor are consistent."

"Compatibility is nothing but non-conflict. There are too many compatible horoscopes in the world." Zhibai curled his lips, "But matching is different. For example, if you want a child, if the horoscopes do not match, it may be difficult to have children."

Qi Jun couldn't help but get serious after hearing this: "Is there such a reason?"

"Naturally." Zhibai kicked those scrolls away, "It's hot, pile up this half bed! One yuan produces two instruments, and two instruments produce four images. Everything in the world is nothing but Yin and Yang. The yin energy is heavy at midnight, and the yang energy is heavy at noon." At twelve o'clock in a day, the balance of yin and yang is different, so the time of birth is different, and the vitality in the body is also different. The world does not know the mystery, only knows that the horoscope is compatible, the wife is prosperous, the wealth is many, but they do not know that this is occupying qi. The matter of vitality is subtle, it is not enough to talk about a match."

Qi Jun was confused again, and only understood one sentence: "In this way, it is difficult for them to have children?"

Zhibai frowned: "How do you know about the sons? You recruited these concubines for the sake of the sons?"

"It's also for the sake of the previous dynasty." Qi Jun looked cold, "Do you think I'm doing it for sex? If there are no heirs, the world will have no heir, and the country will be restless. What's more—" He lifted his chin to the southwest, " There's another one over there."

Zhibai couldn't help but sighed.A few days ago, two pieces of news came from Shu, one good news and one bad news.

The good news is that the mine is no longer producing silver.Qizhang went crazy, and he didn't care that the news could not be leaked out. He mobilized his teachers and mobilized people to almost dig the entire valley. Except for seventy to eighty catties of fine silver dug up at the mouth of the valley, he didn't find a single silver shaving. He was so angry that he disposed of all the private soldiers and miners who were in the valley that day, and he also fell seriously ill. Even General Ye in Fujian was bedridden for three days.

The bad news is that Prince Ping's side concubine is happy.Since Concubine Ping died in childbirth when she was still the second concubine, King Ping quickly left the capital and entered the feudal domain. The hostess is gone.Now that she was pregnant, King Ping decided to set her upright. If she gave birth to a son, she would be the son of the eldest son, or the eldest grandson of the emperor.

Zhibai flipped through several portraits, and picked out one from the inside: "This one can still match His Majesty's horoscope. If it's an heir, she's the most promising."

Qi Jun took a look, and it turned out to be Miss Zheng, the second wife of the Zheng family, the cousin of the late Princess Ping.

"Then I will make her a Jieyu." Qi Jun casually put the scroll aside, "Feng En remembers." For a beautiful girl who has just entered the palace, her father's official position is not too high, and she is usually a beauty. Jieyu, it shows that the emperor values ​​her.

Feng En responded outside the window.Every time he came to the observatory, he tactfully stood outside, so as not to block the eyes of the inner hall.The relationship between the emperor and the national teacher - of course, the emperor is the lord of the world. Although the masculinity is a little bit off the right track, since there will be no heirs to drag him down, the national teacher is not the kind of person who will seduce the lord. He even said that Feng En Du felt that the emperor would feel more relaxed and comfortable only when he came to the observatory.As for the others—that's all for the queen mother, the queen is really...even Wenxiu, an old man who has served for many years, turned out to be so scheming in the end, which is really sad.

But what Feng En didn't know was that the empress he was slandering was currently in Zichen Palace, secretly discussing with the close palace servant: "It's the one surnamed Zheng, be sure to get her down!"

She didn't bring that palace man from Zhao's house. She was originally called from another palace. He is 23 this year, and he will be released from the palace in two years. Birth is not valuable, even if you enter the palace, it will not hinder your empress."

"What do you know!" Zhao Yue recalled what Qi Jun said that day, and only felt that this Zheng family was her strong enemy.If the emperor wanted to promote the second wife of the Zheng family, shouldn't he use all his strength to promote the Zheng family?What's more, this Zheng family is very beautiful!Anyway, Concubine Xian is presiding over the selection of the red banquet, and Concubine Xian will take care of it if something happens.

"What, do you mean you don't want to listen to my orders?" Zhao Yue looked at the palace man coldly, "Your family, don't you want it?"

The palace servant shuddered violently, and knelt down with a plop: "Your servant obeys." Her family is still in Mrs. Zhao's hands, how dare she not obey her orders.Fortunately, Zheng's father's official position is low, it's better than letting her harm the daughters and granddaughters of those ministers, it's just——Miss Zheng, I'm sorry.

Zhao Yue sneered coldly, and looked a little proud when the palace man went out.It's just that she sent everyone away to have a secret talk with the palace man, but neither of them noticed that there was a little man huddled in the shadow under the window.The little man slipped away along the eaves like a shadow, and about half an hour later, he was standing in the Palace of Concubine Xian.

"Very good, you can go back now." Concubine Xian nodded to the palace man next to her, who immediately stuffed a purse into the hand of the little man, sent him to the door and told him: "Shut up. "

"Your Majesty, the empress is really not reconciled." Another palace official said angrily, "It's really an idea to kill two birds with one stone. Madam, what should I do now?"

"Let her go." Concubine Xian bit her lip and thought for a long time before she said slowly, "I never provoked her, but she came to harm me. If I retreat again, how can I gain a foothold in this palace?"

"But Miss Zheng—" the palace man said half a sentence before he suddenly realized that he had said something he shouldn't have said, and quickly shut up.

Concubine Xian lowered her head for a while, then said leisurely: "If she can't enter the palace, it will be her luck."

On the day of the selection of the red banquet, God was quite beautiful.The sky is as blue as washing, and there is no cloud in the sky. In the imperial garden, the centuries-old osmanthus flowers are blooming like stars, and the fragrance is wafting for ten miles.A banquet was set up under the sweet-scented osmanthus tree, and a group of beautiful women who had passed the second selection came to the banquet dressed up carefully.

Concubine Xian sat under the Empress Dowager wearing a peach red palace dress, smiling and nodding to the beautiful ladies, but clenched her hands tightly in her sleeves.Concubine Xian sat on the other side of the empress dowager, looking at these beautiful girls with joy, secretly wondering which ones the emperor wanted, and which ones seemed gentle and virtuous.

The emperor was very kind, and allowed Yulan to copy a copy of the roster and give it to Concubine Xian, and also gave some information from outside: for example, which girl is not favored at home, but because of this she is very strong and capable; which father and brother are both officials, However, the pampering is too domineering; which mother is virtuous, well-bred and good at managing the family.Holding these news, Concubine Xian just felt relieved—following the emperor is really good.

Although the selection ceremony was hosted by the Queen Mother and Concubine Xian, and the selection of the girls had already been pre-determined, but Qi Jun had to go all the way to look good.He finished approving papers in the Yanying Hall, looked at the sky outside, and got up and said, "Go to the Imperial Garden." Thinking about the fine weather, and the sweet-scented osmanthus blooming well, he added, "Take people to the observatory. Ask the national teacher if you would like to enjoy the sweet-scented osmanthus."

Feng En naturally sent someone to go without mentioning it, so Qi Jun brought people to the Imperial Garden.Only halfway through, an inner eunuch ran over in a panic: "Your Majesty, something has happened to your Majesty!"

"What nonsense!" Feng En quickly stepped forward and cursed in a low voice, "Say what you have to say!"

The inner eunuch also realized that what he said was not good, so he slapped himself twice before saying again: "Zheng Xiunv fell into the water in the lotus pond and was seen by the third highness, so the inner eunuch rescued her."

"Zheng Xiunv fell into the water?" Qi Jun frowned, "How could it fall into the water?" There are several lotus ponds in the imperial garden, but they are all good, who will fall into the water?Not to mention that Japan is choosing a red banquet today. If the show girls have any brains, they will stay away from the water. How could they fall into the water?

The inner eunuch tremblingly said: "The inner eunuch next to His Highness the Third Highness caught the person who pushed Zheng Xiunv into the water—yes, it was Cui Zhu, the eldest maid in the empress's palace." This was the reason for his panic.

"The grand lady in the Queen's Palace..." Qi Jun repeated it slowly, and suddenly asked, "Then Zheng Xiunu should be sitting in the banquet, why did she go to the lotus pond?"

"This—" the inner eunuch's mind was almost muddled with fright, and it took a long time to think of it, "Yes, the concubine Xian said that the sun is a little bit hot, so if the ladies feel hot, they can walk around freely." It is also strange that the seats are not set under the shade of the osmanthus tree, because it is said that it is too close to enjoy the flowers, but it is set up in the open space of the grass.Although it was almost mid-autumn day, the noon sun was still a bit strong, and the beautiful women were all covered in makeup, so they looked good after drying out their sweat and powder, and once they heard the words of the concubine, they would scatter in all directions.

Qi Jun smiled inexplicably: "Go to the Star Observation Tower." It's a disappointment to choose the red banquet, so it doesn't matter if you don't go.

The selection of the red banquet ended hastily, and Concubine Xian looked at her son in her palace with some surprise: "You want to choose Mrs. Zheng as the concubine? But that's the one your brother wants to pick."

"Now the emperor can't pick her anymore." The third prince used to be inconspicuous. He grew up almost quietly in the palace. Prisoner, but after all, her son was beside her, and she was wet when she rescued her, and he had already seen her. This is not considered disrespectful, but if she wants to enter the palace as a concubine, she must absolutely not."

"That's also the emperor's business..." Concubine Xian was a little puzzled, "You can't avoid suspicion right now, why bother to get involved."

"Zheng Xiunv's background is not high, but why did the emperor choose her? Have you ever thought about it?"

"Because she is beautiful and virtuous?"

The third prince shook his head: "Mother and Concubine, do you think Brother Huang is a womanizer?"

Concubine Xian also shook her head.If he was really obsessed with womanizing, he would have been drafted to enrich the harem long ago.

"My son boldly guesses that the imperial brother chose her to divide Princess Boping's natal family." The third prince's eyes sparkled, "No matter who did the tricks now, the Zheng family will definitely not be able to enter the palace, and the imperial brother will lose this opportunity. , and the Zheng family has no women of the right age for the time being. If the son goes to ask the emperor's brother for an order to make her a concubine, the son will follow the emperor's brother, and Zheng's father and brother will also follow the emperor's brother, and the effect will not be satisfactory. "

"It's just that that's your concubine..." Although Concubine Xian felt that her son's idea was very wise, she felt sorry for her son.

The third prince smiled: "My concubine did not see at that time that the Zheng family had a firm and resolute character. Although she was about to die, she didn't cry after she picked it up. If she became a concubine, she must be the son's good helper. Besides, the son also heard that Zheng The mother of the clan is known for having both talents and virtues, and to have a mother is to have a daughter, so you can’t go wrong if you think about the Zheng clan.”

He felt a little bit emotional: "Mother and concubine, seeing what the emperor did after he succeeded to the throne, he is really a clear master. In terms of selfishness, the son has no ability to fight the king, nor does he have the heart to seek rebellion; in terms of publicity, the son should be loyal to the emperor. Now, This is an opportunity. What's more, Mrs. Zheng is not an unbearable person, and it is also a kindness to her that my son please marry me at this time, why worry that she will not repay her son with all her heart in the future?"

"Okay." Concubine Xian didn't hesitate too much, and immediately made a decision, "You are old enough to make up your own mind. From now on, the mother and concubine will listen to you."

The third prince stood up happily: "The son will go to ask the emperor to marry him right now."

"Brother Huang" is in the observatory right now.In the outer hall, Zhao Di was kneeling.

"Show this to the Master." Qi Jun's voice came from the inner hall, and after a while, Feng En came out with a piece of paper.

Zhao Di took it in his hand and read it.He is a military commander, that is, he can only read, but the writing on this paper is so plain that he can't understand it.After reading it only once, his cold sweat broke out, because it was the confession of how his daughter forced the maid to push Zheng Xiunv into the lotus pond.

"Your majesty, this, I'm afraid this maid is framing the empress..." The murder of the beautiful woman is also a matter of jealousy in the small world, which is a rule of thumb; The law will pay for your life.

"Show the king this again."

Feng En brought out another piece of paper, Zhao Di read it, and now he couldn't even kneel down.Because it is the evidence that his old wife held the court lady Cuizhu's family in her hands.After comparing the two pieces of paper, Zhao Di knew it was over.

"Your Majesty, the guilty minister is not strict in teaching the daughter, and the housekeeper is incompetent. Please punish the emperor!" Zhao Di cried bitterly, "I only ask the emperor to save the life of the guilty daughter and the life of the minister's wife..." It is useless to deny it, the emperor He is not a foolish person like the first emperor. Instead of denying it, it is better to confess his crime honestly, and he will lose his official title, but he only has this one daughter and his wife who has been married for decades, and he can't just watch them die.Fortunately, Zheng Xiunv did not die, if she died, this matter would be over.

"Guo Zhang, get up." After a while, Qi Jun's voice came from the inner hall, "I know, the Guo Zhang didn't know about this matter, it was all done by the woman in the inner house."

Zhao Di didn't dare to get up, he still knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly.

Qi Jun stood at the gate of the palace and looked at him: "For the face of the king, I will not abolish the empress, but will only imprison her in Zichen Hall. As for Mrs. Zhao - if the king wants to keep her alive, he will take her with him." Let her go to the northwest."

Zhao Diru received an amnesty: "I will set off for the northwest now. I will only be a pawn for a while, and I will defend the northwest for the emperor to the death. I will never return." This is at least better than exile.

"The head of the country still remembers the heavy rain in the northwest?" Qi Jun said indifferently, "The head of the country is brave, but he lost his aggressiveness. I hope you will find out the omissions and fill in the gaps, make use of his strengths, make a contribution in the northwest, and teach future generations to remember. on."

"Yes!" Zhao Di didn't know whether he was moved or guilty, but felt that the tears were unstoppable, "I will remember the emperor's teachings and swear allegiance to the death!"