The shadow of the country

As soon as midsummer is over, the fifteenth of August will soon be here.According to the ancestral system, on August [-]th, the emperor and the empress dowager would visit the homes of important officials in the court.In the prime minister's mansion, Yi Lan was dressed in a moon-white court dress and a white jade court belt with dragon patterns and gold squares around her waist, looking extraordinarily handsome.

At this moment, he and the Empress Dowager had just got off the imperial chariot and entered the mansion.Prime Minister Chen and his wife had long heard that the Emperor and the Empress Dowager would visit the mansion in person. Although they had prepared in advance, they were still caught off guard.Prime Minister Chen came out to greet him in person, and when he just walked to the screen wall in front of the door, the emperor and the empress dowager had already entered the gate of the mansion.So he hurriedly knelt down and said: "I respectfully welcome the emperor and the empress dowager. I welcome you late, and hope that the emperor will forgive me."

Yi Lan waved her hand, "Prime Minister Chen please get up quickly. Today, the Empress Dowager and I came here one hour earlier than the agreed time, because we had to entertain all the ministers at night. It's because I didn't inform Aiqing in advance , it’s not your fault for being late.”

"Thank you, Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager for your kindness." Prime Minister Chen kowtowed respectfully before he dared to get up.

At this time, a melodious music came from the backyard of the Prime Minister's Mansion. Because of the distance, it was not really heard. It was misty and confused like misty rain, but it still had a great charm.The music is sometimes soothing and quiet, sometimes elegant and light, which can be called the sound of nature.Even the Empress Dowager was fascinated by it. "The musicians in Prime Minister Chen's residence are really top-notch, comparable to the leader of the palace musicians, Lin Musician." The Empress Dowager praised.

Chen Chengxiang smiled a little embarrassedly, and said: "The empress dowager praised my daughter. I don't know that the emperor and empress dowager will come early. I will ask someone to let my daughter come out to greet the emperor and empress dowager." , summoned the housekeeper casually, and whispered: "Call the lady out quickly."

"Prime Minister, don't be in a hurry." The Empress Dowager smiled, "The Ai family and the emperor will go to see the prime minister's daughter in person."

Chen Chengxiang was a little apprehensive, "This...how good is this? There is a difference between superiority and inferiority. I dare not presume, so I should let the little girl come out to pick me up."

The empress dowager smiled: "The Ai family can't bear to interrupt such a wonderful song. Butler, lead the way."

Chen Chengxiang was startled for a moment, and then ordered the housekeeper to do as the Empress Dowager ordered.

The backyard of the Prime Minister's Mansion is a small bamboo forest, and even the air is filled with a light bamboo fragrance.The bamboos grow very well and are lush, so the bamboo forest is also extremely shady.

In the emerald green bamboo forest, a beautiful and refined woman is quietly playing the piano.The body of the piano is carved with dragon patterns and phoenix patterns, and is made of high-quality red sandalwood.The woman was plucking the strings with her slender fingers, her expression was extremely focused and serious, and she caressed the rippling music.The woman was wearing a long blue crepe dress, and her hair was tied into a cloud bun with a not-too-expensive hollow orchid bead hairpin.The temperament is elegant and noble, which is fascinating.Although she is the prime minister's daughter-in-law, her clothes are simple and elegant.She is not like the luxurious and flamboyant dresses of other rich and powerful families, nor is she arrogant and arrogant because she was spoiled since she was a child, but her eyes are peaceful and indifferent.Even Yi Lan, who was standing quietly beside her, felt that this woman was different from others.

The sound of the piano is gurgling, and the song ends with an almost impossible high note.The lingering sound lingered between the beams, and the woman had already stood up, and said dignifiedly, "Father." Then she turned to the Empress Dowager and Yi Lan, "You two are honored guests invited by my father? Let’s chat, Lin Xi will serve tea to the two of you.”

At this time, the Empress Dowager walked up to Lin Xi, looked at her carefully with a smile, and said, "The daughter of the prime minister's family is really different from other famous Shuyuans. The Ai family really likes her very much."

Chen Chengxiang heard the empress dowager's compliment, and immediately reminded him in a low voice: "Lin Xi, haven't you thanked the empress dowager?"

Lin Xi couldn't help being a little surprised to hear his father's reminder.But the look of astonishment only passed across her face, and then it was replaced by peace.She raised the hem of her skirt and knelt on the ground, "I don't know that the emperor and the empress dowager are coming, so I am not far away to welcome you. I hope that the emperor and the empress dowager will punish me."

The Empress Dowager helped her up with a smile, "Get up, Lin Xi, and come to Ai's family. Neither the emperor nor Ai's family will blame you. Let's walk around the prime minister's mansion with Ai's family."

If so, Lin Xi walked with the Empress Dowager in the mansion for nearly half an hour.Seeing that the Empress Dowager was in high spirits, Yilan didn't have the heart to disturb her.In the next few days, the Empress Dowager also often called Lin Xi into the palace, chatting happily with her.Lin Xi did have the demeanor of a lady, well educated, reasonable, and extremely intelligent, and was quite liked by the Empress Dowager.

One day, Yi Lan left the morning court to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager.But when he was about to leave Shoukang Palace, the Empress Dowager stopped him, "Yilan, wait a moment, the Ai family has something to discuss with you."

Yi Lan stopped in her tracks and turned around: "Is there something to order from the emperor's grandmother?"

The empress dowager smiled and said: "The emperor has already passed the year of the crown. The grandmother thought that the grandson should also accept the concubine as soon as possible. The grandmother also wants to embrace the great-grandson as soon as possible. I think the prime minister Chen Linxi, the daughter-in-law of the family, is not bad. She is gracious and steady, elegant and wise, and respectful and frugal. Ai’s niece, Wanlu, has also met once. The emperor will definitely like it.”

After hearing this, Yi Lan couldn't help but startled, "Grandmother, let's put aside the selection of concubines for the time being. The problem of flooding in the south has not been completely resolved, and the disaster relief needs money. The treasury is running low, and I have reduced the amount of money in the south. Three years of taxes for the people in the area. If I want to get married at this time, I'm afraid..."

"The Ai family knows that the emperor is dedicated to the people. But the people are important, and the emperor's establishment is not important? The election of Xiunu every three years is the ancestral system, and it never stops when the treasury is empty. Do you still remember? When father was your age, he already had four princes."

Yi Lan's heart sank, she knew that the Empress Dowager was determined this time.It might not be so easy to refuse the big marriage. After thinking about it, he continued: "The emperor's grandmother should not force the minister. I want to wait for the country to be more stable and the treasury to be more abundant before considering this matter."

The empress dowager's expression turned serious, "You are the emperor, and you shoulder the responsibility of the country. As an emperor, how can you have no offspring? The Ai family has already searched for the emperor, so you should stop looking for reasons to shirk the marriage. What's wrong with Lin Xi? To please you? Only by making the prime minister's daughter the empress can the government be consolidated. Aijia believes that you will be a wise king. Even if you don't think for yourself, you should plan for your country."

Yi Lan bit her lower lip, but Mu Yan's eyes, as clear as water, suddenly flashed in her mind, so soft and clean.So he made up his mind and said, "Grandmother, I didn't say anything bad about the prime minister's daughter. It's just that fate is destined, and my son and minister have no affection for him. There are many ways to consolidate the country. Is it necessary to be the emperor?" Do you want to take advantage of your own lifelong affairs? Do you want such a woman to be lonely in the deep palace for the rest of her life?"

"You!..." The Empress Dowager was furious, and pointed at Yilan with a finger, "What does the Emperor mean, that even if he becomes a concubine, he won't be favored? Is it destined that I will have no future?"

Yi Lan walked to the side of the Empress Dowager and helped her slowly sit back on the phoenix seat.After another long silence, I finally spoke: "I know that the emperor's grandmother is wholeheartedly thinking about the country and my sake, but now you and my son should calm down. My son will take his leave first, and come back to pay my respects to the emperor's grandmother in three days. " Then he told the two maids next to the empress dowager: "You take good care of the empress dowager." After finishing speaking, he turned around and walked out of Shoukang Palace.

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☆、32. Soil