Zhuo Qihua

Cicadas in summer are so annoying that people can't sleep.The father-in-laws in charge of the palace took their young eunuchs everywhere at night to look for the cicada monkeys that had just crawled out of their dens and were not yet out of their bodies.During the day, they go up the tree to catch the cicadas that slip through the net.In short, this annoying guy can't disturb the rest of the nobles in the palace, especially the busiest Holy Majesty.

After the earthquake in Sichuan, all the civil and military ministries have been extremely busy with disaster relief and disaster relief these days, and the current emperor Kang Jing's rest time in the past few days is also obviously short.The territory of the Mata country is getting wider and wider, and the number of overseas territories is increasing day by day, and with it, the government affairs are becoming more and more onerous.It is also fortunate that most of the state capitals and main cities and towns in Mata country now have railways. Even if there is no railway, the road construction project vigorously developed by the imperial court has made the transportation in various parts of Mata country many times more convenient than before. Government orders can be issued in a timely manner, and local government affairs can be reported in a timely manner.It's just that this place in Sichuan is a bit special. The terrain here is harsh, and it is difficult to build roads, and it is even more difficult to build railways.The only railway directly leading to the territory took eight years to build, from the time of Emperor Yong'an to the third year of Kangjing, and it cost a lot of money.

However, in this earthquake, officials who did not understand the court's spending so much money to build railways in Shu did not speak at this time.With this unique railway, disaster relief materials can be sent to Sichuan more quickly, and then sent to the disaster-stricken area through other means of transportation.The Ministry of Military Affairs issued an official document ordering the garrison in Shu to participate in the rescue, and the imperial court also sent troops to Shu for disaster relief.The Mata country now has very mature means of dealing with natural disasters, and all ministries are proceeding in an orderly manner.

Emperor Kang Jing was immersed in his work when the personal eunuch Xiao Ding came in with a plate of food.Emperor Kang Jing smelled the fragrance and raised his head.Xiao Ding: "Long live, Cicada Monkey is ready to explode."

Emperor Kang Jing put down the pen, Xiao Ding put the plate in front of His Majesty, and fetched a wet towel for His Majesty.Emperor Kang Jing wiped his hands, picked up a cicada monkey with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth, and nodded: "It tastes good."

Xiao Ding changed the tea for His Majesty again, and brought the sliced ​​watermelon.A plate of watermelon with fried cicada monkey, Kang Jingdi's taste is surprising.But Xiao Ding was very calm, and he knew that Emperor Kang Jing did not eat less.

Someone reported outside: "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is here."

Emperor Kang Jing: "Xuan."

Soon, Crown Prince Nan Rongxiu walked in: "My son kowtowed to the emperor."

"Get up."

The crown prince stood up, and Emperor Kang Jing said, "The crown prince also came to eat some of the cicada monkeys that were just fried."

"Yes."

The prince stepped forward, and Xiao Ding brought another pair of jade chopsticks.

The father and son shared a plate of cicada monkey.The prince put down his chopsticks and rinsed his mouth.Emperor Kang Jing said with a little feeling: "When I was with Empress Dowager Shun before, in summer, if Empress Dowager Shun was free, she would take me to touch this cicada monkey. Wash it, soak it in salt water, and go to it. Fry it in the oil pan." Speaking of this, Emperor Kang Jing said: "Beside Empress Dowager Shun, I have learned to eat cicada monkeys, locusts, and wild vegetables, and I have also learned to endure hardship."

The prince immediately said: "My son is ashamed."

Emperor Kang Jing took advantage of this to teach the prince: "I eat cicada monkeys every summer. First, I like it. Second, I also use this to keep myself alert. The Empress Dowager Shun was imprisoned in the West Third Hospital back then. Poor, he still needs to support Hui'e and Chang Jing. Empress Dowager Shun relies on cicada monkeys and wild vegetables from the West Third Courtyard. These things that cannot be seen by ordinary people keep the three of them from starving. As the emperor, everything in the world I can take all the good things and treasures. But if I only know good things and treasures, the people of the world will suffer.”

The crown prince stood up: "Father and emperor taught, sons and ministers must take it to heart!"

Emperor Kang Jing nodded and said: "The earthquake in Sichuan, you are the prince, you need to go there in person. A gentleman does not erect dangerous walls, you are the prince, safety is the first, but you can't hide in the comfort zone all day. Let's start now .I sent 300 Qingping guards to protect you."

"My son obeys the order!"

Without showing the slightest dissatisfaction with his father's order and unwillingness to go to Shu, the prince readily accepted the order.

On the same day, the prince led his attendants and the three hundred Qingping guards allocated to him by Emperor Kang Jing and got on the train to Shu.In the evening, Emperor Kang Jing came to the Queen's Houde Palace.After Emperor Kang Jing entered the imperial court, the number of concubines in Danyang Palace was much higher than that in the Crown Prince's East Palace.In Emperor Kang Jing's first draft after ascension to the throne, there were nearly a hundred more concubines in the palace. In the second draft, the harem expanded again.However, no matter how many concubines there are in the harem, the status of the empress and the prince's biological mother He Huan in the harem is unshakable.

Under the personal service of the queen, after changing the pajamas at home, Emperor Kang Jing sat down and said: "I sent the prince to Sichuan for disaster relief."

Empress He Huan said calmly: "Your Majesty went to Beigu with the Supreme Emperor when he was still young. The crown prince is already a father, so he should go to experience more, understand the people's sentiments, and appease the people."

Emperor Kang Jing smiled and said, "I knew you would not object."

The queen then turned around and said: "It's good if the Supreme Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Mother are in Xizhou, so that the things in Shu will not worry the Supreme Emperor and the Empress Shun."

Emperor Kang Jing nodded: "Yes."

The eunuch came in: "Your Majesty, you can eat now."

Emperor Kang Jing and the queen went to have dinner together.First wipe your face with a warm and cool towel to eliminate some of the heat.In front of the Empress of Houde Palace, Emperor Kang Jing was also very relaxed.From the East Palace to the Danyang Palace, Emperor Kang Jing and his chosen wife had their own way of getting along.The queen not only managed the harem in an orderly manner, sharing the worries of Emperor Kang Jing, but also did a good job in his own liquor business.Two years ago, the Empress Dowager Jia handed over the Zhuoyuan Trading Company to the Empress, and the Empress became even busier.But no matter how much power and wealth the queen has, the He family behind the queen has not benefited much from it.Those of the He family who became officials in the dynasty all relied on their own abilities to advance.Emperor Kang Jing did not take special care of the He family just because He Huan was his queen. Only those who were truly capable in the He family would be reused by Emperor Kang Jing.The queen's half-brother, who can't support the wall, is just dawdling at home now, without any official position.

A year ago, the Supreme Emperor finally decided to go to Xizhou by boat because he couldn't let go of his precious son Wan Zhen.Before going to Xizhou, the Supreme Emperor had the idea of ​​bringing his son and baby grandson back to Mata country. As a result, after he set foot on the land of Xizhou, he became very interested in this continent.Emperor Kang Jing was worried about the health of his father, the empress dowager and the empress mother, and sent letters several times to urge the empress dowager to come back, but all he got was an impatient reply from the empress dowager, telling him not to bother him.For this reason, Emperor Kang Jing could only smile wryly.

Emperor Kang Jing didn't want to go to Qiongzhou, Xizhou, or the newly discovered Yaozhou.But his current status predestined that during his reign, he could only walk around the mainland of Mata country at most, and going to sea was a luxury that could only be imagined.Only if he puts down everything like the Supreme Emperor and handed over the Mata country to the grown-up prince, can he get his wish.

The two of them were eating when an eunuch came in: "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness has a fever, and someone from Yao Yuzu Palace has been sent here."

Emperor Kang Jing put down his chopsticks and looked at the queen: "Che'er often has a fever these days?"

Queen: "Brother Dawang has been getting fevers more frequently these days. The imperial doctor said there was nothing serious after seeing him, so he took him to the hospital for examination."

Emperor Kang Jing: "I've had my meal and went over to have a look."

"Yes." The eunuch went out to spread the message.

Like his father, Emperor Yong'an, the number of brothers Miao among Emperor Kangjing's heirs is pitifully small.There are only 2 of them at full count.Among them, the elder brother was born by Yao Xun, and the second elder brother was born last year, and was born to Concubine Jing who was still a concubine at that time.Emperor Kang Jing was very happy, and when he learned that he was a king brother, he made his concubine Jing the concubine on the spot.Yao Xi was very favored, and he entered the palace after Emperor Kang Jing ascended the throne.Yao Xi was an elegant person when he entered the palace, and he has been promoted all the way since then.Yao Xun gave birth to a daughter, Wang Geer, for Emperor Kang Jing.It's just that after Yao Xun gave birth to his brother Wang, Emperor Kang Jing, who was very happy, didn't confer Yao Xun as a noble concubine, but instead rewarded Yao Xun's elder brother with an official position.

Brother Wang is four years old this year, and Emperor Kang Jing loves him very much.It's just that it's also puzzling that Emperor Kang Jing loves the big brother so much, but he hasn't seen him give the big brother a gift for a long time.The Supreme Emperor directly gave King Ning a prince position back then, and even gave King Ning the honorable name of Nanrong Baoning, and together with other princes, there is a word for "柳" in the word "wood". .However, Emperor Kang Jing's elder brother followed the customary rules of the royal family and only took the single name "Che", which was obviously different from the prince's name.

After having dinner with the empress, Emperor Kang Jing changed into the clothes he was going out, left Houde Palace, and went to Yanxin Palace where Yao Xie was.Lai Zhou waited on his master to change his clothes, and said: "Master, when Yao Xunju first entered the palace, he knew how to advance and retreat, and knew the etiquette. But since the birth of the king's son, the servant felt that Yao Xunju had changed. I don't know how many times this is Yao Yu called His Majesty away from the other palace. This is the third time for you to come here."

He Huan said indifferently: "What is on his mind, that's his business. The palace is so busy all day long that I don't have the extra energy to care about what he thinks. Your Majesty is busy with state affairs. , and less fun."

Lai Zhou was surprised, and immediately understood what the master meant, and slapped his own mouth lightly with a smile: "It's the servant who is talking too much."

Arriving at Yanxin Palace, the slightly slender Yao Xun immediately threw himself into Emperor Kang Jing's arms: "Your Majesty, you are here."

Emperor Kang Jing put his arms around Yao Xun, walked into the room, and asked, "How bad is Che'er's fever?"

Yao Xi's eyes were red: "It was fine in the morning, but before dinner he said he felt unwell, and now he feels hot to the touch. It's because he didn't take good care of Che'er."

Emperor Kang Jing comforted: "Don't say that, you are Che'er's biological mother, and you wish him the best. How could you not take good care of him?"

Emperor Kang Jing entered the room of the great prince, and the prince who was lying on the bed saw his father and immediately shouted: "Father——"

Emperor Kang Jing went to the bed and sat down, held his son's hot hand, touched his forehead, and asked, "Has the imperial doctor come yet?"

Someone hurried into the room, and the maid in the room shouted: "The imperial doctor is here!"

Emperor Kang Jing asked the imperial physician to examine the elder brother immediately. After the examination, the imperial physician said: "Your Highness has a weak spleen and stomach, and some food has accumulated."

The imperial physician prescribed the medicine and gave it to Brother Dawang, and waited until Brother Dawang fell asleep, it was getting late.Yao Xi pleaded guilty: "Your Majesty, the waiter was negligent. Che'er was greedy and the waiter was soft-hearted, so he didn't control him."

Emperor Kang Jing: "Kids are greedy, so be more careful in the future."

Yao Xun nodded, wiped the corners of his eyes, and hesitated again.

Emperor Kang Jing: "What?"

Yao Xun: "Your Majesty, Che'er is always sick and takes care of himself. I want to ask for a talisman for Che'er, or ask someone to come and see if there is anything I can cheer Che'er up to. Although Che'er is gluttonous this time. , but there is no child in the palace who is not greedy. Che'er has been in good health for the first two years, but she has become more sick in the past two years. Waiting for him to think, is there something wrong with Che'er."

Emperor Kang Jing looked at his pet servant with calm eyes, and said as if thinking: "What you said also makes sense. Some things cannot be explained by science, so we can only go to theology."

Yao Xi smiled slightly: "The waiter thinks so too."

Emperor Kang Jing: "I'm going to think about how to make Che'er happy. It's getting late, and you should rest earlier. I'm going back to Houde Palace."

Yao Xi was stunned.

Emperor Kang Jing: "I have something to do today."

Yao Xun immediately said: "Serve me and send you off to Your Majesty."

Just now the big brother hugged his father and said he wanted his father not to leave, but to accompany him.Emperor Kang Jing didn't say whether he would leave or not, but to Yao Xun, His Majesty must be placed in Yanxin Palace this night, and the palace people are all ready.Unexpectedly, just as the big brother fell asleep here, His Majesty is about to leave there!

Emperor Kang Jing didn't particularly appease and pet his servants, so he left Yanxin Palace and sat on his shoulders.Two times before Yao Xun called Emperor Kang Jing away from Houde Palace because of the illness of the king's brother, Emperor Kang Jing stayed in Yanxin Palace.But this time, His Majesty did not stay overnight.Everyone in Yanxin Palace murmured in their hearts.After Emperor Kang Jing left, Yao Xi bit his lips and asked the maid next to him, "Your Majesty is not blaming me?"

Grand Palace Maid: "Your Majesty may really have something to discuss with the Empress."

Even if the concubines in the palace didn't understand it when they first entered the palace, they would understand after a year or two. You can compete for favor, but don't even think about competing with the empress.If His Majesty has important matters to discuss with the Queen, please do not bother.No matter how much His Majesty favors anyone, he will never allow anyone to usurp the Queen's position in the palace.Your Majesty may not be the one who loves the queen's wife the most, but he is definitely the one who upholds the queen's status the most.

The emperor's guard of honor walked halfway, and Emperor Kang Jing ordered: "Go to Xiangfu Palace and tell the queen that I will be placed in Houde Palace tonight."

Kang Ding: "Yes."

Houde Palace also thought that His Majesty would rest in Yanxin Palace tonight, the queen frowned: "Your Majesty is going to Xiangfu Palace?"

The eunuch who came to deliver the message said: "Your Majesty said that he would go back to the Queen's place when he came out of Yanxin Palace, but on the way, His Majesty said to go to Xiangfu Palace."

The worry on the Queen's face became more obvious, and Lai Zhou was also worried when the messenger stepped back: "Master, is Your Majesty feeling bored? But because the king is always sick?"

The queen shook her head: "If it's just because the king's brother is sick, your majesty will only be worried, and won't want to go to Xiangfu Palace. You go and find out what happened when your majesty went to Yanxin Palace, and what Yao Xie said."

"The slave is going here."