Tanhualang

Zhao Heng was silent for a long time, and then said in a shy voice: "If I marry another concubine, I will fail two people. Hasn't the emperor suffered enough, and I have to repeat the same mistakes—"

He had been silent all this time, and couldn't help being startled when he heard this, and stopped Zhao Heng's words: "Your Highness!"

Zhao Du didn't look angry at all, he just waved his hand to signal Shen Jing, sighed at Zhao Heng, shook his head and said, "Ah Heng, I have let down someone who shouldn't be let down. But why, don't you know? I have always refused to share my worries."

"Brother Huang," Zhao Heng heard the words, got up and knelt down in front of Zhao Du, "I am willing to share my worries for Brother Huang. I am willing to serve as a soldier and horse all my life, and use my life to keep the world peaceful. Whether it is Brother Huang, Ming'er, or Juan'er, as long as I live One day, one day. Doesn’t Brother Huang think it’s enough?”

Seeing this, Shen Jing also knelt down on the ground.

Zhao Du shook his head: "You know what I'm thinking. I don't know how long I can last with my lonely body. Both Ming'er and Juan'er are too young."

When Shen Jing heard this, she was already frightened.

Zhao Heng also looked at Zhao Du in surprise: "Brother Huang, you are in your prime now—"

Zhao Du raised his hand again to stop him: "Okay. Don't talk about this."

He waved his hand and signaled Zhao Heng to get up: "Your knees are not good, don't suffer from the cold, and you will suffer again. What's more, Shen Jing will feel embarrassed if you are like this. Just sit down."

Zhao Heng stood up obediently, and sat back in his seat silently.

Zhao Du turned to Shen Jing, as if the amazing conversation just now had never happened, and calmly began to ask about the Yanyin exchange for food: "How is the progress?"

Shen Jing stood up: "The document has been drawn up and sent to the household department."

"I'm afraid there's still some trouble over there. But there's no need to rush this matter." Zhao Du picked up the tea bowl and said unhurriedly. It's not too late."

Zhao Heng said: "Your Majesty means that there is no need to come out with results this year?"

"It must be too late this year." Zhao Du put down his tea bowl and looked outside the hall, "Besides, the battle with the Tartars in the early spring of this year will at least keep the north safe for a year. This winter, it won't cost too much food and grass."

He turned to Shen Jing, and said earnestly: "Although Hong Zeming is not very old, he is tactful and experienced in handling things, and he is also familiar with the affairs of the household department. You follow him, and you can use this to hone your skills."

Hearing the words, Shen Jing hurriedly got up to thank you: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will do my best to live up to your grace."

While talking, he heard footsteps from outside the hall. Zheng Man hugged Zhao Ming and stood at the door of the hall: "Your Majesty, the eldest prince fell asleep after playing for a while."

"Okay." Zhao Du nodded and stood up, "It's time for me to go back."

Zhao Heng and Shen Jing stood up.

Zhao Du walked up to Zhao Heng and patted him on the shoulder: "Ah Heng, I know what you're thinking. But...just consider it to be considerate of my painstaking efforts."

Zhao Heng lowered his eyes and said in a low voice: "...I'll take Brother Huang to the car."

Zhao Heng and Shen Jing stood in front of the palace gate, watching the carriage and guards go away.

Turning around quietly, looking worriedly at Zhao Heng, whose expression was always gloomy, he hesitated to speak: "...Your Highness."

It was a dreary summer night, not even a breath of wind in the air.

Zhao Heng remained silent, and Shen Jing didn't know what to say. It took a long time before he said: "Your Highness, it's getting late, I—"

"Miao An." Zhao Heng interrupted him, "Sit with me."

The two returned to Zhao Heng's study.

The door of the room was ajar, and Wei Zheng stood guard outside from a distance.

Shen Jing brewed tea again and brought it to Zhao Heng: "Your Highness, please drink some water."

Zhao Heng didn't move, and waited for Shen Jing to sit down beside him before he said, "Y. X. D. J. Did you hear what Brother Huang said tonight?"

"Yes."

"Understood?"

Shen Jing hesitated for a while before replying: "...Understood."

What Zhao Du meant could not be more clear, he wanted to make Zhao Heng the crown prince.

Zhao Heng smiled wryly: "Today I wanted to invite Brother Huang to the mansion, and begged him to promise me that I would never marry a wife again... Unexpectedly, I was defeated by him instead."

"In the past two years, I always thought that the emperor's health is better, and I won't think about these things anymore." Zhao Heng said in a deep voice, "I didn't expect that the emperor still has this kind of heart."

There was a moment of silence: "Why does Your Majesty do this?"

Zhao Heng sighed: "Brother Huang hopes that if one day he is gone, Minger Juaner, and I... can all be well."

The eldest prince, Zhao Ming, was born by Concubine Li the year the Holy One ascended the throne, and he was only five years old.Concubine Li was married by the Holy Majesty when he was in the hidden residence. She came from a noble family, but she has no influence to rely on.

The second prince, Zhao Juan, is less than two years old this year, and was born of Empress Ouyang.Ouyang Min's father, Ouyang Jian, Duke of Ming De, is no longer a bachelor, but his disciples and old officials are all over the world, and he has a lot of prestige.

If the eldest prince Zhao Ming is established as the heir apparent, Zhao Heng is the only one who can rely on him.If this is the case, Ming Degong will definitely take the second prince to seize the heir. Although Zhao Heng holds the military power, if he confronts him, it will be a slap in the face.

If the second prince is established as the crown prince, with the style of Ouyang Jian's father and daughter, the first prince and Zhao Heng will definitely be in danger.

Only with Zhao Heng ascending the throne, the court situation is most likely to be safe and stable.

The biggest obstacle to Zhao Heng's accession to the throne is his status, but since Zhao Du has the heart, he made Zhao Heng the crown prince in advance, and this problem was solved.He is a young man with both martial arts and literary talents, and he is quite prestigious in the army. Once he ascends to the throne of God, his reputation will grow day by day. .

At that time, if Zhao Heng is willing to take care of him and protect Zhao Ming and Zhao Juan from growing up safely, it will definitely not be a problem.

Thinking about it so carefully, even Shen Jing felt that Zhao Heng was indeed the best candidate for the heir apparent if considered from this perspective.

... But if he is the heir apparent, it is impossible for Zhao Heng not to marry a concubine.

Shen Jing smiled wryly in her heart: If the Holy Majesty really planned this, then his behavior of forcing Zhao Heng to marry his concubine would be easy to understand.

He was full of thoughts in his heart, but he couldn't show half of it on his face. He could only comfort Zhao Heng with a smile: "Your Highness don't need to worry too much... Your Majesty is in good health, and there is still a lot of room for establishing a reserve."

Perhaps the Holy Majesty has always been healthy and can wait until the two princes become adults, then this problem will no longer exist.

At least for now, the two princes are still young, especially the second prince who is only two years old. With Mr. Mingde secretly suppressing him, the court has not heard much voices urging the emperor to establish a crown prince.

Zhao Heng was still silent when he heard the words.

For a moment, he didn't know what to say.

The two sat in silence for a long time, then Zhao Heng suddenly asked, "...Miao'an."

Shen Jing responded softly: "Your Highness?"

Zhao Heng turned to look at him: "If——if one day, I have to marry a concubine—"

He hesitated, paused, and still asked the following words: "If there is such a day, how would you choose?"

Shen Jing heard the words, turned her head, and looked at Zhao Heng in a daze.

At first he didn't understand Zhao Heng's meaning, but when he looked at Zhao Heng with pleading eyes, he suddenly understood the meaning of his words: If one day Zhao Heng married a wife, would he still maintain the relationship with him like today?

Shen Jing immediately thought of the Anshun County King who had met once, and Zhou Zuojun who lived alone in the mountains in the plum garden.

Could it be that one day I will be like Zhou Zuojun?

As soon as this idea came up, Shen Jing felt a burst of panic.He knew that he would not and could not choose that kind of life.

Although he had the answer in his heart, he couldn't directly answer Zhao Heng's question. He was silent for a long time, and smiled bitterly: "Your Highness... I don't know."

Zhao Heng listened and smiled: "But I know."

He looked at Shen Jing, shook his head, and said in a low voice: "If there is a day, you will keep your sense of proportion and meet Gu Yili, but you will look like a stranger."

Quiet and silent.

Zhao Heng stood up, walked to Shen Jing's side, raised his hand to slowly caress Shen Jing's cheek, lifted his chin slightly, stared at him for a moment, and asked softly: "Miao'an, when I think of the possibility of such a situation, I will I feel unbearable pain. Why are you still so calm?"

After a pause, he smiled wryly and said, "...Did you think that the relationship between you and me would not last long?"

Shen Jing raised her head to meet Zhao Heng's gaze.

He wanted to open his mouth to deny it, but tried a few times, but to no avail.

... He is indeed, has been secretly harboring such thoughts.

Even Mu Junhuai, the son of a mansion, can't do whatever he wants, let alone Zhao Heng with such a prominent status?

Zhao Henggui is a relative of the emperor, the only prince in the dynasty, holding more than half of the military power in the world.Whether as the crown prince, or as the crown prince's only uncle, such an identity would be accompanied by a lot of involuntary feelings.

On the night that he promised Zhao Heng, accompanied by the sound of rain outside the window, he wandered from late night to dawn, and finally comforted himself in this way: If you are only a hundred years old, why worry about being a thousand years old?A day is counted as a day if you can have a relationship with Zhao Heng, and a day is a day of happiness.

In the long silence, Zhao Heng let go of the silence, and smiled shortly: "You don't have to answer. I understand."

In the blink of an eye, it was the day before Zhao Heng's birthday.

Since the farewell that day, the two have not seen each other again.

Although Shen Jing was busy with official duties every day, when she was free occasionally, she would hold the jade pendant attached to her fan in a daze.

This jade pendant is the one Zhao Heng gave him.Since he received it, he has kept it in his closet.When it was just the beginning of summer, Zhao Heng took his own fan with the same pendant and asked him why it didn't work, so he took it out.

At that time, it was Zhao Heng who personally tied the pendant to the fan for him, and told him not to take it off at will.Although Shen Jing loves this pendant and keeps the fan with her at all times, but when she is on duty, she always puts the fan in the drawer and uses another one, and only occasionally takes it out to have a look when there is no one around.

This day, Shen Jing was fascinated by the fan again, while kneading the pendant in his hand, while secretly thinking... I wonder if Zhao Heng is still angry about what happened that day?On his birthday, should I personally deliver the gift, or should I ask Xiaoyou to bring it?

Lu Meng suddenly appeared from behind him and patted his shoulder: "Why are you in a daze?"

Lu Meng was also recently borrowed by the Ministry of Rites to participate in official duties, and the two of them could not see each other every day like they used to.Shen Jing smiled, put the fan into the drawer, raised her head and smiled: "Why are you here?"

"Look at you in a daze." Lu Meng sneered, "Look at you frowning at the fan, as if written in a poem, 'beauties roll up the beaded curtain, sit deep and frown'. Why are you so worried?"

Shen Jing got up to pour tea for him, and said with a smile, "I'm worried about the paperwork."

He sighed: "It's been a sad few days. I'm almost bald when writing essays."

The salt exchange document sent to the Ministry of Households was finally sent back in the past few days, but it was corrected by the Ministry of Households beyond recognition, and I couldn't bear to see it.Shen Jing read the document with Hong Zeming, listened to Hong Zeming's pointers, studied it carefully for a long time, and revised it for three days before finally compiling a draft and sending it back to the household department.

It's just that I don't know how to be discussed by the Ministry of Households again this time.

Lu Meng showed sympathy: "I've also heard some, it seems that your errand is not easy to do. The household department has always been notoriously difficult."

But then he patted Shen Jing on the shoulder and comforted him: "But you don't have to be too annoying. I heard that the Holy One sent another errand, saying that he would send someone to accompany the Ministry of Industry to investigate the water control of the Huaihe River. I heard that the bachelor is selecting people."

He looked back to see that there was no one outside, and lowered his voice to Shen Jing's ear: "If I were you, I would mention it to the bachelor and follow. Although the errands in the Ministry of Industry are a bit tiring, they are much better than those in the Ministry of War."