Force a good concubine

Entering February, the weather is getting warmer day by day.On February [-]th, the courtiers and maids in the palace changed into Luoyi, and all the flowers and trees hidden in the winter were moved out to let the wind out.Li Fuming, head of the Guangfu Gate, was watching the young eunuchs remove the cotton covers from the gilded copper vats on both sides of the corridor, wash and change the water, but he saw Cui Chengxiu leading two pots of peonies coming in from the Xihua Gate.The peony was very tall, and the flower pot was quite large and very heavy. Li Fuming saw that the heads of the little eunuchs were covered with sweat, so he stepped forward and said with a smile: "Last year, it was the job of that monkey boy Sanshun. Here? Li Zheng, who is in charge of flowers and trees, is also an idiot, why didn't he find a car for you?" Then he turned around and told his little eunuch to look for a car.

Cui Chengxiu wiped off his sweat, took the teacup Li Fuming handed over, drank three cups of tea in one go, and said, "Your master ordered me to appreciate two pots of peonies for Luan Ceremony. I thought it wouldn't take much effort. It's enough to take a short walk during the rest time. I didn't expect that the old lady is in a good mood today. It has been passed down that several wives have entered the palace to enjoy the flowers. The flowers and trees are all waiting for the car in Ningshou Palace. Why don't they just move back like this?" He said and glared at the little eunuchs again, "These monkey cubs are going to serve the dragon chariot in front of the imperial court, so I'll use this as an excuse to try today. Fortunately!" He said with a sneer, "Bai has grown to such a large stature, his strength is not enough to count each one, and he can't even move two pots of flowers. When it's time to carry the dragon chariot, how can he use it? ?”

The four young eunuchs blushed, bowed their heads and did not dare to answer a word, Li Fuming hugged his shoulders and smiled: "What's the matter? It's not good right now, and I will teach you slowly in the future - isn't that how we came here?" He said He signaled his subordinates to help a few eunuchs move the peony to the car, while pulling Cui Chengxiu to take a step back, and asked in a low voice: "I heard that these days when the young master is resting for lunch, people are preaching chanting scriptures to soothe the nerves?"

Cui Chengxiu raised her eyebrows sharply: "Why, Shangxin? Do you also want to curry favor with the imperial court?"

"Isn't the sleeping secretary empty?" Li Fuming looked embarrassed, and quietly pointed two fingers at him, "Li Si sleeping has turned upside down, and Hu Si sleeping is gone in the palace again, and the old lady hasn't given me anything for two months. Adding someone, everyone in the palace said that it is waiting for the young master to choose by himself. Brother, you are a celebrity in front of the imperial court. How many people asked me to send you a message to invite you to Fuqinglou for a drink. I don’t know about you, brother. When do you have to leave the palace?"

When the queen mother kicked Gu Yuan out of the palace, what was publicly announced was the news of Hu Ruanniang's violent death in the palace. After returning to the palace, she cleaned it up again. Therefore, although the news spread quickly in the palace, only a few people knew the truth. Cui Chengxiu stared at Li Fuming and hesitated for a while, then changed her smiling face, and shirked: "The old lady has a will, the young master's body is important, the bedroom is temporarily vacant, and it is convenient for the young master to rest. It's not like you don't know, I am now I'm so busy in front of the imperial court that I don't even touch the ground, how can I have time to drink?"

"The old lady is kind, and she thinks more thoughtfully than others." Li Fuming was still unwilling to reconcile, and lowered his voice to test, "I heard that there is a female scribe in Luanyi Division, who looks like the same person as Secretary Hu?"

Cui Chengxiu was taken aback, glanced at Li Fuming calmly, said a few perfunctory words, and left.Li Fuming looked at his back and pondered for a while, watched the little eunuch under his hand wash the copper vat clean, and when the duty was off in the evening, he went to the Department of Internal Punishment to get a sign and leave the palace.

He wandered around the capital for a while, and felt that no one was paying attention, so he coughed, straightened his clothes, walked slowly into Fuqing Building, went straight up to the third floor, entered the private room in No. [-] Tianzi, and greeted the people inside. He kowtowed and said: "Your Highness is right, the young master and that person are together again every day. It's just that Cui Chengxiu is very slippery, let him take the lead," he shook his head and sighed, "It's really difficult."

"Since it's difficult, you don't need to mention it to him anymore." Prince Gong's son Yuanli, wearing a jade-colored gold-woven cloth, was standing behind the big case and was painting. Hearing this, he put down his pen and came to help Li Fuming up. He said kindly: "Look. It turns out that Your Majesty is infatuated with that person, I originally planned to secretly send a few people who are in line with His Majesty's wishes, and share the favor of that person, so as not to spread the matter and harm His Majesty—since the people in front of the imperial court are acting like this and shrinking , don’t need it now. After you return to the palace, you don’t need to mention it again, so as not to worry others.”

He comforted Li Fuming a few more words, motioned to the left and right to present the prize, and handed it to Li Fuming himself. He watched Li Fuming go out contentedly with the box in his arms, and then returned to the case, finished the drawing on the big case, put down the pen and took a step back , looked carefully for a while,

Turning around, he said to the man who was reading a book beside a small case, "Mr. Cheng, what do you think of my picture of traveling in spring?"

Cheng Su put down the book and stood up. Shi Shiran walked to the desk and looked at it: "It's a good start, but it's a pity that the writing is too hasty. Painting is like doing things. If the writing is too hasty, the layout will lose its atmosphere, and the stroke will be lost." No matter how good the mood is, it will be biased."

"Didn't Mr. say that this is an opportunity to take advantage of?" Yuan Li said, "Now that His Majesty has refuted several documents from the cabinet, and several ministers are quite critical, if word of this matter spreads -"

"Your Highness is wrong." Cheng Su said, "This matter can be big or small. If it is big, it is His Majesty favoring the courtiers, but if it is small, it is just that the monarch and his ministers are young and congenial, and there is no difference for a while. Your Highness thinks , which one should it be?"

Yuan Li thought about it carefully, then suddenly realized, and said, "What do you mean, sir, that Gu Yuan doesn't look like a courtier?"

"Exactly." Cheng Su nodded and said, "I originally thought that His Majesty would definitely call Gu Yan back into the palace to serve as a servant. At that time, in this capacity, we will have something to say, but now Gu Yuan is still a scholar in terms of identity. He was an official, but was punished by His Majesty to revise the palace law. Naturally, it can’t just sit in the room and memorize the rules, and you have to see everywhere in the palace. In this way, even if you enter and leave the Qinghe Palace , Others only thought that she was punished and trained, or reported some inside information. Although the reason was perfunctory, it could not be refuted on the face of it, so there was no name for it. Besides, His Highness has also met Gu Yan, and Based on her appearance and behavior, would those cabinet ministers believe that she is a courtier?"

"Not like." Yuan Li smiled wryly, "Not only does she not look like it, but she looks like a loyal minister. Every time I see her, I can't figure out why such a person would be so devoted to His Majesty?"

"She only looks at Qingming from the outside, but she is just a confused fool on the inside." Cheng Su smiled leisurely, "As long as Gu Yuan is still in Luan Yisi, her relationship with His Majesty will never be broken, and it doesn't matter if the news doesn't get out for a while. Now, it is necessary to spread the reputation of the sycophant, otherwise it will be futile even if it is done."

Yuan Li thought for a while: "King Duan doesn't care about things now, King Bei is His Majesty's man, and King Yu is a grasshopper." He suddenly raised his eyebrows, "The last time Gu Yuan entered the palace, he used the man of King Sui, This time—"

"Absolutely not!" Cheng Su said, "Your Highness thinks that King Sui will only flatter His Majesty?"

Yuan Li couldn't help laughing: "Her crooked poems and bad prose can scare others, but I don't pay attention to them." He smiled, but a trace of resentment flashed in his eyes, "If I grew up in the In the capital, how can she take away the reputation of poetry and calligraphy?"

"Poetry and poetry is still second," Cheng Su secretly sighed inwardly, but his expression remained calm, and he smiled slightly, "His Royal Highness also said that Prince Duan doesn't care about things, and now His Majesty is trying to rectify it. , would you leave such useless Zong Ling alone?"

"Of course he won't last long." Yuan Li pondered for a while, then suddenly said in surprise, "What do you mean, sir, is this seat reserved by His Majesty for King Sui?"

"Exactly." Seeing Yuan Li's disapproving expression, Cheng Su shook his head secretly, his face was still like a spring breeze, "Think about it carefully, Your Highness, our Majesty's temperament looks gentle and respectful on the surface, but his intentions are big on the inside." Very strange, when Gu Yuan did not enter the palace, she dared to order a re-negotiation several times. Now that she has kissed the government and handled two major cases in a row, she has some prestige, but she is timid? Although the wedding was postponed to three years later, it is time to start selecting candidates. His Majesty never mentioned it, but he still recognized Gu Yuan. Since he wanted to make plans for the future, Zongling's candidates were not based on virtue and ability, but on obedience There are three deputy Zong Ling, His Royal Highness and King Yu needless to say, even though King Sui has taken care of His Majesty's homework, he has become a monk halfway through. It is better for King Sui to grow up with His Majesty. According to our plan, Gu Yan was forced to stay in the palace, but if it weren't for this, how could His Majesty get what he wanted? From this point of view, even if His Majesty has a lot of resentment towards King Sui, he should also have five points of gratitude. Otherwise, why did you send people to the Sui Palace to give rewards and visits several times? It’s nothing more than to win over and comfort. I dare to say that as long as Sui Wang’s health is not in the way and he returns to court, His Majesty will find a reason to appoint her to the clan’s mansion. Come to assist Duan Wang, when Duan Wang complains about his illness, and then send a recommendation book, isn't Zongzheng in her pocket?"

"Sir, what you said is very true." Yuan Li was silent for a long time before he let out a long breath, "To tell the truth, sir, I had some thoughts when I became the vice-zongling, but now it seems that it is all wishful thinking. Unexpectedly, Your Majesty At such a young age, he is willing to spend so much pains and troubles on this Gu Yuan, even disregarding the family law of Da Qi, who respects and respects the virtuous."

"Although your Majesty is young, the layout is really far-reaching, and it's not just this one." Seeing that he was disappointed, Cheng Su stopped mentioning the Zongling and changed the topic, "I checked yesterday the promotion places of this year's Chengjue's children. Except for seven of His Majesty's attendants who went to the Beijing Camp as usual, the rest went to Guanglu Temple, one to the Ministry of Officials, one to the Ministry of Industry, and none to Yushitai and Imperial Academy. There are three members of the Ministry of Rites, which are exactly the opposite of the late emperor. Your Highness has also read the Taizu Records. Just think about how the Taizu Emperor was established in the past, and you should understand. These people look insignificant now, but as long as they have the heart After three years of promotion, he will not be a minister, but also a master, and then he will be given a title of Zhongshusheren to study in the cabinet, even if the cabinet ministers and the six ministers object, His Majesty will still be able to issue the imperial edict!"

"So she planned it long ago!" Yuan Li was slightly startled, and then sneered, "Fortunately, sir is so clever that he awakened the dreamer with one word, otherwise I would still be in the dark. I hope you can teach me what to do next." I."

"Your Majesty has learned from the past, and now protects Gu Yuan closely. It is very difficult to start from the court," Cheng Suyun smiled lightly, "There is only one thing she can't protect. I often hear people say that loyal ministers come from the family of filial sons, If Gu Yan is not a filial son, can he still be regarded as a loyal minister?"

"It's really a good idea." Yuan Li thought for a while, and smiled slightly, "It's not easy for outsiders to come forward for this kind of housework, and I have to bother Mr., so I'll mention Lu Chuan again here."

Sure enough, he summoned Lu Chuan to the flower hall the next day, and immediately said: "I heard that you new officials handed over the sign to introduce you, but your Majesty arrived a quarter of an hour late?"

"Yes." Seeing that the emperor attached great importance to sorting out the collection of books, the Imperial College also recruited people to sort out the library, so Lu Chuan was admitted in the same way. The emperor was very impressed. He heard the meaning of blame in Yuan Li's words, so he argued for the emperor: "Your Majesty accompanied the Queen Mother today to enjoy the flowers. It is not a fault if you accidentally miss the time. Let alone waiting for such a petty person like me." Minister, comforting you with gentle words, and adding extra rewards, is also a beautiful thing that can be corrected after knowing one's mistakes."

"A beautiful thing?" Yuan Li smiled wryly, "Did you know that His Majesty passed on Gu Yuan to serve in Qinghe Hall while he was admiring the flowers with the Empress Dowager?"

Lu Chuan was startled, but then he understood, he felt a buzzing in his mind, he looked up at Yuan Li's face, regardless of etiquette: "Your Highness, are you serious?"

"What kind of thing is this, I will talk nonsense?" Yuan Li said coldly, "Back then you begged me and my concubine mother so hard, I thought that Gu Yuan could be considered a talent, and I fell in love with it for a while. Xin, rescued her from the palace, but did not expect her to flatter her like this, completely disregarding the dignity of the courtiers, even though you broke the engagement with her, it is still a good family relationship, you should advise one or two."

"I, I—" Lu Chuan fell on the ground, feeling full of embarrassment and resentment with nowhere to vent, he muttered for a while, "Ah Yuan, she wouldn't be so disrespectful, there must be villains behind, I will , let’s go back.”

He left Prince Gong's mansion in a daze and didn't go home. He rode his horse and went straight to Gu's house. Seeing that Gu Yuan had already been on duty and was correcting the essay with Xu Xi, he stepped forward and pulled Gu Yuan, "Follow me."

The two of them were startled when they saw his angry face. Gu Yan broke away from Lu Chuan's hand, straightened his sleeves, and said slowly, "Brother, what's wrong?"

Although she moved quickly, Lu Chuan had already caught a glimpse of the red mark on her arm, and the anger in his heart became stronger. He threw a sentence at Xu Xi who was about to speak, "None of your business!", and then forced Gu Yan out After leaving the room, he pulled her into the firewood room and said: "A Yuan, tell me the truth, but you are already with His Majesty again?"

Gu Yan's face froze, Lu Chuan could see it clearly, and his heart was even more sour, and he said bitterly: "What are you, why are you so--" After all, he is the person he loves who grew up with him, and he can't say "" The words "I don't love myself" just paced back and forth in the firewood room like a trapped beast, while pacing and scolding Gu Yuan with a suppressed voice: "You also said that the purpose of entering the palace is to make it clear to His Majesty. Is it so clear? The cabinet ministers are discussing with the Ministry of Rites these days how to choose the emperor's husband. When the time comes, the wedding will be announced. A Yuan, where are you standing? You also mentioned to me that the Queen Mother will marry you The reason why you were kicked out of the palace was to isolate you from your majesty, but you just sent it to the door by yourself? Could it be that the queen mother will change her mind now and call you into the palace openly? After all, your majesty is a child who is not yet 20 years old Even if she is determined to make up her mind, what can she do if the Queen Mother and the cabinet ministers refuse? A Yuan, you are completely wrong about this matter!"

He saw that although Gu Yan didn't reply, there was no remorse in his eyes, and he was about to continue to reprimand him, when he heard a crisp sound outside the window, he couldn't help but turn pale with fright. Stepping out of the door, I saw Gu Yan take two steps back suddenly and bumped into himself. Lu Chuan supported Gu Yuan with one hand, looked over her shoulder, and saw a soup bowl on the ground, full of soup, and Gu's mother was standing in the soup. In the meantime, the corners of the skirt were in a mess, but they didn't care about it at all. They just looked at Gu Yan with a white face, and said in a trembling voice: "Ah Yuan, what you said just now, is it true? Are you really with the current Majesty—"

Gu Yuan hesitated for a moment, then gently pushed Lu Chuan away, straightened her dress, and bowed to Gu's mother regardless of the mess on the ground: "Mother, forgive me, my son is not filial, and my son is indeed the same as His Majesty today," her voice was jerky, There was still no shame in his tone, "My son has indeed had an affair with His Majesty."