Qi Younian was in full charge of Tuntian matters and reported directly to Empress Dowager Han and Emperor Longqing. As for Qin Zhen, the king of An, and Qin Lin, the king of Su, they were both excluded from this matter. However, Empress Dowager Han still claimed that the two of them had meritorious service and awarded a reward, which was a pair of pearls and a pair of jade Ruyi.

Qin Zhen and Qin Lin both thanked him, and they were not surprised by such a result.

The two of them entered the cabinet, which was already the biggest concession made by the Empress Dowager Han for the situation, and the Empress Dowager Han would never let them participate in Tuntian, so as to get involved in military power.

In addition to them, because he went to sea to bring back good grains, Master Ji San was the first to work. Originally, Qin Zhen had already asked for an idle position for Master Ji San, but now Empress Dowager Han and Emperor Longqing have issued an order to reward Master Ji San.

Master Ji San was crowned as the inspector of the third grade, and at the same time rewarded 100 gold, 500 silver, 24 palace satin, one gold and jade Ruyi, and gave a mansion.

In addition to sealing the third lord of Ji, Emperor Longqing knew that the third master of Ji had an old mother in the hall, and he also deliberately added grace to the old lady of Ji, and gave a full set of phoenix crowns and xiaxia curtains, and gave golden canes, jade ruyi, coral beads, and musk strings.

Because Ji Xiaotang also offered advice to Tuntian, and also stained the light of Master Ji San, although he was not sealed, he also got a pair of jade Ruyi.

After that, everyone left one after another, and Emperor Longqing deliberately left Master Ji San to speak.

Ji Xiaotang and Qin Zhen also stayed, Emperor Longqing, Master Ji San, and Qin Zhen were talking in the imperial study, and the Empress Dowager Han took Ji Xiaotang to Cining Palace.

Empress Dowager Han asked Ji Xiaotang how the dowry was prepared, and Ji Xiaotang replied briefly.

“…… Time is a little tighter after all. If there's anything you can't do in time, just let me know. Empress Dowager Han said with a smile.

This sentence is very cordial, as if she is the elder of Ji Xiaotang's mother's family. Empress Dowager Han is really implementing her promise to Ji Xiaotang. Ji Xiaotang married Qin Zhen, and from now on, she will be Ji Xiaotang's backer.

"Thank you Queen Mother, my family is very concerned about my family affairs, and someone is ready for everything. If there is anything good to do, I will tell the Queen Mother after all. Ji Xiaotang replied with a smile.

Empress Dowager Han was very satisfied with Ji Xiaotang's attitude.

"That's fine, Xiaotang. I just like the way you look. Saying this, Empress Dowager Han suddenly sighed.

After Empress Dowager Han sighed, she stopped talking.

Ji Xiaotang waited for a while. Only then did he ask tentatively: "What bothers the Queen Mother?" ”

With Empress Dowager Han's city government, she is completely able to be invisible, and acting in front of her like this is obviously waiting for her to ask.

Really. was asked by Ji Xiaotang. Empress Dowager Han opened her mouth.

"Xiaotang, have you noticed that Ayou and King An seem to be ......"

When Empress Dowager Han said this, she looked at Ji Xiaotang and refused to continue.

Ji Xiaotang sneered in his heart.

Empress Dowager Han: This is deliberate.

Didn't Empress Dowager Han know that Qi Younian and Qin Zhen had turned against each other. Moreover, Qi Younian was so obvious in the imperial study. Even if you don't know the previous situation, you can see it.

And. Isn't this the result that Empress Dowager Han wants to see?

Qi Younian and Qin Lin approached, and Qin Zhen lost a strong arm from then on. The confrontation and contradiction between Qin Lin and Qin Zhen will become more and more acute.

Ji Xiaotang knew what Empress Dowager Han wanted her to say, but she didn't want to say anything, she just sighed softly, and then lowered her head.

She looked like this, but Empress Dowager Han was busy and saved the topic.

"It's just a young man, if you gamble for a while, it will get better slowly, and we don't have to worry about this little thing." Empress Dowager Han is trying to downplay things as much as possible.

"The Queen Mother is right." Ji Xiaotang said at this time, her attitude obviously did not want to continue to discuss this issue.

Empress Dowager Han glanced at Ji Xiaotang and changed the topic.

Empress Dowager Han talked about Qin Lin, she first started with Qin Lin's childhood. Speaking of Qin Lin's childhood, it is inevitable to mention the imperial concubine of the year.

"I'm okay, after all, it's the queen of the middle palace, poor Zhen'er's mother......" Empress Dowager Han told Ji Xiaotang very implicitly that the imperial concubine relied on the emperor's favor and ran rampant in the harem, which made Qin Zhen's mother concubine, the concubine at that time very angry.

Even if Qin Zhen was born later, he was completely suppressed by Qin Lin.

Empress Dowager Han said very subtlely and vaguely, but this did not prevent Ji Xiaotang from understanding the meaning of her words. Back in the palace back then, if she hadn't taken care of Qin Zhen and Qin Zhen's mother, she was afraid that the mother and son would have been bullied to death by the imperial concubine and Qin Lin.

In the narrative of the Empress Dowager Han, Qin Lin is Qin Zhen's childhood shadow.

Ji Xiaotang listened silently, this was actually a little different from Qin Zhen's own narrative. He and Qin Lin have been in a competitive relationship since childhood, which is true. However, when it comes to shadows......

Brothers compete for their father's favor, which does not seem to be a shadow. If Qin Zhen's childhood really has a shadow, it doesn't seem to be the imperial concubine and Qin Lin.

Listening to Empress Dowager Han, Ji Xiaotang didn't say anything, she just made the most attentive listener.

Empress Dowager Han skipped the death of the imperial concubine and didn't mention it, and directly talked about it now. Now, Qin Lin and Qin Zhen are still opposed.

There is nothing wrong with that.

"Now that Ayou seems to be on his side again, I'm worried about Zhen'er......"

Ji Xiaotang smiled.

"What is there to worry about the Queen Mother, no matter what, whether it is Ayou, King Su, or King An, they are all the courtiers of Daqin, and they are all the courtiers of the Queen Mother and Your Majesty. As long as King An is loyal to Daqin, the Queen Mother and His Majesty, then what is there to worry about him. The Queen Mother and Her Majesty will never let him suffer. ”

Empress Dowager Han also smiled, this time it was a real laugh. She couldn't help but sigh again in her heart, Ji Xiaotang is really a likable girl.

"Xiaotang, you're right, I don't know if Zhen'er can think like this."

"According to my understanding of Prince An, Prince An must have the same thoughts as me. Moreover, the Queen Mother thinks about it, King An, the Queen Mother and His Majesty are the closest people in the world. ”

Empress Dowager Han and Qin Zhen's biological ~ mother are both from the Han family. is a cousin of the in-laws, if it is discussed from there, Qin Zhen should also call the Empress Dowager Han an aunt. And in the palace. Empress Dowager Han is Qin Zhen's mother-in-law.

"That's right, that's right." Empress Dowager Han smiled and nodded.

This is also one of the reasons why she chose Qin Zhen among Qin Zhen and Qin Lin.

In fact, if she really studied it carefully, she could only choose Qin Zhen.

Again, considering Qi Younian's factors, she also has to choose Qin Zhen. Qi Younian and Qin Zhen have a deep relationship, but not with Qin Lin.

Between Qin Lin and himself, Emperor Longqing. Qi Younian will be more inclined to choose to be loyal to her and Emperor Longqing.

Empress Dowager Han was talking to Ji Xiaotang, and someone came in outside to report that Princess Changning was here.

"Let her in." Empress Dowager Han commanded casually.

Ji Xiaotang heard that Changning was coming. I wanted to get up and say goodbye, but was stopped by the Empress Dowager Han.

"You should meet Changning, the two sisters should be close and close. Unless, you still think about those misunderstandings in the past. ”

Ji Xiaotang could only stay.

Soon. Some palace people brought Princess Changning in.

Changning was wearing an apricot-red splendid dress. Walked in with brisk steps and a spring breeze on his face. She almost didn't notice Ji Xiaotang, and saluted the Empress Dowager Han, so she happily asked the Empress Dowager Han if it was true that the commander of Qi Younian was the commander of the second grade.

"Of course it's true." Empress Dowager Han sneered at Changning, "Your news is well-informed, who told you?" ”

About. Changning smiled and refused to speak.

Almost everyone in the palace knows Changning's thoughts about Qi Younian. Knowing about Qi Younian's increase in office, he went to tell Changning, so as to curry favor with Changning, which is not uncommon in the palace.

"Thank you, Queen Mother." Changning shook the Empress Dowager Han's hand, and said with a red cheek.

The news of Qi Younian's increase in official status spread, not only Changning, but also many people thought that Tuntian was just a name for giving Qi Younian such a grace. Empress Dowager Han and Emperor Longqing deliberately elevated Qi Younian's identity before marrying Changning to Qi Younian.

That's why Changning said thank you to the queen mother like this.

Empress Dowager Han glanced at Changning again.

"What to thank for indiscriminately, it has nothing to do with you, that's what Ayou deserves."

At Qi Younian's age, except for the prince and grandson, no one has been able to achieve the official position of the second grade.

Although Empress Dowager Han said this, Changning didn't believe it, and she insisted that Empress Dowager Han was for her.

"Anyway, thank you to the Queen Mother." Changning was almost forgetful because of joy, and only at this time did he see that Ji Xiaotang was also here, and Changning's smiling face was stiff.

Although he was persuaded by the Empress Dowager Han several times, every time Changning heard someone talk about Ji Xiaotang, he would still have a black face, and when he met him head-on, he would not have a good face.

Empress Dowager Han naturally saw the change in Changning's expression, so she deliberately coughed to remind Changning.

Last time, Empress Dowager Han said very harshly, and, no matter what, Ayou was still hers in the end. Thinking about it this way, Ji Xiaotang is just a defeated soldier under her, but a chess piece in the hands of her queen mother.

Changning's mood calmed down slightly, and the smile on his face was not so stiff.

Ji Xiaotang and Changning greeted each other, and Changning even congratulated Ji Xiaotang.

"In the future, I'm going to call you the fourth sister-in-law." Changning Pi said with a smile.

"You don't have to be polite, princess, in fact, it's good to be called like before." Ji Xiaotang pretended not to hear the yin and yang in Changning's tone, and said calmly.

"It's okay to call it whatever you want, you just need to know that you have to be closer in the future." Empress Dowager Han said with a smile.

"Queen Mother, when I get married, I want my fourth sister-in-law to make my bed." Changning said suddenly.

The custom of marrying a woman in Beijing is that the woman's dowry should enter the door one day in advance, and the woman should go to the man's house and lay the bed tent of the new house for the bride. Such errands are generally entrusted to the young and very close daughter-in-law of the woman's relatives.

Ji Xiaotang, as a sister-in-law, went to make a bed for Princess Changning, which is reasonable and quite decent.

However, if you take into account the relationship between her, Qi Younian and Changning, things are a little delicate.

Changning wanted to torture Ji Xiaotang.

But if Ji Xiaotang can be tortured by such words, she will not be Ji Xiaotang.

"As long as the Queen Mother and the princess don't dislike ......," Ji Xiaotang replied with a smile.

"This matter will be discussed when the time comes." Empress Dowager Han did not respond. Instead, he stopped talking, "You are a girl who has not yet come out of the cabinet, and you have not yet decided on a marriage." Even if you are in front of your loved ones, you should be more reserved. ”

This will work, and someone will come outside, saying that Qin Zhen, the king of An, sent someone to pick up Ji Xiaotang. It seems that Emperor Longqing has finally finished talking to Master Ji San, and everyone is going home.

Ji Xiaotang said goodbye to the Empress Dowager Han, and the Empress Dowager Han was about to say something to Changning in private, so she didn't continue to keep Ji Xiaotang.

Ji Xiaotang followed the lieutenant. But instead of going in the direction of the imperial study, he gradually approached the imperial garden.

"Your Majesty, Lord Wang, and Master Ji are all in the Imperial Garden." The lieutenant who led the way told Ji Xiaotang.

On the lakeside of the Imperial Garden, Ji Xiaotang saw Emperor Longqing.

"It's me who talked to your uncle and King An. I want to talk to you. Emperor Longqing was a little surprised when he saw Ji Xiaotang, so he explained to her. At this moment, Qin Zhen and Ji San were sitting in the pavilion not far away, just waiting for Ji Xiaotang to talk to Emperor Longqing, and then they went out of the palace together.

"Your Majesty has something to say, please speak." Ji Xiaotang saluted and said.

Emperor Longqing looked at Ji Xiaotang with an apologetic face. "Xiaotang. I owe you a word of sorry. ”

"Your Majesty......"

"What you entrusted me with, I didn't do, though I ...... I did my best. Emperor Longqing said it was a little difficult, but he finally said it.

"I wanted to apologize to you for a long time, but I never had the opportunity, and it just so happened that you came to the palace today." Emperor Longqing said again.

He was a dignified emperor, and he promised Ji Xiaotang things but didn't do it, which in itself was a very embarrassing thing. However. If you don't talk about it, he doesn't just look like an emperor. I don't look like a man anymore.

Emperor Longqing solemnly apologized to Ji Xiaotang.

Ji Xiaotang was not surprised, the Emperor Longqing she knew would do this~ thing.

"Your Majesty doesn't have to apologize, and Your Majesty didn't promise at that time that it would be done. I believe that Your Majesty must have done his best. Ji Xiaotang said slowly,

"But it didn't work out." Ji Xiaotang's words did comfort Emperor Longqing to a certain extent, but Emperor Longqing still blamed himself. "Xiaotang, you won't blame me, right?"

"No, it won't." Ji Xiaotang said dryly. She really didn't resent Emperor Longqing.

She pitied the man.

"You don't blame me, but I can't help but blame myself. You and King An, and Ayou......"

"Your Majesty, don't worry, we'll all be fine." Ji Xiaotang read Emperor Longqing's worries, "Since I am going to marry King An, I will definitely teach my husband and children well, and do my best to be a wife." Ayo ......"

Speaking of Qi Younian, Ji Xiaotang's tone paused slightly, and then continued.

"Ayo, he'll be fine, too."

"That's good, that's good." Emperor Longqing nodded again and again, glancing in the direction where Master Ji San and Qin Zhen were. "Your uncle is a wonderful person."

Emperor Longqing and Master Ji San talked about the Imperial Garden from the imperial study, and Emperor Longqing was almost fascinated by the overseas experiences described by Master Ji San.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Ji Xiaotang smiled.

"I have also given him a walk in front of the palace, and I hope that during his time in the capital, he can often come to the palace to talk to me. Although I couldn't move an inch in the palace, listening to what he said about overseas things was like being there. ”

Emperor Longqing and Master Ji San are really in love.

After talking for a while, Master Ji San, Emperor Longqing's gaze fell on Ji Xiaotang again.

"In any case, I am ashamed of you. Xiaotang, except for that incident, if you ask for anything more, I will definitely do my best, and I will definitely do it. Emperor Longqing's words were very resolute.

Ji Xiaotang raised his eyes and glanced at Emperor Longqing carefully.

Emperor Longqing at this moment is very serious.

"Even if it's ...... It doesn't match the queen mother's intentions, will Your Majesty also do it for Xiaotang? Ji Xiaotang asked softly.

This is a bold question.

Emperor Longqing smiled, then nodded.

"Yes. However, I can only promise you one thing. ”

"Your Majesty has such a heart, Xiaotang is already very satisfied, and you don't need Your Majesty to do anything for me anymore." Ji Xiaotang said instead.

"Is there really no need, Xiaotang, if you think about it carefully, this promise will always be valid as long as I am alive." Emperor Longqing looked at Ji Xiaotang.

Ji Xiaotang's heart couldn't help but move slightly.

"Your Majesty is gracious, but Xiaotang is disrespectful." Ji Xiaotang accepted Emperor Longqing's promise, and she instinctively felt that Emperor Longqing's promise would be of great significance.

"Good. Let's take this lake as an oath. Emperor Longqing said with a smile.

Ji Xiaotang also nodded, "Okay, just swear by this lake." ”

The two smiled at each other.

Emperor Longqing's attitude was very gentle, and he was in a good mood, which made Ji Xiaotang couldn't help but ask again: "Your Majesty, this lake must have a very special meaning to Your Majesty." ”

Ji Xiaotang's words landed, and Emperor Longqing's face changed.

Emperor Longqing was not angry, but was touched by Ji Xiaotang's words to the deepest part of his heart.

After being silent for a long time, Emperor Longqing's face softened slightly.

"You're right, the lake in this imperial garden has a special meaning for me."

"I asked what I shouldn't have asked." Ji Xiaotang said immediately.

"Nothing." Emperor Longqing shook his head, but obviously didn't want to continue.

Ji Xiaotang went out of the palace with Qin Zhen and Ji San, Qin Zhen did not return to the palace, but followed the two back to Xinhuatang.

Ji Xiaotang took an opportunity and quietly asked Qin Zhen what special significance the lake in the Imperial Garden had to Emperor Longqing.

Qin Zhen didn't seem to expect Ji Xiaotang to ask like this, and looked at Ji Xiaotang with some surprise.

"You know what, don't you?" Ji Xiaotang immediately asked.

Qin Zhen's expression became a little strange.

Ji Xiaotang was even more convinced that Qin Zhen knew something.

"Why, can't you tell me?" Ji Xiaotang looked at Qin Zhen.

"It's not that I can't tell you that you will be my princess, and I have something to hide from you! However, this thing ......"

Qin Zhen only understood the meaning of that incident after he became an adult. (To be continued......)