Empress Dowager Jiang is actually no stranger to Zhang. In terms of age, they are actually almost the same age, and the Empress Dowager Jiang may be a few years older than the Zhang family, but in terms of seniority, the Zhang family is an out-and-out elder.

The old county prince once tried his best to ensure that the first emperor was the eldest son of the prince, which naturally created the wealth and prosperity of the Empress Dowager Jiang. The first emperor was confused and treated this benefactor's family with little affection, but the Empress Dowager Jiang was a conscientious person. In the years when grace was absent, she silently worshiped the Buddha and recited scriptures, prayed for her relatives, and atoned for the sins of the first emperor.

Before the first emperor passed a hundred days, she fell ill first, lingering on the sickbed for many days, and after the autumn, there was an improvement, but it has been good and bad, until the middle of October, the root of the disease was broken. In fact, she has always wanted to meet the old ministers and edicts in the past, and meet those who were treated poorly by the first emperor, so that she could ask them what difficulties they had and compensate them. Now that she is the queen mother, and the emperor is her biological son, she no longer needs to be as cautious as before. If it weren't for the fact that her health has not been very good, she would have entered the palace a long time ago. And Zhang is one of the people she wants to see the most.

Zhang's husband kept her husband's position and created the glory of the first half of her life; Zhang and her grandchildren saved the lives of her son and grandson, creating a wealth for the rest of her life and even for future generations. The Zhang family is really her benefactor, and there is no one.

And now, the Zhang family is once again kind enough to untie the knot in her eldest son's heart, which makes the Empress Dowager Jiang extremely grateful, and even a little frightened, because she does not know how to repay the Zhang family's kindness. This feeling of indebtedness to the other party weighed on her heart, making her subconsciously avoid meeting the other party.

And Gao Zhen is very light, and he found this in his grandmother's speech. He whispered to Empress Dowager Jiang: "Old Madam Zhao cares about her father and grandson very much. She always remembers the life-saving grace of her father and mother to their grandchildren. also always said that if it weren't for her father, queen and mother who had been supporting her, I was afraid that she would have been bullied to death by Zhao Jue's family a few years ago. Therefore, for many years, he has not forgotten the kindness of his father. My father felt that it was nothing, but he had good thoughts and good karma, so that his uncle and grandson were saved. It can be seen that everything in this world has a definite number in the underworld. ”

Empress Dowager Jiang hurriedly said: "You are right, there is always a good reward for doing good." It is precisely because your father saved the ancestors of the Zhao family that the ancestors of the Zhao family will save your imperial uncle and you again. Zhao Jue's father and wife acted perversely back then. killed Zhao Xuan and his wife, and formed a mortal enmity with the ancestors of the Zhao family, and then the ancestors and grandsons of the Zhao family made a contribution to saving the driver. smashed the plot of Zhao Jue and his group, and also sent them to a dead end. It is true that good is rewarded, and evil is rewarded, and it is not that it is not not repaid. The time has not yet come. God acts. It's always fair. ”

Empress Dowager Jiang felt that the pressure on her heart had been greatly reduced, and although she was still grateful to Zhang, she no longer felt that this kindness was too great to be repaid. At that time, Emperor Taizu promoted and reused the old county prince, and the queen of Taizu Yuan and the old county prince's Yuan and Mrs. Qin also became friendly, and the old county prince was grateful, so he strongly supported the first emperor as the prince. Because of this kindness, when the ancestors and grandchildren of the Zhang family were killed, the husband and wife of King Guangping would save them. And out of justice, the ancestors of the Zhang family, who saved their lives, had the opportunity to save the brothers and sons of King Guangping. The first emperor treated his benefactor's wife and children poorly. In disguise, Zhao Jue had the opportunity to assist King Ying in his rebellion, so the first emperor encountered rebellion, was poisoned, first lost his son, and then died. This is the cause and effect of good and evil.

Between the royal family and the Zhao family, there is mutual kindness, which lasts for several generations, and there is no way to explain it clearly, so there is really no need to worry too much. Empress Dowager Jiang felt that as long as she kept in mind that this family had a deep relationship with the royal family.

Empress Dowager Jiang came back in a daze, and Gao Zhen had already talked about the popular topic at yesterday's small banquet: "Mrs. Zhao said a lot of interesting customs in Beijing for the New Year and festivals in the past, and my grandson knows it for the first time." Old Madam Zhao is clearly not from the capital, but she knows these things better than her grandson, which is really amazing. ”

Empress Dowager Jiang laughed when she heard this: "How old are you?" What can you know? Since I can remember, which year has I not spent the Chinese New Year in the palace? Even in the palace, it is also a matter of etiquette and rules everywhere, where can it compare to the liveliness of ordinary people outside? I know what Mrs. Zhao said, and I have experienced it when I was a child. I haven't remembered it for many years, but I remember when I was in my mother's house. ”

The palace people smiled and said: "When the slaves and maids are at home, they have also seen the liveliness of the people, but I don't know what kind of situation is the situation of the eunuch family like the Queen Mother?" Why didn't the Queen Mother come and listen to the son, which not only answered the questions of the prince, but also opened the eyes of the slaves? ”

Empress Dowager Jiang smiled again: "It's obvious that you girls want to know, but you use my grandson as a raft." ”

Gao Zhen coaxed her: "My grandson also wants to know." The people of the palace hurriedly agreed.

Empress Dowager Jiang was in a good mood: "If this is the case, I will tell you about it." Our family is not from the capital, and we have been in Beijing for many years, but we have also learned a lot of the rules of the capital, but it is a little different from the customs of Mrs. Zhao from the south. ”

She said a lot of what she saw and heard when she was young, especially when she was young and unmarried, some of which could be connected to Zhang's words, and some of which she couldn't. She was born in the famous scholarly Jiang family, and the Zhang family was also born in a scholarly family, but she has been down for many years, just a squire and a thin eunuch. Empress Dowager Jiang said with a lot of nostalgia: "This was all many years ago, and now I am afraid that few of the little sisters who were good friends back then are still there." ”

Gao Zhen persuaded her: "What the imperial grandmother said, the grandson doesn't know anything, I see Mrs. Zhao another day, I must ask her more, and I will come back to know with the imperial grandmother." ”

Empress Dowager Jiang glanced at him with disgust: "Which one is impatient and still waiting for you to sue sù?" You said that Mrs. Zhao has returned to Beijing? Well, there is nothing to do in winter, and the mourning family just invited her into the palace to talk. After making this decision, she couldn't help but say again: "She should have been invited a long time ago, why did she forget it before?" ”

Gao Zhen smiled slightly. As long as you can remember it in the future, what does it matter if you forget it before? Mrs. Zhao's Zhang is not sociable. I don't like to enter the palace to flatter nobles. Now the Queen Mother is grateful for her contribution to saving the driver, and she can reward her more for a long time. She rarely appears in the palace or in social situations, and is easily forgotten, so how can she make a deep impression on her granddaughter in the palace? Since he opened his mouth to ask for marriage, he would never expect his father to grant his wish for him alone.

Zhao Xiu didn't know what Gao Zhen had done in the palace, she returned home and found that the house was in good order, and Lu's mother had prepared everything. Their grandparents and grandchildren were greeted with hot tea, hot water and hot hand towels when they entered the door, and the meals were quickly delivered, and they were all fresh and palatable dishes. Eaten. The bath water is also good, after washing and changing into clean clothes, the kang has been burned warm, and the hand stove, foot stove, and charcoal basin are all available. Because I'm afraid that the fireworks are too strong. They are prone to dry throats. There was also a pot of warm wolfberry chrysanthemum and red date tea on the kang table.

Zhang's freshly washed up, wearing a plain brocade jacket made by Lu's mother and nesting on the kang, with a big pillow behind him, and his heart was very useful. She smiled and said, "Xiuju, you are so capable and thoughtful, when you leave me, how can I live this life?" ”

Zhao Xiu protested with a smile: "Grandmother doesn't care about me anymore, obviously Mother Lu is not waiting by your side." You still praise me for serving well, how can you see Mama Lu. Just forget me? ”

"You stingy girl!" Zhang scolded her with a smile, "I have been a master and servant relationship with your mother Lu for decades, how old are you?" I also got into trouble with my elders. ”

Lu's mother smiled and said: "The old slave doesn't dare to be, as long as the old lady needs the old slave, the old lady is willing to serve the old lady for the rest of her life." ”

Zhao Xiu said: "Mom's words are not right, grandmother has promised to let your family out, why is my mother reluctant?" When the Hou Mansion is repaired, you will live in the back streets, and you will be the masters of the house, and when you are free, you will come in and see your grandmother, and talk with you, how you love, and your life will be both idle and decent. In the future, Bilian marries into a good family, and Mingzhang is famous, and your blessings are still great. My grandmother felt sorry for my mother, so I hoped that my mother could enjoy her happiness, but my mother said that she was reluctant to leave, wouldn't she live up to her grandmother's wishes? ”

After saying this, Lu's mother lowered her head and wiped her tears, and Zhang glared at Zhao Xiu: "How did you speak?" It made your mother Lu cry. ”

Zhao Xiu shrunk his neck, got up and said with a smile: "I'll go back to the house to pack my things first." "It's too busy to leave.

Back in her room, Bi Lian took the two letters on her bookcase and showed them: "They said that this was sent by someone else when the girl was not at home, one was written by the girl of the Cao family, and the other was a girl we didn't know. ”

Zhao Xiu took it and looked at it, it turned out to be a letter from Cao Luo and Fang Renzhu, so he took it in his hand, planning to go to the kang to see it, and then turned back to Bilian and said: "Fang was careless, she said that your mother shed tears, and she always said that she was reluctant to leave her grandmother." Go and comfort her, and make amends for me for her. I'm not accusing her, just reminding. I can't bear Mother Lu, but if she doesn't leave here, it will be very troublesome for you to get married, or if your brother wants to study for the imperial examination, please don't be angry with me. ”

Bi Lian's face flushed slightly: "Got it." He turned and walked out of the house.

Zhao Xiu opened the letter on the kang to see that Cao Luo's letter was written simply, and the girls held another poetry meeting after that time, but unfortunately Zhao Xiu had already gone to the hot spring Zhuangzi and could not participate. Cao Luo was very sorry for this, and mentioned the result of this poetry meeting - it was still Fang Wu who won the championship, Miss Liu was second, and Fang Huizhu, the eldest girl of Fang, because of coincidence, had written poems on the same theme as early as a few days ago, so she did not participate, and the poems written by the rest of the girls were ordinary, and Cao Luo rarely won the penultimate girl, and the penultimate girl called Fang Si girl to go. Cao Luo was very happy, and said that if Zhao Xiu also came, maybe he would get an example. However, she also said that Miss Fang Si was so angry that she cried on the spot, and the poetry meeting ended unhappily in the end.

Zhao Xiu looked dumbfounded and smiled. Miss Fang Si's poetry seems to be really bad, she has to laugh at Cao Luo every time, but as a result, she is not as good as others, and she still has the face to belittle Cao Luo who was born in Jiangmen with her scholarly background. An individual's talent is never determined by family background, it only depends on personal talent and hard work.

Fang Wu's letter was unexpected by Zhao Xiu, but the content was also very simple - she told Zhao Xiu about the title and genre requirements of this poetry meeting, and even said how much the rhyme and time limit were more or less, as if she hoped that Zhao Xiu would also write a poem. She also attached the poems of all the people in the poetry club for Zhao Xiu's reference.

Zhao Xiu looked at the title and found that it was a little troublesome, if she really wanted to make it, she had to spend a lot of time to conceive it, and it was limited to rhyme, so she had more headaches. Although she didn't understand why Fang Wu would give this to herself, Zhao Xiu always felt in her heart that she should be a very serious and persistent little girl in poetry. With such a person, Zhao Xiu was really embarrassed to fool her casually, so she had to deal with it seriously.

Just when Zhao Xiu finally came up with half of the song and was thinking hard about what to do with the second half of the song, a messenger suddenly came to the palace. This is the queen mother sent to the Zhang family to send the palace waist card. She also didn't say when she would let the Zhang family enter the palace, but only told the latter to come when he was free and could hand over the sign at any time.

Zhang held the sign and couldn't help but feel worried. (To be continued......)