The Queen's tea party was boring.

Zhao Xiu sat in the warm pavilion of the side hall of Kunning Palace, looking at the expressions of other people boredly, thinking so in his heart.

The girls invited by the queen to drink tea and talk today are not ordinary ladies, basically all of them are the daughters or granddaughters of the six scholars, the real power nobles, or the scholars and generals, and the one with the lowest background is also the concubine of the squire. Among them, there are people Zhao Xiu knows, and there are people who don't know but have met, or people who have never met but have heard of them. As soon as they introduced each other, they all knew each other's identities. Zhao Xiu pondered it carefully and found that the family behind them was either an upstart who rose after the end of King Ying's rebellion, or a die-hard loyalist who originally followed the emperor and King Guangping, at least during the Ying King Rebellion, they insisted on the orthodoxy of the prince and refused to obey King Ying and Zhu Lifei's ministers. In other words, the current emperor's retainers. Among the six Shangshu, the new Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites does not meet these three conditions, he was originally a university scholar, he was worried at home when King Ying was in turmoil, and the family was also related to the concubine of the late King Yanling, so although his family has two beautiful daughters, he is also very popular in the circle of girlfriends, and has been in and out of the palace many times, but he is not on today's invitation list.

The girl from the Xie family in Qushui Bofu, and Qiu Yuan, the second girl from Meishan Bofu, who had only entered the palace and seen the queen a few days ago, were also not present.

These girls come from different backgrounds, but their fathers and ancestors are all people who can be used today, so naturally they cannot be compared with the daughters of ordinary famous families. They ranged in age from thirteen to sixteen – Zhao Xiu was the youngest of them – and they were ordinary, handsome, and all of them had studied. Those who can read and write, of course, have high and low cultural levels, and their temperaments are also different.

But in front of the Queen. Even if the little girls are pampered at home, few of them will show their personality in public on such occasions as today, so they all look demure and well-behaved, very polite, with a flattering smile on their faces, and speak softly. Of course, it can't be the gossip and rumors of the high-ranking families in the capital, nor can it be a vulgar topic such as fat powder jewelry fabrics. They talked about what famous poetry collections they read at home, what materials they like to use, and what guqin music they have learned recently. Which calligrapher's words do you like, or which famous artist's ancient paintings, what is the style of the characters, and what are the peculiarities of the paintings. If you can pick up a few good poems that are not too widely circulated by the way. That's even more extraordinary. Of course, if there is a famous horse sword in the family, the queen mother is also very interested in hearing the origin.

In addition to showing their own talents, the ladies of famous scholars also noticed that they could not show the slightest contempt for the noble generals, because the queen was born in a noble family. At most, when the queen talked to the nobles and daughters about the horseback safari, they smiled and listened in surprise.

In addition to showing off her family's extraordinary background, it can't be said that the scholarly family is bad, because the queen seems to prefer Sven Zhili's girl. Of course, when the scholars and ladies talk about poetry and songs. They will also bow their heads and drink tea without smiling.

As for those who don't rely on both sides, the status may be a little awkward. A typical example is the big girl Wang. Although Wang Shangshu is a cultivator and an heirloom. But the family background was very ordinary. If it weren't for the fact that he married the daughter of a rich man after passing the examination, he could still say that he was a poor scholar and a poor scholar, and people could respect his family for three points. But he is both a scholar and a nouveau riche, but he can't compare to the background of other people's families. The Wang family relied on him to be noble, and he entered the upper circle of the capital. Helplessly, his family's status has gone up, but his wife is still the daughter of the rich man, and her children's upbringing can't keep up. Miss Wang is dressed more gorgeously than the daughters of the nobles, and she has raised a shelf of a scholarly daughter, although she must mention the rules of etiquette and the rules of etiquette when she speaks, and she also likes to quote scriptures, but on this occasion it is a little out of place, and she always reveals ignorance and vulgarity. Others are funny in their hearts, but they can't say anything in front of the queen, so they can only despise it in their hearts.

Zhao Xiu just thought he was watching a play. She was the youngest, and her family background was not as prominent as others, and her family had no real power. People felt strange when they saw that she was invited by the queen with this group of girls with extraordinary family backgrounds. However, Jiannanhou Mansion can also be called a die-hard loyalist of today, from the dragon hero, so others don't think too much.

Zhao Xiu is low-key, but others may not allow her to be so leisurely. It's not that Miss Wang wants to look for her bad luck again, and for the first time she showed her face in front of the queen, Miss Wang naturally took care of herself first. But for some reason, Mrs. Qu Shuibo suddenly became interested in Zhao Xiu today, and asked her a few words from time to time, to talk to her about family life, which was very different from the politeness and plainness when she was in the Jingyuan Marquis Mansion last time. Zhao Xiu can only mention the spirit, and when people ask, she will answer, and be as honest as possible.

She wasn't interested in currying favor with the Queen.

While Zhao Xiu reluctantly dealt with the queen and Mrs. Qu Shuibo with a smiling face, Gao Zhen went to Cining Palace. The queen mother was free, and when she saw that her eldest grandson had come to see her, she was overjoyed, and she hurriedly took his hand and asked a lot of questions, and she was worried that the weather would turn cold, and the king of Guangping was not warm at home, or he had committed an old illness, so he had to pull his eldest grandson and ask carefully to rest assured.

Gao Zhen told his grandmother one by one, until the queen mother was satisfied, and then she smiled unintentionally: "My father is doing well in the palace, but I am just worried about the imperial grandmother alone in the palace, is it lonely?" Didn't the imperial grandmother summon a few people to chat with you? Just now the grandson entered the palace, and I heard that the queen mother came to the queen today, but it was lively. ”

"She?" The Queen Mother was a little unimpressed, "What happened to her?" It's a good day, but it has to disturb the front and back harem to be unpeaceful. The people outside don't know what to say about her. After drying her for a few months, she obediently followed the emperor to make amends, saying that she would never dare in the future. But in fact? Don't say that your imperial grandmother is arbitrary, her eyes don't look like she really knows what is wrong, and she will be annoyed in the future. ”

Gao Zhen smiled: "If the queen dares to mess around again, is it possible that the queen's grandmother won't stop her?" What could she do? ”

The Queen Mother shook her head with a smile, and was a little curious: "You came to the palace to see the imperial grandmother, why did you go to her?" Don't go, be careful and she'll be confused again, and give you a look. Even if she's going to find fault with you for the number of courtesies. Don't worry about it, there is a royal grandmother in everything. ”

Gao Zhen agreed, and said with a smile: "Grandson didn't make a special trip to Kunning Palace. It's just that today I went to Jiannanhou Mansion to visit friends. Zhao Wei was not there, so his grandson went to accompany his old lady and said a few words. It happened that the queen sent someone to summon the sister of the Zhao family into the palace. The grandson thought that he wanted to enter the palace to greet the imperial grandmother, so he gave Sister Zhao a ride by the way. When I arrived at Dekunning Palace, I heard that the queen invited many ladies to come to drink tea today, and I don't know what to do. ”

The Queen Mother heard a little clue and looked at her grandson funny: "Are you worried?" I'm afraid that the queen will take a fancy to the girl you like and want to hire Da Lang as a daughter-in-law? ”

Gao Zhen blushed in embarrassment. Turning his gaze away, he said, "Where did the imperial grandmother go?" My grandson doesn't have to worry about that. You don't know how old the girls the queen invited. Although Sister Zhao was also summoned, the queen's intention must not be to choose a wife for Da Lang. Besides, Mrs. Qu Shuibo is also there. She is an old man who understands. How can you not know that Da Lang's marriage is no longer the queen's mother? ”

When the Queen Mother heard this, she couldn't help but be a little surprised, and called the palace people to ask: "The queen summoned all the ladies into the palace to speak today." Who are here? Go and ask. ”

But for a moment. The palace people inquired about the news and reported it to the Queen Mother. As soon as the Queen Mother saw that those girls were over thirteen years old, she knew that Gao Zhen was telling the truth, and this was indeed not looking for a daughter-in-law for the emperor's eldest son. However, the presence of Mrs. Qu Shuibo is quite meaningful. The Queen Mother remembered the previous failed meeting between Jiang and Xie's families, and had some thoughts: "Could it be that the Empress and Mrs. Qu Shuibo want to choose a wife for Xie Xiangfei?" ”

Xie Xiangfei was originally the candidate that the Queen Mother wanted to say to her niece Jiang Wen, and she was naturally very satisfied with this young man. It's a pity that the queen died, causing a grudge between the two families. It's embarrassing to see each other, so the marriage is over. Although the Queen Mother is because of the queen. was a little angry with Xie Xiangfei, but he also felt a little pity for his confused sister, and even the marriage was delayed. If people outside know that when the queen chooses a daughter-in-law for her younger brother, because she is not satisfied with the choice of her brother's daughter-in-law, she will make the reputation of the girl of the bad family, who else is willing to marry Xie Xiangfei? Unexpectedly, the queen mother took pity on him for a few days, and the queen pulled her mother and summoned the daughters of the eunuchs of high-ranking officials in Beijing to choose a daughter-in-law for him.

The queen mother was not very happy, and her eldest grandson Gao Zhen had not yet married a wife, so she was not drafted with such fanfare; The eldest son of the second grandson chose a wife, and each family also brought their daughter or granddaughter into the palace in the name of "asking the queen mother for peace" to give her a purpose. Xie Xiangfei, how can he be? Do you deserve this kind of posture?

In the next time, Gao Zhen basically spent on comforting his old grandmother. However, his mood was not bad, he just persuaded the Queen Mother not to be angry, but in fact, every word was provoking the Queen Mother's anger. When the emperor came to accompany the queen mother for dinner at noon, the queen mother complained to the emperor.

The emperor listened and said: "Yesterday, the queen told me that she wanted to invite a few familiar ladies to the palace for tea. I thought that she was fine, but it was just a cup of tea, and it was no big deal, so I let her go. How did you annoy the queen mother? He glanced at Gao Zhen, a little funny: "Could it be that Zhen'er is reluctant to let her sweetheart go to see the queen?" ”

Gao Zhen seemed to smile: "My nephew is not so stingy, but I don't understand it, so I asked the imperial grandmother." The queen only has one younger brother, Xie Xiangfei, and it is normal for people to be concerned about his marriage. It's just that the nephew remembers that the emperor has already taken care of Xie Xiangfei's marriage, why is the queen still not at ease? However, judging from the few candidates she likes, it is no wonder that she is not at ease. Xie Xiangfei is both civil and military, a young talent, in the eyes of the queen and the Xie family, he really has to be the daughter of such a high-ranking official and eunuch to be worthy of it. ”

When the emperor heard what he said, he was the first to sigh in his heart, and when he left the Cining Palace, he immediately ordered someone to investigate carefully. This investigation proved his suspicions. The queen summoned them are indeed the daughters of high-ranking officials and eunuchs, and all of them are the girls of the minister's family that he has to use, among them, Zhao Xiu is the one who has no real power in the family, but he is the wife of the queen mother and Gao Zhen, whom he has long fancied. The emperor is now suspicious, and he can't help but worry, feeling that the queen is planning to use her younger brother to marry a powerful high-ranking official.

Originally, Xie Xiangfei married the daughter of a high-ranking official, which was not a big deal. But there are some things, the emperor takes the initiative to give them, so that's no problem. If the emperor doesn't give it, you just fight for it yourself, then there will be a problem. The emperor even had to exclude his own brothers and nephews from the center, so how could he allow the empress and Qushui Bofu to win over the people he wanted to use?

That night, the emperor went to Kunning Palace. (To be continued......)