When Zhong Xuanlan came to the palace, he did not go to the banquet venue like other imperial merchants, but was taken by the little eunuch to see the Empress Dowager Zhong.

In Fengyi Palace, Empress Dowager Zhong chatted with her for a few words, and Emperor Jingxi came.

After Zhong Xuanlan saluted, he lowered his eyes and was silent, letting their mother and son stage the drama of mother and son's filial piety, but what was going to come would come after all.

Empress Dowager Zhong put down the teacup and said with a kind face: "This person is old, and it is easy to remember the past during this festival, and the mourning family misses you."

Xuanlan, why didn't you enter the palace yesterday to accompany the mourning family? ”

Zhong Xuanlan listened to these hypocritical words, got up and saluted: "Last night was the Zhong family's annual lantern king competition, and the courtiers, as the head of the family, did not allow it to be lost, and they have been supervising the work during the day, so they did not enter the palace. Please forgive the Queen Mother. ”

Empress Dowager Zhong looked at Zhong Xuanlan with love in her eyes and said, "Xuanlan, you and I are my aunt and nephew, and the emperor is your cousin, you don't have to be like this, sit down!"

By the way, Xuan Lan, recently the mourning family heard that Kyoto City is very lively, there is a test, and there is an election, right? ”

Zhong Xuanlan lowered his eyes and said respectfully: "Yes." ”

Emperor Jing Xi smiled and said, "Queen Mother, it is a triennial election of the president of the Chamber of Commerce. ”

Empress Dowager Zhong had a smile on her face and said, "Yes, that's it, Xuanlan seems to be still the president, this is going to be elected, it should be quite busy!" Xuanlan, remember to pay attention to rest, don't get tired. ”

"Yes." Zhong Xuanlan stood up and saluted.

Emperor Jing Xi looked at Zhong Xuanlan and asked casually, "Cousin, I heard that the election of the president of the Chamber of Commerce will be held in early February?" ”

Zhong Xuanlan said: "Yes, on the fifth day of the second month." ”

Emperor Jing Xi stared at Zhong Xuanlan and asked casually, "Cousin, will you still participate this year?" ”

Zhong Xuanlan raised his eyes slightly and looked at Emperor Jingxi for a while, lowered his eyes and pondered for a while, what does this mean, she has disobeyed him many times in the past year, do you still want her to continue to serve?

Responded: "The rules in the Chamber of Commerce have not changed, and the names of the courtiers will still appear on the election list. "As for whether to participate or not, then I have the final say.

Emperor Jingxi looked at Zhong Xuanlan with sharp eyes, and said without anger: "I hope that my cousin can continue to serve." ”

He received the news that many of these merchants were co-opted by his good sons, and some of them indicated that they were on his side, but he still didn't believe it, he was not old, only the person in front of him could be trusted, as long as he didn't move the Zhong family and supported the Zhong family, his money bag was still guaranteed.

Zhong Xuanlan said respectfully: "The courtiers will do their best." ”

Emperor Jingxi released his coercion and said in a threatening tone: "I hope my cousin won't let me down." ”

Zhong Xuanlan heard what he meant and said, "Yes." ”

Empress Dowager Zhong saw that the atmosphere between the two was not right, and saw that Emperor Jingxi's goal had been achieved, so she said in a round: "Okay, Xuanlan finally came once, so don't bother us with these things." ”

Emperor Jingxi said: "It's my fault, it disturbs the interest of the queen mother." ”

Empress Dowager Zhong said: "It's okay, just pay attention to it in the future!" ”

“……”

Zhong Xuanlan stood there respectfully, whatever they said, without asking her, and never spoke.

Emperor Jingxi glanced at Zhong Xuanlan, his eyes were slightly cold, this person only had the heart of superficial surrender, if it wasn't for the temporary usefulness, he really didn't mind destroying the Zhong family and letting it be his own. said: "Cousin, I don't know what you think about An Zichen?" ”

Zhong Xuanlan lowered his eyes to hide the coldness in his eyes, in order to spy on her, the dignified king of a country, talking to her about Xiaoqi, he didn't feel unseemly, it was really ridiculous! said indifferently: "No ideas, we are people from different worlds!" ”

Emperor Jingxi said: "I have planned to make him a good and righteous uncle, but he said that he doesn't need this, he wants to live in the Zhong Mansion." ”

Zhong Xuanlan was stunned, why did he make him an uncle? Why didn't she receive any messages? Raised his eyes slightly to look at Emperor Jing Xi, it seemed that he had hidden the news, and seeing her here today was not just the president of the Chamber of Commerce.

Shi Li said: "Your Majesty, the courtiers dare to ask why they want to crown him as a good and righteous uncle? ”

Empress Dowager Zhong said with gratitude in her eyes and a little sadness: "On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Shao Yang was assassinated when he went home and was seriously injured.

Afterwards, the mourning family asked the emperor to confer on him the position of an uncle. ”

At the same time, Zhong Xuanlan raised his eyes slightly to look at Emperor Jingxi, this person had no sense of sadness and distress, the cold light in his eyes flashed, his face changed slightly, and the hand holding the teacup paused when he heard the assassination, interesting!

Concerned: "Is the prince okay now?" ”

Empress Dowager Zhong said: "The person has woken up, and the imperial doctor said that he will take care of it well, and he can heal the injury for a while longer!" ”

Emperor Jingxi was a little impatient here, he asked for Zhong Xuanlan's answer, and asked, "I wonder if the county lord can agree?" ”

Zhong Xuanlan's eyes were slightly cold, and her heart was slightly angry, this is not her kindness, why should she be repaid? Said: "Back to the emperor, the little man can't enter the Zhong Mansion, if the Zhong Mansion is a merchant, it's nothing, it's harmless." But Zhongfu is the queen mother's maiden family, the emperor, your foreign family, if you let the little man enter the house, wouldn't it be a loss of face? ”

Emperor Jingxi said: "If my cousin cares, I can make him a good and righteous lord." ”

Zhong Xuanlan's hands hidden in his sleeves were clenched into fists tightly, his thoughts flowed, he smiled at the corners of his lips, and said in a cold tone: "The courtiers are willing to feast on the guests and recognize him as their own brother, and it just so happens that the uncle has no children, so he will be a son under his name." ”

Empress Dowager Zhong said disapprovingly: "How can he be my brother's child." ”

Zhong Xuanlan was angry, he can't, can my father? And I, Zhong Xuanlan, can be bullied.

His face was inconspicuous: "Gongzi An is kind to King Ling, my Zhong family is very grateful for his righteous deeds, it just so happens that the uncle has passed away for many years, and he has no children, and Gongzi An has no parents, so he doesn't just give him a home." ”

Emperor Jingxi squinted his eyes, his heart moved slightly, thinking of the dead uncle, now that he has a son under his name, should the Zhong family give him a part of the property. "Good! That's what you do! ”

Zhong Xuanlan said: "Yes." ”

Then he looked at the Empress Dowager Zhong happily and said with a smile: "Empress Dowager, do you want to give a part of the uncle's estate to the righteous brother?" ”

At this time, Emperor Jingxi knew that his uncle's property had always been in the hands of his mother, and he took a look at the magnificent palace, he was short of silver, and his hair turned gray with worry, and his mother didn't want to help him, and he was very dissatisfied with this.

Empress Dowager Zhong was slightly angry in her heart, and said in a cold tone: "Give him his identity, he should be content." ”

Zhong Xuanlan said: "Yes." ”

Empress Dowager Zhong rubbed her eyebrows and said, "The hour is almost up, your majesty, go to the banquet!" The mourning family is also lacking. ”

When Zhong Xuanlan heard this, he immediately said goodbye to Emperor Jingxi and Empress Dowager Zhong, and then walked away quickly.

She didn't want to appear in front of the imperial merchants with Emperor Jingxi, provoke their suspicion and become the target of attack.

When Zhong Xuanlan left, the atmosphere in Fengyi Palace was not very good, and the mother and son didn't know what to say, and then on this day there were rumors that Empress Dowager Zhong had a lot of fire, and she also scolded three or four palace maids on this day.