"The concubine came to see the concubine." Zhang's voice said.

When the concubine heard this, she turned her head and glanced at her, and saw the new emperor's wife, Zhang, making a gift. Zhang respectfully bent his knees slightly, and the single eyelid eyes didn't seem to be so sharp, but they were low-eyebrowed.

When the concubine saw Zhang's appearance, she somehow and subconsciously ignited a glimmer of hope in her heart. In this place filled with the stench of death and wailing, Concubine Tai forced herself to calm down, and said, "Imperial Concubine Zhang doesn't need to be polite, are you here to see you off?" ”

The new monarch ascended the throne, and the Zhang family has not been canonized as the queen for the time being, but as the wife of the new emperor, she gave birth to the eldest son, and she is the only candidate for the queen. And the Empress Dowager Xu is in danger of illness, and the mistress of this huge palace will sooner or later be Zhang, and the surrounding eunuchs and palace maids will respectfully meet her together.

Zhang didn't answer the question, and went straight into the house. One of the eunuchs beside her hurried to a table, knelt on the ground, and carefully wiped a stool with his sleeve.

Zhang walked over but didn't sit down, pointed to the stool and said, "Please sit down with the concubine, the concubine has something to say." Then she gave the eunuch a look.

The eunuch said to the slaves and maids: "Do what you have to do, and go on the road when you need to go on the road!" ”

Zhang Shi actually spoke in this room, probably on purpose! At this time, a tragic scene was happening in this room, a concubine was hung on a rope, and before she could struggle, the stool under her feet was immediately taken away by the eunuch. The woman's body fell, and the loops of the rope were tightened immediately, and the woman's hands grasped the rope around her neck, but to no avail. Her eyes bulged out, her mouth opened like a fish out of the water, her outstretched legs pushed down hard, the sound in her throat was very terrible, and her tense body twitched from time to time.

Seeing the tragic situation, Concubine Taigui only felt that her hands and feet were cold, and her heart was trembling.

But Zhang's face didn't change, and his bright eyes caressed the face of the concubine, and there seemed to be a hint of a playful imperceptible smile. Concubine Tai has been paying attention to the women who were hanging, and she was so scared that she forgot to speak.

After the first emperor gave birth to four sons (one died young) and five daughters, he had not given birth to a prince and princess for several years. Concubine Taigui suddenly became an elder, but she was only in her early twenties, and she didn't even give birth to a man and a half woman to the first emperor, so according to the rules, she should be martyred.

Zhang's voice said again: "The concubine has the same surname as the concubine, you are the elder, the concubine should be called the aunt of the concubine, I don't know if it's appropriate?" ”

The concubine already felt that the Zhang family was doing both soft and hard, and while sitting in this terrible room watching those people hang themselves, they actually set up almost.

The concubine was silent, but she couldn't refuse Zhang's affection at all.

Zhang's words were not answered, she looked at the concubine for a while, as if she was talking to herself, and continued: "Back then, there were three guards in the Yan Wangfu, and the three commanders of the first emperor were all crowned the Duke of Guo, Qiu Fu, Duke of Qi, and Zhu Neng, Duke of Chengguo, only Duke Rong Guo (Zhang Yu) died early, and he was posthumously sealed. Therefore, Zhang Fu, the nephew of the concubine, only sealed the new city marquis. ”

Zhang paused and said: "However, Zhang Fu has made great contributions in the country of Annan, if the Holy Lord Chrysostom mentions it, and then adds a knight to the country, he will also be able to convince the public." ”

Concubine Taigui had already roughly guessed what the Zhang family meant, and finally said softly: "Isn't the lord of Zheng'an the king of Han?" ”

The corners of Zhang's mouth twitched slightly, and he said quietly: "King Han is already a prince, how can he seal it?" When he returned to Beijing, he was proud of his achievements and wanted the emperor to appoint him as the crown prince, but how could the throne and the crown prince be fought for by military merits? Although Xincheng Hou (Zhang Fu) was not the commander, he also commanded the army of the Eastern Road, captured the important towns of Duobang City, as well as the two capitals of Thang Long and Thanh Hoa, all of which were the top places in the country of Annan, and made great contributions. ”

The concubine no longer argued, bowed her head and remained silent.

…… The two sat facing each other, and there was silence again.

After a while, the Zhang family spoke: "The Holy Lord has just ascended the throne, and there are only two people in the harem. The saint heard that the concubine also had a niece, and I heard that she was filial and virtuous, knowledgeable, and courteous, and discussed with me privately that she wanted to be crowned a concubine in the future. I have always respected the family style of Rongguo, and I agree with the meaning of the Holy One. I don't know what the concubine thinks? ”

The girl Zhang said was Zhang Fu's daughter. When the first emperor was there, he intended to let Zhang Fu's daughter marry Mu Bin, the son of Mu Sheng, and marry Mu Mansion with his henchmen. But this matter has not been made public, and it may be that after he ascended the throne, he will change this marriage contract for some reason.

And Mu Sheng's side, Zhang's meaning, Mu Ying was the Duke of Qianguo (posthumously crowned the King of Qianning) before his death, so Mu Sheng could be knighted, and he was first crowned as the Duke of Qianguo and given iron coupons. The Holy One has agreed.

Concubine Taigui replied: "My brother is the head of the Zhang family, and Imperial Concubine Zhang has to ask my brother." Besides, I'm already a dying person, and I don't have the heart to do it. ”

Zhang said: "The Marquis of Xincheng is far away in Annan, and the concubine wrote a letter to ask him what he is?" As for the funeral, after the concubine was a meritorious hero, the prince of Rongguo had a great contribution to the court, and the concubine should be asked to be holy and pardoned the concubine. In the palace in the future, the concubine is the elder, and we juniors have to respect it. ”

Tai Guifei's face was a little red and she didn't answer. Perhaps she felt that her reluctance to be martyred for the first emperor was not something worth publicizing.

Zhang glanced at her, didn't force her, got up and stood up, and ordered: "After the concubine is a meritorious hero, the funeral will be postponed, and I will ask the saint first." Quickly help the concubine back to the palace to rest. ”

Several eunuchs hurriedly said: "Slaves and maids obey orders." ”

When they went up to help Tai Guifei up, Tai Guifei's body was actually weak, and she slipped down and couldn't stand on her feet.

Zhang walked out of the angry room and took a long breath of fresh air. She said in her heart: The concubine must be willing to write to Zhang Fu, and she can live by writing a letter, and it is not difficult for her.

And Zhang Fu, who Zhang inquired about, is very competitive in Annan. If Zhang Fu is a person who is not greedy for fame, then what kind of military merit does he compete with the emperor's concubine, King Han?

Therefore, the Zhang family concluded that as long as Zhang Fu got the letter of his sister and was convinced of the honor of the Zhang family's daughters in the palace, he could also enter the title of the Duke of the Kingdom, it was difficult not to be tempted!

…… The person sent to Yunnan to persuade Mu Sheng to surrender, and the Zhang family also helped the saint find it, that is, Hu Guang, the new cabinet chief.

In the past few years when the first emperor became emperor, Mu Sheng has always been very worried about his situation. He spent a lot of money to quietly bribe the people in the court, but it didn't make any difference; After all, the first emperor was not a person who could be influenced by others.

A few days ago, Yuan Heng secretly reported to the Zhang family a list, that is, those who were secretly found out and had received Mu Sheng's money, including Hu Guang, the first assistant of the cabinet. Hu Guang once sent an envoy to Annan, and when he passed through Yunnan, Mu Sheng did not hesitate to treasure and gave him a gift list; Mu Sheng also very considerately and quietly helped Hu Guang transport things to Jingshi.

Before the Holy Emperor ascended the throne, Xie Jin, who had not yet rolled in the Hanlin Academy, had been verbose, and Hu Guang was unmoved even if he was humiliated by him, and persuaded the Holy Lord to ascend the throne.

Zhang felt that Hu Guang was the best able to do the job. Since Mu Sheng felt that Hu Guang was his person, he naturally believed in Hu Guang more. Zhang also urged the Holy Lord to send Hu Guang south as soon as possible, not giving the King of Han time to prepare!.