On the day Empress Yu returned to the palace from Jianzhang Palace, she decreed that Empress Xuanren should be treated with courtesy inside and outside the palace. Since then, two edicts have been issued, one is to specially order the regular servant Chuntuo to personally go to Fengde Palace to ask Empress Xuanren to add the furnishings of Fengde Palace according to Empress Xuanren's will. The second is that the special service Chuntuo told the palace that there are people in the palace, and Empress Xuanren should refer to the regulations of the queen mother, and should not be slackened at all. The queen also had an edict: Chun Tuo must personally supervise this matter to ensure that it is safe, and if there is a mistake, it will be severely punished.

However, since Queen Yu entered the gate of the big palace of Fengde Palace, she walked slowly all the way, and found that everything in Fengde Palace was still very simple. Obviously, Chuntuo did not serve Empress Xuanren according to his will.

Queen Yu didn't say anything all the way, and went straight to the main hall of Fengde Palace.

Empress Xuanren and her son Xiao Zheng, the late emperor of the previous dynasty, Zhou Duan, were already waiting outside the main hall.

Due to various trade-offs at the beginning of the succession, Empress Chang of the Longwu Emperor was not promoted to the honorific title of the empress dowager, and Mingzhi still called her the empress, and only added the honorific title "Xuanren" and called it "Empress Xuanren". As a result, there was an unprecedented special situation in which two queens coexisted.

Today is the first meeting between the two queens. No one knows what etiquette the two should have, how to divide the dignity and inferiority, and how to arrange the etiquette, and there is no record in the classics. Moreover, Empress Yu went to Fengde Palace to meet Empress Xuanren without informing anyone in advance, and only mentioned it for the first time in Yinglu Palace today. Therefore, Chun Tuo didn't even have time to ask the Zong Liqing, who knew the allusions well and were meticulous, to study them, and of course, let alone arrange and know them in advance. When Empress Luo and Empress Xuanren saw each other, Chuntuo realized that the etiquette and rules for today's meeting had not yet been decided.

I saw that the queen quickly got down from the chariot, walked forward quickly with a respectful attitude, took the lead in bowing, and said with a slight salute: "The imperial sister-in-law is fine." ”

Those who bow first are humbled, and those who receive the first salute are honored. Empress Yu took the initiative to lower her value and put Empress Xuanren in a more respectful position. This surprised Chuntuo.

What is ingenious is that whether the queen uses the number of rituals or the "honorifics" in her mouth, she uses the gifts of the ladies and sisters of the noble family everywhere, rather than the courtesies between the princes and concubines in the palace or the peers. In this way, Empress Xuanren is respected, but not in the throne, and Empress Xuan is humble but not in the position of a minister. At first glance, Empress Xuan seems to have a slight advantage in terms of etiquette, but if you consider the current situation between Empress Xuan Ren and Empress Xuanren, Chun Tuo and others are keenly aware that this number of etiquette is completely for the sake of Empress Xuanren. This is really Empress Xuanren in Lizun.

Empress Xuanren also realized this, so she also returned a family gift in accordance with the rules of family etiquette, but she did not respond to the "imperial sister-in-law" with "brother and sister", but replied respectfully: "The queen is well." ”

Empress Xuanren's return of gifts is also quite good. Returning it with a family gift is to show that you have received the kindness of the queen, and it is also quite cordial. At the same time, calling it the queen, rather than the younger sibling, means that, first, he recognizes and accepts the throne of Xiao Tuyu and the throne of Yu Yuanwei, expressing his support for the new dynasty; Second, to be called the queen is to recognize the authority and status of the queen in the palace. Of course, Empress Xuanren called Empress Yu "Empress" instead of "Empress Niangniang", indicating an equal relationship between the two. In this way, all aspects are taken care of.

Empress Yu took Empress Xuanren's hand and looked at each other meaningfully for a while, but did not speak, then moved her eyes away, looked at Zhou Duan and said, "This is Xiangguo Gong, right?" ”

Empress Xuanren said: "It is Zhou Duan." ”

Queen Yu sighed: "Time is so fast. Xiangguo Gong is already so big. It should be sixteen this year, right? ”

"The minister has seen the queen's mother." Zhou Duan said.

Zhou Duan was the last emperor of the previous dynasty, and when he was three years old, Chan let Xun be located in the Longwu Emperor Tuli, the end of Dagao, and the establishment of the country. After abdication, the situation was very dangerous, several times almost killed, after the fortunate protection of Empress Xuanren, named "Xiangguo Gong", raised by Empress Xuanren in the palace herself, except for the occasional meeting with Empress Xuanren, rarely met with foreign ministers. Even the original Prince and Princess Yongcheng and the current Empress Yu, who often enter the palace, rarely see Zhou Duan. After the death of Emperor Longwu, Empress Xuanren relocated to Fengde Palace, and after asking for a decree, she also brought Zhou Duan to Fengde Palace. Zhou Duan is sixteen years old this year, and his appearance is quite good, although he is not tall, he has a graceful and luxurious bearing, and he has a natural dragon son and phoenix grandson, but his face is very cold, and there is no trace of a smile.

Queen Yu turned her face to look at Xiao Zheng again, and said, "Zheng Er has been missing for many days, and she has risen a lot. Zheng'er doesn't look like your father, but has the legacy of your imperial grandfather, Emperor Longwu. No wonder folk often say 'intergenerational transmission', which is not false at all. After all, they are all dragons and phoenixes, and they are really different. ”

"The queen has won the prize. The minister has seen the queen mother. "Xiao Zheng's appearance is not handsome, but the body is majestic, the demeanor is majestic, a thirteen-year-old boy, the flesh and bones, facial features have not been fully stretched, and a layer of soft fluff has just grown on his mouth, but his eyebrows between the look and gestures are not only quite the steady appearance of an adult man, but also graceful, broad, and have the demeanor of the Emperor Longwu, which is by no means comparable to ordinary teenagers. Moreover, although Xiao Zheng and Zhou Duan are also not smiling, Xiao Zheng gives people the feeling of being majestic and strong without anger and self-authority, not as cold as Zhou Duan.

The Empress nodded and said, "You two are exempt from courtesy." You all step down first, I have something to say to Empress Xuanren. ”

"Yes, Queen." Zhou Duan and Xiao Zhi retreated.

Empress Luo and Empress Xuanren said as they walked: "The imperial sister-in-law has great merits, and over the years, she has also taken great pains for the sake of Zhou Duan's child. In addition, I didn't expect Zheng'er to be so majestic. I've met him a few times before, and it was a few years ago, but now it's a lot different. ”

Before the death of Emperor Longwu, Empress Xuanren had a very good personal relationship with Empress Xuanren, mainly because Empress Xuanren took care of Empress Xuan at that time. The picture is very happy to hunt for beauty, Luo Yuanwei often guards the empty room alone, he is depressed and hesitant, and others are mostly cold behind his back, and Empress Xuanren often summons Luo Yuanwei into the palace, chats about trivial matters, and enlightens and comforts Luo Yuanwei, and the rare things that come from all over the world, Queen Xuanren often transfers them to Luo Yuanwei. Moreover, Empress Xuanren is more than ten years older than Luo Yuanwei, like the eldest sister, and Empress Xuanren is generous and benevolent, so Luo Yuanwei respects this very prestigious and powerful imperial sister-in-law very much. After Tu Yu just succeeded to the throne, he broke the convention and immediately canonized Yu Yuanwei as the queen, and Yu Yuanwei first ascended the queen's throne, for the prestige of his new queen, but also for the position of the prince of his own son's rank, so the mentality of dealing with people is a little impatient, and he was quite dissatisfied with Queen Xuanren and her being the queen in the palace, and he was quite derogatory to Queen Xuanren in private. With the gradual change of Queen Yu's mentality these days, she is very ashamed of this Empress Xuanren, who once cared a lot for her.

After entering the main hall, Empress Yu and Empress Xuanren began to have differences in the order of seats. Both advocated that the other should be in the upper seat. But in the end, it was Empress Yu who insisted on gaining the upper hand, and whispered in Empress Xuanren's ear: "Imperial sister-in-law, please sit down, I have other ideas." So, Queen Yu forcibly pushed Empress Xuanren to sit on the upper seat, and she sat in the second seat with her.

After the two of them sat down, Queen Yu turned her face and said, "Chuntuo come in." ”

Chuntuo came in and saluted, waiting for questioning.

"Chuntuo, I had a decree a few days ago, ordering you to take care of Empress Xuanren and Fengde Palace, and refer to the regulations of the Queen Mother. But I think along the way, why is Fengde Palace still so simple, the will is given to you in your name, you are the permanent attendant of the palace affairs of the Commander-in-Chief, how did you behave? My words have fallen on deaf ears?! ”

The queen was angry. The queen was angry. It's all slaves and maids who don't do things well. The slave maid immediately rearranged the Bongdeok Palace. ”

Empress Xuanren wanted to speak and came out to relieve Chuntuo. Queen Ke made a look, waved her hand lightly, and stopped.

Queen Yu then said to Chun Tuo: "It's good that you know it's wrong. Do you know what sin it is? ”

Chun Tuo smiled: "Listen to the mother's fate." Chuntuo thought that Empress Yu was just making a show in front of Empress Xuanren. After all, Empress Yu's dissatisfaction with Empress Xuanren has long been known to everyone in the palace. Chuntuo concluded that the Queen would never punish herself.

Seeing Chun Tuo's arrogant appearance, Queen Yu paused for a moment and said, "This is a sin of resisting the decree and being disrespectful." Whether it is disobedience or disrespect, the punishment is the same. Queen Yu glanced at Chun Tuo again, Chun Tuo was still smiling there, it seemed that what Queen Yu said was just a joke, Queen Ru did not have a trace of expression on her face, she stopped for a while, and waited until Chun Tuo felt that the atmosphere was a little solemn, and raised her eyes a little to look at it, then Queen Ru opened her mouth and said: "According to the law, you should be beheaded!" ”

The queen's voice was not high, but her tone was cold and resolute, and after she finished speaking, the queen stopped abruptly.

Chuntuo was scared and sweated. Because Chuntuo participated in the poisoning of Emperor Longwu, he always felt that there was a ghost in his heart in front of Empress Xuanren and in front of Emperor Longwu's heirs, so he always deliberately avoided being related to Empress Xuanren and others. Empress Xuanren's will, he thought it was just Empress Yu's pretentiousness, a trick for others to see, so he didn't implement it at all. Moreover, he analyzed that Empress Xuanren is in Fengde Palace, called Zunfeng, which is actually the same as claustrophobia, although the honorific title of "Xuanren" is added, but in fact, after being abolished, she may lose her life anytime and anywhere, where can we talk about the use of respect and "referring to the regulations of the Queen Mother"? He never expected that Queen Yu would make trouble for this. In terms of rules, Empress Xuanren is very right, Empress Xuanren is the queen, and the Ming Zhi said that "refer to the Queen Mother's regulations" etiquette, therefore, the regulations, rituals, and degrees that Empress Xuanren should enjoy are clearly stipulated, and Chuntuo does not respect Empress Xuanren according to the rules, which is already a big disrespectful crime; And after Queen Yu issued an order, Chuntuo did not implement it, which is the will of resistance. Either one, it is a major crime that can be beheaded for a crime.