：

Although the sky is not yet bright, the capital has become lively, and hundreds of officials have entered the palace for pilgrimage. The outer order fù also gathered together in Cining Palace.

As soon as Mrs. Xue helped Mrs. Xue to enter the palace gate, there was already a sedan chair to pick up Mrs. Xue, and the leading waiter stepped forward and saluted: "The Queen Mother specially ordered the sedan chair to send the eldest princess all the way to Cining Palace." ”

Old Madam Xue asked Mrs. Xue to support her and salute, "Thank you Empress Dowager Longen." ”

The waiter didn't dare to slack off, opened the sedan curtain, and invited Mrs. Xue to get on the sedan chair.

The sedan chair was lifted and went to Cining Palace.

Rong Hua and Mrs. Xue followed on foot with all the foreign orders.

"I heard that the eldest princess is sick."

Someone was concerned about Mrs. Xue, and Mrs. Xue nodded, "I have contracted the wind cold since the autumn, and it has not been good until now." ”

"That's to be more careful, I heard that there is a holy hand of the acocot forest"

No one wants to talk to her on weekdays, but now that there are many people around, Lord Xue is a little overwhelmed, but fortunately, there is Ronghua by his side.

I don't know who is sharp-eyed, and I saw a jade button on the grandmother of the Bo family in Guangning, "In the previous dynasty, the button was decorated on the placket of the clothes, when did our Great Zhou Dynasty also prosper this." ”

Grandma Guangningbo smiled: "I also saw such a decoration on Mrs. Wu Muhou's clothes at the banquet before, so that the embroidery girl sewed it." ”

Everyone laughed again, "It turns out that it's from Mrs. Wu Muhou." ”

Rong Hua looked down at the carved peony golden buttons on the robe and smiled slightly, she was a whimsical idea, not only made the buttons, but also embroidered the corresponding pattern on the corner of the inner lining of Xue Mingrui's clothes.

The foreign fù also gathered to watch, and some people remembered, "Last time I saw that the hem on Mrs. Wu Muhou's dress was also very bright. ”

When they arrived outside Cining Palace, everyone quieted down, and Mrs. Xue breathed a sigh of relief and patted Rong Hua's hand, "Thanks to you, otherwise I wouldn't know what to do." ”

Xue Mingrui is now an official residence, and Xue Yishuang promised it to the King of Anjun, Mrs. Xue is the mother of Princess Anjun, so everyone is naturally willing to get close.

When the hour came, everyone bowed down according to the etiquette. The inner order fù hung the longevity lantern in the palace of the queen mother, and the outer order fù hung the octagonal round lamp to pray for the queen mother, and the Ministry of Rites arranged for people to play ritual music, and the queen mother took the inner order fù to look at the palace motto map, so that the concubine would follow the model in the new year and help the emperor.

The inner fù sat down, and the outer fù said hello to the queen mother and all the maidens.

After a set of rituals, the inner and outer fù were seated, and the palace people offered the rice cakes removed from the Chinese New Year's Eve sacrifice to make everyone blessed.

Rong Hua raised his head and saw that the Queen Mother was talking to the old lady with her head bowed, and the Queen Mother's expression was very happy.

After everyone ate the rice cakes, the palace people removed the dishes, and the queen mother drank them. Tea then said: "In front of the Zhongzheng Palace, you should also calm down and listen to the "New Year's Joy Sutra". ”

The inner life fù and the outer life fù responded in unison. The Empress Dowager and Old Madam Xue went to the inner hall to talk.

The Empress Dowager ordered someone to set up a soft couch for Mrs. Xue, and Mrs. Xue was trembling and half-lying on it.

The Empress Dowager sighed and said: "In a blink of an eye, we are all old, the eldest princess is sick like this, and the Mourning family's health is not as good as before, and it takes three decoctions every day to maintain it." ”

Old Madam Xue hurriedly said: "The minister is useless" The queen mother should take care of the phoenix body. ”

The Queen Mother smiled abruptly, "The mourning family's own body knows it, and the mourning family always remembers the past these days. Well, I asked you to enter the palace to talk, and I was afraid that your body would not be able to stand it. ”

Old Madam Xue's eyes flashed with a look familiar to the Queen Mother, "I'm afraid that time is running out, so I thought that I would definitely enter the palace to see the Queen Mother." ”

The Queen Mother sank her face, "As long as the eldest princess relaxes her mind and recuperates, tomorrow I will ask the hospital what to do." ”

Old Madam Xue took a few breaths, her breathing was slightly muddy, and it took a long time to calm down again, "It's all an old disease, but fortunately, thanks to the careful care of the Tai Hospital, the minister can survive to this day." Old Mrs. Xue paused when she said this, "The Empress Dowager still remembers when the first emperor was there, on Chinese New Year's Eve, the palace was sprinkled with sesame straw, and the first emperor watched me and the lady trample together. ”

The queen mother nodded, why didn't she remember, stepping on sesame straw was just a rule in the palace, she was very happy to play with the eldest princess, and later the eldest princess mentioned in front of the first emperor, since stepping on sesame straw is the meaning of ascending step by step, why didn't she enter her position.

The eldest princess helped her fight for the position of the middle palace in front of the emperor.

The eldest princess married the Xue family, which she also mentioned in front of the first emperor.

At that time, they had a good relationship with each other and talked about everything. Until the emperor and King Xuan compete for the throne, as long as everything is touched with power, those feelings will suddenly become insignificant. But when she stands at the peak of power, she will miss her former affection, so although the emperor has been suspicious of the Xue family over the years, she has not spoken for the eldest princess.

Now that the emperor is old, the court wants to set up a new prince, and she also hopes to take this opportunity to make Wu Muhou an important minister of the emperor, and she can also see the emperor in the future. The emperor's suspicion divided the clan and nobles, which was not conducive to the Great Zhou Dynasty.

The Empress Dowager took Mrs. Xue's hand, "Although we have often not seen each other over the years, fortunately, the eldest princess has not been separated from the mourning family. ”

The two of them were talking, and there was the sound of burning green bamboo outside, and then the emperor's relying on the music.

Old Madam Xue hurriedly got up and went to the ground, and the Queen Mother stepped forward to support Old Madam Xue, "Don't worry." ”

The emperor drove to Cining Palace, and hurriedly knelt down to greet him.

The Emperor flattened the crowd and then turned and entered the inner sanctum.

The emperor greeted the queen mother, and Mrs. Xue saluted the emperor again.

The emperor had joy on his face, "Eldest princess, please calm down." ”

When the monarch and the ministers met, they said some polite words, and the queen mother found a chance to go out, "I'll go out and have a look, the eldest princess will talk to the emperor." ”

Sent off the queen mother, the emperor sat on the throne and drank tea.

The emperor put down the tea bowl, and the wrench in his hand hit the tea bowl with a crisp sound, "The imperial sister's face is not good, I will ask the Internal Affairs Office to send some tonic medicine to the imperial sister in a while" The emperor said and looked at Old Madam Xue, "If you are not feeling well, you should take care of yourself." ”

Old Madam Xue got up and thanked her.

The emperor hurriedly said: "Sister Huang, hurry up, we don't have to stick to this." ”

Mrs. Xue said: "The king is the king" and the minister is the minister, this point cannot be surpassed.

The emperor's expression softened slightly, "In a blink of an eye, I have been on the throne for so many years, and the former emperor often said that the frontier and the rule of officials are the biggest problems when he was alive, and I have governed for so many years, but I didn't expect to make any achievements, and I don't know how to meet the emperor in the future." ”

Old Madam Xue immediately said: "The first emperor also knows that the frontier and the rule of officials are the most difficult, the emperor has been in power for many years, the country and the people are safe, the people are rich, the Great Zhou Dynasty is much more prosperous than the first emperor when he was in power, and the emperor must be pleased to know it." ”

1The Emperor sat there silently, as if he had heard a word of comfort, "I dare not compare with the Emperor. I'm just afraid that the emperor will be disappointed in me, "The imperial sister is the most favored by the emperor, and she should know the temperament of the emperor best, and the imperial sister said that the emperor will regret passing the throne to me." ”

Old Madam Xue said respectfully: "How can the emperor have such an idea, the emperor is the prince most valued by the emperor, especially the emperor's love for the emperor in his later years exceeds that of all princes" The emperor personally cultivated the emperor into a Ming monarch, how could he regret it. ”

The first emperor has always loved King Xuan, but in his later years, he was just a little close to him, and the emperor smiled slightly, "How can I be the favorite prince of the first emperor." ”

Old Madam Xue said: "The painter once painted a painting with the emperor and his ministers, do you still remember?" ”

The emperor frowned and pondered, "It seems that in the year of the death of the first emperor, the painter in the palace painted a picture for me and the prince. ”

Mrs. Xue said: "After the death of the first emperor, the minister packed up the things given by the emperor in the palace and returned to the house. ”

Old Madam Xue presented the painting on the low table to the emperor.

The emperor slowly opened the painting, "Until the end of the scroll, there are only two lines of small characters, no wonder the eldest princess didn't care about it before."

I have a female Huizhou Lan heart, and a son is talented and intelligent, and this family is my greatest comfort.

The emperor's hand shook suddenly, and his eyes were moist, "This is the hand of the emperor." "The emperor's handwriting is clear at a glance.

Old Madam Xue said: "The emperor's mind is the most difficult to guess, and the ministers have been by the emperor's side for a long time, and they can only spy on one or two. ”

Someone once secretly reported that the eldest princess had an edict from the emperor in her hand, but now it seems that it is just a person with a heart to frame her. His suspicions have indeed been too heavy over the years.

The emperor put the painting away, and his face was more relaxed than ever. Although the first emperor did not pass on the throne to him, but in the eyes of the first emperor, at least he was talented and intelligent, and he was not a person who could not take on great responsibilities.

"How about the palace people that the queen mother chose for the imperial sister?"

Suddenly mentioning Ma Rongyue, Mrs. Xue was stunned, "The Queen Mother is naturally the best for rewarding ministers, and it is rare to be clever and take care of people properly." ”

The emperor smiled slightly, "The lady of the main room married by Wu Muhou is a concubine, and her status is lower. ”

Old Madam Xue's whole person was about to change greatly, "How can Wu Muhou change his disobedience to the holy will." ”

The Emperor shook his hand, "I'm just asking. ”

Old Madam Xue's face was ugly, "The eldest son of the minister is not filial to the same temperament. ”

Xue Chongli, the Duke of Anguo, liked a maid, and pleaded for the maid again and again, which made him angry and immediately executed with the maid. If that maid wasn't the daughter of King Xuan, how could An Guogong be so covered.

When she was in the capital, the eldest princess flatly denied it, only saying that An Guogong was framed, and now it seems that there are many suspicious points in the affairs of that year.

The emperor pinched the jade plate in his hand, "Mrs. Wu Muhou has achieved quite a good result in sowing potatoes in Zhejiang, and Shen Ran, the son of General Shen, also said that the potatoes are planted and attributed to Mrs. Wu Muhou." You must know that potatoes, an agricultural product that can grow in sandy and saline-alkali land, will be the blessing of the people and the blessing of my Great Zhou if it is widely planted. Although Shen Rantian has meritorious, Mrs. Wu Muhou is also indispensable. Mrs. Wu Muhou is a foreign order, and I will hand over the reward to the Empress Dowager. ”

Old Madam Xue immediately knelt down, "It's just to do the duty of a courtier, how dare you work for the Queen Mother." ”

The emperor raised his eyebrows and personally reached out to help Mrs. Xue up, "I also heard that Mrs. Wu Muhou is cultivating the famine in Shandong, and the emperor advocated valuing agriculture and supporting the people. ”

After the emperor finished speaking, he instructed Gonggong Zhang to call Mrs. Wu Muhou to the palace.

Gonggong Zhang went to the outer hall to announce the emperor's will, and everyone's eyes suddenly looked at Rong Hua. The Queen Mother entered the inner hall first, and Rong Hua followed behind the Queen Mother.

Rong Hua lowered his head and saw the bright yellow Shoushan Shui Langjiang and Lishui Wen under the sable end cover, and hurriedly stepped forward to salute the emperor.

The emperor got up and asked the empress dowager to take a seat, sat on the warm kang opposite, and said in a low voice: "Mrs. Wu Muhou is flat and sits." ”

The palace people brought the brocade pestle, and Rong Hua stepped forward and only sat on the narrow side, looking respectful.

The emperor's gaze swept lightly over Mrs. Wu Muhou, and then looked at the Queen Mother, "I just told the eldest princess that Mrs. Wu Muhou has made meritorious contributions in planting potatoes and should be rewarded, so as to set an example for the foreign life." ”

Rong Hua hurriedly got up and saluted.

"Get up," the Queen Mother said softly, "The emperor advocates heavy agriculture, and the mother of the country still raises silkworms. ”

After speaking, the Empress Dowager looked at the emperor, "The mourning family remembers that the Duke and Mrs. of Qianfeng Fuguo died early and had no children under their knees, and the Duchess of Fuguo loves girls very much, so it is better to fulfill the mind of the Duchess of Fuguo, and accept Mrs. Wu Muhou as the righteous daughter of Qianfeng Fuguo and be named the prince of the country." ”

Rong Hua's heart trembled, he didn't expect the Queen Mother to have such a heavy reward. Qianfeng Fuguo and his wife died early, although she is a countryman, she is a daughter of the clan, and there are also Nian Dai and clan Lu rice every year.

The emperor thought carefully, "Then according to the arrangement of the queen mother." ”

Old Madam Xue and Rong Hua knelt down together to thank her.

The Empress Dowager smiled: "Hurry up, let the Ministry of Rites arrange the ceremony system in a few days." ”

Rong Hua then bowed and thanked him. After some etiquette, everyone left Cining Palace together, and the foreign order fù was busy saying hello to Rong Hua.

Out of the palace gate, Rong Hua served Mrs. Xue and got into the carriage.

Old Madam Xue sat on the soft seat, let Rong Hua sit next to her, the carriage moved forward slowly, Old Madam Xue rested for a while, "The townsman is the lord of the clan, and no one will care about your identity from now on." This is still second, the real reward is behind, the title of Duke of Qianfeng has not yet been inherited, if you have a second son, you can fight for this title. ”

When the old lady said this, Rong Hua understood the true meaning of this reward.

The emperor and the queen mother want to give the Xue family a clan title, and the next level of the Duke of Fuguo is the general of Zhenguo, which is not big or small. On the surface, it seems that the queen mother rewarded her, but in fact, it was still the Xue family who rewarded her.

The old lady was a little tired, but her face could not hide her joy, "There are very few cases of two lords in a family in the Great Zhou Dynasty, and it is your credit that Ming Rui can have two sons to inherit the lords." ”