The twenty-fourth day of the lunar month, the small year.

Imperial Palace, Rou Xue Xuan.

"The courtiers have seen Your Majesty. Su Tang'an knelt on the ground and greeted Emperor Zhou.

"Get up!" Emperor Zhou was wearing a black regular robe today, a little less majestic than usual, and two more kind, "Come here, sit down." ”

"Yes!" Su Tang'an got up and cautiously sat under the round table, "Your Majesty, who are you?"

"Engraved chapters!" Emperor Zhou smiled gently, "Towards the end of the year, this chapter was piled up in the imperial study like snowflakes, and it was only today that I found free time." This engraving chapter is still what I liked to do more than ten years ago, and I haven't carved it for a long time, and this hand is born. ”

"It's good. Su Tang'an looked at the half-engraved seal in Emperor Zhou's hand and smiled slightly, "Tangerine also wants to be cheeky and ask His Majesty for a seal." ”

"Well, that day, I found nothing, so I will engrave one for you, and this one was discussed between Gu Tingjun and me half a year ago. Emperor Zhou smiled, "This time, he took the princess of Keqin Grassland back safely, but he can't delay it any longer." ”

Emperor Zhou paused slightly, raised his eyes and glanced at Su Tang'an, and asked, "After the New Year, you are also eighteen?"

"Yes. ”

"Have you ever thought about your life's events?" Emperor Zhou asked.

The snow outside is not falling too much, and it is a little cold in this snow viewing pavilion, but it is very quiet. The fire next to it emitted warm heat.

Su Cheng'an was silent for a moment and said, "The courtiers want to marry the person they like, otherwise they would rather never marry." ”

"It's your Ziwei Palace's rule-breaking again. Emperor Zhou didn't seem to be very surprised by Su Tang'an's answer, and smiled faintly, "A few days ago, the father of the county lord of Youran came to complain to me, and you girl rashly accepted Youran as an apprentice, so that she now uses the rules of Ziwei Palace as a shield, and threatens not to marry for life." ”

"If the person who stays with him all his life is not the one who is connected to the heart, then there is nothing wrong with a person's life. Su Tang'an said lightly.

"Yes, if you can't grow old with your beloved, how long this life should be!" Emperor Zhou sighed, and he pointed at Su Cheng'an, "But it can't be too much, parents want their children to rely on, how to accompany them, and it is common for people not to die alone, since you are a leisurely master, then you must persuade her more, don't hurt the old father's heart." ”

"The courtiers know. ”

"If you don't want to get married, neither I nor your master and father will force you, but if you fancy any boy in Da Zhou, I will marry you. Emperor Zhou said, "But I asked you to see me today, and there is one more thing. Is it about this recent frequent fireworks crash, I heard that your uncle is also involved?"

"Yes. Su Tang'an nodded and said, "The courtier and uncle haven't seen each other for many years, and he just came to the capital, so he was involved in such a thing." ”

"Don't you want to ask me for a favor?" Emperor Zhou asked softly.

"The courtiers are not without this idea, but one of the so-called ignorant is not guilty, the courtiers feel that the uncle did not commit a crime, he did not know that there was a problem with the fireworks he transported to the capital to sell, and the real culprit is above the source, that is, those who produce inferior fireworks, and the identity of the courtiers is special, and now the cases from all over the country have been reported to the capital, and the matter of the Hou Mansion is particularly eye-catching, if the uncle is pardoned, it will inevitably make people think that it is because of the Ziwei Palace, and the courtiers do not want the reputation of the Ziwei Palace to be damaged. Su Juan thought for a while and said.

"Then what are you going to do?" asked Emperor Zhou.

"If the real culprit cannot be found, then my uncle and these honest businessmen will be pushed out to put an end to this incident. So if you want to really solve this problem, you have to find out the culprit. Su Tang'an said, "After all, this fireworks is different from others, if the situation is serious and affects the lives of the people, then it is also excellent to take the opportunity to rectify it up and down." ”

"Hmm!" Emperor Zhou nodded, "I have already ordered someone to investigate thoroughly, let's talk about it after the next year, I am afraid that I will wronged your uncle to stay in prison for a few more days." ”

"As long as it's safe. ”

"It turns out that Your Majesty is here, and it is easy to find the concubine. ”

A gentle and clear voice sounded, Su Tang'an raised his eyes, and saw a graceful and luxurious woman coming, this woman was about forty, with a peaceful and warm smile, this person was the biological mother of the second prince, Lan Guifei.

"The concubine greets Your Majesty. Lan Guifei lowered her eyes.

"Flatten. ”

"The courtiers have seen the concubine. ”

"Heavenly Maiden, you're welcome. Concubine Lan held Su Cheng'an's hand, her palm was very warm, but her eyes showed two points of surprise, she looked at Emperor Zhou and asked with a smile, "Your Majesty, did you ever think that the Heavenly Maiden was like an old man?" ”

Emperor Zhou smiled, did not answer, but began to engrave the seal again.

"It's been a long time since I've seen His Majesty engrave a seal, but I haven't forgotten this technique. Concubine Lan said, "In the past, His Majesty carved the seal, and he must have something on his mind. Why is it engraved today?"

"The drought in Shanxi, the locust plague in southern Shaanxi, the grain and silver used for disaster relief have been exploited layer by layer, and I don't know how many can reach the hands of the victims, this is about to be the New Year, the palace is full of joy, I don't know how to wrap the bellies of the victims this year?" Emperor Zhou sighed and said.

"Your Majesty, didn't the prince take the initiative to ask for help in this disaster relief matter?" Although Concubine Lan Guifei was no longer confused, she still maintained a kind of coquettishness that belonged to a girl, and what she said seemed to blurt out, not thoughtfully, "The prince has outstanding ability, and with the help of Marquis Xuanyuan and a group of capable ministers, I believe that His Majesty's errand can be done very well, and those victims must also be properly resettled, Your Majesty, don't worry about this matter." But we Changyan, in recent months, we haven't had any serious errands to do, how can this good man be idle all day long, he also wants to share his worries for His Majesty, right?"

"The harem is not allowed to interfere in politics, don't forget the rules!" Emperor Zhou gently lectured, "The second prince is there, I have my own arrangements!"

Lan Guifei's eyes rolled slightly, then she didn't say more, glanced at Su Cheng'an again, and asked, "Your Majesty Xuantiannu entered the palace today, what happened?"

"Recently, there have been frequent fireworks accidents, and Tang An's uncle is also involved, she is asking me to investigate this matter thoroughly!" Emperor Zhou said lightly.

Lan Guifei's face changed slightly, and she said, "I see. ”

"By the way, in recent days, the queen's headache has recurred, and this is the end of the year when there are many things, so you can help her take care of some harem matters. The envoys of the Yuguo and Keqin grasslands are here, and public banquets are indispensable, so you have to put more thought into it, and don't go wrong. Emperor Zhou said.

"The concubine knows. Lan Guifei smiled and said, "To be honest, the Heavenly Maiden is delicate and lovely, and the concubine likes it when she sees it, and there are some rouges paid by the Lai Yi Kingdom in the concubine palace, which are suitable for your young girls, and the Heavenly Maiden will bring some back when she goes back." There are some hairpin jewelry, you can take it back together and share it with the sisters of your Qihou Mansion. ”

"The courtiers thank you for the grace of the concubine. Su Tang'an kowtowed and thanked him.

"Get up, this palace is only to see that your heart is happy, so I reward some things that the girl's family likes. Your sister did a charity sale, and you said that the "Mountains and Rivers Map" given to you by the master would donate it, that is, it would be changed to the palace, and the heart must be very reluctant, so the palace admires you very much. I heard that you have a good relationship with Miss Jiang, and when you are free that day, you will enter the palace together to talk to the palace. ”

"Yes! The courtiers retired first. Su Juan got up and retreated, leaving the palace.

"Your Majesty, the concubine saw that you were kind to the Heavenly Maiden, and you were not so gentle to those princesses and county lords, so she must also think that she was similar to Qin Guifei, right?" Lan Guifei said, "The concubine was really startled! If Qin Guifei's princess is still alive, she is as old as the Heavenly Maiden, right?"

"Just say a few words. Emperor Zhou said, "If there is nothing else to do, you can go and go about your own business, and let me be quiet for a while." ”

"Your Majesty dislikes the concubines for talking too much? You have said it before, and you like how lively and lively I am. Concubine Lan frowned her nose, "By the way, the concubine has one more thing, His Majesty married the princess for the crown prince, what about the concubine of the second prince?

"Who do you like?" asked Emperor Zhou.

"Su Changle, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Qi, is beautiful and intelligent, kind and capable, and the concubine hesitated for a moment, so she let the king of Chu take the lead. Lan Guifei thought for a while, "Over the years, the famous ladies and concubines in Beijing have been selected, and after thinking about it, she must think that Hua Wei is a tiger girl, her mother died early, her father also went, and she has no brothers and sisters to help her, she is lonely, and her relationship with the second prince is not bad before, she can be regarded as a childhood sweetheart, the second child respects her, and she will not be wronged in the future." It's just that I'm older, and now I have filial piety, I'm afraid I have to wait for some time. ”

"Although Hua Wei is a tiger girl, but now she is only an orphan girl, you just said, without a father, without a brother to help her, do you really think she is suitable for the second child?" Emperor Zhou asked after a deep sigh.

The concubine just thinks she is pitiful, and she really likes her character and personality, with her in charge, Changyan's back house will definitely not cause trouble, and he is more relaxed. There is no shortage of powerful people in this capital, but so what? The second child is now His Majesty's courtier, and will be his brother's courtier in the future, as long as he has a piece of loyalty, what do you want those wives' clan forces to do? If he really marries that powerful man, it will not be beautiful. Lan Guifei said, "Your Majesty, what do you think?"

"Are you really so open-minded?" Emperor Zhou asked.

"What if you can't see it?" Lan Guifei said, "The overall situation has been decided, can the concubine be unwilling to change anything?"

"Then what do you think of this Fifth Miss of the Qihou Mansion?" Emperor Zhou asked after thinking for a while.

"Heavenly Maiden?" Lan Guifei raised her eyebrows, "The concubine knows that His Majesty likes her, but the concubine will never want her to be her daughter-in-law." ”

"Why is that? Didn't you still say you liked her?" asked Emperor Zhou.

"She is too similar to Qin Guifei, if she marries into the heavenly family, she will inevitably have to ask the queen for peace often in the future. It's not that the concubines are too worried, Your Majesty think about it, the queen mother is happy to see her? In the future, she will inevitably find her shortcomings and teach her a lesson, and she will not be wronged? Why bother!" Lan Guifei said bluntly, "Then there is the selfishness of the concubine, the concubine feels cordial when she sees the Heavenly Maiden, but there are also a lot of rumors about the Heavenly Maiden, and the concubine is such a son, so she naturally hopes that his concubine will be dignified and virtuous, even if she is ordinary, she doesn't want to cause any trouble." ”

"Got it, I'll think about it again. Emperor Zhou thought for a while and said.

"Your Majesty. Concubine Lan hesitated for a moment, and said cautiously, "When the second child marries the concubine, Your Majesty will let him go to the fiefdom." ”

Emperor Zhou paused slightly and said, "I will consider it." ”