Prime Minister Shu Shi'an mentioned in the court today that Shen Zhenghong, a member of the Zhongshu House, exposed and pointed out that Zhao Bangyue was meritorious, but because he was also a protégé of Zhao Bangyue, the court proposed that it was not appropriate to reward him, so he owed him a little. He heard that his daughter Shen Chan is dignified and sensitive, Roujia is self-controlled, and now the prince and the crown are worthy of marriage, if they can be given by their in-laws, the lintel of the Shen family will be glorious, and he will definitely be grateful to the emperor.

Regarding Shu Shi'an's proposal, Emperor Chengde also felt that it was a good way to appease his courtiers. Choosing a concubine for the crown prince is different from the average prince, you must consider the woman's family, if it is too strong, there will be hidden worries about the government in the future. Shen Zhenghong's official position is not high, his family education is strict, the eldest son Shen Yan once served as the water supervisor of Tanhua and the first position, and the father and son have always acted low-key and cautious, which is indeed a good match. It's just that before he threw out this proposal for the courtiers to discuss, he suddenly remembered that he had promised to give marriage to Ling Li.

After hesitating, Emperor Chengde pressed the conversation and said that he would discuss it at a later date. Who knows, this eight-character thing was actually known by Ling Li, and he also did such a disobedient thing that collided with the harem, which made him very angry.

"Your Majesty, the crown prince asks to see—"

There was chaos in the Funing Palace, and the attendants on duty outside the door said loudly.

As soon as this sound landed, the crown prince Ling Chong hurriedly stepped into the hall. Ling Chong's facial features are somewhat similar to Ling Li's, but his complexion is dark, and he is dressed in a crimson prince's regular clothes, which makes him look particularly solemn and calm. After he entered the hall, his eyes swept over Concubine Chen and Ling Li who were kneeling on the ground, and then raised his hand to remove the placket of the gauze robe, and bowed to Emperor Chengde, "Erchen has seen my father and the two mothers. ”

"It's dinner time, you hurried to Funing Palace, what's the matter?" Emperor Chengde asked displeased. It's messy enough, but it's not lively enough?

Ling Chong glanced at Ling Li and said expressionlessly: "Father, my son-in-law heard that someone rode a horse into the inner court, so I came to ask for peace." ”

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is really filial." The concubine next to her smiled and praised.

Emperor Chengde waved his hand and said, "Fang is your third brother who has an urgent matter to see, and forgot to hand over the carriage and horses at the palace gate." I'm fine, you can go back. ”

"I don't know what's important about the third brother, he is so anxious that he forgets the rules of entering the palace and dismounting?" Ling Chong stood up, and after slowly arranging his robe, he turned his head to look at Ling Li with a bit of mockery in his eyes.

Ling Li was about to reply, but Concubine Chen tugged on his sleeve beside him. He also knew that Ling Chong had come to greet his father at this time, just to see his jokes, so he pursed his lips.

Concubine Shu has no children under her knees, and in order to have a backer in the palace, she has always obeyed Queen Zhao's words and flattered the crown prince Ling Chong in every way. Seeing that Ling Li didn't answer Ling Chong's words at this moment, he hurriedly explained beside him, "Your Royal Highness heard that the emperor was going to canonize Shen Zhenghong's daughter as the crown princess, and he was in a hurry to enter the palace to intercede. ”

"Really?" Ling Chong suddenly looked surprised and said, "Father and son really have a good heart. Erchen was also looking for an opportunity to ask his father to marry Miss Shen, but he didn't expect his father to think of it. The son thanked his father, Emperor Longen. ”

After saying that, Ling Chong wanted to uncover his robe and kneel on the ground again.

Ling Li's face turned pale suddenly, he stood up and said eagerly, "Big brother, don't you like that girl from General Zhong's family?" ”

The concubine on the side was also stunned. On that day in Xixi, she also heard Ling Chong praise the daughter of Zhong Jishu, the general of the auxiliary state, so she praised Zhong Mengyao everywhere. Afterwards, he used her mouth several times to summon the girl of the Zhong family into the palace to meet, and the Zhong family also believed that Zhong Mengyao was the future princess, why did she suddenly come to ask to marry Shen Zhenghong's daughter? What kind of medicine is he selling in this gourd?

"I'm afraid the third brother heard it wrong, right? On the day of the spring tour in Xixi, when Miss Shen's fragrance won the first place, I admired her. If it weren't for the crown ceremony at that time, I would have asked my father for a decree. ”

"However, behind the curtain that day, the eldest brother obviously favored Miss Zhong......"

Worried that Ling Li would say something out of the ordinary, Concubine Chen hurriedly stopped: "Li'er, don't be rude to His Royal Highness the Prince!" ”

Ling Chong disagreed, "In terms of appearance alone, Miss Zhong is naturally admirable. can talk about talent and virtue, but Miss Shen is even more praiseworthy. The masters of the East Palace often taught to 'marry a wife and marry a virtuous', so I naturally want to see a virtuous man 'marry'. Saying that, Ling Chong made a respectful gesture and bowed his head to Emperor Chengde and said, "Father, what do you say?" ”

Emperor Chengde only felt a headache, "Is the Shen family woman so good?" All of you want to marry? ”

"Father, does the third brother also want to marry Miss Shen?" Ling Chong pretended to be surprised.

"Isn't it? Could it be that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince still thinks he is interceding for you? Concubine Shu felt that today's event was quite interesting, and couldn't help but cover her lips and smile.

Ling Chong frowned and said, "I remember that the third brother still has two years to reach the crown, you are in such a hurry to enter the palace to plead, do you want your father to give Miss Shen to you as a concubine?" ”

Ling Li hurriedly argued, "I am sincere to Miss Shen, so naturally I am asking my father to give me a marriage and Ming Media is marrying." ”

Ling Chong said with a smile: "In this way, the third brother wants to mess up the order of the elders and the young, and get married before me and the second brother?" ”

Ling Li was stunned for a moment.

Looking at Ling Chong's attitude today, it is clear that he wants to compete with Ling Li for Shen Chan. Concubine Shu, who has always liked to fan the flames, couldn't stay idle, she put on a kind and seductive motherly face and persuaded her, "Third Highness, not to mention whether the emperor promised to marry the girl of the Shen family to you, even if you agreed, now the prince of a country wants this girl, as a courtier, you have to take the initiative to be polite." In the seventeenth year of Tongping, the Empress Dowager Zhao was still the wife of Prince Rui, and when she learned that the first emperor had taken a fancy to her, Prince Rui immediately reluctantly cut his love and took the initiative to divorce his wife and give ......"

"Youjia, don't talk nonsense!"

Empress Dowager Zhao was beautiful when she was young, and soon after marrying Prince Rui, she was favored by the first emperor at the royal family banquet. After that, she entered the palace to serve the first emperor as the abolished concubine of Prince Rui, causing an uproar in the court. No matter how the officials and courtiers advised, the first emperor always favored her, and finally made her mother the queen and queen mother of the world. Although Empress Dowager Zhao was not Emperor Chengde's biological mother, this matter was about the royal face after all, and Emperor Chengde had to interrupt.

Today's matter, if it is just Shu Shi'an's suggestion, there are many marriageable official women in the court, and it is enough to choose one for the prince. But now that Ling Chongzheng has expressed his intention to ask to marry Shen Chan, Emperor Chengde has no other choice. Governing the family is like governing the country, only when the elders and young are orderly, abide by their duties, and abide by etiquette, can they be harmonious and peaceful.

"I have my own decision. Both of you brothers go down first. "Emperor Chengde just wants to send the brothers down first at the moment.

"Since my father has made a decision, the minister will retire first." Ling Chong hooked his lips and smiled, raised his hand and saluted, and then turned to leave.