On the pottery lotus incense burner next to the dragon couch of Funing Palace, incense curls.

Ling Zhao was kneeling in front of the dragon couch, using essential oils to slowly guide the acupuncture points on Emperor Chengde's head. Emperor Chengde was lying on the couch with his eyes closed, breathing evenly and looking comfortable. Since the last time he was infected with the cold, his body has not healed, and he always feels dizzy and depressed. Every day, only after Ling Zhao finished his political affairs in the imperial study and came to give him an incense massage, he felt refreshed for a moment.

"The prince already has a son and three daughters, and even the third child has a daughter, so there has been no addition to your mansion......"

Just when Ling Zhao thought he was going to fall asleep, Emperor Chengde suddenly spoke.

Ling Zhao was stunned when he heard this, and after he reacted, he smiled and said, "Isn't my father afraid that there are too few emperors and grandsons under his knees, and they are not lively enough?" ”

"Your eldest brother is an unsuccessful person, if he needs you to take on a big responsibility one day, you have no heirs under your knees, and you are only afraid of criticism from officials."

Emperor Chengde still closed his eyes and spoke softly, but Ling Zhao was shocked to hear it, and almost knocked over the porcelain bottle containing essential oils on the table next to him.

"The father's words made the sons and ministers panic." After Ling Zhao straightened the porcelain vase, he knelt down in front of the couch and did not dare to raise his head.

"You have become more and more comfortable in handling government affairs recently, and the two governments and three departments have also recognized you a lot, which makes me deeply grateful." Emperor Chengde opened his eyes and raised his body slightly, "I know your heart, and I don't want my brother to break the wall, so I just said casually, why should you be afraid, and get up." ”

Only then did Ling Zhao raise his head and continue to massage his head.

"You and Zhiyi have always had a deep relationship between husband and wife, if you don't speak well in front of her, why don't you come forward and give you another kiss?" After a while, Emperor Chengde said again.

It seems that the question of heirs cannot be avoided. Ling Zhao thought for a moment and said, "Erchen is actually trying to report to his father, can he ask to marry Shu Xiang's granddaughter and the county lord of Jing as a side concubine?" ”

"Shu Jingcheng's girl?!" Recalling the miserable and miserable situation in front of the Hanging Arch Hall that day, Emperor Chengde suddenly frowned: "That girl looks weak, but I'm afraid that it won't be good to give birth to ......."

"On the day her father summoned her, she was seriously injured and had not healed, and she looked very delicate. Now he is recovering very well, and he can even ride a horse. Erchen saw her once in Tianxianglou and was very fond of her. ”

"That being the case, then after the dispersal of the dynasty tomorrow, I will leave Shu Qing to talk and pick an auspicious day to make an order."

"Thank you, Father." Ling Zhao knelt down again and saluted.

*********

After Shu Mei left the palace, he urged the groom to rush back to Shu's house in a hurry.

Before the carriage could stop here, she opened the door and jumped down, then lifted her dress and ran to the back house in a hurry.

"What, Miss is coming back? Didn't you say that you would have to wait until you watched the fireworks in the palace at night? Liang was taking a lunch break, and the maid was embroidering her forehead outside, and she couldn't help but be a little surprised when she saw Shu Mei hurriedly running in.

"Is my grandma up?" Shu Mei anxiously looked into the inner room.

"Not yet. Miss will rest for a while, and in a few moments, Mother Zhou will bring the medicine, and I will go in and wake up Mrs. ......"

"Is it the little monkey outside? Come in, I've woken up early. ”

Hearing the voice of the Liang family in the inner room, Shu Mei immediately lifted the curtain and walked in.

Liang still maintained a flat lying posture during the lunch break, Shu Mei stepped forward to take a brocade support for her, and helped her sit up slowly.

"Don't you like to watch fireworks the most? Why did you come back so early? Liang asked with a smirk.

"Grandma, I bumped into Princess Tongshu in Yanqing Palace today, she ...... She later told me that Prince Tongshu asked people to buy a dowry, saying that he was coming to marry me...... Shu Mei sat on the side of the bed, took Liang's hand and said eagerly: "If the Prince of Tongshu really comes to propose marriage, you and Grandpa are not allowed to agree!" ”

"You're just rushing back for this?" Liang couldn't laugh or cry, and let her slowly tell her in detail about what she saw and heard in the palace today.

After listening to the ins and outs of Shu Mei's story, Liang smiled and said: "I have seen Prince Shu many times in the palace banquet, he is handsome and extraordinary, and he is the most favorite Langjun among the official ladies in the capital." Don't fall for the vinegar princess, you missed a good marriage......"

"No matter how good he is, I won't agree." Shu Mei said stubbornly.

"Otherwise, Grandma will find a chance to take you to meet him another day, what if you like it when you see him?" Liang persuaded bitterly.

"I don't see it." Shumei's attitude is very resolute.

"Could it be that my little monkey already has a favorite Langjun?"

"Grandma, I just don't want to get married, I just want to be by Grandpa and Grandma's side all the time." Shu Mei looked at Liang, and a trace of mist floated between his delicate eyebrows, "Don't drive me away......"

"Look at you, wronged like this. Grandma feels sorry for you too late, where is she willing to drive you away? Liang raised his hand to brush the broken hair next to her ear for her, "But you also have to tell Grandma the truth, why don't you want to get married?" Last time I mentioned the Third Highness, you were also resolutely opposed. ”

Shu Mei closed his lips and was silent, and it took a while before he spoke gloomily: "Last time I was in Yongnian Palace, I heard Brother Ling Li tell Grandpa that the injury in my abdomen is too serious, and I will not be able to have children in the future......"

"How...... How so?! Your grandpa didn't even tell me! Liang was shocked when he heard this, and almost knocked over the medicine bowl handed over by Caiyi.

Shu Mei took the medicine bowl, stirred the medicine with a spoon, and said: "Grandma, my father and mother left early, and my aunt's family is far away in Dongping, so it is best to have me stay by your side and serve your filial piety." ”

Liang opened his mouth and drank a spoonful of medicinal juice fed by Shu Mei, only to feel bitter to the tip of his heart. If Ah Mei really loses her child, not marrying may be the best choice for her. Otherwise, not to mention marrying into the royal palace, it is an ordinary people's family, and the first of the seven "childless" is enough to make it difficult for her to gain a foothold in her husband's family.

"It's okay, your grandfather and I are old, and we have a headache and brain fever, so you stay with us to take care of it, and ...... Fabulous. Swallowing the medicinal juice, Liang said slowly.

In the evening, Shu Shi'an went home from the court, and he didn't have time to eat dinner, so he went to the inner house to inform Emperor Chengde of the Liang family that he was going to give a decree to marry.

During the day, I heard Shu Mei mention that he intended to marry with Shu Wangfu, but he didn't expect to say that the emperor was going to marry him in the evening! Surprised, Liang shook his head again and again, "You are so confused, how can you agree to your majesty's marriage without consulting me?!" ”

"Last time, didn't you take the initiative to enter the palace to say goodbye to Cheng Zhaoyi? Now, wouldn't it be better for His Majesty to give marriage himself? ”

"You also said that Ah Mei can't have children, and you have been hiding it from me!" Liang was a little angry, and his tone was a little hurried, "Haven't you thought about it, the daughter of the Xu family married into the Zhaowang Mansion, and the palace has been the only favor but nothing has come out of the palace over the years, isn't the emperor giving marriage just to continue the heir?" ”

Shu Shi'an couldn't help but be stunned. When the emperor mentioned marriage, he only considered that the two highnesses were more liked by the emperor than the third highness, and they were more modest and mellow, and they knew how to care about and considerate women, but he had not thought about the motives behind the marriage.

"The whole capital knows that the daughter of the Xu family is not a fuel-efficient lamp, if Ah Mei marries into the palace and has no children to rely on in the future, how can she gain a foothold?!" Liang Shi held Shu Shi'an's hand and said eagerly: "Shi'an, you will enter the palace early tomorrow morning to bid farewell to Your Majesty, but you must not agree to this marriage......

Shu Shi'an was puzzled: "Simin, if I refuse to marry for this reason, then ...... Ah Mei Ke ......"

Liang knew what her husband was worried about, and refused the royal marriage on the grounds that she could not have children, and Ah Mei completely lost the opportunity to marry. Thinking of the words of Shu Mei during the day, she finally relented and said: "What if you don't have a husband?" Ah Mei will stay by my side in the future, I think who in the Shu family dares to snub her for half a point?! ”

Shu Shi'an nodded helplessly.