"Queen Mother," Shen Dongshou introduced a girl in Tsing Yi behind him to Zhang Yan, "This child is my apprentice, although he is not old and his courage is a little small, but he has a very good temperament

Good. After I left the palace, I asked the queen to take more care. ”

The thirteen or fourteen-year-old little girl Shi saw the queen mother of the harem at such a close distance for the first time, and there was a trace of awe in her expression, and she bowed her knees and bowed, "Slave and maid see the queen mother." ”

Zhang Yan nodded, "Get up." I remember. ”

Shen Dongshou raised his head and looked at the vast world outside Weiyang Palace. The place where they are is the small room gate in the northwest of the palace city, and inside the door is the most valuable place of the Han Dynasty, the imperial palace where the Son of Heaven lives, inside

The layers stretch out of the palace towers, solemn and solemn; Outside the door is the bustling Chang'an Gao Street, where pedestrians come and go along the street, and there is a vibrant atmosphere of fireworks.

Shen Dongshou looked at the fireworks on Gao Street, with a happy smile on his face, and asked, "Didn't the queen ask me last time, do I think those concubines in the court are willing to leave?"

？ ”

"Yes."

Shen Dongshou smiled, "There are many kinds of women in this world, and in my case, I have now told you the answer with my actions." I'd rather go and see the wider outside the palace than my career in the palace

Scenery. But everything in the world is different, if someone is greedy for the wealth and glory in the palace, he will not go. Not surprising. In any case," she pressed her left hand with her right hand, raised her sleeve and bowed to Zhang Yan, and said sincerely

, "Winter Shou wishes that the mother will cherish her life!" ”

Zhang Yan looked at the joy between her eyebrows, and for some reason, the depression in her heart for days dissipated a little, and said with a smile, "Thank you." ”

"What are your plans to leave the palace this time?"

Shen Dongshou smiled, "I plan to go back to my hometown first." ”

"You've been in the palace for a long time. I'm afraid that the people at home have already been indifferent, aren't you worried? ”

Shen Dongshou smiled very freely, "What the queen mother said is true." I have been away from home for a long time, and my mother is already old, but I am afraid that I will not miss my daughter for a long time, the cousin who promised to marry me back then

brothers, most of them also married others. But no matter what, my hometown is always my roots, and I always have to go back to see it to feel at ease. If you can stay, you will stay at the knees of your parents and do your filial piety. Don't leave again, if

It's not going to work,"

A pride suddenly welled up on her soft face. "This big Han world is so big, can't I break through?"

At this moment, Zhang Yan was a little envious of the woman in front of her, she also had the desire to go all over the world when she was a teenager. Later, there was Liu Ying, and there was Hao Hao and Tongzi. They were all buried in their hearts and never thought about it again

Rise.

"...... you" She suddenly wanted to ask Shen Dongshou, over the years, did she really not have a trace of interest in Liu Ying? But as soon as he exited, he stopped again, and felt that he was asking for this to come out, which was very no

Suitable.

Shen Dongshou heard the string song and knew the elegant meaning. smiled and said, "Niangniang, the attic platform of Weiyang Palace." The richest and most noble in the world is the place where Niangniang's husband and children live, so for Niangniang, it is the heart

Safety; But the slightest bit wasn't mine, so I was able to leave behind. There is no nostalgia. ”

"Niangniang now has a son and a daughter under her knees, and she holds His Majesty's unparalleled pet. I think it may be the most unparalleled queen in the past, and I wish my mother a lifetime of happiness in winter! ”

A smile tugged at the corner of Zhang Yan's mouth, "You go all the way!" ”

"I will." Shen Dongshou raised her eyebrows and smiled, there was a bookish aura between her eyebrows, and her appearance itself was not very good, but at this moment, her eyebrows and eyes were soothing, and she was so beautiful that it was heartbreaking.

The incident of Shen Dongshou is like a small episode in Weiyang Palace, and the ship passes without a trace.

On the fifteenth of this month, Zhang Yan took the eldest princess Liu Zhi and the second prince Liu Yi to Changle Palace to meet the Queen Mother.

Lang Wei cleared the road between the two palaces, heavily guarded, and escorted Empress Zhang's Feng Yuan to Changle Palace, outside Changle Palace, Zhang Yan saw a person waiting under the gate from a distance.

"The Queen's Mother," said Tu Yu, "that person seems to be the Marquis of Biyang." ”

"Piyang Hou?" Zhang Yan was stunned for a moment, and looked up carefully.

The Marquis of Biyang was dressed in the official uniform of the marquis, holding an ivory wat and standing under the west gate of Changle Palace.

At the opening of the gate of Changle Palace, a small yellow door of the Changxin Palace came out, walked in front of the judge, looked pity, and said, "Piyang Hou, the Queen Mother is unwell today, and she will not summon foreign officials, you."

Let's go back first! ”

Judging the food showed a strange desolate look on his face, he was silent for a moment, put away the wat board in his hand, turned around and saw Zhang Yan's phoenix, and hurriedly bowed down to worship and said, "The minister will see the queen when he eats it."

Niangniang, may the queen be happy for a long time! ”

Zhang Yan raised her sleeves and said reservedly, "Piyang Hou, please get up." ”

"...... are you?"

There was a hint of embarrassment on his face, and he didn't seem to be willing to tell outsiders about his suffering, but after all, he couldn't resist the worry about Empress Lu's situation, and said, "Queen Mother, since."

Since the middle of last year, the minister has repeatedly asked to see the Queen Mother outside the Changle Palace, but the Queen Mother has never agreed. I don't know what the situation of the queen mother is now, can the queen mother see it? ”

Zhang Yan was stunned and looked at his current appearance.

After all these years, Zhan Shi around the young and tough Queen Mother has also become old, and he is not good at appearance, and the erosion marks left by the years on him are very significant.

Gradually, it became a common image of a thin old man. It's no wonder I didn't recognize it when I looked at it.

For some reason, she felt a little pitiful in her heart, and replied, "The queen mother has been a little thin and sleepless since the beginning of winter, but she is in good spirits. ”

There was a look of joy in his eyes, and he thanked him, "Thank you, Queen Mother." Niangniang thought that she was going to enter the palace to see the queen mother, so the minister retired first. ”

Tongzi called out "wow", Zhang Yan hurriedly lowered her head, hurriedly coaxed, and after a while, Tongzi sobbed and stopped crying, Zhang Yan sighed, and Fang lifted

Looking at the head, the trial has already gone far,

Zhang Yan looked at the back of the judge, with a hint of gloom.

"A-Niang," she approached Zhang Yan and asked, "Who is this Piyang Marquis, why have I never seen it?" ”

"Him." Zhang Yan thought for a while, "Count yourself as an elder!" ”

There are some things in this world that are extremely strange, such as the Marquis of Biyang, in the eyes of his wife, his husband is unkind, not only disappointing himself, but also very bad for his family

Responsibility. Another example is Empress Lu, who once vowed with the first emperor never to see each other in the next life, and suffered from the man's injuries, but the affection between the two of them. It's quite sincere. Between right and wrong, good and bad, like that

of entanglement.

"Ouch, big mother's little pirrichi." Empress Lu smiled and teased the precious grandson in her arms. I heard that Empress Zhang brought a pair of princesses and princesses to Changle Palace to meet her. She sat up from her bed

, propped it up, and although his face was a little pale at this time, his spirit was okay.

Kiriko is a little older than before, and she can already hold her neck. A pair of big purring eyes looked left and right, curiously exploring this fresh and wide world. Lu Hou hugged it

After a while, I couldn't stand his liveliness, put him in the hands of the nurse on the side, and asked Zhang Yan, "I heard." You and Your Majesty have had another quarrel in the Jiaofang Palace? ”

"Yes."

"Oh," Empress Lu raised her eyebrows, "What is it for this time?" ”

Zhang Yan got up. ordered Wen Niang to hold the second prince and retreat, and the palace attendants next to the palace also retreated, and then knelt down in front of the Empress Dowager Lu, "Ah Yan is in charge of her own decision, and she plans to dismiss the current Weiyang Court."

among those concubines. I consulted with Your Majesty, and Your Majesty has agreed. I have come to ask for the permission of the Queen Mother. ”

"Nonsense," Rao is Empress Lu always knew that Zhang Yan was used to being very bold, and she didn't expect her to do such a thing, so she was extremely annoyed and shouted, "Your life has just passed, and then you will open again."

Dare to do it, isn't it? Those are all women that Your Majesty once favored, and you let them out of the palace, have you ever thought about where Your Majesty's face remains? ”

"Queen Mother," Zhang Yan raised her head and said hurriedly, "You listen to me." ”

Lu Hou sneered, "You can always speak, this time, I want to see how you can say flowers." ”

"Queen Mother," Zhang Yan said slowly, "although in this world, men are very lucky. However, I always want to prove that there are still some men who are sincere and upright! ”

Empress Lu was stunned, did not speak, and listened quietly.

"Over the years, the queen mother has hated me for being willful and inappropriate, but she has never said a word of no to my pet. I think that the queen mother also suffered from the man's amorous luck in the past, wish

I want to see that my son is a dedicated and responsible man. ”

"Your Majesty is very affectionate, as his mother, Ah Yan thinks that you should be very pleased! As for those rules," Zhang Yan snorted, in a slightly deep voice, "I'm used to scoffing at them

, I want to come to a strong woman like the queen mother, and I don't want to take it seriously, but the queen mother has always loved His Majesty's son the most, so she takes things about Your Majesty very seriously. But His Majesty's ambition face

Noodles, when you come up from Guotai Min'an, from Changning on the frontier, and from your children's struggle, if you come from these poor women in the court, it will really be a joke for Your Majesty. In this world, women too

If you take a wrong step, you will have a miserable life. I just want to give them one more chance, and it can be regarded as accumulating a little blessing for Tongzi, Queen Mother, you will fulfill me and Your Majesty! ”

Empress Lu looked at the woman in front of her, this girl can be regarded as she watched grow up, and the son she promised to marry back then was also out of the idea of re-intimacy. Later, although it was a mistake, it finally gave way

His son had a good marriage.

Now that she is seriously ill and difficult to get up, her previous strength and spirit have weakened, and she suddenly feels discouraged about some foreign affairs, and waves her hand tiredly,

"It's a family affair for you and you, you can do whatever you want. I don't care about you anymore! ”

Zhang Yan showed a happy smile on her face and bowed, "Thank you Queen Mother!" ”

Back in Weiyang Palace, Zhang Yan began to officially start the matter of dismissing the concubines.

Seriously speaking, except for the absurd years when Liu Ying was a teenager, there were not many concubines who were officially included in the court. Wang Meiren and Ding Qizi died one after another, leaving only a dozen low-ranking concubines

There are seven or eight palace women who have not been sealed in the history of Tong, and the palace women have been idle in the court for many years, and the son of heaven who is now reigning has been tied to the young and delicate Empress Zhang

Shang had already accepted his fate, coupled with his low status and old age, even if the emperor changed his mind, he would not get any favor, and staying in the court was just a waste of time, so he accepted Zhang Yan's arrangement

, took a good sum of money. went out of the palace; Some of the concubines are either nostalgic for the rich life of the court, or there are still some wishful thoughts in their hearts, so they choose to stay.

Among them, Yuan Meiren, who gave birth to Liu Hong, the king of Huaiyang, could not leave the palace. What really surprised Zhang Yan was Zhang Qizi.

Zhang Qizi knelt in the Jiaofang Palace, bowed deeply to Empress Zhang, and begged, "Queen Mother, Mu Xi voluntarily stayed in the palace, and she refused to leave the palace." beg the queen to be pitiful

Concubines. Don't drive your concubines out of the palace! ”

Zhang Yan sat on the couch in the hall, put down the glazed lotus tea cup in his hand, and asked. "Why?"

"I can understand a little bit that the people on the other side want to stay, but only you, you and I know the reason for your enthronement, and I have never received the favor of Your Majesty. And I don't like it, so I don't ask to come out at this time

Gong is looking for a new way out, but he wants to stay, why? “

Zhang Qizi knelt on the hall, his body trembled, and he didn't say a word.

Zhang Yan was tired. Touching his forehead, he didn't want to care about Zhang Qizi's affairs anymore, and said, "If you want to keep it, keep it." Just like His Majesty said. There are a few idlers in Weiyang Palace, and they are still raised. ”

Zhang Qizi's face was as pale as a piece of paper, and he only bowed to Zhang Yan, retreated silently, and exited the Jiaofang Palace. His feet tripped over the threshold and he almost fell.

This time, the matter of letting the concubines out of the palace was very low-key. It didn't even make a little storm in the previous dynasty.

For Zhang Yan, this matter is over. And the reason why she is so enthusiastic about this matter is also out of her own sense of guilt for these women in the court. After all, no matter what, it is

Because of herself, Liu Ying no longer set foot in the court, so that these women were widowed. For this reason, she worked hard to make her husband and Empress Lu dissatisfied, and worked hard to find a new way out for them

。 After that, those women who chose to stay in the court were lonely and lonely, and it was also because of their own choice, and they didn't have to feel sorry anymore!

"Oh, oh, Tongzi is good," Zhang Yan smiled and picked Tongzi out of the cradle, coaxing, "Call 'mother'." ”

More than two months between the eyebrows of Tongzi has grown a lot, the sense of hearing is very sensitive, a pair of eyes that follow the standard phoenix eyes of his Ah Weng and the eldest mother, as soon as he hears the movement around him, he will look over,

The pupils are pitch black and very smart. looked at his aunt, but ignored it, just kept dancing with his hands open, and called "babbling" in his mouth, without any rules.

"The queen mother is too anxious," Chu Fumu said with a smile, "Normal children don't start calling until they are about a year old." ”

Zhang Yan sighed, "I don't know why, I always hope that Tongzi will grow up soon, but if Tongzi really grows big enough, I will be old when I think about it!" ”

"My Ah Yan will never grow old."

Liu Ying smiled outside the Jiaofang Hall and walked into the hall.

Zhang Yan turned around and smiled in surprise, "Hold it, why did you come back at this time?" Looking at Liu Ying's navy blue cloth robe, he frowned and said, "...... are you?" ”

Liu Ying smiled, "You were very bored in the palace a few days ago, and today I deliberately took time out to take you to Chang'an City for a walk, do you want to?" ”

Zhang Yan was overjoyed and threw herself into Liu Ying's arms, "Yes, yes, of course." ”

Chang'an East City is full of traffic, the sound of selling on the street comes from the market of various trades, and the merchants and ordinary people walk on the market road, which is very lively. Zhang Yan was dressed as a common person, looking at such a landscape, apricot

There was a look of joy in the eyes.

Liu Ying saw it in her eyes, apologized slightly, took her wife's hand, and said softly, "Ah Yan, speaking of which, I haven't accompanied you to Chang'an City a few times over the years, I'm really sorry." ”

Zhang Yan was stunned, turned around, and said with a smile, "Look at what you said, what does it matter?" I'm not that ignorant person, what is your identity, what is my identity, how

I can often visit the market like the small people of Shengdou. Hold on, you have treated me well enough, and now, I have you, I have a good and Tongzi, I am very content. ”

Zhang Yan naturally didn't look down on the cosmetics, jewelry, rouge, gouache and other daily necessities sold in the market, but only looked at some bamboo and wood carvings on a stall, which was very novel, and she stopped with great interest

Picking, Xin Yi listened to the messenger's message, walked to her side, and said softly, "Madam, there is news from the Marquis of Wuxin's mansion that Mrs. Zhou has given birth to a pair of twins, a boy and a girl. ”

Zhang Yan was stunned for a moment, played with the chic crane pen holder in her hand, and smiled thoughtfully, "She's lucky." ”

Suddenly, an exclamation came from the street, "It's Tengu Eclipse Day!" The sound is terrifying!

PS：

Note: Marquis Wu Xin is Lu Lu, and his wife is Mrs. Zhou.