"Yes, when people are in a desperate situation, they will burst out with incomparable strength." The Dali Temple official nodded in agreement, not hiding his admiration for Princess Chen: "It is precisely because of this that people are moved by the princess's righteous act."
Ming Jiyuan smiled and nodded: "My sister grew up in a Taoist temple and was taught by the immortals. She has a kind personality. How could she stand by and watch someone die without helping?"
Upon hearing this, the officials of the Dali Temple were deeply moved for a long time. They were indeed the Ming family, and both men and women had such noble character.
No wonder there have been rumors recently that Prince Chen has made great progress since he got engaged to the daughter of the Ming family. It seems to be true.
"The Ming family is so noble." He bowed to Ming Jiyuan before turning around and leaving.
Ming Jiyuan looked at his departing back and straightened his sleeves. He was serious about praising his sister.
"Jiyuan." The Dali Temple Minister walked up to Ming Jiyuan and handed him a file: "These are records of some cases in the Dali Temple over the years. Take them and have a look when you are free."
"Yes, sir."
"By the way, I have to go to the confidential office of the inner cabinet tonight, you come with me." The Dali Temple Minister said in a gentle tone: "Most of the officials on duty are familiar to you, so don't be nervous."
"Thank you, sir!" Ming Jiyuan bowed deeply. He was not a fool. His superiors took him to the confidential office of the inner cabinet to guard, which meant that his superiors were going to use him.
The Cabinet Confidential Office has a special status, and only important officials trusted by the emperor can interfere in the affairs of the Cabinet Confidential Office.
Throughout the country, countless government decrees had to go through countless arguments among the members of the Cabinet’s secret office before they could be issued.
For a young officer like him with little experience, it was a great honor for him to be brought here by his superiors to stand guard at night.
The confidential office of the inner cabinet was built on the west side of the Suzaku Gate. In order to prevent a repeat of the previous dynasty's "one pot for all", only two officials would be arranged to be on duty in each department every night.
Sitting in the carriage that was heading from the Dali Temple to the confidential office of the inner cabinet, Ming Jiyuan lifted the window curtain and looked outside for a few seconds.
"Time flies. Ten years ago, I was still a fifth-rank doctor. At night, the people would shut their doors and windows and dare not speak loudly." The Dali Temple official sighed and said, "After Your Majesty ascended the throne, the people's lives have become better and better. Even at night, it is a prosperous scene."
Ming Jiyuan let down the curtain and looked up at him.
"Prosperity is hard-won. When our generation grows old, I'm afraid not many of us will remember the disasters of the past." The Dali Temple Minister directly used the word "disaster" to describe the events at the end of Xian De's reign. It can be seen that he disliked the late emperor very much and even dared to say it in front of other officials.
"When people get old, they tend to talk a lot." The Dali Temple official laughed and said, "Don't take it to heart."
"I understand your intention, sir." Ming Jiyuan said with a frown, "We should do the same and take it as our responsibility to protect the peace of the people of the world."
The Dali Temple Minister smiled, patted him on the shoulder, and made no secret of his admiration: "Young and promising, young and promising."
"Those old families may have fallen, but they still have some strength. The verdict was made smoothly this time thanks to someone from above." The Dali Temple official leaned against the carriage wall, calmly asking, "Who do you think it could be?"
Ming Jiyuan shook his head.
"It's Prince Chen." The Dali Temple Minister sighed: "For Prince Chen, it would be more beneficial for him to pull the noble families than to offend them, but he chose to make decisions for the common people."
Considering that Prince Chen was his brother-in-law, Ming Jiyuan did not say anything.
"In fact, I was a little surprised that the Prince of Chen would choose to take action." The Dali Temple observed Ming Jiyuan's expression and said, "Perhaps, we have misunderstood the Prince of Chen before."
Ming Jiyuan twisted his waist. It was Prince Chen who was misunderstood. What did the Lord mean by looking at him like that?
"Jiyuan, go back and persuade your father to look more at the advantages and strengths of Prince Chen. After all, he is your son-in-law, right?"
Good man, after going through so much trouble, he ended up waiting for him here.
How outrageous were the rumors that my father disliked Prince Chen that even his superiors came to persuade him to reconcile?
"Prince Chen is actually a good boy."
Ming Jiyuan silently glanced at his superior. Three years ago, this person said that Prince Chen was willful and reckless, but now he has become a good boy?
When Prince Chen woke up, it was already bright outside. He turned his head and saw that the other half of the bed was empty. He rubbed his forehead and sat up: "Someone come."
"Your Highness." Yang Yiduo walked into the room with the palace servants, "Are you awake?"
"Where's the princess?" Prince Chen lifted the quilt and got out of bed: "Prepare water, I want to take a bath."
"The hot water is ready. Your Highness, please go to the bathroom." Yang Yiduo replied, "Just now, there was news from the West Palace that Concubine Zhao was unwell, and the princess brought Miss Chunfen to visit her."
"Is there any problem with Concubine Zhao's health?" Prince Chen paused.
"As you get older, it's inevitable that your body will be prone to illness." Yang Yidu lifted the gauze curtain to prevent it from hitting Prince Chen's head.
Prince Chen recalled what Concubine Zhao said to him and Ming Xiaozhu when they were painting in the peach forest.
He looked up and saw a full-moon lantern hanging from the beam.
The full moon lights during the day are still very beautiful.
However, last night was its most beautiful moment.
"Your Highness, the princess ordered me to hang this lamp. If you don't like it, I will hang it somewhere else." Yang Yidu saw that the prince was staring at the full moon lamp and was worried that he had some opinion about it.
"No." Prince Chen shook his head: "It's good to hang it here."
He likes it.
When I saw Concubine Zhao again just a few days later, she looked like she had aged several years rapidly.
"Madam Concubine." Jiuzhu held Concubine Zhao's hand and said, "You can use medicine today. Has Doctor Yu come?"
The skin and flesh hang loosely on the hand bones, having long lost their elasticity. That is the smell of aging.
"It's the same old problem. The people below are ignorant and actually made you run all this way." Concubine Zhao struggled to sit up, but Jiuzhu stopped her: "Concubine, lie down and don't catch a cold."
"I've been in the palace all day, so I don't have anything to do." Jiuzhu covered her with the quilt: "Come sit here with the concubine, and you can touch the little fat cat."
"Meow." The fat cat lying on the table made a lazily sound, jumped off the table, and finally jumped onto Jiuzhu's knees.
Jiuzhu reached out and touched it gently, and it made a humming sound.
"It likes you very much." Toffee Zhao seemed to want to say something, but looking at the lazy cat, she didn't say it.
"It's raining outside again?" She heard the sound of rain.
"Yeah." Jiuzhu saw that Concubine Zhao seemed to want to listen to the sound of rain, so she stood up to help her open the window and turned to look at her with a smile: "It's beautiful."
The woman in front of the window was wearing a sky-blue dress, and her smile was even more hazy and beautiful than the rain outside the window.
Concubine Zhao followed with a smile: "Yes, it's beautiful."
The palace maid brought in the prepared medicine. Concubine Zhao sat up and drank the medicine in one gulp with an indifferent expression.
These bitter medicines cannot delay a person's aging.
"Princess, can I read to you?" Jiuzhu took a book from Chunfen, with the words "The Domineering Prince Battles the Evil Demon" printed on the cover.
"Those books about various things are not suitable for people who are sick." Jiuzhu turned the page and said, "These folk stories are more interesting."
Concubine Zhao stared at the book in Jiuzhu's hand in shock. She was originally a winemaker and had no interest in profound knowledge. But in this deep palace, a concubine like her had no choice.
This was the first time since she entered the palace that someone openly said in front of her that folk tales were interesting.
"Yes, folk tales are interesting."
After saying this, she felt happy.
"Then I will start reading to you now." Jiuzhu lowered her head and read the contents of the book.
When she was reading, she did not follow the rules of scholars. Instead, she was more like a storyteller. Her tone was lively and interesting, and even her expression changed along with it. Concubine Zhao was amused by her and laughed out loud.
When the old nanny who served Concubine Zhao saw this scene, she lowered her head and her eyes turned red.
Half an hour later, Concubine Zhao fell asleep. Jiuzhu closed the book, gently covered Concubine Zhao with a quilt, put down the gauze curtain, and left the room.
"Princess." The old maid came over, holding an umbrella in her hand: "It's raining outside, I'll take you there."
"The Concubine is in need of someone to serve her, so you don't have to be polite to me." Jiuzhu took the umbrella from her hand and said, "If you are missing any herbs, just send someone to tell me. Even if I don't have them here, my mother will definitely have them."
Hearing Princess Chen mention the Queen in such an intimate tone, the nanny understood in her heart that it seemed that the relationship between the Queen and her daughter-in-law was as good as the rumors said.
Princess Chen insisted that she didn't want her to send them off, so she had no choice but to fetch a few umbrellas and give them to the people who followed and served Princess Chen.
"I can hold the umbrella myself. Be careful not to get yourself wet." Jiuzhu raised her hand to let the little palace maid who was about to hold the umbrella for her step back. The little palace maid looked to be only fourteen or fifteen years old, and it would not be good for her to get wet in the rain.
"Thank you, Princess." The little palace maid hesitated for a moment, then followed the princess holding an umbrella.
The rain before Qingming Festival was a bit cold, fortunately she didn't have to get wet in the rain today.
very nice.
Jiuzhu likes to listen to the sound of rain hitting the oil-paper umbrella, but it’s a bit bad to see her beautiful embroidered shoes get wet by the rain.
The door separating the West Palace from the Back Palace opened, and Jiuzhu saw Prince Chen, dressed in a snow-white suit and with his long hair untied, standing outside the door holding an umbrella.
"Your Highness." Jiuzhu put away her umbrella and rushed under the umbrella of the King of Chen, smelling the fragrance of his body after bathing: "Why are you here, Your Highness?"
"I'm here to take you home." The Prince tilted the umbrella over her head and chuckled, "I like the moon you gave me."
Jiuzhu reached out and hugged his arm: "As long as you like it."
Noticing that his hair was not dry, Jiuzhu said, "If your hair is not dry, it will give you a headache if you blow dry it. Let's go back quickly."
"No hurry." Seeing her carefully circumventing the puddle, the Prince of Chen put the umbrella into her hand, not wanting to dirty her embroidered shoes: "Come, I'll carry you."
"I'm so sorry." After saying this, Jiuzhu had already laid on his back.
He may sound embarrassed, but his actions are honest.
"Do you like these embroidered shoes?"
"You asked the clothing department to make this pair of shoes for me. There's a puppy on it." Jiuzhu held Prince Chen's neck with one hand and held an umbrella with the other hand: "I like it very much."
"Ming puppy?"
Jiuzhu lay on his shoulder and laughed, the umbrella was flying all over the place, and Prince Chen was hit in the face by the cold rain.
Prince Chen: “…”
At this moment, Jiuzhu bit his neck gently and said, "Woof."
The place where I was bitten felt numb and tingling, but it didn't hurt at all.
Prince Chen lifted her up and said, "Looks like she is really a little dog."
Jiuzhu was laughing, and he started laughing too.
"Why did Your Highness choose a white dress today?"
"Tomorrow is Qingming Festival. I will go to pay tribute to my father on his behalf. It is not appropriate to wear bright-colored clothes these days." Prince Chen raised his eyebrows: "Why, it doesn't look good?"
"You look good. Your Highness, in light-colored clothes, is like the bright moon in the sky. Your Highness, in bright-colored clothes, is like the most beautiful sea of flowers in spring. If you wear dark-colored clothes, it is the most charming and mysterious night." When talking about the good things about her own Highness, Jiuzhu never lacks nice words: "No matter what you wear, you look good."
"Ming Xiaozhu, it's a good thing you didn't become an official in the court."
"Why?"
"If you were an official, you would be the most flattering and treacherous official."
Jiuzhu snorted: "I'm telling the truth."
Prince Chen's heart was moved. He couldn't see Jiuzhu's face, but he could imagine her current expression: "Am I so good to you in your heart?"
"Um!"
Prince Chen smiled gently. If he hadn’t been carrying someone on his back, he would have really looked like the immortal king that Jiuzhu had described.
"Princess, what's wrong with you?" The palace maid was startled when she saw Sun Caiyao suddenly become motionless and the basket in her hand fell to the ground.
"It's okay, it's okay." Sun Caiyao shook her head nervously and bent down to pick up the flower basket.
The Prince of Chen was just wearing white clothes. She couldn't think too much about it. She must not think too much about it.
"The Prince and Princess Chen have a very good relationship." A palace maid whispered, "They were afraid that the Princess would have to walk on rainy days, so they actually carried her on their backs."
"Hmm, didn't you notice that the prince didn't even have his hair tied up?"
Sun Caiyao's head was buzzing, his eyes went dark, and he fell to the ground.
"Prince's Consort!"
Before she fell into coma, she saw Ming Jiuju jump off King Chen's back and run towards her.
"Your Highness, Your Highness."
Yun Yanze was still asleep when he was awakened by the urgent call of the palace maid. He closed his eyes and suppressed all the emotions in his heart. He sat up and opened the gauze curtain: "What's the matter?"
"The princess just fainted in the palace corridor. We asked the imperial physician to diagnose her. She is pregnant!"
Yun Yanze showed joy on his face. He put on his outer robe and strode out the door, but he saw Yun Duqing standing in his yard holding an umbrella.
He slowed down his pace and said, "Fifth brother."
"Fourth brother." Prince Chen nodded slightly to him: "Congratulations, fourth brother."
"Thank you, Fifth Brother." Yun Yanze looked at Yun Duqing's snow-white brocade robe with silver patterns and asked, "Why are you here, Fifth Brother?"
"My princess saw my fourth sister-in-law fainted, so she sent her back and is now staying with her in the room." Prince Chen raised his eyebrows. Does he really want to stand here?
What does it have to do with him if other women get pregnant?
Inside the house, Sun Caiyao looked at Ming Jiuzhu who was sitting beside her and sat up.
"An eunuch has already gone to invite Fourth Brother. I'll take my leave first. The roads are slippery on rainy days, and you're pregnant, so you have to be careful when you go out." Jiuzhu stood up and prepared to go out.
Her prince was still waiting for her in the yard with an umbrella.
Sun Caiyao stared down at her belly in a daze, and slowly loosened her hands that were pinching the quilt: "Ming Jiuzhu, thank you."
Is she pregnant?
Jiuzhu was surprised by Sun Caiyao's address to her and turned to look at her: "Fourth sister-in-law, you are too polite."
She was busy going out and didn't think much about Sun Caiyao's attitude.
Walking out of the door and under the eaves, Jiuzhu waved to the King of Chen: "Your Highness."
The Prince shook his head helplessly, walked up to her, and held the umbrella over her head: "Come down."
Jiuzhu jumped down the stairs and fell into his arms. He reached out and held her waist, holding her whole body in his arms.
"Today's matter is due to Lao Wu's sister-in-law."
After hearing the voices, Jiuzhu realized that Yun Yanze was standing under the eaves. She took the Prince Chen's arm, raised her umbrella and looked at Yun Yanze: "Fourth brother, you are too polite. Go and accompany Fourth Sister-in-law."
After all, he is a prince, so he is more patient than ordinary people. Even when his own princess is pregnant, he still has the patience to talk to others outside the door.
Yun Yanze glanced at her, then turned and went into the house.
"Your Highness, you must have waited for a long time." Jiuzhu leaned on Prince Chen and said, "Let's go home."
She looked down at her embroidered shoes that were stained by mud and water, and sighed. She was in a hurry to help Sun Caiyao, and she didn't notice the small puddle next to her, and she stepped into it.
"It's okay." Prince Chen touched her head and said, "I'll have them make you a pair of identical ones."
"Yeah!" Jiuzhu became happy again.
Prince Chen sighed, he was so silly and easy to coax.
The news that the Fourth Prince's wife was pregnant spread quickly.
The mothers of the princes reacted differently. Only Empress Su specifically called Jiuzhu to her side and told her a lot of things about how women were too young to have children.
His words were full of love for her.
The next morning, before daybreak, Prince Chen went to Taiyang Palace, changed into the prince's robe embroidered with dragon patterns, and rode on the dragon chariot to the Circular Mound.
Qingming Festival is originally a festival for worshiping ancestors, but the emperors of the Dacheng Dynasty believed that some ancestors would become immortals in heaven after death, so they would first go to the Circular Mound to worship the heaven, and then go to the Fangzetan Temple to worship Hou Tu.
Behind the dragon chariot, four princes rode along on horseback, and behind them were civil and military officials in official robes.
Prince An wiped the rain off his face.
The youngest prince sat in the dragon chariot that represented the emperor's travels, and his four older brothers rode on horses, accompanying him in the Qingming drizzle.
The matter of currying favor with someone is imminent.
"The rain is getting heavier." Prince Huai noticed Prince An wiping away the rain and said sourly, "When we get to Fangzetan later, our clothes will probably be soaked through."
It is better to ride on the dragon chariot, where you are protected from the wind and rain.
Prince An felt something was wrong with what he heard and did not dare to respond.
Prince Huai also realized that what he said was a little inappropriate, and turned to look at Yun Yanze: "Fourth brother, I haven't congratulated you on becoming a father yet."
"Thank you, big brother." Yun Yanze seemed to be in good spirits, and even his smile seemed to be more sincere.
"Yes, congratulations." An Wang Chaoyun Yanze bowed and congratulated him.
"Having a child is a great joy, but..." Jing Wang muttered softly, then came to his senses, bowed quickly, and apologized timidly: "I'm sorry, I said something wrong."
Offering sacrifices to heaven and earth is a major event, and the prince cannot easily do it on behalf of the emperor.
Unless, he is the crown prince.
Today, my father asked Yun Duqing to go to Taiyang Palace to change into the prince's robe and wear the golden dragon crown. He also arranged for him to travel with the emperor's ceremonial procession. This is equivalent to announcing to everyone in the world that he wants to make Yun Duqing the crown prince.
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