Before the decree from Taiyang Palace was spread out, the concubines in the harem had already been tortured to death by the scriptures.
"Five days, Su made me copy scriptures for five whole days!" Concubine Ning looked at the scriptures on the table with bloodshot eyes. She waved her hand and wanted to tear all the scriptures on the table into pieces, but thinking of Su's tormenting methods, she endured it.
"Your Majesty." The maid looked at the furious Concubine Ning, shrank her neck and stammered, "Concubine Su of Mingyue Palace sent someone to say, to say..."
"What did she say?" Concubine Ning's chest was heaving with anger, and she held the table tightly with both hands: "Say it!"
"Noble Concubine Su said that she would continue copying the scriptures tomorrow... tomorrow in gratitude for the kindness of the ladies."
"Su Meidai!" Concubine Ning finally couldn't stand it anymore and swept the scriptures on the table to the ground: "You bitch are really going too far!"
"Your Majesty, calm down." The female official bent down and picked up the scriptures scattered on the ground. "The Su family is favored by the emperor, so you should be patient. Throughout history, every concubine has a glorious beginning but ended up in misery. You still have His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi. His Royal Highness is a man of outstanding appearance and is praised by all the officials in the court. As long as you keep calm, everything will be fine."
"The group from Lingzhou at that time..."
"Your Highness!" The female official put the scripture on the table and said, "You forgot that eight years ago you were ill and His Highness was kind and filial, so he stayed in the palace to take care of you. You and His Highness did not accompany you."
"You are right." Concubine Ning gently smoothed the curled corner of the scripture, and said softly: "My son is kind and filial, how can he be compared to a fool like Prince Chen."
In Mingyue Palace, Concubine Su looked through the files sorted out by the Dali Temple and snorted without commenting: "A concubine who was not favored by the late emperor went to great lengths to bribe the maids of Mingyue Palace and use the embroidery to sow discord between me and Jiuzhu. What is she trying to achieve?"
If she had such great ability, she would have won the favor of the late emperor long ago. How could she still be a low-level Baolin when the late emperor passed away?
"I don't care who is behind this. Before I completely calm down, you have to continue copying scriptures for me." Throwing the files on the table, Concubine Su closed her beautiful eyes lazily: "Once the resentment in their hearts is resolved by the scriptures, they will not have so much energy to do small things behind the scenes."
"These people with ulterior motives thought they could use these little tricks to alienate you and Miss Ming, but they didn't know that Miss Ming was smart and good at reasoning. Not only did they expose their plot, but they also lost many of their confidants." Xiang Juan smiled: "Even I didn't expect that Miss Ming would pretend to agree to the other party and then secretly tell me."
"It means that in her heart, she regards me as someone she can trust." Imperial Concubine Su knew very well that if other noble ladies from aristocratic families encountered this situation, most of them would choose to decline politely, or remind her in the most appropriate way.
This is the only way to protect themselves to the greatest extent and avoid being involved in harem conspiracies.
In fact, this is the perfect solution. But sometimes, what is most touching is precisely the unreserved imperfection.
"Alas." Concubine Su suddenly sighed: "Xiangjuan, if the Ming family has objections to this marriage, will Jiuzhu be caught between my son and the family? Will it be difficult?"
Xiangjuan was silent.
Your Majesty, Miss Ming and His Highness haven't gotten married yet, you are thinking too far ahead.
"Oh, by the way, Madam, a little thing happened the day before yesterday involving Miss Ming." Xiang Juan said, "The old lady of the Marquis of Pingyuan Mansion and her family were returning from burning incense when they met Miss Ming's carriage. Without even a greeting, they just waited for Miss Ming to give way to their carriage. Later, they happened to meet the King of Qi, and the old lady of the Marquis Mansion finally spoke up and let Miss Ming go first."
"Those women in disguise at the Pingyuan Marquis's Mansion are worthy of my daughter-in-law to condescend to avoid them?!" Imperial Concubine Su opened her eyes, "Did I give them face?"
Xiang Juan reminded quietly: "Your Highness, Miss Ming has not yet married His Highness."
"So what if they haven't gotten married yet? Didn't I make it clear enough at the birthday banquet that day?" Concubine Su sneered, "Call the wife of Marquis Pingyuan. There are rumors that the Marquis Pingyuan's mansion is extravagant and indulges the servants to talk nonsense. I want to know how the Marquis Pingyuan's mansion manages its family."
If they dare to ask her future daughter-in-law to avoid them in public, don't blame her for slapping them in the face.
When it comes to bullying others by taking advantage of one's power, she is more skilled.
Ming family.
Shen walked into her daughter's yard and stopped when she saw her daughter painting under a tree.
"Mother." Jiuzhu was very sharp-eyed and sharp-eared. As soon as Shen entered the courtyard, she heard footsteps. She put down her paintbrush and looked towards the door. "Is there something you need from your daughter?"
On weekdays, her mother never came to disturb her when she was painting.
"The Ministry of Rites sent someone to say that an imperial decree will be issued later. You should change your clothes to avoid appearing to be negligent." Shen walked to her daughter's side, glanced at the painting of withered lotus leaves on the table, and looked away calmly: "I don't know what the imperial decree will be."
It's so serious, it doesn't seem like a trivial matter.
Could it be... related to the wedding date of my daughter and His Highness?
"My daughter will go right away." Jiuzhu asked Shen: "Mother, what do you think of my daughter's painting of "Koi Playing with Lotus"?"
This question brought Shen's memory back to more than 20 years ago, when she and her husband had just met. Her husband was like this, holding up a painting whose content could not be identified, and confidently asked her if she liked the painting he had made especially for her.
If he wasn't good-looking and had a nice voice, she would have wanted to ask right then and there, "What is that painting?"
It was all because his eyes were too affectionate, which made her lie against her will.
Unexpectedly, after many years, when she finally waited for her husband to have a clear understanding of his painting skills, she still could not escape the fate of lying for love.
"The artistic conception is extraordinary, the brushwork is interesting, very good."
How can it be considered a lie when a mother praises her daughter? That is love.
"Since even mother says it's okay, then I'm relieved." Jiuzhu hung up the painting: "When the painting is dry, I will give it to His Royal Highness Prince Chen."
Shen: “…”
Although it is said that His Royal Highness Prince Chen does not like poetry and books, he should still have the ability to appreciate paintings. If my daughter sends this painting to his mansion, will Prince Chen think that my daughter is deliberately insulting him?
"Is it not possible?" Seeing her mother remain silent, Jiuzhu's eyes gradually dimmed.
"Of course you can." Shen said, "But a girl's writing is precious and cannot be easily shown to others."
"Please rest assured, mother." Jiuzhu smiled happily: "My daughter will not send anyone except her own family."
Shen forced a smile with the corners of her mouth, hoping that Prince Chen could make Jiuzhu happy like she had done to her husband in the past.
At three quarters past the hour of Wei, Minister of Rites Li En entered the residence of Minister Ming with the imperial edict, and accompanying him were the royal procession in golden armor.
"Brother Ming." Li En looked at Ming Jingzhou and his family, who were dressed in their best clothes and waiting at the middle gate, and said to him with a smile, "Today I am here to announce the decree by His Majesty. Minister Ming, please listen to my announcement."
"Long live His Majesty!" Ming Jingzhou looked at the golden armored guards behind Li En and felt very confused. Why did His Majesty send all the ceremonial guards in the palace?
"…loyal to the emperor and patriotic, caring for the people…"
"I am grateful for your loyalty, and I will treat you with the sincerity of an earl and confer you the title of Ningkang."
Ming Jingzhou knelt on the ground in a daze, unable to believe his ears.
Title?
Your Majesty actually conferred a title on him?
For many famous ministers and generals, their lifelong ideal was to be granted a title and be enshrined in the imperial mausoleum after their death. However, the emperors of the Dacheng dynasties would not easily confer titles on foreign officials, so the title of nobility was particularly precious.
Even though the Ming family had two top scholars and one third scholar, they did not dare to think about conferring a title. So now they just give him the title?
Jiuzhu knelt on the ground and secretly looked at Ming Jingzhou. Her father, who was always elegant, tactful, and expressionless, actually showed an expression of surprise and joy. She was somewhat curious about how great this title was.
"Congratulations, Earl Ning Kang." Li En handed the imperial edict to Ming Jingzhou, with emotion and worry in his eyes. The two were both friends and colleagues, and he naturally understood the intention behind His Majesty's giving this title to Ming Jingzhou.
"The wedding date for His Royal Highness Prince Chen and Miss Ling has been set." Li En helped Ming Jingzhou, who was still kneeling on the ground, up: "The second day of the second month of next spring."
The second day of February...
Ming Jingzhou suddenly lowered his head to look at his daughter kneeling on the ground and murmured in a low voice: "February 2nd..."
"Father." Jiuzhu helped Shen stand up and winked at Ming Jingzhou, quietly reminding him that he had not yet thanked the emperor.
"I thank your majesty for your kindness." Ming Jingzhou held the imperial edict and knelt down in the direction of the palace. "As a subject, I will sacrifice my life for your majesty to repay your kindness."
Holding tightly the imperial edict that was worth more than a thousand gold pieces, he bowed his head.
"Father." Jiuzhu knelt down with Ming Jingzhou, and held his arm with her tender hands, soft but strong.
Ming Jingzhou looked at his daughter's still childish face, stood up to see Li En and the golden armored procession off, and sat in front of Jiuzhu: "Jiuzhu, do you like the King?"
Jiuzhu nodded. His Royal Highness Prince Chen was kind and Concubine Su was considerate. She liked them both.
"Father understands." Ming Jingzhou was silent for a long time: "You are the apple of the Ming family's eye. No matter when, your mother and I will never watch you suffer any injustice."
"My daughter knows." Jiuzhu hugged Shen's arm and said, "You are the best father and mother in the world."
She had been abandoned so far away for so long, and they searched for her and missed her day after day. Never give up, never forget.
It was winter, and the Prince was covered in morning mist, sitting in the carriage, leaning against the cushion, his face numb.
The clatter of horse hooves could not drive away his inner fatigue. Even he was unwilling to believe that he had gotten up so early in the morning just to go to the Ministry of Rites to learn how to do things.
"Your Highness." The carriage stopped, and the attendant reported quietly outside the carriage: "Someone is blocking the carriage ahead."
Prince Chen lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked at the figure in the mist.
"Your Highness." Jiuzhu turned around, jumped twice on the spot, and waved to Prince Chen in the carriage.
Why is this silly girl here? Prince Chen didn't even use the horse stool, he jumped off the carriage and strode to Jiuzhu: "It's so foggy outside, what are you doing here?"
"I'm waiting for His Highness." Jiuzhu took out the painting tube hidden behind her back and said, "On the day of Her Majesty's birthday banquet, I saw that His Highness really liked the carp flower ornament between my eyebrows, so I specially made a koi painting for His Highness."
Taking the painting tube that Jiuzhu held in his palm, Prince Chen sighed, "The morning fog is thick and the dew is heavy. You can send it anytime on weekdays. Why wait here so early in the morning?"
"Official business is more important. Your Highness is usually worried about the affairs of the Ministry of Rites. How can I disturb him?" Jiuzhu smiled like a flower: "The painting has been delivered. I will go home now."
Prince Chen looked at Jiuzhu's hair tips wet by the mist and her nose tip red by the cold wind and said, "Wait."
"What's wrong, Your Highness?" Jiuzhu looked up at him.
Taking out a handkerchief, Wang Chen wiped the mist from her hair stiffly. After wiping it a few times, he stuffed the handkerchief into Jiuzhu's palm, turned his head and said in a rough voice: "Your hair is wet, wipe it yourself."
After saying that, he went back to the carriage to get a small hand warmer and put it in Jiuzhu's hand: "You should go back earlier. There are some things in the Ministry of Rites that cannot be handled without me."
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