91 Turning Point
◎My brother is stupid. He was the one who let you down first◎
Rong Qianyu was afraid that something might happen to her, so she hurried to Fu Tao without waiting for the palace maid to explain clearly.
I thought of countless situations along the way, fearing that she would still be unable to make up her mind and get trapped in her own web, but all my doubts were completely dispelled the moment Rong Qianyu saw her.
She was wearing the newly made robe for her by the Empress Dowager. When she saw her, she ran to the door excitedly to greet her, "Sister-in-law is here?"
She looked very relaxed, much better than the haggard look she had shown more than half a month ago. Although the weather was a little chilly, her face was flushed.
Looking up, I saw that she was also wearing a pink tourmaline hairpin, which looked very charming in her hair.
Rong Qianyu was a little at a loss. She hadn't visited her for only half a month. Why was she so desperate before? Now Huang Song was getting married. This child was so stubborn, why did she suddenly let it go?
I didn't know and thought the sun was rising from the west. "What's the matter, Tao'er?"
Fu Tao noticed her surprise, but did not explain anything. He just watched Rong Qianyu smiling as she led her to the inner room.
Seeing that she looked unhappy, he took the initiative to ask about her condition, "Sister-in-law, you don't look well. Did you catch a cold?"
Rong Qianyu shook her head, her heart still beating fast. She didn't know what had happened to her these past few days, but she didn't dare ask any more questions. "Nothing's wrong. How have you been resting lately?"
"When will Fu Nian leave?" she asked.
"Xia Country is located in the south. If you set out before the winter solstice, you will arrive before the next New Year."
In this matter, she had to thank Fu Nian. If she hadn't volunteered, the marriage would have failed, which would have threatened the diplomatic relations between the two countries. Now she was getting married, and she had never thanked her.
Rong Qianyu was always very careful when speaking to her, for fear that if she said something wrong she would think too much. Seeing that she seemed to be lost in thought, she suggested that she take her to the outskirts of Beijing to see the cherry blossoms in the spring.
There is a cherry blossom forest in the suburbs of Beijing, the pink and tender flowers are so beautiful.
Xue Ji had discovered the cherry blossom forest some time ago. It wasn't a deserted place, but it was also a quiet and secluded place. March was the perfect time to enjoy the cherry blossoms, as the swallows were returning.
Fu Tao lowered his eyes and rubbed Rong Qianyu's hands, "Heart... Young Master Huang is getting married, right?"
"Yes," Rong Qianyu comforted him, "Tao'er, there's still a long way to go. His Majesty won't let you marry a foreign prince. You're still so young, you'll definitely meet the right person."
She shook her head, her smile a little stiff, "No, not in this life."
It was a blessing in disguise for her to meet Huang Song in this life. Their love was deep but their fate was shallow, and they were not meant to be together. It could not be forced.
Huang Song was the person closest to her when she was young. Sometimes she even thought that if she was not a legitimate princess and had not received these favors, perhaps she would be able to accept the casually arranged marriage and the arranged marriage with peace of mind.
But she was a legitimate princess who was loved by her father, the emperor, and her mother, the empress. She had been proud since childhood, and had been dressed in fine clothes and fed with delicious food. Everyone told her that she was the most favored princess and would be happy in the future.
She is different from Fu Nian. She has never relied on her father's favor, so she can do whatever she wants. She is a legitimate daughter, so naturally there are people supporting and protecting her.
But the result is that the person you trust is not the one you trust.
The palace maid came in from outside and brought in some dinner, "Your Highness, it's time to eat!"
When she heard that there was food, she suddenly perked up and pulled Rong Qianyu to stay and have a quick meal with her.
Rong Qianyu was so kind but it was hard to refuse, "Okay!"
She smiled happily and ordered the food department to prepare the pot, as she wanted to have dinner with the queen, and also ordered people to prepare some wine.
Today I will not go home until I am drunk with my sister-in-law!
Rong Qianyu looked at her strangely and couldn't say anything.
Fu Tao has a quirky personality, maybe he can really figure it out.
Seeing that she was worried, Fu Tao comforted her again: "It's true that I won't meet a better person, but my sister-in-law is right. We must live our lives. I have caused so much trouble to everyone before, and I shouldn't just die and live in peace!"
Seeing Fu Tao say these words today, Rong Qianyu, the sister-in-law, felt extremely content. She had been raised by loving parents and had no ulterior motives and was stubborn. It was not easy for her to think this way now.
As long as people can figure it out and calm down slowly, there is still time.
She was desperate back then, thinking that she had to be with Wen Xiaqing in this life, but looking back, she realized that this person was indeed not the right one.
"It's right that you think so. Let's go shopping in the suburbs of Beijing next year. Why bother getting married?" I suddenly felt relieved.
"Sister-in-law..." Fu Tao held up the bowl but hesitated to use his chopsticks. He just called her sister-in-law and then suddenly changed his tone, "Sister Qian, my brother is stupid. He was the one who let you down first. But please, for the sake of me and our mother, if there ever comes a day in the future... please let him go."
Rong Qianyu was shocked, not knowing where she heard this from, "What nonsense are you talking about, little girl!"
"If one day you fall in love with someone else, don't feel guilty. It's because he doesn't deserve you. He let you down and locked you up. He's the one who wasted your life."
She was very surprised by Fu Tao's words. She knew that Fu Tao would not know about her and Xue Ji. Maybe he was speaking from his heart, or maybe it was just a recent rumor.
She was a bit caught off guard by saying this suddenly.
As a woman, under the influence of the Three Bonds and Five Constant Virtues and the concept of monarch and subject, she can still say these words from her own perspective. I think she really sees things clearly.
Rong Qianyu glanced at her and knocked Fu Tao on the head with her other pair of chopsticks, "What are you talking about, silly girl! Let's eat!"
Seeing this, Fu Tao hid back and poured her wine with a smile, "I won't say anything more, let's drink!"
The two of them sat around the pot and feasted on the food. Fu Tao hadn't felt so happy and relaxed for a long time. Rong Qianyu also wanted to make her happy, so she just went along with her.
She had never told Fu Tao about her relationship with Fu Hua, but she could see over the years that her brother was becoming more and more lawless.
The ministers in the court were still arguing over the issue of tax increases.
Although Lord Wei was injured and at home, other senior officials also began to oppose it.
A group of veteran ministers, led by He Qiong, submitted petitions one after another, "Your Majesty, as the head of the regents, I must say something. Increasing taxes is indeed inappropriate. Now that the end of the year is approaching, I hope Your Majesty will reconsider!"
Fu Hua didn't really care. Seeing him take off his hat and kneel on the ground, he ignored him and said, "Why do you say that, Lord He? I have already promised the Queen that as long as she does it, I will take it back."
He Qiong was filled with righteous indignation upon hearing this. "How can such an important matter of state be decided by a bet with a woman?"
This new emperor is doing whatever he wants more and more, which is really disheartening.
"Oh, my good queen, who loves the people like her own children, said that if she could kowtow every three steps throughout the six palaces, then I will do as she wishes and not increase taxes."
All the ministers present looked sideways and trembled with fear when they heard this. The Queen is His Majesty's first wife and the head of the six palaces. How could he humiliate her like this!
The emperor and empress are of the same body, how could the empress be like this?
However, Fu Hua didn't take it seriously. Seeing the sighs below, he actually became interested. "He Aiqing, you guys are really something. You didn't allow me to increase taxes, and now that I've agreed, why are you still nagging? What's your intention?"
“…”
Fu Hua was not happy. "Don't mention this matter again, or else you will kneel with the Queen."
He Qiong stopped talking.
"Oh, it's the first snow. I beg you all to do me the honor of going with me to see the Queen. She desperately sought this. I also ask you all to be of one mind and heart. Let us, the monarch and his subjects, work together to create a prosperous era."
He didn't look like he was joking, and no one in the court dared to refute him. They believed that there was always a way to solve the tax problem and resolve the urgent issue.
After the court session ended, the ministers stayed outside the hall for a long time. This was too absurd and the ministers did not understand it.
Why does His Majesty always take things to this extent? It can be resolved with just a few words, but it seems as if he is determined to make things difficult for the Queen.
This made others feel that the recent rumors were just rubbish, but how could one come to a conclusion on something that had no basis to be seen, especially when the other party was the mother of a country.
An old official in a red robe pulled over several civil officials and asked, "Your Majesty, what's wrong? The Empress's health has never been good. Kneeling in the palace in the cold winter, I'm afraid she'll lose half her life!"
The minister he pulled over had a protective plate on his waist and spread his hands to show that he was powerless.
This method clearly shows that they don't want Rong Qianyu to live in peace, but what else can they do? Fu Hua won't listen to what they say.
"What can you and I do? Even the Queen can't do anything!"
He Qiong approached from a distance, pushing through the crowd and asking, "Would she really do this for the Great Zhou?"
He has always had a prejudice against Rong Qianyu. First, she is not from the Great Zhou, and second, she is a woman, and she has always disliked the harem interfering in politics.
When the hen craves the dawn, the world is in chaos!
No matter how difficult it is to control the emperor or how much he does what he wants, in his opinion, it is better than having an enlightened empress dowager ruling the country from behind the scenes.
The younger ministers, unable to speak in front of him, bowed and said, "During the epidemic, it was thanks to the Empress that she turned the tide, but this is truly unbelievable. She's the Empress, what crime could she commit to deserve such humiliation? She's only twenty years old!"
These things are indeed true, but it is not appropriate to change your mind every day just for a woman.
He pondered for a moment and said helplessly, "Your Majesty is just too fond of Cui, the dignified wife of the Empress Dowager. It's really a pity..."
If something happens again at the end of the year, I am afraid the government will be unstable.
"I heard that the son of Lord Huang is getting married in a few days. Your Majesty has really... hurt everyone close to you." said a minister in his forties.
Upon hearing this, all the ministers waved their sleeves and said, "Why go? I dare not go. This year has been full of disasters. I want to take a leave and ignore what is happening outside. Let's talk about it after the New Year."
At this time, who would dare to join in the fun?
A young general asked again, "What did the Queen Mother say? Didn't she try to persuade His Majesty?"
But the Empress Dowager was powerless. What could she do? The mother of a country had to kowtow every three steps throughout the six palaces, and the emperor even asked all the ministers to watch the ceremony from the city tower.
How ironic.
The late emperor's achievements were still fresh in our eyes, and the new emperor, less than six months after ascending the throne, had already acted so madly. It was truly terrifying. I had thought that he favored his concubines and killed his wife, but now he was going so far as to meddle with the previous dynasty, and the government became a tool for him to vent his personal grievances.
"We are just subjects. What can we do? Let's not talk about it anymore."
They are just ministers in this matter, and there is no point in saying more. The queen has indeed suffered a great injustice, but what can the ministers do? They are just worrying about nothing.
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