Chapter 37: Chang Ning will do his best...
It is early summer now, and the air is filled with a dry smell, various smells, and the occasional chirping of insects, making today's ceremony even more lively.
Zhao Changning felt as if her lungs were on fire as she ran wildly. She held the phoenix seal, which was still covered in mud, tightly in her hands and ran as fast as she could.
Outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the voices of the responsible officials and ceremonial officials continued to be heard. The ceremony and music were nearing their end, and she didn't have much time left.
The emperor, dressed in his imperial robes, stood tall and graceful at the entrance of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, while the empress had already dismounted from her carriage and was walking towards the central door of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Yunhe certainly knew the seriousness of the situation. Seeing this, he gritted his teeth, rushed forward, grabbed Zhao Changning's arm, and quickly rushed into the east gate of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Zhao Changning was nearly knocked down by the drag, but there was no time to think about it at the moment, as he watched the emperor, empress, and officials about to come in.
"Quick, Yunsheng, the box..."
After the queen got off the carriage, she could no longer see Zhao Changning. Her heart was in her throat again, not knowing whether the next step would be a blessing or a disaster.
This incident was really too much, and she became more and more angry towards the person who stole the Phoenix Seal.
The emperor gently stepped forward to greet them, and together they walked into the newly decorated Hall of Supreme Harmony.
As soon as the queen entered the room, she saw Zhao Changning hunched over against the wall in the corner. He looked disheveled, his cheeks flushed, sweating profusely, and breathing heavily as if he was exhausted, but his eyes were always looking at the door. When he saw her come in, he breathed a sigh of relief and nodded firmly.
Their eyes met briefly, and thinking of the figure running wildly just now, her heart was inexplicably moved, and she felt more at ease.
The ceremonial officer sang a greeting, and the emperor first granted the empress the imperial seal, and then opened the sandalwood box containing the phoenix seal.
The queen knelt on the ground, her whole body shivering, her hands tightly clasped around her sleeves, her heart palpitating uncontrollably. She watched as those hands reached into the box. This box was obviously not the original one. Could the Phoenix Seal be inside?
She believed in Zhao Changning, was she right?
Zhao Changning held Yunsheng's wrist and put most of her weight on him. She watched without blinking as the emperor took out the phoenix seal and gave it to the queen. Her heart suddenly settled down.
The ceremony was finally held smoothly.
"Let's go, let's go back."
Yunsheng held Zhao Changning tightly, preventing her from falling. Their clenched hands were already covered in slippery sweat, and there was a rough feeling of sand between them.
He knew his aunt was very tired and it was difficult to let go, so he wiped the sweat from his forehead with his other hand and nodded, "Aunt, go slower."
Zhao Changning and Yunsheng supported each other and staggered to the path. They couldn't help but look back and saw the queen following the emperor out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
For some reason, the two seemed to have some tacit understanding, and despite the distance and obstacles, their eyes met.
Although she couldn't see her specific appearance, the tacit understanding between women made Zhao Changning feel that the queen was smiling, and she couldn't help but curl her lips.
Yunsheng looked at the Emperor and Empress, gleaming in the sunlight, and couldn't help but sigh, "How majestic! These clothes must be very expensive."
Seeing that he was still looking silly, Zhao Changning shook his head helplessly and laughed.
"These clothes were meticulously crafted by the best embroiderers in the palace. The one the emperor is wearing, before it was altered, took a whole year to embroider just the five-clawed golden dragon. It's made entirely of gold thread as fine as a hair. Its value is beyond measure."
Yunsheng was shocked when he heard this.
Zhao Changning felt that he was still a little short of the mark and this situation was not acceptable.
She couldn't help but ask, "How are you doing in the inner study hall?"
Yunsheng lowered his head in embarrassment, but couldn't help showing off. He pursed his lips and said, "The teacher praised me for being smart."
"You are very smart, but you must study hard and not give up." Zhao Changning nodded, praising him generously. He added, "Have you captured him? Keep him under guard. After the ceremony, send him directly to Kunning Palace."
Yunsheng was puzzled, "Aunt, don't you interrogate him first?"
Zhao Changning shook his head and explained patiently, describing in detail the scene of his visit to Kunning Palace.
"For us, the most important thing is that the ceremony goes smoothly and that we keep our lives. Everything else is unimportant. Besides, the Queen has already made up her mind about this matter. If I ask first and nothing comes out, it's fine. But if I do find out something and someone is implicated, then who should I report it to, or you? First, it will upset the Queen. Second, it's better to lend a hand than to trap them. These nobles have just entered the palace, and their situation is still unclear. We don't want to offend them, or we'll be in trouble if it gets to us."
Yunsheng suddenly realized, "Aunt, you are really amazing."
Zhao Changning couldn't help but sigh.
Only then did the two of them have time to look at each other's miserable appearance, and they couldn't help but smile bitterly at each other.
Yunsheng puffed up his cheeks and complained, "Who knew she would bury the Phoenix Seal? Really, and buried it in such a place. People who grow flowers and plants love to do these things. It stinks."
"If you were given such a hot potato, where would you put it?" Zhao Changning asked.
Yunsheng was stunned and blinked his eyes. "Bury it?"
Zhao Changning smiled. "You're quite clever. You knew to look for her along the same path she'd been. You did it very smoothly. I should say thank you."
Yunsheng blushed and scratched his head. "Aunt, it's all my responsibility. I can only say that it's lucky that it didn't rain and the sun didn't dry out too much. The place where I dug is obvious, otherwise I wouldn't be able to find it."
"Yes." Zhao Changning said slowly: "God is kind, and we are lucky."
After returning, Xiaoshun was sitting at the door holding Xiaobai and waiting. When he saw the two of them walking back in a miserable state, he immediately jumped up to greet them.
"Auntie, Yunsheng, you're back? Are you hungry? Are you tired?"
Xiaozhi and Xiaobian also came out when they heard the noise. Xiaozhi was chopping wood and came over with an axe. Xiaobian was smashing coal and his face was covered with black ash.
"Are you back? How are you, aunt?" The two of them also gathered around.
Xiao Shun looked at the two people who were in a mess. His aunt was covered in mud and sweat. Her hair was in a mess. Tears welled up in his eyes immediately.
"Aunt, what happened? Are you okay now?"
"It's fine now." Zhao Changning consoled her, "I don't have to run away anymore, don't worry."
Yunsheng nodded repeatedly, "We're exhausted after a whole night and morning. Xiaoshun, please help us get some food and hot water."
Xiao Shun wiped away his tears and smiled, "Okay, okay, I'll go right away."
Xiaozhi and Xiaobian also followed to help.
The sun rose to mid-sky, the sound of music gradually faded away, and the ceremony of crowning the queen was finally over.
The queen was escorted back to Kunning Palace by a group of palace maids and eunuchs. She was still immersed in the joy of having the Phoenix Seal recovered. It was not until she sat down that she realized that everything was real. Then a deep feeling of fatigue and sleepiness surged over her body.
Before, she always thought that as long as she became the queen, it would be enough. But she never expected that the first day on the throne would be so tiring.
Chunyun sent all the palace maids and eunuchs out, and said with a look of distress in her eyes, "Your Majesty, do you want to wash up? You were so worried and restless last night that you didn't sleep the whole time. I don't think your body can handle this."
The Queen shook her head. "How can I sleep now?"
She still has a lot to do.
Soon, someone, following Zhao Changning's orders, sent a man, saying that he was the thief who stole the Phoenix Seal.
"Where are the people from Changning?"
Yun Hui knelt down and replied, "Your Majesty, my aunt wanted to come here in person, but she was exhausted and she was afraid of disturbing Your Majesty's joy, so she sent this servant to tell Your Majesty that she had not interrogated this person."
The queen thought of Zhao Changning's embarrassed look and couldn't help but smile knowingly at how he was able to maintain order in such a situation.
"Go down and tell Changning to come to Kunning Palace after she has rested."
After washing up, Zhao Changning ate two bowls of noodles and took another nap, but his sleep was not very restful. When he woke up, he found that he had slept for less than two hours.
It was still bright outside, and thinking of all the things she had to do, she got up.
Sure enough, the queen asked Yunhui to pass on a message, asking her to go to Kunning Palace.
The appearance of Kunning Palace had changed a bit at this time. The Queen's regulations were naturally different, and the luxury in the details was not something that ordinary people could feel. The lamps and decorations alone were the most gorgeous and precious utensils in the palace.
Zhao Changning bowed as he entered and said in a loud voice: "Changning pays homage to the Empress. May the Empress live a thousand years."
The queen laughed and sat at the head of the table, "Chunyun, quickly help her up."
Chunyun also smiled and said, "I never thought that you would actually find it in such a short time."
Zhao Changning said modestly, "It's all thanks to the Queen's great blessings. I'm just lucky."
The Queen stood up and sat in the reception area. "How did you find it?"
Zhao Changning followed the Queen's hand, sat down slightly, and said respectfully, "Yunsheng and the others helped me find it. Everyone worked hard all night."
She recounted the situation in detail, not daring to hide anything.
The Queen was moved when she heard this. "You've worked so hard, and I can't let you suffer any loss."
She let Chunyun take three thousand taels of private money, and also rewarded her with some jewelry and fabrics.
Zhao Changning stood up and knelt down to express his gratitude.
"How did you know it was her?" the Queen asked curiously.
Zhao Changning said gently, "The palace is different from the outside. In some places, there are only so many people coming and going. As long as they are human, they have weaknesses and can be defeated. I have been in the palace for so many years, and I just happened to know a few people. I just took advantage of them. It's nothing."
The queen knew that she was being modest, so she nodded, without disguising the admiration in her eyes.
"Tomorrow the Emperor will issue an edict to the world, and I will go before him to pay my respects and express my gratitude. Don't worry, the position of the seal will definitely be yours."
Zhao Changning knelt again and said, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. When the time comes, I will bring the seals of the twelve prisons, four departments, and eight bureaus and kowtow before you. I hope you will show me your grace."
The Queen smiled and helped her up, "Hurry up, I will need your help in the future palace affairs."
Zhao Changning nodded in agreement. After so many years, the harem finally welcomed its true master.
"Your Majesty, you are really embarrassing Changning by saying this."
She brought back a bunch of things from Kunning Palace. Yunsheng had just woken up, still sleepy and dazed.
"Send these to Anyi and the others, and pick out some of these jewelry and fabrics for Yunhui and the others..."
Xiao Shun put the banknote in his arms and said, "You can't give this to me. This is what you took out, and now it's just a return. We need money."
Zhao Changning looked helpless, but she never cared about these things. That's how it is in the palace. As long as you are capable, you will never lose money.
The next morning, Zhao Changning went to the Qinzheng Hall early to wait.
Today is a small court meeting, so there is no need to go to the Hall of Supreme Harmony. This can allow the newly enthroned emperor to relax and quickly agree on some important matters.
Now that the emperor and empress have returned to the throne, the emperor officially issued an edict, establishing the reign title as Cheng'an and posthumously conferring the title of Empress Dowager Xiaokang on his biological mother. All of the concubines of the late emperor were also granted titles at the empress's suggestion. Those with sons left the palace to live out their days, while those without sons stayed in the palace or in a temporary palace to retire. The positions of the concubines in the palace had also been determined, and it was only a matter of waiting for the Ministry of Rites to choose an auspicious day to announce the edict. Everything went smoothly as planned.
However, the emperor did not confer titles on his own brothers and sisters, but only on several children of the former crown prince.
This surprised her a little. After all, the late crown prince had instructed the emperor before he passed away, but until now, the emperor had not allowed his brothers and sisters to leave Yujing.
Thinking of the rudeness and audacity of the Third Princess, the Sixth Prince and others, she could understand it to some extent. But could the Emperor have forgotten the former Crown Prince's instructions so quickly?
When Zhao Changning was compiling the congratulatory message for the queen's coronation, he noticed that everyone in the cabinet looked unhappy, but no one said anything.
Sure enough, something happened, and unexpectedly, it happened in Zhejiang.
Elder Gao was the first to speak, looking composed and his temples had become even whiter.
"Yesterday, the Zhejiang Provincial Governor Zhou Mi submitted a memorial stating that Zhejiang's spring plowing had been affected by internal and external troubles. They needed to mobilize grain and seeds for planting as quickly as possible to appease the people. Otherwise, civil unrest would flare up again, and the situation would be even more dire."
The emperor nodded without hesitation, "This matter cannot be delayed. The people of Zhejiang cannot bear any more misfortune. Allocate grain and seeds there immediately. Jiangxi and Zhejiang are close to each other. I remember that Jiangxi had a bumper harvest last year..."
He paused, "To avoid quarrels, both sides should sign a document, agreeing that the amount borrowed will be repaid within three years."
Given Zhejiang's prosperity, three years is enough.
There are a lot of little tricks among the localities, and they love to pass the buck over such trivial matters. He directly stated the result, which saved his subordinates a lot of trouble.
Gao Yun listened to the emperor's clear thinking and nodded with satisfaction. He did not blame the previous emperor for passing the throne to him.
Sun Zhidao continued, "Huguang and other places have recently entered the flood season, and the river channels need to be reinforced, and they are also pressing for money."
What followed was a series of natural and man-made disasters that occurred in various parts of Dayong, one after another.
Zhao Changning felt tired just listening to it. The late emperor once joked that being an emperor was the most irritating thing. Every day he heard about tragic events all over the country. People either asked for money or people, and he couldn't be happy even if he wanted to.
The emperor's face was indeed cold. He had just ascended the throne and many things had not been clarified yet. There were many things waiting for his decision.
"The river is being repaired every year, and every year it costs so much money. But where are the people overseeing the river? Are they just sitting there doing nothing?"
Qi Yuwei quickly said, "Of the eunuchs sent to various places due to the Hu Party's involvement, only one in ten survived. It's because the Hedao Yamen didn't handle things in a timely manner that they were forced to act so hastily..."
This is the truth. Until now, the Hu Party is still being liquidated.
Afterwards, several people began to recommend officials to rebuild the River Administration Office as soon as possible, as time waits for no one.
But Zhao Changning felt it was very subtle. The people who recommended were all connected with the cabinet members, and many of them were old students and friends. The number of people recommended was also very interesting, arranged according to the size of their official positions.
The emperor's eyes were cold. Without the Imperial Household Department, the Cabinet was completely unchecked. Now they were getting more and more powerful and were trying to fool him.
His eyes could not help but fall on Zhao Changning, who was standing beside him with his head bowed. It suddenly dawned on him that it was no wonder that his father had ignored the opposition of the cabinet and first let Hu Gou'er come forward, and then let a little girl stand up.
The emperor had a cold face, but thinking that the flood season was indeed coming, and for the sake of the people, he finally agreed.
"Since you have all agreed on the candidate, then send him. If the river is not repaired and the dam breaks, I will have to issue an imperial edict of apology."
Gao Yun and others stood up and repeatedly asked the emperor to forgive them.
Zhao Changning could see that the words of the gentlemen were a bit far-fetched, let alone the emperor. It seemed that the emperor had become concerned about their mansion, which was crowded with guests in recent days.
She felt amused. They had just defeated Hu Gou'er together, so why were they fighting among themselves again?
But power, like money, no one can complain about having too much. The people are left unattended anyway, and officials are just fooling around in court.
After the small court meeting was over, the queen came over to pay her respects.
Zhao Changning paused briefly and explained carefully, "The cabinet ministers have just left, and the Emperor is in a bad mood. Your Majesty, please allow me to go in and report."
The Queen said gratefully, "Thank goodness you reminded me."
The emperor sat upright at the top, calmly accepted the empress's kowtow, and then slowly walked down.
He gently helped the queen to her feet and said in a deep voice, "As the mistress of the six palaces, you will manage the harem from now on with fairness, discerning right from wrong, and treating the palace maids with kindness. You should also treat my children and concubines with kindness, without harshness or jealousy. You should always remember your status and responsibilities, take it as your duty to be the mother of the country, to continue the royal family lineage, and to help me solve my problems. Only then will you live up to my expectations."
The Queen knelt again and said, "I will remember the Emperor's teachings."
After she stood up, she told him about the loss of the Phoenix Seal yesterday, and specifically mentioned Zhao Changning.
"... Changning's abilities truly impress me. The harem cannot be left without a leader for long. How can I possibly manage everything? I would like to recommend her as the new seal holder. What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Zhao Changning was standing aside. After hearing the Queen's praise, he quickly knelt down and said, "Changning is not talented. Your Majesty, your praise is too much."
The emperor smiled, and this moment there was more familiarity in his expression.
"Since the Queen has spoken, I cannot refuse her. You are intelligent, agile, and capable. This seal must belong to you."
Zhao Changning suppressed his excitement and bowed deeply, "Changning will do his utmost to serve the Emperor and Empress until his death."
However, she vaguely felt that those people in the cabinet were the ones who pushed her to become the seal holder. Otherwise, if the emperor had wanted to, she would have been the seal holder long ago.
The queen smiled and helped her up, "Hurry up, the harem sisters and ladies will be paying homage soon, and you have to take care of it. I don't trust anyone else."
Zhao Changning nodded, "Changning understands."
The Queen seemed unconcerned and said, "Your Majesty, regarding the missing Phoenix Seal, I have interrogated the thief and found that this matter is somehow related to Yonghe Palace. Do you think you should investigate further?"
The emperor suddenly looked up, his eyes cold and clear, as if he was just looking at a stranger.
Zhao Changning couldn't help but look at the queen's face, and saw the resentment and anger hidden in her eyes, which could not be hidden at all.
She couldn't help but sigh inwardly. The queen shouldn't be like this. The emperor had just said those words of instruction.
Once you speak out about something uncertain, you will easily be controlled by others or even be counterattacked.
As expected, the emperor put down his red brush and said calmly, "Oh? Has the queen really found out everything?"
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The author has something to say: Changning: I just want to reach the top step by step, I want to be **[猫头][猫头]
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