Chapter 38: It’s not shameful to be weak in the first round…
The grievance and anger in the queen's heart were beyond words, but seeing her husband the emperor being so cold, she couldn't help but feel disappointed and sad, and even more resentful towards Yonghe Palace.
She inadvertently saw Zhao Changning's gaze, which was deep and calm, without any grievance or fear or resentment from someone who had been on the brink of life and death. Her heart skipped a beat and she broke out in a cold sweat.
I was too impulsive today.
The Empress immediately bowed her head. "I only mentioned this casually. It's really because I lost the Phoenix Seal that I'm afraid. I've disturbed Your Majesty, and I feel bad for not living up to your expectations."
A smile appeared on the emperor's handsome face, and he felt relieved that he had avoided trouble.
"As the Queen, the head of the six palaces, she helps me solve my problems and worries. How can I feel guilty about this?"
The queen concealed the anxiety and fear in her eyes, kowtowed once more, and then said goodbye and left.
Zhao Changning also breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the queen was sober at the critical moment. However, seeing that the queen was pursing her lips tightly and her eyes were slightly red, it seemed that she had endured grievances for many years and could not hold back today.
If it is really related to Yonghe Palace and it is not a forced confession, then from the Queen's point of view, people have come to kill her, and she really cannot tolerate it anymore.
She can understand.
Zhao Changning saw the emperor pick up the red brush again and start to review memorials with a frown on his face. He had already forgotten what the queen said. It seemed that he was a monarch who put state affairs first, just like the late emperor.
The strokes were heavy, and it was obvious that the emperor was not satisfied with the decisions made by the cabinet members just now. However, when it came to employing people, even though he was the emperor, he could do nothing about it.
The late emperor once said that all scholars in the world are one family. They are very good at deceiving others and are all difficult to deal with.
She didn't understand it before, because they say reading can make one wise. But now, she really understands it a little bit.
With the successful completion of the ceremony of enthroning the queen, Zhao Changning gained the queen's trust and then went on to arrange the visits of the concubines and ladies in the palace.
Of course, she was in charge of these matters, but she did not take on too much. Instead, she asked Anyi, Yunsheng and others to take care of them together, and Yunhui assisted her. Ever since the Phoenix Seal was lost, this girl has been suspicious and has become much less timid.
Fortunately, nothing happened afterwards and everything was safe.
She also brought the seals of various places to pay a visit to Kunning Palace. Once this matter was settled, the harem was considered to have a complete master. The procedures for doing things would be much simpler in the future. The palace maids and eunuchs no longer had to argue in private.
The queen was also very grateful to Zhao Changning. After seeing her parents off, she specially held a banquet to keep her.
"These days, I am really grateful to you. Otherwise, I am afraid that what I have done as the queen would make people even more dissatisfied."
Zhao Changning was sitting below, and when he heard the queen mocking herself, he quickly stood up and knelt.
"Your Majesty is intelligent, open-minded, gentle and kind. Don't underestimate yourself. Changning has only stayed in the palace for a few more days. Your Majesty, don't worry. The affairs of the palace are complicated and you will gradually become familiar with them."
The Queen smiled and shook her head, then suddenly said, "Changning, I won't hide it from you. What do you think I should do with that palace maid?"
Zhao Changning sensed the trust in the Queen's words, and after a moment's hesitation, he said, "This man has ulterior motives, attempting to sow discord in the harem and deliberately anger the Queen. He must not be allowed to stay."
The Queen clenched her wine glass and said coldly, "You also think that I deliberately threw dirty water on Yonghe Palace?"
"Your Majesty is very perceptive." Zhao Changning put down his chopsticks, leaned sideways and bowed his head, and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, in the eyes of the Emperor, this trivial matter is over. As for the truth, it is not important. The Emperor has previously taught that you should be a model for the country and, as the mistress of the six palaces, treat the concubines with kindness. Now that the Emperor has just ascended the throne, the affairs of the previous dynasty are complicated and he is filled with worries. Your most important task right now is to help the Emperor solve his problems, not to create problems for him."
The queen suddenly understood what she said and knew that she was speaking from the heart. The anger in her eyes subsided a little and she drank the wine in the glass in one gulp.
She understood this logic, but as someone involved in the situation, she felt really unwilling to accept it.
But thinking of the emperor's cold expression, she smiled bitterly, "Changning was admonishing me, but I lost my words."
Zhao Changning didn't say anything more after that. The queen was always the one who made the decisions on matters in the harem, and she had fulfilled her duties.
After carefully finishing his meal and bidding farewell to the queen, Zhao Changning still went back with an almost empty stomach.
Yunsheng sat at the door holding Xiaobai, waving happily, "Auntie, hurry up, go faster..."
"What's wrong?" Zhao Changning took Xiaobai and asked with a smile, "What's the matter?"
Yunsheng smiled and led her inside, "Aunt, everyone is waiting for you."
As soon as Zhao Changning entered the room, he saw everyone was there, including the three Anyi brothers and Yun Hui. Everyone stood up with a smile. The table in the hall was filled with delicacies from land and sea.
"Congratulations, auntie. Congratulations, auntie."
Anyi bowed, "Aunt, you've been too busy lately, so we pooled our money and asked the Shangshenjian people to prepare a table of delicious food to celebrate for you. When my godfather was around, we always did this when we encountered happy events..."
An He bumped his arm and An Yi quickly shut up. Everyone also stopped and looked at their aunt.
Zhao Changning saw it all, but didn't care. He smiled and shook his head, "Why are you spending so much money?"
She signaled Anyi not to be afraid, "You have righteousness in your hearts, which is a good thing. I won't blame you. Besides, your godfather is not an unforgivable person, so there is no need to be afraid."
Anyi breathed a sigh of relief.
Yunsheng disagreed and said, "Aunt, how can this be considered a waste? If it weren't for you, we wouldn't know where our heads would be. Now that you've been promoted to the position of seal holder, everyone is very happy."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Zhao Changning didn't refuse and sat down without hesitation. "Okay, then I won't spoil the fun. Let's all sit down together and have a good meal."
Xiaobai was meowing beside him, eager to try the braised fish tail, and scratching the edge of the table with his claws.
Xiao Shun quickly held it down, tapped its head, and said lovingly, "Bad cat, your food is here. I've picked out the fish bones for you. Come and eat it."
Zhao Changning had a rare moment of free time. He smiled as he watched Xiaobai eating and meowing, and he felt completely relaxed.
After eating and drinking, Anyi and others left early because they had some business to attend to.
Yunsheng squatted on the ground holding the cat and playing with ants.
Zhao Changning shook his head and called him up, "You were the most meritorious at this Queen's coronation ceremony. I've been thinking about what reward to give you. Now that I think about it, silver and money are the safest."
She called Xiaoshun over and said, "Take out 1,500 taels."
Yunsheng was so scared that he waved his hands repeatedly, "Auntie, I don't want it, I can't have it..."
He said pitifully, "Aunt, you are not going to drive me away again?"
"Don't worry, I won't chase you away. Take it." Zhao Changning said seriously, "I just gave them gifts because they don't need money, but you do. With your personality, it would be difficult for you to make money, right? Take it. Life in the palace is completely different when there is money and when there is no money."
Xiaoshun handed the banknote to Yunsheng reluctantly.
Yunsheng was obedient. After taking it, he wanted to put it back directly, but seeing his aunt's expression, he hesitated for a moment and directly ordered five hundred taels.
"Aunt, I need money to eat and drink here every day. I can't eat for free."
Xiao Shun took the banknote and nodded repeatedly, "That's right, that's right."
Zhao Changning: “…”
Xiao Shun pouted and said, "Aunt, I will definitely make delicious food for Yunsheng. Eating and drinking in this palace is very expensive..."
Seeing her aunt's serious expression, she could only reluctantly return half of the money to Yunsheng, muttering, "We are short of money, aunt..."
In Yujing in July, only the cicadas in the trees have the energy to cry out. The golden crow is as blazing as fire, and the entire imperial city is like a sea of fire, making people dizzy from the heat.
But things still need to be done, even the emperor has to review the memorials honestly.
After Zhao Changning helped sort out the memorials, he went into the side hall to await orders.
At this time, the people from the Needlework Bureau came to Zhao Changning crying and complaining.
"Didn't I tell you not to come to me unless it's necessary while I'm serving in the Qinzheng Palace?"
"Aunt, I can't live anymore. This time, the Concubine Zhaoyi insisted on having the Liuguang brocade, but the Liuguang brocade is a tribute. There are only two pieces, and it is specially provided for the Empress. If her people come, they will take it. If they don't give it to her, they will tear it up. How can there be such a person..."
The head of the Needlework Bureau knelt in front of Zhao Changning with tears and snot.
"Aunt, the Queen really loves this flowing brocade and even asked for it to be cut carefully. Now there's no need to cut it. Just peel off my skin and cut it. Woo woo woo..."
Zhao Changning frowned and scolded, "You cry and scream when something happens. What kind of place is this? Is your life worth those two pieces of flowing brocade?"
She was also quite troubled by Empress Zhaoyi. The same fruits from all over the palace were either rotten or too small when they came to her. She scolded the Bureau of Gardens. The snacks were either too salty or too sweet. Once, for a bowl of stewed partridge with mushrooms, she insisted that the mushrooms were not fresh, and called the people from the Imperial Kitchen to scold her again and again.
In the end, Zhao Changning made a special trip to ask for the Empress's decree, which granted Concubine Zhaoyi permission to build a small kitchen in Yonghe Palace, which finally made the people in the Imperial Kitchen breathe a sigh of relief.
A master who is difficult to serve is like the July sun in the palace, which can burn people to death.
The head of the Needlework Bureau cried uncontrollably, sweating profusely. "Auntie, you have to save me! They can cook for themselves, but they can't make clothes. You personally promoted me. With her speed and pickiness in making clothes, I and the people under me will be skinned alive and slaughtered sooner or later..."
Zhao Changning helped her up and said, "Alright, I'll tell the Queen about this. Don't cry anymore. Go back and do your job well. I won't skin you alive."
"Thank you, auntie, for saving my life." She knelt down and kowtowed, then wiped her eyes and walked away.
Zhao Changning poked his head into the hall and saw that the memorials on the table had been almost reviewed. He then selected two fruits from the ice jar, quietly entered the main hall, and brought them to the emperor.
There are six ice basins in the hall. The ice in them stays cold all day long in the summer, which naturally keeps the room cool.
The emperor closed his eyes and knitted his brows together. His handsome face showed fatigue and he said weakly, "Who came to see you? Why are you crying like that?"
Zhao Changning laughed and said, "These are just some trivial matters in the palace. Those palace maids and eunuchs love to cry and complain when they are bullied. They disturb the emperor. They really deserve to die."
The emperor picked up the cut pear and began to eat it, shaking his head slightly. "Crying is human nature, but it's not a matter of death."
Zhao Changning smiled and said, "The Emperor is as benevolent as the late Emperor. It is a blessing for us servants."
The emperor simply put down his red brush and stretched himself. "Never mind. I'm very tired. Let's eat."
Zhao Changning bowed, "Yes, Your Majesty."
The emperor always took a nap after dinner, so Zhao Changning asked Anyi to come and serve him. She went to Kunning Palace and took the torn flowing brocade with her.
The queen was also having a meal. When she saw Zhao Changning coming, she asked the palace maids to add tables, chairs, bowls and chopsticks.
"Today's cold shredded chicken is very refreshing and goes well with rice. The duck blood soup is also sour and spicy and delicious. Come and try it."
Zhao Changning felt that although the Empress was not of high birth, she was gentle and amiable, and had no airs, so she was actually quite easy to serve. On the other hand, the Empress of Yonghe Palace was of noble birth, picky and arrogant, and was greatly favored, so she was very difficult to serve.
But in the palace, a queen with such a temper would be unacceptable.
She naturally wouldn't sit down, and knelt down directly, "Your Majesty, Changning has failed to do his job well, and I have come to apologize and ask for Your Majesty's punishment."
Chunyun saw the Liuguang brocade at a glance and couldn't help but exclaimed, "Oh, how did the Liuguang brocade become like this? What a pity! This material is worth a ton of gold. The queen also said that when it is finished, she will wear it when she meets the ladies of high rank."
The queen felt a little distressed when she saw this, but she remained calm. The material was nothing, but what happened was hateful. Who would dare to touch her things?
"Changning, get up! Don't tell me this was done by Yonghe Palace."
Zhao Changning knelt on the ground in silence.
The queen immediately clenched her chopsticks. It would have been fine if everything was peaceful on normal days, but all the things that had happened in recent days were still too much for her to bear.
"This is too much! I am the Empress of the Central Palace, but I can't even control a mere Zhaoyi. How can I be the mother of the country and how can I rule the six palaces?"
Zhao Changning waited until the Queen had vented her anger before saying, "Your Majesty, please calm down. It's just two pieces of fabric. There's no need to be angry."
The queen had always looked up to Zhao Changning, and after hearing what she said, she finally suppressed her anger.
"Just two pieces of fabric? Changning, you've lived in the harem for a long time, so you should know that this is not just about two pieces of fabric. This is trampling on the reputation of Kunning Palace."
Zhao Changning consoled her, "Your Majesty, the waves always have their ups and downs. Just as they rise high now, they will fall low again. The Emperor has just ascended the throne, so it's not appropriate to disturb him with trivial matters."
The queen was too weak to close her eyes, and when she opened them again, she had regained her composure.
She personally helped Zhao Changning up and said patiently, "I know I'm not good at fighting, and the emperor's feelings for me are also indifferent. Changning, please help me."
Zhao Changning was very hesitant. She didn't want to get involved in the harem struggles, but if she wanted to move up in the former dynasty, she would definitely have to go to the harem, and the harem was the queen's world.
She hesitated and said, "My Lady, if you want to take, you must first give. You are the master of the harem. You should wait for the opportunity and deal with it calmly and calmly. Besides, people always tend to sympathize with the weak. Weakness is not shameful. On the contrary, it will achieve twice the result with half the effort."
The queen's eyes were filled with emotions as she looked at Zhao Changning, as if she was thinking about the meaning of this sentence.
She took two breaths, a hint of forbearance flashing in her eyes, and said to Zhao Changning with a smile: "Changning, today's cold shredded chicken and duck blood soup are very good. Take these two dishes back and try them."
Zhao Changning knew that the Queen had finally come to her senses, so he smiled and bowed, "Changning thanks the Queen for the reward."
In July, there were two heavy rains in Yujing, which came down quickly and heavily, like a real downpour.
The weather in Yujing suddenly became a little cooler, and the rivers and lakes were filled with water. It seemed that it would be another year of good weather and good harvests. Unfortunately, when the rain fell, some people were happy and some were sad.
There is good news and bad news in the court.
The good news is that the grain was planted in Zhejiang in a timely manner, but the bad news is that the river bank in Jiangling section of Jingzhou, Huguang actually broke.
After all, they were all old ministers left by the previous emperor. The emperor was polite to them on the surface, but he was furious in private.
"They said the person they recommended was good, so I hired him. But what about now? My people are drowning in the river, and all my money has gone down the drain. They're a bunch of useless people, and they still dare to shirk responsibility in front of me..."
Zhao Changning quickly picked up the memorial and put it away, saying softly, "Your Majesty, the late emperor always said to deal with things first and settle accounts later. The current plan is to repair the riverbank as soon as possible and save the people. You must take care of yourself, as anger is harmful."
The emperor naturally knew what to do. Thinking of those old ministers in the court who were relying on their seniority to bully others, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes.
He sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Changning, is it the same every day when Father is in the Qinzheng Palace?"
Zhao Changning said respectfully, "The late emperor lived a prosperous life, but his immortal body was in a state of restlessness. Therefore, he kept his emotions to himself and most of the time, he allowed the elders to quarrel."
The emperor closed his eyes upon hearing this.
"My father's realm is so high that I cannot compare to him." He dropped his red brush and narrowed his eyes. "Changning, you will approve today's memorial."
Zhao Changning's heart began to beat again. She lowered her eyes, fearing that the blazing fire in her eyes would be noticed by the emperor.
She bowed gracefully, "Your Majesty, Changning is a woman, it is not reasonable for her to do so."
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