Chapter 031

Hearing Emperor Zhang He take the initiative to talk about Zhan Yue, Concubine Zhuang's eyebrows moved. After talking with Shuxian, she certainly had some thoughts in her mind. But when she thought of Zhan Yue's origin as a Jinwu Guard, Concubine Zhuang did not dare to speak out, fearing that she would arouse Emperor Zhang He's suspicion.

She pursed her lips cautiously, relaxed her brows, and said, "Your Majesty has really stumped me. I have never seen Zhan command a few times, so I really can't say anything good about him at the moment."

"However," Concubine Zhuang changed the subject and said gently, "Since he is loved by your majesty, he must have extraordinary abilities."

Concubine Zhuang has always been meticulous. Although Shuxian pleaded for mercy first, she was unwilling to let anyone know easily before she figured out Emperor Zhanghe's intentions.

Therefore, there is almost no difference between saying this and not saying it.

Emperor Zhanghe frowned slightly and looked at her with narrowed eyes: "I promoted him because I value his ability. But after thinking about it, I feel that he is a bastard, and I am afraid that he will not be able to command the people when he comes to power in the future."

When Concubine Zhuang heard this, she was silent, and a slightly cool curve appeared at the corner of her mouth.

Thinking of how Shuxian had said to her in the afternoon, "I am also a concubine's daughter," Concubine Zhuang suppressed the slight change of color on her face. She lowered her eyebrows and smiled, "I am a woman with a short-sighted mind, and I can't say anything profound. But when I was at home, studying with my sisters, I heard these two sayings. One is 'Heroes have their own opinions, so why bother asking where they come from?' The other is what Laozi said, 'Good talents should be used well, and those who are capable should occupy the positions.'"

Concubine Zhuang smiled to herself and said in a refreshing manner: "If Your Majesty really likes Commander Zhan, and if he is really a capable and virtuous person, I think that being born out of wedlock is not a big problem."

Emperor Zhanghe raised his eyes and looked at Concubine Zhuang thoughtfully. He stared at her for a moment and asked in a deep voice, "Is that so?"

Concubine Zhuang nodded and smiled, "I think so."

Zhang Hedi was silent for a moment.

He said: "Perhaps, I am too obsessed with the gatekeeper's view."

Thinking of Zhan Yue's extraordinary heroic appearance, Emperor Zhanghe pressed his fingers between his brows and said calmly, "I also asked Duke Anguo this afternoon. The Zhan family boy grew up in front of his old lady. This illegitimate status can be promoted."

Concubine Zhuang heard some clues from these words. She looked at Emperor Zhang He deeply, and after thinking about it, she couldn't help but want to find out something.

Concubine Zhuang's expression changed slightly as she said, "Lord Zhan's grace to me is profound. It looks like I will be promoted again."

"I will hurry up and tell the good news to Princess Ruyang tomorrow." Concubine Zhuang smiled and looked happy.

Emperor Zhang He said: "It's not a promotion."

He paused and said, "Sister Ruyang, today I am here to propose marriage to you on behalf of Zhan Yanqing."

Concubine Zhuang's expression changed. Her mind was quick and a hint of depth immediately appeared in her cold eyes.

In this world, how many people can ask Ruyang to come in person, and who is worthy of Zhan Yanqing, who is so favored by the emperor, to come and ask for marriage? !

The one he wanted to marry must be someone of noble status. But how many women in this world are of noble status?

Concubine Zhuang immediately thought of Jiashan.

Yes! Only Jiashan's marriage could make Emperor Zhang He think over and over again and be undecided.

Concubine Zhuang's expression changed several times, and the palace suddenly became extremely quiet. From the hexagonal gilded incense burner came a strong scent of Yunnan osmanthus mixed with a hint of refreshing peppermint oil.

The peppermint oil smelled slightly bitter, and it sobered Concubine Zhuang up in an instant.

She pursed her lips tightly, her face solemn: "Then your majesty, have you agreed to my sister's request?"

"No." Emperor Zhanghe pointed to the acupuncture points on his forehead and asked Concubine Zhuang to help rub them gently. He closed his eyes and said, "Zhan Yanqing will not be able to obtain the title in the future. I think Jiashan was wronged to marry him."

Hearing that Emperor Zhang He said he had no agreement, Concubine Zhuang felt a little relieved. She reached out and gently pressed Emperor Zhang He's forehead: "Yes. The princess is indeed a little wronged."

"But what you said makes sense." Emperor Zhang He did not blink, but just closed his eyes to rest. He said, "The competent ones will take the position. Zhan Yanqing is a capable person."

Concubine Zhuang almost bit her teeth to pieces. Her expression was as still as ice, and even her hands unconsciously increased their strength. She said, "I'm afraid the eldest princess will not be willing."

Emperor Zhang He felt a little pain from her pressing, so he slowly opened his eyes. The cold look in Concubine Zhuang's eyes had not yet dissipated, and Emperor Zhang He saw it clearly.

The night was as cool as water. At this moment, the look in Zhang Hedi's eyes when he looked at her was just like the night.

Concubine Zhuang hurriedly smiled softly: "Did I press too hard?"

Zhang Hedi stared into her eyes, his gaze sharp: "Nothing."

Concubine Zhuang raised her lips, a gentle smile appeared on her fair face, and her voice became weaker: "Your Majesty, you should take care of your body while you are busy with government affairs. I will massage your Majesty again."

Emperor Zhang He closed his eyes again, not knowing what he was thinking. His brows slightly wrinkled and he said "hmm".

But after this incident, Emperor Zhang He never mentioned any topics related to Jiashan and Zhan Yue to Concubine Zhuang again that night.

Concubine Zhuang's heart sank, and her cold and beautiful face remained expressionless.

The next day, Concubine Zhuang called Shuxian over. She suppressed her emotions and told her about what happened yesterday. After Shuxian knew the truth, she still looked as if she had never heard of it before and was intoxicated.

Her eyes were fierce, and she sternly admonished: "Open your eyes and see the situation clearly!"

"It's not that mother doesn't want to help you, but others have already taken the lead!" Concubine Zhuang thought of the way Emperor Zhanghe looked at her last night, and a chill passed through her heart. She said hatefully, "If you had told me earlier about the secret meeting between Jiashan and the other two that night, and I told your father, he would have suspected that they had an affair in Changchun Temple, so how could there be any marriage or not!"

Shuxian stared at Concubine Zhuang, her pink lips trembling slightly. She was only fourteen years old, and it was the first time she liked a man.

And that man was about to be snatched away by Jiashan.

Shuxian's eyes quickly became misty. She grabbed Concubine Zhuang's hand and trembled, "Mother, what does the emperor mean now? Is he going to arrange a marriage for Jiashan and Commander Zhan?"

"Most likely." Thinking that she had actually spoken a few words for Zhan Yue in front of Emperor Zhang He, Concubine Zhuang's heart sank. She clenched the teacup tightly, and when she looked at Shuxian like this, she became angry again.

Concubine Zhuang's voice was very cold: "If it weren't for you, a useless fellow, who begged me a few words yesterday, I would not have spoken for them."

Concubine Zhuang's eyes curled up, and she sneered, "Now you're making wedding clothes for others for nothing!"

Shuxian's eyes were filled with tears. She frowned slightly and couldn't hold back her tears. She held Concubine Zhuang's hand tightly and said, "Mother, can you please talk to the emperor again? Doesn't the emperor like Jiashan? Why would he promise her to a bastard? Please go and talk to him again."

Concubine Zhuang pulled her hand away cruelly. She brushed off her sleeves and said calmly, "If I bring it up again, your father will probably suspect that I have evil intentions and will only make the matter more serious."

When Concubine Zhuang heard Shuxian ask why Emperor Zhanghe would marry Jiashan to a bastard, her eyes turned red.

"Do you think he would wrong Jiashan?" Concubine Zhuang had been with Emperor Zhanghe for many years and knew his character. A sarcastic smile appeared at the corner of her lips. "Just wait and see. If Zhan Yanqing can really marry the emperor, I'm afraid he will be more than just the commander of the Jinwu Guards."

Concubine Zhuang said: "He has no title, so your majesty will give him enough chips to marry a princess."

Thinking of her fourteen-year-old son, Concubine Zhuang felt a mixture of pain, itchiness and hatred in her heart. She felt everything at once.

Such a good opportunity to get involved in military and political affairs was handed over to others!

Concubine Zhuang looked at Shuxian, who was crying so hard, and felt that she was not doing well. She was immediately filled with anger. Concubine Zhuang leaned on the couch and said bluntly, "You should kneel in the Buddhist temple. Your father's birthday banquet will be held soon. You are acting like this, aren't you deliberately trying to anger him?"

Aunt Dou beside her wanted to give her some advice, but Concubine Zhuang said, "This is for your own good."

Shuxian wiped her tears, but the slight sobbing sound was still there.

"If you could be half as insightful as Jiashan, your brother and I would have much less worries," said Concubine Zhuang.

When Madam Dou heard this, she let out a sigh and stopped begging for mercy.

Shuxian wiped her face, her eyes were complicated, she lowered her head and bit her lip as she walked away.

It must be said that as a woman who had been with Emperor Zhang He for many years, Concubine Zhuang knew Emperor Zhang He very well. A few days after leaving Chengqian Palace that night, Emperor Zhang He issued an edict to grant Jiashan and Zhan Yue a marriage.

Along with this decree, there was also an imperial edict ordering Zhan Yue to concurrently serve as the Five Armies Commander-in-Chief and the Five Armies Judge. The Five Armies Judge was a fifth-rank official, not as high as the Jinwu Guard Commander-in-Chief, but he was in charge of the Five Armies Prison.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the Emperor intended to have Lord Zhan involved in military power.

Even though Concubine Zhuang had recovered, when she received the news, she still wished that time could go back so that she could go back and eat herself alive that night!

The Military Governor's Office was in charge of mobilizing troops, and the position of the Commander-in-Chief of the Jinwu Guards had always been held by only the emperor's confidants. In this dynasty, very few people could serve in both the Five Armies Military Governor's Office and the Jinwu Guards at the same time.

How can Zhao Youcheng win the hearts of the people in the army in the future? This is not just adding chips to Zhan Yue's pocket, it is simply giving Jiashan a life-saving talisman!

Concubine Zhuang secretly vomited blood, so she called Shuxian over and scolded her harshly. It was not until Shuxian said in a distorted voice that she no longer had any improper thoughts about Zhan Yue that Concubine Zhuang let her go.

On the other side, Jiashan, Zhan Yue, and Princess Ruyang calmed down. When Jiashan thought of the day when her father came to ask her, "Are you willing to give in and marry Zhan Yue?", she was filled with emotion.

Perhaps in the eyes of her father and the people of the world, she was wronged for marrying Zhan Yue. But Jiashan knew that there was nothing in the world that could be more exciting than the moon that night.

Jiashan's cheeks flushed with color, she lowered her head, and a gleam of light appeared in her affectionate almond eyes. When Suyu and Dancui came in, they saw the princess resting her head on her chin and thinking about something. They couldn't help but look at each other and then smiled at each other.

Su Yu said, "Your Highness, tomorrow is His Majesty's birthday. I have already packed the birthday gifts that you have prepared. Do you need anything else?"

Jiashan's face softened, and she smiled and said, "No need."

"Father values ​​the thoughtfulness of a gift, not how valuable it is," she said.

Dan Cui nodded, indicating her agreement: "Yes. I think that, perhaps, being able to successfully resolve the princess's marriage is the most comforting thing for His Majesty."

Su Yu lowered her head, not daring to tease Jia Shan like Dan Cui did, but she couldn't help but smile.

Jiashan looked at them fiercely, but said with a sweet smile: "Is it because I was too lenient to you on weekdays? Do you dare to be so presumptuous?"

Dan Cui smiled and continued, "Your Highness has found a good husband. Sister Su Yu and I are very happy. That's why we dare to be more unrestrained."

Dan Cui used the word "good son-in-law" to describe Zhan Yue. Jiashan just discovered that the people around her seemed to have a good impression of Zhan Yue.

It seems this guy is very good at winning people's hearts.

After they get married, it would be better if the maids would not be so quick to betray each other, Jiashan thought.

Su Yu said, "There is another letter that Master Zhan asked someone to give to me."

Jiashan then took a look at the envelope and quickly recognized it as Pei Yuantang's usual handwriting when replying to his letter. Thinking of Pei Yuantang's words "Why not marry me", Jiashan felt mixed emotions.

She lowered her brows and said in a deeper tone, "Leave it there. I'll take a look at it later."

"Yes." Su Yu said.

In the afternoon, the letter was still lying on Jiashan's desk. Jiashan stared at the envelope for a few seconds without moving, her face was white, and her beautiful eyes were dark and clear.

After about a cup of tea, Jiashan finally stretched out a jade-like hand and slowly opened the letter.

There were only about twenty words in the letter. After Jiashan read it quickly, her throat began to feel bitter and her pink fingertips trembled slightly uncontrollably.

She held the letter in front of the candle until the paper burned to ashes and not even a stick of smoke could be seen. Only then did the wound on Jiashan's heart, which had been cut by a knife, heal.

Those words have been deeply engraved in Jiashan's mind——

Kong has been found, and Uncle Wu will send someone to escort her to Beijing. Also, I wish you well.

Jiashan stared at the fire expressionlessly. Her eyes were like dark clouds pressing down on a city, as if she was trying hard to hold back a surging flood.

In her mind, she kept thinking, "Kong has been found," "Kong has been found"...

Is winter really over and spring is coming?

Jiashan's eyes were sharp and she suddenly clenched her fingers.