After all this, it was already late.
The crowds who came to see the lanterns dispersed, and the road became much smoother. Not long after, the carriage entered the palace gate.
Yan Shu was enjoying herself tonight. When she was about to get off the car, she tried to ask Yuwen Lan, "Your Majesty, will you tell the princess about this?"
Tsk tsk, if this was told, there would definitely be a big war!
She had to prepare for the melon in advance.
Yuwen Lan, "..."
Just watching the excitement.
But he had a lot of things to consider.
So he just said, "Tell them to investigate it first. The eldest princess is impulsive. If we let her know, someone might die."
Yan Shu nodded, "Okay."
- She actually knew that although the eldest princess and the emperor were siblings, their relationship was average. The eldest princess only regarded her brother as a tool to maintain her own glory and wealth.
Otherwise, before the ice banquet, how could the eldest princess unite with a group of ministers to force the emperor to punish her?
So it's okay. Anyway, they were the first to know about this matter, and they have the initiative.
Yu Wenlan, who was listening quietly, was moved.
- She used "the two of them"?
This was the first time in his life that someone called him like this, and he had a special feeling in his heart.
At this time, Ganlu Palace arrived and the carriage stopped.
Yan Shu said to him, "I will go back first."
and was about to get off the carriage.
Yuwen Lan subconsciously pulled her back.
Yan Shu asked curiously, "Your Majesty, do you have anything else to tell me?"
Yuwen Lan thought about it and thought he had something else to say, but he couldn't remember it for a moment.
After a while, he had to say, "It's getting late, go back and rest early." Ahem
, in short, don't think about those messy things anymore.
What rookie...
Yan Shu didn't understand why, but just said yes.
But she laughed in her heart, [Tonight is so exciting, I have to think about writing a storybook quickly. The title has been thought of, it's called "The Two-Faced Talent Dies Under the Flowers." 】
Yuwen Lan, "???"
But before he could say anything, she had already got off the carriage and entered the Ganlu Palace.
~~
After the Lantern Festival, the Chinese New Year is considered over.
Early the next morning, Concubine An took up her post and assisted in the affairs of the Internal Affairs Bureau.
Having finally gained the favor of the Empress Dowager, Concubine An did not dare to neglect it. She spent the whole morning checking the warehouse files and the income and expenditure ledgers.
Near noon, Zhang Laifu, the general manager of the Internal Affairs Bureau, came to the Lanlin Palace to report to her, "Your Majesty, as the weather is getting warmer, the satin cloth purchased by the Textile Bureau from Nanjing is estimated to arrive in half a month. It is tentatively scheduled to be measured and tailored for all the masters on the third day of February. What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Concubine An nodded and said, "This is similar to previous years and is suitable. Remember to measure the Empress Dowager first, and the fabrics must also be sent to Ci'an Palace for the Empress Dowager's review."
Zhang Laifu hurriedly responded "Your Majesty, you have thought of this very carefully. I will definitely remember it."
Anpin handed over a few notebooks that she had just read and said with a smile, "Since Chief Manager Zhang took over the Internal Affairs Bureau, everything has been in order. Your Majesty and the Queen Mother have to worry less."
Everyone likes a kind master. Zhang Laifu smiled and said, "Your Majesty, it is our duty to give you a reward." Anpin
smiled and nodded, but suddenly asked, "By the way, I just noticed that the amount of paper and pens and ink brought into the palace recently is more than usual?"
"This is what happened."
Zhang Lai Fu explained hurriedly, "In fact, the other masters are the same as before. Recently, it is mainly Concubine Yi in Ganlu Palace who needs more paper. I heard that Concubine Yi likes to practice calligraphy recently. But this is all approved by His Majesty, and the money is also specially allocated by His Majesty."
"So that's how it is."
Concubine An nodded, and did not ask any more questions. She just smiled and said, "I have nothing to do here, and Chief Steward Zhang should go and have a rest."
Zhang Lai Fu hurriedly said yes, and took his leave.
Without outsiders in the room, there is no need to worry about so many things. The close maid Liu Di said, "Your Majesty goes to Ganlu Palace all day, does Concubine Yi still have time to practice calligraphy?"
But Concubine An said, "She wants bamboo paper, which doesn't look like it is used for practicing calligraphy."
- Anyone who has read books knows that bamboo paper is suitable for writing small characters and is usually used for writing letters or documents, while rice paper is mostly used for practicing calligraphy.
Concubine An thought carefully, is Concubine Yi using bamboo paper to communicate with others?
But it doesn't seem so.
With her background, who would communicate with her except her family from her mother's family in a remote and poor place?
Moreover, her family is already on the way recently, and they will soon arrive in the capital. She can't write so many letters, right?
Could it be...she is writing some manuscript?
Concubine An thought it was unlikely - Li Yanshu was born in a small family, and she could read well, so how could she write any manuscripts?
Concubine An thought about it and summoned the eunuch Shuangxi in the palace.
...
At the same time, Yanshu, who was writing a new story with great enthusiasm, suddenly received a message from the system, [Pay attention, someone is going to pick up your trash.] Yanshu
was full of questions, [What does this mean? What do you mean by picking up my trash?]
System, [Because someone found that you use a lot of paper recently, so they tried every means to find out what you use paper for.]
Yanshu, "..."
Although this was a roundabout way, she thought about it and understood it.
Who would have nothing to do and think about her movements all day?
It must be someone in the harem.
Who would find out that she uses a lot of paper?
It would be easiest for the newly appointed Internal Affairs Bureau to assist Concubine An.
And with the IQ of Concubine Zhou and Concubine Ning, even if they found that she used a lot of paper, they probably wouldn't think of using the method of picking up garbage to spy on her.
So it could only be Concubine An.
Tsk, Yan Shu sighed. This person is indeed very smart, but why does he have to pick on her?
Of course, no matter how smart she is, this trick is useless.
- In order to avoid others discovering that she was writing a storybook, Yan Shu always threw the waste manuscripts and waste paper into the charcoal basket and burned them directly, and never threw them out.
However...
considering that the other party has worked so hard, it is okay for her to add some information.
Yan Shu raised her eyebrows and smiled wickedly, first moved the "Double-Faced Talent Died Under the Flowers" she was writing aside, and started writing on the new paper...
~~
Shuangxi waited for three days before finally waiting for the paper thrown away by Ganlu Hall.
After the people from Ganlu Hall left, he immediately ran back to Lanlin Hall with the things that people had thrown away.
"Your Majesty, these are all thrown out from Ganlu Palace, please have a look."
Anpin looked immediately, and saw that her pockets were full of waste paper, some of which were crumpled into balls, and some were torn into pieces.
She immediately called the palace maids to help.
The group of people either unfolded or pieced together, and it took most of the day.
Anpin then discovered that most of the waste paper was just scribbled on, and it was impossible to recognize anything.
Fortunately, there was a piece of paper with some words written on it. Although it was messy, it was barely recognizable.
Anpin hurriedly read it herself and found that it seemed to be a story.
It was probably about a court official who seemed serious on the surface, full of courtesy and integrity, but was actually lustful and vulgar, and even at an old age, he still touched the maids in the mansion. Later, someone found out about his hobby and sent him many young and beautiful women to please him...
Seeing this, Anpin was suddenly stunned.
At such an old age, he sent a concubine...
This, this, this, is it talking about her grandfather?
Li Yanshu! How dare she make up her family like this!
Anpin was so angry that she looked down, but she saw that she actually wrote that in fact, this old man had a biggest secret, which was that he took advantage of his son's poor health and hooked up with his daughter-in-law many years ago... Anpin was shocked
.
This, this, this, what is this? ? ?
Her second uncle was indeed in poor health, could it be that Li Yanshu was alluding to her grandfather and second aunt...
Li Yanshu, this bitch! ! !
How dare she slander her family like this!
However, the story was not over yet. She tried to read on, but saw that it was written again - the old man originally had two sons. Obviously, the eldest son's family was better, but because of his unacceptable relationship with the second daughter-in-law, he always sided with the second wife, which made the first wife very dissatisfied.
Anpin was stunned again.
Although she was angry, she had to say that there was some truth in it.
Since she was a child, she found that her grandfather always took special care of the second wife. For example, whenever he got something rare, he would always give it to the second cousin first, but she and her brother could not get it...
If there was any unpleasantness between her mother and the second aunt and sister-in-law, her grandfather would always ask her mother to be tolerant, saying that she was the eldest sister-in-law and should be open-minded...
Thinking of this, Anpin still feels resentful.
But, but how did Li Yanshu know about her family situation?
It was impossible for her, a girl from the country, to know these dignitaries in the capital and find out about the affairs of the Minister of Rites' Mansion!
Anpin thought for a while, and suddenly looked at Liu Di and said, "Have you ever gossiped about me to outsiders?"
Liu Di was startled and shook her head quickly, "Master, please be wise, how is this possible? I follow you all day long, how could I go out and gossip about you, and who would I tell?"
Of course, Anpin knew about this.
Liu Di grew up with her since childhood and had the most honest personality, otherwise she would not have brought him into the palace.
But since it was not Liu Di, how did Li Yanshu know about her family's affairs?
Was it just a coincidence?
Liu Di didn't know what happened, but seeing her master frowning and thinking about something, she was also very nervous, so she had to ask, "Master, what happened?"
But Anpin suddenly ordered her, "Ask Shuangxi to continue to watch, and if there is any waste paper, pick it up again."
Liu Di had to quickly respond and go out to find someone.
However, the more Anpin thought about it, the more something was wrong.
What's wrong with this Li Yanshu?
What does she want to do by arranging her mother's family, the Shangshu Mansion?
~~
At this time in Ganlu Palace, Yanshu, who had just understood the whole process, shrugged her shoulders -
sorry, she only gave a little tidbit this time, and next time it might be a bomb.
But it's still early now, so let Anpin, the ant, crawl on the hot pot first.
Yan Shu unconsciously hummed a little tune and planned to continue writing the storybook.
But at this moment, she saw Fu Hai enter the palace and report to her, "I am here to tell the queen that the Earl of Zhongyi and his wife, old lady and son have just arrived in the capital."
Yan Shu was stunned for a moment before she realized that this seemed to be referring to her parents, grandmother and brother.
Yes! On the night of the Lantern Festival, the emperor conferred the title of Earl of Zhongyi on her father in front of everyone. Wasn't it them?
In other words, her parents have arrived in the capital? ! !
Yan Shu was delighted, "Really? When did they arrive?"
Fu Hai answered hurriedly, "They arrived this morning. His Majesty has arranged for people to pick them up. The uncle and his wife are all settled in the mansion now. His Majesty wants them to take a rest first, and will arrange for the queen and the old lady and the lady to meet tomorrow."
"Okay, okay."
Yan Shu agreed happily, and then said, "Then I will prepare some silver later. I wonder if Fu can find someone to help me send it to my parents?"
- Although they now have a house and land, the family has just arrived, so they have to take care of everything and add some things.
She knows the situation at home best. Usually, her father likes to help others when he has extra money. She guessed that they don't have much money.
But Fu Hai smiled and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty, His Majesty has already sent someone to deliver it."
Huh?
Yan Shu was stunned. The emperor also sent money to her parents?
So thoughtful?
So she hurriedly said, "Then please trouble the steward to thank His Majesty on my behalf."
Then she asked Rendong to take some small change to Fu Hai and said, "Thank you for the steward's message. Take it and have tea."
Fu Hai was also happy to take it, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
Then he left.
In this way, Yan Shu waited for her family to meet with peace of mind.
On the morning of the second day, the emperor really sent someone to bring Yan Shu's grandmother, Mrs. Li, and mother Zhu to the palace.
After not seeing her family for three years, God knows how excited Yan Shu was. She got up early in the morning and asked Rendong and others to clean the courtyard and tidy up the palace, and also prepared snacks and fruits.
After finally waiting for Xiaodongzi to lead people to the palace, Yan Shu immediately rushed up when she saw her mother and grandmother.
"Grandma, mother!"
After three years of separation from their closest relatives, the grandparents, mother and daughter could not help but wipe their tears.
Honeysuckle was also crying.
But after all, they were in the palace. After crying for a while, Mrs. Li said, "This is a good thing. Stop crying, lest people see you and say something."
Yan Shu also wiped her tears and asked, "Did you have a smooth journey? Was it hard on the road?"
Mother Zhu also wiped her tears and said, "Not hard. We had food and drink along the way. The weather was good. Everything went well."
Then she looked at her carefully to see if her darling baby had suffered from hunger and weight loss.
However, after watching for a while, Zhu found that her daughter had not lost weight at all. She seemed to be rounder and her skin was white and shiny
. She was much more beautiful than before at home.
Zhu nodded and sighed, "It seems that she is still a concubine in the palace!"
Well, the daughter-in-law did not suffer, and she, as a mother, was relieved.
As soon as she finished speaking, Mrs. Li hurriedly urged her daughter-in-law, "Take out the things quickly, otherwise you will forget them later."
Zhu hurriedly responded and took out a few cloth bags from the bag she brought with her. She opened them layer by layer, and finally let the treasures inside reveal their true colors.
It turned out to be white and plump buns and golden pancakes.
Yan Shu's eyes lit up, but she saw her mother smiling and said, "These are all made this morning, they are still hot, try them quickly."
As soon as she finished speaking, she had already stuffed a bun into her mouth.
Well, the big buns with leek and vermicelli filling, the highlight is the pork lard in the middle, the bun skin is soft and chewy, it is indeed the taste of mother.
After eating the fist-sized bun in a few bites, she took a piece of pancake, and took a bite. It was full of the aroma of green onions, noodles and the unique mellow aroma of peanut oil. It was so satisfying!
Mother laughed and said, "You are the queen now, but you are still the same as before."
Yan Shu also laughed and said, "No matter what I have become, I am still your daughter."
Then she asked, "How is the new house? How do you live there?
" "Good,"
Mrs. Li nodded immediately, "It's a large courtyard with five entrances and a garden. The place is spacious and beautiful, it's beautiful! We have more than enough space for each of us to live in a courtyard. Your Majesty is really gracious! "
Yan Shu also smiled and said, "Then keep it and find a wife for Tianrui in the future."
Then she asked, "How is Dad's job? How is Tianrui?"
Zhu said hurriedly, "We went to the palace together this morning, and your father took Tianrui to pay homage to His Majesty. We don't know what his job is yet. Qingzhou Academy wrote a letter of recommendation to Tianrui, and he is preparing to report to Songhe Academy in the capital tomorrow."
Yan Shu's eyes lit up and said, "Then you have to hurry. If there is enough time, you can catch up with this year's annual examination. If you do well in the annual examination, you may be able to enter the Imperial College. "
She still remembered that the emperor said that day that the number of places for the first batch of admissions to the Imperial College was reduced this year, and the places were filled in the second and third batches.
Her family was not noble, but her brother was good at studying, and it was entirely possible for him to pass the exam and enter the Imperial College.
Zhu said, "I dare not think about anything else, I just hope he can study hard."
"That's right."
Yan Shu smiled, "Even if he can't enter the Imperial College, her brother is talented, and he will definitely be able to pass the exam and get an honor in the future. "
Mrs. Zhu and Mrs. Li both said yes with a smile.
The palace had strict rules. Although they could meet today, Mrs. Zhu and Mrs. Li could not stay too long. After talking to Yan Shu for a while, they said goodbye and left the palace.
When they left the palace and got on the carriage, another carriage just arrived at the palace gate.
When the carriage stopped, someone got off. It was Concubine An's mother, Mrs. Tian.
Ever since she saw the " Waste paper", Anpin was extremely anxious and endured it for several days. She finally waited for the opportunity when Li Yanshu's family members entered the palace. She tried hard in front of the empress dowager and finally got the opportunity to ask her mother to come to the palace to meet her.
Time was limited. At this time, Tian entered the palace and went straight to her daughter's Lanlin Palace.
When the two met, Anpin immediately sent away the idle people and asked Tian, "Mother, how is the family these days?"
- She was actually trying to sound out the matter from her mother to see if the matter on the waste paper was true.
However, after thinking about it for a long time, she really couldn't speak, so she could only ask this way. But
she heard Tian say, "Don't mention it. The second room has been restless these two days."
Anpin was startled and asked hurriedly, "What's the matter? "
Tian sighed, "Isn't the Imperial College recruiting new students? Your aunt was planning to send her Achang in, but who knew that the number of places in the first batch was reduced this year, and the examination was stricter. Achang was used to her and was not cut out for it, so he was eliminated in the first round. Your aunt wanted your grandfather to smooth things over and get Achang into the Imperial College."
Upon hearing about her grandfather and aunt, Concubine An felt a prick in her heart and asked hurriedly, "Did grandfather agree?"
Tian laughed sarcastically, "Your grandfather can't even go to court these days, so how can he not control her? I didn't expect that she would go to your father again and ask for his help. "
Anpin frowned immediately, "I issued an imperial decree a while ago. I don't know how strict the court is now. If your father really helped her do this, it would be terrible if it was found out later!"
Tian nodded hurriedly, "That is to say, your father naturally did not dare to agree, but I didn't expect that she would want to come to you. She just knew that I was going to enter the palace, and she insisted on coming with me."
Anpin said angrily, "Don't ask her to come! I finally gained the Queen Mother's trust, how can I let her make trouble?"
Tian said hurriedly, "I understand, don't worry. Her Achang is uneducated all day long. It would be a miracle if she can enter the Imperial College. Let's rely on our Aqi next year. If your grandfather helps her this time but doesn't help our Aqi next year, then I will also go and make trouble!"
Aqi is Anpin's younger brother, one year younger than his second aunt's cousin Achang, and he should enter the Imperial College next year.
Anpin hummed, her mind still on that matter -
in this situation of her grandfather, will he really help Achang?
If he really helped, would it mean that he and the second aunt...
However, at this moment, Tian suddenly whispered, "By the way, I heard a few days ago that His Majesty gave the golden bowl that Tubo offered as tribute to Yipin. Did you know?"
"Golden bowl?"
Anpin paused.
The golden bowl was a tribute from Tubo to the king in order to seek peace. It was made of pure red gold and red and blue gems, and was extremely gorgeous.
As soon as it appeared, it attracted the attention of countless people, and even Concubine Zhou stared at it.
Now it is actually given to Yipin?
She immediately asked, "Why did His Majesty give it to her?"
Tian shook her head and said, "I just heard it, and I don't know the specific reason."
Then she raised her eyebrows and asked in a low voice, "Such a precious thing, I wonder if the Queen Mother knows?"
~~
After seeing Tian off, Anpin went to Ci'an Palace.
Taking the opportunity to thank the Queen Mother, she planned to mention the golden bowl.
Mother was right. His Majesty did not even present such a precious thing to the Queen Mother, but gave it to Concubine Yi...
If the Queen Mother knew, she would not feel comfortable.
...
At this time, Yan Shu was still leisurely eating the buns and pancakes made by her mother in Ganlu Palace.
The food made by her mother is so delicious!
In comparison, the imperial meals in this palace have to give way to it.
I wanted to leave a few for the emperor, but I don't know if he would like to eat them.
While she was hesitating, she saw Yuwen Lan step into the palace.
She was startled, put down the buns and stood up to salute, "Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome you."
Yuwen Lan hummed, sat down at the table, glanced at the big buns on the table, and asked curiously, "What is this?"
Yan Shu had to introduce, "This is the bun my mother made today. She brought it to me this morning. Your Majesty, would you like to try it?"
Tsk, I was thinking about not giving it to him, after all, he was well-dressed and well-fed, and he probably wasn't used to such real delicacies.
Who knew that as soon as he finished speaking, he said, "Okay." Then he picked up one and started eating.
While eating, he commented, "Fresh and delicious, the skin is chewy."
Yan Shu smiled and said, "Since Your Majesty likes it, eat more."
She also took the initiative to pour him a cup of tea, "Your Majesty, be careful not to choke when drinking tea."
But in her heart, she said, [Eat two less, leave some for others! ! ! This is made by my mother, and I finally got to eat it after three years! ! ! ]
Yuwen Lan, "..."
But the buns were really good. He pretended that he couldn't hear her shouting and ate four in a row.
Yan Shu's heart was bleeding from eating.
But before she could say anything, she heard the system say, [Don't feel sorry for the buns, Concubine An has been gossiping in front of the Queen Mother recently, saying that the Emperor gave you a golden bowl! ]
Golden bowl?
Yan Shu raised her eyebrows. She even knew about this?
She is quite capable!
However, since that was the case, she could use her ultimate move without any worries.
She then said to the person in front of her who was eating his buns with a clear conscience, "Your Majesty, I have just written a new storybook. Would you like to take a look after you finish eating?"
Yuwen Lan had just finished eating his fourth bun and was feeling a little full, so he wiped his hands and said, "Sure, give it to me to have a look."
Yan Shu then took a stack of manuscript paper from the table and handed it to him.
Yuwen Lan picked it up and saw that the title was "A Real Man Stands Up".
Hmm?
He raised his eyebrows, "...This name is very special, what is it about?"
But she said, "The protagonist of this story is a young man. Because of congenital deficiencies in his mother's womb, he was sickly since childhood, but he worked hard to study and learned many skills. It was a pity that he married a scheming wife. Thinking that her husband had a bad health and no future, she hooked up with her father-in-law."
Yuwen Lan, "..."
Isn't this the story of the Minister of Rites having an affair with his daughter-in-law?
But...he had wanted to know for a long time.
So he hurried to read on.
But after a while, he was surprised to find that it turned out that this matter was not as simple as having an affair.
Her story wrote that the father-in-law and daughter-in-law actually had a child.
"???"