86 Chapter 86
◎Two chapters in one◎
It was getting dark, and after the fiery red clouds dispersed, it was pitch black. Huiyin never liked the dusk. She always felt that everything would become scary at night, and people's sensitive emotions would become the most sensitive. She rarely thought about Li Cheng before, but now she missed him very much.
At least when he was by her side, he was like a door god, and she didn't feel nervous at all.
People outside think that she is invincible and has no plan left. However, hidden under her tough shell, she is actually very scared when she sees the darkness at night. She doesn't even dare to show this weakness for fear of being controlled by those around her.
She tossed and turned all night, and couldn't get up the next morning, so she had to take a nap a little longer.
When she got up, she applied a lot of powder under her eyes. Today was her centenary day. There was a war on the front line, so she didn't want to make a big fuss. She just invited these heroes to the palace to build relationships, gave them a few tables of banquets, and rewarded them to show her kindness.
"Your Majesty, did you not sleep well last night?" Lingjiu asked.
Huiyin smiled: "I read a very interesting book before going to bed last night. I couldn't fall asleep when I went to bed. I kept thinking about the things in the book. Do I look haggard?"
"Before, your face looked like a peeled egg, like white jade. Now, the circles around your eyes are a little dark." Lingjiu knew that Huiyin was not the type who liked to hear lies, so he told the truth.
Huiyin said: "I think so, but there is nothing I can do about it. I am born to be superficial."
She slept alone in an empty palace, with no one around her knowing. She even had to protect her son and maintain all of this. She couldn't let outsiders see any flaws.
After packing up, Huiyin stood up with satisfaction looking at the dignified face. However, she had stayed up too late at night and now seemed a little shaky, but she could still hold on.
In fact, compared to her, the ladies of the imperial court had it even worse. They had to get up before dawn and put on heavy makeup, and they couldn't eat too much smelly food. They had to wait in a carriage for the palace gate to open. After the palace gate opened, they could enter the palace in a stream, holding their breath and concentrating, and not talking casually. After arriving at the Linde Hall, they had to kneel down and kowtow to pay their respects. It was not easy at all.
The older ones, such as Huiyin, had to be helped up, and the younger ones were also wearing heavy clothes. After finally sitting down, everyone had to bow again and wish her a happy birthday, and even Ji had to kneel down.
Huiyin sat at the top and said to everyone, "Today, I, the Palace Master, have really troubled everyone."
"Your Majesty, what are you talking about? It is our honor to enter the palace to celebrate your birthday." As the empress's sister-in-law and the wife of the crown prince, it was most appropriate for Cui Yuehuan to be the first to speak.
Huiyin smiled slightly. When the maids brought in the tea, she spoke: "This is the new tea. It tastes a bit bitter on the tip of my tongue, but then turns sweet. It's not like the early spring tea I served you before, which was fresh and tender."
Speaking of tea, Jiang Bibo's family originally had a tea business, so he could say: "Your Majesty's tea is good. The minister in front did not find it bitter when he drank it. Instead, it had a very fragrant taste. That fragrance was not the grassy fragrance of tea, but a somewhat mushy and fragrant taste."
"You are really an expert. This tea has been roasted once first, so it is particularly fragrant and tastes better." Huiyin took another sip and took a sip gently. In fact, she didn't dare to drink more because she was afraid that she would not be able to sleep if she drank too much.
Jiang Bibo even said he didn't dare.
Huiyin asked Madam Yuwen and Jiang Bibo again: "Have you two passed the invitation now?"
Madam Yuwen seldom took her daughter out, so Huiyin had only seen the child once when she was very young. Now that these two families were considered important officials, she had to ask a question.
Jiang Bibo smiled and said, "It just matched our horoscopes. Everything is fine."
"That's good. When they get married, I will definitely reward them." Huiyin smiled.
Besides, because Ji often went to the palace, she couldn't say too much in front of others, so she just said, "How are the crown prince and the second prince?"
Huiyin said, "Today is my birthday. They should rest for half a day and come to greet me in the afternoon."
Jing'er is still young, but there are many people who want to get promoted and make money by relying on him, so she can't let Jing'er go out to meet people at will. Children rarely have the ability to distinguish between good and evil. No matter how sensible they look, they are easily brainwashed by the idea that if you indulge me, you are right to me, and if you are strict with me, you are bad to me. Not to mention the outsiders, even those wet nurses around him who are too inappropriate will be sent away by Huiyin.
So, she deliberately separated these people.
When Li Cheng returns in the future and his son is able to take charge of government affairs, at least he will not be misjudged.
After saying that, he waved to Sister Xian and said, "Come and sit next to me."
She didn't have a daughter, and Xian Jie'er was her brother's child. Although she didn't dare to say that she treated her as her own, she hoped that the child would be happier than she and Deyin in the future. They were both political marriages, and whether their lives were good or not mostly depended on their husbands. The child's conditions now are much better than theirs.
Seeing Huiyin lift up Xian Jie'er like this, Jiang Bibo thought that it would be better if her husband had not been engaged to Yuwen Dang's daughter. Xian Jie'er was the niece of the queen. Although she was young, she was beautiful and much prettier than Yuwen Dang's daughter, Yuwen Chonghua. Yuwen Dang was handsome, and Mrs. Yuwen was petite and short, and also very pretty, but Yuwen Chonghua was yellow-skinned and a little fat.
Of course, it is better to get married with two surnames, and Jiang Bibo will not show it, but it is easy for a man to go out and have sex with a beautiful woman at home, let alone with such an ordinary appearance?
It's not that Jiang Bibo discriminates against others. She just observes that her stepson is quite arrogant. He grew up by the side of the empress and has good taste. If that's the case, he should be more worthy of a beautiful and talented woman. This marriage was a bit hasty.
But Jiang Bibo was also very aware of her own identity and would not say a word that she shouldn't say. After all, she was just a stepmother and all she had to do was carry out her duties.
Seeing that the empress was kind to her daughter, Xin was of course happy in her heart, but she also said, "The empress loves her and she also cares about you. She made a pair of purses at home to celebrate your birthday."
The maid took it over immediately. Huiyin saw that it was a green satin base with pink peaches embroidered on it. The stitches looked immature, but the stitches were fine and dense. It must have taken a lot of effort. She praised, "Xianjie can even make a purse now. It's really not easy."
Sister Xian said shyly, "Aunt, I am ashamed to accept your compliment."
"Mother Nan, I remember there were a few gold-dust fans. Bring them over for Sister Xian to play with." Huiyin looked at her lovingly.
Cui Yuehuan, who was standing by, thought to herself that it would be great if she could give birth to a daughter. She had no objection to Xian Jie'er. This child was the only girl in their family and everyone loved her very much.
Huiyin then asked about the other family members' living conditions in Beijing and whether they could adapt. She also gave them some valuable gifts that were not available outside, such as rosary beads, tribute silk, and spices, and asked the Shengping Office to prepare two short plays. After listening to the performances, they had a meal before leaving.
The other ladies left, but Ji, Xin, and Cui Yuehuan came back to talk.
Every time this happened, Xin and Cui Yuehuan would compare themselves, and they would tell each other what they knew. Cui Yuehuan felt that she didn't do a good job last time, but this time she had quite a lot of information: "I heard that the girl from the Yuwen family was obese and had a sallow complexion, so Madam Yuwen didn't let anyone see her all year round. This time, we are talking about the Guo family, and we want to use the relationship between the elders of the two families to settle the marriage, so as not to reveal it when we go out to socialize, which would make it difficult to talk about the marriage."
This is the worst part of blind marriages. They only consider family background or the relationship between the two parties, but do not care whether the man and woman are really compatible with each other.
"So that's the case, what's the girl from the Yuwen family's personality like?" Huiyin asked.
Cui Yuehuan was very conservative: "We only met once, so I don't know what his personality is like."
Huiyin had no choice but to say, "As long as the girl has a good temper, it's fine. Since ancient times, lovers have always admired Xi Shi. It's fine as long as both parties have a suitable temperament."
After hearing Cui Yuehuan talk about Yuwen Zhonghua so quickly, she had another thing in mind: "Prince Yuzhang's sister, Princess Jianjia, seems to be looking for a son-in-law as well. But they have only been in the capital for a short time and don't know anyone. They said they were planning to hold a flower banquet. In my opinion, they want to use the flower banquet to find a good husband."
This is also human nature, Huiyin thought. She also knew that Princess Wei and the others must have money, but the money must not be much, and it must be for Jianjia's dowry.
But who Jianjia was looking for was not her business.
The King of Wei is already dead, and many of his former subordinates have joined Wei Duo. The rest have either joined Li Cheng or behaved like birds and beasts. Unless the King of Yuzhang is exceptionally talented, he will not be able to make a name for himself.
"Since she wants to look for him, let him go. I remember that Prince Yuzhang is not very old, but it is almost time for them to get married. Their palace will be very lively."
These things were all irrelevant. She yawned quietly. Seeing this, Ji asked, "Are you tired, Madam?"
"It was a bit cold yesterday and I didn't sleep well at night." Huiyin waved her hands.
As a result, Ji and the others could not stay any longer and left. Since Huiyin did not leave Xianjie behind, Xin took her daughter away, feeling a little regretful.
As soon as they left, Huiyin returned to her bedroom, took off her hairpins, washed her face with water, and went to bed to rest.
Fugui tucked Huiyin's quilt in and did some needlework with Nan's mother. She added, "Your Majesty has worked hard enough. There is not a single day when you can rest at ease."
南媽媽心疼道：“可不是，去年娘娘小日子來的時候，偏生眼線奸細多，夜裏還要冒風去看太子和二皇子，回來就底下不舒服。她一個人，又要當爹，又要當娘的，真真是不容易。外頭的人知道什麽，還不是覺得我們娘娘備受寵愛，就看到光鮮那面，可內裏的苦誰知曉。”
卻說徽音卻不管這麽多，睡了兩個時辰，把覺補回來了，再用晚飯時，把兒子們喊過來一起用飯，倒是神采奕奕，和他們說笑話聊天。
又說魏王妃見女兒年歲不小了，對她的婚事那是十分上心，尤其是年紀比女兒小的郭興等人都要定親了，蒹葭卻還未曾有夫婿。
蒹葭大了，這些魏王妃也和女兒商量：“你不要害羞，這是你的終身大事，這次是咱們娘倆作主，再也不是往年那般，讓你父王做主。”
提起魏王，蒹葭道：“若是父王還在，咱們何須寄人籬下，看別人的臉色。”
“你父王若在，恐怕也未必強的過你這位堂兄，咱們娘倆還要受那許妖精的氣。不提她了，她死的也夠慘的，提起她來晦氣的很。”魏王妃就不喜歡那許次妃，這二人勾結衛铎，導致魏地被葬送，否則，何至于此。
蒹葭也想起以前的日子了，母妃總是喝那些藥，想再生一個弟弟，還得拉攏殷次妃，多次對李敬好，就是想着日後有個照應。
可惜一切成了空，人生真的是短短數年，就恍若隔世。
魏王妃也不認得許多人，她就先下了帖子給認識的人去，整治了酒菜，殷麗芳雖然暫時屈居人下，但是她不願意在人前屈居。
巧珍卻勸道：“您若不出去，外人還以為您是真的矮人一等。您就和她平起平坐，又怎麽樣呢？就是宮裏的皇後，現在賞賜東西，給您和她都是一樣的。”
“是啊，我是豫章王的生母，我若稱病，反倒是顯得我懦弱。我在宮裏，見那鄭氏神采奕奕，飛揚的很，每日精力旺盛，誰敢小觑？宮中上下都不敢糊弄她。”殷麗芳以前小心恭謹，那是身份所致，現如今也是身份所致，她何必畏畏縮縮的，若沒有她的兒子，還沒有這王府呢，那霍氏母女去哪兒耍威風去？
且不提當日花宴，魏王妃和殷次妃二人如何鬥法，端說這蒹葭郡主在新貴中算不得香饽饽，行情還沒年紀小多了的娴姐兒好。因為知道內情的人都很清楚，當年皇上自立門戶，魏王那邊的人還頗有微詞，所以這些人是按捺不動。
但京裏原本有些大戶不知曉這些，其中就有兩家托媒人上門求娶。
這和魏王妃想象中的踏破門檻完全不同，就這兩家，她也并不是很滿意。殷麗芳也是唏噓道：“姐姐，蒹葭的年紀可拖不得了，便是今年定下，籌備婚事也得兩年。”
她們大人的事情，都默契的沒有鬧到孩子們面前，便是殷麗芳在兒子面前表現出受委屈的一面，但也不會直接就說魏王妃的不好。
“是啊，婚事籌備要好幾年呢。”魏王妃掰着指頭算了算。
緊接着，魏王妃又托了孫夫人幫忙，孫夫人原本是魏地舊臣之妻，和魏王妃本身關系就不錯，見魏王妃托她，倒是想起一個人來：“若是門第的話，還真的有一人，我聽說皇上的表兄弟崔二郎剛喪妻，崔家是世家大族，人也是一表人才。”
這樁親事魏王妃是直接進宮求的徽音，她很清楚，這樁婚事不能私下做成，否則有串聯的嫌疑。
果然，徽音就笑道：“崔二郎喪妻了，哪能配得上郡主呢？要本宮說，還是得找一個年貌相當的。”
“皇後娘娘可有人選？我們寡婦失業，就跟無頭蒼蠅似的，什麽都不知道。”魏王妃還希望徽音能指一門極好的親事。
徽音莞爾：“我久居深宮，也不認得什麽人。”
魏王妃有些失望，但出宮之後不再氣餒，還真的尋到了一門親事，也不是旁人，正是荀柔繼母的兒子，兩邊都是親戚，一拍即合。
魏王妃和蒹葭二人十分高興，母女二人在燭火之下一起吃撥霞供，吃的熱火朝天，母女二人就盼着嫁人那日。荀家是皇親國戚，只要皇上在，女兒肯定無事，那少年擅長畫畫，相貌端正，也算是良配了。
這樣溫馨的場景殷麗儀卻是沒法子享受了，她也有一兒一女，謝老夫人對她的态度大變，罵她是災星轉世，本來應該站在她這邊的謝九儀卻出奇的沉默着，殷麗儀這些日子都是默默難受。
今日謝九儀出門去了，兩個孩子和她一桌用飯，女兒還好點，兒子還沒吃完就嚷嚷要去祖母那裏。
“兒子，飯還沒用完呢？你祖母年紀大了，經不住吵，還不如在娘這裏。”殷麗儀道。
她這兩年幾乎都是陪着兒女，謝九儀很少讓她們出莊子，她對外面的世界一無所知，更別提姐姐和外甥們了。
但是她不能再提了，這是她和謝九儀的心結，一提必炸，兩個人都遍體鱗傷。
今日謝九儀回來，卻不再是那幅苦大仇深的樣子，甚至還主動道：“我打聽到你姐姐的下落了。”
“是嗎？在哪兒？”殷麗儀立馬從床上坐起來。
謝九儀難得的露了個笑臉：“你外甥已經到京裏去了，如今在京中分封了王府，你姐姐估摸着也住在一起。”
殷麗儀很高興，她不願意揣測別人，可是她想如果姐姐沒有過上好日子呢？謝九儀是不是會對她依舊愛答不理呢？
這些事情都不能深想，甚至當年他娶自己，表面看是娶自己這個小官之女，但會不會也是因為姐姐的原因？
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轉眼又到了一年的年底，徽音正安排宮人打掃宮殿，最近放出去了一部分宮女，從冀州青州還有西洲三地又招了一批小丫鬟進來。
人又換了一茬，徽音看着銅鏡裏的自己，似乎又老了一歲。
以前她最不喜歡的就是那些深閨怨婦，如今自己也有點那些傾向了，真真是悔教夫婿覓封侯。不過還好，和衛铎的苦戰終于勝了，她就可以很快見到丈夫了。
這兩年沒見了，也不知道他是不是變糙了？還有，他會不會在前線愛上別人了。若他愛上別人了，那自己也得選個人愛？
不過，她好似對男人也沒有太大的興趣。
如此胡思亂想着，再一擡頭卻見銅鏡裏多了一個人，倏地，徽音站了起來：“你，你怎麽突然出現在我的身後？不會是幻覺吧？”
李澄一路而來，愈發思念徽音，索性提前帶人跑了回來，還想給徽音一個驚喜，也沒讓人通報，不曾想被妻子掐了一下，他故意龇牙咧嘴，完全不要形象了，就是高興，高興到一把摟過妻子。
“不是幻覺，是我真的回來了，為了早些見着你，馬不停蹄。”李澄感受她的體溫心跳就不想放開了。
原本徽音想說一些煽情的話，但是見他胡子刮了，頭發篦的很好，所以笑道：“你也不是馬不停蹄，肯定還在中途梳洗了一番的。”
李澄耳邊微紅：“那是因為你說我騎馬之後，身上有馬臭，就不許我碰你。”
“我也是為了我的身體着想嘛，你不知道你不在我身邊，我常常睡不着覺。真的……”徽音嬌聲和他說起。
李澄幹脆一把打橫抱起了她往床上去。
等二人再出來時，就已經是兩個時辰之後了，李澄簡直是四肢百骸都覺得疏通了。徽音還默默道：“我還以為你會給我帶個妹妹回來呢？”
“憑良心說，方才我做的還不夠嗎？都憋了兩年了。就這個力度，你是要冤死我麽？”李澄還覺得委屈。
方才徽音又是嫌棄他變黑了，又是說他在外有私情，簡直是冤枉死他了。
打仗騎馬，腿上都起繭子了。
徽音笑着擺手：“罷罷罷，咱們倆的話真怕人聽見。你跟我說說，到底是怎贏的？阿彌陀佛，你不知道我多擔心，衛铎那老賊是手段層出不窮的。”
前世她做太後時，父親聽說要打衛铎，起初還不怕，後來卻是有些畏懼。
李澄則一邊走，一邊笑道：“多虧了我那位大表哥，之前就是他派人通知我說我身邊有個大細作。所以，我不好寫信，才特地給你送了李子過來，你的事情辦的很好。”
“咦，竟然是他。”徽音突然明白為何李澄不寫信卻送李子來，後來才寫信回來。
李澄笑道：“是啊，我又故意設計讓趙鴻主動投靠那衛铎，這其中要取信于人，就是靠了這位表哥。我若是一開始封了崔家的爵位，他們未必會這麽賣命，這位表哥未必是幫我，但見我勢頭越來越大，因此倒戈，最後衛铎那厮被我斬于馬下，趙鴻已經投靠朝廷。”
Most of Daye's territory was taken, and Huiyin sighed: "These things were hard for us to imagine before, but now they have all come true."
Li Cheng added: "I have to thank you for your breastplate. I originally thought it was a bit cumbersome. Who wears two breastplates? But that day, Wei Duo died by false pretense. His heart was on the right side. He wanted to shoot me from the horse. It was because I had a breastplate that I was saved."