Chapter 87
◎Two chapters in one◎
The couple went to pay their respects to the Grand Empress Dowager. People in the palace used to call her Empress Dowager Xun, which was actually a very normal title. Some people even said behind her back that Huiyin was Empress Zheng, but she didn't care.
But she felt that the Empress Dowager was the Empress Dowager, her status was higher and Huiyin also respected her.
At the door, Li Cheng straightened his clothes. This set of clothes was made for him by Huiyin. The size was right. He could just put it on when he got home. The couple still had no awareness of being the emperor and empress. They slept in different palaces and were still the same as when they were in the palace.
"Your son pays his respects to your grandmother." Li Cheng bowed.
The Empress Dowager called out excitedly, "You didn't even tell me you were coming back from the battle. I asked my kitchen to prepare some wine and food for you to welcome me."
Li Cheng smiled and sat down. Huiyin also took the opportunity to sit down beside him. Then he said, "After my grandson pays his respects, I have to summon the Prime Minister and the three ministries to discuss government affairs. I'm afraid I won't have time to eat with my grandmother."
He himself didn't have time, and he didn't ask Huiyin to accompany him. He knew in his heart that his grandmother could be admired from a distance, but not too close. Otherwise, if the relationship was too close, it would be easy to lose the sense of boundaries and dare to make any requests, which would make him annoyed if he didn't agree or agreed. Therefore, it was best to greet her from a distance, honor her, and be polite to each other.
As for his wife, her emotions are more stable than him, and he loves her too. The couple understand each other very well, and they just may not talk enough or sleep enough.
Soon Li Cheng left. The Empress Dowager said unhappily, "When I get old, I'm not welcomed. Look, people don't even want to listen to me anymore."
Nanny Fan secretly complained, "You didn't do anything, but your family was appointed a high-ranking official, and you are supported by the whole country. Do you still expect the emperor to be in your arms? You can't have all the good things in the world."
The entire Zheng family came to surrender, but the Cui family didn't even get a title because they had no achievements.
But Nanny Fan said, "Everyone in and outside the palace is counting on our emperor. The emperor came to pay his respects in person. Who else in the world can be treated like this?"
The Empress Dowager thought to herself that no one else in the world had such treatment, but Zheng definitely had it, because his grandson was a complete wife slave. She secretly spat at him for being unfilial, but she didn't dare to really show it. She also knew that Li Cheng was the emperor now, not the child he used to be.
Li Cheng said that he was going to meet officials from the outer court, but he still sent Huiyin back to the palace. He didn't care about what others said about him spoiling his wife. If he didn't spoil such a good wife, what's the point of trying to balance? Otherwise, he would end up killing himself.
Managing a vassal state is easy, and even a local lord would find things complicated and confusing, but managing a country is like cooking a small fish. Anyone can say a few words, but you have to really start to do things. Especially Li Cheng, who always likes to do things too quickly, and can't wait to finish next year's work this year. When he saw the memorial sent by Prime Minister Jian Tan, he first read it quickly, and then asked very carefully, asking once for each copy, and his pen flew with dragons and phoenixes dancing.
Jian Tan was not young anymore, and his physical strength was different. He could no longer sit still after two hours. Li Cheng also noticed it. He looked up and saw that it was getting late. He laughed and said, "Today is my first day back, and I have troubled the Prime Minister."
Jian Tan said quickly: "This is my duty."
After saying that, Jian Tan quickly ran away. Li Cheng said to the eunuch, "Go and invite the queen over."
He still had to read the memorials for a while and was reluctant to leave now. Huiyin could understand. In fact, she was stewing soup, which was green bean, lotus seed and pork ribs soup.
Mung beans can clear away heat, and lotus seeds have the effect of nourishing the heart and calming the mind. After a long journey, Huiyin does not need to drink a tonic soup, but to nourish the mind so that she can sleep well. As long as a person can sleep well, it is better than anything else.
When Huiyin came over, she saluted with a smile: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."
"Why should we be polite to each other? Come here quickly." Li Cheng was very happy because this was the life he had always dreamed of, with a wife and children by his side and ruling the world.
Huiyin said, "Your Majesty, please use it here, so that the soup won't be included in the memorials. You can also take this opportunity to move around a bit and exercise."
Li Cheng came over happily. He was very angry and drank a lot of tea to suppress it. He was afraid that Huiyin would make something tonic. He never thought that it was a refreshing green bean and lotus seed soup. The green and white colors were both extremely peaceful.
Glutinous rice cake is Li Cheng's favorite, and it is easy to digest with milk.
After Li Cheng finished eating, he was still not satisfied. Huiyin said with a smile: "Don't eat too much. If you eat too much, you will not be able to sleep easily."
"You always talk about rest. When I'm not around, do you always have trouble sleeping?" Li Cheng looked at his wife with concern.
Huiyin nodded without hesitation: "Yes, I am always afraid, but I don't know what I am afraid of. I am afraid that someone will break in through the window and take me away. Anyway, I am afraid. But once you come back, I am not afraid even if I walk at night."
Li Cheng thought it was a good idea to let Huiyin come over tonight.
Not to mention how the two of them spent a good time together, Cui Dalangjun also came back with Li Cheng. When he was young, he was proficient in divination and was very good at reading faces. It was because he saw that Wei Duo had the aura of an emperor that he joined him. However, his cousin Li Cheng, who originally had a short life, somehow became a dragon with great aura.
Therefore, he secretly said to his father Cui Xun: "Originally, I wanted to join Wei Duo, but somehow, after seeing the current emperor on the battlefield, my fate seemed to have completely changed. It's really strange."
Cui Xun was of course aware of his eldest son's capabilities, so he never thought of seeking refuge with his nephew from the beginning. Even when his nephew later became successful and became the emperor, he was a little flustered, but he still did not really try his best.
He is not only Li Cheng's uncle, but also the head of the entire Cui family. Naturally, he has to put the entire Cui family first.
After listening to his son, he stroked his beard and said, "Since ancient times, good fortune has been born. I see that the emperor's face has changed, which may mean that his fortune has improved. You turned the ship around in time and made a great contribution to the emperor. Our family can now maintain its wealth."
Cui Dalang was handsome and thin, with a somewhat immortal look. He knocked on the table again and said, "I wonder if there are gods or people helping the emperor? Otherwise, a person who died young could be brought back to life."
"I have been in Hebei for a long time, so I am not very clear about what is happening in the capital. But your sister married into the Zheng family, and she once said that the emperor has many extraordinary people under his command, and he often recruits talented people." Cui Xun said.
Cui Dalang laughed out loud and said, "Don't worry, we will know everything when we go to the capital."
However, it is said that Li Cheng was busy with official business day and night for three days after he came back. Huiyin was only intimate with him on the first day, and kept him under control for the other two days, hoping that he would get more rest.
Knowing that he likes to drink the soup she makes, Huiyin's small kitchen has never stopped working. Today, they are making snow pear and pork lung soup, which can moisturize and protect the lungs. You have to know that when Li Cheng was fighting, he inhaled a lot of dust and dirt every day, and he had to rely on himself to fight off the cold. How could he not take care of himself?
But generally speaking, she would not go forward unless Li Cheng summoned her, after all, he often summoned ministers during the day.
"You guys watch the fire first, I'll go out and take a look." Although Huiyin said this, she also left two people to watch, for fear that someone would take the opportunity to drug them.
She yawned a few times, feeling sleepy again. With Li Cheng's return this time, her complexion suddenly became very good, and she no longer felt any aches in her body.
I fell asleep in a short while.
Nan's mother covered her mouth and laughed secretly, then went out and said to Fu Gui, "Our grandmother looks so good, maybe in a few months, we can have another little prince."
But he didn't expect that Li Cheng came not long after Huiyin fell asleep. He took time out to go out for a walk. When he was fighting, he was away every day and wished he could be at home. But after sitting at home for a few days, at first there were too many things piled up, but he was energetic and clear-minded. He had sorted out those things and just came to Linde Hall to see his wife.
Unexpectedly, he saw the picture of a sleeping crabapple tree in spring. He signaled the people around him to step back and couldn't help kissing her sweet lips. When Huiyin felt drowsy, she found someone approaching her. She immediately opened her eyes and realized it was him, then her body relaxed.
"You should calm down. You have been thinking about these things these days. Now that you are in good health, don't act like this just because of your good health." Huiyin pushed him.
Li Cheng cried out, "You, I just miss you."
Huiyin scratched his nose and said, "I know you miss me, but let's talk about it at night. Come and lie down on the couch and have a good rest. These days, I see that the vein under your temple is so tense, and I know how tired you are."
"Do you mean at night?" He immediately turned over and lay beside Huiyin. The two of them were squeezed on one couch, which was obviously very crowded, but he didn't care.
The couple hadn't seen each other for two years, but the reason they didn't feel any strangeness at all was all thanks to Li Cheng's enthusiasm.
Huiyin felt a little hot, so she stood up and started sewing, but she was not serious at all. She just leaned over and whispered a few words in his ear, which made Li Cheng hold her hand tightly.
After more than a month, the army returned together, and Li Cheng began to reward them according to their merits. He gave two manors to Yuwen Dang, two thousand dan of land to Guo Zhao, Xie Qian was given the title of Earl and his three generations were allowed to inherit the title, Pei Shuo was given the title of Earl and his three generations were allowed to inherit the title, and his uncle's family, the Cui family, was given the title of Duke, and Cui Dalangjun was given two thousand dan of land...
All the ministers shouted that the emperor's grace was great, and Li Cheng now changed the original feudal system to a county system, and prepared to hold another imperial examination as soon as he took office.
This was an experiment that was very useful when he was in Xuzhou. The best way to recruit scholars was the imperial examination.
Although Jing'er was not yet old enough to take charge of government, Li Cheng paid close attention to his studies and often took him with him. He was pleasantly surprised to find that his son's academic performance and martial arts skills had not declined.
"It seems that when your father is not around, you still study hard and practice martial arts."
Jing'er said respectfully, "My queen mother urges me every day. Although I feel lazy sometimes, I always have your advice." Although he is young, he knows very well in his heart that his father values his queen mother and that he and her are one.
As expected, hearing that it was his mother who gave him the advice, Li Cheng was very happy: "With your mother here, your father is not worried at all. He was worried that you would be naughty before, but now it seems that you are doing well."
"Thank you very much for the praise, father." Jing'er said with a smile.
Li Cheng said: "Now follow the master and study hard."
"I understand, your son." Jing'er said.
This is the case with the current father-son relationship. It is rare for the relationship to be as close as that between mother and son. The identity of the emperor itself is oppressive. He is the one that almost everyone wants to please, and his words can have the power of life and death.
This is true for the emperor in relation to the country, and it is also true for the head of the family in relation to his position at home. Just like Guo Xing has been unhappy since he met the girl from the Yuwen family.
Even when Guo Zhao called him over and asked jokingly, "Have you seen the girl from the Yuwen family..."
Guo Xing's answer was straightforward: "Miss Yuwen is very talented."
The meaning of "inner talent" is that the appearance does not match the person's appearance. However, Guo Zhao has known Yuwen Dang for a long time, and he secretly admires Yuwen Dang very much. He also knows that the emperor trusts Yuwen Dang more than he does.
Yuwen Dang was born into a prominent family and had made many achievements. His marriage to the Yuwen family was better than that of other people.
So, when Guo Zhao asked Jiang Bibo about her that night, Jiang Bibo did not hide it. To be honest, her step-son was indeed outstanding and had a good appearance, but it was unrealistic to break off the engagement just because of that. She changed her mind again: "Miss Yuwen is well-educated and a very chaste person."
"Xing'er is still young and only cares about appearance. I think a woman's inner beauty is better than anything else." In Guo Zhao's opinion, he was from a poor family, but he was once valued by King Wu because of his extraordinary martial arts. Later, he became the lowest-ranking guard of the prince. Thanks to the prince's insight and promotion. But even so, his foundation cannot be compared with the Yuwen family, so when choosing a wife for his son, he must choose a wife from such a big family.
Jiang Bibo was a good person and never interfered in anything, especially her stepson's marriage. She just said, "It's up to the master to decide."
As the successor, Guo Zhao is very satisfied with Jiang Bibo, who is smart, beautiful, and not troublesome, and can take on the responsibilities of a mistress.
Hearing that she also agreed with his suggestion, Guo Zhao said: "You are the Empress's godsister, so you should go to the palace more often when you have nothing to do. I am at the front line, and I know that the Empress has a great influence on the Emperor, otherwise she would not have made Pei Shuo an earl this time, and would not have brought Zheng Wuheng to the battlefield."
These two are the emperor's brothers-in-law. If he didn't value the empress, why would he make such an arrangement?
Jiang Bibo could tell there was some dissatisfaction in his voice, but she didn't say anything for the Zheng family. Although on paper she called Ji her godmother, she also knew that she was now a member of the Guo family.
Therefore, she should just obey her husband's orders.
Guo Zhao smiled again: "I'm glad you understand. Where's Sister Shi? Bring her out for me to see. I miss her so much."
Sister Shi came soon, and Guo Zhao took out a huge night-shining pearl from his arms. Even Jiang Bibo, who came from a wealthy merchant family and had seen all kinds of good things, was surprised to see this pearl.
"Put it on the gauze tent and it will emit a faint light at night. This is the Pearl of the East China Sea. Take it and play with it." Guo Zhao said lightly.
Shi Jieer glanced at her mother, and Jiang Bibo said, "Master, this night-shining pearl is too valuable. If you give it to a child, what will happen if it is lost?"
Guo Zhao shook his head: "As the saying goes, raise a son in poverty and a daughter in wealth. As for the son, it is better to raise him in the palace, but the daughter cannot be wronged. Whatever she wants, just give her. I also want to invite a few well-behaved maids for her. Don't you have a good relationship with the queen? You can see if the queen has released anyone and invite them to teach them how to behave."
Jiang Bibo knew that her husband had always been very good to their daughter, but it was a little strange that he was very good to this extent.
Although she usually didn't refute Guo Zhao, she still asked now: "Uncle, why is this? Our sister Shi is still very young."
Guo Zhao did not want to tell his mind, but he knew that the husband and wife were of one mind. If he did not explain it clearly, his wife might not understand his intention and act recklessly in the future, which would not be good.
He just said, "Our sister Shi is about the same age as the second prince. From my perspective, our sister Shi is the daughter of an earl, so it is not impossible for her to be a prince's consort."
Because of this, Jiang Bibo's handkerchief loosened and fell to the ground. She looked at her daughter and couldn't help but say, "Although I have a good relationship with the Empress, and the Empress likes our Sister Shi, if we are too aggressive in such matters, it will make people look down on us. I know the Empress well. She doesn't like others to ask for something with a purpose. If she finds out, it will be bad."
"Yes, yes, you still have this plan. Anyway, I tell you, it is also for the good of our family. Our daughter is a precious life. If she marries for no reason, it would be unfair to her. As for the Crown Princess, I dare not think about it, but can we think about the Second Prince's Consort?" Guo Zhao said with a smile.
Jiang Bibo already had a plan in mind, but smiled and said, "Master really loves Sister Shi. I can rest assured for the rest of my life."
Guo Zhao's voice became ambiguous: "Let's give Sister Shi a younger brother."
Compared to Guo Zhao's family who had already made it clear that they were preparing to compete for the title of Crown Princess, Pei Shuo was here to celebrate his honor as Earl. Xin and her family all came to celebrate, and everyone was very happy. When Xin saw her sister-in-law's week-old daughter, she even directly arranged a marriage for Dong's son.
At night, Pei Shuo asked, "Why did you talk about marriage without asking me?"
In Pei Shuo's opinion, the Xin family had long been at odds with the Pei family. After all, his illegitimate son was also the young master of the Earl's Mansion.
Xin smiled and said, "I was thinking that Dong and I are like sisters. If his son marries my niece, it would be a closer relationship. I remember that year when my brother and you were drinking, he said that he wanted to marry his son and daughter to each other. It's just that Gu Ge'er's age is not suitable, and it just so happens that the younger brother is here. If you don't agree, just call it quits. It's not a big deal. My brother and the others won't blame me."
"Forget it, forget it. If we say it seriously, people will think that I am looked down upon because I was conferred the title. So forget it. Your brother is also a scholar. The emperor will hold a special examination this year, so let him take the exam." Pei Shuo said.
Seeing that Pei Shuo had no objection, Xin felt a little relieved.
Mrs. Dong didn't react much. Her status was not high. Although Pei Shuo promoted her, her prime was still here. Pei Shuo would have a younger woman sooner or later. If she quarreled with the eldest lady over this matter, what good would it do her?
It's better to pretend to be foreign. After all, my son is the son of the Earl's Mansion and I will never treat him unfairly.
She showed no dissatisfaction, and the people around her did not say anything. Instead, the servants all thought she was good. Even Ji said to Zheng Fang, "Xin is really smart. The son of the Bo Mansion married into her family."
Zheng Fang sneered: "If you ask me, Shuo'er is just too proud. She is just talking to herself. If it were me, I would not agree."
"You can't say that. Shuo'er used to have a very good relationship with the Xin family." Ji couldn't help but speak for her son. There were few people in the world who were as free-spirited as Zheng Fang.
Zheng Fang said, "The Xin family was good before, but now everything has changed. It's impossible to expect it to be the same as before. Xin seemed to be a good person before, but she was also a person with many plans in her mind, and she had a lot of plans in her mind, but she didn't plan for Shuo'er."
Ji understood this principle very well. Xin was concerned about her own son's status and was afraid that Pei Shuo would favor Dong's son over her own son in the future, so she took the initiative. The women in the back house saw through it at a glance.
Ji of course went to the palace to tell Huiyin about this, complaining: "I really didn't expect her to do this. It was originally a good day for your brother to be crowned Lord, and I was happy for him."
As the sister-in-law, Huiyin naturally wanted to stand on her brother's side, but she said, "She is not qualified to make decisions first and then report. But since my brother has agreed, let's not say anything more."
"I can't get over this." Ji was always nice to her daughter-in-law, but this time she felt that Xin had gone too far.
Huiyin said, "If you are not deaf or dumb, you are not an old man. I can't say anything in the middle. If I say too much, it will disturb my brother's family. Now my brother has become an earl. Just like the Cui family, they are the emperor's maternal uncles. They will come to the palace for a banquet tomorrow. The emperor will personally entertain them. I want to go too."
Hearing Huiyin talking about the Cui family, Ji smiled and said, "Your sister-in-law has stood up straight these days. Her family has finally made some progress."
"We are the emperor's uncle, how could we be treated unfairly?" While Huiyin was speaking, someone outside said that Madam Guo had handed over a sign.
Ji asked, "Is it from Uncle Guo's family?"
Huiyin smiled slightly: "That's right."
There are many people who are eyeing a bastard son of an earl's mansion, not to mention her two sons. The Empress Dowager's family is interested, the Guo family is interested, and there are many other families as well, but they just don't dare to act recklessly in front of her.
But on the next day, Cui Xun brought his two sons and their families into the palace. Li Cheng and Huiyin sat in the seats of honor. Cui Dalang followed his father in paying respects. He had met Yuwen Dang, Guo Zhao, Jian Tan, and even Pei Shuo and Xie Qian in recent days, and there was nothing strange on their faces.
But today, when I saw the empress's face again, her appearance was dignified and solemn, with a phoenix about to emerge from between her brows. At first glance, she was a person with great fortune and the ability to change the world.
It turned out that it was she who changed Li Cheng's fate, it turned out to be her!
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