88 Chapter 88
◎Two chapters in one◎
Cui Xun had two sons, Cui Dalang and Cui Erlang, both born to his first wife, Li. Cui Erlang worked in Taicang for a few years and was quite diligent. Cui Dalang also made great contributions when Li Cheng attacked Wei Duo and was considered an effective internal supporter.
But does Li Cheng really trust them? No.
At least for now, they need to maintain harmony on the surface. He will also reward his mother's family for the sake of his mother's face. Otherwise, it would be a bit unreasonable to posthumously reward his father and mother but not the Cui family.
In such an occasion, no one dared to get drunk. They all ate a few mouthfuls before talking. The men went to the front hall to answer, and the women followed Huiyin to the Linde Hall. Madam Cui had entered the palace once before, but she came and left in a hurry, and she was afraid that her etiquette would be wrong.
Only now, as a lady of the duke, although she could not stay in the Linde Hall to admire it, she could still leisurely look at the surrounding environment. Although the new dynasty had just been established, the Linde Hall was extremely gorgeous, truly magnificent, rich and elegant, with expensive calligraphy and paintings, antiques, and dazzling, but not so dazzling.
The palace maids quickly brought the tea, and Mrs. Cui took a sip. It was top-grade tribute tea with a really pure taste.
I only heard the Queen ask, "Is this the daughter of my second cousin? She is so pretty."
Mrs. Cui cheered up and replied, "Yes, she is Erlang's daughter, she is ten years old this year. Her mother died last year, so she was raised by me."
"Ten years old is not young anymore. Although he lost his mother, with your teaching, it is no wonder that he seems to be well-behaved." Huiyin said.
When you don't know what to talk about with others, usually start with the children.
As expected, after hearing these words, Madam Cui was very pleased and felt sorry: "Your Majesty, you don't know how many families have abandoned their eldest daughters because of their deceased wives. I am old now and I don't know how many days I can still take care of her. If her father remarries, it would be better to have someone to take care of her."
Cui Dalang's wife, Grandma Cui, also understood what was going on and said, "We met the wife of Mr. Guo a few days ago. We heard that you were the matchmaker for the marriage. You are such a harmonious family. It makes people envious just by looking at you."
The implication was that she wanted her to arrange a marriage. Huiyin thought that if Deyin and she were not enemies and they had a good sisterly relationship before, it would be a good thing for Deyin to marry into the Cui family under her control.
Neither the widow nor the widower will despise the other, and the two families are now of equal status and are still relatives.
But just like in her previous life, she also took good care of Deyin. After Deyin was reborn, the first thing he did was to snatch the kiss. It would have been fine if she just snatched the kiss herself, but she also wanted to block her way. This was too much.
Apart from Que Deyin, Huiyin didn't know much about the others, because although she had been alone in the palace for the past few years, it was very different from Xuzhou. When she was in Xuzhou, she had to build relationships here and there and often had to help others deal with matters big and small, but after becoming the empress, she was the last to build cliques.
One should not let others see one's bias in one's conduct and should be fair and peaceful. This is actually in line with Huiyin's wishes. She doesn't like to meddle in other people's family affairs. Everyone has their own fate, so why should she interfere?
Therefore, Huiyin just smiled and said, "Everyone's marriage is destined. If you say so now, you may bring a new mistress with you when you enter the palace next time."
Everyone just laughed, and then Madam Cui became concerned about the crown prince and the second prince: "I wonder how the two princes are doing? We have been thinking about them all the time."
"They still have to go to school. His Majesty is very strict in their education. Except for a few important days in a year and their own birthdays, they are not allowed to rest." Huiyin said.
Mrs. Cui said awkwardly: "That's too strict."
This time, Mrs. Cui found that the queen was different from before. Many years ago, the queen had returned to her parents' home to visit her relatives and visited their house. Although she was a little sharp at that time, her attitude was still very good. Now she was completely like the queen, and her words were not polite, which made Mrs. Cui a little uncomfortable.
Huiyin thought, I am the queen with real power, not someone who is controlled by others. If you have to consider other people's faces before speaking, how about giving you the throne of queen?
This is what happened to Huiyin, and this is also what Li Cheng did to his uncle and two cousins. It's not that he was putting on airs, but his airs were there. Without Cui Dalangjun, he would have won, but it would have taken some twists and turns. And he was able to win people's hearts gradually, which was his own ability.
Therefore, the relationship between them is that of a ruler and his subjects.
The Cui family is a noble family. When the previous emperor was alive, the family grew stronger. Later, when the previous emperor was sick and weak, the military leaders who occupied various places took over the family. It can be said that any powerful family seems to be a little high and mighty, but Li Cheng does not like to use these people. These people did have capital in the past.
Especially since she relied on favors, recommendations, and a huge network of contacts, the emperor's decrees could not be disseminated.
But now the civil officials can be selected through imperial examinations, and these people are all disciples of the emperor. Military generals also have military examinations. Moreover, Li Cheng attaches great importance to law-abiding officials, and has a better impression of those who have strong ability to do things.
The era when you could hold a high position and enjoy a good salary just because you were born into a good family is over.
Cui Erlang worked in Taicang for three years. Li Cheng said, "You are already nobles now. If you really want to do practical things, wait for the selection of the Ministry of Personnel. As long as your evaluation is excellent, you will have your own benefits."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Cui Erlang knew how Li Cheng handled things. Even Your Majesty's two uncles had to be thorough and do more than others to have a chance of promotion, let alone him.
Li Cheng smiled and said, "You are not just another person, you are my relative, so you must be more diligent and not rely on your status to act."
Cui Erlang even said he didn't dare.
It is also said that after this warning, the Cui family members all behaved themselves, and Cui Xun organized all qualified members of the Cui family to take the imperial examination in order to produce more talents.
This time, people from the Cui, Xin, and Xie families came to participate in the imperial examinations. In addition, there were candidates from all over the country, and academies were opened one after another. This was also Li Cheng's intention, to let everyone in the world focus on studying, so that the military power can be completely in his hands. Although he is the emperor now, everyone has his own troops and private armies. In the long run, if these people are dissatisfied with him, they can unite and rebel at any time.
It is also said that Cui Xun had a nephew who was thirty years old and passed the imperial examination. Cui Erlang also participated in this special examination, but still did not rank well. However, he was not discouraged and planned to come again in three years.
Li Cheng was very happy to have selected many candidates who suited his taste. He came back and talked about it with Huiyin for a long time.
Huiyin felt sorry for him instead: "Now that the world has just been at peace, you should take a break. I only feel sorry for your health. Human energy is limited. The emperor is also a human being. I know you will definitely be angry when I say this, but I still want to say that our relationship is different from others. Those other people say nice things, but they don't really care about you."
"I know, I know. I know what kind of person you are. I have been doing so well because of your care." Li Cheng had no grudges at all.
Huiyin smiled and said, "At least you understand what I mean. By the way, I seem to be pregnant."
"Really?" Li Cheng almost jumped up.
Huiyin hurriedly said, "Calm down, you are the emperor now."
Li Cheng sat down with his big hands protecting Huiyin's belly and touched his forehead: "You ride horses all year round and you can hit the target with one shot. Huiyin, are you hoping this baby will be a boy or a girl?"
"I'm fine with it, whether it's a boy or a girl." Huiyin stroked her belly, not feeling much.
She already had two sons, and her health was not very good when she was at home. Giving birth was not very difficult for her, but it was very harmful to her body. After finally recovering, she got pregnant again. She was actually a little nervous, not as ecstatic as others.
Seeing Huiyin like this, Li Cheng knew that she had not been in good health in the two years since he left, and often had trouble sleeping and eating. Now that she was pregnant, she must be very worried.
"Huiyin, don't take care of me all the time. I'm fine. It's you who is pregnant. Do you want to bring your mother into the palace to accompany you? That way I'll feel at ease." Li Cheng hugged her and whispered.
Huiyin said, "My mother will be fine if she stays in the palace for a few days. She has children and grandchildren, and I can't ruin her family life."
According to Li Cheng, it is really rare to find someone like Huiyin in the world who sees things so clearly, never oversteps the line, and is able to restrain herself. She may be lazy about small things, such as taking a nap, but she is absolutely decisive about big things.
Even her own mother knew very well that it was not a good thing for Ji to live in the palace all year round.
But the more this happened, the more Li Cheng loved her: "My parents died early. You know you are always jealous of others. If you can join your mother, I will be happy to see it."
"Your words really hurt my heart, so I'll listen to you. Then call my mother over and let my two sons have dinner together, so we can have some fun."
The couple loved each other, but when the news of Huiyin's pregnancy spread, the Zheng family was so happy, but the emperor called Ji to the palace again. Ji was packing her bag, and she said to Cui Yuehuan, "I'll leave the house to you."
"Don't worry, ma'am. Everything is fine at home. Just leave it to me." Cui Yuehuan said.
紀氏和鄭放是老夫老妻了，她只是唠叨：“你的年紀也不小了，別成日酒不離口，煙槍不離手，如此下去，怎麽得了？我在家的時候多說一句，你也不愛聽。現下你又要多添一個外孫了，日後還要指望你這個外祖呢。”
正如同天底下所有怕妻子念叨的男人一樣，鄭放還不耐煩的道：“讓你進宮你且進宮去，偏偏唠叨個不停的。這人的壽數上天自會定，像我爹這輩子酒也不喝，肉也少吃，成日保養，結果早早的就去了，我祖父根本沒任何忌諱，倒是活到古稀了。”
“全部都是歪理邪說，懶得和你多說，我得和娘娘說，讓娘娘說你。”紀氏也不和他分辨，只笑着道。
鄭放想起女兒曾經對他說話都是那樣的大道理一套一套的，趕緊道：“你可千萬別胡說八道啊。娘娘好容易懷上這一胎，得多說些娘娘愛聽的。”
紀氏指着他道：“老貨，怕了吧。”
鄭放還要犟嘴，但他也不計較，這幾年年紀大了，總覺得人生過的跟做夢似的。以前他做冀州大都督的時候，常常覺得日子難熬，現在是真的日子好過了，反而過的特別快，有時候覺得自己還在徐州，但又發現在京城了。
但見紀氏還在啰啰嗦嗦，忍不住道：“在宮裏也別真的當自己家裏，娘娘有了身孕，不少人想趁虛而入，你也別參與，娘娘自有自己的想法。”
紀氏一愣：“你也想太多了。”
鄭放打了個哈欠：“你就當我胡說吧。”
紀氏繼續收拾東西進宮了，先別提她前腳進宮如何，只說紀氏離開之後，徐州那邊傳信過來說徐氏的死訊，死前穿着紅衣服。
這是帶着深深的怨氣，德音聽了都覺得恐懼，徐太夫人哭道：“你娘真是命苦，白白為他人作嫁衣裳。”
坐在下方的德音本來這些日子心情舒坦了許多，但聽到徐氏過世的消息依舊覺得喘不過氣來，她甚至還有些不可置信：“為何？這是為何呢？祖母，您告訴我這不是真的。”
徐太夫人又把人喊來細細的問，那人就是徐氏身邊伺候的婆子，她知曉徐太夫人和徐氏感情好，就全部吐露了：“自從大家回了京城之後，我們太太就心情郁郁，在那姑子廟裏也有人欺負太太，太太說肯定是有人授意，常常喃喃自語罵罵咧咧，後來是秋雁伺候太太的，秋雁那蹄子又和人私奔了，又氣了太太一次。近來總做噩夢，說什麽引狼入室，前些日子讓我幫她找一身的紅布，太太就……就穿着那個上吊了……”
“都是我不孝順。”德音淚珠兒止不住的滑落。
若是她也跟徽音似的今日母儀天下，母親早就封了一等诰命，母親現在肯定也和紀氏一樣，風風光光的把宮裏當成自個兒的家似的。
都怪她不争氣，若是争氣些，母親也不會自缢了。
都是她的不是啊。
徐太夫人也沒心情關心德音了，她自己正傷心着呢，倒是崔月環去了上房好幾趟，可不能讓這位老太太出什麽事兒，心中又埋怨徐氏也真是不消停。
那次好容易放出來，其實就是給她的機會，她卻還是夥同徐太夫人搞事，還以為自己是當家的太太，完全看不清楚形勢。她能保留這條命，都是投奔人家紀氏的女兒，卻總想挖人家的牆角，即便如此，也是讓她在庵堂裏住着。
就像董氏，也是個明白人，她兒子被辛氏胡亂許配了娘家人，站在她的角度當然是憤懑難過甚至是委屈，因為自從她進府以來，雖然有寵愛，但是對辛氏無所不應。偏辛氏玩這樣的花招，還自以為很聰明。
殊不知越是這般，就讓輿論和裴朔都會更同情董氏，連紀氏上次都親自送補藥去董氏那兒了，絲毫不再顧忌辛氏了。
你內宅是你內宅的事情，董氏若冒犯你了，長輩們也自會為你作主，但你拿着裴朔的兒子耍着玩兒，人家怎麽會不生氣。
同理，徐氏其實已經下堂了，生的女兒也不如人，要麽就求去，再嫁便是了，實在是不成就安安分分的，将老等德音出來，母女兩個一處過又有什麽不好的？
大勢已去，就得看清楚形勢。
這些年崔月環早已不再是那個動不動就生氣的小女孩了，逐漸的和各處打交道，也歷練的成熟起來。
鄭無恒回來的時候，她剛從上房回來，就把此事和他說了。
“她這麽做也是怪滲人的，咱家可沒人要她的命。”鄭無恒不解。
崔月環則道：“徐家當時覺得殷氏母子奇貨可居，後來造成魏王舊部之亂被殺雞儆猴。皇上沒有怪罪她，就是咱們留下她，反而也是為了她好。再者，有句話叫做，願賭服輸就是這個意思。”
鄭無恒看着她道：“沒想到你這些日子進益許多，倒是和我姐姐越發像了。”
“我哪裏敢和皇後娘娘相提并論啊，這不過是我的一些淺見罷了。”崔月環搖搖頭。
鄭無恒擡頭望天空，他曾經聽母親提起過，覺得德音很可憐，想為她說一門好親事，姐姐說讓母親別好心。已經是敵對的狀态了，你做什麽好的，人家都會覺得是不好的，如果今日換做是紀氏當年鬥敗了，那可能郁郁不得志的人便是紀氏了。
自己恐怕都無法出生了，想到這裏，鄭無恒都打了個寒顫。
宮中卻溫馨的很，今日紀氏頭一日進宮，李澄也專門過來陪着，桌子都坐滿了。璟兒和瞻兒正圍着紀氏，徽音夫婦坐在紀氏對面，這紀氏竟然忍不住拭淚了。
“娘 ，好好地，您怎麽哭了？”徽音笑道。
紀氏則感嘆：“我是想着娘娘這一家子能夠團團圓圓的坐在這裏，我跟着都感動。”
女兒一個人在宮中，上上下下都是陌生人，還得護着兩個兒子，維持住後方，不能讓人看出端倪來，這多不容易啊。
這一番話，徽音眼也酸了，但李澄是真的哭了，他常年都不在家，和妻子聚少離多，總歸是很對不起妻子的。
徽音本來也是愛哭的，但沒想到丈夫真哭了，她失笑道：“我母親年紀大了，肯定是喜聚不喜散的。但咱們如今是聚在一處，以前那樣離別也是為了如今長長久久的，明明是極其好的事情，你怎麽還這般？”
李澄察覺自己失态，方用帕子點了點眼淚，紀氏在旁看，倒覺得稀奇，這皇上仿佛是家中嬌小姐似的，女兒仿佛更像一家之主。
但好在一會兒，女兒看着很依戀皇上，皇上呢，看起來英俊威武。
“娘，這是皇上那裏有人薦的一個廚子做的新菜，我們吃着都覺得好，您也嘗嘗。”徽音讓璟兒替紀氏夾菜。
紀氏很受用，又不敢真受着，但心中總是開心的。
等筵席散了，皇子們都去讀書了，皇上也去忙了，徽音挽着紀氏的胳膊走進來，還跟小時候一樣，恨不得蹦蹦跳跳的：“娘，今兒您就和我睡吧，皇上肯定在端明殿歇下，不會過來的。”
紀氏扒拉了一下女兒：“你都有身子了，本來就不能睡在一起，可別鬧出事兒來。”
“娘，說什麽呢，這事兒難道我們還不知道嗎？”徽音只恨自己方才說漏了嘴了。
紀氏拍了拍她的手，一起進屋坐下，小聲道：“男人們才不管這些呢，興致來了，有的行經都行房，女人們都得讨好男人，還不是得忍住。”
徽音聽的咋舌：“還有這種事兒呢，若我是斷斷不可能的，如此身子都變差了。”
“我的兒，你是嫁的好，姑爺是皇上呢，對你比尋常男子都體貼。旁人哪裏有這個福分啊，就連我也沒有你這個福分。”紀氏說到最後，反而想起前夫裴野了，那時候好的時候是真好，也真的因為他太好了，她才願意為他做一切的事情。
可惜後來，夫妻二人再也回不去了，甚至愛的太熱烈，分開的也決裂的驚天動地。
徽音開解母親：“天下的事情若是太過在意結果，反而也沒什麽趣味兒。我倒是覺得母親經歷過這麽些，如今苦盡甘來，凡人先甜後苦，總會抑郁不得志，若先苦後甜，那才是有後福呢。”
得到女兒的寬慰，紀氏也是心中舒坦許多：“每次我與你說話，我的心情極好，若是和你父親說話，總是氣我。”
“爹爹那個人天性不受拘束，他這樣必定是個長壽的性子，又有什麽不好。”徽音笑道。
母女二人說了一番話，倒是困了，徽音到床上歇息，紀氏則在榻上歪了歪。
等晚上，太皇太後又傳了紀氏去說話，等紀氏回來的時候還說太皇太後賞了好些東西，紀氏道：“太皇太後以前倒是沒有這麽豐厚的賞過我，也不知是為何？”
Huiyin laughed and said, "Mother, she is usually like a pixiu, not very generous to me and the emperor, at most she just rewards the Xun family during festivals. She is like my grandmother, always trying to pull up her family. Although Princess Jianjia is engaged to the Xun family, Prince Yuzhang is nothing, I'm afraid the Xun family is not very satisfied."
"The Xun family was only granted the title because of the relationship with the Empress Dowager. The children of the Xun family are far inferior to ours. Are they not satisfied with marrying the princess? What else do they want to do?" Ji really didn't understand.
Huiyin said, "I heard that the Xun family has a girl who is about the same age as our Jing'er, so it's naturally for this."
I really don't know why these people are so anxious when Jing'er is still so young...