94 Chapter 94
◎Methods◎
After the Millennium, it was the day for envoys from various countries to make a pilgrimage. Li Cheng also let Huiyin go with him on such occasions. It was not because he really doted on his wife excessively, but because he did not believe that Huiyin would seize power as others said.
Because it was too easy for her to steal it. She could just bring him a bowl of soup and he would drink it without anyone testing it for poison.
"This is the first time that a foreign envoy has come here. We should show the demeanor of our Celestial Empire." Li Cheng said with a smile.
Huiyin knew that Li Cheng was actually very clear-minded, otherwise why would he like to compete with others? Even at the age of thirty, he still said some particularly childish things. She looked at him and said, "Most of this kind of tribute is sent by us. You should also take it easy. The lives of the people in our country may not be easy."
If he wasn't someone close to her, Huiyin might not have said such truthful words, but she was afraid of undermining his confidence, so she just said, "It's thanks to you that I can meet so many people this time. I wonder if the dance at Shengping Office has been arranged yet?"
"Don't worry, everything has been arranged. I have personally seen the music." Li Cheng was very thorough.
Seeing him still sitting in the Duanming Palace, Huiyin couldn't help but say, "You've been sitting for a whole day. Why don't we go out for a walk? I loved sitting for a long time in the past few years, and I always felt uncomfortable. Later, I almost broke my waist when I rode a horse. You used to train soldiers outside a lot, but now you sit for a long time every day. You should at least go out for a walk."
With Huiyin's words, Li Cheng of course obeyed and was led out. Outside was a garden with blooming flowers and butterflies and bees lingering around. Somehow he thought of the time in Xuzhou.
"Huiyin, do you still remember our palace?" Li Cheng suddenly asked.
"How could I not remember? When I first went there, my favorite place was the garden of Huaiyin Palace. Otherwise, how could I have survived alone?" Huiyin still felt dazed when she talked about the past. She was too happy and felt that the time passed very quickly. She wished that the time would pass slower and slower.
Mother Chao, Yun Hui and other people seemed like they were from another world.
Looking back on those days when I was in a trance and filled with fear and anxiety, they have a different meaning.
However, before the couple could savor the moment for long, they heard that the Empress Dowager had suddenly fainted. Huiyin and Li Cheng looked at each other and hurried over.
In fact, although the Empress Dowager had minor ailments occasionally, they were not serious. This time, since she fainted, the couple immediately invited the imperial physician to come.
Although the doctor spoke very politely, Huiyin understood what he meant. Being a vegetarian at an old age caused her blood circulation to be blocked, so she fainted. After Li Cheng asked the doctor to prescribe medicine, he called Qin An and told him, "The Empress Dowager must eat properly here. She is old, and you can't let her temper do what she wants."
Qin An was the chief steward, and he knew what to do as soon as Li Cheng gave an order.
But why did the Empress Dowager become a vegetarian? It is said that it was for the sake of Li Cheng's health. She knew that her grandson had been fighting in wars for many years and had killed many people, so she used this method to resolve the problem.
In fact, Huiyin's first reaction was to think that this was not a routine for competing for favors. For example, deliberately hanging oneself and being discovered, or pretending to faint and saying that it was to pray for the emperor. These methods are very suitable for concubines to compete for favors, but when used on a grand empress dowager, even if she noticed something, it would be difficult for her to say it.
She understood too well the principle of not alienating relatives. Before, the Empress Dowager did not hide it because she thought he was her grandson. Now that she has concealed it, she can see that Li Cheng may not doubt it anymore.
Sure enough, Li Cheng sighed after hearing this: "Grandma, why do you have to do this?"
Huiyin also showed her concern: "Yes, I think it's a good thing that grandma is so pious, but it's not good to keep doing this to her health. I remember that she didn't like a girl from the Xun family very much. Let that girl accompany grandma, and we will feel at ease."
Instead of letting others bring it up, it is better to bring it up yourself. It will be in vain for you to pretend.
Li Cheng smiled and said, "That's a good idea. You have children to take care of there now, so I'm afraid I can't stay with you for long." He also didn't want his daughter-in-law to come over. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were not getting along, and staying together every day would make things worse. He loved Huiyin very much, but his grandmother was his grandmother after all, and he couldn't let her go.
Both husband and wife have given each other a stepping stone and are very satisfied.
At this time, the Xun family was having a meal together. Princess Jianjia had just married, and because of her special status, she usually did not eat with the crowd. But she did not dare to show off. When she got married, the Princess of Wei reminded her that although she was born into a royal family, the Xun family was also a relative of the emperor, and there was also a Grand Empress Dowager in the palace, so she had to show some respect to Mrs. Xun.
Of course, the one who inherited the title now was Madam Xun’s eldest son, and her husband was Madam Xun’s youngest son.
Madam Xun had used a trick to drive Xun Rou away, so it was no wonder that she was not a kind woman. But now she looked kind and benevolent: "Tomorrow we will go to the temple to burn incense together."
Jianjia was also obedient and quickly said, "My daughter-in-law will go with you."
"That's fine." Madam Xun said, and then looked at her granddaughter Xun Jiying: "Child, you don't have to go with us. Women should be chaste and quiet."
Xun Jiying is actually quite different from Xun Rou. Xun Rou is a person who lives on the edge of a knife and has no bottom line in doing anything. But Xun Jiying may have been born in a wealthy place and raised in the house of noble relatives. She reads a lot of books and knows how to read, so she is actually very dignified. She came out of the palace at the age of eight that year, and now she is exactly ten years old. She certainly knows why her grandmother told her these things. It was not really to make her chaste, but because she was afraid that something would happen to her.
The Xun family used to be a family of minor officials, and they had their current status thanks to the Empress Dowager. But the Empress Dowager was too old. If she passed away, what status would the Xun family have in the capital? The emperor had his own maternal family, the Cui family, and the Empress's maternal family, the Zheng family, had two nobles in one family. The Cui family and the Zheng family had already been married for a long time.
If Ji Ying could enter the palace and become the Crown Princess in the future, it would ensure the wealth of the Xun family for several generations.
As the saying goes, those who are close to water get the moon first. With the Empress Dowager in the palace, there will always be opportunities.
"Yes." Xun Jiying answered respectfully.
Grandma Xun felt sorry for her daughter who couldn't go out for a long time, and said to Madam Xun: "I heard that the Yuwen family is going to hold a poetry meeting, why not let Jiying go too? It just so happens that they have sent out an invitation."
Madam Xun smiled and said, "The daughter of the Yuwen family is now going to marry into the Cui family. This is a great success. Come on, if you want to go, just go."
Unfortunately, before he could leave, someone came from the palace and said that they would bring Xun Jiying into the palace to accompany the Empress Dowager. The Xun family was ecstatic, and Xun Jiying was happy but also a little hesitant.
She first went into the palace to see the empress. The Linde Hall was the most magnificent place in the entire palace, with glazed tiles, and numerous flowers piled on the curved eaves. The animal-shaped incense burners spewed out wisps of green smoke. After entering behind the crystal curtain, she knelt down to pay her respects.
"Get up." Huiyin said with a smile.
Xun Jiying stood up and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for summoning me to the palace to accompany the Grand Empress Dowager."
Huiyin looked at her and said, "You are still a child. In a few days, envoys from various countries will come to the palace. You should also come out and play. As for the Empress Dowager, she is old after all. You don't really need to take care of her. She has her own servants. You just need to give her instructions. On weekdays, you should spend more time with her and talk to her. I have already transferred your share. If you need anything, just ask someone to find Qin An."
In fact, as a girl of this age, there will always be some feelings of shame. She is unwilling to please others, and unwilling to do things that go against her will. However, girls always become sensible and mature early. This is the tendency of adults, and they will try their best to satisfy adults.
To be honest, Huiyin didn't have much ill will towards her. As a person, you should fight for what you want when you can, and there's no need to humiliate others. After all, the marriage between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince is ultimately decided by them. As long as the parents are not confused, what can others do?
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty." Xun Jiying could understand what the Queen meant.
Huiyin smiled and said, "Go ahead."
The one who came to pick up Xun Jiying was Baochan, a maid in the Empress Dowager's service. The two of them didn't dare to say much along the way. The rules in the palace were very strict, and laughing and joking would easily make people look sideways and say that they were not disciplined.
However, at the palace gate, he said, "Miss Xun, the Empress Dowager has not woken up yet. She has been a vegetarian recently, which has caused her to be in a bad mood. The Emperor asked us to persuade her to eat more meat and vegetables. This is a trouble for you, Miss."
Xun Jiying actually felt a little uncomfortable. She was the eldest daughter and a child at home, so everyone spoiled her. But after entering the palace, everyone treated her like an adult even though she was only ten years old.
After the two of them came in, Nanny Fan waved to them, "Go to the side hall and rest first. The Empress Dowager hasn't woken up yet."
Xun Jiying went to the side hall to rest again, but when she left, the Empress Dowager woke up.
Nanny Fan was surprised: "Grandpa, you finally woke up. The Emperor and the Empress came to see you. How do you feel now?"
As she got older, she would easily feel uncomfortable with any minor illness or pain. When the Empress Dowager heard that Li Cheng had come, she breathed a sigh of relief. She had no status in the harem at all. Even the things she got were far inferior to those of the Empress in Linde Hall, so she did not tell anyone this time and set up this game.
Even Nanny Fan was in the dark about it. She held her forehead and said, "I still feel a little uncomfortable."
Nanny Fan said quickly, "It just so happens that the waiter has prepared some medicine. Let someone bring it to the old ancestor to drink."
"That medicine has no taste at all." The Empress Dowager leaned back on the pillow, looking unhappy.
Nanny Fan said, "Your Majesty, you can't not take the medicine. The Emperor will definitely blame you. He will come over for dinner."
The Empress Dowager was delighted when she heard this. It was so embarrassing that the Emperor sent her great-granddaughter away last time. It would be great if she could call her family back after this incident. It was also because Zheng Shi was so cunning. She took the initiative to bring her niece Xian Jie'er into the palace. She could also bring her family back. Unexpectedly, Zheng Shi said it was not in accordance with etiquette, so she had a chance. This time, she had a chance.
Seeing that the Grand Empress Dowager was happy, Nanny Fan hurriedly said, "There is more. The Empress has summoned Miss Xun to come in. She is now resting in the side hall. We are old and can't say anything new, so we asked Miss Xun to come and talk with you."
After she finished speaking, everyone thought that the Empress Dowager would be happy, but unexpectedly, her face turned red and white.