"I am guilty." Zhang Qinghe knelt on the ground, "The emperor said that today is the winter solstice, and Master Tong, the Ninth Prince, and Miss Chang'an are invited to enter the palace together.
The Emperor also said that if Master Tong is willing to stay at the Ninth Prince's residence, you can return with the Ninth Prince after the palace banquet is over."
"Really?" Concubine Tong smiled with satisfaction. "Xuan'er, it seems that your mother misunderstood your father. She was afraid that he would regret it, so she tied you up in the room and wouldn't let you out for nothing. You must have felt wronged."
"..." Zhang Qinghe was surprised. He walked to Chang'an and deliberately slowed down a few steps. "Miss Chang'an, what is Master Tong doing? How did it become that the Ninth Prince was tied up for nothing?"
Changan sighed, "Eunuch Zhang, Changan is an outsider, it's hard to say anything.
However, according to Chang'an's opinion, Master Tong may have developed a problem after being under house arrest by the emperor for so many years. She always complains that the Ninth Prince doesn't know how to visit her, and says that the Ninth Prince doesn't have her as his mother in his heart.
When Master Tong heard you were coming, she was worried that the Ninth Prince would only listen to the Emperor, so she tied him up inside the house and wouldn't let him out."
"How could this happen?" Zhang Qinghe looked at the mother and son walking in front of him with a puzzled look on his face.
"I don't know." Chang'an shook his head. "The Ninth Prince is in a difficult position, with his father on one side and his mother on the other."
"Chang'an." Concubine Tong groped around, turned around and deliberately shouted, "Where are you? Don't bully me because I can't see you. Come quickly and talk to me. Don't you know how hard it is to live without someone to talk to for many years?"
"Eunuch Zhang, Chang'an will go a few steps ahead."
Zhang Qinghe responded and let Chang'an go first.
In the carriage, Concubine Tong said, "Chang'an, you just talked with this Zhang Qinghe. What do you think of him?"
"Changan doesn't understand what Aunt Tong means."
"This man has been working in the palace for many years, always serving in the Imperial Study, but he has never been given an important task." Concubine Tong said, "After so many years, I am a little surprised to know that he is still by the Emperor's side.
But what surprised me even more was that Eunuch Zhang was originally a servant who was taken care of by the emperor personally. Later, the emperor did not promote Zhang Qinghe but instead placed a young eunuch by his side and made use of him.
Do you know why the Emperor didn't use Zhang Qingde, but kept him by his side?"
"I don't know, is there something special about this person?"
"This man has a simple mind. He never makes blind guesses or overthinks. He answers whatever the emperor asks, and he only speaks of what he has seen with his own eyes. This is why the emperor keeps him by his side."
Changan suddenly realized, "Fortunately, everyone came today."
"Fortunately or unfortunately," Concubine Tong patted Chang'an's hand. "He will only give a simple account. As for what the emperor thinks, it all depends on the status of Xuan'er and me in his heart, and whether he cares about us, mother and son."
"Aunt Tong, don't overthink it. Being cared about isn't necessarily a blessing, like the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince. The few princes the Emperor doesn't care about, like the Sixth and Seventh Princes, live ordinary lives, but they're safe enough."
Concubine Tong smiled and said nothing more.
The carriage drove all the way to the palace. "Master Tong, Ninth Prince, we have arrived at Yonghua Palace. The Emperor is currently entertaining his ministers and their families inside."
"Thank you, Eunuch Zhang." Bei Mingxuan said, helping Concubine Tong into the hall and entering through the side door.
As soon as the few people appeared, everyone looked at them.
"This old minister greets the Ninth Prince and Tong..." Some people wanted to bow when they saw Bei Mingxuan and Concubine Tong, but suddenly they didn't know how to address Concubine Tong. They thought to themselves, and suddenly a flush appeared on their foreheads. "Wan, Wan."
Bei Mingxuan supported Concubine Tong. He smiled slightly, as if he didn't notice the discomfort of these people. "My lords, please make yourselves at ease."
At this time, Bei Ming Yulan ran over and said, "Hail, Concubine Tong, Hail, Ninth Uncle, Grandpa Emperor is letting me pass."
"Chang'an greets Princess Lan." Chang'an bowed his head and saluted.
"..." Bei Ming Yulan was surprised, "Why are you with my Ninth Uncle?"
"What?" Concubine Tong asked coldly, "Could it be that Gu Qingfeng didn't inform the Emperor and the Empress Dowager?"
"Oh, no, that..."
"Mother." Bei Mingxuan came to the rescue, "Yulan probably doesn't know the reason. Go see the Emperor and the Empress first."
At this time, Zhang Qinghe had already told the emperor everything that happened in the Ninth Prince's mansion, word for word.
"Your son greets the Emperor, the Empress, and the Grandmother." Bei Mingxuan knelt on the ground.
"I, Gu Chang'an, greet the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress."
"Hurry up." The Queen Mother smiled. "You are late, Xuan'er. Since your mother and Chang'an are women, they won't punish you with drinking. But you can't get away with it so easily. Your Majesty, what do you think?"
"Queen Dowager, I told you to get up, so get up quickly." The emperor glanced at Chang'an, "Gu Chang'an, why do you call yourself a commoner?"
"Your Majesty." Chang'an feigned nervousness. "Chang'an's father holds no official position and has been idle at home for many years. That's why Chang'an calls herself a commoner."
"But your grandfather was a meritorious official, a veteran of two dynasties." The emperor said, glancing at the old general, as well as Gu Shijia and Gu Shirou beside him. "Do you know how your cousin calls herself? Why not take a guess? Raise your head and speak."
"Whether Chang'an's grandfather is a meritorious official or not, it's up to the Emperor to decide." Chang'an spoke slowly, his eyes and brows revealing a pure and simple nature. "Chang'an remembers asking Grandpa when we were at his residence if being a general was prestigious. Your Majesty, what do you think Grandpa said?"
The Emperor looked at General Gu Xiong with great interest, "Haha, General Gu, what did you say?"
"Your Excellency..." Gu Xiong's smile was forced. He had never spoken to Chang'an before. His heart was pounding, not because he was afraid of the Emperor, but because he had never understood Chang'an, let alone grasped this granddaughter. "Your Excellency is old, and I really can't remember."
The emperor looked at Chang'an again without saying a word.
Chang An continued, "Grandpa said that being a general may seem like commanding a huge army, but in reality, you shoulder and bear the responsibilities of millions of soldiers, as well as their trust. So, it's all a heavy burden and pressure, and there's no such thing as prestige.
My grandfather also said that many people envied him for being a general, thinking that he had power because he had soldiers.
However, they all don’t know that the generals are armed with golden weapons and half iron horses, and their bodies have been dried up after hundreds of battles.
As for merit, to put it in a broader sense, it means defending the country and serving the emperor and the people.
Ultimately, it's all about the well-being of one's own family. One hopes their family can be safe from the ravages of life, from war, and enjoy a stable life. Therefore, most people are selfish. If you look closely, there's no merit to be found. Whether one has any merit or not is no longer important."
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