Chapter 148 Spring (End)
Along with the letter from home fell a white plum blossom from the northern border.
The plum branch was no longer as fresh as when it was just picked, and the petals were crushed into pieces. Shen Shuwei carefully gathered the petals together and made them into a sachet.
These days, apart from being summoned into the palace by Jiang Heng from time to time to chat, she would go to the Taoist temple in the suburbs of Beijing to pay a visit to Princess Lin Zhao.
Her identity was made public on the second day after Jiang Heng ascended the throne. She was unwilling to move to Huaiyuan Marquis's Mansion to live permanently, and even more unwilling to enter the palace. Now she is still living in Shen Mansion, and the gate of Shen Mansion has been almost trampled down.
When he was halfway through making the sachet, Shen Zhang strode in with a gloating look on his face.
Chen Shuwei hurriedly put away Zhao Yun's long and sour letter and pressed it together with the bare plum branch.
"Why is Second Brother here now?"
Shen Zhang sat down on the chair opposite Shen Shuwei with a very proud look on his face, and pulled out a two-finger-thick invitation from his sleeve. "Look, just from yesterday morning until now, there are so many invitations to you to attend the banquet."
Chen Zhang lowered his voice and said, "I've checked for you. Most of these posts are aimed at finding you a husband."
"What about the eldest son of the Yan family, the youngest son of the Minister's family, and the grandson of a scholarly family?" Chen Zhang pointed at the top invitation. "Third sister, do you want to go and take a look? Maybe you can find someone with a more outstanding appearance than Zhao Yun."
Shen Zhang still dislikes Zhao Yun and thinks that he attracted Shen Shuwei with his face.
Shen Shuwei pushed away those invitations helplessly, "Second brother, please reject them all for me. I don't have the heart to attend the banquet right now."
Chen Zhang knew she would give this answer before he came, but he still wanted to mention it to annoy someone who was suffering from the cold in the northern border.
"Alright, since you don't want to, I'll go back for you. But my aunt has come to the palace to convey an imperial decree, saying that Lingnan has just sent fresh lychees as tribute, and she invites you to come to the palace to taste them."
Chen Shuwei put away the sachet and straightened his clothes. "I'll go now. When I leave the palace, I'll bring some back for you and my elder brother Ayang."
-
Such leisurely days passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye it was time for the spring water to melt.
On this day, Chen Shuwei was in the palace, looking resignedly at Jiang Heng, who was wearing a bright yellow silk dress and sitting on the throne with a golden sword, reviewing memorials.
"The previous dynasty was in an uproar over your selection of a concubine, and you changed back into women's clothes just to shut up those old ministers?" Shen Shuwei looked at her in disbelief.
This is like tearing off the roof because the house is not bright enough.
Jiang Heng snorted and put down his white jade pen. "It's only been four months since I ascended the throne, and already everyone is clamoring over which daughter is the most virtuous and worthy of being a role model for the harem, and which daughter is so beautiful that she deserves to be named one of the Four Consorts."
"Do you really think I don't know what they're thinking? They just want to get someone close to me."
"Now, they don't have to offer their daughters and granddaughters. They can just clean themselves up and send themselves to the palace."
Chen Shuwei had a complicated expression and didn't say anything.
She really didn't know what to say.
Fortunately, since Jiang Heng ascended the throne, he has taken various measures to calm the people's hearts, and the financial situation is much better than when the previous emperor was in power. Even the New Year gifts given out are more generous than in previous years. Even if the officials and people of the previous dynasty wanted to comment, they couldn't say anything.
At this time, an official from the Ministry of Rites walked in with his head bowed, and Chen Shuwei retreated to one side and sat down.
Jiang Heng looked at him impatiently, "What's the matter? I'm now a girl again. Are they going to stuff those girls into my harem?"
"No matter how many children are stuffed in, they won't be able to give birth. It's better to send them to the new girls' school I opened."
The official had served two dynasties and had been in the Ministry of Rites for over ten years. He had seen a lot of ups and downs, but Jiang Heng's words still made him speechless. After a while, he said, "Your Majesty, the issue of offspring is related to the fate of the country. Only when the harem has a prosperous offspring can the fortune of our dynasty prosper."
Jiang Heng had heard this kind of official language so many times that she could recite it by heart. Just when she was about to interrupt this meaningless nonsense.
The official said something startling, "The officials from the Ministry of Rites have selected several young men of appropriate age, all of whom are outstanding in appearance and virtue. You may choose a few to enter the palace as you see fit."
This time, not only Jiang Heng, but also Shen Shuwei was shocked by these words.
These people in the Ministry of Rites are really... flexible. They chose the male concubine in just one day.
Even though Jiang Heng couldn't think of any words to refuse for a moment, after a long while she finally said, "Who are these people?"
The official hurriedly presented the list and pulled out several scrolls. While Jiang Heng was checking the family background and names on the list, he unfolded the scrolls and introduced the men in the paintings one by one.
Shen Shuwei closed his eyes and said nothing.
Jiang Heng carefully read through all the scrolls, yawned under the official's expectant gaze, and threw the list back. "What kind of people are these? They're not good-looking, and their family background is not good either."
The officials were anxious. These were all selected by the people from their Ministry of Rites who worked day and night to select them. They were all outstanding in appearance, and some of them were young masters from aristocratic families. How could they not be acceptable?
The people in their Ministry of Rites quickly accepted the fact that Jiang Heng was a woman. After all, Jiang Heng was a woman, so the future royal bloodline would be absolutely pure and there would be no confusion of bloodline.
This is so great, it saves a lot of hidden dangers. Why can't people in other departments figure this out?
"The one in green is too pretentious, not natural at all. The one in red comes from a prominent family in Jiangzhou, and most of their clansmen are officials in the court. I wouldn't dare marry someone like that, lest their relatives interfere in politics." Jiang Heng rattled off a bunch of criticisms, licking his lips after finishing. "Of course, when choosing a concubine, I have to choose someone capable, preferably one who is an official in the court. First, she can give birth to offspring, and second, she can help me with my work in the court."
She has to do two jobs with one salary, but she is still able to manage the household frugally.
The official took out his pen and wrote down something thoughtfully, looking at Jiang Heng with starry eyes, "Your Majesty, is there anything else?"
Jiang Heng hummed, "Also, he needs to be gentle, talented, and come from a family that's neither too prominent nor too humble. It's best if he has siblings, so his parents don't feel embarrassed."
"Oh, yes, she has to be pretty too, but not too pretty. She has to be gentle and attractive."
"He who likes to wear white and green clothes."
The official suddenly slowed down as he was taking notes, and Shen Shuwei narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at Jiang Heng.
"Your Majesty, you are talking about Lord Shen Heng, right?" the official said tremblingly.
Every point of this is in line with Lord Shen's.
Jiang Heng turned around thoughtfully, "Really? Did I mention Chen Heng's name?"
The official quickly glanced at Shen Shuwei who was sitting next to him, kowtowed resignedly and left.
When he found out, he went back and persuaded Lord Shen to come to the palace. After all, this concerns the destiny of our dynasty!
Shen Shuwei stood up helplessly and looked at her, "When did it happen?"
Jiang Heng pretended to be dumbfounded, "What are you asking, sister?"
"Let me ask you, when did you take a fancy to Chen Heng?"
Jiang Heng remained silent. Instead, he took out a bright yellow imperial edict from the pile of memorials on the imperial desk and threw it into Shen Shuwei's arms, "Sister, you should read this."
Just as Shen Shuwei was about to open it suspiciously, Jiang Heng interrupted her again, "Sister, go back and read it. Come back and tell me when you've made up your mind."
Seeing that she was deliberately creating confusion, Chen Shuwei put away the imperial edict with a smile and asked, "Do you want me to ask big brother for your opinion?"
Jiang Heng shook his head and continued to review the memorials. "Sister, don't ask. I know what's going on."
Chen Shuwei returned home with the imperial edict. As soon as he pushed open the door, he suddenly realized something was wrong with his bed. Did he forget to draw the curtains in the morning? Why was it hanging down?
Chen Shuwei walked over with the imperial edict in his arms. He placed one hand on the curtain and was about to lift it when he heard a rustling sound from inside.
She was startled and quickly pulled aside the curtain, only to see a bulge under her quilt, revealing a section of soft black hair.
The owner of the black hair lifted a corner of the quilt, revealing a cold and celestial face with the black hair beneath it, and a dot of ochre cinnabar between the eyebrows added a touch of brilliance to it.
"It's cold outside. I've warmed up the bed for Ayuan. Would you like to come up and lie down?"
When Chen Shuwei was confusedly seduced into bed by this vixen who had just come from the northern border, he was still thinking about the imperial edict that he had not read.
A low, hoarse laugh echoed in my ear, and the tip of my ear felt like it had been kissed, burning and numb. "Ayuan, you don't have to read it. I'll explain each word to you one by one."
That was the imperial decree granting marriage written by him personally. He pondered every word in his mind dozens of times before he dared to write it down. How could he forget it?
-
After Shen Shuwei married Zhao Yun, they went to Liangzhou. Shen Zhang was the first person to be dissatisfied with this. In his words, Liangzhou was located in a remote area and was not as prosperous as Luojing. Shen Shuwei didn't even have anyone to talk to there.
Zhao Yun heard this and replied humbly, "Within ten years, I will be able to bring Ayuan back to the capital. From now on, Liangzhou will be left to my future child to look after. Ayuan and I will always be by my second brother's side."
Shen Zhang was almost mad at Zhao Yun's words and even called him a vixen for several days. Afterwards, Shen Zhiyang secretly told Shen Shuwei that his second brother wanted to go to the Taoist temple in the suburbs of Beijing to ask for some blessed talismans to post at home, but then he heard that Princess Linzhao lived in that Taoist temple, so he gave up the idea.
On the day of departure, Jiang Heng personally saw her off, and Chen Heng was by her side. Shen Shuwei's eyes fell on their clasped hands.
Chen Heng felt very embarrassed and wanted to pull his hand away, but Jiang Heng pinched his waist, and his white jade-like face gradually turned light red.
"The situation in the northern border is unstable now. Thank you for your hard work, sister." Jiang Heng bowed to Chen Shuwei.
This place in the Northern Frontier has always been guarded by the Jiang family, and the Northern Frontier garrison does not recognize anyone else. What's more, Liangzhou is close to the Northern Frontier, so the only people who can go there are Chen Shuwei and Zhao Yun.
Chen Shuwei helped Jiang Heng up, smiling, "Don't worry about me. I just want to travel around and see the scenery. Luojing is nice, but it's not as free as outside."
"Within three years, I will be able to completely wipe out the Rong people. By then, I will personally welcome my sister back to the capital." Jiang Heng looked at Shen Shuwei seriously and promised word by word.
Chen Shu agreed with a smile, and Jiang Heng and others accompanied them for ten miles before returning.
Sitting in the carriage, Chen Shuwei half leaned against Zhao Yun, looking at the prosperous spring scenery outside the carriage, heaved a long sigh, and held Zhao Yun's hand.
Zhao Yun lowered his head as if aware of something. A peach blossom was drawn out by the car window, and a few delicate petals fell on the lips of the two.
It is a good time of spring when everything is reviving.
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