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◎The Second Prince's arranged marriage.◎
After rejecting the dinner invitation from her sweaty third brother, Qingyang went to Qianyuan Hall to have dinner with her father. There would be an early court tomorrow, so Qingyang would sleep in the side room in the back hall specially reserved for her by her father tonight, so as to avoid having to rush over from Jiuhua Palace through a palace gate tomorrow morning.
After watching his sister walk away, Qin Ren asked Zhang Su, who had put on his outer robe again, "What did your sister say to you?"
Zhang Su only mentioned the illness of Marquis Weiyuan's wife and that his father was going to Liaozhou to succeed Marquis Weiyuan, which earned him a long sigh from the third prince.
After returning to Chengming Palace to get the badge that designated him as the prince's tutor, Zhang Su left the palace.
At the Duke of Wei's mansion, Duke Zhang Jie hadn't returned yet. Three years earlier, Emperor Xingwu had transferred his eldest son, Zhang Jian, to Jizhou for military training. Lady Xu had sent her eldest daughter-in-law with him, leaving her to help raise her eldest grandson. The second son, Zhang Heng, was only twenty-one years old and served in the Northern Camp. His wife, newly married in early March, still had a childlike innocence and took her nephew to the garden to play.
So, Zhang Su met his mother alone in the hall.
Only then did Xu learn from her son that her husband was about to go on a long journey. Although she was reluctant to let him go, thinking of the wife of Marquis Weiyuan who was ill in bed, Xu felt that it was a good thing for her husband to make this trip. Who among the sons of a military family who was determined to serve his country would like to stay in the capital for a long time and only be able to train troops?
As dusk fell, Zhang Jie and Zhang Heng returned, and the family gathered together for dinner.
Zhang Heng: "Father, could you please ask the Emperor to let me go to Liaozhou with you?"
The second wife, who was sitting next to her mother-in-law, trembled her eyelashes.
Zhang Jie: "Officials are supposed to obey the emperor's orders and fulfill their duties. The emperor has appointed you to the Beijing camp, so you only need to do your job well. How can you ask for a higher position without authorization?"
He had just wanted to offer a few words, but seeing his grandson Dalang staring at him with his dark eyes wide open, Zhang Jie added, "The Emperor values me; that's a favor bestowed upon his subjects. If I were to use this favor to ask for special care for the descendants of the Zhang family, I'd be arrogance and overreaching. Throughout history, officials who were arrogant and self-righteous never had a good ending. You must take this as a warning and eliminate any root causes of usurpation."
Zhang Heng immediately looked ashamed, and he and his third brother expressed at the same time that they would definitely remember their father's teachings in their hearts.
The three-and-a-half-year-old Dalang also nodded like his second and third uncles.
Xu silently picked up some food for her daughter-in-law.
After dinner, Zhang Jie called his two sons to the study and told them to concentrate on their work, respect their mother, and take care of his wife's nephew. It was completely dark outside the window when the three of them separated.
His two elder brothers had already started their own families, and the fifteen-year-old Zhang Su no longer slept in his brothers' rooms, but returned to his own yard alone.
Having lived in the palace since he was six, and rarely seen with his family, Zhang Su didn't feel too bad about his father's departure. His father had been granted the title of Duke for his talent and contributions to the founding of the state, so Zhang Su wasn't particularly worried about his father's safety in Liaozhou. Truthfully, what had shocked him most today were the little princess's two words.
Why do you care whether he has a concubine?
Could it be that the little princess still remembered the childish words she said when she was three years old about choosing him as her prince consort?
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The morning court session begins at the hour of Mao, and the ministers will generally arrive a quarter of an hour in advance. Only the lazy officials will rush to the Qianyuan Hall on time.
For those who lived near the imperial city, like Zhang Jie, it was perfectly fine to get up at 4:15 of the Yin hour. He could spend 15 minutes washing up, 15 minutes eating something to fill his stomach, and 15 minutes riding on horseback. Some ministers simply did not eat or ate while traveling, so that they could get a little more sleep.
But Zhang Jie always got up at 3:15 in the morning.
This morning was no exception, and Zhang Su was even waiting for his father in front of the gate in advance.
Qingyang got up at 6:15 in the morning, only 2:15 earlier than usual for morning reading. He didn't feel very sleepy, after all, he went to bed early last night.
After tidying up, when Qingyang arrived at the imperial study, Emperor Xingwu had already had breakfast and was reading memorials. He had left a breakfast for his daughter on the small table next to him.
It was just to fill her stomach, the portion was not big, and the little princess ate it slowly and calmly.
Emperor Xingwu looked at his daughter, who was full of energy, and shook his head, saying, "I really don't know why you, at such a young age, like to listen to those trivial matters of state."
During the hour-long court session, matters of state ranged from minor to major. Some were urgent and deeply concerning, like natural disasters, wars, and murders; others were routine and tedious, like minor official transfers and performance reports. Emperor Xingwu sometimes forced himself to listen to the officials' chatter, and his daughter even rose early to attend.
Qingyang: "Father said that the whole world belongs to our family, so I want to know what happened in places I can't see. I also like to hear Father scold those ministers, it's so majestic."
Emperor Xingwu: "...I don't always scold them. When they do well, I often praise them."
Qingyang: "Anyway, I just like listening to my father handle state affairs. He seems to be more heroic when he attends court than usual."
Emperor Xingwu straightened his back unconsciously and even adjusted his dragon robe before leaving.
Qingyang walked beside his father with a smile, while He Yuanjing and Zhao Cai walked behind. He Yuanjing was serving the emperor, and Zhao Cai, the second-class eunuch of Qianyuan Hall, was holding a cushion that would be used to lay out the little princess. Jie Yujiang stopped outside the front hall. In short, only the little princess was allowed by Emperor Xingwu to hide in the imperial road and listen to government affairs as an exception.
When Emperor Xingwu sat on the dragon throne, Qingyang also sat on the cushion, with her back against the palace wall, and took the book that Zhao Cai brought with her. She flipped through the book while listening to the movements in the hall. If the content of the discussion was not worthy of attention, the little princess would focus on the book to make up for the morning reading she missed this morning.
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There has been no major events in the court recently, so Qingyang is more concerned about Meng Yao's mother's illness and when Weiyuan Marquis Meng Ji will arrive in Beijing.
She went to her father's place to look at the map. It was three thousand miles from the capital to Liaozhou City. Even if Zhang Jie worked hard and rode his horse at full speed to travel two hundred miles every day, it would take him until mid-April to reach Liaozhou City. Meng Ji could only return to the capital after the two commanders officially handed over the command.
In the meantime, Qingyang went to visit the wife of Weiyuan Marquis again. The person who could speak for a long time last time now had difficulty in even speaking complete sentences.
Qingyang couldn't bear to visit again.
On the afternoon of April 22nd, when Qingyang came out of the Ministry of Revenue and was about to go to the Ministry of War, he suddenly saw Fan Zhong walking quickly on the palace road with a tall but thin man in plain clothes. The man's facial features should be good-looking, but his face was yellow, and he had untidy beard above his lips and on his chin. When he got closer, Qingyang found that the man's eyes were red.
At this time, Fan Zhong spoke, pointing his finger at the little princess standing on the side of the palace path, and introduced her, "This is Princess Qingyang."
Weiyuan Marquis Meng Ji hurriedly stopped and saluted in a hoarse voice: "Your servant Meng Ji greets the princess."
Qingyang was surprised and asked, "How come the Marquis came back so quickly?"
Meng Ji was silent.
Fan Zhong explained for him, "The Marquis has been changing horses at various post stations, traveling at an expedited speed of 800 li. If Your Highness has nothing else to do, I will accompany the Marquis to see the Emperor first. Only after seeing the Emperor can the Marquis return home."
Qingyang immediately asked them to go quickly.
The two generals continued forward at a rapid pace.
Qingyang could not help but watch the two men's backs until they were out of sight before she walked towards the Ministry of War. However, she was worried about this matter, so she stopped outside the Ministry of War and waited. About a quarter of an hour later, the sound of footsteps coming closer and closer was heard on the palace road. The person was running, and each step was heavy. Then, Meng Ji's figure running towards the south flashed past on the unobstructed palace road between the two government offices in front and behind.
Qingyang stood there in a daze, his father's words ringing in his ears.
My father said that cavalry excels in speed, but the maximum speed of a cavalry's forced march is two hundred miles a day. If they run farther, the horses will not be able to run, and the cavalry's waists, legs and hips will not be able to bear it. For example, messengers who run eight hundred miles in a hurry often get injured or die from exhaustion. Fortunately, there are not many emergency situations that require an 800-mile rush.
Weiyuan Hou actually ran all the way back.
After the shock, Qingyang hopes that Meng Yao's mother will get better after being reunited with her husband.
However, just three days later, news of death came from Weiyuan Marquis Mansion.
Qingyang followed the imperial concubine and his mother to the Weiyuan Marquis's residence to pay tribute. Seeing Meng Yao kneeling in front of the mourning hall with swollen eyes, Qingyang also cried.
Weiyuan Hou Meng Ji was dressed in white and was still as thin as ever. No matter who came, he would just bow his head in return of greeting. It was not until the two concubines came forward to speak soothing words on behalf of Emperor Xingwu that Meng Ji knelt on both knees and kowtowed deeply.
The imperial concubine asked him to excuse himself.
Meng Ji remained kneeling, and when he looked up he saw the little princess with red eyes holding Concubine Li's hand.
Thinking of his wife's words of gratitude to the little princess, Meng Ji's eyes finally showed a glimmer of light that only living people can have, and he nodded slightly to the little princess.
The little princess had tears in her eyes and her vision was blurred, so she did not see the imperceptible little movement.
.
The officials who knew about the illness of the wife of Marquis Weiyuan understood that Meng Ji had returned to the capital to attend the funeral. So after the funeral was over, he, a border general, should also go back.
Meng Ji did not dare to delay state affairs because of family matters. Three days after his wife was buried, Meng Ji took the initiative to meet the emperor and ask to return home.
Emperor Xingwu sighed, "What will become of the children if you leave? Changchuan is only twenty-one and hasn't married yet. He's on duty in the East Camp, leaving early and returning late. Changhe is studying martial arts, so you don't need to worry about him. And what about Yaoyao? She's only thirteen this year, right?"
Meng Ji lowered his eyes and said, "To be honest with you, Your Majesty, I want to take Yaoyao with me to Liaozhou so that I can accompany her morning and night."
Emperor Xingwu said, "How can that be? Liaozhou is bitterly cold in winter. It's all right for the soldiers to stay there, but how can a little girl like Yaoyao endure that hardship? You're willing to let her go, but I'm reluctant. So, I've wanted to marry you to the Second Prince for a long time. I originally wanted to wait until you return to the capital next year to report on your work and Yaoyao would be older before bringing it up. Now that this has happened, if you agree, I will grant the marriage and bring Yaoyao into the palace to be raised by the Imperial Concubine, so you don't have to worry about her away from home."
Hearing this, Meng Ji knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for your grace. However, I have been spoiled by us since I was a child, and I have never known tenderness and consideration..."
Emperor Xingwu laughed and said, "Yaoyao grew up under my care, and I don't know her temper."
As he spoke, he personally helped Meng Ji up and said, "Don't worry, I have arranged marriages based on the children's personalities. The gentle and quiet one is just right for the quiet Crown Prince, while Yaoyao is bold and lively. Only she can control the impulsive and belligerent Second Prince. When they get married, the Imperial Concubine and I will stand by Yaoyao and will not let the Second Prince bully her."
Meng Ji understood that he had no reason to object to this marriage.
"I thank the Emperor for his kindness on behalf of my daughter!"
Emperor Xingwu stopped his great gift, patted Meng Ji on the shoulder and said, "The children have just lost their mother. You should spend more time with them. Don't leave until after the New Year. When the time comes, take Changchuan and Changhe with you and teach them some skills."
He really appreciated Meng Ji, so he was willing to marry his two sons to share the wealth and honor with the emperor and his subjects, so he asked him to take both sons to Liaozhou to show his trust and respect.
【Author’s words】
This is a feudal emperor who has complete control over his children: he only arranges marriages and doesn't care what his children think.
100 red envelopes, see you in the evening [dog head]
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