Since the death of old lady Hong, Dongfang, as the mistress of the Hong family, has been very good at dealing with people and doing good things for others. Even after her sister-in-law became the empress, the Hong family became one of the celebrities in the capital. Her daughter Hong Shutang and others are very famous in the capital. The Hong family also often gives out porridge and does charity.
It is unbelievable that a duchess of the first rank was beheaded at home.
Empress Hong still had some affection for her sister-in-law. The reason why she was able to succeed was inseparable from the cultivation of her sister-in-law.
When Xu Qingrong and the others heard about this, they were so frightened that their faces turned pale. They found it quite horrifying.
"Madam Hong, remember to send the funeral gifts to the Cheng'en Mansion."
Hong Shuyi is also a member of the Hong family, so it would be best for her to represent the family.
Hong Shuyi took the order, and then heard Xu Qingrong say, "Who is so bold and has such a deep hatred?"
"I don't know about this." Hong Shuyi also found it strange.
That's the Duke's Mansion, not just any nobody can enter. Besides, Dongfang is just an ordinary woman, how could she have such a deep grudge with anyone?
After Xu Qingrong sent Hong Shuyi out of the palace to pay tribute, she hurried to Kunning Palace to comfort her mother-in-law. At this time, Luo Yaoniang was in confinement after giving birth and could not go, so it was a good time for her to show her kindness.
It was a rare moment of peace in Kunning Palace. It was Emperor Jianzhang who was comforting Empress Hong: "Don't worry. I have already sent the Infantry Yamen to start the search and the Ministry of Justice to investigate the case. The murderer will definitely be found and brought to justice."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Queen Hong couldn't help but press her eye sockets with a handkerchief.
But the hand holding the handkerchief tightened. As the saying goes, no one knows a son better than his mother. She always felt that this matter was related to her son, because Gao Xuance was like that. He was ruthless and would never show any leniency after discovering it.
She used to be very proud of her son for this, as he was very efficient in eradicating the weeds, but now she herself is a little scared.
Emperor Jianzhang consoled him with a few more words and called Gao Xuance over: "I will leave your aunt's matter to you."
Gao Xuance assured: "Don't worry, father. I will do my best."
"Okay, okay, okay, why haven't I seen you come to have meals with your father these days? Don't you come here often on weekdays?" Emperor Jianzhang said with a smile.
Gao Xuance and Emperor Jianzhang were chatting and laughing, which made Empress Hong even more shocked. After killing another person, one person was so calm and composed, and he didn't even take it to heart.
Empress Hong suddenly felt fortunate that she had lost the medicine bottle, but Xing'er didn't know what was going on and just felt it was a pity. If Madam Hong Dongfang were still alive, she could have urged Empress Hong, but now that she was gone, the Empress might not have poisoned Princess Chen, which was really a pity.
She still thinks that she is the only one who is the accomplice of Prince Chen beside Queen Hong, so if she doesn't say anything about this matter, no one will know.
The Hong family cried as if they had lost their parents. You have to know that Hong Shutang and Hong Shuxia were already in their 50s, and Dongfang was considered to be very good at dealing with people, while many of her daughters-in-law were not as good as her.
Not only did the Duke of Constitutional Mansion hold a roadside memorial service, but they also had to come over to attend the funeral. The old duke of the Duke of Constitutional Mansion had already passed away, but old lady Zhuang was still alive. When she heard about this, she chanted "Amitābha" several times.
How could such a cruel thing happen in the world? It's really horrifying.
Madam Zhuang said, "Don't worry, the Emperor has handed this matter over to Prince Chen to handle. Prince Chen, you know that this is his maternal uncle's family. He is always smart and capable, so there is no reason for him to do anything bad."
"That's true." Madam Zhuang nodded.
Speaking of Prince Chen, Old Lady Zhuang thought of her daughter Zhuang Lingyi and could not help but complaining to her, "I don't know what's wrong with your sister. She is so stubborn. She has been following the aunt all the time when she was exiled. Now the aunt is sick and has died. I took her in out of kindness, but she has to live as a widow in the Huang family."
Madam Zhuang complained in her heart that her sister-in-law was a candidate for Princess Chen before, but now Princess Chen is so favored and has given birth to three sons.
Fortunately, Madam Zhuang said, "But Prince Chen's situation may not be good either. Just like Prince Heng before, he will probably be very sad in the future. I want to try my best to dispel your sister's thoughts and take her around a bit, which may also help you."
Mrs. Zhuang had no choice but to agree.
The Duke of Xian's Mansion is actually not as good as it used to be. Although the emperor still takes care of them, there are now up-and-coming families like the Marquis of Jianguo Mansion and another Zhuang family. Therefore, Madam Zhuang wants to settle her daughter's marriage before she passes away.
And she's still a widow for the Huang family. What's the point of being a widow? It doesn't make sense at all.
This time when Zhuang Lingyi returned to her mother's house, she certainly felt the desolation of the Duke of Xian's Mansion. In the past, the family ate tribute rice, and no one cared even if it was spilled on the ground. In just less than ten years, especially after her father's death, the family did not seem to have fallen into decline, but even the Shujinxue Satin, which were once common items used by the Duke of Xian's Mansion, became precious.
Her mother used money from her own pocket to make clothes for her and her daughter, and the sisters-in-law in the family were not as well dressed as before.
Although her daughter Rushuang was young, she was smart and clever. She usually helped Zhuang Lingyi with the housework, so she asked, "Mother, why are the things used by my grandparents worse than those in our house?"
Zhuang Lingyi's dowry was rich, and the people she brought with her as a dowry were well-off in business, and with her dowry, the whole family lived very well at home. Although the Duke of Xian's Mansion looked extremely prestigious from the outside, and it seemed that it still maintained its old airs, it was actually different.
Zhuang Lingyi asked her daughter Huang Rushuang, "How did you know this?"
"My daughter, you see, this bowl is not a set. We eat the best products from Ge Kiln and Ru Kiln at home, but there is still a gap in my uncle's house. Also, my mother used to say that everyone in my grandparents' house eats rouge rice, but I see that everyone in my aunt's house eats ordinary rice." Huang Rushuang and her brother followed their mother to live with their grandparents. They were careful in everything they did, for fear of being looked down upon.
Zhuang Lingyi sighed and said, "Since ancient times, human affairs have been like this. The influence of a gentleman will be cut off after five generations."
She always felt that if the Duke of Xian's Mansion was calmer and more neutral, it could rely on the title to maintain its wealth forever. In fact, it was not so. Looking at the Marquis of Jianguo Mansion of the same surname, she heard that it was related to the lineage of Prince Chen and was much more majestic than her own family.
In the past, the Marquis Jianguo Mansion had to look at the face of the Duke Xian's Mansion, but now the sisters-in-law have to go to the Marquis Jianguo Mansion every day. It's really embarrassing.
Huang Rushuang had been accustomed to her father's doting on his concubines and abandoning his wife since she was a child. He was good to the children of the concubines but not to them, so she suddenly said, "Mother, I heard that you almost became the Princess of Prince Chen. Is Prince Chen the one who married the prince of Xirong?"
She found it hard to believe why her mother chose not to marry Prince Chen but to marry a man like her father.
I heard that Prince Chen treats his wife wholeheartedly. As a prince, he has no concubines and is still such a great hero...
Zhuang Lingyi felt a little lonely.
However, she didn't expect that she would really see Prince Chen again soon. He also came to investigate the case and to pay tribute.
The Prince of Chen was very tall and straight. He did not wear the official robes of a prince, but a simple one, probably to show his respect for Madam Hong. He was still so dignified and handsome, and everyone gathered around him.
Prince Chen was comforting his uncle: "Now that your aunt is gone, you must not grieve too much."
Duke Cheng'en was moved to tears of gratitude. Normally, Prince Chen was not very close to his uncle, which was normal. Prince Chen was very busy with official duties and had many talents. People felt oppressed in front of him.
The daughters of the Hong family were hiding behind the screen. Seeing that Hong Shutang looked unhappy, Hong Shuxia couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong with you? You look so ugly."
It doesn't sound like excessive crying, but more like fear.
Hong Shutang's face turned pale and he dared not say anything. Hong Shuxia was of a gloomy nature and her mother had high hopes for her, so she recalled what Dongfang had said at the time and was afraid that this would cause trouble.
She was worried that she would get into trouble, and it would be as easy for the Prince to kill her as it would be to kill an ant.
There is no longer any thought of the childishness that I had before; all I have is fear.
Gao Xuance asked the officials of the Ministry of Justice to investigate, while he sat aside and listened quietly. Everyone was very respectful to him, which made Zhuang Lingyi realize his mistake.
Unfortunately, it's too late. She is now a spent beauty, but Prince Chen is still in a high position of power and has no intention of liking her.
When people are too young, they know nothing, and now it is too late to know.
Just like Luo Yaoniang, she knew she wanted to marry into the palace when she was very young, and she spared no effort to please Princess Zhenyang. Now she is living a great life.
As she was thinking, she found that Gao Xuance glanced at her. She tucked her hair at the temples and her heart was pounding.
"Your Highness, the survey has been completed."
Gao Xuance said, "Well, let's go now. If you want the Infantry Yamen and Wucheng Bingma Division to cooperate, just tell me. I'm going back to the palace to report first."
He had come here in a sedan chair, and now he was leaving in a sedan chair surrounded by people.
This sedan chair was carried by sixteen people and was extremely exquisite. The king looked like a god.
But Yao Niang was listening to Cheng Ze reciting his lessons. He was like his father Luo Zhizheng, who didn't need to worry about studying, and he could put more effort into studying than Cheng Yun. Cheng Yun now liked calligraphy and martial arts more than studying. At a young age, Emperor Jianzhang promised to take him out hunting next year.
"You recited it really well, Chengze. It's amazing." Yao Niang applauded.
Cheng Yun was smiling. He liked being with his mother.
The mother and son were about to talk when Gao Xuance came in. Yao Niang asked with a smile, "Why did you come back so early today?"
"Nothing important happened today. I just went to the Hong family and came back. I hurried back to tell you something." He held Yao Niang's hands.
Yao Niang asked the wet nurse to take Chengze out, and then asked, "What's the matter?"
Gao Xuance said, "Many years ago, I found a woman who said bad things about you in the corridor. She is living a very bad life now. She looks more than 20 years older than you. It's really retribution. Back then, I heard her scold you for entering the palace to compete for favors. Now she is suppressed by a concubine. When her husband dies, she has to rely on her mother's family, which is about to collapse. She is nothing."
"So, are you happy?"
It turned out that he was telling her this specifically. Yao Niang wiped his sweat with a handkerchief and smiled with her head tilted: "I said I'm happy, so do you think I'm a bad guy?"
Gao Xuance was amused: "No way."
His wife really suits his heart so well. If someone treats him badly, he should just let her suffer the consequences. Why should he always think about empathy and spare their lives? Humph.