"That won't work." Gao Xuance blurted out.
Concubine Hong looked at her son very abruptly, and Gao Xuance found this feeling very strange. He thought to himself that it would be fine if he didn't know about his past life, but it was obvious that they were uncle and sister-in-law in the past life. If they were mixed together, wouldn't it be unethical?
Before, he suspected that Yao Niang might be reincarnated, but since the interpretation of the divination, she clearly looked like a little girl, so it was very likely that she was not reincarnated. Otherwise, how could she be like that to herself, a person who died young in her previous life.
Never mind. He just let it go.
"Mother, actually I have liked Miss Luo for a long time, but she is young, and I think marriage is a matter of parents' orders and matchmaker's words, so I have never said it out loud." Gao Xuance stood up and said firmly.
Concubine Hong almost fainted after hearing this. She couldn't help but hold his hand tightly and asked, "Is what you said true or false?"
During the Mid-Autumn Festival at home, Yao Niang took some time to pay her respects to Old Lady Dou. The old lady was getting older and more frail than she was a few years ago, and her movements were much slower.
But she is not blind or deaf, and is still a very capable old woman.
"Grandma, how have you been lately? Why haven't I seen Fourth Sister Shifang?" Yao Niang asked as she sat down.
Old Lady Dou smiled and said, "I'm fine. Shi Fang has gone to her mother's place. I'll ask her to come over later so you two sisters can have a good talk. As for you, it's better to stay at home than in the palace. I've told your mother to let you feel more relaxed at home."
Yao Niang thanked this old lady who was so caring towards her younger generation. Shi Fang came over from time to time. Her hair had become much thinner. It was said that she always felt that she was getting fat, so she tried not to eat in order to be slim. However, not eating made her hair fall out easily, and her figure was still bloated.
In addition, the eldest wife's family did not make much progress, and my uncle was tired of being an official. Only my eldest cousin, Luo Jingtian, was a scholar, but he asked his family to donate money to become an official, and now he has already gone out to serve as an official.
Therefore, although Shi Fang has some people proposing marriage to her now, Ren Shi doesn't like most of them. And the one she wants to marry, Cao Wanxuan from the Dongyang Marquis Mansion, doesn't like her.
Yao Niang couldn't persuade her any further, and her relationship with Shi Fang wasn't that good, so they only talked in general terms.
At this time, Old Madam Dou said that a small banquet was set up in Ganquanju, and it was still little Jiang who was in charge. Little Jiang had only one daughter, Hui Jie'er, in all these years. The elders in the family had some complaints about her, but they didn't know what to say.
I heard from my mother that my brother Jingfa has been wanting to take a concubine for more than a day or two, but he was wary of going to Jiang's house. However, he has been doing it secretly in the room quite a few times.
But Xiao Jiang was very jealous, and all the secrets were exposed, which was criticized by Yao Niang. These things were nothing to her. Who doesn't want to live a life alone with her husband? Unfortunately, all powerful men, no, even men with a little money, want to play with women.
Women are also very pitiful. If they are a little bit pretty, but their parents are not wealthy, they are likely to be snatched away by others to be concubines.
But she only dared to mention this to Yu.
Yu's heart was pounding when she heard this: "Child, do you know what you are saying? Your brother Jingfa has no children, so won't all the property of this branch go to the eldest branch in the future? Why do people in this world want to give birth to boys? Do you think others are not as smart as you? It's because there is no other way. If our family didn't have your father, you and I might have been kicked out."
"That being said, there's nothing wrong in asking for a lifetime of companionship." Yao Niang just felt that everyone thought that Xiao Jiang was jealous, but she just wanted to be with her man for the rest of her life, just like all women in the world.
When Yu heard this, she was furious: "You, with your status, can only marry into a family with strict rules. But in such a family, you can't have children, and if they don't take concubines, they will have concubines. You can't guard against it..."
"Mom, I understand." Yao Niang knew that Xiao Niang was definitely not saying this to harm her, and that it was based entirely on her experience. However, for Yao Niang, she no longer wanted to know this.
Seeing that her daughter was unwilling to listen, Yu sighed and said, "You have such a stubborn temper. Even if you are strong in everything, you can't bow your head. Women need to be gentle to be liked. Look at your father. Although I have some tricks, it's because I always use judo."
Yao Niang stretched out her hand to stop Yu from saying anything further: "Mom, I know, but I am not you. I have my own path to take." After saying that, she walked away.
Looking at her daughter's back, Yu felt a little scared for no reason.
A daughter who is too strong-willed will not have a good relationship with her husband, unless the other one has a very good temper, otherwise it will be very difficult.
Therefore, at night, she said to Luo Zhizheng: "Master, Yao Niang is already thirteen years old, and even Shi Yu has already been engaged. Have you ever thought about looking for a man for her first? If she is not chosen in the palace, we have candidates in our family. We can't leave her without a place to go."
As a mother, all she wants is for her daughter to be stable, especially now that Jinghao has grown up. With her husband's promotion, Yu's status at home has become higher and higher, and she lives a very comfortable life. Luo Zhizheng was not originally interested in women, and he would only go to her room when she was not feeling well. He supported her in all matters, big and small.
Even when Yu Yan wanted to return to the Luo family as a widow, it was Luo Zhizheng who arranged it for her.
After hearing what she said, Luo Zhizheng smiled and said, "Don't worry, she can get married even at the age of 18. It's no big deal."
"That's... that's true, but no matter how good our Yao Niang is, people will think there's something wrong when they hear that I'm only eighteen." Yu felt like she was burning with anxiety.
But the father and daughter didn't care at all, and she was the only one who was worrying about it.
Luo Zhizheng turned over and said, "Go to sleep quickly. There's no rush. If you don't sleep, I'll sleep first..."
"Master..." Yu was sulking to herself.
Unfortunately, Yao Niang had to go to the palace again the next day. This time, the person sent by Concubine Hong to pick her up arrived early, so Yao Niang had to say goodbye to her parents and sisters-in-law.
When entering the palace, Yao Niang used to be in a hurry and never looked around carefully. Now she took every step carefully. The female official urged her, "Miss Luo, it's getting late. Let's go to Kunning Palace to see Concubine Hong first."
"Yeah." Yao Niang didn't know why Concubine Hong asked her to come back so early.
Kunning Palace is still as magnificent as before, especially after the mourning period ended. A screen wall was added here, and it was said that the palace would be rebuilt, but to Yao Niang, it was already very magnificent.
At the ceremonial gate of Kunning Palace, she saw Hong Shuyi. This girl was 19 years old this year and was still working as a female official in the palace. She really wasted her time.
Unfortunately, Princess Zhenyang no longer likes Hong Shuyi in recent years. She often helps Princess Hong manage palace affairs, and it is said that she often uses profit to gain favors and bribes her with small profits.
But there were also many people who laughed at her, saying that she refused to leave the palace and was clinging on to seek wealth and fame.
Hong Shuyi pretended not to hear anything and smiled at everyone. Her ability to endure was even better than Luo Jingrou's. Today was interesting. When Hong Shuyi saw her, she didn't look as calm as before.
"Sister Hong, why are you here?"
"Nothing, I just happened to be on my way out. By the way, Concubine Hong is waiting for you, please go in first."
Yao Niang was puzzled. She looked up at the sky, as if someone was coming with bad intentions.
But when she entered the main hall, she felt that everything was normal. She knelt down and greeted: "I, your humble servant, greet Madam Hong. May Madam Hong be blessed with good health."
Concubine Hong cared about Yao Niang as if she were her own son or nephew, but ever since her son knelt down and fell deeply in love with her, she began to look at Yao Niang. She saw that she was wearing an ordinary female official uniform when she entered the palace today, but it made her skin look even fairer and more radiant, as if it brought glory to the Kunning Palace.
It is just as others say, seeing her is like seeing a beautiful jewel.
Looking at her again, she has an elegant demeanor and a gentle and kind appearance.
"Get up. You came early today. It's a good opportunity for us to have dinner together. How is your family?" Concubine Hong asked with a smile.
Yao Niang felt strange. This Concubine Hong had been looking at her for too long. But when she heard her ask, Yao Niang smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, everything is fine at home. My father and mother asked me to say hello to you, too."
"Oh, then thank you very much, Lord Luo. Yes, I heard that your family's ancestral home is Gaoping, right? Your grandfather was the chief prosecutor of Xianluo, right?"
"Your Majesty has a really good memory. My grandfather was the top scorer in the imperial examination and later retired as the Minister of the Ministry of Justice in Nanjing." At this moment, Yao Niang felt a little suspicious. Why would Concubine Hong ask so many questions?
Concubine Hong thought that Luo Yao's ancestors were indeed a family of officials, and her cousin married into the Fenyang Wang family, the emperor's uncle, who was also a well-known family.
"It's like this. I want to embroider a picture of Guanyin to hang in my room these days. After all, the people in the Shanggong Bureau don't know as much as you do. Especially since you are so good at painting portraits, I would like to ask you to embroider a picture of Guanyin for me."
It turned out that it was because of this that embroidering the Guanyin statue was very exhausting, but Yao Niang still agreed. She had become a lot more impetuous these days, and embroidering something could help her calm down. The more critical the moment, the less room for mistakes could be made.
Just look at Concubine Lin, she caused such a disturbance that it was a good omen. Isn't this forcing the emperor to abdicate?
Therefore, after returning to the house, she paid her respects to Princess Zhenyang and began to hide in the embroidered Guanyin statue, and rarely went out except to read. Zhuang Lingyi curled her lips, thinking that Yao Niang was too flattering.
At this time, changes occurred in the court. When someone requested to make Lin the empress, someone else mentioned that Lin's auspiciousness would be detrimental to the country. Qin Tianjian also said that if Lin became the empress, the emperor and empress would not be in harmony.
But since Lin had been the principal wife after all, she was specially named the noble concubine. Concubine Hong was originally a hidden concubine, and she gave birth to two sons and a daughter, so she was also named the noble concubine.
冊封之禮在明年春天舉行，如今宮中已經有旨意了，衆人都改口稱林氏為林貴妃，洪氏為洪貴妃，竟然有平起平坐的意思。
當然，皇帝也很快為皇長子指婚，指的就是伯爵千金王元霜，王元霜的家世算是首屈一指的，而且皇長子被封賢王，令欽天監擇吉日娶妻。
“賢王？大皇子怎麽只被封了賢王呢？”林貴妃真是不敢相信，她自己被封貴妃不要緊，反正那洪氏也只是被封為貴妃。
可好歹她的大兒子還是皇長子，日後一定還有機會的，怎麽知道大兒子沒有封太子反而只是封了賢王。
也有不少人，此處就包括單玉京等年輕的禦史開始上折子要皇帝立太子。
這事兒被羅至孝知道真是快氣死了，羅至孝因為曾經是衡王一派，若非是羅至正在吏部為官，恐怕早就落官外放，但現在也只是調到了太仆寺任小官，甚至連升遷的意思也很難了，哪裏知道女婿又出了這個岔子。
他在第一時間就把女婿單玉京喊了過來，單玉京也很聰明，他知道是為了何事？
可自古富貴險中求，即便皇上再不喜歡林貴妃，但林貴妃生了皇長子，這位就是日後的儲君，他現在一來是向博得清名，二來也是為了博出位。
“玉京，你這是怎麽回事？皇上雖然未曾封皇長子為太子，但也是諸位皇子裏頭一個封王的，況且，你才剛剛在禦史道任職，不該這麽莽撞。”羅至孝也是苦口婆心。
單玉京則大義凜然道：“老泰山，我知道我人微言輕，但是大丈夫存于世間，就該知道何可為何不可為。”
羅至孝從來都是做官謹慎，畢竟他們家已經有一個羅至正，出了名的硬骨頭，在朝廷非常有清望。
但羅至正論才學名望甚至是為官，強過單玉京許多。
單玉京只是一個三甲出身的進士，若非朝中有人，都很難去禦史道，也許早就外放了。而非是羅至正那種翰林院出身，還成為皇帝日講師可以比拟的。
單玉京卻毫不在意……
而宮中當然也有變化了，王元霜本來和大家一樣都是伴讀，大家本來相處是一樣的，現在王元霜一下就成了賢王妃，從此尊卑有別。
而建章帝的親弟弟九王爺被封為樂安郡王，封地在蜀州，成少謹則被賜給了九王爺，等成婚後就藩。
真沒想到成少謹要嫁給九王爺了，瑤娘平素和成少謹關系很好，她親自過去了興安公主那裏一趟，把自己最珍視的一塊玉佩送給她了。
“這是當年我爹送給我的，我一直戴着沒有離身，今次就送給你了。成姐姐，望你日後順頌時宜，百事從歡。”瑤娘心裏知曉九王爺實際上并非成少謹的良人，甚至成少謹和大皇子之間她也隐約聽說過一些。
成少謹倒是很想的開：“瑤娘，今日指了婚，我就要回家了。她們已經從內務府派了人要跟着我去家中，日後我們相見就難了，我知道妹妹你不凡，樣樣是強過我的。只我知曉妹妹的性子，但勸你一句，荊岫之玉必含纖瑕，骊龍之珠亦有微纇。”
瑤娘一下就理解成少謹所說的意思，她算是很了解自己了，成少謹大抵想說的是世上沒有十全十美的東西，再美的物件也會有瑕疵，故而不必追求完美。
就像她要求夫婿既要有身份，又要有相貌，還要對她一心一意，還要能幹，可天下間這樣的男子可能沒有？
成少謹是拐彎勸自己不要太沉着了，要能夠容忍別人的缺點。
假如許配給四皇子了呢？那也要好生過日子，大抵她就是這個意思。
“成姐姐，我知道你的意思了，山水自有相逢之日。我也不宜在此久留，你要好好地保重自己。”瑤娘重重點頭。
正當瑤娘準備走時，成少謹也送了一對玉镯給瑤娘：“這是我家祖上傳下來的一對玉镯，聽說是從緬國那邊來的，妹妹待我一片至誠，我們兩人比親姐妹還要親，你萬萬要收下。”
瑤娘含淚點頭。
已經有兩人名為已定，剩下的也就二皇子和三皇子了，瑤娘唯獨有将這些都記在心中，表面要淡定極了。
她還是在屋裏繡觀音像，倒是真陽公主都打趣道：“你怎麽一點也不着急？”
瑤娘無奈道：“我只等公主也和興安公主一樣，若是定親了，我就為公主高興。”
真陽公主捏了捏瑤娘的臉：“你知道嗎？我多希望你留在宮裏，這樣我在宮裏就有伴兒了，你是知道的，我雖然有親姐姐，可我們的關系多客氣。偏你在我這裏，處處陪着我，時時刻刻勸解我，你若日後遠嫁了，我怎麽辦呢？”
如果是急不可耐之人，肯定會讓真陽公主做說客，瑤娘卻覺得不行，自己真的不能如此利用別人。
她在心裏背了一遍《清靜咒》，自己一定要沉得住氣。
卻說單玉京上書立太子之後，皇帝留中不發，并不理睬，但是單玉京又奔走于科道，串聯起幾位同科上書，這下激怒皇帝，單玉京被打一百大板，還要貶谪為民。
羅至孝來求羅至正：“三弟，此事你可要幫幫忙啊？若他真的被貶谪為民，那他這個科考不是白考了嗎？”
羅至正嘆道：“二哥，你以為我沒去求的嗎？只是皇上這有已經是格外開恩了，我想讓他回本籍歇息一段時日，養養名望，日後也是好事。請你放心，只要我在朝一日，我就肯定會替他轉圜。”
這個單玉京，當年沒把女兒嫁給他還真是對了，博直強擊比他當年還狂，還想快速有清名。
現在林氏都只是封了貴妃，還自作主張搞什麽祥瑞出來，支持正統是可以，但是她女兒又沒嫁皇長子，萬一嫁給其他皇子了呢？那豈不是他和自己女兒作對，到時候女兒的日子過不好。
當然，基于對朝廷的忠心，他本心當然還是嫡長子繼承最好，只是現在按捺不動。
送羅至孝出門後，羅至正心道再過幾個月，皇帝應該就要冊封二皇子和三皇子了，他二人都年過十五。
原本當初是三王并封，但是內閣不幹，想請封太子，皇帝也不肯，直言現在名不正言不順，因此三有大皇子先封為王，其他兩位皇子三個月後再封。
興許另外兩位的婚事在三個月後才被定下。
就是不知道自己女兒成嗎？
宮中還是一片寧靜，高玄策自從知道林氏沒有封為皇後，沒有執掌後宮就知曉她的權利減弱很多，前世正因為她是皇後，大皇子不管如何都有無數人擁護，因為大家覺得洪貴妃遲早會和先帝時期的廖貴妃一樣。
現在林氏不能成為皇後，她和母妃一樣為貴妃，相反母妃更得寵，下人們也不敢随意就投靠林皇後。
這是第一步，還有好幾步，他會一步步的來。
想到這裏，他又去洪貴妃那裏請安，進門時就見到了洪淑怡，高玄策颔首之後，闊步進去，洪淑怡轉過頭來，“三皇子。”
高玄策停住：“如何？洪女官找我有事嗎？”
他以前被封為臨江王，但現在大家都等着封诰，因此宮裏還是喊的幾皇子。
洪淑怡笑道：“娘娘昨夜睡的不大安穩，她不願意喊大夫過來看，還請三皇子幫忙勸勸才是。”
“好，我知曉了。”高玄策立馬走了進去。
果然，他看到洪側妃臉色蠟黃，的确很憔悴，連忙關心問道：“母妃，您這是怎麽了？”
洪貴妃搖頭：“也沒什麽，就是昨夜有些心煩。對了，我聽說羅家的女婿單玉京激烈上書讓皇上封大皇子為太子，被皇上打了，是不是？”
高玄策點頭：“是，已經被貶谪了。”
“皇兒，上回你說你愛慕羅姑娘，我也知曉她是個好姑娘，可是你看她家中這般支持林氏，不如我看這樁婚事就罷了吧。你放心，你的婚事我一定替你好好作主，精心挑選。”洪貴妃像兒子保證。
可高玄策卻道：“不，羅至正并未說什麽，只不過是羅家二房的女婿作怪罷了，那些小臣以此博名望也是有的。”
他說的這是實情，如果是羅至正出手，不會這樣粗糙。
洪貴妃卻覺得兒子是情根深種了，她看着高玄策道：“你怎麽能這般為她開脫？這個姑娘對你的影響太深了。既然這樣，我就把她外嫁出去，也免得你這般。”
外面的洪淑怡聽了個正着，但又見有人過來，就冷笑一聲，往真陽公主宮裏去了，她要告訴羅瑤娘，讓她死心，要知道三皇子可是有名的他娘的乖兒子，什麽都聽洪貴妃的。
“母後，您在說什麽呢？我只是實話實說，并非是幫她。”高玄策覺得莫名其妙。
洪貴妃知曉以前這種情況，兒子都會聽的，哪裏知曉現在還說這個，她就皺眉道：“你呀，還是娶一個有軍權的，這樣又有什麽不好呢？”
Gao Xuance frowned. He had left his mother when he was too young, so he always thought his mother was very smart. But now it seemed that she had no political skills at all and she kept going back on her words. Who said that military power was the most important?
Aren't these troops supposed to obey the emperor? It's as if the princes have to kneel down to these people who are just following orders. This is really a woman's view.
But he can't openly attack his mother now, otherwise the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law will be very bad when Yao Niang enters the house.
Gao Xuance then knelt down and put his hairpin to his throat: "Mother, if you want to do this, just kill me first. I was tempted by her because I saw how well she got along with you. I had no idea that you misunderstood me."
Concubine Hong was so frightened that she almost fell off her seat: "Son, please talk nicely if you have something to say. Don't do this. Mother knows your filial piety——"
Gao Xuance's expression relaxed, and he couldn't help but say: "Then the child's marriage——"
"Don't worry, since you have your opinion, I won't force you." Seeing him put down the hairpin, Concubine Hong breathed a sigh of relief, but then asked in confusion, "Didn't you say that she should be married off at the beginning? Why is there such a big reaction now?"
Gao Xuance was also stunned for a moment. Yes, as long as she got married, it would be fine as long as she didn't have to be with her second brother. Was he possessed by a ghost just now?
But a man should keep his word, so Gao Xuance had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "My son is just talking nonsense. I'm afraid it will hurt her reputation, and she doesn't know these things..."