Bright Spring

The Holy Majesty didn't ask about these matters, Zhu Gaochi's mother, Empress Xu, should have done it, but Xu's condition has been deteriorating these days, and she can't get out of bed for a long time.So the person who handled the matter was Zhu Gaochi's married wife Zhang.

The first emperor had three sons, all of whom were born to the Xu family.According to the rules, all other concubines and women who had passed away by the late emperor had to be buried as sacrifices!

The emperor and all his concubines had the same quilt during birth and the same acupuncture point after death.It was originally a very romantic event, but the late emperor's concubines seemed not happy, there was crying everywhere in the harem, and the women were crying loudly.

The concubines must cut themselves in the palace first, and then get buried in the imperial mausoleum.There are many concubines and they live in different places, so they go to the hanged house in batches.

The young palace ladies were crying and crying, and they didn't want to set foot at all. They were dragged in by the palace ladies and eunuchs.Among them, only Concubine Zhang Taigui, the daughter of Duke Rong (posthumously named) Zhang Yu, did not cry, and no one dragged her.

After all, she used to be a noble concubine with a prominent background, so the grand concubine also cared about her honor and demeanor at this time.She walked into the room by herself, and her face turned pale immediately.Many people have been hanged in the house, they are all wearing filial piety clothes, hanging from the beams, the scene is very terrifying.Those women no longer had the beauty they had before they were alive, their faces had been distorted, and the air was filled with the stench of incontinence when they died.

Apparently the other concubines who had just entered were also frightened, and the big room in the middle was filled with wailing.A concubine no longer cared about her status, and knelt down to the eunuch: "Please spare me, let me be a palace maid..."

At this moment, Mrs. Zhang, dressed in filial piety, came here surrounded by all the palace people.

3 Chapter Sixty

"My concubine pays homage to the imperial concubine." Zhang's voice said.

The imperial concubine turned her head to look at her when she heard the sound, and saw the new emperor's married wife, Mrs. Zhang, making a generous gift.Mrs. Zhang bowed her knees respectfully, her single eyelid eyes seemed to be less sharp, but her eyebrows were lowered.

When the imperial concubine saw Zhang's appearance, somehow, a glimmer of hope subconsciously ignited in her heart.In this place filled with the smell of death and howling, the imperial concubine forced herself to calm herself down, and said: "Concubine Zhang, you don't need to be polite, are you here to see you off?"

The new emperor came to the throne, and the Zhang family has not yet been canonized as a queen, but as the new emperor's first wife, she gave birth to the eldest son, and she must be the queen candidate.The Empress Dowager Xu was dying of illness, and sooner or later the mistress of this huge palace would be Zhang, and the eunuchs and maids around paid her a respectful visit together.

Mrs. Zhang didn't answer the question, and went straight into the house after performing the ceremony.An eunuch next to her hurried to a table, knelt on the ground and carefully wiped a stool with his sleeve.

Mrs. Zhang walked over but didn't sit down, she pointed to the stool and said, "Please sit down, my concubine, I have something to say." Then she gave the eunuch a wink.

The eunuch then said to the servants: "Do whatever you have to do, and go on the road!"

Mrs. Zhang actually spoke in this room, maybe on purpose!At this time, a tragic scene was happening in this room. A concubine was hung on a rope. Before she could struggle, the stool under her feet was immediately taken away by the eunuch.The woman's body fell down, and the loose buckle of the rope was tightened immediately. The woman grabbed the rope around her neck with both hands, but it was useless.Her eyes bulged|protruded, her mouth opened like a fish leaving the water, her outstretched legs struggled to push down, the sound in her throat was very scary, and her tense body twitched from time to time.

The concubine Taigui watched the miserable situation, only felt her hands and feet were cold, and her heart was trembling.

But Mrs. Zhang didn't change her face, her bright eyes caressed the face of the Grand Concubine, and there seemed to be a playful and imperceptible smile.The imperial concubine has been paying attention to those women who hanged | dead, she was so scared that she even forgot to say anything.

After the first emperor gave birth to four sons (one died prematurely) and five daughters, he had not given birth to a prince or princess for many years.The imperial concubine became an elder all of a sudden, but she was only in her early twenties, and she didn't even give birth to a man and a woman. According to the rules, she should be buried as a sacrifice.

Zhang's voice said again: "This concubine has the same surname as Taiguifei, you are an elder, so I should call Taiguifei aunt, I wonder if it is appropriate?"

The imperial concubine already felt that Mrs. Zhang was using both soft and hard things, and while sitting in this terrible room watching those people hang|die, she even got close.

The imperial concubine didn't say a word, but she couldn't refuse Zhang's affection at all.

There was no response to Zhang's words. She looked at the imperial concubine for a while, and continued as if talking to herself: "Back then, there were three guards in the Yan Palace. Among Fu and Zhu Neng, Duke of Cheng, only Duke Rong (Zhang Yu) passed away early and was granted posthumously. Therefore, Zhang Fu, the nephew of the imperial concubine, was only granted the title of Marquis of Xincheng."

Mrs. Zhang paused for a moment, and said: "However, Zhang Fu has made great achievements in the Annan Kingdom. If the Holy Majesty Jinkou Yuyan mentions it, and the Duke is the Duke of the country, he will be able to convince everyone."

The imperial concubine had roughly guessed what Zhang meant, and finally said softly: "Isn't the Lord General of Zheng'an the King of Han?"

The corner of Zhang's mouth twitched slightly, and he said calmly: "The king of Han is already a prince, how can he be sealed? When he returned to Beijing, he was so proud that he wanted the late emperor to make him the crown prince, but the throne and the crown prince can't be based on military merits. Fighting? Although the Marquis of Xincheng (Zhang Fu) was not the commander in chief, he also commanded the army of the East Road, and captured the important town of Duobang City, as well as the two capitals of Thang Long and Tsing Hua, all of which are the top places in the Southern Kingdom, and have made great contributions."

The imperial concubine stopped arguing and bowed her head in silence.

... The two sat facing each other, and there was another silence.

After a while, Mrs. Zhang said, "Your Majesty has just been enthroned, and there are only two people in the harem. Your Majesty heard that Concubine Tai Gui also has a niece. He heard that she is filial, virtuous, knowledgeable and respectful. She discussed with me in private, and wanted to be made a noble concubine in the future. I have always respected Duke Rong's family style, and I agree with His Majesty's wishes. I don't know what the imperial concubine wants?"

The girl Zhang mentioned was Zhang Fu's daughter.When the first emperor was around, he had intentionally let Zhang Fu's daughter marry Mu Sheng's son Mu Bin, and married Mu's mansion with his confidant and honor.But this matter has not been made public. After Jinshang ascended the throne, he may have to change the marriage contract out of certain considerations.

As for Mu Sheng, what the Zhang family meant was that Mu Ying was the Duke of Qianguo (posthumously titled King of Qianning) before he was alive, so Mu Sheng could be granted the title of Duke of Qianguo and given an iron coupon to Mu Sheng.The Holy One has agreed.

The noble concubine replied: "My brother is the head of the Zhang family. Concubine Zhang has to ask my brother. Besides, I'm already dying, so I don't have the heart to think about it."

Mrs. Zhang said: "Xincheng Houyuan is in Annan. The imperial concubine wrote a letter to ask him how he is doing. As for the burial, the imperial concubine is a descendant of a meritorious official. The Duke of Rongguo has made great contributions to the court. I should ask the emperor to pardon the imperial concubine." In the future, the imperial concubine will be the elder, and we juniors must respect her."

The empress dowager blushed a little and did not answer.Perhaps she felt that unwillingness to die for the late emperor was not something worth publicizing.

Mrs. Zhang glanced at her, did not force her, got up and stood up, and ordered: "After the imperial concubine is a hero, the burial will be postponed. I will ask the emperor for an order. Hurry up and help the empress dowager back to the palace to rest."

Several eunuchs hurriedly said: "Slaves wait for orders."

When they went up to help the Concubine Tai, the Concubine Tai's body went limp, she slid down and became unsteady.

Mrs. Zhang walked out of the room full of evil spirits, and took a long breath of fresh air.She thought to herself: The imperial concubine must be willing to write a letter to Zhang Fu, and she can live by writing a letter, and it is not difficult for her.

As for Zhang Fu, Mr. Zhang had inquired about him, and he was very successful in An Nanguo.If Zhang Fu is a person who is not greedy for fame, then what military merits does he compete with the emperor's son, the King of Han?

Therefore, Mrs. Zhang concluded that as long as Zhang Fu got the letter from his own sister and was convinced of the honor of Zhang's family members in the palace, he would also be able to become a duke of the state. It would be hard not to be tempted!

...The Zhang family also helped the Holy Majesty find the person who was sent to Yunnan to persuade Mu Sheng to surrender, that is, Hu Guang, the new chief assistant of the cabinet.

In the past few years when the first emperor became emperor, Mu Sheng was always worried about his situation.He spent a lot of money quietly bribing|bribing people in the court, but it didn't work; after all, the first emperor was not a person who could be influenced by others.

A few days ago, Yuan Gong secretly reported to Mrs. Zhang a list of those who were secretly investigated and received money from Mu Sheng, including Hu Guang, the chief assistant of the cabinet.Hu Guang once went to An Nanguo, and when he passed through Yunnan, Mu Sheng spared no expense and gave him a gift list; Mu Sheng also thoughtfully and quietly helped Hu Guang transport the things to the capital.

Before the Holy Majesty ascended the throne, Xie Jin, who was still in the Hanlin Academy, kept talking. Even if Hu Guang was humiliated by him, he would not be moved and persuaded the Holy Majesty to ascend the throne.

Mrs. Zhang felt that Hu Guang was the most qualified for this mission.Since Mu Sheng felt that Hu Guang belonged to him, he naturally believed in Hu Guang more.Mrs. Zhang also urged the emperor to send Hu Guang south as soon as possible, without giving the King of Han any time to prepare! .

Chapter 361 There was a little girl once upon a time

Within one month of the national funeral, various entertainment activities such as marriages, banquets, operas, singing and dancing in the capital are prohibited.But other than that, the life of the common people in the market is as usual.

The first emperor passed away, and the Ming Dynasty was replaced by the Zhu family's emperor. People often talked about such a big event.But all the concerns are just on the lips.Just like a businessman who runs an inn, he earns one hundred Wen per day for a room. Can’t he earn two hundred Wen just because he changes the emperor?

In an inn called "Ke Lai" by the Qinhuai River inside Jubaomen, a rather charming, middle-aged lady was crying in front of the counter, chattering and wiping her eyes with a handkerchief.The smiling shopkeepers waited carefully to find that the woman didn't even have a tear.

The woman spoke with a southwestern accent in her official dialect, and she said with a resentful and sad face: "My heartless husband brought so much money to the capital, saying he was here for the exam, but he hooked up with the rich girl in the capital, and what's wrong with her?" Want to divorce me, God..."

The shopkeeper kindly said: "Then why don't you go to the government to sue him?"

The woman stared and said, "Then what about my husband's future?"

The shopkeeper shook his head helplessly and smiled wryly, and said, "It's hard for an upright official to take care of housework, and we can't help you. But my wife is also a wealthy family, and the rent is enough. You can stay as long as you want."

The woman muttered for a while, then turned and walked upstairs.She came to a door, opened the door with a copper key, and said without looking back, "Come in."

At some point behind her, there was a young woman disguised as a man.The woman's face was a little pale, and she followed her into the room without saying a word.

The woman closed the door and said: "I see that you are used to living a good life in Hanwang Mansion, and your methods are a bit sloppy. You have been looking for me for so many days, if I didn't want to see you on purpose, you still can't find it here. But Your eyes are still very sharp, that day when I learned that the King of Han was going to Beijing, I mingled in the crowd and watched for a while, but unexpectedly you caught my eye."

The young woman was Duan Xuehen. She had just entered Beijing that day when she found Duan Yang standing on the side of the street.The more Duan Xuehen thought about it, the more suspicious she became, and soon returned to Jubao Gate to look for Duan Yang.Later, when Duan Xuehen found out that Hanwang had an accident in the capital, all Hanwang's troops had already left.

So Duan Xuehen decided to continue looking for Duan Yang's whereabouts.

Xue Hen asked: "Why are you in the capital, what are you doing here?"