A concubine enters the mansion? Reborn, three matchmakers and six engagements to marry the Prime Min

Song Hongshen took the file and looked at it. Judging from the evidence, this matter was closely related to Marquis Jingyuan.

However, the Marquis of Jingyuan's Mansion is not like an ordinary family. If you want to move the Marquis of Jingyuan's Mansion, you must ask the emperor first.

"I'll go ask my father about this. The cabinet... don't let anyone know about this for now."

Shen Zhixiu also meant this. "I am also afraid that the emperor is unwilling to be ruthless, but Jiang Rang has already confessed, and the cabinet cannot cover up for him."

"If we cover it up this time, what about next time? Will the Jiang family no longer be subject to the law in the future?"

If this continues, the Jiang family will only become more unscrupulous.

After the two discussed it, Shen Zhixiu left the palace and Song Hongshen went to Qianyang Palace.

It was afternoon now. In the past, the emperor would be reviewing memorials in the imperial study.

But in recent months, it is hard to say. Sometimes he enjoys himself with the Concubine Chen, and sometimes he listens to Taoist priests preaching or watches people making elixirs in Taiqing Palace.

Song Hongshen went to the main hall of Qianyang Palace and saw Eunuch Hu guarding outside, so he knew that the emperor was in Qianyang Palace today.

Hu Lu saw Song Hongshen and took a few steps forward to greet him and saluted, "Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Song Hongshen only accepted his half-salutation and helped him up with his own hands. "Eunuch Hu, there is no need to be so polite. Is the emperor here? I have something to report."

Hu Lu looked at Song Hongshen in embarrassment, "Your Highness, His Majesty is here, but he has ordered that no one is allowed to disturb him."

After Song Hongshen stood still, he could vaguely hear the sound of stringed instruments and orchestras in the main hall, as well as the sounds of men and women talking and laughing.

"Is the Empress Chen here?" Song Hongshen asked.

Hu Lu nodded and explained, "If there were others around, I would have gone in to inform you. But the Empress Chen doesn't like to be disturbed, and I was afraid."

Song Hongshen understood the meaning of Hu Lu's words, "Eunuch has served the emperor since he was a child. Even you have been scolded and criticized. It seems that I can only come again tomorrow."

While the two were talking, another young Taoist priest came in with a tray with a box on it. He must have brought some elixirs.

When the door of the hall was opened, the sound was louder and clearer.

Song Hongshen just thought it was ridiculous, shook his head slightly and left.

The next morning, after court session, Song Hongshen came to Qianyang Palace again.

This time, Eunuch Hu helped to report it, but when he led Song Hongshen in, he reminded him, "Your Highness, the Empress Chen is here too."

Song Hongshen nodded, "Thank you for your advice, eunuch."

After he went in, he looked around but did not see the Concubine Chen.

Of course, it is also possible to rest in the inner room.

Emperor Xuande motioned Song Hongshen to sit down, then asked, "I heard from Hu Lu that you came here yesterday. What's the matter?"

When Song Hongshen looked up, he was stunned for a moment.

He hadn't seen his father for about three or four days, and his father seemed to have aged a lot.

Especially those eyes, cloudy and lifeless.

Just looking at his eyes, I would have thought he was an old man in his seventies or eighties.

Seeing that Emperor Xuande was still waiting for his reply, Song Hongshen calmed down and said, "Father, Jiang Rang has instructed that the silver that should have been given to Marquis Jingyuan."

"Jiang Rang said that it was Marquis Jingyuan who first approached him about this matter."

Before Song Hongshen could finish his words, he heard a noise coming from the inner room.

He pretended not to hear and continued, "This matter has a bad influence. I think that the title of Marquis Jingyuan should be taken away and the stolen money should be confiscated."

Emperor Xuande subconsciously turned his head and glanced at the center, then he groaned for a moment and said, "I'll think about it again. Don't publicize this matter first."

Then he asked, "What did Shen Zhixiu say?"

Song Hongshen said, "Lord Shen's opinion is the same as mine. Jiang Rang has confessed, and if we don't punish Marquis Jingyuan, I'm afraid it will be difficult to convince the people."

Emperor Xuande waved his hand and said, "Please leave first. We can discuss this later."

Song Hongshen didn't say anything more. He stood up, bowed and left.

After he left, Emperor Xuande got up and went into the inner room.

Jiang Ziyan was half leaning on the small couch, wearing a gauze hookah skirt, looking lazy and charming.

Seeing Emperor Xuande come in, she glanced at him, turned her head and snorted.

That glance also reveals a variety of charm.

Emperor Xuande felt as if he was being scratched by a cat. He sat beside her, held her hand and said, "What's wrong? Why are you angry again?"

Jiang Ziyan said coquettishly, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, aren't you here to complain? Your Majesty has taken away the title of the Jiang family."

People inside and outside the palace said that she was favored because she looked so much like the late queen.

But Jiang Ziyan knew in her heart that her entry into the palace was indeed related to the late queen, but she had come to where she is today entirely on her own.

The emperor's favor to her was not only because of her face that resembled the late queen, but also because she was young and she knew how to please him and control him.

She just didn't believe that if a woman in her forties looked like the late queen, the emperor would still be interested in her.

Wasn't Emperor Xuande being controlled by Jiang Ziyan at this time? When he heard her say this, he hurriedly coaxed her: "My beloved concubine, I didn't say that I would take away the title of the Jiang family."

"But since Jiang Rang has already confessed..."

Before Emperor Xuande finished speaking, Jiang Ziyan sat up straight.

"Jiang Rang confessed? Did he confess under torture?"

"In my opinion, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is targeting the Jiang family. How the trial is conducted and what the results are are up to them."

"And Lord Shen, does your majesty still remember the day when the deposed crown prince revealed his background? It seems to me that Lord Shen clearly knows everything and is playing your majesty in the palm of his hand."

"And Taoist Zhihuai was exposed. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince could have told His Majesty in private, but he chose to embarrass His Majesty in public."

Seeing that Emperor Xuande's face darkened, it seemed that he took it to heart.

Jiang Ziyan leaned forward again, resting her chin on his shoulder and her arms around his waist.

"Your Majesty, there are some things you must be on guard against."

"My mother and I are counting on your majesty. If they really kill us... our family of three will have to go on the road together."

Emperor Xuande looked thoughtful and solemn.

After a while, he patted her back gently and said, "Don't worry, my beloved concubine. The Zhou Dynasty still belongs to me."

Jiang Ziyan asked again, "What about father?"

Emperor Xuande consoled him, "I think Marquis Jingyuan has also been wronged. I will punish him."

Sure enough, the next day, Emperor Xuande issued an order to the cabinet, saying that Jiang Rang might be making up stories just because he was about to die. He also said that Marquis Jingyuan was the eighth prince's grandfather and would not do such a thing. He ordered the cabinet to continue investigating and make sure not to wrongly accuse anyone.

The officials in the cabinet are all smart people, how could they not understand the emperor's intention?

In the end, the matter was left unresolved and Jiang Rang became a scapegoat.

This incident also once again proved to everyone how much the Emperor doted on Concubine Chen.

In May, Song Hongshen held a grand coming-of-age ceremony for Su Zhilan. After that, the Ministry of Rites selected a date, and the two successfully consummated their marriage.

Logically speaking, after the Crown Princess consummates her marriage, the Crown Prince should continue to select concubines to enter the Eastern Palace.

However, the court officials did not dare to bring it up again, fearing that it would be targeted by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince just like the previous case of empty payroll.

Surprisingly, Emperor Xuande did not mention this matter either.

Everyone thought that the Emperor had given in to the Crown Prince on this matter, but Song Hongshen knew clearly that the Emperor was afraid that he would rely on his relationship with the concubine to seize power.

Because ever since the incident of the empty salary case, the emperor has become increasingly suspicious of officials from the prince's party.