Gongshang Confidante

Zhou Chiyu came back from the imperial garden, and just arrived at the gate of Yudian, when he saw Li Chengqian standing outside with a floating dust in his hand, "Eunuch Li?" She cannot be neglected.

"The old slave pays homage to His Royal Highness the Princess", Li Chengqian slowly made a gesture to kneel down, "Elder-in-law is old, so I don't need to be polite", Zhou Chiyu read

Looking at Xia Ling, Xia Ling knew that the princess didn't like to be touched by others, so she quickly grabbed Li Chengqian's arm and helped him up.

Li Chengqian didn't really want to kneel, but he still had to put on this posture, bowed and said, "The emperor ordered, call your highness to go to Ning'an Hall to have a talk",

Zhou Chiyu pretended to be surprised and said, "My father-in-law sent someone to pass it on, so why come to invite me in person?" Li Chengqian hesitated to speak, and only sighed,

"Your Majesty is sick in bed, unable to do many things, so I sent this old slave to welcome His Majesty in person,"

Thinking about it, even though Emperor Jing Hong was sick in bed, he was not ignorant of the fact that Empress Su sent people to guard the Ning'an Palace, so Li Chengqian specially invited Zhou Chiyu, after all, no one would dare to stop the eunuch .

The corridor of Ning'an Hall is deep and long, and there is a smell of medicine everywhere. The maids and eunuchs walking back and forth are very light, afraid of making a little noise, carrying the bitter medicine dregs and washing utensils, proceeding quietly and orderly.

"Your Majesty's complexion is better today, and I ordered this old servant to invite His Highness." Li Chengqian's back was slightly bent, and his steps were staggering. This eunuch who had served two emperors was also old.

Emperor Jing Hong was leaning on the couch. It was already spring and he was still wearing a thick jacket. The doors and windows in the room were closed, making it a little stuffy. White smoke curled up from the burning incense burner, exuding a strong medicinal fragrance. Zhou Chiyu stepped into the threshold At that moment, I didn't dare to look at it. I swept my eyes away, and I still felt a big smile in my heart.

shock.

Emperor Jing Hong was haggard and bony, his sallow face, his eyes were deeply sunken, like candles in the wind, he was old and haggard, "Chao'er, come here", Emperor Jing Hong showed a hint of joy on his face, reluctantly Seeing Zhou Chiyu waving, coughing twice, he said to Li Chengqian and the others, "You all step back."

Li Chengqian stepped forward to smooth the quilt for Emperor Jing Hong, refilled the hot tea, put it by his hand, bowed and walked out slowly.

"Yesterday, the mother came to see me and said something, and I remembered Chao'er." Emperor Jing Hong said angrily. He fell down on the couch and said in a mournful voice,

"Although I am recuperating in Ning'an Palace, I know in my heart that Chao'er doesn't have to blame herself." Emperor Jing Hong raised his skinny hand and patted on the side of the couch, motioning for Zhou Chiyu to sit over.

Emperor Jing Hong rolled his cloudy eyes and looked at Zhou Chiyu affectionately, as if he saw the shadow of her mother and concubine in her, "Yesterday, the queen mother advised me to think twice about your marriage," Emperor Jing Hong sighed, "When the Zhou Dynasty was at its peak, I was quite proud and had a dispute with the Queen Mother, forcing the Queen Mother to promise not to interfere in the court affairs. Yesterday, the Queen Mother made an exception and mentioned this matter to me..."

Zhou Chiyu was a little surprised. When she went to the imperial grandmother for help last time, Duan Ruohua only said that she would not interfere with the court affairs, but she broke her promise in the end.

Emperor Jing Hong looked at Zhou Chiyu, saw her unknowingly surprised face, coughed twice, and said, "The Queen Mother values ​​Chao'er, and Chao'er has been taught by the Queen Mother since she was a child. in the eyes",

"To pacify Fengzhou and repel Guhe, Chao'er's plan and courage are better than your imperial brother." Emperor Jing Hong's eyes were gloomy, and he didn't say a word for a long time, "I never said these words to others. The Empress Dowager Promoting women's schools, accepting female officials, and benefiting the whole life, I respect and admire the Queen Mother, but

I am the Son of Heaven, and I was once conceited and frivolous... ",

Zhou Chiyu listened quietly, without interjecting, but felt sorry for the woman who gave up everything and returned to the palace, but in the end, was suspected and envied by the emperor.

"A few days ago, Su Xiang asked me about the establishment of a prince." Emperor Jing Hong brought the topic over. He looked at Zhou Chiyu with satisfaction and said, "Chao'er is my most outstanding child, and I am proud of you." , I allow you to listen to the affairs of the court and read the scriptures, I have devoted myself to the court... ",

Emperor Jing Hong sighed, then pursed his lips and stopped talking. After a long time, the tea in hand was warm. Zhou Chiyu got up and poured tea for him, "It's a pity that I'm in my prime, but I'm in a crippled body. The matter of setting up a reserve has made me feel exhausted. Haggard, I have ordered the Imperial Academy to decree that on the seventh day of the next month, the second prince, Zhou Ren, will be appointed as the crown prince."

Emperor Jing Hong looked sideways at Zhou Chiyu who was pouring tea, seeing that she was neither angry nor startled, the tea poured down like a pour, steadily filling a cup, Emperor Jing Hong sighed melancholy, "You child has a calm mind, which is better than yours." There are too many royal brothers",

"The Su family is very powerful in the court, and Ren'er is the crown prince, so he can rely on it reliably." After finishing speaking, Emperor Jing Hong hesitated for a moment, and then said,

"At the same time, I ordered the Imperial Academy to draw up a decree. Three months later, Princess Zhaoning and her relatives will be honored."

Zhou Chiyu shrank his eyes, hiding the turbulent anger in his heart, and said lightly, "Is the father so impatient to send the son away?",

Just for this sentence, Emperor Jing Hong could already hear the resentment in her heart, his skinny palms were on the back of her hands, his eyes were flushed, "I am ashamed of Chao'er!", "My conceited arrogance, to this day, has actually reduced to I want to make peace with the princess... ",

Zhou Chiyu withdrew his hand gently, stood up, and looked down at Emperor Jing Hong, "Back then, the emperor was concerned about the power of the Xue family, knowing that his mother and concubine died of injustice, he did not dare to do anything; today, the emperor is concerned about the power of the Su family. power, scruples about the provocations, and exchanged humiliating marriages for border tranquility",

The words spit out of the mouth are like sharp swords, the words are sharp, forcing people to have nowhere to hide,

"There is still medicine to heal a body destroyed by illness, but there is no medicine to heal a cowardly and broken pride!".

"You!", Emperor Jing Hong's face was flushed into a pig's liver, embarrassment, anger, and anger intertwined on his face, he tightly grasped the edge of the couch with his fingers, covered his chest with one hand, his eyes were bloody, and he was panting violently with.

"Your Majesty, the Taoist priest's elixir has arrived, and he said he would take it within two hours," Li Chengqian said externally,

When Emperor Jing Hong heard it, he said in a hurried tone, "Hurry up and bring it in for me", "So, my son will leave", Zhou Chiyu bowed and said,

Emperor Jing Hong's face was ashen, especially when he was angry, and said, "No matter what, the matter is a foregone conclusion, you can take care of it yourself."

The door was pushed open, and Imperial Physician Chen was holding a silver plate, inside which was a vermilion box, half-opened, containing a brown pill with a fragrant medicinal fragrance.

"Princess Zhaoning", Imperial Physician Chen saluted, "You don't need to be too polite, just send it over." Zhou Chiyu looked at the pills in the box inquiringly, and behind him

Emperor Jing Hong's slightly anxious voice sounded, "Bring it here for me."

Zhou Chiyu pursed his lips and shook his head lightly. Has he reached such a point?

When Zhou Chiyu returned to Yudian, he saw Su Muxue with a flustered face, sitting on pins and needles, holding a tea cup in his hand, but what was he thinking?

"Chao'er, do you know? The emperor has already..." Su Muxue got up anxiously, but forgot the teacup in her hand and splashed the tea,

"Look at your panic." Zhou Chiyu pulled out the silk scarf from his arms, took the teacup in her hand with one hand, wiped the tea on her hand with the other, and said lightly, "I know everything."

"Then what should I do?" Su Muxue was completely out of ideas, "The deadline is still long, don't worry." Zhou Chiyu poured himself a cup of tea, blew on it, and said with a smile, "I'm more curious, What will happen to the DPRK and China after the establishment of the reserve at the beginning of next month?"

On the seventh day of April, Emperor Jinghong issued an edict saying, I boarded the plane when I was young, and it has been tens of springs and autumns, and I can feel God.It is a pity that the illness enters the body, and the state affairs are powerless, and I am afraid that it will not be long.In order to guard against the occasion of driving the crane, the country has no master, and it is also thought of the good heirs in the country, and the talented people will come out in large numbers, so the heir is specially established to consolidate the foundation of the country.

The second son of the emperor, Zhou Ren, is handsome and diligent in learning, possesses talents, and his greatness is the demeanor of his father. The shadow of my evening, canonized as the second son of the emperor. Zhou Ren is the prince of Jianguo, in charge of the government, assisted by the Queen of the East Palace, and assisted by the kings and courtiers Therefore, to solidify the court.

In addition, Prime Minister Su was granted the title of Fuguogong, and he was granted the post of the prince's junior teacher to assist the prince with all his strength.

When the imperial decree was issued, there was an uproar in the court. The prince supervised the country, the queen assisted the government, and Su Xiangjia was appointed as the assistant prince.

Empress Su and Crown Prince Zhou Ren even hugged each other from the inside to the outside of the palace to cater to those with beards.

Late at night, the princess mansion

A carriage was speeding down the road, and the dust was flying.

The carriage stopped in front of the eldest princess's mansion. A man in a dark brocade robe covered his head with his head lowered, his face hidden in the shadows. The man walked in.

The maid held a lantern and lit candles one by one, gradually lighting up the reception hall.

The eldest princess was sleepy, with a displeased face, wearing a robe, with black hair scattered on her chest, supported by a beautiful maid, came out of the inner room, and said lazily, "Is there anything urgent that we can't talk about tomorrow?",

The king of Dian walked in from the door, his hair was not messed up, his clothes were not wrinkled, so it could be seen that he hadn't rested yet, his eyes swept past the thinly dressed maid beside the eldest princess, and said in a deep voice, "You all go down stop",

The maid looked at the eldest princess and saw her nodding, so Fang retreated somewhat reluctantly. When passing by King Dian, she pursed her lips deliberately, so that the eyes of King Dian were stained with the chill of the night.

The man who came to visit late at night took off his burqa, his sinister eyes were exposed to the candlelight, and it was the third prince Zhou Yue.

"Father has issued a decree to make Zhou Ren the crown prince, but the Dian king doesn't know about it?" Zhou Yue said angrily, "Now that the imperial decree has been issued, I am afraid there will be no way to recover! What should we do?! ",

The King of Dian glanced at Princess Chang and said, "This king has heard about the drafting of the decree, but he never expected that the imperial decree would be issued in such a short period of time to appoint the crown prince."

"I was angry when I saw Empress Su and Zhou Ren's complacent looks!" Zhou Yue said indignantly,

The eldest princess took a sip of tea, and then said slowly, "Why are you in a hurry? Not to mention, the emperor's dragon body is not bad, even if he is canonized as a prince, there is a possibility of dethroning him. As for the one who came here in the middle of the night and mobilized the crowd, it is so unstable." Hold on, how can you make a big deal?!",

"Auntie, it's Yue'er who has broken the rules." Zhou Yue calmed down after hearing this, and bowed to the eldest princess, "Among the princes, this palace is the most optimistic about you. Impatient, but as long as time honed, it can be regarded as a good talent. It's just your temper, you still have to change it, "

"My aunt taught me that," Zhou Yue suppressed his dissatisfaction. At this time, he had to rely on the army of the Dian king and the power of the eldest princess.

"Then go back. Don't make too much publicity these days. I heard that the emperor has ordered Zhaoning to go to Guhe and get married. I'm afraid that you will be sent back to Xishu later," the princess ordered.

Zhou Yue frowned, saluted the eldest princess and the king of Dian, and bowed to leave. The king of Dian opened his mouth, looked at the eldest princess, and saw her shaking his head, then pursed his lips again and remained silent.