A kitten dressed as an empress

When Wen Ruyan walked around to the front of the main hall, his eyes were full of gossip and he looked at Su Qinghuan who was holding the roster: "Miss Su hasn't betrothed the young master yet?"

According to the general marriage age of women in southern China, they can get engaged when they are thirteen or fourteen. Su Qing should be 27 or [-].

Su Qing looked at Wen Ruyan with slightly confused eyes and responded, "I will do my best for the Southern Kingdom in this life, and I don't intend to be a married woman anymore."

Even in modern times, ordinary women can't stick to this determination. What's more, the southern country is still a patriarchal feudal society, and it is common for women to be married as objects under the orders of their parents.

Wen Ruyan looked at Su Qing and thought that Li Yi must have hurt her too badly.

"Miss Su, where there is no fragrant grass in the world, don't fall in love with a single flower."

"What?" Su Qing felt that something was wrong with Wen Ruyan today.

Although Wen Ruyan's words and deeds are not quite right on weekdays, but today it seems that his words have some deep meaning.

Wen Ruyan said in a low voice with an expression that I understood you: "I just heard your elder brother whispering to Dali Temple Minister Li Yi, do you want to hear it?"

As soon as Su Qing heard it, he knew that it was his elder brother who took advantage of the difficult situation in the court to sneer at Li Yi, and said with a serious expression, "I'm not interested."

Hey?

I thought Su Qing would be interested, but I didn't expect to be so indifferent.

It seems that Su Qing was really hurt and didn't even want to mention it.

During the afternoon meal, Wen Ruyan couldn't help but curiously asked Zhao Yao about the marriage between the Su family and the Song family.

Zhao Yao originally thought that Wen Ruyan was still angry in the morning, but she didn't expect to take the initiative to speak up, so she responded truthfully: "At that time, my aunt had just ascended the throne, and the Su family, as heroes, naturally received intentional support, and Song Taishi's party control of the government and the public was naturally to be done. Fighting openly and secretly, Li Yi, as the champion of the new department back then, was knowledgeable and valued by his aunt, so he was obviously the target of the two families' competition."

"So there's no emotional plot here?" Wen Ruyan listened to a long list and grasped the key points of the problem.

"Emotional plot?" Zhao Yao couldn't help Wen Ruyan's eagerly looking eyes, so she thought about it seriously, "At that time, Su Qingnian and Fang Shiba were waiting in her boudoir, and husband Su cherished his granddaughter very much. Li Yi has met several times alone, and there are also rumors in the capital that the two men, talented and beautiful, are a match made in heaven."

Holding the soup bowl, Wen Ruyan said puzzledly: "Then according to the situation, Li Yi should marry the Su family. Why was he suddenly robbed by the Song family?"

"I only heard that Grand Master Song once invited Li Yi to visit the calligraphy. He fell in love with the Miss Song family at first sight, and even made a marriage contract. When Mr. Su heard the news, he openly scolded Grand Master Song for forcing the marriage. "

Zhao Yao drank the soup and asked, "Why do you suddenly care about this old thing?"

"I heard that Su Hao ran against Li Yi today, so I was curious." Wen Ruyan thought there was some beautiful and sad love story, but he didn't expect that Li Yi, a hypocrite, was purely a pervert.

After all, if the rumors are true, Li Yi got along with Su Qing first, but then he rebelled when he saw Miss Song's family.

The more Wen Ruyan thought about it, the more he complained for Su Qing and said angrily: "This gentleman, Li Yichang, can do more and more unappetizing things."

How important is a woman's reputation in a feudal society. If she is alone and not married, the spittle of outsiders can drown the woman. Fortunately, Su Qing has a high temper and directly declares that she will never marry again.

Zhao Yao held the chopsticks and put the chicken into Wen Ruyan's bowl and said, "These rumors are true and false, and now only the person involved knows, why are you offending other people?"

"You're right, it's still a good thing if Su Qing doesn't marry Li Yi." Wen Ruyan responded while eating chicken.

"Do you really think that Li Yi married the Song family because of her beauty?" At that time, the reason why my aunt promoted Li Yi was actually because she was afraid that the Su family would become the new four great families, so even if Li Yi married Su Qing , In the end, the Su family won the Song family, but in the end, the Su family is likely to be dealt with even worse by the aunt.

"Isn't it?" Wen Ruyan thought that Zhao Yao knew the inside information, and watched eagerly.

Some of Zhao Yao's cheeks turned hot when he was watched, and he responded: "That calligraphy appreciation was probably a banquet for a grand family. If Li Yi didn't agree, he might have died long ago."

Wen Ruyan chewed the rice and said, "This Grand Master Song is too ruthless."

"The internal strife between the big families is no less than the struggle between the court and the court. The Song family is the family with the deepest foundation in the southern country for hundreds of years. There are quite a few people, and since then the Su family has been very low-key in the court, seeing this, my aunt changed to support the mother family of the Jin concubine, and then started mediation between the Jin family and the Song family."

"Why do I hear that Li Yi has no sign of love at all, and is completely in line because of the court situation." Wen Ruyan said while calmly putting a piece of braised pork on Zhao Yao's plate.

Zhao Yao looked at this piece of braised pork in embarrassment, so she had to use chopsticks to divide the piece of braised pork into several small pieces, and managed to eat it after several mouthfuls.

"Originally, this marriage was started because of the family's struggle for power and profit. At the beginning, Mr. Su also wanted to win over Li Yi, so he tried to get Su Qing to meet Li Yi." Zhao Yao replied, taking a sip of tea to relieve the greasyness.

Before the words finished, Zhao Yao saw that there were a few more pieces of chicken on the dishes and helplessly held the chopsticks again.

A woman from your family can only be a political bargaining chip in the court. Marriage is just a business of exchanging benefits.

Wen Ruyan couldn't help guessing that with Su Qing's intelligence, maybe he had seen through the essence, so he borrowed the palace to escape this transaction.

The more I thought about it, the more I felt cold. Wen Ruyan's eyes fell on Zhao Yao who was obediently eating meat, and he suddenly became more beautiful and said, "It's a good thing you became the empress, otherwise you will definitely be pushed into a political marriage."

"After my aunt ascended the throne, she killed tens of thousands of the Zhao family's royal family, and completely shattered the Southern Kingdom courtiers' desire to find the prince for rebellion."

"Then there is no one in your house now?" Wen Ruyan suddenly realized this serious problem.

Zhao Yao took a sip of tea and responded, "There's still you."

Wen Ruyan felt that he had asked a bad question, so he blushed and changed the subject, "Well, are you full?"

"Ah."

After the two finished their meals, Zhao Yao reviewed the memorials as usual, while Wen Ruyan studied ink and poured tea and occasionally gave Zhao Yao a set of eye exercises.

It was already a little hot at the turn of spring and summer, Wen Ruyan held a white jade folding fan and picked up the ink that was not dry from the memorial that he had just reviewed to fan, because he couldn't sit still and walk around in the hall to stretch his legs.

Just happened to catch a glimpse of the memorial to approve the appointment of the new Minister of Rites, Wen Ruyan said puzzledly: "The Minister of Rites is an important position, and it's not a big deal if there are always vacancies, haven't you figured it out yet?"

Zhao Yao picked up the teacup and responded: "The Song family doesn't want to give up this position, the Su family wants to fight but dare not fight openly, Gu Feng is a newcomer, but it's a pity that he is too close to Song Qing, and the court hasn't found anything yet candidate."

"I think Zhang Youmou is pretty good." Wen Ruyan said casually, fanning himself.

"Zhang Youmou is already the Minister of the Ministry of War, so naturally he cannot be the Minister of the Ministry of Rites."

Wen Ruyan sat on the side and responded, "Then General Zhao Rong will be promoted to be Minister of the Ministry of War, and Zhang Youmou will be transferred to be Minister of the Ministry of Rites, won't that be it?"

Zhao Yao held the teacup in her hand, looked at Wen Ruyan who didn't realize it meaningfully, and said, "Why do you care so much about Zhang Youmou?"

"How can I?" Wen Ruyan glanced at Zhao Yao's gaze, which was clearly skeptical and scrutinized, and approached helplessly, "You are narrow-minded, and you still look at me?"

"Am I narrow-minded?" Zhao Yao asked back, pursing her thin lips slightly.

Wen Ruyan held the memorial and explained: "Although Zhang Youmou is well versed in how to use soldiers, he was once the second place in the scientific examination, and being a civil servant is his real job."

Zhao Yao took a sip of tea and thought about it, then said: "I don't deny that Zhang Youmou is a capable person, but Zhao Rong is okay as a general, but the Ministry of War is not only in charge of the army in various parts of the southern country, but also in charge of many departments such as chariots and horses, weapon storage, etc. Regulatory deployment is required, and I am afraid it will be difficult to do so.”

"It's not that you can't be dismissed if you are elected. As long as you wait until the next selection of martial arts candidates, if Zhao Rong makes a mistake, then he will be replaced." Wen Ruyan touched the dry word with his fingertips, and then closed the memorial. "Only by ensuring that there are no crooked methods in the scientific examination can we select truly talented people. Are you afraid that there will be no talents?"

"You're right." Zhao Yao reached out to take the memorial in Wen Ruyan's hand, and picked up a pen to review it again.

After finishing writing, Wen Ruyan held the memorial and fanned it, Zhao Yao took up the pen to review the next memorial, approached hesitantly, kissed the side of the cheek and said, "I'm not narrow-minded."

Wen Ruyan covered his face with his palms, sniffed it deliberately and said with a smile, "It smells so strong of vinegar."

Zhao Yao embraced the approaching person, lowered her head and lightly pecked the teasing person's mouth: "What are you laughing at?"

"Why am I laughing, don't you know?" Wen Ruyan tilted her head back, her eyes fell on Zhao Yao's thin lips, she seemed to be smiling and angry.

This person has a righteous look in everything he does. He is obviously a person who secretly does bad things, but it is still hard to say.

"Just laugh, anyway, I know I can't help you." Zhao Yao stared at the bright eyes, leaned over and kissed the corners of the eyes and murmured.

The two frolicked for a while, and Peony outside heard the noise of frolicking, her teeth itching loudly, but she had no other choice.

In the early summer season, it was still cool in the early morning, but Song Taishi had been seriously ill for a long time, and his complexion was very pale.

"Father, why don't you have some more porridge?" Song Lang was waiting beside the bed with a bowl of porridge.

Grand Master Song waved his hand, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Where's Qing'er?"

"Father, my son is here." Song Qing knelt aside and reached out to hold the wrinkled hand.

"You, you should listen to your elder brother's words well. If you are not a good official of the Ministry of Rites, you will become a grand tutor. If you continue to behave like in the past, you may be in great trouble." Grand Master Song frowned.

Song Qing replied with red eyes respectfully: "Father, don't worry, my son will definitely not disgrace you."

Master Song Tai sighed, turned to Song Lang and said, "Lang'er, who is the new Minister of Rites?"

"Father, Zhang Youmou is the new Minister of Rites, and Zhao Rong is promoted to Minister of the Ministry of War."

"Zhang Youmou has become a thing now, and with His Majesty's support, don't move for now."

Song Lang responded in a low voice: "My son understands."

"Qing'er, you have to remember." Grand Master Song looked straight at Song Qing.

Song Qing nodded in response: "Father, don't worry, my son will remember."

"Zhao Rong is reckless, he can't be the Minister of the Ministry of War, Lang Er, you arrange some people in it, and he will become more and more powerful."

"Yes."

Taishi Song slowly raised his hand, Song Qing was very active in reaching out, but he was held tightly by Taishi Song instead.

"Father?"

"Qing'er, you have to discuss everything with Lang'er. If the brothers disagree, the century-old foundation of the Song family will be in danger."

Song Qing couldn't help feeling the pain from the strength in his hands, so he could only respond: "Father, don't worry, my son will definitely work together with my elder brother."

On the morning of this day, the news of Song Taishi's death suddenly came, and Zhao Yao ordered that the elder of the three dynasties be buried with the ceremony of a prince.

On the day of the funeral, the officials of the Manchu Dynasty accompanied the funeral, and the teahouses and restaurants were also closed on that day.

Once Grand Master Song fell, although there was no moth beside him in the hall, anyone with a discerning eye could see that the Song family had already fallen.

Only Song Qing didn't have this kind of self-awareness, especially after taking over the power alone, Gu Feng and the others were even more arrogant in fawning on them.

In the early morning when all the officials entered the palace, Wen Ruyan was fanning a bit hot with a folding fan in his hand, and saw that the two brothers were clearly at odds with each other.

Li Yi, Minister of Dali Temple, also refused to talk to Song Qing, and usually went in and out with Song Lang, Minister of the Ministry of Officials.

General Zhao Rong was still a little apprehensive when he was first promoted to Minister of the Ministry of War, and he walked very close to Zhang Youmou in the morning.

"My lord Zhang, if I don't do this well, will His Majesty take off my official hat?" Zhao Rong marched and fought without saying anything, but his eyes are a little blurry when he reads a pile of documents every day, and there are still many words It's even more miserable if you don't know each other.

Zhang Youmou comforted him: "Don't worry, Zhang Wen, the right servant of the Ministry of War I chose, can be reused. If you still don't understand, you can negotiate with me."

Zhao Rong confessed in a low voice: "The new left servant, Song Mo, should I find a chance to get him down?"

"No hurry, just see how capable this person is."

"Hey, good."

The door of the main hall was not closed in summer, Wen Ruyan turned his head to look at the straight Su Qing, ever since he mentioned Li Yi, he didn't know how to talk to Su Qing.

Wen Ruyan, who was always chatty, felt that being unable to speak was too painful for the first time.

It was probably because Wen Ruyan's gaze was too obvious, Su Qing tilted his head and asked, "Miss Wen, what's the matter?"

"It's okay." Wen Ruyan looked away awkwardly.

It took a long time to move his eyes a little, but he was caught without thinking.

Su Qing said: "Miss Wen, if you feel like going to the toilet, you should go when you are older."

"I don't feel like going to the toilet now." Wen Ruyan shook her head solemnly.

"So you want to go to the imperial dining room to get some food?"

"I ate noodles in the morning, and I'm not very hungry now."

Wen Ruyan smiled awkwardly, but because of Su Qing's confused eyes, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and say: "Actually, there is a very smart little palace man in my palace, I wonder if Miss Su can accept a female student? "

Su Qing looked at it puzzled, thinking that Wen Ruyan was joking and responded, "Female student?"

"She's really smart. I'm a bit busy on weekdays and Ms. Su, who doesn't manage the library, is very knowledgeable, so I want to ask you for help."

"I..." Su Qing actually didn't want to, but this Wen Ruyan is an Empress, if it's what the Empress means, then she can't refuse, "Okay."

So when Xia Xiang, who was cleaning the main hall, heard that Miss Wen was going to send herself to the library, her eyes turned red.

Wen Ruyan coaxed her for a while, only to see the little palace man stop crying.

The two came to the Library Pavilion, Su Qing sat at the main table and looked at the little palace man, and briefly checked the poems and essays, only to see that the timid little palace man really put his mind to reading, although he was not fluent in answering questions, he was still very smart.

"She really only studied for half a year?" Su Qing was a little surprised.

Wen Ruyan had a sense of pride that her child was promising and said, "Yes, he is really a very smart child."

Su Qing glanced at the little palace man hiding aside and said, "You come to Zangshu Pavilion to attend classes every day at the end of the day."

"Yes."

The two of them left the Zangshu Pavilion, Xia Xiang followed Wen Ruyan and said softly, "Can Miss Su read all the books in the Zangshu Pavilion?"

"Well, Ms. Su is a very powerful person, and you can learn a lot of useful things." Every time Wen Ruyan came back to borrow books from Zangshu Pavilion, Su Qing went directly through the bookshelf to get tens of thousands of books without looking through the catalog.

Xia Xiang looked at Wen Ruyan and said, "Xia Xiang can learn a lot of useful things from Miss Wen."

Wen Ruyan raised his hand and gently rubbed Xia Xiang's face in response: "You've been talking so sweet recently."

At night, Wen Ruyan nestled on the bamboo couch in the waterside pavilion because it was too hot, but the waterside was frighteningly full of mosquitoes, and there were not many good places on his body.

Zhao Yao took out the ointment from the medicine box, looked at the person who had taken off her clothes and wrapped in a thin blanket, and said with a smile, "How can I apply medicine to you?"

Wen Ruyan could only lie on his stomach like a piece of pork belly, scratching the pimples on the side of his face with his hands, and said a little embarrassedly: "You can just wipe the back, and I will apply the medicine myself for other places."

"Okay." Zhao Yao didn't make fun of her when she saw that she was uncomfortable, she sat sideways on the side of the bed and lifted the thin blanket with her fingertips, and saw red and swollen marks on her fair skin, and several places were scratched red, which looked a little conspicuous.

The cool ointment can relieve the itching. At first, Wen Ruyan was awkward, but then she fell asleep with Zhao Yao's head buried in her head.

Waking up in the middle of the night, Zhao Yao looked at the sleepy and motionless person, and could only reach out and turn over the sleeping person.

The whole person was not as awkward as before, on the contrary, Zhao Yao was a little shy, but she had nowhere to start, and she slowly dropped her gaze after a while.

Although I have seen it when I am happy on weekdays, such a peaceful appreciation is another feeling, and Zhao Yao suddenly feels a little hot.

People who usually don't feel hot in midsummer, but after a few glances like this, they feel a little hot again. Zhao Yao can't know what the reaction is, so she can only smear the ointment with a blushing face, as if her hands are hot, and dare not stay.

After sleeping until dawn, Wen Ruyan looked at Zhao Yao whose eyes were slightly blue, thinking that he was the one who disturbed her rest last night, so she approached and kissed Zhao Yao's tightly pursed lips full of apology.

"Next time, I won't dare to sleep in the water pavilion at night again."

Zhao Yao looked at the person wearing thin clothes, but her eyes were filled with the appearance of no clothes, so she had to look away.

During the day, Wen Ruyan accompanied Zhao Yao to review the memorials in the side hall, and at the end of the day, Xia Xiang stopped at the Library Pavilion holding the bookcase in both hands, but she was a little timid and dared not go in.

Su Qing sat at the main table with his lapel on his chest, watching the little palace man timidly showing half of his head from the gate, and said, "Aren't you coming in yet?"

"Yes." Although Xia Xiang didn't know what's the use of reading, but Miss Wen asked her to study, so she must study hard.

But Miss Su looked fierce, and Xia Xiang was afraid that if she didn't answer a question correctly, she would lose her hand.

Therefore, Xia Xiang almost never makes mistakes no matter whether she writes silently or recites.

Although Su Qing has been praised as a talented woman since she was a child, she has followed her mother to study and read, but there are very few women who can read and read, and most of them are just as leisure hobbies. .

Xia Xiang took out the Four Treasures of the Study from the bookcase, and her careful movements were obviously precious.

When Su Qing glanced past Xiaogongren's hand holding the pen, he stopped suddenly. The missing little finger was covered by a wide sleeve robe, obviously Xiaogongren deliberately covered up this defect.

Originally asked, but because the young girl at this age is in love with beauty, so she had to stop.

One morning, Su Qing asked hesitantly, and only then learned from Wen Ruyan what happened to the little palace man.

Wen Ruyan, who has always been unprincipled, said very seriously: "This child is simple-minded, and she will treat whoever treats her well."

After hearing this, Su Qing asked again: "Why did Miss Wen let her read and write?"

Holding the folding fan, Wen Ruyan thought for a while and said, "Actually, I didn't think much about it at first. In the southern country, a woman's study cannot make her a high official and rich salary, but at least let her understand the world and her own situation, and be a sober person."

"What's the use of understanding?" Su Qing recalled his difficult situation at that time, "A sober person will only increase troubles in vain."

"It must be useful." Wen Ruyan looked at the sunlight shining through the clouds, "Isn't Miss Su just aware of her own situation and trying to resist?"

Su Qing stared at Wen Ruyan in a daze. All along, from her father to her elder brother, she only thought that she refused the marriage because of Li Yi's failure to make an appointment, and even her mother persuaded her to find another husband.

"Am I resisting?"

"If it's not resistance, why don't you be the wife of a high-ranking official, instead of guarding the library alone?"

Wen Ruyan was just guessing at first, but when he saw the large manuscript in Zangshuge, he became even more convinced that there might be something hidden about Su Qing's marriage contract back then.

Perhaps Su Qing was forced into marriage by his father and brother, and had several private meetings with Li Yi, but how could this aristocratic family not understand the rumors of a woman, which is equivalent to the official news that they are determined to get married.

However, it was still rumored in the capital that the two were a match made in heaven for a man, a talented woman and a beautiful woman.

When the Su family and the Song family were arguing for Li Yi to be his son-in-law, who would have thought of the rumors that would ruin Su Qing's reputation of chastity by releasing him privately.

It is impossible for the Song family to let the Su family succeed, so the Song family will never report rumors to help the Su family. The only possibility is that the Su family released the news in order to seize the opportunity of public opinion.

Su's husband, Hou, originally thought that Li Yi was a scholar and would not risk a bad reputation for treachery, so he gambled on the chastity of his own granddaughter.

That's why when Su Gonghou heard that Li Yi was Song Taishi's son-in-law, he would yell at the court regardless of his status. As a result, this time it was even more true that Su Qing's reputation of being played and discarded by Li Yi was even more solid.

From the beginning to the end, Su Qing didn't come out to defend himself, because if he refused, then Mr. Su was lying.

The Su family couldn't afford to lose face, so they could only sacrifice Su Qing's reputation as a woman.

Wen Ruyan felt that Zhao Yao must have seen the essence of it at a glance at the time, so she said that this marriage was caused by the family's struggle for power and profit.

Alas, Zhao Yao's words were too insincere, so she had to think about it for so long.

The author has something to say: First of all, I would like to thank 77 lovely readers who silently clicked on the bookmarks to support and encourage them~~O(∩_∩)O~~