The Way of the Consort

Ji Zhao just settled down in the Dabaoen Temple. The temple, even during the New Year's Day, is still quiet no matter how lively it is.

In particular, he still lives on the back mountain. According to reports, every time Princess Fuchen comes over, he also lives in this courtyard.Since he lives in the temple, he follows the vegetarian diet of the masters in the temple. Ji Zhao doesn’t have a big appetite for food, but likes to eat sweets. Although the temple is all vegetarian, they are all freshly picked vegetables. , growing in a greenhouse.

Every day a young monk came to deliver freshly picked vegetables to them, and Chen Xing was in charge of cooking.

Ji Zhao didn't expect that Chen Xing really had two hands, and the dishes he cooked tasted pretty good. It is said that he learned it from Wei's mother.The three of them were on the mountain, and every day, the drums and the morning bells calmed down, and the time passed quickly. Ji Zhao sometimes thought of his mother in the previous life, and thought that his mother lived such a life, and he would be somewhat relieved.

There is a Buddhist hall in the yard, and Ji Zhao will sit in it for an hour every day, praying for the brother of the still unknown Hui merchant, without even having to go down the mountain.

It was the little monk who brought food to him every day and asked him curiously: "My son-in-law, don't you get tired of staying in the yard every day?"

The little monk is very lively and cute, about seven or eight years old, Ji Zhao often chats with him when he delivers food.The little monk was afraid that he would feel bored, so he told him: "Go up the road outside the courtyard, and there are deer! Every time the princess comes back, she has to go to see the deer."

"There are still deer on the mountain?"

The little monk nodded straightly: "Yes, brother Pei Rong raised them at first, but brother Pei Rong suddenly disappeared last year, and now we are taking turns to feed them!"

Ji Zhao thought about it in his heart, he had never seen the person "Pei Rong" in the book, so he must not be an important person, so he immediately forgot about it.

In the next few days, he often went to the forest to see deer. Those deer were not afraid of people, and would come to bite your clothes and grab food from you.Soon, Ji Zhao became acquainted with all the little monks feeding the deer. From the little monks, he knew that there was a little lady selling cloth at the foot of the mountain recently.

Dabaoen Temple is a very prestigious temple in Jinling, and there are many dignitaries coming and going, so it's not good to look at after all.The monks in the temple did not allow her to sell, so she moved to a distance and continued to sell, but the masters couldn't drive her away directly. This little lady's business is still very good. The little monk said distressedly: "My master and the others don't know what to do. How to do it."

It's okay for Ji Zhao to listen to these things, he is not a monk in the temple, so he can't help.

Unexpectedly, a few days later, Wei's mother was worried, and when she came to see him, He Qiniang was still behind her.

He Qiniang still had that lifeless look, saluted and said: "I have seen the son-in-law, thank you son-in-law that day."

Ji Zhaocai remembered that he had met He Qiniang the day he went up the mountain, but he forgot about it later, when he asked carefully, he didn't know what to say.It turned out that after He Qiniang went up the mountain that day, for his sake, the famous guest monk also vacated a room for her to live in. He Qiniang went up the mountain this time with a load of cloth. During the festival, there are many women who come to offer incense, and I have already sold a lot of materials, and this month's account book in the shop is very impressive!"

Ji Zhao looked at Mother Wei, who also had helplessness on her face.

When Wei's mother went up the mountain today, He Qiniang was negotiating with a few monks who advised her not to sell fabrics at the foot of the mountain, but because she had some connection with the son-in-law, she didn't dare to chase her directly, so she happened to be caught by Wei's mother. Mother Wei hurriedly brought her here first.

It was only then that Ji Zhao realized that the little monk wasn't just gossiping to him, he was counting on him to make a move!

Mother Wei said tactfully: "Miss He, our shop never expects to make much money, why do you have to work so hard?"

He Qiniang looked serious: "You guys take me in, how can I eat and show myself?"

Mother Wei had no choice but to be more direct: "Miss He, that's our lord's shop, and our lord has always kept a low profile."

He Qiniang thought about it again, and then said: "I was reckless..."

He Qiniang left later, but she still said: "I will definitely make the shop, son-in-law and mother will wait and see."

After she left, Ji Zhao said helplessly, "She is too strong..."

Mother Wei frowned: "Who said it wasn't? I don't know if it's good or bad."

After all, she is a little widow, and she was in such a situation before, and Wei's mother is also a woman, so she really sympathizes with this girl, but that's all, she will never hurt Ji Zhao's face just because of her.

He Qiniang didn't go down the mountain, but lived in the wing room, and Wei's mother didn't leave, for fear that He Qiniang would go to the foot of the mountain to set up a stall again, so she went to talk to He Qiniang every day, at least watch it, and come back and tell Ji Zhao: "This girl is really good for business. She talks to the lady in the next room every day, and that lady wraps up the leftover cloth she has left." Then she laughed, "Maybe she can really wrap us up." The shop is ready."

Ji Zhao said indifferently: "It's just to help others, let her go, mother, please watch."

"Don't worry!"

Ji Zhao ignored this matter and continued to pray for his blessings. He guessed that they had already returned to Huizhou, so he spread out a piece of paper and wrote a letter to the brother of the Huizhou businessman. It was not written for the prince and others, so there is no need to be afraid of being exposed. , Ji Zhao no longer used the Guange style, and wrote whatever he wanted.

Of course, his handwriting was different from the original Ji Zhao's. After writing the letter, he anxiously asked Chen Xing to send it out, fearing that the Hui merchant brother would ignore him.There was a monk in the temple who delivered letters, and he had contacts with the temple in Huizhou. Chen Xing gave the letter directly to the young monk and asked him to hand it over to the monk who delivered letters. The little monk readily agreed.

Zong Zhen didn't know that he didn't go to the official station.

There was also a letter in front of Zongzhen, which was the old master Yin's reply to Ji Zhao. Zongzhen was wondering if he wanted to read it.

There were guards outside begging to see him, Zong Zhen called someone in, who told him what He Qiniang had done in the past few days.

Zong Zhen said with great interest: "So, everyone knows that she has been honored by the son-in-law?"

"Yes..." the guard said, "Her cloth is sold out, and it is also because those wives know that her shop is under the name of the son-in-law, and they only buy her cloth for the sake of the son-in-law. Now Some people have begun to suspect that she is the little widow in the incident a few days ago."

This is to put all your strength on Ji Zhao's body. It doesn't matter if it doesn't matter or not.

Zong Zhen asked: "Did you miss anything about He Qiniang?"

"No, this subordinate plans to go to Suzhou again today."

Zong Zhen said: "No need, you have been there twice, if you can't find out, then you definitely can't find out, they must be well hidden."

"Yes..." The guard continued to wait for his order.

"Keep an eye on it, there will always be a day when you will show your tail."

"The subordinates know!"

After the guard finished speaking, he backed out. Zong Zhen looked at the letter on the table, and then thought of Ji Zhao and the little widow. Is Ji Zhao just praying for his "friend" this time, or is he actually Some other plan?

To be honest, Zong Zhen didn't dare to trust Ji Zhao completely.

After watching for a long time, Zong Zhen called Cheng Shen in: "Give it to the son-in-law..."

No matter what the reason is, he will always know that the letter written by the old master Yin to Ji Zhao should be forgotten, he will not read it.

As far as Xiguo is concerned, there are three well-known scholars, namely the Ji family, the Yin family and the Wang family.

But these three families are different. The Ji family had many emperors, and it was rumored that there were gods to protect them. Zongzhen didn't believe it, but the Ji family had never broken their blood. The Ji family was good at reading, but they had the pride of the royal family inside. Never bowed his head, unwilling to be used by the current imperial clan.

The Wang family is the complete opposite, learning all the arts and martial arts, only for the emperor.

The Yin family is pure and noble. Reading is just for reading, for understanding, for knowledge, and for inheritance. In the past, when they were officials in the court, they were invited by their ancestors to pay three visits to the thatched cottage. It is impossible for the Yin family to pose any threat to the government.

Ji Zhao was very happy to receive the letter from his grandfather. Even though he had never met the old man, his memory could tell him how well the old man treated him, and Mother Wei would tell him from time to time.

He opened the letter excitedly, but there were only a few words, but it made him feel very worried. His grandfather told him that in a month or two, when the weather was completely warm, they would come back and stay longer in Jinling. Sometimes, accompany him in Jinling.

Thinking about it, Ji Zhao was quite looking forward to it. He told Mother Wei and the others, and everyone was happy.

Ji Zhao was about to write another letter right away, but in the middle of writing, he suddenly thought of something, even his grandfather wrote him a letter, why didn't the ancestors reply to him?He wrote more letters to Zongyan than his grandfather. What happened to Zongyan?But he is the fifth son of Prince Zheng's Mansion, if something really happened, there must have been news in Beijing long ago?

Ji Zhao frowned, wrote a letter from his grandfather, and wrote a letter to Zong Yan, and handed it to Yin Ming to send it out.

At this time, on Guangnan Road, Guizhou Mansion, and Prince Zheng's Mansion, Zong Mi was standing by the window.

The person behind him whispered guiltily: "This subordinate is incompetent, so I couldn't find him after all."

Zong Mi said in a deep voice, "Where's his wife and children?"

"This subordinate killed his wife, also killed his eldest son, and even cut off the finger of his most beloved youngest son. He still hasn't appeared, and he can't be found in such a large Guizhou Prefecture. I know, my subordinates have been keeping an eye on his house, fearing that he will escape if something happens in the future, but he just disappeared out of nowhere, and no one has seen him at the city gate." The guard thought for a while, and said carefully, "My lord, My subordinates have a guess, whether it will be Jinling's side—"

Zong Mi sneered: "If Jinling can really stretch out such a long hand, can it last until today? He must still be in Guizhou Prefecture!"

"My subordinates went to the Fourth Young Master's Courtyard many times at night to check, and even went to Guo's house, but there was no trace of him."

"Zongyu has been loved by his father for many years, and he has his own set of methods."

"Subordinates don't understand, what's the use of hiding Xiao Wei? How can they bite you back, Majesty?"

Zong Mi continued to sneer and remained silent.

With a sneer, a eunuch hurried over outside the door, and Zong Mi knew something was wrong when he heard such chaotic footsteps.

Sure enough, the eunuch rushed to the window and whispered: "Shi, son, the prince, he—"

Zong Mi took a deep breath and walked out.

He knew that his father couldn't delay it for long, and it was only as long as he could delay it for one more day.

When Zong Mi rushed to Prince Zheng's bedroom, the room was full of crying, Zong Mi walked in with a sullen face, "Brother, come and see Dad! Brother——" Seeing him coming, Zong Yan immediately got up and rushed over , Zong Mi supported him, shook his hand, and walked to the bedside.

His father's eyes, which had been muddy for many days, were rare and clear at this time. He recognized Zong Mi, and said with difficulty: "Be kind, be kind, brother..." After finishing speaking, King Zheng looked at him again, his eyes gradually closed, The crying in the room suddenly became louder, like thunder.

Zong Mi felt that all this was so unreal.

This is the last sentence left by the father?If you want him to treat his brother well, it's not his own brother who treats him kindly, but Zongyu, right?

Beside him, younger brothers, concubine Guo, and concubines had already pounced on him, but Zong Mi's footsteps were a little fluttering, and he was squeezed aside.He stared at the sallow-faced father lying on the bed in a daze. He was puzzled. How could the hero in his heart end up like this when he was a child?

The father he thought was a hero, ended up dying like this?

It was Zongyu and the Guo family who harmed him, but he never regretted it until his death.

It's a shame.

Zong Mi took a few steps back, feeling extremely depressed. He walked to the window and looked up at the sky, but it was also gloomy.

"It's time to report to Jinling."

Zong Mi turned around and saw that his mother and concubine were standing beside him calmly. They were the only two people in the room who did not cry.

Zong Mi smiled, presumably the smile is not pretty?

Because the concubine mother came up and held his hand: "You have grown up, you still have me and your brother to take care of."

Only then did Zong Mi feel the urge to cry.

The concubine mother said again: "You are King Zheng..."

Zong Mi's heart shivered, yes, he is King Zheng now, he didn't want to be King Zheng who was incompetent like his father, spoiled his concubine and killed his wife, and died so ugly.