Emperor's Grace

After noon, after the birthday banquet, Zhu Yunjing took Zhu Yunxuan back to the palace, Xie Xuanming saw them off, before parting ways, Zhu Yunjing called Xie Xuanming to the car again, and told him two things.

"Go and help Gucha to find out if there is any contact between Dingyuanhou and Xu Shixian. In addition, since Zhao's cousin loves Dingyuanhou, why not help her, let more people know what happened today."

Xie Xuanming nodded in response: "Don't worry, Your Highness, take care of me."

Zhu Yunxuan asked Zhu Yunjing curiously: "Brother Prince, do you think Marquis Dingyuan knew Xu Hanlin? Didn't Xu Hanlin just enroll last year?"

Zhu Yunjing sneered: "It's not impossible, He Huailing doesn't seem like the kind of person who deliberately finds faults just to save Gu's face, unless Xu Shixian has a personal relationship with him, and he has resentment in his heart and blames Gu."

The rumors in Beijing are changing day by day, but the center of the topic these days has always revolved around He Huailing. The love, the love that bloomed before and after the moon, became more and more true, and later it was spread that the two of them actually had a marriage contract a long time ago, they were married with their fingers, and they were a natural couple.

No matter what He Huailing thought, the rumors spread wildly, but Zhao Xiuzhi was very happy, and Zhu Yunjing was also very happy.

On this day, Zhu Yunjing entered the imperial study to say hello, Emperor Zhaoyang was reading the memorial, his expression seemed hesitant, when he saw Zhu Yunjing coming, he called him to him and handed him the memorial.

There was a minister who asked to build the Martial God Temple for He Huailing, saying that it was a collective petition of the common people. After reading it carefully, Zhu Yunjing looked up at Emperor Zhaoyang: "What is the father worrying about?"

Emperor Zhaoyang sighed: "Marquis Dingyuan is a meritorious minister, no matter how much you praise him, it's just that this country... is still surnamed Zhu."

Zhu Yunjing remained silent, knowing that those rumors had already reached his father's ears, so there was no need for him to say more.

Emperor Zhaoyang was not a foolish emperor. He even knew that there were people behind those rumors who were fueling the flames. He Huailing made such great military achievements at a young age and became famous. It is impossible not to attract people's envy and hatred. Knowing it is nonsense, but the ignorant people can be easily incited. This is exactly what Emperor Zhaoyang taboos the most, and he can't be unconcerned.

After a while, Emperor Zhaoyang shook his head and said something else: "I heard that Marquis Dingyuan and that girl from the Zhao family have a mutual friendship, and you were there when I went to your aunt's house to celebrate her birthday that day, but really of?"

Zhu Yunjing smiled and said: "I dare not lie, Cousin Zhao did indeed send a sachet to Marquis Dingyuan, but Marquis Dingyuan confiscated it and sent it back. I don't know if there is any real friendship. However, the fact that the matter has been widely known must not be groundless.”

Emperor Zhaoyang frowned: "Originally your imperial grandmother intended you to marry that girl from the Zhao family, but now it is rumored that she has a long-standing marriage contract with Marquis Dingyuan, and she is devoted to Marquis Dingyuan wholeheartedly. Her reputation is damaged."

"Father, Cousin Zhao Xinyue Dingyuan Hou, at the aunt's house that day, all the children of the family saw it, and it was spread all over the capital. Even if the emperor's grandmother really wants to betroth her to the minister, it is not appropriate. .”

"Forget it," Emperor Zhaoyang said wearily, "she is really not suitable to be a crown princess, I will help you to look more, and I will go to your grandmother to say, if that girl really agrees with Marquis Dingyuan, I will You can marry them."

Zhu Yunjing, who easily threw out the burden, was very proud, and cupped her hands: "But the father is the master."

After the new year, the imperial court issued an imperial decree that the [-] troops returning to Beijing were divided into Jingnan and Jingbei battalions, led by the commanders of the two battalions, and He Huailing was appointed as the second-rank servant of the Ministry of Punishment.

It is impossible for the emperor not to assign official positions to He Huailing all the time, but no one thought that He Huailing, a majestic military general, would become a civil servant. In the past, he was also a man who had read poetry and books and was full of economics, so it was all right to be a civil servant.

No wonder!How old was He Huailing at that time, who would believe that he had read poetry and books and was full of knowledge!

No matter what the people around him thought, He Huailing calmly took the order to thank her without a word of complaint.

Those old troops of He Huailing were assigned to several camps in the middle of the capital, and Jiang Yan was transferred to the camp in the north of the capital, where he became a general from the third rank.

As for the letter requesting to build the Temple of Martial Arts, it was left unpublished, and there was no further text.

In the main hall of Dingyuanhou's Mansion, several of He Huailing's confidantes gathered together, their faces were not good-looking, and He Huailing, who was above the main seat, drank tea absently. Hearing their complaints, Jiang Yan punched the coffee table, filled with righteous indignation : "The emperor turned the general into a civil servant, it's so fucking bullying!"

Jiang Yan's words were already a bit outrageous, but the rest of the people echoed one after another, expressing their dissatisfaction with the imperial decree issued by Emperor Zhaoyang in a few words, He Huailing interrupted them in a deep voice: "The imperial decree has been issued, don't talk about it anymore, you guys Just go back and do your own errands well.”

"But you, General..."

"It's okay, the Ministry of Criminal Justice is also good, it's okay to go to experience it." He Huailing said lightly.

Some people objected: "You should have gone to the Beijing North Camp to be the commander-in-chief. In the past, General He was from the Beijing North Camp..."

He Huailing interrupted him: "Your Majesty has the final say on where to take office, there is no reason for father to son, not to mention that the Beijing North Camp has long since changed hands, and the current commander-in-chief is not at fault, His Majesty will never dismiss him without reason, or you Do you think it would be better for me to give him the lieutenant general?"

"Of course not!" In the past, the commander-in-chief of the Beijing North Camp was He Huailing's father, He Yuanzhi, and He Yuanzhi died in the battle. They always thought that the commander-in-chief was in He Huailing's pocket, but obviously, Emperor Zhaoyang did not Don't think so.

He Huailing shook his head: "Before we returned to Beijing, the imperial court had already sent a new general to take over the troops left at the border. At that time, you should have expected today."

Less than half of the original 50 expeditionary army is now left. After the victory, 5 people were left to guard the border. From day one, he was already mentally prepared.

The rumors about him in the capital became more and more intense, which was within He Huailing's expectation. It should be fortunate that Emperor Zhaoyang was not a foolish emperor who disregarded right and wrong. The emperor just wanted to take back the military power in his hands, and he was not greedy for power.

In the past, he was only 16 years old when he went to war with his father, and he was ordered to take on the important task of 50 expeditionary troops when he was in danger on the battlefield. Now he can fulfill his father's entrustment and triumphantly, and he has no regrets.What's more, not everyone can afford to be a second-rank servant who has just passed the weak crown. To a certain extent, Emperor Zhaoyang is generous enough.

He Huailing didn't want to say any more, and only told everyone: "Don't mention this matter again. You are not at the border when you return to Beijing. You must be cautious in your words and deeds. You all go back. From now on... my family will try my best." Stop it."

Before He Huailing officially took office, Emperor Zhaoyang summoned him into the palace. Perhaps Emperor Zhaoyang also realized that he had done something unethical, and felt so guilty towards He Huailing, so he reminisced about the past with him. His father He Yuanzhi's past story of the relationship between the monarch and his ministers, when he talked about the emotion, his eyes were red and a few tears fell.

He Huailing quietly listened to Emperor Zhaoyang's long and short sighs, and occasionally echoed him without saying much. Finally, Emperor Zhaoyang sighed and said, "I know you must have resentment in your heart. When I was in crisis, I pushed your father to the battlefield but there was no end to it." Back, it was you who shouldered the heavy responsibility of the expeditionary army and killed the head of the enemy with your own hands. Now that the army has returned from victory, I have transferred you to be a civil servant. I don’t know how many people in the court are staring at you for your unworldly achievements. I transferred you to the Ministry of Punishment because I want you to avoid the limelight, keep a low profile, and save it for another day. Do you know my intentions?”

He Huailing lowered his head: "I know that your Majesty has good intentions, and I dare not complain."

Emperor Zhaoyang nodded in satisfaction: "You are not young anymore, why don't you start a family and start a business earlier, and make your father smile Jiuquan. I heard that you and Cheng Enbo's daughter are in love and have a long-term marriage contract, but really?" Yes? If you really want to, I can propose marriage to you personally."

He Huailing explained: "Your Majesty has misunderstood. I have never known Miss Zhao and I have no marriage contract. It's just that Miss Zhao gave me a sachet at the eldest princess's mansion that day. I feel ashamed for accepting it, so I sent it to you." I returned it back, the Zhao family's young lady is beautiful, intelligent, and beautiful, and I don't want to delay her because I'm not good enough for her."

Emperor Zhaoyang disapproved and said: "You are the Marquis of Dingyuan, appointed by my own relatives, why are you not worthy of her? Or do you have something else in your heart?"

"No, it's just that my mother passed away early, my father died in battle, my siblings are still young, I just returned to Beijing, and the Marquis's Mansion was first built, so I have to do everything in the mansion by myself, and I have no skills, so I have no plans to get married right now."

"Wouldn't it be better to marry a daughter-in-law to help you manage the housework?" Emperor Zhaoyang knew about the situation in the He residence. Thinking of opening branches and leaves as soon as possible.

"I'm afraid that if you marry me at this time, you will have to work hard for me in everything, and you will wrong the other party."

When He Huailing said so, Emperor Zhaoyang couldn't say anything more. No matter how much He Huailing's words were true, it was a fact that he didn't want to marry the daughter of the Zhao family. Grace was offered to He Huailing, but He Huailing refused, and forced him to accept this marriage. If the two of them became bitter couples in the future, it would not be beautiful.

"Since this is the case, I will not force others to make things difficult, so I will not mention this matter again."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding."

He Huailing quit from the Imperial Study Room, and as soon as he walked out, he ran into Zhu Yunjing who happened to come in, He Huailing saluted respectfully, Zhu Yunjing looked at him, and bent the corners of his lips: "Father, I want to give you a far away Hou refers to marriage? Should Gu congratulate Dingyuanhou?"

He Huailing's expression remained unchanged: "Your Majesty understands the difficulties of the minister, and the matter of marriage has been dropped."

"Really? It seems that the cousin of the Zhao family is doomed to have unrequited love."

He Huailing didn't say any more, cupped his hands, said goodbye and left. When passing by, Zhu Yunjing's laughing voice rang into his ears: "Master Hou insisted on not accepting the finger marriage. Hanlin observes festivals?"

He Huailing paused, looked at Zhu Yunjing warily, Zhu Yunjing smiled again, blinked with him, and walked into the imperial study.