Emperor's Grace

As soon as Maoshi arrived, Emperor Zhaoyang was ascended to the throne in the Xuande Hall. With the sound of three whips, the courtiers entered in a file, lined up on both sides, and the one-day court meeting began.

The officials of various ministries stepped forward to play their affairs step by step, talking about very trivial things.Zhu Yunjing stood at the forefront of the emperor's left hand, listening absent-mindedly. These days he was always unable to wake up. Even though he was standing on the court, he still looked sleepy, his mind was drowsy, and he went up and down. His eyelids kept fighting, as if he could fall asleep at any time.

He Huailing's position was in the middle on the right, and he had subconsciously looked towards Zhu Yunjing several times, even though he could only see a blurred profile.

Just now when Zhu Yunjing came over, He Huailing noticed that his complexion was not very good. It seemed that he had been like this for a long time.

It's summer and April, the weather is getting hotter, everyone around has changed into thin shirts, only Zhu Yunjing seems to be wearing a jacket under his court clothes, but it can't cover up his emaciation, as if he could fall down when the wind blows.

Zhu Yunjing lowered his eyes, and the voices of the officials were gradually cut off from his consciousness, until Emperor Zhaoyang on the throne suddenly clicked on him: "Prince, what do you think about this matter?"

Zhu Yunjing didn't respond, the hall was so quiet that a needle could be heard, Emperor Zhaoyang's eyes fell on Zhu Yunjing, he frowned and coughed, and called him again: "Prince."

The cabinet minister standing behind Zhu Yunjing lightly pushed his arm and reminded him in a low voice: "Your Highness, Your Majesty is calling for you."

Zhu Yunjing woke up suddenly, raised his eyes to meet the displeased gaze of Emperor Zhaoyang, the drowsiness disappeared in an instant, and lowered his head: "My son is here."

"What do you think of the Jiangnan governor's request for tax exemption just now?"

Zhu Yunjing didn't hear what was discussed before, Emperor Zhaoyang saw that he looked embarrassed, shook his head, and asked someone to show him the playbook.Zhu Yunjing took it, calmed down and browsed quickly. It was Fang Chengpeng, the governor of the south of the Yangtze River, who said that this year's spring drought has severely affected many places. He feared that the harvest would not be good at the end of the year, and asked for tax relief.

Zhu Yunjing licked her slightly dry lips, and said after deliberation: "It's only the beginning of summer, if the disaster slows down, there is still time to plant another batch of grain, but the harvest will definitely be affected, and Governor Fang has no worries Reasonably, it is possible to reduce or exempt taxes as appropriate, and the drought in the spring has not only affected Jiangnan Province, but the surrounding provinces have also been affected to varying degrees, so they can be reduced or exempted."

Seeing that Emperor Zhaoyang had no objection and quite agreed, Zhu Yunjing went on to say: "Governor Fang played the performance in time this time, which is worthy of praise. The imperial court issued an imperial edict earlier, so that the people in the disaster-stricken area can be relieved earlier. Make up your mind that the planting of summer grain will not be delayed, and the common people will be grateful to His Majesty and the court."

"What the prince said is true," Emperor Zhaoyang nodded, "If so, I will make an order immediately."

Zhu Yunjing breathed a sigh of relief, he actually didn't think too much about it, and even said a few nice words for the governor of Jiangnan, but he thought that Fang Chengpeng seemed to have a good reputation, and his father and emperor Fang Chengpeng's performance in disaster relief before was quite good. To be sure, next year Fang Chengpeng will be promoted after returning to Beijing to report on his work. He has shown his favor in advance, and maybe he can get a boost.

After the crowd, He Huailing frowned slightly, but thoughtfully.

After the court meeting was over, He Huailing walked out of the palace with the courtiers in twos and threes, and heard someone talking about the palace draft next month.

"According to the opinion of Eunuch Liu who is beside His Majesty, this time the harem will not add any newcomers, but will choose a candidate for the crown princess. I just don't know who will be so lucky."

"The old man has also heard that this time, the Crown Prince and the side concubine are going to be settled together. It seems that His Majesty has communicated with the few he is optimistic about in advance, and asked someone to send a portrait to the palace, saying that His Highness the Crown Prince will be sent to the palace first. Take a look."

He Huailing slowed down, and heard someone laughing behind him: "Isn't it? It is said that the granddaughter of Wang Ge, the daughter of Zhou Shangshu, and the niece of An Lehou all sent the portraits to the palace, but I don't know that His Highness will read them. Whichever one is on, maybe they will all be accepted, one concubine and two concubines are just right."

"It's a pity that our family doesn't have a daughter of the right age, otherwise we might be able to be sent to the East Palace to be a good concubine."

"Master Lin, please stop joking, if you really have a daughter, are you willing to send her to the East Palace?"

After that person finished speaking, there was a lot of laughter, and someone lowered his voice and gossiped: "I also heard that the queen mother was optimistic about that daughter of Cheng Enbo, after all, she is her grandniece, but that little girl didn't live up to it. Dingyuan Hou Fang's secret promise spread to everyone, and now she has a scandal with Huai'an Hou Shizi, tsk tsk."

The matter between Zhao Xiuzhi and Huai'an Hou Shizi only came out two days ago. The two of them got drunk and lay down on the same bed in a restaurant.

No one noticed that Marquis Dingyuan, who was being discussed by them, was walking ahead. He Huailing's eyes were dark, and he quickened his pace when he heard the bursts of laughter behind him.

Zhu Yunjing was left behind by Emperor Zhaoyang, and followed him to the imperial study. Emperor Zhaoyang saw that his face was pale, and asked with a frown, "Why are you sick again? Have you seen the imperial doctor? Why are you distracted during the court meeting?"

Zhu Yunjing admitted her mistake obediently: "I made my father worry, my son is fine, it's just that I didn't sleep well last night, and my spirit is a little weak. Go back and rest for a while and you'll be fine."

"It's fine if you have a sense of proportion in your heart. You are a prince, you must always remember your identity, and don't let others talk about it." Emperor Zhaoyang said earnestly.

"Your servant can save you."

Emperor Zhaoyang didn't teach him any more, and asked someone to carry the things up. It was a pile of scroll paintings. Emperor Zhaoyang stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Here are all suitable candidates for the crown princess that I have selected for you. , all of them are good, you can take it back to the East Palace to have a closer look, and pick a few that you like first."

Zhu Yunjing lowered her eyes: "Thank you, Father."

Holding the pile of portraits, Wang Jiu happily followed Zhu Yunjing out of the imperial study room: "Congratulations, Your Highness, congratulations, Your Highness."

Zhu Yunjing sat on the chariot and said lightly, "Where does the joy come from?"

"Your Highness, you are about to have a crown princess, and we are about to have a mistress in the East Palace. Of course, it is worthy of congratulations."

Zhu Yunjing closed her eyes, feeling depressed in her heart, how can he pamper his princess with his current state?

Seeing his reaction, Wang Jiu realized that he had said something wrong, so he slapped himself silently, and then talked about something that might make Zhu Yunjing happy: "Your Highness, I heard that the Cheng En Bo family The eldest lady of Huai'an had an affair with Huai'an Hou's son without a matchmaker, and was caught and raped in bed, causing a lot of trouble, now they have to marry if they don't want to marry, and they have to marry if they don't want to marry."

Zhu Yunjing sneered, this is what he asked someone to do, Huaian Hou Shizi is romantic, Zhao Xiuzhi is affectionate, making a couple is a match made in heaven, isn't it?In the future, if they really become a loving couple, he will do a good thing and make a good marriage happen.

Emperor Zhaoyang's instructions to Zhu Yunjing should not be ignored. After returning to the East Palace, he asked someone to unfold the portraits and line them up in front of him. However, the women in the paintings are either graceful or charming, or have bright teeth, all of them are indeed good, but he finds them boring.

Seeing that Zhu Yunjing suddenly became dazed again, Wang Jiu reminded him in a low voice, "Your Highness, do you have anything fancy?"

Zhu Yunjing waved her hand irritably: "Put it all away."

"But Your Majesty said..."

"Choose two for Gu at random and go back to report to Father."

Wang Jiu fell to his knees with a puff, and said with a mournful face, "I don't dare!"

This is to choose the crown princess, the future queen, how can he pick two at random with one servant, and he would not dare to lend him a hundred courage.

"Then don't put this nonsense, let's procrastinate first."

Wang Jiu had no choice but to ask someone to put away the portrait for the time being, and after waving the others away, Wang Jiu knelt down at Zhu Yunjing's feet, pinched his legs, and comforted him in a low voice: "Your Highness, don't worry, now that you're married, you don't need to worry about it." If you procrastinate, you can delay the big wedding until next year, and then the little highness will also come out, and the princess and concubine will not know."

Zhu Yunjing glared at him coldly: "You are clever, so tell Gu how to give birth? What if you have a big belly?"

Wang Jiu looked stunned: "When I went back to see the doctor outside the palace, my maid asked quietly, as long as I control the food and don't let the child grow too big and then wrap it with cloth, be careful so that people won't see it... When the month gets older and the weather gets colder, it shouldn't be a big problem to wear more clothes to cover it up. Don't worry about what happened. First, go to the folks and find a few good doctors to raise them in Zhuangzi. past……"

Zhu Yunjing's face was sullen, but he didn't reprimand Wang Jiu again. Although every word Wang Jiu said made him very uncomfortable, this may be the only way at the moment. It's a pity that he can't beat this evil seed, and he has to do everything possible to kill him. When he came down, every time he thought of this level, he wished he could tear He Huailing's sutras, skin her body, and tear her body into pieces.

A few days later, He Huailing's cronies sent to Jingzhou finally returned to Beijing, and went to his residence in a low-key manner.

With a clear goal, it would be much cheaper to verify it. Apart from the memorial and the ledger, He Huailing now has in his hands the testimony of the people with relevant interests who have stamped their fingerprints. The witnesses and material evidence are all there, and there is only one chance to present it to the imperial court.

He Huailing stood in front of the window with his hands behind his back, looking at the scenery outside the window with ecstasy.Spring has passed, and the jasmine flowers that bloomed brilliantly a few days ago have all died, leaving only empty branches swaying in the breeze.

Seeing that he had been silent for a long time, the subordinate who came back to the side asked puzzledly, "Master Hou, what are you hesitating for?"

After a while, He Huailing shook his head lightly: "No, it's been hard for you to go out this time, so go back and rest first."

There was no one else in the study, He Huailing still stood by the window without moving.

His guess was not wrong. Nearly half of the officials in Jiangnan's officialdom were involved in this profit network of selling private salt. It wasn't their audacity, but someone backing them up, and this person was the Crown Prince of the East Palace.