The Royal Merchant of the Red Chamber

The moon is on the treetops, and the cool light pours down on the earth.Court ladies and eunuchs in twos and threes shuttled through the palace halls with palace lanterns, lighting up the palace lanterns hanging under the eaves or erected on both sides of the white jade steps.For a moment, the whole palace seemed like daylight.

The Qiankun Palace stands at the highest point of all the palaces.At this moment, the lights are brightly lit, and there is a lot of fairy music.In a trance, it seems like a fairyland in the sky.This palace, which was built with great efforts after the new emperor ascended the throne, is majestic and magnificent.The beautiful palace maids who look like fairy concubines and the concubines who are gorgeously dressed, are gathering in the hall to sing and laugh.The seat at the top of the hall was vacant, and the empress dowager sat down at the bottom, subconsciously glanced at the vacant dragon chair, and slightly frowned her willow-leaf eyebrows.

Concubine Min smiled and said, "Didn't it mean that the emperor has important matters to attend to in the side hall? I'll just wait patiently."

The Empress Dowager glanced at Concubine Min, and replied with a smile: "I'm just worried about the Emperor's health. I'm afraid that he will work too hard and bother his mind. I don't know if the Emperor has eaten on time today."

What is more worrying is why an emperor who has abdicated is so busy.Is he dissatisfied with Zhen'er?

Concubine Min's eyes flickered when she heard the words, and she said casually: "Sister Concubine De has been coming to Qiankun Palace very frequently recently, presumably she is the most aware of the body and bones of the Holy Majesty."

"Exactly, if you didn't tell me, I would have forgotten." The Empress Dowager said, and asked Concubine De with a concerned expression: "My sister has been serving the Emperor personally for the past two days, do you know how the Emperor's appetite has been for the past two days?"

Concubine De hated secretly in her heart, but she said sincerely with a smile on her face: "The emperor is well versed in the way of health preservation, and every action is in line with the imperial doctor's orders."

The Empress Dowager took a fixed look at Concubine De, and smiled slowly: "In this case, I feel at ease. I heard that Zheng'er has always visited the Emperor in the palace these two days, and the Emperor is also very happy when the father and son agree with each other. Woolen cloth!"

All the concubines present were keenly aware of the change in the name of the empress dowager, and couldn't help but feel moved, secretly looking at the empress dowager.

Concubine De saw it, her expression became more graceful and magnanimous.

Not to mention the thoughts of the lords in the main hall.Let's say that in the side hall, the emperor in bright yellow uniform was leaning halfway on the beauty's couch with his sleeves, and a bag of chestnuts was placed on a small table with a black lacquer dragon and auspicious clouds in his hand.The wrapped grease has become soft and fragile due to soaking in snow water. Although it has been carefully treated, there are still some traces of dirt and wrinkles on the surface, and there are even a few holes missing at the corners.The dark fried chestnuts inside were exposed.

The emperor just stared straight at the half bag of fried chestnuts, and sighed softly after a long while: "The wine and meat of the Zhumen smell bad, and the roads are frozen to death. How many people in Limin can't even take care of three meals. Such good food ,Pity."

The man kneeling on the ground blinked, but did not speak.

The emperor picked up a cold chestnut and put it in his palm, looked at it for a while, then put the chestnut back on the table, slapped his hands and said: "Although these chestnuts are freshly fried, they taste best when they are warm. Even if it is cooled, the taste is not bad. If you throw it away like a shoe, it can be seen that you are used to the rich and noble in the past, and you can't feel the pain of not being able to catch it! Besides, it has been said throughout the ages that the cunning rabbit dies, the lackey cooks; the birds are exhausted. , Liang Gongzang. Although there is a principle of natural selection, it is a bit cold after all."

After finishing speaking, he looked softly at the kneeling man and said, "Does Shangguan think so?"

The man on the ground said in a muffled voice: "The emperor's thoughts, I dare not speculate."

A flash of anger flashed in the emperor's eyes, and he suppressed it for a moment.Softly persuaded: "After so many years, you still have this temper, and it hasn't changed at all. You should know that I did this to protect you."

The man bowed his head and remained silent.

What is the purpose, the matter has come to this point, there is no need to pursue it.Just looking at the cold chestnuts on the small table, a touch of sadness flashed in my heart.Most of them are emotions connected with fate, are they discarded like shoes after being used?

The emperor's gaze also shifted to the bag of chestnuts.After pondering for a while, he sighed softly: "The arrangements for the Longevity Festival can be withdrawn."

The man lowered his head and raised his eyebrows suspiciously.The emperor seemed to have seen it, and explained softly: "At first, I thought he should have a place in Zhen'er's heart. Now, it seems that it is just a match between the monarch and his ministers. If this is the case, I don't have to risk offending that old fox Xue Zhizhang. I am afraid that in Zhen'er's heart, even he can choose."

The father and son of the Tian family have conspired to such an extent, what else can they not choose?

The man hooked the corner of his mouth in disdain, and bowed his head in silence.

The emperor saw it in his eyes, and said more and more lazily: "I have worked hard too. I thought that the heir I chose was a truly innocent and helpless person who needed my support. Who knew..."

Who knew that the snipe and the clam would fight each other, and the fisherman would benefit from it!

That day, he was busy suppressing the rebellious prince and dismantling the loyal party members who were throwing power into the government and the public. After all his efforts, he inevitably failed and had to retreat behind the scenes and give up his position.In order to plan for the future, he had no choice but to promote the fourth child to the throne.I thought I had chosen a single prince who had no one to rely on and could only survive by relying on him, but unexpectedly this little milk dog became a lone wolf who ate people and didn't spit out bones in an instant.He has been eyeing him for so many years, and he even deceived himself.It's a pity that the recovery of Skynet still made him realize that something was wrong.

Now that he knows that there is an unfathomable dark force in the hands of the fourth child, how can he indulge in peace of mind.As the saying goes, how can others be allowed to sleep soundly on the side of the couch. Although he has already abdicated, but the emperor's heart makes him never let go of the power in his hands unless he dies completely.And Tuzhen...

If he can bear it until his death, that's all.After all, such a tough emperor is also good for Dayong's future.But if he loses his patience like a prince... then he can't blame him for his cruel father.

Therefore, when Tu Zhen secretly handed over the jade pendant to Xue Pan and let him go to Beijing, the emperor did not stop him.Originally, I thought that the biggest supporter of Tuzhen's fight for the throne would be easier to manipulate after he arrived in the capital.did not expect……

His eyes moved back to the bag of chestnuts on the small table.The emperor laughed at himself, the Tian family was ruthless, he knew it a long time ago.What he doesn't have, he expects others to have. If it weren't for Tu Zhen's casual behavior today, he would have seen through the truth.I'm afraid that I will really use the means to hold Xue Pan under control.At that time, I am afraid that Xue Zhizhang will not be arrested without a fight.Although this old fox has left Jinling's headquarters, the Xue family has been operating in the south of the Yangtze River for generations, and now he has joined forces with the Zhen family and the Lin family, so he doesn't know how many cards he has in his hands—

Thinking of this, the emperor's heart moved.Standing up suddenly, looking at the dilapidated chestnuts on the small table, he laughed thoughtfully.

Maybe... That little fox Tu Zhen planned it that way.

Do you want to win the fisherman's profit by fighting between the snipe and the clam?Use your own hands to force the Xue family to stand on his side?

The emperor thought he had realized it and curled his lips, and he got up and changed his clothes in a leisurely manner.He opened his mouth and ordered: "Isn't that kid Xue Pan trying to tinker with Western stuff? You inform Honglu Temple and the Ministry of Industry around, no matter what he asks, do your best to cooperate. Just say... I am also eager to see if he can do it." What did you toss out? If it is beneficial to the country, I will give him meritorious service."

After finishing speaking, he stepped out of the side hall with a comfortable expression.Outside, there was a burst of singing and dancing.

At the same time, the Qianqing palace was full of calculations.

After Tu Zhen dealt with all the backlog of papers today, he leaned on the dragon chair a little tiredly, and stretched out his hand to pinch the sore eyebrows.

Lin Mozhi whispered: "Your Majesty, the bag of chestnuts has been picked up by Jin Yiwei."

Jinyiwei is the private force in the hands of the emperor.Even after Tu Zhen ascended the throne, he held it firmly in his hands and never mentioned it to Tu Zhen.

At the side, Prince Zhongchun Tu Xiang asked suspiciously: "Fourth brother, why did you throw that bag of chestnuts out, wouldn't it be better to keep it?"

Tu Zhen glanced at Tu Xiang indifferently, and said, "Don't the eleventh brother know that everything goes too far?"

Tu Xiang raised his eyebrows silently and said nothing.It's just that the doubts in the expression are undisguised.

Tu Zhen didn't explain, but just looked aside at Lin Mozhi.

Lin Mozhi said indifferently: "Marquis Zhongxin is a very smart person."

Because he is smart, he can see more clearly than more people.In the end, what Tu Zhen wanted was nothing more than the all-out allegiance of the Xue family.It's not pushing the Xue family farther and farther.Although there were some small plans when the Xue family was recruited to the capital, but the world has changed with time, and everything cannot remain the same.

only……

Lin Mozhi glanced at Tu Zhen suspiciously.Although he had already made arrangements for the Xue family, he would not let Pan'er suffer any harm in this competition.But Tu Zhen's temporary withdrawal still made him feel strange.

Thinking of Tu Zhen's recent changes and actions in the open and in the dark, Lin Mozhi faintly felt that Tu Zhen's thoughts were not that simple.But the mind of the superior has nothing to do with him, he just needs to guarantee the safety of himself and his relatives and friends to complete the task satisfactorily.

Thinking of this, Lin Mozhi shook his head, threw irrelevant thoughts out of his mind, and said in a deep voice: "Reporting to the Holy Majesty, all the officials we arranged have been transferred to the grassroots through this official assessment. Get anyone's attention. I believe that after a few years of experience, most of them will become the mainstay of the court."

When Tu Zhen heard the words, he responded lightly, and a trace of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

Even if most of the civil and military people in the Manchu Dynasty don't think highly of him, even if most of the four kings and eight princes don't think highly of him, so what.As the saying goes, once the emperor and the courtiers, those who have always understood current affairs are outstanding, as for those who are stubborn...

Tu Zhen chuckled, watching the green smoke curling up from the incense burner, and remained silent.

Since you want to be a sacrifice, then you must have the awareness to be a sacrifice!At that time, the smoke will disappear and no one will be special.

"What's the smell?" After pondering for a while, Tu Xiang suddenly sniffed and asked.

Tu Zhen said calmly: "What kind of smell can there be in the Hall of Mental Cultivation? Except for fruits, it is spices."

"No." Tu Xiang frowned suspiciously, shook his head and said, "It seems to be plum blossoms—"

"Maybe it's the fragrance from the Merlin outside!" Tu Zhen said disapprovingly: "It's getting late, you should step back!"

"But—" Tu Xiang still wanted to refute, seeing Tu Zhen's indifferent appearance, he could only bow down and say, "I will leave."

After Tu Xiang and Lin Mozhi both exited the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Tu Zhen sighed softly.He reached out and took out a small plum blossom from under the stacked memorials, and played with it for a while.He suddenly took off the purse at his waist and poured out all the contents.Then carefully pluck off the plum blossom petals on the flower branches, put them in the purse, and put them to the tip of the nose to sniff lightly.

For half a day, a faint smile appeared on his lips...

Volume [-]: Entering the temple and cutting out the stereotypes