I am a ruler in troubled times

The matter of Zhan Shifu was left to Song Peiyu by Chong Yi as a matter of course.

Song Peiyu knew that there was no rush for this matter.

Not only did he have to consult a large number of historical books, but he also studied how the Zhan Shifu was formed since ancient times and how much power it could hold under what circumstances.It is still necessary to calm down and think about what kind of Zhan Shifu Emperor Yonghe wants, or what kind of Zhan Shifu Emperor Yonghe can give Chongyi.

The school began to hold classes normally, and the eldest princess and Huiyang county master also reappeared in the school.

A year later, the classroom atmosphere has not changed.It is still the teacher above giving lectures on his own, and the students below doing their own thing.

As one of the only three students who could attend classes last year, Song Peiyu, who also got involved in the fishing army this year because she had more important things to do, received heartbroken eyes from the teachers.

However, Song Peiyu felt that the teachers had taught him another skill. In just over ten days, he would feel a little heartbroken and guilty at the beginning, and now he is indifferent and cheeky.

Chong Yi likes to listen to stories, especially the stories that Song Peiyu tells.

He spends almost all his spare time listening to stories, and he finished listening to Song Peiyu's new story book in a few days.

During this period, Song Peiyu always pays attention to Chong Yi's emotions, trying to discern whether Chong Yi has been touched by the miserable supporting characters in the story, and then fails without exception.

Chong Yi's emotions were like stagnant water, and Song Peiyu would not get any response if he threw anything into it.

Even for his favorite stories, Chong Yi seems to have no desires or desires.

Both Chong Yi and Song Peiyu knew that as long as Chong Yi's attitude became tougher, they could always get new stories from Song Peiyu.

But Chong Yi never did this.

In March, on the birthday of Empress Shun in Liangyi Palace, Eunuch An specially picked a day when Song Peiyu was there to mention this matter, "The little eunuch from Qinzheng Palace sent a message to Liangyi Palace, saying that the past two years have not been good. The celebration banquets in the palace are not suitable for large-scale celebrations, just let Empress Shun find her natal family to have a small gathering in the palace, and don't bother other wives."

Song Peiyu put down the teacup, and said to Chong Yi, "The only ones who can enter the inner palace to pay their respects are the female family members. If His Highness is present, the female family members will abide by the rules and must avoid His Highness, but this is a rare opportunity for Empress Shun to reunite with her family. Your Highness, why don't you go to Qingyun Temple to pray for Empress Shun that day, it is not only your filial piety, but also fulfills the family happiness between Empress Shun and her family."

"That's a good idea." Eunuch An applauded, fearing that Chongyi would be stupid, he also persuaded, "You are so valuable, but you are willing to pray for Empress Shun, and even filial piety. Empress Shun loves your filial piety, if you know This is the best birthday present she has ever received."

Song Peiyu glanced at Eunuch An's smiling face, and secretly thought that he was really talented, and he didn't feel guilty at all when he fooled people.

No wonder he was valued by Emperor Yonghe, and he personally appointed him as the eunuch in charge of the East Palace.

Finally Chong Yi was willing to look away from the scripture in his hand and look at Eunuch An.

Eunuch An smiled and said, "If Your Highness doesn't want to leave the palace, this old slave will find a room in the East Palace and let people change it into a small Buddhist hall. How about leaving a storyteller's desk in it? It's our own family anyway. , the old slave promises that no gossip will spread.”

"Casually" Chong Yi lowered his head again, taking advantage of the opportunity to turn a page in the script.

"What does Shaoyin think we should celebrate Madam Shun's birthday with?" Eunuch An took out the private treasury ledger from his arms, and handed it to Song Peiyu with both hands.

Song Peiyu put down the hand covering the corner of her mouth, and asked casually, "What were the regulations in previous years?"

"The old slave asked me about Fu. When His Royal Highness flipped through the account book the year before last, he casually pointed to a page, and all the items on the entire page were sent to Madam Shun." Eunuch An showed a distressed expression on his face, and his voice became smaller and smaller. A gesture, "Last year, Your Highness still looked through the private treasury books..."

Song Peiyu gasped, Chong Yi actually gave ten pages of private house to the person from Liangyi Palace last year, based on the current private treasury account books of East Palace, it was one-fifth of Chong Yi's private treasury.

Song Peiyu tried to figure out how long it would take for his glass Zhuangzi and gunpowder Zhuangzi to experiment after converting those things into silver, but sadly found that he would not be able to convert them at all for a while.

Poverty severely limited his imagination.

'Snapped'

Song Peiyu took the account book in the palm of Mr. An's stall and closed it, and said with a blank expression, "Don't look at it, these vulgar things are not worthy of His Highness's filial piety to your empress. I will send someone to find 66 elderly people over 66 years old. Let each of them write a blessing to the empress, and wish the empress good fortune."

Eunuch An was stunned with his mouth open, stopped on a rather funny expression, turned his head stiffly and looked at Chong Yi who was still obsessed with reading the script as if he hadn't heard anything, and when he looked back at Song Peiyu, his eyes were full of admiration radiance, and even broke his voice because he was too emotional, "Just do as you say!"

"If only you hadn't separated from Uncle Yunyang back then, we stupid people..." Eunuch An sighed with tears in his eyes.

Song Peiyu smiled without saying a word, and within a short period of time, he thought of several plans for celebrating the birthday of Empress Shun that would not cost money and would be very 'filial'.

Eunuch An, who is full of unknown powers, set up the small Buddha Hall of the East Palace within a day.

Song Peiyu was invited to watch, the storyteller's desk, Chong Yi's soft bed, the decorations on the Duobao Pavilion...everything was complete except for the 'Buddha'.

On the day of Concubine Mu Gui's birthday, Mrs. Mu brought her daughter-in-law and granddaughter into the palace early.

Mrs. Mu is a first-class woman, as long as she leaves the Qinzheng Palace and the East Palace, she can be a sedan chair, which is much better than her daughter-in-law and granddaughter who can only walk.

She passed between the magnificent Qinzheng Hall and the East Palace, and after sitting in the sedan chair, all she could see was the desolation and desolation of an uncivilized land.So I thought about my daughter's current situation.As the wife of Emperor Yonghe who carried a big sedan chair to marry and gave birth to the only prince, not only is he not a queen, but also he is so disgusted by Emperor Yonghe that he can't even enjoy the greetings of a married woman after his birthday.I couldn't help but feel sad from my heart, and I didn't lose my composure by pinching my thigh tightly.

Fortunately, after entering the scope of the Liangyi Palace, she finally saw the ostentation and birthday atmosphere that a noble concubine should have, so Mrs. Mu barely smiled, got off the sedan chair without help, and strode towards the main hall without waiting. To see her miserable daughter.

Concubine Mu woke up early to wash up on her good day, wearing a full set of imperial concubine costumes, and the crown and accessories on her head alone weighed at least ten catties.

But she was able to sit majestically at the main seat, and she didn't even shake the Dongzhu hanging from the phoenix hairpin.

Listening to the voice of the eunuch at the door announcing the greetings of Mu's female relatives, the eyes of Concubine Mu Gui, who seemed to be a gorgeous statue, seemed to be alive. At the first sight, she found that her mother, who had not seen her for more than half a year, seemed more old than before. state.

Concubine Mu Gui suddenly wanted to touch her face, to see if she was also unknowingly wrinkled like her mother.She raised her hands before she realized something was wrong, so she paused in the air, and waited for the people below to salute before Concubine Mu took advantage of the situation and continued to raise her hands in mid-air, "Get up, give me a seat."

The female officials in the palace rushed to help the ladies.

When Mrs. Mu saw her daughter who was not in the slightest joy in her beautiful attire, her eyes couldn't help sore, but she didn't want to pierce her last disguise in front of her daughter-in-law. She turned her head and said, "The last time I saw your mother was half a year ago. I see that the empress seems to be fatter than before, it can be seen that life is comfortable."

Concubine Mu raised the corners of her mouth, her voice was melodious, "Your Highness is filial, and His Majesty has issued a decree to set up Zhan Shifu. What's wrong with me?"

Seeing this, the wives of the Mu family hurriedly uttered the auspicious words they had prepared long ago to make Concubine Mu happy.

The originally quiet palace suddenly became lively.

Although it was from her own family, Concubine Mu Gui was celebrating her birthday after all, so everyone who entered the palace to celebrate her birthday brought gifts.

Mrs. Mu gave a jade buckle that was safe for the firecrackers. The box containing the jade buckle had a secret, and in the interlayer was the words that the Patriarch of the Mu family brought to Concubine Mu.

Mu Jiu was the only junior present, and gave Concubine Mu Gui the purse she embroidered herself, but Concubine Mu dragged her to sit beside her.

The others gave away things that people like them could afford.Among them, the most precious one is a pair of phoenix hairpins made of ruby ​​sent by Mrs. Mu.

Red jade is rare, and besides, there is a layer of gold foil as thin as a cicada's wing, which is wrapped around the neck of the phoenix and the roots of the two wings respectively. But it was carved into a beautiful feather, and the phoenix hairpin was gently shaken, as if it was really flying.

Even Mrs. Mu couldn't help admiring, "Not only is red jade rare, but the craftsman who can make this kind of jewelry is even more rare. It really deserves the phoenix Yu Fei."

"It's still my mother who has the vision. The name of this set of phoenix hairpins is Fenghuang Yufei." Mrs. Mu turned her head to Concubine Mu Gui who was holding the phoenix hairpins, "Only such hairpins can be worthy of your empress."

Concubine Mu Gui raised the corners of her mouth and said to Mu Jiu beside her, "Come on, Xiao Jiu put it on for Auntie. In the future, Auntie will ask Shang Gongju to make it better for you."

This pair of red jade phoenix hairpins is already so luxurious and exquisite, even in a family like the Mu family, they can be regarded as family heirlooms.Everyone knew what was better in Concubine Mu Gui's mouth, and they all showed joking smiles.

Mrs. Mu took advantage of the opportunity to turn the topic to Chong Yi, "Speaking of which, His Highness came later than usual this year."

Hearing this, Concubine Mu Gui's smile faded a little, she supported the phoenix hairpin that Mu Jiugang brought up, and said, "Perhaps something happened in the Palace of Qinzheng delayed him. After all, there are people from the Zhan Shifu. Everything is more important than me."

"Your Majesty, this is a joke. Who doesn't know how filial His Highness is?" Mrs. Mu San hurriedly comforted Concubine Mu Gui, "Your Highness always puts your affairs first. Let Your Highness walk slowly."

The other wives also followed suit, and even took the congratulatory gift from Chongyi a few years ago as an example. When it came to the sourness in the last words, they couldn't tell the truth from the fake, but it made Concubine Mu Gui smile again.

It's just that as the sun outside became hotter and hotter, Chong Yi still disappeared, and everyone's faces were anxious to varying degrees, but they didn't know it, and they looked at the door frequently.

An embarrassing voice suddenly sounded in the hall that had completely quieted down at some point, and Mrs. Mu San, who was gathered by her eyes, lowered her head in shame, and said, "I know I can see your mother today, so I forgot to eat breakfast because of my joy, it's impolite gone."

Before Mrs. Mu could finish her sentence, the same voice sounded from another direction. Mu Jiu tightly covered her stomach, and immediately said, "Like Third Aunt, I didn't eat in the morning either!"

Concubine Mu Gui clasped her hands tightly and was about to speak when suddenly there was the sound of running quickly outside the door.

The little eunuch came in from the outside, knelt on the ground beaming and said, "Your Majesty, you can already see the team from the East Palace to celebrate the birthday!"

Concubine Mu loosened her hands a little and nodded reservedly.

Mrs. Mu San knew that she had touched the bad luck of Concubine Mu Gui just now, so she quickly asked the little eunuch as if joking, "Can you see how long the line in the East Palace is?"

The little eunuch said crisply, "If you go back to Madam, the little one only saw the person at the head and rushed back to report to the imperial concubine. I didn't have time to see how long the line was."

"With His Highness's filial piety, I'm afraid that the front of Heshou's team may enter the Liangyi Palace, and the tail may not be able to leave the East Palace." Mrs. Mu smiled and said to Mrs. Mu, "Your question is too embarrassing."

Mrs. Mu San offered many good words again, and she became very effective in coaxing Concubine Mu Gui to be happy.

Concubine Mu raised her hand to cover her mouth, and leaned lazily on the chair, "It doesn't matter whether there is a birthday gift or not. Even if he only sends someone to greet me, how can I, a mother, argue with him? How about those birthday gifts?" How can it be beneficial for me to be luxurious in this palace, but they are just vulgar things, it is better for him to copy the filial piety scriptures for me with his own hands."

Mu Jiu, who was also smiling, received her mother's gaze, and quickly snuggled up to Mu Guifei's side and acted like a spoiled child, "How about I embroider a filial piety scripture for my aunt next year?"

"Okay, okay!" Concubine Mu took advantage of the opportunity to hold Mu Jiu in her arms, sticking the cold and sharp armor to Mu Jiu's face, and said, "with Shu'er here, aunt can only see you alone." , other people, even if they are my own, will be ranked behind."

Mu Jiu blushed immediately, and turned her head to hide in Concubine Mu Gui's arms.

The flower hall was lively again, and the people from the East Palace who came to celebrate the birthday finally arrived.

When the smiling Mu family members saw Eunuch An's old face with a smile like a chrysanthemum, they paused for a moment, and looked back again.

It's a pity that when all the twelve members of Donggong's party entered the door, they still couldn't see the person they wanted to see.

"My concubine concubine Shun pays homage to you, and your mother has a long life and a healthy life." All the attendants of the Eastern Palace, headed by Eunuch An, knelt down.

"Where's Your Highness?" Mrs. Mu frowned and asked impatiently, "But still behind?"

Eunuch An looked up at Mrs. Mu and explained, "His Royal Highness is in the Small Buddhist Hall of the Eastern Palace, leading Song Shaoyin and Heping Xiaoqi to pray for the empress. According to the instructions of Master Qingyun Temple, the blessing will last for eight hours, so His Highness may not be able to come in person Congratulations to the mother's birthday."

Eunuch An kept Mrs. Mu's ugly face in mind, and turned to look at Concubine Mu Gui, "It stands to reason that Your Highness is valuable, and only Junfu and Sheji are worthy of His Highness's blessings. But after all, Your Highness is His biological mother." , His Highness pityed that the empress had suffered from many problems in her heart since years ago, so she was willing to break the rules and give the empress such dignity, which can be called filial piety."

'Snapped'

A teacup flew down from the main seat, and broke into several pieces in front of Eunuch An, the tea leaves stained Eunuch An's clothes.

Eunuch An didn't even move his eyelids, and he opened his mouth to say auspicious words, "Hey, this is a good sign for good luck every year!"

Concubine Mu slapped her palm on the table, "Come here! Take this..."

"Your Majesty!" Mrs. Mu got up from her seat, held her daughter's cold hand, and said solemnly, "Why do you bother with a eunuch who can't speak? Although His Highness didn't arrive, he has good intentions. It's just His Highness I don't know that there are villains around me, so I can't do many things well. You are His Highness's mother, you should let His Highness understand these principles, instead of condescending and being a slave."

Concubine Mu Gui's complexion changed several times, and she finally calmed down. She looked at Eunuch An as if she was looking at a dead person, and said coldly, "What else is there? Get out of Liangyi Palace immediately after speaking. I don't want you to be so ungrateful." thing."

Being repeatedly humiliated by Concubine Mu's mother and daughter, Eunuch An was not angry, but the smile on his face was more real than when he first entered the door, "The old servant is ordered by His Highness to send this year's birthday gifts to Concubine Concubine. These gifts cost a lot of money. It took His Highness a lot of thought to prepare it, and his heart is no less than His Highness personally praying for the empress today."

Terrified by Concubine Mu Gui's sudden anger, Mu Jiu, who was shrinking behind Mrs. Mu, subconsciously felt that something was wrong, but she was immediately overwhelmed by the strong expectation in her heart.

The year before last and last year for her aunt's birthday, she was lucky enough to see her cousin's birthday presents for her aunt, such as suet jade bigger than a human head, round purple-gold pearls the size of a knuckle, and a green tree carved from a whole piece of emerald...all of them were Something nice that she had never seen at home.

As early as a few months ago, she was looking forward to what gift her cousin would prepare for her aunt this year.

In previous years, my aunt would specially choose one of them as a gift for her, and I think this year is no exception.

Eunuch An got up calmly, but the little eunuchs behind him didn't dare, and still knelt on the ground, holding the tray high above their heads.

Eunuch An first opened the wooden box on the tray held by the young eunuch closest to him, and took out a stack of papers full of handwriting from it. He was about to speak, but was interrupted by Concubine Mu.

Concubine Mu raised her chin arrogantly, "Present the gift list, I will see for myself."

"Your Majesty misunderstood, this is not a gift list, this is the scripture of filial piety that His Highness copied for you." Eunuch An explained with a smile.

After hearing this, all the female relatives in the room showed strange expressions, even the mature and prudent Mrs. Mu was no exception, but Concubine Mu was even more angry, and even half of her nails were broken.

Eunuch An felt strange, he thought he had to introduce at least three birthday gifts before these people would find out that something was wrong, why did he lose his composure from the first one?

Keeping the question in mind, Eunuch An began to introduce other gifts in order.

"This is when His Highness went to relax with Uncle Yunyang. He passed by a village with beautiful mountains and clear waters. He saw that the peach blossoms were in full bloom. He picked the dried flowers and sent them to the imperial concubine. I hope that the imperial concubine can sleep with the dried flowers on her pillow. Dreaming of the beautiful scenery His Highness has seen."

"When His Highness was passing by Yang County, he saw a trinket sold by an old woman on the side of the road. It was quite wild, and His Highness specially brought it back to show the empress something new."

……

"This is a blessing that His Highness asked 66 old people aged 66 to write personally. I wish the imperial concubine and empress a long life."

After introducing the origins and intentions of all the gifts, Eunuch An knelt on the ground again, and said in a loud voice, "The above ten items are all the gifts prepared by the East Palace for my mother's birthday, and they are all perfect. May my mother have today every year, every year There is today."

"Miss!"

"Mo'er!"

……

Eunuch An looked up and saw that the Mu family members were panicking around Concubine Mu Gui who was slumped on the ground. The maids and eunuchs were in a mess, no one noticed them at all.So he stood up calmly, lightly kicked the little eunuch who was still kneeling, and left without looking back.

The little eunuch who was kicked was stunned for a moment, put the tray he was holding on the ground, and hurriedly chased after Eunuch An.

The other young eunuchs followed suit one after another, but within a short time, all the people who came to the East Palace to celebrate the birthday disappeared, leaving only the trays all over the floor.

Because of the auspicious time of eight hours, Song Peiyu and Heping Zhang stayed in the East Palace that day and did not go home, and accompanied Chong Yi in the Small Buddha Hall...listening to books.

It was the first time for Eunuch An to be a storyteller, so it was inevitable that he was not proficient in his words. He was clearly the same person. In the last sentence, he was Madam, but in the next sentence he became Empress, and in the next sentence he became Shun Shi.

Song Peiyu and Heping Zhang understood Eunuch An's mood and did not interrupt.

Only Chong Yi couldn't understand Eunuch An's excitement. He closed his eyes and nestled on the recliner as if he was asleep, almost plugging his ears.

"Madam was so grateful for the eldest son's filial piety that she fainted from excitement!" Mr. An closed the fan he borrowed from the storyteller and finished his first storytelling.

"it is good!"

Ping Zhang applauded and applauded again, one person has the momentum of a group of people.

Song Peiyu looked at Chong Yi who was still unresponsive with a smile on the corner of his mouth. While applauding for Eunuch An, he deliberately turned his body to Chong Yi's direction, "In the past, His Highness would reward you for listening to books, what do you say today?"

Chong Yi opened his eyes, and sure enough, he didn't feel sleepy at all. He looked at Song Peiyu expressionlessly, "Other people's storytelling is just for fun."

Song Peiyu used a folding fan to cover the smile at the corner of her mouth, but her eyes were curved into arcs, "Eunuch An also wants to make you happy when he tells you stories."

Chong Yi seemed to be convinced, hooked the corners of his mouth in an unclear manner, reached out and took out a wooden box from under the soft bag, and waved to Eunuch An, "Come here."

Eunuch An only cared about talking peacefully, and really didn't notice what Song Peiyu and Chong Yi were talking about.But he put the box under Chong Yi Ruan Tang, and he could recognize that there were twelve golden nudes in the box in Chong Yi's hand, and he already had a premonition in his heart, so he asked knowingly, "What orders does Your Highness have?"

"The reward for you." After a pause, Chong Yi said again, "Don't tell stories from now on."

Poor Eunuch An's smile turned into a grievance before he even smiled.

Pingzhang left the palace early in the morning on the second day. He had already sold out all the slaves in his family in batches according to Chong Yi's instructions. Not that no one is available.

But this is not a long-term solution after all, Pingzhang still needs to spend more effort if he wants to completely settle down in Xianyang.

Song Peiyu paid special attention to Mu's reaction to what happened on Concubine Mu Gui's birthday, and also paid special attention to the movements in Qinzheng Palace, for fear that Concubine Mu would call Chongyi to Liangyi Palace alone to study while Emperor Yonghe was away. thing.

However, after a whole ten days, Mr. Mu did not respond to this matter.On the contrary, Song Peiyu deliberately released the news that Chong Yi had prepared a lot of thoughtful gifts on Concubine Mu Gui's birthday, and even his filial and kind nature had achieved good results.

The few people Song Peiyu greeted with Murong Jing that day handed over the invitations to Song's residence, instead of passing them directly to Song Peiyu, they sent them to Mrs. Song, inviting Mrs. Song to enjoy the flowers.

Mrs. Song naturally would not go to the banquet easily. After asking Song Peiyu, she gave the post to Ye Shi and asked Ye Shi to go to the banquet for her.

Because of this matter, Mrs. Song and Mrs. Ye both realized that Song Peiyu also needed to socialize in the house, and they would put Song Peiyu's marriage on the agenda.

It's a pity that they met many girls from other families in private, but they all felt that they were not interested, so they never mentioned it to Song Peiyu.

Spring plowing is just around the corner, and the first sacrifice of the new year is about to begin.

With the lessons learned from the Taimiao sacrifice at the end of last year, the entire court paid special attention to this sacrifice.

After the Qin Tianjian was almost wiped out, Emperor Yonghe didn't like the gods and gods talking about the auspicious stars, so he simply transferred officials from the six ministries to set up the Taichang Temple dedicated to sacrifices.This spring plowing sacrifice is mainly hosted by Taichang Temple, supplemented by the Ministry of Rites.

As a result, Mu He was promoted in a short period of time, from a fifth-rank doctor of the Ministry of Rites to a fourth-rank Shaoqing of Taichang Temple.Although the speed of promotion was unprecedented, he was transferred from the real power department to the pension department, and within three to five years he was nailed to Taichang Temple.

Song Peiyu will notice this, mainly because the spring plowing sacrifice is also closely related to Chongyi.Many of the processes need to be completed by Chong Yi himself.

Since there are people from the Mu family, he must pay more attention to this matter.

"Song Shaoyin, please get off the carriage."

An unfamiliar voice came from outside the carriage, and Song Peiyu, who was thinking about the concubines who would enter the palace before the spring plowing, was stunned. He lifted the curtain and was about to look out, but found that the curtain was being pulled tightly by someone outside, no matter how hard he tried Also motionless.

The person who spoke just now said again, "Song Shaoyin, please don't delay too long, if the palace gate is locked, you won't be able to go home today."

Song Peiyu tidied up the wrinkles on the sleeves that had appeared due to too much force, and there were only a few people who dared to intercept his carriage from the East Palace to the palace gate, and could still do so quietly, and he had already guessed who it was.

Knuckle fingers knocked on the door of the carriage, Song Peiyu said loudly, "Open the door"