[Red Mansions] The Road to Empress Dowager

Empress Yang was dragged down shamelessly by the eunuchs, and she screamed and cursed Xing Xiuyan.The eunuchs also knew that her situation was over, so they would not be polite, so they directly gagged her mouth.The eldest prince and the eldest princess wanted to get close to their mother, but they were blocked by the eunuchs, and then under the supervision of the eunuchs, they were sent to the Palace of Mercy.

The Empress Dowager Zhou saw that the emperor sent the two of them to her. Although it was a little troublesome, the Empress Dowager Zhou was always a smart person, knowing that the emperor trusted her more.Otherwise, there is Empress Dowager Liu, high-ranking concubines and Concubine Wu Hui who is temporarily in charge of inner palace affairs in the palace, so why bother her.The Empress Dowager Zhou is not yet 50 years old, she is in good health, and has a lot of blessings in the future. Because of her knowledge, she is much more respectable than the Empress Dowager Liu in the harem.

The Empress Dowager Zhou ordered the Eldest Princess to temporarily live next to Princess Hedejang, and asked Princess Hedejang and her nuns to take more care of the Eldest Princess.And Tu Hui originally lived with Tu Xian in the East No. [-] School, so it is convenient to go to school, and today he also temporarily lives in Ciren Palace.

The eldest princess Tu Xin wept unceasingly, and Tu Hui also accompanied her. Princess He De comforted Tu Xin, but Tu Xin called the queen mother and cursed the noble concubine.

Princess Hede couldn't help being a little scared when she heard this, and said: "Xin'er has to be careful with her words, don't make the emperor unhappy again."

Tu Hui also knew that Xing Xiuyan's affairs were not framed by Yang's family, and a person like her should disdain to do such a thing, but the empress mother has been blinded by jealousy and hatred, and she did this kind of thing at this time.If she hadn't pleaded for mercy, the father was furious, and he was afraid that he would really cut off the queen mother's tongue.

At this time, Tu Hui has mixed feelings, why he was born in the emperor's family, the son of the emperor's father and the mother's empress, falling in love with the person he shouldn't love the most, and tasting the most bitterness in the world all his life.

After listening to Princess Hede's persuasion, Tu Xin couldn't help scolding: "Don't think that I don't know, you will please that bitch and please your father. You are just the child of a low-level concubine, and you really think you are Is the eldest princess already?"

Princess Hede's face was pale and she was too angry to speak. Tu Xin is a princess, unlike Tu Hui who left her mother's side and lived in Dongwu Institute since she was a child. She has been with Queen Yang all year round.

The resentment in Empress Yang's heart was hard to vent, so she would tell her daughter, remember that it was Xing Xiuyan who harmed them.Even the nuns don't care about the private conversation between the queen and princess mother and daughter. At such a young age, Tu Xin naturally planted Yang's hatred and resentment deeply in his heart.

Even though Tu Hui is the younger brother, he couldn't help shouting at this moment: "Sister, what are you talking about? How can you be rude to Ninth Aunt!"

Tu Xin looked at Tu Hui resentfully, and said, "Brother Hui, the queen mother has been thrown into limbo, aren't you worried at all?"

Tu Hui said: "It's one thing to worry about your mother, but Aunt Jiu is kind enough to care about you. What are you talking about? My sister is a royal princess, so well-bred, wouldn't people look down on you? Now that my grandfather's family has been convicted, The empress mother was thrown into the cold palace, and the emperor father was in a rage. Think about it for yourself, what capital do you have to be self-willed? Aunt Jiu is a model princess with both talents and virtues praised by the emperor Jinkou. You should learn more from Aunt Jiu. "

Tu Xin said angrily: "Brother Hui, even you have come to teach me a lesson, where is your seniority? Learn from her? Do you want to learn from her to please that bitch?"

Tu Xin is a slut, so naturally she has heard what Queen Yang said all the year round.

Princess Hede said: "Eldest princess, no matter what you think, but Chenhuang's wife is both talented and beautiful, and has extraordinary vision. I naturally admire her. If you hate me because of this, I can't help it."

Tu Xin said angrily: "You really turned to that bitch! That bitch harmed my ancestral family, my mother, and confuse my father. Are you all applauding? I don't want you to treat me with hypocrisy!"

Princess Hede suffered hardships when she was a child, and understands the warmth and coldness of human relationships better. She saw that Yang was thrown into the cold palace, and Tu Xin became a motherless princess, just like when she was young, even the eunuchs looked down on her, so she really felt pity and care for her .

But at this time, she realized that it was redundant. She didn't care about it like Tu Xin, but she didn't want to stay here to be an eyesore, so she said: "The eldest princess, let's have a rest first. If necessary, send someone to talk to Madam Zhang. I won't bother you for now."

Princess Hede got up to leave, Tu Hui personally went out with her and apologized for her sister, so Princess Hede naturally didn't care too much.

……

Xing Xiuyan touched her lower abdomen with her hands, although she didn't show her pregnancy yet, it was a subconscious movement of a pregnant woman.Tu Yuanyi burned incense and played a song "High Mountain and Flowing Water" for prenatal education.

Xing Xiuyan saw his peerless appearance, elegant and pure, even if he didn't practice those kung fu in his previous life, he was still outstanding.But because he meant marrying a wife like Queen Yang, he was really dissatisfied all his life and started from a young age.

When he died at the age of 54 in his previous life, his head was full of hair. This big Zhou Jiangshan really drained his youth and hard work. He even didn't want to mention many things in his previous life to her. Xing Xiu once felt distressed for him. .

In fact, under his domineering face, there is a man who is still very innocent, even full of childlike innocence, otherwise he would not have liked her when he was an uncle A Piao, and he would not always let her in private now.

After he finished playing a piece, Xing Xiuyan smiled and said, "Baby is praising you for playing well!"

Tu Yuanyi's phoenix eyes were shining, and his handsome face was smug: "That's natural. His father is good at playing piano, chess, calligraphy and painting. When he grows up, he must be as good as his father."

Xing Xiuyan didn't care about his boasting, and said with a smile, "I've also seen a lot of top students give birth to scumbags."

Tu Yuanyi said: "If it's a son, I'll raise it myself since I was a child, and if my daughter followed you since I was a child, it will definitely not be bad."

Xing Xiuyan smiled, and suddenly asked: "Have you decided on a name for him/her?"

Tu Yuanyi said: "Let's call my son 'Tu Xu', the word 'Weiguo', and the nickname 'Buluo', how about it?"

Xing Xiuyan was dumbfounded: "Tuwei Kingdom?! The sun never sets?!"

Tu Yuanyi smiled and said, "That's right. My son, you have to be domineering! If you're a daughter, call him Tu Xing!"

Xing Xiuyan said: "You are a seven o'clock male upper body, I hope that my son will also be full of'bad air' to rule the world, but I just want him to be safe."

Tu Yuanyi got up, walked to her and sat down beside her, and said, "Although parents expect their children to be safe and sound, but you and I are young and have ambitions, won't the children have no ambitions when they grow up? He should also enjoy the fun of life, The hardships of struggle and the joy of success, meeting the one you love on the stormy road of life. This kind of life is better than doing nothing, isn't it?"

Xing Xiuyan caressed her stomach, and suddenly said: "I heard that children's names are too big to support them. If they are too expensive, gods and bodhisattvas will snatch them away as soon as they like them. That's why children in the countryside are given more humble names. Have you ever thought about taking another humble name?"

Tu Yuanyi said: "How can my child be called a cheap name?" Tu Yuanyi resisted from the bottom of his heart.

But Xing Xiuyan insisted that this is also her loving mother's heart.In the past, she subjectively thought that the child was a magic star, and she resisted early pregnancy and childbearing, but she accepted the fact that she was pregnant. Motherhood is an instinct, and everything comes first.

Where did Tu Yuanyi come up with a cheap name?

Xing Xiuyan said, "How do you think your son's cheap name is 'Ergouzi'?"

"What?! My son is going to be called 'Ergouzi'?"

"So it's called 'Iron Egg' or 'Iron Column'?"

"Absolutely not!"

"Don't be so particular about it. A humble name is easy to support. When I was a child in the country, the lower the name, the better. I've heard that many people's names are too big and the children can't hold them down, and there will be three disasters and five disasters."

"My son is originally a heaven/emperor, what can't be suppressed?"

Xing Xiuyan snorted: "Your imperial family's child mortality rate is no less than that of the common people, so I don't know?"

Tu Yuanyi couldn't help but recall that in his previous life, Tu Hui, the eldest son, and several other sons really died young.

Over there, Xing Xiuyan thought that if she was a daughter, she would be named "Yuanyuan", and everyone said "Tufeiyuan". It happened to be a surname of "Tu". Isn't "Tuyuan" the same as "Tuyuan"?

After all, Tu Yuanyi is also a loving father, reluctantly accepting his son's humble name as "Tie Zhu", which is better than "Er Gouzi".It doesn't matter if the dwarf is picked out of the tall.

……

However, the emperor said that he attached great importance to the case of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. On the [-]th of the twelfth lunar month, when every family was preparing for the New Year and the three departments of the government were also on holiday, it was the time when Yang's family and Zhou Tianfu were tried.

The emperor also attended the trial of the third department in person, Prince De, King of Beijing, Marquis of Dingzhong and other dignitaries, as well as five ministers (the minister of the Ministry of punishment personally acted as the presiding judge) to hear the trial.In addition, Zhang Boyan and Wang Jin, who have been awarded the title of the third division, and three old Hanlin and representatives of Xinke Jinshi from the Imperial Academy sat behind to hear the trial, and the common people were allowed to hear the trial at the door of the court.

The hall of the Ministry of Punishment where the three divisions of Da Zhou interrogated is not insignificant, but it is full of people.What the common people don't know is that Concubine Chen is hearing the trial on the concubine's couch at the back of the hall.

Tu Yuanyi is arousing the sense of urgency in every class of the family and the country. The Han family of the Great Zhou Dynasty must guard against the passing of time. The enemy's spy forces are hidden under the peaceful surface, and they are pervasive.

Long live Shanhu, after paying homage to the emperor, Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, Minister of Dali Temple, and Ducha Yushi were seated, and Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Punishment shouted: "Lead people to commit crimes!"

The yamen officials heard the news, and after a while, Zhou Tianfu, Mrs. Dong, Mrs. Mu Engong, Yang Yi, his wife, concubine and children were brought in.

The prisoners all knelt under the hall, and the minister of the Ministry of Criminal Justice tapped the gavel and said, "Zhou Tianfu, before the hall was opened, you have confessed to corruption and perverted the law, and framed Zhongliang, but you will never testify against Yang Huaigu. Now Yang Huaigu committed suicide in fear of crime. It has been admitted that the killing of Zhang Dehai's family and the death of the hero Shen Tuhong are related to him. What else do you have to say?"

Zhou Tianfu tremblingly said: "I am... Lord Yang has kindness to me, so I listen to him."

The Secretary of the Ministry of Justice said: "That is to say, the matter of your corruption was instigated by Yang Huaigu, isn't it?"

Zhou Tianfu hesitated for a moment and said, "Yes."

The Minister of Criminal Affairs said: "Yang Huaigu colluded with Fusheng Bank and worked for Houjin, do you know that?"

Zhou Tianfu shook his head: "I don't know! I really don't know about this! I only know about depositing silver in the Fusheng Bank. I thought that the Fusheng Bank belonged to Mu...Yang Huaigu. I don't know what kind of money is behind this .”

The Secretary of the Ministry of Justice said: "Then the Dongying samurai killer killed the Zhang family and you didn't give any pointers?"

Zhou Tianfu shook his head: "I don't know, it's just that on the day Zhang Dehai died, someone sent me a letter, and then I started to make arrangements. Fortunately, Zhang Xiao and Wang Qing can give an explanation when they come to inspect. And they are all greedy for money. People, I gave them 1 taels of silver each, and they tried to save trouble, and we cooperated very well when we got things done.”

Zhang Xiao and Wang Qing haven't got it back yet, they are far away in Guangdong and Guangxi, and they don't know what will happen during this journey.But Yang Huaigu confessed this big conspiracy before committing suicide in fear of crime, and they are just little guys.

Dali Siqing was puzzled and asked, "Why did you refuse to reveal that Yang Huaigu was the one behind you until your death?"

Zhou Tianfu said: "Yang Huaigu...has kindness to me."

Dali Siqing didn't believe it, and said, "What kind of kindness can make you protect him like this?"

Zhou Tianfu said: "I...for saving my life."

The Minister of Dali Temple asked again: "What kind of life-saving kindness must keep you from returning to your hometown for decades? Your hometown is in Weinan County, so close to Kyoto. Why do you never go back to your hometown to worship your ancestors? What else has you not explained? clear?"

There is no conflict between the grace of saving lives and returning home to worship the ancestors. The minister of Dali Temple was also reminded by the emperor that there was doubt about it, and they seemed to be enlightened.

Zhou Tianfu shook his head in a panic: "No...no..."

Inspector Yushi said: "Are you lying? You are also Hou Jin's spy!"

Zhou Tianfu tried to defend himself: "No, I'm not a spy, I'm just greedy...I don't know anything..."

Zhou Tianfu looked at the officials of the Third Division and the observers in a panic. He didn't dare to look directly at Sheng Yan.While listening to the contempt of the representatives and the spurning of the common people, Xiao Kai suddenly stood up, pointed at Zhou Tianfu, his mouth was faster than his brain: "Yang Yi is your son!"

Xiao Kai met Zhou Tianfu many times, and he was also present at the last tribunal. He always felt that it was strange for Yang Huaigu, Yang Yi, and Zhou Tianfu to be in the same court, but he couldn't say what it was.

It turned out that Yang Yi imitated Yang Huaigu in temperament and even small movements, giving people the feeling of being a gentleman, gentle and honest, like a spring breeze, but his eyebrows and eyes are like Zhou Tianfu, although his face shape, mouth, and skin color are not the same.Xiao Kai had looked at Zhou Tianfu's eyes several times, and he always felt uncomfortable, but he couldn't tell.

At this moment Xiao Kai saw Zhou Tianfu and Yang Yi kneeling one behind the other, their ages were different but their eyebrows and eyes were the same outline.And without Yang Huaigu's interference, Xiao Kai didn't feel that Yang Yi was like Yang Huaigu. Naturally, the more he looked at them, the more he resembled them. This thought came to him, and he didn't have time to think about how absurd it was.

Others would definitely not yell so suddenly in the classroom, but Xiao Kai has grown up to this age, his experience is directly proportional to his nonsense, he dares to yell at anything, he is not afraid of making mistakes, he moves his mouth freely, and yells directly.

Yang Yi suddenly exclaimed: "No!"

Zhou Tianfu was stunned, it was an instinctive reaction, it fell into the eyes of everyone present, when he denied it again, it was too late.

Xingbu Shangshu said: "Zhou Tianfu, if the Yang family colluded with foreign enemies and conspired against criminals, if they were convicted, it would be a serious crime to punish the nine clans. I ask you, whose son is Yang Yi?"

At this time, Mrs. Mu Engong shouted: "My lord, Yi'er is indeed... Zhou Tianfu's son! Please forgive me and let my grandchildren go. They are still young and have nothing to do with the master's business!"

Dong Shi told the secrets of these decades, tears streaming down his face, Zhou Tianfu also howled and cried, looking at Dong Shi, while Yang Yi collapsed on the ground with a pale face.

It was beyond everyone's expectation that something like this broke out in the hall, whether it was the nobles and representatives of officials and scholars who were watching, even the common people whispered to each other with the majesty of the emperor.And the honorable officials next to him couldn't help casting "admiring" glances at Xiao Kai, and Xiao Kai couldn't help being a little proud of his "spicy eyes".

However, Xiao Kai and Mrs. Nie (or vice versa) have wandered around the rivers and lakes for 20 years, and they really haven't seen anything.There are also grievances among the people in the rivers and lakes. The two often act chivalrously and make decisions for the people. They also encountered the absurd thing of "borrowing seeds" 12 years ago.

Shangshu of the Ministry of Justice patted the gavel and shouted: "Quiet!"

All the yamen servants shouted "mighty", and everyone in the hall finally calmed down. The Minister of the Ministry of Punishment then asked: "What's going on, let me tell you the truth!"

Yang Yi shouted: "Mother!"

He didn't want his father to bear such a reputation of being ridiculed by people all over the world. Although he knew his life experience as early as 16 years old, he always admired his father and had no relationship with Zhou Tianfu.

Mrs. Dong looked at her grandson and granddaughters, and cast a pair of tearful eyes at her son, Yang Yi's lips trembled slightly and finally turned his head away.

Mrs. Dong also seemed to be ten years older in an instant, and she was no longer the dignified and beautiful Mrs. Mu Engong.

Dong said: "I was originally the concubine daughter of Dong Xiao, a squire in Weinan County. My aunt treated my aunt harshly until she died. Later, I also contracted a serious disease. My aunt kicked me out. My father was afraid of internal affairs and ignored them. Back then , when I was about to starve to death, it was Tianfu who saved me. The two of us fell in love for a long time, but Tianfu’s father had just passed away a year ago and was still in mourning. Li. After Tianfu’s father died, he was alone and unable to support himself. The members of the Zhou family forced him to hand over the [-] acres of fertile land passed down by his grandfather. He refused to die, but was severely injured by his brothers in the clan. He, he had a high fever, so I had no choice but to go to the county to ask for a doctor, but I was weak...and...pregnant, and passed out on the road, it was the master who rescued me when he passed Weinan."

Many people showed disdain for Dong Shi and Zhou Tianfu, Zhou Tianfu had an affair with a woman during his filial piety, while Dong Shi had an affair with a man without a matchmaker.

Mrs. Dong didn't care about other people's eyes, and continued: "After I woke up, I asked the master to save Tianfu. The master took pity on our lives, and there was really no place for us in the village. Not only did he save our lives, but he also took care of us. But the master was more miserable than us. He lost his father when he was 12 years old. Later, relying on diligence, he stood out among the officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at a young age and was highly valued by the superiors at that time. That year, the superior Feng loves talents and intends to marry his beloved daughter, but the master can't marry her, because the master has good intentions and doesn't want to drag her down. But if he is unmarried and refuses to marry, Shang Feng will say that he despises the daughter and sweeps away the young lady. It’s not good to offend Shangfeng for nothing. Later, the master asked me to pretend to be husband and wife with him, saying that we had secretly engaged in life two years ago, and I was pregnant, so Shangfeng decided to give up when he saw us doing this.”

Everyone couldn't help being curious and excited, thinking to themselves: Does a person like Mu Engong actually suffer from hidden diseases?

Tu Yuanyi's face was already very ugly, and finally he couldn't help asking: "Is the Yang family also born of you?"

The "you" he said refers to Dong Shi and Zhou Tianfu.Everyone couldn't help but jump in their hearts, they discovered something terrible.Those present could not help but hold deep sympathy for the emperor.Everyone discovered that this time the emperor wanted to awaken the sense of urgency of the family and the country at all levels, and to always be on guard against spies who were infiltrated by hostility. That's why so many people came to hear the trial, but such a shocking secret was revealed in the end.

With a sad look on her face, Dong said: "Although the minister's wife has committed crimes, and one daughter marries two husbands, the minister's wife is willing to serve the master. Is there no real love between men and women except pillow and mat love?" Are you in love? Although I am not chaste, since I married the master, the master has treated me sincerely. I am just a concubine from a country gentleman's family who is bullied by everyone, but the master respects me, he is my God in my heart. I really love him, no matter what others think, I don't do it for other reasons, as long as I can be by his side. I am already the wife of the master, so why would I be with Tianfu again... I am sorry for Tianfu, But the master also arranged for him to become an official. She was adopted by me, the master is too thin with only one son, I also want to raise a daughter..."

There was an uproar in the audience, at this moment, Tu Yuanyi's face could only be described as a pig liver color.

Although Dong Shi has mother-daughter love for Yang Shi, it is definitely not worth her love for Yang Huaigu.She will always remember the elegant and gentle man she saw when she opened her eyes when she was rescued.Regardless of whether he can give her physical comfort like other men, he has become the cinnabar in her heart.She was an unfaithful and unfaithful woman from a humble background, but he had never disliked her for decades.

Tu Yuanyi didn't open his mouth to ask, and the officials of the third division didn't dare to ask about Yang's affairs.

Tears welled up in Dong's eyes, and he said sadly: "Why did God mistreat such a good person as the master? He had a very good life, but when he was 15 years old, he protected a group of North Koreans in Ping'an Prefecture. I accidentally injured my body, and I can no longer...have children. I know the pain and resentment of the master back then, that's why he stumbled and listened to the seduction of Mr. Cao's family in Fusheng Bank when he was young. But he and I are married After we got married, we raised Yi'er together and found peace. He has already regretted it, but they just won't let him go. The master is not afraid of death. I know that he will deal with them dozens of times for Yi'er and me. Years. The master has been in trouble. Although he has done a lot of things for Fusheng Bank, he has also silently helped the emperor. The emperor had many difficulties in his youth, and he was also confused in life. The master saw the emperor's suffering, just like how he felt back then The same. People in Fusheng Bank were afraid that the master would be shaken, so they sent Dongying warriors to monitor. Shen Tuhong came to find the master, and naturally they were known by their people, and Zhang Dehai's matter could not be hidden from them. They killed people to silence , Master has no other choice."

With tears in her eyes, Dong looked at Zhou Tianfu and said, "These years...you have suffered too."

Zhou Tianfu also burst into tears, shook his head, and said, "I'm not suffering, I'm sorry, I'm the one who caused you trouble. I should have died a long time ago, it's my fault..."

Although Yang Huaigu took away his favorite woman, Zhou Tianfu didn't hate him at all.Not only did Yang Huaigu save their lives, but he also raised his son carefully and gave him the best life for his favorite woman and son.He used to be mean to everyone in the countryside, but Yang Huaigu promoted him to become an official. Although it is rare to see the people he cares about for decades, it is enough to know that they are good.

Dong said: "I also remember how you were kind to me, but I gave birth to Yi'er for you. You saved my life, and I saved your life. But the master saved my life. Well, I never paid him back in my life..."

Everyone present couldn't help feeling sad, seeing that although Dong was 50 years old, she was well maintained and still had a graceful appearance. Looking at her features, she must have been a beauty when she was young.I'm afraid that Yang Huaigu was no longer humane back then, but he was truly admired by such a woman, and he got great spiritual satisfaction. He couldn't have a son, but she also gave birth to a son, forming a happy family.

Dong's face suddenly twitched, a trace of black blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, his eyes were hazy with tears, but there was a smile on the corner of his mouth, as if he remembered the sweetest time.

"Master, I'm here..."

"Mother!" Yang Yi cried out in pain, and rushed to Dong's side, catching her fallen body.

Zhou Tianfu also rushed over, and cried out in grief, "Xiao Juan'er..."

Dong's eyes gradually lost their luster, and her breath was gone. Yang Yi hugged her and wept bitterly, while Yang Yi's wife, concubine, son, and daughter all walked over on their knees, weeping and kowtowing.

All the people present and listening felt sad.