[Red Mansions] The Road to Empress Dowager

Both Yang Huaigu and Mrs. Dong are dead. In fact, Zhou Tianfu knows a lot except the corrupt officials in the Shang Siyuan, but he doesn't know much about other things.Up to now, the secret he tried to hide in his heart was exposed in public, and his beloved died. In order to save the lives of his grandchildren, he also confessed to testify against relevant corrupt officials. The case fell down a large piece.

And Yang Yi knew more things, not just the internal affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.He knew his life experience since he was 16 years old, but he has always been Yang Huaigu's caring and good son.For more than ten years, Yang Yi not only served as an official in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but also got in touch with Houjin's contacts in Dazhou, because they needed the power of the Yang family for many things.At this time, Yang Yi also confessed the facts for the sake of his wife and children, and confessed to the Houjin intelligence system in Kyoto, and also the major firms of the Shanxi Merchants Group for Houjin to collect money and solve the problem of material collapse.

The explanation of this matter is simple. If it is more efficient, it will only take a day or two, but it is not so easy to complete the arrest and search of the house.Since the smuggling group of Shanxi merchant spies was huge and the amount was huge, Tu Yuanyi later asked Lin Ruhai, a shrewd old fox, and the fearless Xiao Kai to join the house raiding team, and the household staff were not enough.

Tu Yuanyi disliked the cumbersome and inefficient bookkeeping method of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and as an expedient measure, let Lin Daiyu, a top student, do the general ledger behind the scenes.

Because the chief culprit, Yang Huaigu, had committed suicide in fear of crime, they all actively cooperated in eliminating the Houjin spy group, so they were given a lighter sentence. Zhou Tianfu was sentenced to exile, Yang Yi was sentenced to be executed after next autumn, and the Yang family was sentenced to be demoted to official slaves. , will be sold after the elimination of the Houjin spy group.Whether it is a dignified official or a commoner, they all feel that the sentence is light, but it is a matter of national importance and the pros and cons must be weighed.

In any case, this year will be different from the usual ones. The crime of treason and serving foreigners, whether it is a scholar-bureaucrat with a little conscience, nobles, or ordinary people, is extremely hated in their hearts.Not to mention the shame of Jingkang hundreds of years ago, the story of Yue Wumu is well-known in the world, and this later Jin is the former Jin Dynasty.

In addition, Mongolian iron cavalry rode horses in the Central Plains, and the Chinese elites were almost exhausted, so there was the saying "There will be no China after Yashan".In the past hundred years, at the end of Ming Dynasty, Jin also burned, killed and looted in the land of Youyan several times, doing all kinds of evil.Even the northern people who can't read the big characters all know that the entry of the late gold will ruin the lives of the people.There are many hypocrites among scholars, but they have read the truth about "the righteousness of the Spring and Autumn Period" and "the difference between Huayi and Barbarians".

On the 22nd of the twelfth lunar month, the emperor held another grand court meeting. At this time, Yang's case had been judged, but the backlog of house raids was still in progress.

The emperor summed up the case and pointed out the importance of the case report. This case is enough to make people vigilant. The people listened to the hadith and knelt down to praise the emperor's wisdom.

The emperor also asked the Ministry of Criminal Justice to draw up a feasible regulation for the future investigation of treason spies, which will be tried out after the beginning of the next year.Moreover, Tu Yuanyi will allocate a special bank to prepare for this matter. After thinking about it, he mobilized some manpower from the Imperial Academy to lend to the Ministry of Punishment to draft the regulations. The "child prodigy" Jia Huan is on the list.

Emperor Jinkou was about to finish the matter, and Qian Yuan, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, came out and said: "Show the emperor: Yang Huaigu committed the crime of treason and deception, and... Empress Yang is not Yang Huaigu's biological daughter. I don't know what kind of blood it is. The emperor's wife. I should not talk about the harem like a foreign minister. The empress is the mother of the country. The mother is the mother of the country and the safety of the country. I dare to ask the emperor to choose another virtuous woman and make her a queen so that the world will be safe!"

Qian Yuan took the lead, and all the officials came out and knelt down respectfully and shouted: "Your Majesty, please set up another worthy queen, so that the country can be safe!"

The emperor laughed heartily, and all the courtiers in the hall were kneeling on the ground at this moment, bowing their heads and not seeing the expression on the emperor's face behind the twelve-prong bead curtain.

The emperor sighed: "I understand the painstaking efforts of all the gentlemen for the country, so let's live in peace."

Then, all the officials got up in an orderly manner, and the crowns were not messed up. Officials of the Han Dynasty in ancient China paid more attention to manners than modern ones.Modern people think that the Chinese and the little Japanese are very polite, and they all picked up some fur from the Han Dynasty in ancient China.

At this time, the emperor thought that it would be his sycophant king who stayed in the court specially, and several officials from the censor or general administration department who could sing double reeds with him should appear on the list. Unexpectedly, Sun Yuanwang, Minister of the Ministry of War, would appear first.

Sun Yuanwang said: "Your Majesty, Imperial Concubine Chen has an extraordinary appearance. First she has the courage to kill two demons, and then she has the wisdom to help the Ministry of Criminal Justice quickly detect the Houjin spy group. It can be seen that her blessings are profound. This kind of blessed woman who is both good-looking, wise and brave, Can take on the heavy responsibility of the mother of the country.”

Wang Ziteng hurriedly came out, although he didn't have military power, but the emperor kept it all the time, so he naturally went to court.

Wang Ziteng said: "I agree with Sun Shangshu's words, the holy emperor is wise and powerful, and he should be matched with a virtuous Fuze woman with good looks."

Then all the officials competed one after another to give a reason for establishing Xing Xiuyan as the new empress. These officials of Jinshi background who had read the books of sages and sages used gorgeous words and often quoted scriptures without repeating the same.Compared with them, modern novelists can only offer their knees.

If Xing Xiuyan had been present, even though Ren had a thicker skin when he was in power, he would still blush at this time, but these officials did not blush or breathe when they spoke.After hearing those words, Xing Xiuyan would definitely not think that they were talking about herself.

But I don't know, now that the Yang family has fallen, the crime of collaborating with the enemy and treason is so serious, and many officials in Kyoto have been implicated and named, and the emperor ordered to investigate and deal with them.

Is there anything worth doing at this moment than drawing a line with the Yang family?This "momentum" has prompted everyone in the outer dynasty to stand in line, and who will defy the Sacred Heart at this time?

As for the Sacred Heart, if the officials all over the capital don't know about it, it must be as rare as a modern panda.Being able to follow this "trend" and win the emperor's heart is a blessing.This kind of aura is not something that can be obtained by fighting with women in the harem of the inner house. Concubine Yang Guifei was favored in the past, but when the soldiers of the outer court wanted her to die, she had to die because she did not grasp this aura. It was just a love. It's just a harem girl who loves rhythmic dance.This is also because Tu Yuanyi was sincerely in love, and Tang Xuanzong didn't know if he had really loved, if there was no reason why three thousand doted on him, if there was Ma Weipo, she died tragically.

However, the emperor said that the dragon's heart was overjoyed, and he immediately decreed to formally abolish the Yang family and demote the Yang family to live in the Jingsi Palace as a commoner.Zhao Gui was also asked to read out the imperial decree, paralleling five and paralleling six, which is both gorgeous and pragmatic. In short, Li Chen noble concubine is the queen.

This edict was written by him himself, and all the officials knelt down to listen to it. When they heard the "Xiao Zhen Jing Yu Rui De Fu Xian Queen", they suspected that their ears had heard it wrong.Isn't the queen's title now all two characters?For example, Empress Shuning of Empress Dowager Liu, the title given by Empress Yang when she became empress was "Xiao'an".If the queen returns west with a crane, she will be granted a series of posthumous titles.

All the officials thought to themselves: The emperor has already written all the imperial edicts for the Empress Dowager. Fortunately, today's flattery did not fall behind, and he did not have the nerve to raise objections alone in the first place.

Xing Zhong also came to the court today, but he is an official of the Ministry of Internal Affairs with a false title, standing behind the ministers.

His heart beat wildly when all the court officials were abolished and re-established.Then it turned out that starting from Sun Yuanwang, Minister of the Ministry of War, every official sincerely invited Concubine Lichen to be the empress.In the end, the officials of the Manchu court seemed to be unable to live if the emperor did not set up a noble concubine as the queen.

He himself was one of the few who did not kneel down.

Then, the emperor even wrote the imperial decree, and he really made his daughter the queen.

When listening to the reading of the imperial decree, Xing Zhong's ears kept buzzing, until he retreated from the court, and all the officials congratulated him, and then he returned to his senses and greeted him with a smile.

When he returned to Xing's mansion with uncontrollable joy, he went to Xing Li's house, and saw Xing Li holding his brother and adopted daughter Su Fu'er on the kang, and there were some maids and nurses waiting in the room.

Seeing Xing Zhong coming in, the mother and daughter of Xing Li and Su Fu'er blushed and said rudely, "Your Majesty... Empress... Your Majesty..." Because he was overjoyed, he was speechless to his wife and children for a while. .

Mrs. Xing Li signaled the servant girl to take off the cloak for Xing Zhong, and said, "Master, don't worry? What happened?"

Before Xing Zhong could speak, someone came to report, and Zhao Gui, the head of the inner palace, came to announce the decree.

Everyone was shocked, and Xing Zhong hurriedly shouted happily: "Quickly open the middle door! Please invite Mr. Zhao into the main hall!"

Mrs. Xing Li hurriedly ordered Grandma Yun to set up the incense table, while she put on the first-grade royal makeup of "Mrs. Anguo" under the service of the maid.Because Tan Qian didn't come back, Su Fu'er, who was temporarily raising the baby at her mother's house, asked her maid to go to her courtyard to pick up the magistrate's make-up, and went to the ear room of the main courtyard to change.

After nearly half an hour, the masters and servants of the mansion, as well as the master Chen Yan and his wife who are still in Xingzhong's mansion, all came to the main hall.

At this time, Zhao Gui came to issue the decree in person while he was busy investigating the spies of the enemy country, which shows the emperor's honor and favor for Empress Xing.

Zhao Gui went to the center of the upper hall, stood facing south, and recited: "Vice Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (false title) Guangchu Division Weaving Xing Zhong, Mrs. Anguo Li received the order!"

The master and servant of the Bailaihao knelt on the ground in full clothes. Zhao Gui unfolded the imperial decree and recited: "Fengtian Chengyun Emperor, the imperial decree said: Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Guangchu Division weaves the daughter of Xing Zhong, wise and loyal, dignified and prudent. Elegant, virtuous, generous, benevolent and precious, canonized as queen. Xing Zhongke is dedicated, honest and loyal, his wife Li is virtuous and virtuous, and he teaches his daughter well. Mrs. Engong, please do so!"

This is the imperial decree of Enfeng Cheng'engong, not the imperial decree of the canonization of the queen, which was proclaimed at the court. Cheng'enggong was granted because of the establishment of the empress, so naturally, the matter of the establishment of the empress should also be briefly written in it.

In this dynasty, Cheng Engong is generally a second-class or third-class public, and a first-class public usually has military merits that reach heaven.Back then, Emperor Gaozong intended to entitle Xiao Lang as "First Class Protector of the Country" after he retired, but Xiao Lang resigned modestly, saying that the title of "Marquis of Dingzhong" handed down by his ancestors was already a great grace of the emperor.How can Xing Zhong compare with Xiao Lang, the second class Cheng Engong is already extremely honored.The nine ranks of Duke, Marquis, and Bo are all super grades. Although the title of Duke Cheng En cannot be hereditary, Xing Zhong himself is doomed to be honored and favored for decades in the second half of his life, unless he commits a crime himself or Empress Xing falls. .

"Chen/Chenfu thank the Lord for your grace! Long live my emperor, long live, long live, long live!"

Xing Zhong raised his hands high to receive the order, but his hands were already shaking.

He has become the Duke of the state, oh my God, how poor he was a few years ago, he didn't even have his own house or land, after his father-in-law passed away, he was kicked out by his wife and uncle's family, and the family rented a house next to Panxiang Temple.Now, he is actually a prince.

At the beginning, he thought that Jiangning county magistrates were great officials, but what is the difference between the state duke and the county magistrate?

His daughter, who took care of the family when she was young, will earn him a prince when she grows up!

The Li family of Xing was also ecstatic, and Su Fu'er was naturally also happy. Now she and the Xing family are both prosperous and prosperous, and both are at risk.Her natal family became the Duke of the state, and she also rose with the tide.

"Cheng Engong, congratulations!" Zhao Gui smiled and cupped his hands.

Xing Zhong said humbly: "Please trouble Eunuch Zhao to run over! Let's go to the inner hall and have a cup of tea!"

Zhao Gui said with a smile: "Grandpa, you are being polite! Miscellaneous family is going back to the palace to renew the order! This coming spring will be the post-sealing ceremony, and the Duke's family will also change their residence!"

"TOEFL, TOEFL!"

As he spoke, he casually took out his purse, and said softly: "I know that my father-in-law is a busy person, so I dare not force him to stay. My father-in-law invites all the little father-in-laws to drink a cup of tea on my behalf, and I should also enjoy the joy of the saint and the empress."

At this time Zhao Gui accepted it with a smile, and then led all the little Huangmen to leave.

At this time, Chen Yan, his wife and Su Fu'er congratulated Xing Zhong and Xing Li, and Xing Zhong rewarded everyone in the whole house with a tael of silver, and the whole house was filled with joy.

Earlier, the housekeeper cleverly prepared firecrackers, and asked Xing Zhong to go to the door to light the fire. Xing Zhong invited Chen Yan to accompany him.Not long after, the gate of the Xing Mansion was crackling, and the firecrackers were ringing endlessly.

……

Xing Xiuyan also received the canonization decree in the morning, and was kowtowed by many eunuchs and maids of the Taiji Palace. It was the end of the year, so she naturally let the maidservants and confidant eunuchs of the dyeing house preside over the award.

When Tu Yuanyi came over, it was the time when many eunuchs and maids outside Ganlu Hall were giving thanks.But when he saw him coming into the room wearing a black cloak, he laughed loudly.

Xing Xiuyan's pretty face also flushed red and stood up from the chair to salute, but Tu Yuanyi hurriedly supported her and said, "We are lawless on weekdays, but today is too polite."

Xing Xiuyan took off the cloak for him and handed it to Qingxuan, Tu Yuanyi grabbed her hand and said with a smile: "Xiuxiu is overjoyed, and I also congratulate the empress for a thousand years!"

Xing Xiuyan said angrily, "Your Majesty, feel free to make fun of me."

Tu Yuanyi laughed and said: "This is asking for a reward, how could it be a joke!"

Xing Xiuyan said: "The emperor is rich all over the world, who in the world can appreciate the emperor?"

Tu Yuanyi sighed: "It is said that the world is rich, but how much can I spend alone? And there is no one in the world to reward, and the queen doesn't reward the husband?"

Xing Xiuyan smiled and pointed to her stomach and said, "Tie Zhu or Yuanyuan rewarded you, and you can be a nanny after the baby falls to the ground."

Tu Yuanyizhen bent down, leaned against her belly and listened, and said, "Tie Zhu, I am your father."

Although Xing Xiuyan wanted to get a humble name to support him, but the thought of having a son who looked like Tu Yuanyi and was called "Tie Zhu" again, the style of painting really made people laugh.

Xing Xiuyan couldn't help giggling, Tu Yuanyi glanced at her, and then said to her stomach: "Tie Zhu, your mother is stupid."

The two sat down to talk again, and Xing Xiuyan asked: "This time, we will search the treasonous spy group of Shanxi merchants and the corrupt personnel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. How much will the treasury revenue be?"

Tu Yuanyi snorted and said, "The gang of national thieves who are ruining the country and the people are richer than the Ministry of Household Affairs. Do you know how much silver and valuables are hidden in the head office of the Fusheng Bank in Kyoto?"

Xing Xiuyan thought about the wealth of Daiyu's local tycoon, and said, "There are always two or three million taels."

Tu Yuanyi cut his teeth and said, "Two or three million taels? It's more than six million taels. This doesn't count the family property of corrupt officials related to Kyoto. It also doesn't count the money in other local semicolons and the muddy waters of Ping'an Prefecture."

Xing Xiuyan frowned, and said: "Saint, in fact, some merchants from Dazhou did not know what was going on when they deposited money into the Fusheng Bank. The money is their legal and normal labor income, and they should have the opportunity to exchange it back. "

Tu Yuanyi said: "However, it is troublesome to do this matter, and a lot of things have been added. Besides, after the public trial, everyone is aware of the background of Fusheng Bank. Everyone is in danger and wants to leave Fusheng Bank. Clear the relationship, I'm afraid there are not many people coming to exchange."

Xing Xiuyan said: "It's troublesome to do it, but you can also deduct twice the handling fee required for the original bank note amount at your discretion. Then the court is not working for nothing, and the loss will not be big. Although everyone wants to get rid of the relationship, But people die for wealth, birds die for food, those who earn their hard-earned money and store it in Fusheng Bank are very wronged, how can they be willing? After waiting and watching, someone will come to exchange it."

Tu Yuanyi murmured: "The national treasury will receive a lot less because of this. I want to do a lot of things, and I need money." He wants to train sailors. The army is the most expensive thing, and sailors are probably more expensive than cavalry. money.Like the modern navy, it is a gold swallowing beast.

Xing Xiuyan said: "In "The Analects of Confucius-Yan Yuan", Duke Ai asked You Ruo, "The year is hungry, and the use is not enough. What is it like?" You Ruo replied, "Is it perfect?" How thorough is it?” Confrontation said: “The people are sufficient, which one is the ruler and is not sufficient? Will there be no money? A wise monarch and imperial court supported by the people of the world must respect and protect the legitimate and reasonable property rights of the common people. It is said that the country is based on the people. How can the people rebel against a monarch and imperial court that respect civil rights? A court that respects civil rights is threatened by foreigners. Can foreigners be more popular than Da Zhou? A man cannot be established without trust, and a country cannot be powerful without trust. The sage can show the prestige of the court of the Great Zhou with only a small amount of confiscated wealth. Let the people of the world realize that we are a reasonable court, not a slave state, this is the foundation of the country."

Tu Yuanyi suddenly realized, and sighed: "There is still something that I am not as good as Xiuxiu."

Xing Xiuyan said: "A concubine is just a small piece of bamboo strips, which is too far away from a sage. The concubine knows that the sage is worried about state affairs 'impatient and distracting', but as the saying goes, 'haste makes waste'. Just like a concubine who wants to be a queen, If when entering the palace for the first time, the concubines and the sage cried, quarreled and hanged themselves, saying that the sage was incompetent or didn’t love the concubines if he didn’t make the concubines the queen, could the sage abolish the Yang family and make the concubines the queen?”

Tu Yuanyi smiled wryly: "I'm afraid I'm also anxious, there will be a big wave in the previous court, and because of the harem incident, many important affairs in the previous court will be delayed."

Xing Xiuyan smiled and said: "Of course, when the time is ripe, things will come when conditions are ripe, and what His Majesty intends will be the same! The imperial court is short of money, but it's not the money that's short of money. Every day's hard work will always come to fruition."

Tu Yuanyi smiled and said, "There is a good wife in the family!"

Tu Yuanyi has the problem of being greedy for money, and always wants to collect money for the treasury, but as royal expenses, tribute and foreign treasury are two systems.

Now it's time to talk about money, this year's tribute is still no less than in previous years, Li Dequan personally came to present a simple list of tribute.

After a quick look, Tu Yuanyi picked up some good medicinal materials, rare ornaments, tea leaves, and fabrics and sent them to Shangyang Palace, and handed over the rest to Xing Xiuyan.

Tu Yuanyi smiled and said: "Now that you are a queen, don't be unable to move your eyes away when you see the tribute. You don't want to be too brave. If you don't rest, Tie Zhu also needs to rest."

In fact, Xing Xiuyan's private treasury has been full since he entered the palace, and the family's income was unimaginable in the commoner days.At this time, there are so many more, and she has become a queen again, even if she loves money, she is not like before.

At this time, people came to report that the concubines in the harem headed by Concubine Wu Hui, Princess Hede, Princess Hexiao, the second prince, and the second princess came to congratulate the queen.

Xing Xiuyan usually doesn't like to talk to the concubines in the harem, but at this time he has to come forward. Tu Yuanyi has nothing urgent to do now, so he will give Xing Xiuyan face and accompany her to meet the concubines, princesses, and princes to congratulate her.

In the main hall of Ganlu Hall, when the emperor came out of the inner hall and took his seat at the head of the palace, Li Dequan shouted: "The emperor and queen have a decree, and all of you have an audience!"

Concubines and concubines entered one by one, respectfully lined up neatly, headed by Concubine Wu Hui, and bowed down together: "Concubine/sister/son/concubine see the emperor, long live my emperor! see empress, empress Thousands of years old!"

Although the official canonization of Yudie has to choose an auspicious day and auspicious time, a grand ceremony for the emperor and empress to worship the heavens will be held to accept the worship of all officials and wives.But the imperial decree has been issued, then the name will be changed to queen.

Tu Yuanyi said: "Pingshen."

Concubine Wu Hui and other concubines all bowed to Xing Xiuyan and said: "I congratulate the empress on her great happiness! The empress's fortune is endless!"

Xing Xiuyan smiled and said, "You don't need to be too polite!"

Speaking of her order to watch the reward, the grand maid brought the younger maids to file in, and everyone got a reward according to their rank.

Liu Jingru was also rewarded with a purse, which should contain several precious stones. Suddenly, she felt mixed feelings and wanted to cry.

Shen Man also felt the same way, even more sad, when she went to Shi's house to attend a banquet, when she saw Empress Xing for the first time, she was extremely displeased and made troubles, even more after entering the palace.But Xing Xiuyan is very fond of Wushuang, and she is like a prison in the harem, a pool of stagnant water. The emperor has favored her in name, only when she grows older, she gradually understands that the emperor never touched her at all.

She could be a concubine, but she chose to give her the title of "Jing". Concubine Jing is often the title of the abolished queen, and the death sentence is pronounced in advance if she is a title.The Yang family was convicted and Empress Yang was deposed. She would not come to fight for the title of "Concubine Jing".

Shen Man secretly took a look at Xing Xiuyan. The longer she lived in the harem, even if her qualifications were not high, she gradually understood what power was.If Xing Xiuyan wanted to pinch her to death, it would be like pinching an ant. Shen Man also believed that if Xing Xiuyan executed her, the emperor would not have any more reactions, and at most he would ask: "In what name is she executed, to reassure people's hearts? "

The concubines thanked each other and left the Ganlu Palace. The concubines of the third rank and above still had chariots to ride on, but there were no concubines of low rank.

It was the first time for Xie Wanying to step into the Tai Chi Palace, as did many of the concubines around her. They used to have beautiful dreams, but the reality was even colder than the weather in the twelfth lunar month.

Xie Wanying suddenly turned her head to look at the majestic Ganlu Palace, the emperor had already opened up a large palace in Huanghuang Taiji Palace for her to live in.The "Sister Xing" who participated in the audition with her and lived in Luoxia Pavilion together, she is already the Queen of the Great Zhou, and she is still a nominal Wanyi.

Did she just die of old age in this palace all her life?