fleeting photos

Jiang Zhao raised his head from the table and called out, "Xiao Yuanzi."

Yuan Xiang was standing on one side, distracted, and was elbowed by his master, and quickly knelt down to answer.

"Your Majesty is here, what are your orders?"

Jiang Zhao put down the vermilion pen, looked at him with one hand resting on his chin, and asked, "Is there a reply from the border?"

She was referring to the letter written by herself not long ago, she did not mention her identity, but Xie Jin said hello to her parents, brother and sister-in-law, and asked for a reply letter to Xie Jin by the way.

Since she ascended the throne, she has sent people to resettle Xie's family, but this is the first time she has had contact with them.

Although Xie Jin's attitude towards her is not good now, she will stay in the palace for an unknown period of time because of this, and the hope that that letter will bring to her is Jiang Zhao's unchanging hope.

These things have always been left to Yuanxiang to handle.

Yuan Xiang said: "Returning to Your Majesty, counting the days, it will be these two days. It is not uncommon to be delayed on the way. The slave will keep watching. Once there is a reply, it will be reported to His Majesty immediately."

Jiang Zhao nodded, motioned for him to get up, and stopped talking.

Seeing that her expression was wandering, Gao Sheng'an touched the teapot and poured tea for her, and said softly: "Your Majesty is diligent in administration, but you must also put the Eucharist as the most important thing. You have been approving papers for a long time, and you should take a break."

Jiang Zhao raised his eyes to look at him, his eyes were condensed, and Gao Shengan shrank his neck, not daring to say anything more.

After a while, Jiang Zhao asked again: "When will Prince Kang enter Beijing?"

Gao Sheng said: "I just received the letter early in the morning, and I have already passed the Taiping Mansion, and I will arrive in the suburbs of Beijing around tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."

Although there is an imperial order from the emperor, King Kang can only go to the outskirts of Beijing, and then the emperor sends someone to pick him up before he can enter the gate of the capital.

This is the rule set by the first emperor, and it can be said to be preventive and defensive.

Jiang Zhao nodded, seeing Gao Sheng'an's hesitation to speak, he raised his eyebrows and asked, "Do you have something to say?"

Gao Sheng'an accompanied him with a smile and said, "Since Your Majesty has asked, then this servant will dare to ask, Your Majesty really wants to let Prince Kang enter the palace to see him?"

"He is my uncle, isn't it reasonable to come to attend my birthday?"

Jiang Zhao tilted his head and looked at Gao Sheng'an with doubts in his eyes, as if he really didn't understand what he meant.

Seeing her like this, Gao Sheng'an didn't ask any more questions, but felt that His Majesty was becoming more and more unpredictable as he got older.

"How did you deal with that dog slave?" Jiang Zhao lowered his head to look at the book again, and asked casually.

Knowing who she was asking, Gao Sheng'an turned to look at Yuan Xiang, motioning for him to answer.

Yuan Xiang was not as shrewd and cunning as his master, and he didn't know how to speak euphemistically. Hearing His Majesty's question, he said truthfully: "Master asked the slaves to send someone to take a sack to cover Cheng's aunt. After she was knocked unconscious, she was thrown into the guard."

After saying that, seeing Gao Sheng'an's expressionless face, he added dryly: "I sent it in the dark, on the couch of a guard."

Jiang Zhao took the hand of the vermilion pen, raised his eyes to look at Gao Sheng'an, and said meaningfully: "Eunuch Gao is proficient in these dirty tricks. My harem is empty, which still hinders my father-in-law."

"I dare not." Gao Sheng prostrated himself on the ground, and said in his mouth, "I just thought about doing what I did to others, and giving Xie Sizheng a sigh of relief."

He moved Xie Jin out, expecting that although His Majesty spoke with sarcasm, he would not really think that he was too much, so he heard Jiang Zhao ask: "And then?"

This time without Yuan Xiang, Gao Sheng'an spoke with eloquence: "Before Concubine Zhao came to protect her, the slave took someone to catch the rape himself, beat the board and slapped her face, that dog slave is now bedridden and has no face to face anyone." .”

What he didn't say was that Aunt Cheng was not the only one who was ashamed to see others. She was caught and raped in bed at a young age, and she was beaten up and thrown back to Tai'an Palace without any reason, which made Concubine Zhao feel ashamed.

There are not many concubines in this palace, but there are many people and no one to restrain them, and there are rumors everywhere. Everyone dare not say anything in front of Concubine Zhao, but outside Tai'an Palace, rumors have already spread.

Concubine Zhao claimed that she was ill and had not been out of the palace for a few days, it was not true or false.

Naturally, Jiang Zhao didn't care whether she was really ill or a fake illness. Hearing what Gao Sheng'an said, he just smiled coldly and said, "The concubine is ill, so I should do my filial piety before the bed. Send a few more imperial doctors to wait."

"Slave understands." Gao Sheng'an kowtowed respectfully, then raised his eyes and said, "Your Majesty, there are still palace servants from Tai'an Palace coming to the imperial court to inquire about Xie Sizheng's matter."

Jiang Zhao frowned, put down the memorial in his hand, and felt a little more disgusted with Concubine Zhao.

Ever since she took people away from Tai'an Palace that day, there have been many people who came to inquire there, and they were all secretly sent away by Gao Sheng'an. Seeing that the time is getting better, Xie Jin's injury is getting better day by day, Jiang Zhao after all It is impossible to hide her forever.

"What has Yuan Qi been doing lately?" Jiang Zhao asked suddenly.

Although Yuan Qi is Lu Cangyu's valued young man, and he is also favored by the commander of the imperial army Zhuo Yun, but he has not walked in front of the imperial court after all, and before knowing his relationship with Xie Jin, Jiang Zhao never cared about him.

She couldn't help feeling resentful towards Yuan Qixin, but she didn't really attack him, for fear of offending Xie Jin, and Gao Sheng'an didn't dare to take the initiative to mention that person in front of her.

Now that she heard her smell, Fang thought it over and said: "Yuan Shiwei...should not know about the changes in the palace. Two days ago, the servant chatted with Commander Zhuo and said that the wedding date of Yuan Shiwei and Miss Xu has been set. Now it must be It’s also about getting married.”

"What date is it set?" Jiang Zhao asked again.

Gao Shengan said truthfully: "I heard from Commander Zhuo that it is the eighth day of May."

Jiang Zhao thought for a while, now it is late April, and it is less than a month before Yuan Qi's wedding.

She sneered, and said in a strange way: "I can't wait."

Gao Sheng'an rubbed his forehead with his sleeves, and said cautiously: "I heard that Mrs. Yuan is not well."

When the old man was involved, Jiang Zhao didn't make any more taunts, but brought up another matter.

"With Concubine Zhao here, I'm afraid she won't be able to return to Gong Zhengsi."

Gao Sheng'an knew who the "she" His Majesty was talking about, after a little thought, he hesitated and said, "Does Your Majesty not want her to stay in front of the imperial court?"

He is the person in front of Jiang Zhao. Although Jiang Zhao doesn't say much about many things, he will not hide them from him on purpose. Gao Sheng'an is indeed a smart and reliable person. He has always mastered what to say and what not to say. very good.

He didn't dare to speculate on the holy will indiscriminately, he was afraid that he would not be able to guess, and he was even more afraid of guessing wrong.

Jiang Zhao didn't answer him, but just asked: "What capacity do you think she should stay in front of the imperial court?"

This is indeed a problem.

Xie Jin didn't appear out of thin air, she could arrange her identity arbitrarily, she had traces in the palace, and her size could be regarded as a status, even if others didn't dare to say more, there was still a Concubine Zhao.

For a female official who broke the palace rules, what reason should she serve in front of the imperial court?

"Your Majesty." Gao Sheng'an lowered his head and said respectfully: "When I was young, I only served His Majesty's daily life. The slave is getting old and his hands and feet are no longer dexterous. Xiao Yuanzi is too frizzy. There is a shortage of a writer by Your Majesty's side."

When Jiang Zhao handles government affairs, he doesn't like to have too many people around him.

When she was young, she was looked down upon by others, and after she reached a high position, she didn't trust anyone. Apart from Qingshi and Gao Sheng'an, the two old people left behind by Lu Yanrong, the only one she could trust was Yuan Xiang.

As Gao Shengan said, Qingshi was only in charge of her daily life, and except for occasional food delivery, she rarely came to the imperial study. In the past, serving tea, holding pens, and grinding ink were all handled by Gao Shengan.

Seeing that His Majesty seemed to be moved, he said again: "Xie Sizheng, as a female official of the Palace Chief Division, knew that she broke the law, and was punished by Concubine Zhao. Your Majesty is benevolent, and demoting her to be a palace maid is also an explanation to the palaces."

"I don't need to explain to anyone." Jiang Zhao paused, then said: "You should handle this matter yourself."

This is what it means to agree, Goldman Sachs responded and took this matter to heart.

Jiang Zhao's birthday is April 27th. Although she ordered Jane to do it, after all, it is His Majesty's future, and the Ministry of Rites does not dare to neglect at all. There are always some things that need to be consulted with His Majesty before making a decision, so Jiang Zhao also has a lot of trivial matters to ask. deal with.

The injury on Xie Jin's face has almost recovered, but she still needs to drink medicine every day. It is a tonic specially ordered by Doctor Zhang to treat her old illness.

During the time in Xihe Palace, Xie Jin didn't know whether he accepted his fate or figured it out. He wrote and embroidered every day, and followed the doctor's advice to take care of his body. Not only did he not mention going back to Gong Zhengsi, he even didn't ask when he could leave the emperor's palace.

Gao Sheng'an euphemistically explained the purpose of coming, and when he learned that he was going to transform himself into a maid in front of the imperial court, serving tea and washing ink for His Majesty, Xie Jin didn't show much resistance. He just kept silent for a while, and Fang nodded in response.

"Trouble your father-in-law, and thank His Majesty for your grace on behalf of this slave."

How could she not know that Jiang Zhao may have selfish intentions this time, but in the final analysis, it is to protect her.

Gao Sheng'an looked hesitant to speak, Xie Jin could see it, but he didn't ask him until he couldn't hold back, and finally took the initiative to say: "Your Majesty's birthday is coming soon, there are vassal kings coming to Beijing, and the officials from all over the country are paying tribute. Congratulations, I've been busy with business recently, if I have no time to take care of it, I hope Miss Haihan."

Jiang Zhao hadn't shown up in the past few days, Xie Jin didn't think there was anything wrong with it. When she was just Ah Zhao in front of her, she wasn't always by her side. The Son of Heaven ruled Kyushu, as it should be.

So she said: "Your Majesty takes care of everything every day, so you don't have to worry about slaves."

She reacted coldly. Gao Sheng'an originally planned to say something nice for His Majesty, but felt that it was inappropriate.

Gao Shengan bid farewell, Xie Jin watched him go away, and when he could no longer see his figure, he sat back under the window, turned out the unfinished embroidery, held it in his hand, and stared at it for a long time.

It was a sachet, made of snow-blue fabric, embroidered with auspicious clouds and cranes, and the craftsmanship was exquisitely visible to the naked eye.

The fabric is Tanyun brocade, an extremely valuable material, and there are not many pieces in the palace, and all the records are in the palace of your majesty.

This piece of Xie Jin was bought from outside the palace by asking Xu Yiren a few months ago, not to mention spending a lot of money, it was all due to favors before and after.

Xu Yiren came to see her a few days ago and brought her the unfinished sachet.

She had long planned to give Jiang Zhao a birthday gift, and embroidered a few stitches in her free time. She had never paid so much attention to it, and never put so much effort into embroidery.

Now it's just about to finish, and it just happens to be in time for Jiang Zhao's birthday, but Xie Jin doesn't know whether to give it away or not.

Jiang Zhao did not lack these things. There were more than a hundred embroiderers in the Shangyi Bureau, who were proficient in various embroidery methods, and there were more than 30 who served the emperor alone, and none of them were as skilled as Xie Jin.

Besides, now, she doesn't really want to give her a birthday present.

After staring at it for a while, she let out a long sigh. She simply hid her needle and thread, and turned to read a book.

Out of sight out of mind.