Huaibi

30 years ago.

In the spring of the tenth year of Hongxuan, on the third day of February, the whole palace was full of joy.

On the sixth birthday of the crown prince, Emperor Hongxuan held a banquet in Qianqing Hall. It started from Shenshi and ended in Xushi, and the banquet was held by all the officials.During the banquet, there were hundreds of divas and actresses, red sleeves fluttering, silk and bamboo around the ears, and life made the extremely tasteful imperial banquet lose some color.

The extravagant appearance is not what everyone in the audience expected, after all, today's prince is the most favored by Emperor Hongxuan, and everyone in the world knows it.

The prosperity of the emperor's kindness is easy to be envied and hated by others. He hides his snickering face while drinking, bites a few inappropriate words in a low voice, and then keeps silent, making a gesture of saying no more words.

Fortunately, the six-year-old child can't see these things clearly. He just tilts his head curiously at the whitewashed character with a high-pitched voice, not knowing what the babbling libretto means.After watching for a while, Ping Huaizhen noticed that she was drowsy, and turned around to pull the sleeves of the wet nurse standing behind her: "Grandma, Zhener..."

The nurse leaned over, and Ping Huaizhen finished speaking in a low voice.She shook her head and smiled, knowing that there are three urgencies in people, and also knowing that the little prince should not be so anxious, it's just a child's nature, tired of boring banquets, so he made up an excuse and wanted to sneak out to have a good time.

"The prince should ask the emperor for instructions." The wet nurse replied softly, like half a mother, with doting eyes.

Ping Huaizhen blinked and smiled, knocked over the fruit sauce plate on the table with a "click", and moved his little feet under the table, so that the sweet sauce dripped on the back of his feet.The nurse was busy wiping him, but saw him get up and run out.

Even though he was young, he knew the cold and the warm. Although Ping Huaizhen had lost his mother, he knew that his father, who was the son of heaven, loved him very much, so he approached him without any rules, and saluted respectfully with his small body: "Royal father, Zhen'er accidentally soiled her shoes, can I go back to the palace first?"

Emperor Hongxuan put down the wine cup when he heard the words, but he didn't know how careful he was. Seeing that he deliberately exposed the uppers of the shoes as proof, the red shoes embroidered with gold given by the emperor, the sauce was poured on the round inlaid shoes without heartache. On Baoyu, stubborn and bold, he was also spoiled.However, Emperor Hongxuan still smiled, nodded and waved to him.

Ping Huaizhen took a few steps forward, and was hugged by his father an inch closer, coaxing in his ear: "Xin'er changed her shoes and came back earlier, your favorite purple dragon cake has not been served yet."

Ping Huaizhen rolled his eyes with a smile, grinned and nodded, gave another salute, then turned and ran away.

The nurse bowed and retreated, leaving the main hall and hurriedly chased after her. The seemingly careless people behind her quietly glanced at her for a few times.

"The prince is intelligent, not like ordinary people, and he is as handsome as the emperor's elder brother at a young age." Zuo Zhongrui and Wang took advantage of the sacred heart and raised their glasses to face each other, "Pingwei's prosperity will last forever, this is the great blessing of the people of the world."

Emperor Hongxuan's face was happy when he heard that, he picked up the wine bottle and invited him to have a drink together.

Rui and Wang Dao spoke with a lot of air, although the banter disturbed the ears, everyone in the hall could hear them clearly.

Not far away, Shang Shuling quietly put down his food chopsticks, while Mr. Rong Yi at the next table was slightly drunk, he couldn't help but lose some of his manners, he didn't know what to think when he watched the scene just now, and suddenly bowed to the beautiful Huadan in the palace. He laughed and said, "When will this pickled opera singer be able to enter the Qianqing Palace?"

Shang Shuling He Bingrong frowned slightly, looked around as if no one else heard the words, and then saw that Rong Yigong was so drunk that his body was leaning towards his table, probably because he drank too much, so he picked him at random Talk freely.He Bingrong sighed inwardly, afraid of making his whole body feel ashamed, he didn't reply a word.

Seeing him like this, Mr. Rong Yi was startled, and immediately sobered up for the most part, and sat upright resentfully, fearing that those words just now would be heard by someone who cared, so panicked for a while, he deliberately found an excuse to exchange a bottle with He Bingrong.

He Bingrong had an exquisite mind, thinking that he shouldn't offend this person. Quan pretended that he had never heard anything, so he took advantage of the opportunity to pave enough steps for him.

The gongs and drums in the hall were majestic, and the opera reached a climax.

Ping Huaizhen, who slipped out of the hall, walked briskly, throwing the wet nurse far away.

In the evening, the sky was red and the breeze was like soft silk. Ping Huaizhen walked through the Taihe Gate and ran to the bedroom with high spirits.Before arriving in front of the Xu'an Hall, I saw a group of maids and sisters walking towards the Fengyi Hall where the empress was, holding silver trays.

Ping Huaizhen remembered that today when the courtiers went to the palace for a banquet, they all brought their families with them, but they did not see any wife at the banquet just now, so they all had dinner at the Empress's place.

The music in Fengyi Hall is like a mountain spring, soothing and escaping, not as noisy as Qianqing Hall. The troupe invited by the father is considered lively, but it is really noisy. Ping Huaizhen just did not say that he is not actually like.Thinking about it, she came up with naughty thoughts, and regardless of the dirtiness of the shoes, she slipped in with a turn of her heels.

The banquet was grandly set up in the courtyard, except for immature children, there was no man present, the empress sat upright, and all the concubines and wives were dignified and virtuous, without losing their demeanor.Ping Huaizhen liked it so much, he leaned closer to look at it, and within a moment, the queen saw him rightly.

The queen pursed her lips and smiled slightly, beckoned to him slightly, and called "Xiao'er".

Ping Huaizhen stepped forward with a grin, took advantage of being favored at a young age, leaned over, and sat down on the empress seat, calling out "mother queen". , it was the extremely kind Princess Chengyuan, and she grinned at her from a distance.The empress didn't notice his small movements, she straightened his crooked little clothes with her hands like a loving mother, and asked with a smile: "Zhen'er is not sitting in the Qianqing Palace, why is the queen mother here?"

"Xu'er went back to the bedroom to change his shoes. He passed by his mother's place. He missed her mother, so he came here."

The queen was delighted to hear this, covered her lips and smiled lowly, and let the slick-mouthed child stay by her side for a while longer.

Concubine Yi cast a half-eyed cold glance, caressed her slightly protruding belly, and pretended to praise: "The Empress and His Highness the Crown Prince really have a deep love between mother and child, not like flesh and blood, but better than flesh and blood."

The queen's face changed instantly, and the music and music in the courtyard still couldn't hide the suddenly stagnant atmosphere.The concubines were secretly delighted, but they were no different than Concubine Yi who was pregnant and had a father who was in an important position to support her, so they didn't dare to mix a word, just watched quietly enough for the excitement.

It is well known that Ping Huaizhen was not born by the empress, this poor child has lost her mother since she was born, and her biological mother was only an unknown folk girl who died of blood collapse during childbirth.The emperor had a sincere affection for her, and named her "Concubine Jing", and sent Ping Huaizhen to the knee of the childless queen, and made him the prince, who was raised by her personally.

The empress had been pregnant in her early years, and after she had a miscarriage, her body was seriously ill. No matter how rare she was to have a dragon heir, she was very happy about it, and raised Ping Huaizhen as her own child.

The other concubines in the harem were jealous and hated, and they were secretly hostile to the queen who suddenly had a son and the little prince who was doted on all over, but no one dared to show it, they only cursed "wild species" in their hearts.It wasn't until Yipin, who had always been proud and arrogant, dreamed of a future and was canonized as a concubine, that there was finally a person who always dared to provoke.

Concubine Yi saw the empress's complexion, she couldn't help being extremely proud, she took a sip of the sweet soup slowly, then frowned and told the maidservant behind her: "Fu Dong, ask me to exchange a bowl of sour food for this palace, I can't taste such sweet things now. "

Behind him, Fu Dong bowed and took the jade bowl, smiling festively: "Congratulations, empress, folks often say 'sour children are hot girls', empress is so sour, the stomach must be dragon seeds."

Concubine Yi was overjoyed, she held her temples slightly, and said generously, "Dragon sons and daughters, aren't they all the children of my palace and the emperor? I like them all."

Fudong fawned on her a few more words, and hurriedly changed the soup for her.

Today is the crown prince's birthday, and Ping Huaizhen is right next to her, the queen doesn't want to get angry with her, she hides the anger in her eyes, and wants to let this matter go.Unexpectedly, at this time, a young woman's voice suddenly came from the seat, as if she was trying to relieve the situation.

"I heard that the Queen Mother and His Highness the Crown Prince are kind and filial to their mother, and I am fortunate to meet you today. It is really so. This happy and happy life makes me very envious."

The queen searched for her reputation, and saw that the young woman was beautiful and beautiful, neither coquettish nor flirtatious. It was Li Shi and Li Ruyin, the main wife of He Bingrong, the minister of the court.Beside Li Ruyin was a young son who was about the same age as Ping Huaizhen, who was looking at her with a pair of dark and bright eyes.The queen guessed that he was the son of Li Ruyin, because he looked very much like his mother, very handsome.

Li Ruyin paved a steady step, and the queen stepped on it knowingly: "Why should Mrs. He envy me, you are also a mother, so you naturally understand the joy of deep love between mother and child."

Li Ruyin patted the youngest son's shoulder with bent eyes, and called softly: "Yi'er, what poems did you memorize yesterday, how about reading one for the empress?"

"Okay." The little He Jinyi nodded obediently, and it was only a little bit to stand up.

The queen waved her hand, the music in the courtyard stopped, and the dancers stepped back one by one.He Jinyi faced the queen sitting on the seat, and said back: "The peony in front of the court is invincible, and the flower on the pond is pure and unfeeling. Only the peony is really beautiful, and the capital is moving when it blooms."

The immature and soft child's voice bit the words very clearly. The queen listened, and the smile on her face became more and more obvious. After He Jinyi finished reciting, she gently clapped her hands and praised: "What a smart child, I have heard of He Jinyi's words for a long time. My little son is only five years old, but he is familiar with poetry and books, he is extremely smart, he must be able to achieve great things in the future, and he is an indispensable talent in my court."

Li Ruyin stood up and gave a blessing: "The empress is ridiculous." While talking, she secretly raised her eyes to Concubine Yi, and she saw that her face was already livid with anger.

The queen whispered a few words to the maid beside her, and rewarded Li Ruyin with a golden step, and He Jinyi with a green jade.The maidservant came to offer a reward, and Ping Huaizhen just looked at He Jinyi with round eyes, thinking about the poem just now, and chuckled inwardly.

He Jinyi over there received the queen's reward, and his mother put it around his neck for him, looked at the front seat for a while, and finally met Ping Huaizhen's eyes.Ping Huaizhen blinked at him, and He Jinyi was amused to laugh, his round eyes bent into two crescent moons with soft light, which was indescribably cute.

From time to time, the music played again, and the dancer stepped onto the dance floor again with her lotus steps lightly.

The banquet in the two halls lasted for a long time, and the lingering sound lingered, and it was quiet until the time of Xu, and the palace lanterns were turned off one by one, and the ministers were sent away.

It was night, Emperor Hongxuan stayed in Fengyi Hall, and a few bright lights were lit outside the hall.

The queen waited for Emperor Hongxuan to change his clothes. Seeing that he was in a good mood, she said softly: "Today's banquet, Mrs. Li of Shang Shuling's family came to the banquet with her youngest son. The concubine is very happy to see the prince, and is very speculative with the child."

"Oh?" Emperor Hongxuan opened his eyes of rejuvenation, and responded with a smile, "No wonder Zhen'er refuses to go back to Qianqing Palace after leaving."

The queen also smiled softly: "There are not many young children in the palace, and even fewer children love to be close to him. I am very pleased to be able to make friends with that child."

Emperor Hongxuan heard a bit of interest, and asked: "What is the masterpiece of the young master of the He family?"

"The masterpiece He Jinyi, Huai Jinruoyu, is smart and quick-witted even though he is young. It is not surprising that Mrs. Li has outstanding appearance and proper manners, and can raise such a child."

"He Bingrong, as the Minister of the Dynasty, the son of the family, how can he not have half of the family temperament."

"The emperor said so."

Emperor Hongxuan laughed a few times, not because he didn't hear the meaning between the lines of the queen.The complicated clothes were taken off, the frivolous clothes covered his body, and he was at ease. He turned around, and after the queen handed the clothes to the maidservant, he took her hand and patted the back of her hand.

"Zitong is a virtuous and virtuous person who has worked hard for the prince. I know you have worked hard."

"The concubine doesn't work hard, the concubine treats Zhen'er as her own son, and really loves him."

Emperor Hongxuan nodded, responding to her unspoken thoughts: "The young master of the He family is as good as you said, so he will be sent to the palace to accompany the prince to read."

The queen frowned: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

On the day of Jinkou, the imperial decree was sent to Shang Shuling's mansion at Chenshi the next day.

He Bingrong knelt to thank Shengen, held the golden scroll with both hands high, and looked at He Jinyi who was playing beside his knees. At this time, he was obediently kneeling on the ground with his father, his back straight.

The turmoil in the court is turbulent, and He Bingrong is in a high position. He definitely doesn't understand.He also had the intention of submitting to the prince, but the prince is young after all, once he attaches himself to him, he must not have second thoughts for the rest of his life, so for dozens of years, it is hard to guarantee that he will not be in deep prison.

But Emperor Hongxuan's heirs are not weak, and now Concubine Yi is also pregnant. Once the dragon son is born, his father Liu Yin, the governor of Lichong, will spare no effort to support him. Concubine Yi's son aggressively restrained himself.

Choosing a branch to rely on is a choice that the He family will make sooner or later.

He Bingrong had a clear heart, so when he came back from the feast last night, he was not surprised to hear his wife talk about what happened during the banquet, but it was only at this moment that he was deeply moved. He sighed that the imperial decree came sooner than expected, and it seemed that the queen was also eager to accumulate strength for the prince.

The eunuch who delivered the imperial decree said "Congratulations, Mr. He", He Bingrong hid his thoughts, thanked the prince with a smile, and quickly ordered his servants to present the silver ingots.

Wang Gonggong pretended to decline, then signaled the little eunuch behind him to accept it together, and said with a smile: "My lord, the young master has a bright future, it can be said that the blue is better than the blue."

"Thanks to my father-in-law for watching."

"Master He, you don't have to be humble," Wang Gonggong said with a deep meaning, and it is not difficult to understand the truth, half-smiling and half-true, "Our family is still waiting for the young master to take care of you in the future!"

He Bingrong's mood became more and more tense, but his face was still relaxed and joyful, and he agreed to send the prince away.

The mansion door closed with a muffled sound, He Bingrong sighed and shook his head, a gentle woman came behind him, covering her husband with a windbreaker.

He Bingrong turned around and raised his eyebrows: "Madam..."

Li Ruyin smiled calmly on her lips, she seemed to be calmer than the head of the family, and tactfully pointed out the crux of his heart: "May I ask what your husband is worried about at this moment?"

"Worried about the safety of my family."

"Your husband is wrong," Li Ruyin shook her head, "Whether you are advancing or retreating, you can't help yourself in the middle of the court, and it's hard to keep safe. In this forest, the one sitting in front of you is the one with the most stable foundation. If you have to choose, naturally choose the strongest That tree... Only in this way can the He family be safe."

He Bingrong couldn't describe what he felt when he heard it, but Li Ruyin's words made sense, which woke him up.

He is in the court, whether he chooses or not, with a knife hanging over his head all the time, it is better to be straightforward, do his best, obey the destiny, and pray that one day he can get out clean and resign from office.

"It's hard to think a lot about Madam."

He Bingrong embraced Li Ruyin lightly, and only hoped that everything would be as his wife said, and that the family would be safe.

The little He Jinyi stood in the distance and looked with his head tilted. He was ignorant of the world, and he didn't know the weight of the imperial decree just now, and he didn't know what kind of disturbance would be caused by the song "Appreciating Peony" that his mother reminded him yesterday. ...