Empress Chu

Page 264

And after succeeding again and again, she was able to give up her fame and fortune and leave alone. Although she suggested it at the time, she never expected that he would really agree.

"I admire him too." Chu Zhao picked up the wine glass.

Xie Yanfang touched her lightly and said, "I'm glad we can meet such a person." She drank the wine in one gulp.

Chu Zhao smiled and drank it down.

"But to be honest, the taste of this Zhongshan Prince's Mansion is not as good as that of the capital." Xie Yanfang said.

Chu Zhao smiled and said, "Master Xie is too picky."

Newt

She also often addresses Mr. Xie, but this is the first time she uses this kind of teasing tone. Xie Yanfang smiled: "I am indeed picky, but most people can't see it."

Chu Zhao laughed again.

……

……

Xie Yanfang returned to the residence under the moonlight, Cai Bo surrounded him and sniffed.

"Drink a lot." He said, looking at Xie Yanfang's face again, "It seems that the conversation was very pleasant, do you want to stay here? When will she leave?"

Xie Yanfang took the tea from the servant, and said with a smile: "No, she wants to stay here in person, clean up and rebuild the state and county government."

Cai Bo was startled: "What? She doesn't trust you, so what did she say that night?"

Xie Yanfang had already sat down, leaning on the chair, with a smile like moonlight in the corner of her eyes: "We talked about Yan Lai, we have been talking about Yan Lai, and then we said that although the food in Zhongshan Prince's Mansion is not as good as Yu Shan, it is still remarkable."

"You are so happy to say Xie Yanlai?" Uncle Cai frowned, "It seems that she is really not sad."

"Wrong." Xie Yanfang waved her finger at him, "Uncle Cai, to make people happy is not to avoid talking about the dead, but to talk about the dead."

He said raising his teacup.

"A brave man, even though he is dead, is still alive. Heroes should be legendary."

"Speaking of a hero is the happiest and most enjoyable thing in the world."

After finishing speaking, he raised his head and drank the tea like wine.

Looking at Xie Yanfang's appearance, Cai Bo said helplessly, "I'm really drinking too much, you can do as you please." After saying that, he walked out, calling for someone, "Cook some sober soup." He shook his head, "I really didn't expect that. , I also need to prepare hangover soup for the young master."

The third son Xie has been surrounded by servants since he was a child, but it is not so much that the servants take care of him, it is better to say that the servants take care of him according to his arrangement.

The young master never arranged for someone to make hangover soup.

The young master has never drunk with anyone.

If the son is drunk, he is only drunk with himself.

Uncle Cai went away muttering, only Xie Yanfang was left in the room, he was still leaning on the bed, the night wind by the window was blowing the crabapple tree, and the moonlight was swaying on him.

"When you talk about a hero, you should live in your heart." He said, "I'm very happy to talk about a hero with her."

Said it doesn't matter for a lifetime.

……

……

At the end of the fourth year of Xingping, heavy snow fell, accompanied by the sound of firecrackers all over the city, Chu Zhaoyi entered the capital with light clothes and simple clothes just like the last time.

Although there was no honor guard for the queen, the imperial city guards had already been ordered in advance to do nothing to stop the woman in the red cloak who was rushing in the snowflakes. The gate of the palace was wide open, and the guards stood silently, watching her pass through the city gate.

There are no officials standing in the hall of the former dynasty, only the figure of a half-grown child, the cloak and hat are covered with snow, like a snowman.

When he saw the figure coming on horseback, the snowman suddenly came to life, galloping down the steps, and the flying snowflakes dodged one after another.

"Sister Chu—"

Chu Zhao hurriedly jumped off the horse, and opened his arms to welcome Xiao Yu. When he threw himself into his arms, she almost lost her footing.

"Ah Yu has really become a big boy, and his strength is stronger than mine." She laughed.

Looking at the child in front of him, I haven't seen him for nearly a year and a half, and his eyebrows and eyes are a little different.

The childishness of a child has faded, replaced by a growing youthfulness.

Xiao Yu smiled, took her hand, held it in his hand and breathed: "Sister's hand is so cold, it must have froze."

Chu Zhao smiled, and put his hand on his shoulder: "Your hand is colder than mine. How long have you been freezing here? Come on, let's go back and get warm."

Xiao Yu nodded and leaned against her and walked towards the palace together.

The guards retreating all around shouted in unison, which spread in the wind and snow.

"Welcome to the Empress—"

"Welcome the empress to return to the palace—"

Chapter 80th Anniversary

This year's New Year's Day, the imperial city held a big banquet.

On this day, the emperor and empress together with courtiers went to the royal temple to burn incense and offer sacrifices to heaven, announcing the change of the Yuan Dynasty, and then the courtiers dispersed. The emperor had a new year fast meal in the royal temple and returned to the palace in the afternoon.

Afterwards, the courtiers brought their family members to a banquet to celebrate the New Year together.

The banquet was held in Qiongfang Garden next to the imperial garden. This is where the Imperial City Flower House is located. The pavilions are spacious and the earth dragons are warm.

In the afternoon, family members of court officials came one after another. This is also the time when everyone gathers the most. Moreover, the battle in Border County has won a complete victory. The king of Xiliang pleaded guilty and fled far away. Xia finally settled down.

The court also settled down, Deng Yi was shot and killed by the queen, except for those officials who were too deeply involved with Deng Yi, the court concluded that the others were bewitched by Deng Yi or did not know who they were, so no further investigation was carried out.

This made the officials up and down completely relieved.

The atmosphere of today's banquet was brisk and joyful, the officials chatted and laughed together in twos and threes, and the female relatives who came early also met to enjoy the scenery in the imperial garden.

As before, every banquet is also a time when Chu Zhao and Chu Tang meet and talk.

The two sat by the window, looking at the banquet roster together.

"Before you know it, everyone is married." Chu Zhao looked at the roster. The lady who used to be the daughter of this family changed her identity and became the wife of another family.

"Not everyone can come to the banquet." Chu Tang said, "Some are married far away, and some are not qualified."

Not everyone can marry into a family that is qualified to enter and exit the imperial city banquet, and even if they marry into such a family, they may not be eligible to enter the palace with them, such as the youngest son-in-law of a lower seniority.

Having said that, Chu Tang laughed again.

"However, some of them were not qualified originally, but got the qualification because of themselves." She looked through the roster, "Do you remember Cong Ashan?"

Chu Zhao really remembered: "The young lady who likes fishing and competed with others in Chu Garden?"

Chu Tang nodded and pointed it out to her: "She married the youngest son of the second house last year as her daughter-in-law, and her husband did not become an official, but this time the wife of the family came to the banquet, and brought her grandson along with her two daughter-in-laws." Daughter-in-law." As she spoke, she leaned over and smiled, "I heard from the maidservants that the two daughter-in-laws were a little dissatisfied, but Mrs. Tai said that she pointed at this granddaughter-in-law to come to the queen to ask for a drink, and also gave the two sons at home in front of the emperor. Just to save face, the emperor will be in charge in two years, it's a matter of future, and the two daughters-in-law have no objection."

Chu Zhao didn't laugh at this, but laughed at Chu Tang: "Your maidservants know everything."

Chu Tang pursed her lips and smiled: "I am a girl in a boudoir alone in the capital, so I must keep my eyes and ears sharp."

In addition to guarding the house and guarding the courtyard, Xiaotu and the others also took Chutang's maid and maid together to train them how to inquire about news.

I haven't been in the capital for more than a year, and the news about the city, the streets and the inner houses of the aristocratic family are regularly sent to Chu Zhao by Chu Tang.

Chu Zhao looked at Chu Tang and smiled slightly: "A Tang, you are not young, what about marriage?"

Chu Tang feigned shyness and raised his sleeves to half-cover his face: "The order of the parents and the words of the matchmaker—" Then he put down his sleeves, stopped pretending, and said calmly, "Father and mother fell in love with a student of the academy."

As a disciple of the academy, Chu Zhao couldn't help asking, "How's your family background?" thinking about Chu Tang's marriage in his previous life.

She couldn't remember which family Tang married into in her previous life, she only knew that it was a local rich man.

The rich and wealthy married the queen's sister for power, but in the end they couldn't bear the queen's sister's domineering behavior. The family wept blood and wrote to the court to ask for a divorce, making her disgraced in front of Xiao Xun, and Chu's reputation became even more disgraced—of course, thinking about it now or not It was also arranged by Xiao Xun.

"It's a local big family." Chu Tang said, "However, there are many big people in the clan, and this disciple is relatively weak in the clan."

thin?Chu Zhao smiled and said, "How could uncle and aunt be interested? We, Atang, are princesses."

Chu Tang said with a smile: "I told my parents, I am the princess now, I don't want to be humbled by others, and I don't want to be a window-dresser for others, so they fell in love with this."

The family background is decent, and he is not valued in the clan. When Chu Tang marries, the status of the husband's family will be different. The husband will rely on his wife, and the wife belongs to this small family. The connection with the clan can be far or near, and he can control it in his own hands. , so that Chu Tang's position inside and outside is detached.

Chu Zhao said with emotion: "Parents always choose the best for their children's marriage."

Unexpectedly, uncles and aunts who are so unreliable can choose suitable candidates.

Although as a queen, she has a great reputation, but without parents, it is difficult to make up for what is missing in her heart. Chu Tang used to envy others for what she got, but now she knows that no one can have all the best. To suffer.

"The family will care about the family." She said, looked at Chu Zhao and asked softly, "So, I also want to ask you, what do you think?"

Reassuring that she is her family, Chu Zhao smiled softly and looked at her: "A Tang, it's not what your parents think, nor what I think, it's what you think, you have to remember, getting married, the most important thing is that you like."

She patted Chu Tang's hand lightly.

She already has a different life, and she hopes Chu Tang can have one too.

I like it... Chu Tang was silent for a moment, then smiled: "I know, I will set off for the academy tomorrow to spend the New Year with my parents, and I will also see this person with my own eyes."

Chu Zhao smiled: "I wish you all the best."

Here, A Le walked in: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty is ready."

Just like before, the emperor and the empress will appear in front of everyone during the palace banquet.

Chu Tang hurriedly got up and left.

Chu Zhao warned again: "Bring more people with you when you go back, pay attention to the safety of the road, and put up the pomp. We are careful, but let people know when it should be known."

Chu Tang nodded with a smile and said yes, watching Chu Zhao getting up and getting ready to change into a dress, he suddenly said, "Azhao, do you like it now?"

Chu Zhao was slightly taken aback, and looked at Chu Tang.

Chu Tang hurriedly turned around and left, patting her heart in fear. She asked the Queen this question.

She didn't know why she asked such a question, maybe it was because of the sincere look in Chu Zhao's eyes when he told her just now, which made people feel warm and a little sad.

Empress is the emperor's wife.

But to Chu Zhao, it was just an identity.

She didn't think that Chu Zhao became the emperor's wife because she liked it.

Then Chu Zhao will never have a liking in her life?

"What did Miss A Tang say? What's there? I like it?" A Le asked in confusion. She wasn't serving in front of her, so she didn't know what they said just now.

Chu Zhao pursed his lips and smiled slightly, flicking the pendant around his waist with his fingers.

"Say you like it." She said, "I have it too."

……

……

As dusk fell, Qionghua Garden was brightly lit, like colored glaze.

There are joking crowds everywhere, and the ladies of the palace shuttle among them to deliver fine wine and fruit drinks.

As Liang Qiang stepped into the hall, she felt her mother's footsteps behind her hesitate.

"Mother?" He turned around and asked in a low voice.

A cautious smile flashed across Liang's mother's face: "It's okay, it's just that I haven't seen so many people for a long time."

In fact, it has been more than a year since my mother returned to the capital, and the Liang family has also hung outside the mansion again. But after Deng Yi's accident, the Liang family's already unstable foundation was immediately shaken, and the Liang family almost stayed behind closed doors.

When he returned to Beijing this time, because of his meritorious service in conquering Xiao Xun, he restored the guerrilla general, which made the Liang family breathe a sigh of relief.

This time he also received the qualification to attend the banquet, and in order to be as dignified as the others, he also brought his female relatives.

If he wanted to gain a firm foothold, he alone would not be enough, and the family members must also become... useful.

Making friends with people, chatting with people, and interacting with people are the functions of female relatives.

My mother was also the young lady of a wealthy family, the wife of Liang's second wife, and she also attended many palace banquets, but now she is a little reserved, which shows that she has been imprinted by her previous life.

Maybe he should give his mother time to adjust, but—no time.

"Don't worry." Liang Qiang stretched out her hand to support her mother, and said softly, "Our seats are in the back row, so we won't be noticed too much."

Mother Liang nodded and smiled: "I know, Ah Qiang, don't worry."

The mother and son were talking, and they were pushed in the middle, accompanied by a slightly childish voice: "Brother, this place is so beautiful."