Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 758 The Queen Enters the Backyard
"My lady, please walk slowly. There are still many puddles here."

Chunhe led the way. The yard was not dry after the rain, and there were still many puddles of water on the ground.
The group walked along the path around the corner until they reached the front yard. No one noticed them. Even if one or two inspectors saw them, they didn't care. After all, in the palace, those who could move around were "our own people."

Therefore, it was not until she saw the large military tent inside the main gate in the front yard that Empress Jiang became interested.

"It is said that Marquis Luo Yun is very strict in his military discipline, but I have never seen it before. Today, I am really feasting my eyes. Even the examination room for the special examination is made to look like a military camp."

Chun He also looked over when he heard the sound. As the queen said, the army had already made barricades. It was really strict.

"My Lady, I think Marquis Luo Yun should be living there. I saw the imperial guards of the palace guarding a large tent. That should be where the three princes rest."

Chun He had sharp eyes. She glanced around and immediately saw that there was a large tent guarded by imperial guards. She thought it was the place where the three princes were resting. After all, she had also seen Marquis Luo Yun's soldiers, and they were different.

Following Chun He's gaze, Queen Jiang also saw it, and she couldn't help but feel a little excited. Without any hesitation, she walked towards the tent.

"Slow down, my lady."

The others followed closely behind.
At this time, Zhang Jinyu had already eaten and drunk his fill in the tent. He wiped his mouth, patted his sleeves, stood up and walked out of the tent.
"Ningbian, take some people and go check on the three masters to see if they have woken up."

"Yes, Lord Marquis,"

I was really impressed. This was the first time I had seen a prince who could sleep so well. Even if he was a pig, he shouldn't sleep after eating. In addition, he was also thinking in his heart that it would be better if nothing happened.

Thinking of this, he felt a little unsteady and walked quickly towards the western tent. Just as he reached the tent and had not yet stopped, he heard someone from the Imperial City Bureau shouting,
"Whoever stops!"

Zhang Jinyu was shocked. Damn, he didn't even recognize him. He wanted to ask again, but he saw the imperial guards surrounding him.
someone,

"Ningbyon, alert,"

"Yes, Lord Marquis."

Immediately, the personal soldiers who followed drew their swords and followed closely. They saw a group of people wearing black cloaks, surrounded in the middle.

Zhang Jinyu broke out in a cold sweat. What was going on? Where did these people come from? If they were assassins, it would be the end.

Then he asked sharply;
"May I ask who is coming?"

"Of course it's an old friend visiting."

A familiar crisp sound rang out, and Zhang Jinyu's heart moved. Before he could think of who it was, he saw a person in front of him take off his hat. At a glance, he saw that it was Chunhe, the female historian beside the queen. What happened to her? Looking back, everyone was still. He was startled in his heart, could it be that the queen was also there?

"Ahem, since it's an old friend visiting, there must be another old friend inside."

I'm asking this question knowingly.
Chun He smiled, put his hat back on, and replied;

"Of course there are old friends."

It was a riddle that others couldn't understand, but how could Zhang Jinyu not understand? He sighed in his heart, "Your Majesty's family, how do you say it? They are not from the same family, and they don't live in the same house. They can really make trouble.
"Put away your knives and go back."

"Yes, Lord Marquis."

The Imperial City Guards and the Imperial Army withdrew again. Zhang Jinyu also asked his guards to put away their swords, walked up to the man in black, clasped his fists, and

"Your Highness, I, Zhang Jinyu, pay my respects to you. May your Highness be well and at peace."

"Oh, it seems that the Marquis doesn't like me coming here."

Queen Jiang looked at the reluctant Marquis Luo Yun and asked with a somewhat amused tone,
Zhang Jinyu shook her head, agreeing in her heart. The queen is still self-aware. She could only say this in her heart.

"In reply to your Majesty, how could this be possible? I am not in time to welcome your Majesty here. The reason why I look so sad is because the three masters, no, the three princes have not woken up yet. It is almost past the lunch time. I am in a dilemma for a while, so my face looks a little bad. Please forgive me, your Majesty."

These words made Empress Jiang a little worried. Why did he get up so late? In the past, she would get up early to change clothes and wash up in the palace. Could it be that he didn't eat or sleep well at Marquis Luo Yun's place? Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel anxious.
"Chun He, go and take a look."

"Yes, master."

Chun He glared at Luo Yunhou, leaving Zhang Jinyu confused. The group hurried to the front of the big tent. Zhang Jinyu took a few quick steps and stretched out his hand to open the curtain. Empress Jiang and Chun He entered one after the other.
The old nanny was inseparable behind him. Zhang Jinyu followed the group in. As soon as he entered the big tent, he saw three beds lying there. The three princes on them were sleeping soundly, with their quilts and clothes scattered on the ground. There were also the leftover cakes and pastries placed on the bedside, which was really disgusting. No wonder they were not hungry, because there was food.

Zhang Jinyu looked around in disdain behind him, but seeing this, Queen Jiang hurried over, covered the three princes with quilts, and picked up the clothes on the ground, with a loving face. Chunhe also hurried over, wrapped up the unfinished cakes, and took them away from the bedside.

"My Lord, why is the tent so messy? Why don't you come and take a look?"

After Chun He finished cleaning up, he complained. Zhang Jinyu was stunned by the scolding. It was not right to say it, and it was not right not to say it. He was here to invigilate the exam, not to serve others.
"Your Highness, it's all my fault that I didn't take good care of the three princes. They have suffered injustice here. Unfortunately, I really don't have a good place here. It's too simple. If it really doesn't work, Your Highness can take the three princes back today to save them from suffering injustice here."

:"you."

Chun He raised his eyebrows. He was really chasing people away.
Queen Jiang covered the three of them with the quilt and smiled.
"My Lord, what are you talking about? I think this place is not bad. It's good to let the three of them suffer a little. After all, they need to see some of the world. Besides, my Lord, don't you think so too?"

"I am ashamed. I grew up in the border area and I don't mind simple food. But the three of you are rich and powerful. You ate a big pot of rice with me all day. It was the food of the military Khan and the coarse people. I am afraid that the three of you will not like it."

Zhang Jinyu really wanted to get rid of these three troubles. If the Marquis of Xiangyang quit, who would take care of him if he stayed?

"Don't say anything more. It's your responsibility to stay. I just came to take a look."

There was a "pop" sound.

Suddenly, Empress Jiang patted the Second Prince Zhou Chong hard. The Second Prince, who was still in a daze, was startled and sat up, almost knocking the Empress down. Zhang Jinyu quickly reached out to support the Empress' body. It was soft and plump to the touch, and the orchid fragrance filled her nose, which aroused her reverie.
Queen Jiang steadied herself, felt something strange on her body, her face flushed slightly, looked at her stupid son, and said angrily;

"You are so nauseous, how disgraceful,"

"Master, are you okay?"

Chun He was startled and asked hurriedly. During this time, Zhang Jinyu quickly withdrew his hand. He was a little reckless just now. Fortunately, the queen did not scold him.
But this withdrawal made Jiang Yuqing feel empty and strange.
"Nothing, it just happened too suddenly."

As he spoke, he glanced at Luo Yunhou beside him. This boy was really brave. Then he looked at the second prince and his stupid appearance, and he felt very angry.

"What are you all standing there for? Wake up the three of them and get them to change their clothes and wash up. They are getting lazier and lazier."

"Yes, ma'am."

Several eunuchs behind him hurried over and woke up the three princes. Then they changed their clothes. The eldest prince, Zhou Ding, rubbed his eyes, stood up, looked at the situation in the tent, and saw his mother. He shouted with joy;
"Mother, why are you here?" "Humph, if you don't come, you won't be able to afford it?"

Empress Jiang looked at Zhou Ding's disheveled appearance and fixed her eyes on him. The other two were even more miserable. There was cake residue on the collar of the second prince, and saliva on the face of the third prince. How shameful! If His Majesty saw this, I don't know how much he would complain.
"Chun He, take someone to fetch water and help the three princes wash and change their clothes."

"Yes, ma'am."

immediately,

Chun He led a few eunuchs out to fetch water, leaving Zhang Jinyu alone in the tent, not knowing what to do. What was going on?
"Your Majesty, I will take my leave now. Your Majesty may have something personal to say, so I will avoid it."

As he was about to leave the tent, he heard the Queen's words.

"Why, where is Marquis Luo Yun going?"

Queen Jiang, who was still feeling a little strange, saw out of the corner of her eye that the Marquis wanted to leave. Her three sons were being taken care of like this, so how could he be the commander-in-chief?

"Your Majesty, it is not appropriate for me to stay here. After all, Your Majesty, I have not seen the three princes for a long time, and I need to say something private. It is really awkward for me to stay and listen."

What Zhang Jinyu wanted now was to run away. As the saying goes, it is difficult for a woman to raise a villain. Even the queen is no exception, not to mention the three princes, who are now so "wanton".

I don’t know if it was a brother who had been separated for many years and came back, it was like seeing his mother, the saliva of the Third Prince soaked a large area of ​​his clothes on his chest, it was really admirable.

"It seems that the commander-in-chief does not regard me as one of his own. I did not pursue the extraordinary behavior just now. I think it was an unintentional act of the Marquis in an emergency. But I don't understand why you are so confident that the three of them can live here alone?"

Empress Jiang was indeed a little annoyed by these things. The three of them were not even twenty years old, so she couldn't just leave them alone for no reason.

Zhang Jinyu's face was dark. What do you mean these three masters haven't taken care of it? They are the three princes. If it were someone else, let alone taking care of it, they wouldn't even ask.
The three princes standing by were probably too embarrassed to watch any longer, so Zhou Ding straightened his robes, tightened the straps on his head, and with an embarrassed look on his face, he clasped his fists and said;
"Mother, this has nothing to do with the Marquis. It's just that my sons and I went to bed late last night, so we were unable to get up in the morning."

"Yes, mother, you don't know, sleeping here is very new. I thought the camp tent was a shabby place and I couldn't sleep. Who knew it was so comfortable? When I go back, I have to ask the marquis to give me a tent."

The second prince tightened his belt with his belly sticking out, and instantly he looked more imposing. No matter how you put it, that pot belly looked festive. After putting on his clothes, he wiped off all the cake residue on his neck, so that it was not visible at all.

As soon as he finished speaking, even the Third Prince, who didn't like to talk much, nodded and said;
"Yes, mother, I sleep well here, and it's good to talk with my two brothers. The first night, Xiangyang Hou also accompanied me, but he felt uncomfortable, so I didn't let Xiangyang Hou come again last night, and we played late."

After he finished speaking, Empress Jiang was heartbroken.

"Okay, whatever you think is good, don't make trouble, it's a habit to live in the mansion."

"Well, get used to it."

The three of them responded in unison, very quickly.

Zhang Jinyu secretly curled his lips. How could he not get used to it? No one asked him questions, no one cared about him. He could eat whatever he wanted, drink whatever he wanted, and have some fun. It would be best if he could keep a few young women and learn some singing and dancing. He would live like a god.

When I thought of the song and dance, I immediately remembered the promise Yang Hanyu had made for me. How well did those palace maids learn? It seemed that I hadn't seen a single clue. When I thought of this, I was stunned.

The Queen Mother saw it.

"Well, just feel comfortable. Be careful when you are at the mansion and don't be reckless."

"Yes, Queen Mother."

The mother and son met, the mother was loving and the son was filial, it was so touching to see. Zhang Jinyu really made up his mind this time. After the imperial examination was over, he would definitely go back home to take a look and see if the dancers in the palace were better than those outside.

"Lou Yunhou, what are you thinking about?"

A light sigh brought Zhang Jinyu back to his senses. He looked inside the tent and saw the Empress and the three princes staring at him. He was speechless and replied helplessly;
"Your Majesty, I was deeply moved by the filial piety of the three princes. They have always cared about you and the people. If they hadn't helped me yesterday, I'm afraid there would have been trouble in the imperial examination."

It's not that Zhang Jinyu is flattering. There are many things that the three princes can do, but others can't do. As for the exam questions, it was really thanks to the eldest prince's quickness.
"Oh, there is such a thing. How can I help you?"

The Empress became interested and asked casually. Zhang Jinyu had to tell her about her guesses at the beginning of the imperial examination and the change of the test questions. This also made Empress Jiang's face change. This imperial examination was something that Her Majesty had high hopes for. If someone really cheated, I'm afraid there would be no way to escape this time.
Just when he was about to ask a few more questions, Chun He came in with a group of people, holding a basin of water, and dressed up the three princes. In a short while, the three princes became "handsome and elegant". The second prince took the folding fan in his hand again and pretended to be handsome.
Just when everything was peaceful inside the tent, Ning Bian's voice suddenly came from outside the tent.
"My Lord, someone just came to report that many candidates have already finished answering some of the policy papers and asked if they can hand in their papers?"

"Well, wait a moment and hand it in at the appointed time, just like yesterday."

"Yes, Lord Marquis."

Zhang Jinyu thought about it and decided that it would be troublesome to hand them in in batches, so it would be better to hand them in at once. He replied, and then, looking at the three princes who had already settled in the tent, he was still confused, how did the queen get in?
"May I ask, Your Majesty, how did you get into Hanyuan Hall? As I recall, Hanyuan Hall only has one entrance and exit, the South Gate. How did you come from the back hall?"

This was what Zhang Jinyu was wondering about. He led his troops around in a circle and found two entrances and exits, but the one at the back had been locked long ago. Could it be that someone opened the lock to get in? Those imperial guards were unreliable.

Empress Jiang personally made the beds for the three princes. Her virtuous and gracious appearance made Zhang Jinyu admire her. When she heard what the Marquis asked, her face turned red. It was my fault.
"I took the token and unlocked the back door before coming in. What's wrong with Marquis Luo Yun?"

It was the Queen's confident answer that made Zhang Jinyu pause. As expected, the Queen was still powerful. The imperial guards were unreliable. He coughed and bowed.

"I dare not, but Madam, please consider me. The imperial examination is a major event for the court. It is fine for Madam to want a son. It is human love, but it is the most taboo in the court's selection of talents. I should not say it, but I have to say it. Madam is a little willful this time."

He glanced at the three princes again and was about to say something, but was stopped by Zhang Jinyu.
"As for the three princes, you are no longer children now that you have established your own palace. Even a young eagle has to spread its wings and fly. I have also heard that the tribute convoys of the princes from all over the country are about to arrive in the capital, and the princes' sons are accompanying them. I think these people are not coming to the capital to fulfill their filial piety. Your Majesty should make plans early."

This was also caused by Zhang Jinyu being disturbed by the secret guards and the Emperor Wu's covert actions in recent days. After all, the convoys of princes from all over the country were approaching the capital, and the reports from the post stations were sent to the capital. No matter who they were, they had heard about it, and what happened that day, "they were not here with good intentions."

These words that she had heard for a long time also made Empress Jiang's eyes focus. Her gentle and skilled eyes now became much sharper, not to mention containing murderous aura. Even Chunhe became extremely unfamiliar. This change also shocked Zhang Jinyu's heart. The women in the harem were indeed not simple. The one who could reach the position of queen was even more complicated. She had been a little reckless in the past.

"Your Majesty is right. I have heard about this matter a long time ago, but I didn't expect those people to come so quickly. It's only a few days away from the capital. I think after the imperial examination, it won't be much different. Your Majesty is smart and can get his hands on it."

Queen Jiang smiled slightly and praised her for coming. Suddenly, a bad feeling rose from the bottom of her heart.

"The more capable you are, the more work you will do. When the time comes, the three princes will still need the commander-in-chief to take care of them. I would like to thank you in advance."

"I dare not. Your Majesty's words make me ashamed. Protecting the three princes is a huge matter. I will do my best no matter what and dare not neglect it."

Zhang Jinyu clasped his fists and agreed. Whether or not the thing could be done and how to do it were matters for the future. If he replied now, he had to be frank. He thought that those princes and sons of the vassal states might have some abilities. At that time, it would be better to bring more people. There were still two thousand cavalrymen in the city to help the Imperial City Administration. It would be better to leave them behind first. Five hundred cavalrymen for a prince could always ensure safety, and the remaining five hundred people could continue to follow Liu Chen.

"That's good. I will keep your words in mind. As for the palace, apart from Changle Palace, Cining Palace, and Yushu Palace, there is no need to worry."

This is also the news that Empress Jiang passed on to Zhang Jinyu!
(End of this chapter)