I studied in modern times

Chapter 295 Birthday
Wuchen (eighth day) of December in the eighth year of Yuanfeng is the Xinglong Festival.

Because Zhao Xu was still observing his filial piety, Han Jiang and Lu Gongzhu led the governors of the two prefectures and envoys from Liao, Xixia, Goryeo and Khotan to close the door in the east outside Funing Hall to pay their respects and congratulate him.

Zhao Xu did not come forward, but sent Feng Jing to express his gratitude.

He also gave gold and silver vessels to the prime ministers and envoys from various countries.

In Ouchi, it's a different story.

Although he couldn't celebrate, since Zhao Xu woke up in the morning, congratulations have been sent from top to bottom.

Yulong Zhuzhi, Guduozhi, and the Imperial City Secretary each personally followed and directed the affairs.

As well as the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the internal ministers who are aware of the capital and are below the rank of escort.

The civil and military officials who pointed out various affairs in Beijing, as well as the clan members, relatives, and honorable ministers...

There were so many congratulations that the table in Funing Hall was filled with congratulations.

Zhao Xu looked at these congratulatory forms and was very satisfied.

Because in his previous life, before he took charge, every year during the Xinglong Festival, in addition to the congratulations from the prime ministers and envoys from various countries, there was no celebration.

He didn't receive any congratulations from other people at all.

In particular, Zhao Xu had never seen the congratulatory expressions of the imperial guards, the imperial dragon commanders around him, and his followers and wedding commanders.

Maybe they got in, but their congratulations were intercepted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Department of Communication, the Department of Imperial City, or something else.

Don’t underestimate the congratulatory list!

Although this is a tradition of false stories, it is also a sign of allegiance.

Every congratulatory letter represents the allegiance of the forces three steps away from Zhao Xu.

However, Zhao Xu did not look at these congratulatory forms immediately.

Instead, he ordered people to collect them and put them in his bedroom.

He himself took his ministers and female officials around him and went to Baoci Palace to pay his respects.

Seeing Zhao Xu coming, the Empress Dowager immediately laughed: "Guardians, please come sit down with your mother-in-law... let your mother-in-law take a good look..."

Zhao Xu obediently sat next to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager looked at Zhao Xu carefully and said, "The official family has really grown up a lot!"

She recalled the first time she saw the child in Qingning Palace in February.

At that time, he was thin and small, which made people feel distressed just looking at him.

Now he has grown a lot taller and gained a lot of weight.

Her complexion is rosy, her skin is fair, her eyebrows are delicate, and the tenderness on her face is gradually shedding away.

He was indeed much older.

In a few years, we can get married!
Zhao Xu thanked him and said, "This is all due to the protection and support of the mother-in-law and the queen mother! It is the protection and support of the two palaces that allowed Sun Chen to grow up safely!"

The Empress Dowager smiled and said: "It is the blessing of our ancestors, and also the blessing of the late emperor and Yingmiao!"

As a result, the Gao family, who had been waiting in the bedroom of Baoci Palace, filed out.

Everyone was dressed up, wearing royal robes and court attire.

"I (concubine) and others congratulate His Majesty on the holy festival, and ask for the health of His Majesty!"

So, each gift was delivered to Zhao Xu.

The wives of Gao Gongji and Gao Gonghui were even selected as representatives and personally tied a red silk ribbon to Zhao Xu's arm.

That is to say, Zhao Xu is still young, otherwise Gao Gonghui will serve as a representative to toast and toast.

"I accept the wishes of all of you, and I will bear them in my heart!" Zhao Xu waited for the two ladies of the Gao family to tie the red silk ribbons, step back, and then pay their respects and congratulations before saying, "All other red tapes will be ignored. Forgive me...all my compatriots, please get up...we are all one family, no need to be so polite!"

The Gao family was naturally very happy. Although they said they didn't dare, they were already sitting down in action.

Zhao Xu accompanied them and spoke, and the Gao family also said goodbye knowingly.

After the Gao family left, Zhao Xu also stood up and bowed to the Queen Mother: "Mother, my grandson has to go to Kunning Hall to pay his respects to the Queen Mother. I will come to visit the Queen Mother later!"

The Empress Dowager nodded: "The officials can go on their own!"

He ordered Wen Xunniang to see Zhao Xu off.

……

Wen Xunniang sent Zhao Xu to the gate of Baoci Palace and suddenly whispered something.

"Guan family, may you have a happy birthday..."

Zhao Xu naturally heard it. He smiled and nodded: "Xunniang is interested!"

Then he took the people from Baoci Palace to Kunning Palace.

It was already very cold in the Imperial City in December.

But it still didn’t snow in Bianjing.

Yesterday Song Yongchen also reported that there was no snow in Hebei and Jingdong.

Therefore, yesterday the two palaces sent left prime minister Han Jiang and his ministers to represent Zhao Xu in the southern suburbs outside Bianjing City to pray for snow.

Just halfway through, Feng Jing suddenly said in surprise: "Everyone, look, it's snowing!"

Zhao Xu raised his head and saw, as expected, tiny snowflakes starting to float in the sky.

Snowing!
And it’s on Zhao Xu’s holy day!
"Auspicious snow heralds a good year!" Zhao Xu's mood also improved. He could no longer remember which day it snowed in the eighth year of Yuanfeng in his previous life.

But he knew that he would remember the snow that fell today.

……

Queen Mother Xiang sat in the inner chamber of Kunning Hall.

There were some things neatly placed on the mattress behind her.

She has been sitting like this since early this morning.

I was a little nervous and apprehensive at first.

From time to time, he would ask people around him: "Where has Brother Six gone?"

After learning that the official family had gone to Baoci Palace, she breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed a lot.

When someone came to report that the officials came out of Baoci Palace, she started to ask again: "Where is Brother Six?"

Until the people below told her: "The officials are on their way to Kunning Palace!"

Only then did she become happy, and all her previous worries disappeared completely.

Everyone came to congratulate him, and the ladies of the Xiang family breathed a sigh of relief, and they all said good things as if they had honey on their lips.

The smile on Queen Mother Xiang's face never faded.

"Empress..." Shi Deyi came and reported: "Everyone has arrived at Kunning Hall right away!"

Queen Mother Xiang immediately ordered her left and right: "Get ready quickly..."

"Don't worry, ma'am!"

The people at home naturally hid in the bed first.

The female officials and ministers on the left and right respectfully retreated to both sides of the curtain.

At this time, a voice came from outside the hall.

With the congratulations from the ministers one by one, Xiang Xiang sat up straighter slightly.

Immediately, she saw the familiar figure, walked into the main hall and came to her. Then she knelt down in a polite manner and said, "My son greets the queen! May the queen be well!" "My son is here, let the queen take good care of herself." Look!" Queen Mother Xiang's voice was filled with joy. She stood up and came to Zhao Xu, then picked up the child.

It feels like this child's body is more than ten pounds heavier than in memory.

She immediately said happily: "My son is 11 years old today!"

"In three more years, we can get married in the official costume..."

Zhao Xu said affectionately: "No matter how old your son is, he is still the son of his mother!"

Queen Mother Xiang couldn't help but feel her eyes well up as she listened.

She had a nightmare last night, dreaming that the official family had grown up, but she only went to the Crown Princess Zhu to pay her respects.

She sent someone to invite the official, but was rejected coldly: "My mother is the Crown Princess!"

She woke up with a fright, her face covered with tears.

After getting up in the morning, I was even more out of sorts.

Fortunately... fortunately... this child is indeed filial!
That's just a nightmare!

Empress Dowager Xiang held Zhao Xu in her arms and came to the mattress.

Then he put Zhao Xu down: "Brother Six, come and take a look, these clothes still fit!"

On the mattress, there are pieces of bright yellow or Chu yellow emperor's uniform.

When Zhao Xu saw these new clothes, he immediately became happy.

He picked them up one by one, and then told his left and right: "Hurry up and help me change my clothes!"

So, I put on a thick winter coat.

The clothes fit me well and are very comfortable.

Zhao Xu turned around in a showy manner and said to the Queen Mother: "The clothes the Queen Mother prepared for my son are so beautiful!"

Queen Mother Xiang looked at Zhao Xu putting on the Chu yellow winter coat and nodded with a smile.

At this time, Zhang, the female official who was close to the Empress Dowager, took the opportunity to say: "As you know, these clothes were sewn by the Empress in the Kunning Palace, stitch by stitch, with her own hands..."

After hearing this, Zhao Xu's eyes turned red. He knelt down in front of the Queen Mother, kowtowed and said, "The Queen Mother protects and supports her son, and even sews his clothes with her own hands..."

"A loving mother's love cannot be repaid by her children!"

"When your son grows up, he must be filial to his mother and repay his mother's love!"

Empress Dowager Xiang immediately shed tears, hugged Zhao Xu, and said, "It is enough that the empress has six brothers!"

The nightmare last night really scared her!

At this time, the Xiang family members who had been waiting in bed rushed out, came to the hall, and congratulated the mother and son who were hugging each other: "I (concubine) and others congratulate the official family on the holy day, and wish you all the best." May the Holy Lord be in good health... Congratulations to the Merciful Saint... A loving mother and a filial son, this is a story that will last forever!"

There is nothing that makes me happier and happier than my family right now.

With a small official family, Xiang's wealth will be worry-free!

Therefore, on this day, Kunning Hall was filled with joy and happiness.

Zhao Xu even had lunch in the Kunning Palace with the Empress Dowager Xiang and Xiang's relatives.

During this period, he was naturally tolerant and generous, constantly greeting Xiang's family.

Xiang Zongliang and his wife are directly addressed as "uncle" and "aunt".

Xiang Zongliang and his wife were naturally so happy that their faces turned red.

Although he didn't dare to even address him, he even knelt down and insisted that Zhao Xu take back the honorific.

But Zhao Xu said: This is a family banquet and there is no distinction between monarch and minister.

He also took the example of the late emperor's treatment of Cao Yi as an example.

Xiangjia was so coaxed that it was like drinking pure wine.

Queen Mother Xiang was extremely satisfied and pleased.

So after lunch, Empress Dowager Xiang called Zhao Xu in front of her and asked, "Sixth Brother, have you ever been to the Imperial Concubine's Hall to pay your respects to the Imperial Concubine? Thank you?"

Zhao Xu shook his head and replied: "I'm thinking about it, I'll say hello to my mother-in-law and queen mother, and then I'll go to my sister to say hello and thank you!"

This is in line with his persona of respecting etiquette and law.

The Queen Mother said happily: "Then go quickly!"

"When you arrive at the Imperial Concubine's Palace, remember to thank the Imperial Concubine on behalf of your mother..."

Zhao Xu blinked.

Empress Dowager Xiang touched his head and said, "If the Empress Dowager had not given birth to the sixth brother, what would the Empress Dowager do?"

A queen mother without a son will not have power, let alone be respected by others, and may even be forgotten!

But as long as you have a son, even an adopted son.

Then, everything will be supported.

Naturally, Empress Dowager Xiang's feelings for Zhu were very complicated.

He was afraid that she would steal his son, but at the same time he was very grateful to her.

Zhao Xu could naturally see these subtle emotions, so he held Empress Dowager Xiang's hand and said: "Although the son is not the daughter of the empress, I don't know why, when he saw the empress in Qingning Palace that day, he felt more cordial... ...It seems that there was a mother-son relationship between the mother and the queen in the previous life..."

Queen Mother Xiang listened and looked at the child in front of her.

Inexplicably, she thought of her infant son who died before even opening his eyes.

So, with tears streaming down his face, he hugged Zhao Xu.

"My son...is really the queen's son!"

She had thought a long time ago that if that child was still alive, he would be as smart and filial as Sixth Brother.

Now, she knew that what she thought was right.

It must be that child who knew that she missed her every day, so he begged the Buddha for mercy and returned to her.

So, she recited the Buddha's name in a low voice: "Amitabha!"

Xiang's family and people around the Queen Mother looked at the scene of mother and son hugging each other.

They all showed smiles of great relief and pride.

……

After Zhao Xu left Kunning Palace, he went straight to the Taifei Pavilion where the Crown Princess lived behind Kunning Palace.

He greeted Mrs. Zhu, who was overjoyed when she saw him coming.

After the mother and son talked for a while, at Zhao Xu's suggestion, they returned to Kunning Hall with the two princesses and the two-year-old Puning County Prince Zhao Si to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager Xiang.

Zhu didn't need Zhao Xu's hints, let alone guidance. She consciously regarded herself as a concubine in front of the Empress Dowager, and kept herself humble.

Zhu's humility made Empress Dowager Xiang very satisfied.

So he was rewarded with countless wealth and silk!

Even Zhao Xu's two younger sisters and younger brother Zhao Si received a lot of rewards.

Mrs. Zhu was so happy that she was beaming with joy, and Empress Dowager Xiang was completely reassured - Mrs. Zhu was not someone who would fight for power and gain, let alone a person with insatiable desires.

She is completely satisfied with her current treatment.

(End of this chapter)