The Concubine Wushuang of Red Mansion

Chapter 184 Yuanchun: It’s not because of those thoughts

Not to mention Jia Cong leading his troops on an expedition.

According to the information from Tangqi on Wang Lang's side, the Ningxia Wei rebelled. The story was very cliche, with civil and military incompatibility. The Tatar surrendered general Kuai worshiped and was under the control of Ningxia Governor Wang Ji. He was resentful and instigated the pioneers Liu Dongyang and Xu Chao. Rebellion.

Fifteen days ago, the rebels killed Wang Ji and Ningxia Governor Shi Jifang, deputy military envoy of Ningxia. His son Chengen and adopted son, capable generals, have successively captured 47 forts from Hexi to Yuquan. The important towns in Hedong, Lingzhou and Huamachi, are in emergency .

It was at this time that the whole of Shaanxi was shocked, and the urgent report was passed to the palace.

While leading his troops to Ningxia, Jia Cong issued an order on the road, ordering the governors of the three sides to rush to Ningxia. He also sent a letter to the generals of each border fort, ordering them to stabilize the morale of the army and strengthen defense. He also urgently ordered Zhang Yong to lead 1000 troops to Ningxia. The border passes were guarded to guard against collusion between Kuaibai and the Tatars, and troops were deployed from Guyuan, Yansui, Xuanzhou and Datong.

As Jia Cong's orders went down one after another, a large net slowly shrank towards Ningxia Town. When it arrived at Huamachi, all the 47 Hexi Forts that had been captured by the rebels were also recovered. Jia Cong led the troops again Advancing towards Ningxia Town, several armies also gathered in front of Ningxia Town and listened to Jia Cong's orders.

The war on Jia Cong's side was going smoothly. Needless to say, the military orders, military progress, and major and minor events he issued along the road were all reported to Emperor Taiqi in the form of daily reports to reassure the troops.

On Emperor Taiqi's side, he saw that the situation was very good, and Jia Cong had experience in ending the Japanese pirates' rebellion for many years. Therefore, although he was worried about the war in Ningxia, the situation was not as chaotic as the previous local reports, and he gradually felt more at ease. Come down.

After the summer, Emperor Taiqi's cough also came on and off. Empress Yang had no children, and she didn't see the emperor for many days. When she asked, he found that the emperor was recuperating in Linjing Hall again, and he couldn't help but feel anxious.

Queen Yang is over 30 years old this year and is no longer young. Although she has taken good care of herself, there are no wrinkles on her pretty face and her slightly plump skin is like a pile of snow. A woman who has given birth to a child naturally exudes a mature and honeyed temperament. , like the plump and ripe peach, water will flow out with a light poke.

However, even so, Emperor Taiqi rarely spent the night in her palace. At the moment, she did not have the young woman's thoughts of spring. She took the bowl of tea from Yuan Chun, opened the lid of the bowl with her delicate white jade hands, and gently stirred the tea. Tea, her plump red lips lightly pressed against the rim of the white porcelain bowl, and she took a slow sip.

Yuan Chun reached out to take it. Empress Yang waved her hand gently, put the tea bowl aside, and looked at Yuan Chun, "You have been in my palace for a few years, and you have always been very dedicated to serving me. However, the emperor does not Coming here often has delayed you!"

Yuanchun knelt down in panic, crying in fear, "Why did the Queen say this? The reason why I came to the palace was to serve the master in the palace. Being able to serve the Queen is my blessing, not for... If it’s not because of that kind of thought, I’d like to ask the empress to enlighten me!”

Yang leaned forward, stretched out her hand to hold Yuan Chun, and asked her to come closer. She gently patted Yuan Chun's hand and looked at her carefully. She saw her curved eyebrows and plump cheeks, her skin was like snow, her rhombus-shaped red lips were unstained, and her hair was red. The woman with hair as thick as a cloud has missed her daughter's best years and is suffering in this palace. Like her, she can't help but feel a rare compassion.

Without him, Empress Yang's sister-in-law entered the palace earlier. Her brother Yang Xiaojun went on an expedition with Jia Cong, the Marquis of Ning State, and is now serving as Tongzhi under him.

Queen Yang naturally also knew that Zhou Jinkui, the elder brother of Zhou Guiren, was beheaded by Jia Cong to sacrifice the flag. On that day, Zhou Guiren learned about this and ran to the Linjing Hall to kneel and cry. Emperor Taiqi not only failed to support Zhou Guiren, but also demoted him. He was relegated to the cold palace and demoted to permanent presence.

All we can say is that Ning Guohou’s holy family is so powerful now that no one can take advantage of him.

Her brother's life was still in the hands of Marquis Ning Guo. Although Empress Yang was not afraid that Marquis Ning would kill her brother like a chicken and a rabbit, her brother's personality was still different from that of Zhou Gui's family, but Empress Yang didn't have to be on guard, but she had to. Flattery.

"Since your family sent you to the palace, it must be interesting. The fate of our daughter's family is not in our own hands."

Empress Yang sighed softly, "Look, in the past few years, the emperor has been focused on national affairs and wanted to be a famous king through the ages. I am the queen. Although I am not virtuous, I cannot hold her back. The matter of choosing a concubine for the emperor has actually been I have also delayed it. When I find an opportunity in the future, I will fight for you. However, you have to think about this matter clearly. "

Yuanchun knelt on the ground, feeling extremely conflicted in her heart. If it were for her own sake, why would she be willing to suffer in this deep palace? If she had a son and a half in the future, she would be thousands of miles away from that great position. Even if the child can be crowned king in the future, she will still be unable to leave this palace for the rest of her life.

But, as the queen said, has the fate of her daughter's family ever been in her own hands?
Her family had also brought her a letter, but how could she not know the urgency in it?
When talking about Baoyu's future, she had to point to her. He was the younger brother she had raised single-handedly. She had been thinking about him all the time in the palace these years. She was not only afraid that he would be tired from studying too hard, but also afraid that the ancestors and mother at home would be too much. Pampering delayed him.

Empress Yang saw the struggle on Yuanchun's face and sighed in her heart. After so many years in the palace, Yuanchun's character has not changed at all. He has no ambition to stand out and strives for success. He still cherishes the love of filial mother and brother and family. , she didn’t know that when the family sent her to the palace, she was no longer the daughter of the Jia family, but just a tool.

Empress Yang felt compassion in her heart, and she said without hesitation, "Silly girl, your brother is the Marquis of Ning Guo. Now the Holy Family is strong. If you really want to serve the Emperor, the Emperor will not treat you badly. For this reason, If you want to leave the palace, I will let you out of the palace for the sake of Marquis Ning Guo's hard work for the country. You can figure out where to go before returning to the palace."

The Queen's two reminders to "think clearly" gave Yuanchun a very strong idea of ​​leaving the palace. She missed her grandmother, mother, younger brother, and sisters at home. In the spring, she flew a kite in the back garden, and in the summer In the daytime, I sit in front of the small xuan window and play the piano. In the autumn, I listen to the sound of rain falling on the banana leaves. In the winter, I see the red walls and green tiles with dead branches piled with residual snow. The whole family gathers together to talk about family affairs... these , too far away from her.

During the years in the palace, there were rules every day, and nothing could be missed. She was always tense, fearing that if she made a mistake, she would be buried in the palace without regrets. She was afraid that she would harm her family and make her grandmother suffer. Mother is disappointed.

"Thank you, the Empress, for the advice. For the time being, I just want to serve in front of the Empress, and follow the Empress to learn how to be smart but not capable. I have no other intentions." Yuan Chun's heart still shrank a little. She expected someone to get her a gift. Idea, help her choose.

Empress Yang nodded and said, "After Mr. Jia Hou comes back, I will ask you to meet your natal brothers. You can also ask Mr. Marquis what he wants. I remember that you two siblings have not seen each other for four or five years." Have you met?"

The last time they met, Yuanchun served Jia Cong to copy the Tao Te Ching. The two siblings stayed together for three days. It was the happiest period after Yuanchun entered the palace.

Thinking of it, Yuan Chun's eyes flashed with tears. She smiled slightly, her face as white as jade glowing like clouds, and said to Yang Hou, "We haven't seen each other for four or five years, and I don't know how tall Brother Cong is now. ?”

Hearing Yuanchun call Jia Cong like this, Empress Yang knew in her heart that the relationship between the two siblings was very deep.

She couldn't help but echo in her mind what her sister-in-law had said to her, "You have no children in the palace, and the few who gave birth to the older princes all followed the emperor like you. She has such an amazing person." Brother, if you have such thoughts, you might as well gather her in front of you. If you can win the dragon child in one fell swoop, you can raise this child as your own and you will have someone to rely on in the future."

This is why she looked at Yuanchun with a cold eye. Although she had been in the palace for many years, she was not as active in planning as other women. She seemed to be waiting for someone to push her and passively accepted the arrangement of fate.

Such a shallow-minded girl is actually not suitable to stay in the palace.

"When your brother wins and returns to court, I will let your brother and sister meet. At that time, you ask your brother to help you make an idea. For now, you are waiting in front of me. In the future, you will make up your mind. Now, I will help you with your arrangements!" "My dear, thank you, the Queen!"

Yuanchun thanked him again. After going down, Xia Shouzhong, the eunuch of the Sixth Palace, came. Empress Yang asked, "What did the imperial doctor say to the emperor?"

"Replying to the queen, the imperial doctor said that the emperor became ill due to overwork. The wind and cold in the winter were not taken care of well, and he has not recovered until now. If it is not cured, he may leave the root of the disease in the future!"

Empress Yang was shocked when she heard this, so she couldn't care less and hurriedly got up and rushed forward.

After her legitimate son died in infancy, she never had a child, and the emperor didn't seem to want to give her a child. She also knew that the emperor's heart was tied to the abolition of the crown prince.

Although the deposed prince was not born long enough, he was still the legitimate son. As soon as he was born, the pedantic scholars in the court wrote letters one after another asking him to be crowned prince.

The deposed prince was smart and studious since he was a child, and was good at both literature and martial arts. He was not only proficient in the classics of hundreds of schools of thought and poems of all dynasties, but was also proficient in bowing, horse riding, and archery.

However, he was a man of bad character, cruel and immoral, and a filthy mess in the palace. He first bullied the emperor's sister-in-law, and then committed adultery with his concubine. He actually had the appearance of Yang Yong. In the 20th year of Wanqing's reign, he deposed the prince and did all kinds of things. It was revealed that the Supreme Emperor wanted to depose the Crown Prince, which triggered a palace upheaval, involving suspicion and fratricide between father, son and brothers.

Empress Yang thought that she had already arrived in front of the Linjing Palace. She temporarily stopped her thoughts and looked at the majestic and glorious palace. She couldn't help but feel scared in her heart. If the emperor died, how would she live in this palace in the future? Woolen cloth?

"Zitong is here?" The emperor was leaning on the couch. When he saw the queen in elegant clothes coming over, a smile appeared on his pale face and he stretched out a bony hand.

The queen's eyes were filled with tears. She quickly walked forward and held the emperor's hand. "Why doesn't the emperor take care of the dragon body? Is there ever a time when the affairs of this country will be in trouble? The emperor works hard and sleeps all night to endure the body like this." , I feel really sad when I look at it.”

Emperor Taiqi raised his hand to wipe away the tears rolling down the queen's fair face. He was also moved for a moment, "Zitong, don't worry, this problem must have been accumulated in the past years. I have been married to Ning Guohou in the past two years, and my life has been comparable." The past few years have been much better!”

Queen Yang was very surprised. She did not expect that the emperor's opinion of Ning Guohou was so high. She pretended to ask casually, "I heard that Ning Guohou was not old, but who knew he was so capable?" Da, is it possible that he is more experienced and capable than the veterans in the court?"

Emperor Tai Qi squeezed Empress Yang's soft and greasy hand, which was as slender as an onion tube. "It all depends on a will to do things! Among the civil servants and generals in the court, if they say that anyone is incompetent, I don't believe it. Let's take a look. Where are their thoughts? Is it for themselves or for the public good?"

Just as he was talking, Song Hong came in and said, "Your Majesty, Queen, eight hundred miles haste, a battle report from the frontline Marquis Ning Guo!"

"Oh? Marquis Ning Guo is so quick that he has already fought against the rebels?" Emperor Tai Qi's pale face showed some rosiness. He sat up quickly and took the report from the queen.

After the fire paint was opened, Emperor Taiqi hurriedly opened the report and read it at a glance. As he read, the smile on his face became more obvious, and finally he burst out laughing. He laughed a little too fast, which also caused a cough. .

The queen was so anxious that she beat him gently on the back with her fragrant fist, "Your Majesty, please wait a little longer. What on earth did Marquis Ning Guo say to make you so happy?"

The Queen's coquettish words made Emperor Tai Qi very amused. He was in a good mood and everything smelled delicious. He finally calmed down his coughing and coughing, and handed the report to the Queen, "Zitong, look, Marquis Ning Guo is really one of my blessed generals." Ah, I have such a good general, why are I afraid that I will not be able to achieve the goal of rejuvenation in the future?"

This was the first time the queen read the memorial, and her hands were shaking with excitement. She had no intention of being Wu Zetian, nor the ability, nor the ambition to control state affairs, but she was also a woman who longed for her husband's love.

"Concubine, congratulations to the emperor, congratulations to the emperor!"

After reading it, the queen realized that it was the good news from Jia Cong. After all the 47 forts around Ningxia Town were conquered, only Ningxia Town was still occupied by the rebels. Five days ago, Ning Guohou led his army to launch a general attack on Ningxia Town. Infiltrating into the city, at the critical moment, the Flying Bear Guards led by Wang Lang rebelled against the defenders of the South City Gate. The South City Gate was broken, Ningxia Town was breached, and the rebels were wiped out in one fell swoop.

"Your Majesty, Marquis Ning Guo said that he has locked up all the father and son of Ning Guo and the generals, and is about to order his general Wei to return to the capital. The time to suppress the rebellion is not short. I just feel that Marquis Ning Guo went to war as if it was yesterday. "

"Yes, I originally thought that the suppression of the rebellion would take a year and a half to complete, but who knew that Marquis Ning Guo had said one or two months before, and it turned out to be one or two months. Marquis Ning Guo planned to rectify the Ningxia Guard and he would not be able to come back for a while. "

When the emperor said this, he couldn't help but think that since he was patrolling the border, he might as well ask Ning Guohou to patrol the nine borders together.However, thinking that Jia Cong had really been fighting in the north and south in the past two years, Emperor Taiqi temporarily suppressed this idea and decided to wait until he came back.

Empress Yang was also thinking about her own thoughts. Just now in front of Yuan Chun, she planned to wait for Ning Guohou to win and return to the court before taking action on Luo Yuanchun. At this time, she felt a little forced. If Yuan Chun was really released from the palace, she was in the palace. , maybe as my sister-in-law said, which one should I rely on in the future?
If Yuan Chun is retained, Zhou Guiren's position will be freed up, and the emperor will always have fresh men waiting for him. If Yuan Chun wins a man at one stroke, with such a brother around, he will not be able to hold a high position in the future... he will be better than the previous princes. After inheriting the throne, she will have nothing to rely on in the future.

After the thought came to mind, the thought grew like a vine in Queen Yang's heart, and the urgency became more and more uncontrollable.

She felt that she could not really wait for Ning Guohou to come back. With Ning Guohou's temperament, he would definitely not be willing to be a relative. If he objected, Yi Yuanchun would definitely obey his brother's wishes. After leaving the palace, it would not be easy for her to find such a support. .

"Ning Guohou has been fighting in the north and south for the past two years. His wife is not very old at home. The queen helps to take care of her. I have some suitable gifts in my inner treasury. The queen also reported this victory. This saves my lovely wife from worrying about you!"

Empress Yang finally listened to Emperor Taiqi say such witty words, and knowing that Emperor Taiqi was in a really good mood, she smiled and said, "Is it possible that I am so poor that I have to ask for something from the emperor even though I have been rewarded with a fortune? Your Majesty underestimates my concubine!"

Emperor Taiqi laughed heartily, walked over, put his arm around the queen's shoulders and said, "I know that Zitong has always been with me. In the past few years, you have lived with me through hard times, and I know it all in my heart!"

If it weren't for Jia Cong, he wouldn't even have the money to pay civil and military officials. Thinking of the way Jia Cong came up with to make money for him, Emperor Taiqi asked Song Hong, "What's going on with Jiang Xian now?"

The Ningxia Guard rebellion has been resolved, and he is now in the mood to make money, hoping that Zhao Song will help him get rid of the pursuit of the poor god. Emperor Tai Qi feels that he may be at fault every year.

(End of this chapter)