Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Empress Chen hurriedly stood up and went out to greet him: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

Emperor Xifeng took her in and asked, "What is Zitong doing?"

Empress Chen looked at the vase and sighed, "I am admiring the flowers. Your Majesty has been busy with state affairs these past two days. How can you find time to come to my place?"

Emperor Xifeng sat on the kang with her and sighed, "I have been annoyed by the affairs of the Western Regions these days, so I came to sit with Zitong. Hey, Zitong also wrote poems? Well, her writing style has become more mature and sophisticated."

When Empress Chen saw the Emperor taking the flowery paper she had written, she said sadly, "I was thinking about the dangers of war and the well-being of the eldest son. I was really worried about him. I happened to see this peach blossom and wrote an old poem. I'm sorry to make you laugh."

As she spoke, her eyes turned slightly red, and were covered with a layer of mist. The love of a loving mother is deeply touching.

Emperor Xifeng put down the flowered note, held her hand and said, "Zi Tong misses her son very much, and so do I. Don't worry, there is accurate news. The eldest son is safe and will arrive in Beijing soon."

Empress Chen said happily, "Okay, I am relieved. Your Majesty can send more people to meet them, so as to avoid delays on the road."

Emperor Xifeng said: "I have ordered the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard to escort them, so there should be no danger."

Empress Chen clasped her hands together and said, "This is absolutely safe. Amitabha, may our ancestors bless my son to return safely."

Emperor Xifeng looked at Empress Chen with a deep look in his eyes and said, "Prince Beijing reported something today. I am undecided. Please help me to think about it."

Empress Chen smiled and said, "Your Majesty is not sure, so how can I have an opinion? And I dare not discuss state affairs."

Emperor Xifeng waved his hand and smiled, "It's okay, we can just talk about our private matters in private, it doesn't count as discussing state affairs."

"Then please let your Majesty know clearly." Queen Chen said with a smile.

Emperor Xifeng said: "It is said that all the food and grass of the Western Expedition Army were burned, and the movements of the two vanguard armies were guessed. Someone in the court is colluding with the enemy and selling out the country. They sent assassins to do this. The purpose is to make the Western Expedition Army suffer a defeat so that they can benefit from the party struggle."

As he spoke, he looked at the queen's bright eyes like peach blossoms, seemingly intentionally or unintentionally.

Upon hearing this, Empress Chen knew that the Emperor was suspicious of her, but she remained calm, only slightly frowning her brows as she said thoughtfully, "Prince Beijing's words are somewhat shocking.

Fire attack has always been a common tactic used by military strategists and is not surprising. For example, in the Battle of Guandu, Cao Cao launched a surprise attack on Wuchao and burned Yuan Shao's army supplies; in the Battle of Yiling, Lu Xun burned down camps for 700 miles. All of these victories were achieved by relying on ingenious strategies, but it has never been heard that they were done by desperate soldiers.

The four kings have been friends for a hundred years and have always shared honor and disgrace. It is natural for the King of Nan'an to try to exonerate him after he was defeated. In addition, since the King of Beijing said that it was the assassins who did it, is there any evidence?"

Emperor Xifeng nodded slowly and said, "It's just a guess, there is no evidence."

Empress Chen laughed in silence and said, "If that's the case, it's easy to lead troops to fight. If you win, it's because the generals are smart and the soldiers are brave. If you lose, it's because the soldiers are trying to harm me. Can military affairs be treated so lightly? I don't understand."

Emperor Xifeng looked at the empress thoughtfully and said, "According to the news, the military rations stored in Changji, Dihua, Dabancheng and Turpan were burned almost at the same time.

Without exception, no one was caught setting the fire, and no one saw anyone setting the fire. The accusation that the enemy set the fire was only said by the deceased before he died. There seems to be something fishy about it. "

Upon hearing this, Empress Chen's eyes fixed, and she said slowly, "If that's the case, there's probably something fishy going on here."

"Oh? What's the article? Zi Tong, just tell me." Emperor Xifeng said. Whenever he encountered a difficult matter, he had the habit of discussing it with the empress. This time, it was even more meaningful.

Empress Chen said: "This time, the Prince of Nan'an is personally leading the army, with a large number of soldiers and generals, abundant money and food, and a very strong momentum.

It is conceivable that if he succeeds, his reputation will be unparalleled in the world. It is also very likely that some people do not want him to accomplish this extraordinary feat. "

"Who?"

Empress Chen looked at Emperor Xifeng and said, "With the background of the four princes and their achievements in clearing up the world, who in the army can stop them in the future?
I guess the Five Military Commandery may not be willing to see Prince Nan'an achieve great things? It is only natural that they would hinder him privately."

Emperor Xifeng asked, "Zitong is saying that the people behind this are Li Meng, Jia Cong, Wang Ning and others?"

Empress Chen said: "I dare not make a definite statement, but just make a rough guess for your majesty's consideration."

Emperor Xifeng said, "That makes sense. Is there anything else?"

Empress Chen pondered for a moment and said, "This time, Prince Nan'an was recommended by Prince Beijing to lead the army. How do the other two princes feel? If Prince Nan'an succeeds, won't he surpass all the other princes?
"Will it be inconvenient to get along with each other in the future? Isn't that what King Chu was like? He was jealous of the talented and would harm those who had made contributions and doubt the virtuous."

Emperor Xifeng said, "Didn't Zitong just say that the four kings have been friends for a hundred years and share honor and disgrace?"

Empress Chen smiled and said, "That is indeed the case. There is no contradiction. The friendship of old friends can save people from difficulties, but it may not necessarily help people achieve their goals. They may be friends on the surface, but who knows what they are like inside?
If Prince Nan'an succeeds, Your Majesty will definitely entrust him with important tasks. Then, if the people who were born under the other three princes want to stand out, they will definitely turn to Prince Nan'an. This will be a good thing for the three princes, right?"

Emperor Xifeng nodded and said, "That makes sense."

Empress Chen said, "Third, the court has been planning for a long time and is about to remove the Nine Feudatories. The Western Regions are so large that the Nine Feudatories cannot be combined. They are also rich in fine horses. If the Prince of Nannan conquers the Western Regions, will he be able to establish his own vassal state and become a major threat to the court? I'm afraid the officials in the court have considered this."

Emperor Xifeng took a breath and said in a deep voice: "This means at least three parties are suspected of committing the crime."

Empress Chen's eyes turned cold and she said, "I think there is another most sinister possibility."

Emperor Xifeng glanced at her and said, "Zitong, please feel free to speak."

Empress Chen sneered and said, "I'm afraid this move is not only aimed at Prince Nan'an, but also at the eldest prince and Can'er!"

Emperor Xifeng's eyes flashed with brilliance, and he asked, "What do you mean by that, Zitong?"

Empress Chen said: "The eldest prince is the military supervisor. If the army is defeated, he will be held responsible and will lose the emperor's favor. This seems to be the best for Can Ge'er, but how can your majesty and the officials in the court not see through this petty trick?
He would definitely suspect that it was Brother Can who secretly acted to frame his brother in order to seize the throne!

In this way, Can Ge'er will benefit openly but suffer secretly, and Your Majesty will certainly be disillusioned with him. This way, he can kill two birds with one stone and eliminate the eldest son and the legitimate son of the emperor at the same time. What is the intention of the people behind this?"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Xifeng's pupils shrank and his expression turned cold. Empress Chen's last words were beyond his expectations, but he had to admit that this possibility did exist.

If the eldest and the second oldest are both dead, this would be great news for the rest of the princes, as it means their chances of inheriting the throne would increase dramatically.

"Don't worry, Zi Tong. Since I have seen through such a sinister plot, how could I let the person behind it succeed?" Emperor Xifeng said.

Empress Chen sighed, "This is what I am most worried about, so please send someone to protect the eldest prince, otherwise Can Ge'er will never be able to wash himself clean even if he jumps into the Yellow River."

Emperor Xifeng nodded and consoled him, "Don't worry, Zitong. I know what's going on and I won't let the treacherous villain hurt my son."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I have no other request in this life. I only hope that God will bless Your Majesty with longevity and good fortune, and that the prince's sons can live in peace and comfort. If there is any hardship, I am willing to bear it all." Queen Chen said emotionally with tears in her eyes.

Emperor Xifeng patted her hands and sighed, "All parents in the world are pitiful. I feel the same way. Queen, please take a rest. I still have to review memorials."

"Your Majesty, please take care of your health and don't work too hard. Ask the Grand Secretaries to share the burden."

"I understand. Zi Tong can go back." Emperor Xifeng said with a smile.

"Yes. I respectfully send you off, Your Majesty."

Empress Chen smiled and bowed, watching Emperor Xifeng leave. She flicked her sleeves and gracefully turned to walk into the palace. No one knew what was going on. In the shadow where the sun could not reach, a meaningful smile appeared on the corner of the empress's mouth.

This time she deliberately muddied the waters and put Sun Can in a desperate situation, knowing the emperor's suspicious and gloomy character. This action was enough to confuse his judgment. Objectively speaking, no matter what the reason for the defeat, the eldest prince's resume had an indelible stain.

What's more, people's words are scary and can melt gold. How can a prince who suffered a great defeat and fled back in panic like a stray dog ​​be supported by court officials and the people?
Who would believe the rumor that the so-called dead soldiers framed him? How could it be reasonable to say that someone framed him after he was defeated?
People all over the world will only think that this is a poor excuse to cover up one's faults, and by then the eldest prince's reputation will be even worse.
-
Jia Cong "reflected on his mistakes behind closed doors" at home for more than ten days before his mood gradually calmed down. He thought about himself being in a situation and being swept up by the general trend. Even if he had the courage of Zilong, he had no place to use his talents. He couldn't let future generations talk about him.

Therefore, Feng Yuan had the foresight to ask Wu Jiangyou, the president of the Hanlin Academy, to add the following sentence to his biography:

On a certain day of a certain month of a certain year, the emperor summoned his ministers to report on the defeat of the army in the Western Regions. All the ministers wanted peace, but Cong went against the trend and strongly advised against it. The emperor was so angry that he drove him away.

Looking at the reply sent by Feng Yuan, Jia Cong flicked the letter with his finger, smiled like Ah Q, and said, "Okay, if the Western Regions cannot be recovered in the future, it has nothing to do with me anyway."

Ruyi, Baochai and others came over to take a look, and spat at him in anger and amusement.

"You value your own reputation more than the thousands of miles of land in the Western Regions." Ruyi sneered.

Jia Cong shrugged and said, "This is called being alone when in poverty. I have already thought about it behind closed doors. What else can I do? Can I take back the Western Regions by myself? Forget it. It is not my place to meddle in other people's affairs."

Daiyu couldn't help laughing and said, "You are so cunning that you have tried to preserve your reputation after death. You are not ashamed. If all officials in the world were like you, what would be the history books like?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Pin'er, it's easy for you to say that. How many people in the whole court can make Old Wu give face? What's more, this is the fact. What's wrong with me passing it on to future generations?
You can't let me bear the injustice, right? Besides, history is just a little girl who can be dressed up by anyone. Anyone who has the ability can dress her up. There's no need to take it too seriously."

Daiyu glanced at him and spat, "You are full of evil thoughts. If you want to leave your name in history, why don't you let people record the bad things you did?"

Jia Cong laughed dryly and said, "Historians write history very sparingly. The life achievements and failures of many high-ranking officials in the court are recorded in only a few hundred words in history books. How can I have the nerve to write about my trivial matters? It's not that I am embellishing myself, but it's really not worthy of being published in a high-class place."

All the women laughed and scolded him for being cunning.

Baochai smiled and said, "This is also the meaning of Confucius's "Spring and Autumn Annals". He wrote when he wrote, and he cut when he cut. He avoided mentioning names for the respected, the relatives, and the wise. Can Cong'er be considered a 'virtuous'?"

"Yes, yes, the one who understands me is Sister Bao. That's what I mean. This is the teaching of the saints." Jia Cong said hurriedly.

"Precious girl, you just protect him." Daiyu said angrily.

"That's right. If Sister Bao keeps pampering him, he will be totally lost." Ruyi also laughed.

Daiyu said sourly, "She really is worthy of being the one in that dimly lit place."

All the girls laughed. After Baochai received Jia Cong's poem that amazed the world, she naturally fell in love with him.

Baochai was very embarrassed and spat, "You are teasing me again, as if you didn't say anything. Why can't I have dumplings during the New Year?"

Ruyi smiled and was about to speak when she suddenly remembered something. She glared at Jia Cong and said, "You bastard, you still owe me a poem!"

"Huh? Where did this come from?" Jia Cong was stunned.

"You have no conscience. Have you forgotten it already? Last time you asked me to go to the palace to beg my mother..." Ruyi sneered.

Jia Cong suddenly remembered the cheating case in the last examination. He asked Ruyi to go to the palace to plead for him and strongly recommended Jiang Feng to be the examiner. He promised her at that time that he would write a good poem for her.

Yin smiled and said, "Sorry, sorry, I forgot about it because I was so busy. Don't worry, when the Japanese prince consort is in a poetic mood, I will definitely give Yan'er a good poem."

"Everyone has heard it, don't cheat." Ruyi said, changing his anger into joy.

"You are the only ones who have ever defaulted on my debts. When have I ever defaulted on my debts?" Jia Cong said jokingly.

"Bah, what nonsense again!" All the girls said coquettishly with shyness.

While everyone was here, Jia Cong, who had been depressed for many days, felt better. Daiyu smiled and said, "There is another happy event today."

"Oh? What's the matter?" everyone asked hurriedly.

Daiyu smiled and pulled Ping'er over, saying, "It's Sister Ping's baby. We can be happy for the day."

Ruyi also liked Ping'er's gentle and generous character, and said with a smile: "Then we must ask for a cup of birthday wine to wish the birthday star eternal youth and beauty. And don't forget to prepare the birthday gifts."

All the girls agreed with a smile and congratulated Ping'er together.

Ping Erh hurriedly returned the greetings in embarrassment, saying, "Who am I to be honored by all the ladies and sisters to pay their respects? It really humiliates me."

Jia Cong laughed and said, "How can we have different opinions when we are one family? I forgot that today is Sister Ping'er's birthday. Fortunately, Pin'er remembered and asked Lao Tu to prepare the food so that our family can have a good meal."

Daiyu rolled her eyes at him and said, "I have already prepared it. You even forgot your own birthday. I am still counting on you."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Doesn't this show the ability of your housekeeper's wife?"

"Bah, you just talk nonsense."

All the girls smiled and complimented him.

As he was speaking, he suddenly heard a maid report that Xiren came to ask for a meeting.

Jia Cong asked curiously, "Why is she here?"

Liu Wuer said with a smile, "It is said that today is also the day when Master Bao, Miss Xiuyan, and Miss Baoqin give birth to their children. Master Bao has prepared wine in the garden and invited you and all the wives and grandmothers to the feast."

Jia Cong suddenly realized and looked at Baochai.

Baochai smiled and said, "Baoqin was indeed born today, but I didn't expect that sister Xiuyan was also born today."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "In that case, let's have some fun. I want to congratulate my sister Xiuyan on her birth. Call Xiren in."

Xiren came in, bowed politely to everyone, and repeated the invitation.

Jia Cong said with a smile: "Put the banquet there, there are many people here, don't let your Second Master go bankrupt."

Xiren hurriedly said with a smile: "My Lord, you are joking. The banquet will be held in the three small open halls in the Red Fragrance Garden in the Peony Fence. There are five or six tables, enough for everyone.

It's not easy for the Duke, the Princess, and all the ladies to show their favor, so even if I have to give everything I have, I will treat them well."

Ruyi smiled and said, "The Duke was just joking, there is no need to mobilize a large force. Today is Ping'er's birthday, so we have prepared a banquet here. Ask them to prepare less food and it will be enough to combine them later."

"Yes, I would like to thank the princess for the reward on behalf of the second master." Xiren agreed quickly and bowed to Ping'er, "Congratulations on your birthday, Miss Ping."

Ping Erh and her sister have been close for many years, and she said hurriedly, "You are too polite. We have never spoken to each other since we were young, so why are you being so polite?"

Xiren laughed and said, "Now that we are a girl of a different status, we should be different from before. Otherwise, if someone sees us, they will think we have forgotten the rules of respect and inferiority."

Ping Erh said angrily, "You are the only one who is suspicious." (End of this chapter)