Queen's scheming

Chapter 153 Undercurrent ([-])

In the study, Lord Zhen Guo paced back and forth, becoming more and more irritable as he thought about it.

Tang Zinan, the eldest son of the Duke of Zhen, said a little irritablely: "Father, can you stop dangling around all the time, and think of a way!"

Duke Zhen said worriedly: "Just looking at Duke Feng's fate, we can get a glimpse of it. Nowadays, the emperor is in charge of all matters of government affairs. Even if it is a discussion, it is discussed with Duke Yang Gu Zhiheng or Prince Cheng. If things go on like this , our Zhen Guo Gongfu is afraid that it will fall!"

What Tang Zinan is most worried about is the title he will inherit. Now that the Duke of Zhen is still there, the Duke of Zhen's mansion has been bullied so far. No more, if it's just a duke who doesn't have any real power, even if he inherits, what's the difference with those declining marquis mansions?

"It's only been half a year since you didn't participate in politics. Now that a young master of the Shangshu Mansion dares to put his nose on the face like this, the face of our Duke's Mansion is completely lost." Tang Zinan said angrily.

Duke Zhen stomped his feet and said: "You are also to blame for this matter. It's fine. What did you provoke him for? No matter how bad he is, he is still Prince Cheng's brother-in-law. Now who doesn't curry favor with Prince Cheng!"

"Father, don't you want to curry favor? Even a prince's brother-in-law can step on the head of our Duke's mansion. That's fine. Don't say I didn't do it on purpose today, just say that I just deliberately seek his bad luck. He should also offer that emerald cabbage with both hands!"

Tang Zinan was still angry at the moment, so he went out early in the morning to find a decoration for the Empress Dowager's birthday, and finally came across a piece of emerald cabbage, which was shiny and shiny, but was ordered away.If it was usual, who wouldn't give him a slap in the face of Duke Zhenguo's son, but today this person is none other than Shangguan Yunhai, the son of Minister of the Ministry of War.

Duke Zhen was so angry that he jumped his feet and said angrily: "Let the old man curry favor with him? He has to bear it too! It's just a prince with a bad reputation. When he was the son of Duke Yang's mansion, he had to pay for seniority. Call this old man Shi Bo!"

"Father will also say that it was when he was the son of the prince. When he was the son of the prince, he still had to address me as brother Tang. Now, I have to salute him. He is very popular now. Both the Queen Mother and the Emperor hold him in their hands, so it won't do us any good if we go against him like this!" Tang Zinan said angrily.

"Then what should we do? According to what you said, do we offend him now, and then rush to curry favor with him? I'm afraid it's too late! Now the emperor listens to him for eight or nine of the ten things, just look at him." The main concubine of his Prince Cheng's mansion is Princess Qinya of the Han Qi Dynasty. The two side concubines are the daughter of the Minister of War, and the other is the daughter of the Minister of the Ministry of Officials. They are all of noble status. This King Cheng may not be so Simple!" Duke Zhen was convinced, but he had no steps to go down.

"Why don't you go to Prince Cheng's mansion for a while, after all, you are about the same age as him, and it's easier to talk!" Duke Zhen couldn't help but look at Tang Zinan and said.

Tang Zinan curled his lips and said, "I'm not afraid of losing face, but I have to keep up with my status! Father, I'm just a prince, if I apologize, I'm afraid that Prince Cheng will think that our Zhen Guo The government is not sincere enough, if you get annoyed by this matter again, wouldn't it make things worse?"

Lord Zhen shook his sleeves and sighed.

Tang Zinan pleaded: "Father, you should always only care about the hundreds of people in the Duke of Zhen's mansion. Now that the Lord Cheng is so powerful, offending him will definitely do no good. You only care about the Duke of Fu's mansion." Mi Chenghong will know!"

Mi Chenghong from Fuguogong's mansion slandered King Cheng behind his back a few days ago, as if saying that he stole the private will of their old Fuguogong. The son of the Duke of Yang's mansion, why bother to do this kind of robbery, besides, what is stolen is not gold, silver and jewels, what's so good about stealing a diary written by an old man.

But just like that, Mi Chenghong was sent to prison and had his tongue cut off. Even the queen mother who had always favored Fuguo's mansion didn't say anything. How big is it that the queen mother doesn't even care about her brother's mansion.

Zhen Guogong sighed repeatedly: "Forget it, forget it, I will let go of this old face!"

As soon as Zhen Guogong finished speaking, a servant came in to report: "Prince Cheng is here to visit!"

Duke Zhen and Tang Zinan were taken aback, could it be that King Cheng came to trouble them so quickly?
When the two parties met the ceremony, Lord Zhen came forward with some trepidation and said: "I don't know why Prince Cheng came to the humble house, why?"

Gu Yiran was wearing a beige narrow-sleeved, round-neck, crotchless gown, and his complexion became whiter than snow. He smiled warmly and waved lightly, and a servant brought a brocade box forward.

Gu Yiran got up personally, took out the emerald cabbage from the brocade box, placed it on the rosewood wood boy in front of Lord Zhen Guo, and said: "This king just learned that Shangguan Yunhai and the son of Lord Zhen Guo had a dispute, Shangguan Yunhai It's really rude to use this king's reputation to oppress the son of Zhen Guogong and take it by force. This king has already ordered him to contemplate behind closed doors in the mansion. This emerald cabbage was specially sent back by this king to the son of Zhen Guogong. "

Duke Zhen and Tang Zinan didn't expect that Lord Cheng would be the first to come over to make amends, so they quickly knelt down and saluted, "Don't dare!"

Gu Yiran supported the two of them, and said warmly: "In addition, the king has prepared a few things for the Duke of Zhen and his wife, which are considered as a wish of the king. They should have come a long time ago, but speaking of the king At the beginning, I wanted to call Lord Zhen Guo an Uncle, but now because of my status, I don’t want you to pay respects to me when you see me all the time, so I resisted not coming to visit. Today, the king took this opportunity to Bring the gift here, and ask Lord Zhen not to despise this king, it's too late!"

"Where is it, Lord Cheng is serious!" Duke Zhen said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

This is really a turn of events. I thought I would condescend to beg Gu Yiran, but I didn't expect Gu Yiran to make amends to him first.

"Hurry up and ask Madam to prepare a family banquet!" Duke Zhen Guo immediately ordered with a smile on his face.

Duke Zhen smiled wryly, and said: "Please, Lord Cheng, don't dislike him. You must have a family banquet at the house, just as the old man apologizes for the dog! The dog was so arrogant outside that he even offended the prince's brother-in-law. I want to take my dog ​​and go to Prince Cheng's mansion to plead guilty, but I didn't expect you, Prince Cheng, to come first."

"Duke Zhenguo is serious. It is really this king who has no way to control his subordinates and has caused trouble to the son. This king is really ashamed!" Gu Yiran said with a gentle smile.

Zhen Guogong led the way in front of him: "Prince Cheng, please!"

After drinking for three rounds, Gu still shyly said: "Please don't ask me too much, Lord Zhen Guo, this emerald cabbage is very valuable, the son of Duke Zhen Guo just bought it for decoration, right?"

Tang Zinan glanced at Duke Zhen, who nodded lightly. There is no need to hide this matter. King Cheng will definitely know about it when the Queen Mother celebrates her birthday.

"Don't dare to lie to Prince Cheng, this item is going to be presented on the birthday of the Empress Dowager. Otherwise, how could I compete with Shangguan Yunhai? I really can't find a suitable item to present to the Empress Dowager." Tang Zinan He said it sincerely, and explained the reason why he and Shangguan Yunhai competed by the way.

"This king guesses the same reasoning. To tell you the truth, Shangguan Yunhai also wanted to present this object to the queen mother, so he competed with the prince, but according to this king, this object is not suitable! Gu Yiran shook his head, turning the wine cup in his hand.

Tang Zinan, the eldest son of the Duke of Zhen, immediately flattered and said: "Prince Cheng, please give me some advice." Gu Yiran is now a popular person around the Queen Mother, and he knows what the Queen Mother likes best.

Gu Yiran nodded lightly, gestured to Lord Zhen Guo, and said: "The reason why this jadeite cabbage is so valuable is nothing more than two reasons. The first is because of the jade quality, which is crystal clear and full of water. , it is indeed carved out of a whole piece of jadeite, and the second reason is that cabbage is rich in wealth, which has a good meaning. But these two are not to the Queen Mother's taste."

Duke Zhen also wanted to seek good luck on the Empress Dowager's birthday, so he heard what Gu Yiran said at this time, so he naturally wanted to ask clearly, "What do you mean by the words of Lord Cheng?"

Gu Yiran was a little hesitant, cupped his hands and said, "Don't be impatient, Duke Zhen, please listen to me in detail. This queen mother is the most advocating simplicity. I think both Lord Zhen and the prince know that this emerald cabbage is worth a lot... "

Before Gu Yiran finished speaking, Tang Zinan interrupted anxiously: "Your Majesty's words are wrong. Although the Empress Dowager advocates simplicity, all the items in the Dali Palace are extraordinary. This emerald cabbage is a precious item outside the palace." But in the palace, it is not enough to look at."

Gu Yiran shook his head and said: "No, no, because there are so many treasures in the palace, the Empress Dowager's eyes are as sharp as a torch, and she can see the value at a glance. Besides, the treasury is now empty, and the government of Zhen Guo donated it the year before last. A lot of silver, if it is too arrogant and extravagant at this time, it will only attract everyone's attention. Besides, since it has a good meaning, the Empress Dowager thinks very little about money and wealth.

The Duke of Zhen thought so deeply, and thanked him again and again.The three of them had a drink, and Gu Yiran left in a sedan chair until the willows were on the top of the moon.

Tang Zinan watched Gu Yiran's guard of honor go away, and said just now: "Father, what are your plans for the future? Sincere Prince has shown his kindness this time, let's..."

Lord Zhen narrowed his eyes, stroked his beard and said, "Words about King Cheng having a drink in our mansion will be spread tomorrow. We don't need to worry too much, everyone will think that we are friends with King Cheng!"

"So, father is planning to switch to King Cheng?" Tang Zinan rolled his eyes a few times and said, "Where is Concubine Xue and Tang Zihan..."

Zhen Guogong pondered for a while, and said: "Tang Zihan let him sit on the saddle in front of the emperor, don't worry about him, that girl Aoxue is also a disappointment, she has been in the palace for so long, and she doesn't even have a happy pulse. A prescription who is easy to conceive enters the palace, and with Zihan and Aoxue in the palace, we also have a way out."

(End of this chapter)