cabinet first lady

Chapter 50 Zhang Ge is old and handsome, young and promising
The fact that Zhang Ji was implicated and scolded made the couple very angry, not only angry with the official censor, but also angry with Zhang Anyi.

At the same time, Li Shi knew that the emperor wanted to give Zhang Anyi a concubine, but Zhang Anyi rejected it, which was even more frustrating, so she immediately went to the old lady to file a complaint.

Li Shi herself felt humiliated when she suffered from Ruan Muyang's hands many times, but she couldn't do anything about it, so she could only face her coldly on weekdays, and occasionally stumbling her.Now that she finally had the chance, she naturally wanted to show it off.

After such a long time, Mrs. Li has also learned a little bit smarter.

"Mother, An Yi doesn't even have an heir until now. I'm really worried about him. I have nothing to say about the family rules here. But this time, An Yi defied the order openly, causing the censors to scold him harshly. Seeing a trace of sadness appearing on the old lady's face, Mrs. Li continued, "An Yi has always been prudent, how could he do something against the decree and annoy the Holy Majesty, I am afraid it is because of Mu Yang. Although there will be no smog in the house without a concubine, But it's not good for someone like her to dominate her husband all day long."

After speaking, she waited for the old lady to speak.

To be honest, the Li family really has no place in the Zhang family.As the eldest daughter-in-law of Lao Shangshu, she has never been in charge of the family.Originally, when the old lady was young, the old lady was in charge of the house. After the old lady got old, Wang married in again, and the housekeeper was handed over to Wang.She was also very dissatisfied with Wang Shi at the beginning, but Wang Shi was very respectful to her, which made her very useful.

But after Ruan Muyang came, it was different.

She made Li Shi not have the majesty of being a mother-in-law.

"What you said is not entirely true." The old lady finally said, "No matter what, Mu Yang is An Yi's daughter-in-law, and also your daughter-in-law. You should be more tolerant to her." Although the old lady is old, she is young. He was vigorous and resolute at the time, and he managed the back house in an orderly manner. It can be seen that Mrs. Li is thinking.

Mrs. Li felt a little dissatisfied: "Mother, I don't have one."

The old lady said again: "Not to mention whether An Yi resisted the decree, the two women of different races could not enter the Zhang family's door no matter what, even if they were concubines. I don't agree, and the old man will not agree. An Yi Yi did the right thing, if his grandfather finds out, he will probably get mad again."

The Zhang family has a profound heritage and a strict family style, and it is absolutely forbidden to allow women of other races to enter the door.It's not that they are not afraid of offending the Holy Majesty by resisting the decree, but that they stick to the strength of character and righteousness passed down from generation to generation of the Zhang family ancestors.

Mentioning that Lao Shangshu was ill with anger, Mrs. Li couldn't speak well.It was her eldest son, Zhang Anchao, who was sick with old Shangshu.

"Besides, they are still young. An Yi also said before that he doesn't want children for the time being, so let them go. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings."

When Ruan Muyang came in, he heard the old lady sigh and say "children and grandchildren have their own blessings".

It was Li who sent someone to call her over.

She glanced at Mrs. Li, and combined with the old lady's tone, she immediately guessed what they were talking about.

"Grandmother, mother."

"Mu Yang is here, is it peaceful in Chuanyun Court these two days?" the old lady asked.

Ruan Muyang nodded and said, "Let grandpa and grandma worry about it, everything is fine."

"Your sister-in-law is pregnant again, and now you and Yun Xi are taking care of the family affairs. I'm afraid you will be exhausted. If you feel unwell, please ask the doctor to come and take a look."

Knowing that although the old lady didn't say anything, she still wanted her to conceive, Ruan Muyang felt a little guilty. "It's grandma." Recalling the post sent by someone from the palace an hour ago, she said, "I just wanted to talk to my grandmother and mother. Just now someone from the palace said that the empress would let me into the palace in three days."

Zhang Anyi was on the cusp of the storm, and I don't know what the queen asked her to enter the palace at this time.

The old lady nodded and said, "Go ahead. An Yi needs to take care of a lot now. If you need anything, you can pay it from the account."

"Yes." Some of the daily human relations are naturally paid from the account, but the Wang family who is in charge of the house will be dissatisfied.After all, only Zhang Anyan and the second master Zhang Fu are the only eight businessmen in the Zhang family.So later, some people such as Ruan Muyang entered the palace by himself this time, and they used their own dowry to manage the palace.Fortunately, Mrs. Zhao gave her a generous dowry back then, and the dowry shop was able to make some profits every year.

Such a big event happened in the court, when Zhang Anyi came back, he still looked like a breeze and a bright moon.

"I heard that in order not to accept those two women from other races as concubines, you resisted the decree and annoyed the Holy Majesty?" In fact, Ruan Muyang was surprised when he first heard the news.But in fact, Zhang Anyi has such a temperament, seemingly gentle and good-natured, but hidden in his bones is fortitude and uncompromising.

Zhang Anyi stopped taking off his official uniform, looked at her and asked, "Does Madam know?"

Ruan Muyang raised his eyebrows: "The outside world is scolding like that, how can I not know?" In fact, it was the second day after the incident of resisting the decree happened.

Hearing the dissatisfaction and defense in her tone, Zhang Anyi laughed: "Actually, it's not all scolding me."

"Is there anyone else to praise?" Ruan Muyang walked in front of him, asked him to take his hands away, and changed his official uniform for him, while looking at him disapprovingly.

Zhang Anyi pursed his lips, enjoying Ruan Muyang's virtuous dressing for her, with a little teasing in his gentle eyes, he said slowly: "Some people say that I am a very dedicated man, I love my wife very much, and I don't hesitate to fight for her. "

Unexpectedly, there was such a thing to say, Ruan Muyang paused for a moment, feeling as if he had really become a woman who bewitched the court elder.Her face was slightly hot, she looked into his soft eyes, and asked with rolling eyes: "Then the second master thinks what they spread is true?"

Although Zhang Anyi's rejection of the beautiful concubine bestowed by the sage made the censors scold him half to death, it became a good story among the people.According to legend, Zhang Anyi, the second assistant of the cabinet, is handsome, young and promising, and has a deep affection for his wife. He would rather resist the order than accept a concubine. the culprit.

Zhang Anyi only felt that Ruan Muyang's unintentional charm and charm were extremely moving, so he stretched out his hand to lift her chin, kissed her on the lips, and said in a low voice: "Of course I have deep affection for Madam."

He spoke with a smile, which seemed to be true, although Ruan Muyang knew that his resistance to the decree was definitely not what the folk rumors said, but he also believed that it had something to do with him. Forget about the order.

Three days later, Ruan Muyang entered the palace.

When she arrived at Ganquan Palace, she realized that the queen had only summoned her alone.

"Mrs. Zhang is not more reserved. I just feel that I am very close to Mrs. Zhang, so I just asked Mrs. Zhang to talk." Perhaps because she was born in the south, with the softness unique to southern women, when Queen Qiu smiled, she felt as if she was being raped. The gurgling water seems to moisten it, and it really has the demeanor of a mother who respects the world.

But Ruan Muyang knew that she was not just as gentle as she appeared on the surface.

"The minister's wife is extremely honored."

Ruan Muyang found that although he was cautious and never relaxed when chatting with Queen Qiu, there was a vague sense of comfort.

Not long after, Empress Qiu talked about Zhang Anyi's rejection of the two concubines of different races bestowed by Emperor Ling, and said with a sigh in her tone: "Don't say it is a noble family in the capital, even ordinary people with three wives and four concubines There are quite a few of them, there are very few people like Mr. Zhang Ge who don't take concubines, I don't know how many women would envy Mrs. Zhang."

Women really don't want their husbands to have three wives and four concubines, but they can't help themselves. Even the most noble woman in the world like the queen has to endure the emperor's three palaces and six courtyards.Naturally, Ruan Muyang would not be so stupid as to agree that Zhang Anyi did this for his own sake, and immediately explained: "It's the Zhang family's strict family style." If she really agrees with what the queen said, I'm afraid even the queen will be jealous of her .

Realizing her cautiousness, Empress Qiu laughed, and then said: "It's just that although Mr. Zhang Ge's merits and demerits are offset, he still loses the emperor's face. In addition, the imperial officials have criticized him these few days, and the emperor is very dissatisfied."

Speaking of this, she changed the subject: "But I appreciate Master Zhang's approach very much. Although he is a civil servant, he is very bloody and strong. In addition, I am interested in you, so I am worried for you."

At first, I thought that Empress Qiu was going to make trouble for Emperor Ling, but after hearing this, I realized that Empress Qiu didn't mean that. How delicate is Ruan Muyang?She immediately stood up, knelt down and said: "Please trouble the empress to say a few kind words in front of the Holy One." This is Queen Qiu's kindness, so she naturally cannot be ignorant of flattery.

Empress Qiu's lips hooked invisibly, and her tone was still easy-going. She leaned over and helped Ruan Muyang up and said, "Mrs. Zhang, get up quickly. Zhang Ge is always a minister, so I naturally want to speak for him." .”

"Thank you madam."

One kindness, one gratitude, and then naturally the more they talked, the more harmonious they became.

But not long after, a court lady ran in in a panic: "Your Majesty!"

"What's wrong with being so reckless?" Queen Qiu asked.

The court lady was obviously frightened by something, she said carefully: "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness was bitten by the dog raised by Concubine Luo on the way to visit Your Majesty." Her voice was trembling.

"What?" Queen Qiu stood up, "Where is the prince?"

Ruan Muyang felt that the gentle and easy-going spirit on Queen Qiu disappeared for a moment, and there was a flash of killing intent.It can be seen from last year's Mid-Autumn Festival banquet that she placed very high hopes on the prince, so she was naturally very nervous about the prince.

Ruan Muyang also knew a little about the affairs in the harem.Concubine Luo is Luo Jie's daughter and has a very high status in the harem, so she often doesn't take the queen seriously.Perhaps Luo Jie also had the idea of ​​letting Luo Fei take the back seat.

A dog raised by a concubine bit the prince, and the dog would definitely die, and the concubine who kept the dog would probably be punished severely.

But now that Luo Jie is so powerful, it might not be possible.

After all, it is a matter in the harem, and Ruan Muyang is not suitable to participate in it.When she was about to get up and leave, several palace people surrounded the prince and came to Ganquan Palace.

"Have you invited the imperial physician?" Queen Qiu asked.

"Go back to your mother, I have already gone to invite you."

There was some confusion in the main hall due to the crowd.Empress Qiu's attention was all on the little prince, it was not appropriate for Ruan Muyang to disturb her at this moment, but she couldn't just leave like this.

"Where is the injury?"

Ruan Muyang noticed that since the little prince came in, although Empress Qiu still had concern in her eyes, her expression was much calmer than before, as if she was deliberately suppressing her emotions.

And the little prince did not cry, his eyes were not even red, and he replied in a normal tone: "After returning to my mother, my leg was bitten, so it's okay." The little prince who was under ten years old was even more calm.

Queen Qiu nodded in satisfaction.

Ruan Muyang couldn't help but sigh in his heart for her good intentions.

As a woman, Queen Qiu's only hope is for the prince to thank her deeply.A loving mother has many failures, only by teaching the little prince like Queen Qiu, the little prince will not grow up to be indecisive and absurd like Lingdi in the future.

"Empress, the minister's wife will leave first." Ruan Muyang saw the timing and said.

Queen Qiu nodded.

Not long after he walked out of Ganquan Palace, Ruan Muyang saw Concubine Luo surrounded by her.

"See Empress Luo Fei."

"Get up." Concubine Luo didn't pay attention to Ruan Muyang at all, and after walking a few steps, she seemed to remember something and looked back at her, "Wait, are you Mrs. Zhang?"

Ruan Muyang, who was about to leave, had to stop again, and replied: "Go back to your mother, that's right."

Luo Fei sized her up and said thoughtfully: "I have heard Luo Yu mention you before."

Luo Fei is Luo Yu's little aunt.Since the relationship between Zhang Anyi and Luo Jie became tense, Ruan Muyang hadn't seen Luo Yu, and both of them seemed to be deliberately avoiding her.

"Your Majesty, let's go to Ganquan Palace." The palace servants beside Concubine Luo urged.

Luo Fei said impatiently: "Understood."

Her savage personality is somewhat similar to Luo Yu's, but Luo Yu is simpler.Ruan Muyang looked at Concubine Luo's back as she went away, and finally understood why the queen wanted to show her kindness today.

Concubine Luo threatened the Queen's position. If she had an heir, she would threaten the little prince. The little prince would be like the Ling Emperor back then.The Luo family threatened her position as queen and the crown prince, she naturally couldn't tolerate it, and the current plan was to win over Zhang Anyi, the only one in the court who had the ability to compete against Luo Jie in the future.

They have a common enemy.

After returning, Ruan Muyang told Zhang Anyi about the queen's kindness and his own speculation.

"The crown prince is orthodox, so naturally he has to support it. It's just that the queen's natal family has no influence in the court. Even with the help of the queen, Luo Jie and I are not the same as Xu Hou and Luo Jie back then. Our strengths are not equal." Zhang Anyi His eyes were solemn and deep.

Ruan Muyang heard from his tone that he didn't seem optimistic about cooperating with the queen.She thought it would be a win-win.

"Then - what's the second master's plan?" she asked.

Seeing the worry in her tone, Zhang Anyi showed a gentle smile and comforted him: "Luo Jie can't tolerate me, and I naturally can't tolerate him. Don't worry, madam. Although the Holy Majesty has been in poor health, he still has a few years to live." , as long as the Holy Majesty is still here, no matter how bold Luo Jie is, he can't do anything to me."

Give him a few more years, and then he will compete with Luo Jie again, and the result will be unknown.

His tone was relaxed, as if he was saying the most common words between husband and wife, which made Ruan Muyang believe him involuntarily.

The Zhang and Luo factions in the middle and middle courts grew stronger and suppressed each other, fighting openly and secretly. In the blink of an eye, another year has passed, and the three-year spring is ushered in, and a group of young people will step into the turbulent officialdom.

During this year, Emperor Ling was still obsessed with alchemy, and only occasionally intervened in the government, allowing people from Zhang Anyi and Luo Jie to restrain each other. He managed the wild land of Xizhou in an orderly manner, and his achievements have spread to the capital.

This is bad news for Ruan Muyang - Xie Zhao's army is growing, and he may be about to rise again.

She had to let Han Shi buy people in Xizhou to often pass on the news of Xizhou.

Originally, with Zhang Anyi's knowledge and status, it was most suitable to be one of the chief examiners of the examination and the examiner of the hall examination, but because Zhang Anchao and Zhang Anyu were going to participate, he asked the emperor to withdraw, and the two chief examiners of the final examination They are members of Luo Jie and Zhang Anyi respectively, and Luo Jie himself is the examiner of the palace examination.

However, even if Zhang Anyi gave him the opportunity, not everyone could seize it.

Zhang Anchao devoted himself to studying hard and prepared for six years, but failed in the examination.On the contrary, Zhang Anyu, the incarnated demon king whom the Zhang family didn't think much of, passed the general examination, and his results in the palace examination were so-so and passable.

Zhang Fu and Ji's couple were naturally very happy.The old Shangshu and the old lady were also very happy.

"I didn't expect the fourth brother to look like an ignorant dude. I didn't expect to pass the exam." Ruan Muyang said sincerely.In her eyes, Zhang Anyu was still like the child who broke Zhu Shaoshi's leg and was found by Mrs. Zhu.

Zhang Anyi asked: "Madam happy?"

Nature is happy.Ruan Muyang was about to nod, but felt that Zhang Anyi's eyes were gentle but for no reason made her flustered for a while, vaguely felt that he didn't seem to like her nodding, so he changed his words: "Happy for the fourth sibling." Between uncles and sisters-in-law, suspicion should really be avoided Yes, Zhang Anyu is no longer the child who troubled her all day long.

"Although the fourth brother was spoiled lawlessly by his grandmother in the past, he is a very understanding person and has good talents. With a little effort, he can naturally pass the exam like this. As for the third brother..." Zhang Anyi sighed, "Look at some things. If you take it too seriously, you will not be able to adjust your mentality well, and if you are too fussy, you will fail the exam, but you can’t blame him.”

It is extremely difficult to be a bastard in the Zhang family.

The temperaments of Zhang Anyu and Zhang Anyi can be said to be opposite, one is young and frivolous, the other is mature, but Zhang Anyi's evaluation of Zhang Anyu is actually so good.

Zhang Anchao went from failing the exam together with Zhang Anyi, to avoiding the second time because Zhang Anyi was the same examiner, and now he has waited for another three years to finally be able to take the exam again, but he still failed.Ruan Muyang said regretfully: "The third brother has prepared for so many years, but it is not as good as the fourth brother for two years. I am afraid I will feel very uncomfortable." Not only uncomfortable, but even more resentful towards Zhang Anyi.

"His temperament is not as good as the fourth brother's. It is very easy to go astray when he enters the officialdom."

Soon, the imperial court appointed Zhang Anyu.He failed to select a good scholar to enter the Imperial Academy, and was sent to Qingtian County as a county magistrate.

Although he is only a county magistrate, Qingtian County is located in the affluent Zhejiang Province, so it is a good place to go. As long as his political performance is good, he can be promoted in a few years. With Zhang Anyi's help, he can return to Beijing very quickly.

Zhang Anyu can be said to be a typical disciple of the capital city. He has hardly been out of the capital city since he grew up, so the Ji family is naturally worried.

But Zhang Fu was very happy.

When Zhang Anyu went to Qingtian, Hu Yunxi naturally wanted to follow.

Just as they were packing their things and preparing to leave, Mrs. Chen came to Chuanyun Courtyard one afternoon.

Ruan Muyang was a little surprised by Chen's arrival, because they had very little private contact in the past two years.

"Third siblings, sit down quickly." Seeing Chen's low-browed and pleasing expression, Ruan Muyang sighed in his heart.

It's not easy for them as husband and wife.

Mrs. Chen sat restlessly, drank the tea brought by Diancui, a little absent-minded.

Seeing that something was wrong with her, Ruan Muyang asked, "What happened to the third sibling?"

"Since the second sister-in-law asked, I'll just say it straight." Mrs. Chen shook the teacup and said, "Actually, I came to see the second sister-in-law this time because of an unfeeling invitation."

What Ruan Muyang is most afraid of is the unfeeling invitation of others, but it is difficult to refuse, so he can only wait for her to continue talking.

"An Chao - he has a reputation for raising people, and logically speaking, he can also be an official. Can the second sister-in-law ask the second brother to take care of him so that An Chao can become an official?" Chen said expectantly. .

It is true that if you have a reputation for raising people, you can be in charge. At the beginning, the old minister asked Zhang Anyi to get a foreign county magistrate to do it.Many years ago, Zhang Ji was able to become an official because of the arrangement of the old minister, from the county magistrate to the magistrate.

Zhang Anyi is currently the second assistant to the cabinet. When some local officials are promoted and the position becomes vacant, it is also possible to find Zhang Anchao a foreign county magistrate.

It's just that Ruan Muyang remembered what Zhang Anyi said not long ago.He said that Zhang Anchao's personality was not suitable for being an official.

Seeing Chen's expectations, Ruan Muyang couldn't refuse immediately, and said: "I shouldn't refuse the third sibling's request, but I have to wait for your second brother to come back before making the decision. After all, I am just a woman."

Mrs. Chen nodded happily, then stopped talking.

"What worries does the third sibling have?" Ruan Muyang asked.She can't treat Chen Shi like she treats Wang Shi.

Although Zhang Anchao is a bastard, the fault is not his, but Zhang Ji's absurdity.Their husband and wife are very low-key in Zhang's house on weekdays. As for their temperament, it is no wonder that Zhang Anchao is not a son. Li's mother is indifferent to him, and Zhang Ji is very indifferent to this son. Naturally, he can't be like Zhang Anchao. Sleek, and dare not be as lawless as Zhang Anyu.

Mrs. Chen hesitated for a moment, but summoned up her courage and said, "Neither An Chao nor I have traveled far, so I wonder if Second Brother can arrange a position in Beijing."

Unexpectedly, she made such a request, Ruan Muyang fell silent for a while.

Being able to stay in the capital is definitely a fat job, the seventh rank in the capital is better than the fifth rank outside Beijing, Zhang Anyu is a well-known Jinshi on the list and has to be sent abroad, Zhang Anchao is just a juren and still wants to stay in the capital?

(End of this chapter)