Phoenix Fight: The First Concubine

Chapter 164 Observance of Filial Piety
Murong Wei held her breath, and sat down on one side, "Your Majesty!"

She increased the volume, Xiao Mingrui froze for a moment, then looked up: "Wei'er, when did you come?"

Murong Wei was angry and helpless: "It's been a long time since I came here just now. Look at how simple the house is, and the weather is so cold. You just put such a brazier, how can you stand it at night?"

As she spoke, she stretched out her hand to hold his hand, "Look, your hands are freezing cold."

While saying this, she still looked at him complainingly.

Xiao Mingrui smiled slightly, he knew his wife was just caring about her, and said with a smile: "It's okay, it's not like this happened in Saibei before, I'm used to it."

"That's not okay, Father is gone... I know you are sad, but if you also fall ill, then Father's hard work will be in vain. The dead are gone, and those who come can be chased. For the sake of Daqin, you Just take care of your body.”

Xiao Mingrui sighed: "I know it all... It's just that this is the last thing I can do for my father, Wei Er, don't persuade me. Sleeping at night, the bed is also thick, I won't It’s frozen. Since you want to be filial, what conditions are there? My father has raised me for more than 20 years, so why can’t I keep my filial piety for him for more than 20 days?”

Murong Wei was speechless and looked at him helplessly.

She also knew that since Xiao Mingrui had decided on something, she had no way to convince him.

"Forget it, I won't persuade you anymore. If you want to come to observe your filial piety, I will accompany you." After speaking, she told Aunt Yue: "Bring my things in the evening, and I will accompany you." Let the emperor observe the filial piety together."

Xiao Mingrui hurriedly said: "Wei'er, you don't have to do this. Besides, you are a queen, so you are not suitable to stay here."

"If your majesty is afraid of others saying it, then I will also live in the thatched hut next door. If you want to suffer, everyone can eat together."

Xiao Mingrui smiled wryly and said, "You will really give me problems. Okay, can I promise you to add more braziers?"

"You should also eat well." Murong Wei said.

She got up and took the still warm food box from Aunt Yue and opened it. Inside was a bowl of small wontons. She brought it out and said, "You can't eat meat when you observe filial piety. This is also made of vegetarian stuffing. I made it myself. You can eat it while you are in filial piety." Eat something hot. I heard from Sood that you haven't eaten much in the morning."

Xiao Mingrui took the soup spoon, seeing his wife watching eagerly, how could he not know that she was also very busy during this time, and said softly: "You can eat together too, Weier, you are too busy these days. "

Su De happily asked someone to prepare a few more dinners. The husband and wife were eating a simple dinner in this simple thatched hut with the dim light, but they felt warm and sweet like an ordinary couple, as if they were not at this moment. No longer in front of the most solemn palace in the world, but only in a shabby room in the mountains, enjoying tea and light meals.

Although it was simple eating, without fancy clothes and gourmet food, in the Great Xia Guangdian, surrounded by the howling north wind, Xiao Mingrui felt a sense of sweetness. At this moment, his heart was unprecedentedly peaceful.

Since the death of his father, he has been under high pressure these days. He is so busy that he has no free time. He sleeps for less than two hours a day.

With the burden of the whole country on his shoulders and the funeral of his father, he understood what his father said more clearly than before.

It is difficult to be a king, and it is not easy to be an emperor.

Even being a prince is not the same as being an emperor. He didn't understand his father's painstaking efforts in the past until he actually reached this position.

Looking around, there are old and cunning courtiers, and the superiors always have to speculate on the thoughts of these courtiers, the scheming hidden under their superficial respect.

The people's livelihood, the turmoil in the frontier, everything made him tense.

When he didn't take that position, the attitude of the officials towards him was very different from what it is now. It used to be flattery, but now there is opposition amidst respect.

A feeling of powerlessness made him, who had just taken the position, eager to stabilize the foundation and control the situation, so he spent the whole day reading memorials and dealing with affairs, wanting to control the entire country as soon as possible.

The little eunuch packed up the dinner plates and went out, and a few more braziers were lit in the thatched shed, adding a bit of warmth.

Murong Wei stood behind Xiao Mingrui, Rou Ning gently massaged his temples, "Husband...you are exhausted. Don't put too much pressure on yourself."

Xiao Mingrui closed his eyes and meditated, stretched out his hand to hold her hand, and sighed: "Wei'er, you don't understand. Only when I sit in this position, I know the difficulty of the emperor father. Now it's my turn. I have to hurry up and control everything .”

Murong Wei nodded: "I understand. But I believe that Husband can do it, but before that, Husband should not be too tired. If you get sick, it will be the biggest trouble."

"Well, I've always been in good health, so you don't have to worry about that. By the way, how are Tiger Head and the others doing?"

"Suffering a little cold, I let them rest."

"Well, they suffer too."

"It's right to be filial to their grandfather, but the children are too young, and they can't hold on."

In fact, Murong Wei felt that filial piety to the deceased relatives was not in these things. If he self-harmed his body, how could he be considered filial piety?
"Wei'er, it's getting late, you go back to Ciqing Palace first, and take care of the child, I don't have time to go back recently."

Seeing him like that, Murong Wei saw that there were still a pile of memorials on the desk, and knew that he might have to stay up late again, so she sighed: "Don't work too hard, go to bed early."

Xiao Mingrui smiled and said, "Now I wish I could have 24 hours a day."

48 hours?
Murong Wei smiled wryly, sat with him for a while, told Su De to take good care of Xiao Mingrui, and then went back to Ciqing Palace with Yuegu.

Hutou and Lele were already asleep, Murong Wei coaxed her for a while, washed up and then fell asleep.

The next morning, Murong Wei got up early, because she had to go to the Hall of Renzhi to cry for her spirit. Xihua Gate enters the Shansi Gate here and cries for spirits.

According to Qin Tianjian's calculations, the [-]th is the best burial day. At that time, Xiao Mingrui will personally help the spirit and bury him in the built imperial tomb. The empress who died long ago will also be buried in the imperial tomb , and Emperor Jianwu were buried together.

Murong Wei was still here to receive the royal wife, and at noon, Concubine Hui sent someone to summon her.

Since the day when Emperor Jianwu passed away, these harem concubines could no longer live in their original places, because where the new emperor’s concubines lived, all the concubines of Emperor Jianwu moved to the southwest area of ​​the Forbidden City. This palace, relatively desolate, was the place where concubines of all ages lived, while Concubine Hui was honored as empress dowager by Xiao Mingrui, and lived in the Palace of Compassion, but they hadn't been canonized yet.

After the burial of Emperor Jianwu in a few days, Xiao Mingrui will be enthroned and canonized.

In front of the Compassionate Ning Palace, the female officer Jinse had already come to greet her, and briskly helped Murong Wei inside.

It was only when Murong Wei came in that she saw that it was quite lively. Besides Concubine Hui, there were Concubine Li, Concubine Duan, the biological mother of King Chu, Concubine Min, the biological mother of King Wei, the biological mothers and concubines of the sixth and seventh princes, and others.

Murong Wei was a little surprised. Many of these women were actually young at the moment, and their appearance was not bad. They were originally at the age when women were in full bloom, but they withered after the death of Emperor Jianwu.

Even Concubine Hui, who used to look like a phoenix-spicy person, now has a gloomy expression, but besides that, because of being crowned Empress Dowager, she has a kind of glory nourished by power and status, which makes her a high status among these women , occupying the dominant position, I am afraid that he is also very proud in his heart, right?
The former opponents have stepped on their feet...

Murong Wei narrowed her eyes, stepped forward to salute Concubine Hui, and the other concubines beside her also saluted Murong Wei.

"I don't know what's the reason why the mother called the concubine to come at this time? These days, the concubine is too busy to come over and accompany the queen."

Concubine Hui patted her hand and sighed: "Emperor Daxing is in control of Bintian, Aijia is feeling bad."

The other concubines also had red eye circles and wiped away their tears.

They have become widows since then, and those who have sons are fine, but those who have no children are hard to bear.

After all, in this deep palace, the most lonely thing is.

In fact, the concubines that Emperor Guangwu accepted in his later years were younger than Emperor Jianwu at that time, and there are still some people who are still alive. They are lonely in the deep palace, and they are a group of forgotten people.

Without the care of children, it is even more difficult to be in the palace.

Murong Wei sighed: "My mother's day is so sad, and now I have to trouble my mother to take care of the affairs in the palace. When I first entered the palace, I can't manage many things. The emperor is the first to be a great treasure, and the palace still needs my mother to take care of it." Let us rest assured."

Concubine Hui smiled slightly: "Look at what you said, you are the queen now, so you are in charge of the affairs of the palace. As for me, from now on, I will worship the Buddha, chat with my sisters, and look at the children. gone."

When the concubines saw that they had something to discuss, they left one after another.

"I came to you today because I wanted to ask you something." Concubine Hui frowned and said, "Queen, it turns out that the emperor still had some concubines when he was in the hidden residence. Of course, the person who murdered you before will not be mentioned." , besides them, how many people are there? Since you entered the palace, the crown prince has not named them, and I don't know what you plan to do? But now you are going to be named queen, and you will also be named concubine... If there is no one, it is also inappropriate."

Murong Wei narrowed her eyes and said in her heart, she really meant this.

She said with some shame: "The Queen Mother didn't mention this matter, I almost forgot. It's like this... Actually, I don't know the specific situation very well. I just know that after Su Mei murdered Hutou, the emperor was hiding Di was furious, and arrested Su Mei for interrogation. He didn't know what Su Mei had confessed to. Later, the emperor took Zhang Yuqian and Liu Yue away. Later, the courtiers did not dare to ask where they went. The remaining concubine, Wu Lan, has been cultivating in the Buddhist hall. After entering the palace at that time, the emperor could not build a Buddhist hall in Ciqing Palace, so she was allowed to stay in the hidden residence."

Concubine Hui's eyes moved slightly: "Is that so? The emperor is too... But Qingxiu is not necessary, it has to be canonized, and it may not be appropriate to stay in the hidden mansion. As for Zhang Yuqian and the others, how do you arrange it? Discuss with the emperor."

Murong Wei said with a smile: "The queen mother is right, the concubine will tell the emperor when she turns around. But now that the emperor is busy with everything, the concubine thinks it is better to wait for the emperor to be buried before telling the emperor. There is still time."

Concubine Hui nodded and said: "Wei'er, the Ai family knows that you and the emperor are deeply in love with each other, but now you are the empress, and your mother loves the world, so you can no longer be like the past. Otherwise, what will people outside say?"

Murong Wei held back her anger and nodded: "The empress is right, but the emperor's temperament is also known to the empress. If he is not willing, there is nothing the concubine can do. You see, the emperor has to keep his filial piety in that cottage in this cold weather. No matter how much the concubine persuades him, it's useless, and I want to ask my mother to persuade him when I come here today."

"Ai's family also knows about this. The emperor is filial, but it's just such a cold day. It's hard for him. Are all the good grandsons of Ai's family frozen?"

Concubine Hui is also very knowledgeable, so naturally she won't continue on that topic, for a smart person, just a few pointers is enough.

Concubine Hui thought so, and Murong Wei also understood very well that she hoped that the emperor would spread his branches and leaves, which is not surprising, after all these years, there has never been an empress situation like Xiao Mingrui and Murong Wei in this dynasty.

The ministers outside have long criticized that they want the new emperor to accept concubines. After all, it is indeed very rare for the empress to rule alone.

"It's freezing. The concubine asked the imperial doctor to see him. Now they are still recuperating."

Murong Wei casually chatted with Concubine Hui about the children and the recent affairs of the palace. Concubine Shishi had previously said that Murong Wei was in charge of the affairs of the palace, but in fact, the power in the palace is still with Concubine Hui. It was given to her by Emperor Jianwu before.

It stands to reason that Murong Wei should take back this power, but she doesn't want to take over right now, because her time in the palace is still short, unlike Concubine Hui who has stayed in the palace for decades, her deep connections are incomparable to her, The ability to handle palace affairs is also much more skilled than Murong Wei.

Murong Wei planned to wait for a while to get acquainted, so as not to fight over it and make mistakes in handling things.

Moreover, the management of palace affairs is complicated. Speaking of which, Murong Wei really doesn't want to take over.

But she is the queen, and she has to fight for this power, because she has to think about her children and herself.

After sitting for half an hour, Murong Wei returned from the Compassionate Ning Palace.

Going back in the phoenix sedan chair, Murong Wei frowned thinking about what happened just now.

"Give them concubines?" Murong Wei was not very happy.

After returning to Ciqing Palace, Mother Zheng told Murong Wei that she had recently investigated the situation in the palace.

"The Empress Dowager's siblings entered the palace and talked with the Empress Dowager for a long time, Rong Taipin's younger sister entered the palace, and was taken by Rong Taipin to meet the Queen Mother... Li Dowager Concubine asked the Queen Mother to intercede with the First Prince, and wanted the new emperor to pardon them... ..."

Madam Zheng said some news, some of which seemed to be unconnected, but when connected, they were completely different.

The light in Murong Wei's eyes changed.

Rong Taipin's younger sister?

Isn't it the one who heard that her looks and temperament are very similar to hers, tsk tsk, take her to see the queen mother, and then think about what happened today...

Murong Wei sighed: "Nurse, this person, once the position is changed, the way of thinking will be different."

Concubine Hui originally relied on Xiao Mingrui to fully support him, but there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world, and now it is time to take back the benefits.

Isn't that enough for the Li family to want a position in the court and in the palace?

Concubine Hui is very aware of her relationship with Xiao Mingrui, she would not force Xiao Mingrui to accept a woman from the Li family as his concubine because of her intelligence, that would be too stupid.

Or this is just a test. If Xiao Mingrui's temperament changed after he became the emperor, and he moved on to another, and he fell in love with Rong Taipin's younger sister, then perhaps the follow-up beauties would come in an endless stream. For the Li family, at this time Then choose a concubine to enter the palace, relying on the status of the empress dowager, isn't it easy for a noble concubine?
If there is another son, it will very much threaten Murong Wei's status and that of Hutou's eldest son.

When Murong Wei thought of the danger, her heart was really cold.

Of course, if Xiao Mingrui still favors Murong Wei, maybe they will change their minds, maybe it would be good to focus on Hutou, the future prince, the Li family has a queen mother, and maybe they want to have another queen.

Mother Zheng said indifferently: "Your Majesty, it is good that you understand. As for Wu Lan, she can really become a monk. I think the emperor will not care about it, but speaking of it, the servant thinks that you only favor the harem. The target is too big and it is easy to make enemies. So it’s up to you to decide for yourself.”

Murong Wei pondered for a long time, but didn't say anything to Madam Zheng.

Indeed, as Madam Zheng said, how to choose is her own business.

Murong Wei felt stubborn in her heart, could she not live a husband and wife life with the empress when she was the emperor?
In the Ming Dynasty there was Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty, and there was only the empress in the harem, and they lived an ordinary married life with the empress. Although there were several discussions in the outer court and the empress dowager was also dissatisfied, didn't the couple still live well?Didn't the son ascend the throne and become emperor in the end?
Why can't she?
pressure?

If she couldn't bear even this, why should she be the queen of the world, why should she walk with Xiao Mingrui?

Just for the love between the two of them, do you want other women to dangle in front of you, or let other women sacrifice their lives for their love?

Why bother?
Thinking of this, Murong Wei felt stubborn and determined in her heart. No, she said that she would grow old together with Xiao Mingrui, a couple for life. Could it be that now that she is an emperor and queen, she has to compromise?
When he was in the palace, Xiao Mingrui refused to touch other women when it was so dangerous and difficult. Could it be that he changed after entering the palace?
If he is such a man, then Murong Wei is really blind.

As for Concubine Hui, she couldn't use this matter to suppress anything.

In the final analysis, she is just Xiao Mingrui's adoptive mother, not his biological mother, let alone his aunt, the empress of Emperor Jianwu.

Xiao Mingrui let her be the Queen Mother because he was grateful for her kindness, but it didn't mean that she could threaten Xiao Mingrui.

Concubine Hui probably knew well that Xiao Mingrui's feelings for her were very weak, at most she was only grateful.

Concubine Hui also better understand who is in charge now.

Murong Wei's eyes flickered, she had already made up her mind.

"Nurse, do you think I don't have the skills to control the harem?"

Madam Zheng was stunned: "How could it be? Of course, the empress's ability can control the harem."

"There's nothing wrong with that." Murong Wei smiled lightly.

Madam Zheng understood what she meant.

Although she didn't quite agree with it, it wasn't completely useless.

At least, if there is only one person in the harem, it will also prevent other women from competing for favor or murdering the prince.

Murong Wei didn't say any more.

She had made up her mind.

Now that she is his wife, she is destined to be impossible to be ordinary. It is certain that she will bear the pressure in which position she sits.

That being the case, adapting to all of this and controlling all of this is what she has to do now.

She didn't want him to worry about the affairs of the harem in his busy schedule, all this was what she could do for him.

Until the day of Emperor Jianwu's burial, Xiao Mingrui helped Ling go to Jingling, and when he returned from Jingling, it was already the next day.

The date selected by Qin Tianjian for enthronement was on the [-]th of this month, and it was only a few days away, because it was the first emperor who died not long ago, Xiao Mingrui didn't want to make a big deal, but kept everything simple.

It is said to be simple, but the Ministry of Rites still held a very grand enthronement ceremony, but the procedure was slightly simplified.

However, before that, the ministers would symbolically persuade the emperor to ascend the throne, while Xiao Mingrui had to decline, and then reluctantly ascended the throne.

This has been the rule since the past dynasties, although it is very pretentious, Xiao Mingrui will naturally follow this rule if he takes three resignations before ascending the throne.

Xiao Mingrui initially set the year name as Qiande, next year will be the first year of Qiande, and this year will still use the year name of the 20th year of Jianwu.

Emperor Jianwu is the temple name Shizong, and his posthumous title is Xiantian, Chongdao, Yingming, Sacred, Qin Wenzhao, Wu Kuanren, Pure Xiaozhang Emperor.

Just looking at this big posthumous title is a headache.

Speaking of which, Emperor Jianwu is also considered a wise emperor. During these years in power, he can be regarded as the first-class in terms of civil and martial arts.

This also put a lot of pressure on Xiao Mingrui. He has just ascended the throne, and his prestige and ability to handle government affairs cannot be compared with Emperor Jianwu. Now he is still in the stage of getting along with the officials.

Fortunately, it's not that he hasn't established his own team in these years, and his handling of government affairs all year round has also brought him a lot of prestige. No matter whether it is civil or military, he has nothing to dissatisfy with the emperor.

On the day of enthronement, it was a rare sunny day, and the bitter cold wind made all the officials who came to pay homage very cold.

In the Zhongji Hall, the hatchback is full of bell and drum musicians for the ceremonies.A bright yellow sedan chair carried by 16 people was carried out from the gate of Qianqing, guarded by guards of honor and guarded all the way, with golden umbrellas held high.The big sedan chair landed in front of the Zhongji Hall, and Xiao Mingrui walked out of the sedan chair wearing a gown.

Guided by his servant, he walked up to Danbi step by step.

All the civil and military officials were dressed in colored robes and stood in line under Majesty Dan.On the square in front of the hall, guards of gourds stand layer by layer, and 36 gun salutes are fired.In the hatchback, 120 eight musicians played the majestic Shao music.

Xiao Mingrui accepted the congratulations from the officials, relatives of the emperor, and foreign envoys in the middle-level hall. At the moment when the imperial power was so powerful, he felt a little dazed. When he watched all the officials bow down, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and joy that all the heroes in the world are under their control. A sense of pride, condescending, but Jue Tian is mighty, a feeling of power that he has never had before emerges in his heart.

Nine-five Supreme, Son of Heaven, this is the king!
The officials of the General Administration Department flashed to the side of Dan Chi, holding the yellow silk imperial edict in their hands, and recited aloud: "Follow the heavens, my emperor ascends the throne, and the music is played in all directions. The country is very lucky. Next year, it will be changed to Yuan, and the title is Gande..."

The chief assistant of the cabinet led all civil and military officials to kneel together and shouted: "Long live my emperor, long live, long live!"

After the ceremony, Xiao Mingrui pardoned the world according to the rules, except for the heinous people, everyone else was pardoned.

He didn't have much free time, and immediately after the enthronement ceremony, he had to go to the imperial study to deal with government affairs and discuss with the cabinet ministers about major affairs of the court.

Fortunately, he has worked in the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Officials in the past two years, and he is already very familiar with the government. Now he just has to deal with more and more complicated things, and the relationship between the DPRK and China needs to be balanced. All these will take time.

Murong Wei had also moved into the Kunning Palace at this time, and Xiao Mingrui was still in the Qianqing Palace to observe filial piety for Emperor Jianwu, and it would take a few days before he officially entered the Qianqing Palace after the release ceremony.

All the officials praised Xiao Mingrui's sincerity and filial piety, but Murong Wei just felt sorry for him living in that cottage in the cold weather, so she had to visit him every day.

On the day of enthronement, Xiao Mingrui was in a very excited mood, and went to Kunning Palace in the evening.

The palace people were very surprised by Xiao Mingrui's arrival, and hurriedly came to greet him happily, Murong Wei was also very surprised, seeing the faint excitement in his eyes, she understood it in her heart.

Murong Wei bowed to greet her and said, "My concubine pays her respects to the emperor."

Xiao Mingrui helped her up, and said with a slight smile, "You don't have to be polite, the queen."

As he spoke, he took her by the hand into the inner hall and asked about Hutou and Lele's situation.

Murong Wei asked the nanny to bring the baby, Xiao Mingrui was very happy to see the children whom he hadn't seen for a long time, and played with them for a while.

Lele looked curiously at the winged crown on Xiao Mingrui's head. Seeing the bright pearl on it, she wanted to grab it and play with it. Murong Wei quickly dissuaded her and asked someone to bring the toy. Lele quickly turned her attention to the Toys are up.

Hutou pouted: "Dad hasn't been here for a long time...don't Daddy like Hutou?"

Xiao Mingrui's heart almost melted, and he hugged his son and kissed him: "Why, dad is very busy these days..."

"I'll be called Father Emperor from now on." Murong Wei said with a smile, "Otherwise it will be out of order for others to listen."

"It's okay, it doesn't matter if you are casual in private." Xiao Mingrui is very relaxed at the moment.

(End of this chapter)