Madam Hou

Chapter 111

At the place of Concubine Cao Gui in Kanghua Palace, Princess Shouyang took a sip of a bowl of lotus seed soup, then put down the spoon in her hand, meditated for a while, then raised her head and said to her mother: "Mother, you said I will let Ming How about Yu marrying Lin Sanye?"

Mingyu is the youngest daughter of Princess Shouyang, and she has the title of county lord.Princess Shouyang and her son-in-law had two sons and three daughters. The three daughters were the princesses of Mingli County, Minghua County and Mingyu County.The county lords of Mingli and Minghua are both married, and only the lord of Mingyu is waiting in her boudoir.

The head of Mingyu County is 15 years old this year, exactly the age of Jiji, but because he was born in Dongyue, the Jiji ceremony has not yet been held.

Concubine Cao Gui was also holding a bowl of lotus seed soup. After hearing what Princess Shouyang said, she handed the bowl to the maid behind her, and then said: "If you marry Yongning Houfu, you will choose to side with the Queen and Kang Guogong. Already, have you thought about it clearly?"

Princess Shouyang nodded, sighed, and said, "If it's just me and my son-in-law, we can naturally choose the middle way, but there are Ming Yi and Ming Hong under me. Although they are not dudes, they are also qualified. Mediocrity, if I don't stand in line early to get some credit, I will wait until the emperor..." Princess Shouyang didn't dare to say those two words, but she believed that Concubine Cao Gui could understand, and then continued: "They don't have a title Kecheng, after we go, who will remember them."

Ming Yi and Ming Hong are the two sons of Princess Shouyang. The eldest son Ming Yi just got married last year, and he married Dou Shi, the eldest granddaughter of the Cabinet Lord Dou.The second son, Minghong, is only 13 years old this year, not yet at the age of marriage.

The son-in-law of the eldest princess of Shouyang is surnamed Lan. He is not the son of a famous family, but from a poor family.Back then, Mr. Lan was a Jinshi, and at the Qionglin Banquet, Princess Shouyang caught sight of Mr. Lan, who was dressed in coarse clothes but was handsome, and recruited her as her son-in-law.Dayan's son-in-law is not allowed to participate in politics, and Mr. Lan's official career has come to an end after becoming a son-in-law.

At the beginning, the son-in-law complained a little bit about Princess Shouyang cutting off his official career, and he was a little indifferent towards Princess Shouyang.But Princess Shouyang also has some tricks, and she is sincere to the son-in-law, and finally warms up the prince's heart, so that the son-in-law can put down his prejudices and live with her wholeheartedly.

Princess Shouyang is also very distressed sometimes.It is said that she and her son-in-law have been married for more than [-] years, and the son-in-law has never taken a concubine or messed with women. The husband and wife are loving and have five children.Moreover, she had been favored since she was a child. After the new emperor ascended the throne, she was not neglected because of her mother and concubine.Her life is much better than those sisters who marry into the noble family or the big family, not only to please the mother-in-law and the sister-in-law, but also to prevent the husband from being flirtatious.

But there is also a bad point, the son-in-law's family is powerless, all supported by the favor she got, and when he gets old, he has to help his children to fight for their future.

Concubine Cao Gui sometimes doubted her original decision. She was fond of the son-in-law's character at the beginning, and she didn't dare to bully the princess because she had no power in the family. In addition, it was the person my daughter had her eyes on, so she agreed to recruit him as a son-in-law.Unexpectedly, the relationship between the daughter and the son-in-law is smooth, but the husband-in-law's family has no power, and the future of the grandchildren is not good.

Princess Shouyang continued to sigh: "Speaking of which, children are debts. If the mother and concubine were not for me, why would they take the risk of standing on the side of the emperor?"

Concubine Cao Gui was also very sad when she thought of the days when she was terrified and afraid of the failure to seize the crown all day long.

Concubine Cao Gui said: "Where is the noble concubine, have you ever thought of standing on her side? After all, the eldest prince is much older than the younger brothers below. When the second and third princes below grow up, the eldest prince will be afraid." They have already gathered half of the forces in the court."

Princess Shouyang said: "Mother, you have lived in the palace longer than me, don't you still not see the secrets of the royal family? Let's not talk about the attitude of the noble concubine and Ningguo government, even if I serve in the past now, they are afraid I also don’t remember how many favors I have. Besides, the first prince, he is six years older than the second prince, and seven years older than the third prince. His advantage is that he is older, and his disadvantage is also that he is older. It’s okay for the emperor to be young and powerful. When you are old, don’t you worry about this son who is more energetic and energetic than him, and his mother’s family is also powerful. Look at Dayan’s founding of the country until now, that generation of emperors has ascended the throne as the eldest son. Is it true? It’s all because the eldest son is mediocre and can’t take on the big job, I’m afraid it’s because they are too capable and talented.”

"But although the third prince is raised under the empress, the emperor did not agree to be recorded in the empress's name, and his identity is a bit embarrassing."

"It's not a matter of the emperor's words to remember or not. I don't agree to remember it now, and I will agree in the future. Even if I didn't remember it in the end, but don't forget, he was born by the concubine Jing. Concubines are still somewhat different, not all men are like this, they always have some partiality in their hearts for the children born to their beloved women."

After listening to her daughter's words, Concubine Cao Gui also sighed, and said: "You should discuss this matter with your son-in-law. I will try my best to take care of you in the palace. That's fine, I really don't like the concubine's temper. On the contrary, the queen, at the beginning To allow Concubine Jing to live and do her best to bless her relatives is an act of charity."

The eldest princess of Shouyang looked at her mother who looked well-maintained, but showed a trace of white hair, and couldn't help feeling guilty.Princess Shouyang walked up to her mother and knelt down, leaning her head on her knee, and said, "Mother, it's all because of my daughter's unfilial piety, making you worry about me at such an old age."

Concubine Cao Gui gently stroked her daughter's hair, just like when a daughter ran into her mother's arms to act like a baby when she was young, she stroked her hair and coaxed her over and over again.Those things seemed to have happened yesterday, and in the blink of an eye, her daughter was already a mother, and she was already old.

Concubine Cao Gui said: "What are you talking about? I will keep a drop of your flesh and blood for the rest of my life, and I won't worry about you for anyone else."

The mother and daughter cuddled each other like this. After a long time, Princess Shouyang sat up and said to her mother with red eyes: "It's the daughter who lost her temper!"

Concubine Cao Gui said: "In front of my mother, I am afraid that I will not lose my composure."

Princess Shouyang smiled and said, "Yes." Then she wiped her eyes with a handkerchief.

After a while, Concubine Cao Gui said worriedly: "It's just that I heard that Mr. Lin is not very talented, his reading is average, and his martial arts riding and shooting are not one-tenth of his brother's. Mingyu will marry him." , will you be wronged?"

Princess Shouyang said: "Mother, Master Lin Hou has made great achievements this time, and he is in the limelight. I am afraid that he will be promoted to a third-rank general soon. The current Yongninghou Mansion is no longer the previous Yongninghou Mansion. Dashu It's easy to enjoy the cool down here, the Marquis of Yongning only has this one direct younger brother, wouldn't you help him plan his future? Plus you don't know Mingyu's temper, she's so confused, it can't be compared with Mingli Minghua. Her Temperament is not suitable to be the eldest daughter-in-law, so it is better to marry the second son of the Hou family as the second daughter-in-law. I have met Mrs. Yongning Hou, as long as you don't mess with her, she is a good person to get along with."

Concubine Cao Gui nodded, and said: "Then you can figure it out. It's just that their family is still observing filial piety, so it's hard to talk about marriage, but you can talk to them first, and then do three letters and six ceremonies after the filial piety next year."

Princess Shouyang said: "I know this."

Then he looked at the sky and saw that it was not early, so he said to Concubine Cao Gui: "Mother Concubine, it is getting dark, then I will go out of the palace first, and I will come to see you some other day."

"Then you drink another bowl of lotus seed soup before going out, you don't like the lotus seed soup I made." Then she ordered the maid to pour another bowl of lotus seed soup.

Princess Shouyang drank it hurriedly, and said to her mother, "Then I'm leaving."

Princess Cao Yang nodded and said: "Be careful." Then she ordered the maid beside her to send her daughter out.

After Princess Shouyang left, Concubine Cao Gui sat for a while, and then asked the maid beside her, "Did Concubine Jing carry the Second Princess to greet Ai's family yesterday?"

The maid smiled and replied: "Yes, you said that Xi Jing didn't want to see you, so Concubine Jing asked the little princess to kowtow to you in the hall, and then went back. Concubine Jing is also a person who thinks of kindness. Over the past few years, whether you have seen it or not, I have come to greet you every few days. I used to be alone. After I had a little princess, I brought the little princess with me. Well, I must always be filial to you."

There is a saying about the grace of giving food. When Concubine Jing first entered the palace, she didn't understand anything, and she stumbled along the way.Later, the empress seemed to want to win her over. Concubine Xue Shu at the time and now Concubine Xue Gui designed to frame her to murder the eldest prince, and the emperor threw her into the cold palace in a rage.How hard it is to live in the cold palace, even if Concubine Cao Gui has never been in, it is conceivable that anyone in the palace can step on her, and there are only two maids brought in from the Hou's mansion by her side. Accompany, one of them doesn't look very faithful.

She is afraid that she is often hungry in the cold palace, so she often sneaks into other palaces in the middle of the night to steal food.Once she sneaked to Kanghua Palace, but was caught by the maid on duty at night. Seeing her pity, she let her go back. After that, she was secretly sent some hot meals to her every day.

After Concubine Jing came out of the cold palace, she often came to pay her respects, but she didn't want to participate in the struggle between the queen and Concubine Xue, so she didn't see her very much.And the behavior of Concubine Jing is definitely grateful to her, but it is definitely not all because of gratitude. The women in the palace are pure, kind and harmless.

On the one hand, she was afraid that she also wanted to get her protection or support, and on the other hand, she also wanted to show it to the emperor.So in these years, although she didn't see her often, she never said bluntly that she was not allowed to come over to say hello to her.

Concubine Cao Gui said to the maid beside her: "If Concubine Jing and the Second Princess come again later, you can bring her in to see Ai's family."

The court lady bent her knees and said, "Yes."

The eldest princess of Shouyang returned to the princess mansion, entered her bedroom, and after letting everyone around her go down, she sat in front of the dressing table, untied the red hairpin from her head, then sat on the couch, stretched out her hand and beat herself shoulders.

The outfit she was wearing before weighed a few kilograms at least. After wearing it for a day, her neck and shoulders were a little sore.

The son-in-law came in from the door to see her, so he walked over and sat behind Princess Shouyang, helping her hold her shoulders.

The son-in-law squeezed and asked: "You went into the palace and asked the concubine mother, what is her opinion?"

Princess Shouyang said: "My concubine agrees with us."

The son-in-law said again: "I think let the eldest daughter-in-law go to talk to Mrs. Yongninghou first. Mingyu has the title of county head. Although marrying the second son of the Houfu is considered a low marriage, it is unlikely that the Yongninghoufu will not agree, but we After all, I don't know what Mrs. Yongning Hou Tai thinks, and if we are rejected, we won't lose face too much. It just so happens that their house is still filial, and Mingyu's temper is really worried that she can't be a good wife, so keep her more It’s good to be at home for a few years.”

Princess Shouyang nodded and said, "What you said is very reasonable."

The son-in-law sighed softly, stretched out his hand from the armpit of the eldest princess of Shouyang, hugged her and said, "Speaking of which, I have no ability to make you, a woman, run around planning for the future of your children."

Princess Shouyang reached out and touched her husband's face, and said, "What did you say? I have never regretted marrying you. Compared with my sisters, my husband has made me live happily all these years Well, as for planning for their children, the parents of that family are not like that. On the contrary, husband, I know you are a man of great talent. If you hadn't married me, you wouldn't be stuck in this small place. You can only manage mine The dowry kills the day."

The son-in-law rubbed his wife's face, closed his eyes and said: "The princess is a very good wife, and I have never regretted marrying the princess."

(End of this chapter)