Queen Sun

Chapter 34
As a complete system to maintain the relationship between nobles, the patriarchal system originated from the Zhou Dynasty, that is, "the emperor founded the country, the princes established their families, the ministers set up their concubine, the doctor had two clans, and the scholar had his sons and daughters". The system of distinguishing closeness and closeness, and among them, the "strict distinction between the concubine and the concubine" is regarded as the cornerstone of stabilizing the internal relations of the dynasty. Even in the Wei and Jin Dynasties, people often acted in a wild manner, but the distinction between the concubine and the concubine is still insurmountable.After Li Tang succeeded the Sui Dynasty, he continued to follow the Confucian sacred system, that is, "to establish a son is not to be virtuous, and to establish a son is to be noble, not to be long." On the contrary, in October of the ninth year of Wude, that is, just two months after he ascended the throne, he accepted Qian as the prince at the age of eight.

As the saying goes, "the son is more precious than the mother", from the royal family to the royal family, down to the noble family, the whole reason why Li Chengqian was able to succeed the crown prince was his mother's respect as the empress.But few people know that this has become a deep pain in Concubine Wei's heart for a long time.

Wei Gui's family had been prominent for three generations in the previous dynasty, and as the eldest daughter of Sui Kaifuyi and the third minister of the state of Yun, Wei Yuancheng, even the Li family, who was a relative of the emperor at that time, was not suspected of being superior to her. And the first husband she married was also well-matched, that is, Li Min, the son of Li Zixiong, the Shangshu of the Sui Dynasty. After marriage, she presided over the internal affairs of the Li family as the eldest daughter-in-law, and her status was also detached and noble.But it was only a few years, the father-in-law and husband participated in the rebellion, both were punished, and the family members were lost.Only because of her natal family, she escaped the fate of not being an official servant, and brought her daughter back to her natal home in Luoyang. She fell from the high clouds to a lonely and miserable widow overnight.

So eight years later, when the king of Qin, who was two years younger than herself, reached out to her, she chose to follow him without hesitation.But that sudden dream woke up completely when Wei Gui first saw the eldest grandson Ruoshui. Unlike other women in the palace who were eager to win the favor of their husbands, she used to be the mistress of the family, and she was once another woman. A man's regular wife, wife and concubine, aunt and concubine, this is a natural moat that no one can overcome, so she began to have a sincere relationship with the other real master of this family and treat her faithfully.However, every time, when I look at my only son Li Shen, I can't help but think, if I married another Li family, another man, would everything be completely different now?Her identity doomed her son's future, so how could she let herself feel relieved.

On this day, when Wei Gui was holding the young Li Lian and her son sitting in the gazebo to cool off the heat, several figures approaching from a distance surprised her and carefully put the concubine into the arms of the maid, and then led a group of The son with an excited face went out to pick him up.

In the Zhenguan harem, there are many concubines and many children. Because of this, except for the four direct children born by the queen, the other princes and princesses rarely have the opportunity to get close to their father when they were young. After leaving the court, it is even more difficult to have the opportunity to get along alone. Although Li Shen's status is second only to the crown prince and the fourth prince, the time to see his father is still limited.

Not as pleasantly surprised as her son, Concubine Wei Gui couldn't help but froze slightly when she caught a glimpse of Yang Rui and her two sons.Since Li Fu was adopted, Yang Rui has lived in secluded life for a while, but recently I heard that something seems abnormal, she used to be unsociable, timid and shy, now she often travels between various palaces, but she comes here less.

Li Shimin helped Concubine Wei who was about to salute, and said with a smile: "I was planning to come to see you, and happened to meet Rui'er and the others on the road, so we came together."

Wei Gui welcomed the group to the huge pavilion and sat down, then ordered the maid to bring melons, fruits and herbal tea. She always asked respectfully, "Your Majesty, how is the empress's phoenix body?"

Li Shimin's eyes seemed to pass over Yang Rui's face casually, and he laughed loudly: "The queen is in good health, don't worry."

"Then, Your Majesty, can we visit the Queen?" Yang Rui then interjected softly.

Li Shimin's eyes were slightly cold, but he didn't speak.

For a while, only the sound of three children playing not far from outside could be heard in the pavilion.

Concubine Wei looked at Concubine Yang Xian's embarrassed smile, took Gao Yang who was sleeping beside her with one hand, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty seems to have not seen Lian Er for a long time."

Li Shimin's expression eased, and while slowly hugging Gao Yang, he shook his head to the two people in front of him and said, "I also know your feelings for the queen, but the imperial doctor said that after the second year of Zhenguan, the queen's body has somewhat changed Losing money, now that you are pregnant, you should not be careless, and it will not be too late for you to go to greet the queen when she is confinement."

Yang Rui nodded nunuo, a trace of resentment flashed in her lowered eyes, but soon she smiled and approached the emperor again, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, Gao Yang has grown up so much, remember when..." said At this point, she seemed to have sensed something was wrong, she stopped her mouth immediately, and looked at Concubine Wei consciously.

Concubine Wei's heart trembled, she just pretended she didn't see it and said: "Concubine Xian, the third prince seems to be going to his fief soon, right?"

Before Yang Rui could answer, Li Shimin said with a smile: "After Ke'er gets married, I will go to Sichuan."

"But the prince is not married yet." Wei Gui wondered.

Li Shimin waved his hand and said: "Don't worry about him, after Qingque gets married, you mothers and concubines can also find a wife for your son."

Yang Rui raised a smile, glanced at her son outside, got up and bowed to the emperor, "The concubine thanked His Majesty for his grace on behalf of Ke'er."

In the afternoon, the teahouses in Chang'an City were quite cold.So when Xiao Er, who was bored watching the ants fighting at the door, suddenly saw two men in dark-brown jackets walking slowly, he immediately greeted them excitedly, regardless of whether they happened to be passing by .

Changsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang were walking and chatting, looking at the young man who appeared out of nowhere, they smiled at each other, and went in to have a rest.

"Brother, give us a room." Chu Suiliang ordered gently.

The young man led the two of them up to the second floor neatly, muttering to himself, seeing their clothes, they were just ordinary people, but when he heard their tone of voice and manner of walking, there was a different feeling .But if you say he is a dignitary, he doesn't have the kind of arrogance and superiority that he has seen in his daily life.

Changsun Wuji looked around, pointed to the front and said, "Just the innermost one."

Chu Suiliang nodded, took out some broken silver and handed it to Xiao Er, "Give us a pot of tea and some snacks."

Xiao Er cleverly took the silver reward for himself, and went downstairs.

When the two of them sat down on the seats by the window, they couldn't help but let out a long breath, Changsun Wuji said first: "It's thanks to Ruoshui that I have to meet you outside."

Chu Suiliang smiled bitterly: "After that day, she didn't make things difficult for you, did she?"

"She..." Changsun Wuji was about to speak, but was interrupted by the sound of pushing the door, it was Xiaoer who came in with tea.

The young man poured tea for the guests graciously, and then gently closed the door for them.

Changsun Wuji took a sip of tea, frowned and said, "The man is good, but this tea is too..."

Chu Suiliang also took a sip, shook his head and said, "It's a bit astringent, but there is still a fragrance in it, which is not bad."

Changsun Wuji put down the tea cup disapprovingly, and continued, "After you left that day, Ruoshui didn't even mention you."

The cup in Chu Suiliang's hand trembled slightly, then smiled lightly and said, "Then what are you worried about?"

"That's what I'm most worried about." Changsun Wuji glanced at his friend, "The way she looked at you that day, she seemed to have lost her soul. But then she didn't say a word in front of me, either she I really didn't recognize you, otherwise she might know something in her heart."

Chu Suiliang drank the tea in the cup and said shyly, "I hope it's not the latter."

"You, I'm afraid you don't think so." Changsun Wuji poured another glass of water for the other party, "Forget it, don't mention this, do you know why we quarreled again that day?"

Chu Suiliang settled his thoughts and said with a light smile, "You brothers and sisters also have disputes?"

Ignoring Suiliang's teasing, Changsun Wuji lowered his voice and said: "If Ruoshui is pregnant with a boy, then we have to follow our eldest grandson's family name, do you think it is absurd?"

For a while, there was silence in the compartment, and Chu Suiliang stared out of the window in a daze, as if he was talking to himself, "His Majesty agrees?"

Changsun Wuji understood what he was asking, and sighed softly: "Yes, Your Majesty has taken all the responsibility. Although only four people in the world know about this matter, after all, paper can't cover fire, once it is announced to the world , don't make a big mess?"

Seeing that Chu Suiliang didn't speak, Wuji said helplessly: "Ruoshui really doesn't know what he's thinking. He used to persuade my uncle and I to resign and thank him, but now, our family might have a son named eldest grandson."

"She is afraid." Chu Suiliang said calmly, "She must have gone on the ninth year of Wude."

Changsun Wuji suddenly felt a tightness in his chest, and suddenly raised his head to stare at Suiliang's eyes with shallow tenderness, and said slowly: "Suiliang, if Ruoshui married you back then, maybe many things would not happen now. But……"

"I understand what you want to say, Wuji." Chu Suiliang interrupted, "I didn't expect anything extravagantly. As long as I can treat Guanyin's maid like this today, I will be satisfied."

"Now, they are really getting along with each other." Changsun Wuji took a sip of tea, and his tone became a little distant, "But that year, I really thought she would not be able to hold on."

"The second year of Zhenguan?"

Wuji closed his eyes to hide the sadness in it, and said softly, "It was the moment when Qi Wang Li Yuanji died in the ninth year of Wude."

Chu Suiliang showed real surprise on his face: "Li Yuanji?"

"Look for yourself." Changsun Wuji took out a small scroll from his sleeve, "This is King Qi."

Chu Suiliang took it suspiciously, unfolded it gently, knowing that this thing is now forbidden, when his eyes touched the man in the painting, he couldn't help being shocked, and raised his hand to touch his eyes: "Wuji, this ..."

Changsun Wuji couldn't bear it and said: "Now do you know what I'm afraid of? In the second year of Zhenguan, it was Ruoshui who didn't want to live any longer. You are not in this game, so you don't know at all. Now it's so harmonious How hard it is, and how fragile it is.”

Chu Suiliang took a deep breath, lowered his eyes and said: "In this life, I will never enter the court and become an official."

"Suiliang, the three of us grew up together. You know Ruoshui's temperament best when she was a child. After a lot of effort, she seems to have regained her previous appearance. I will not allow anyone to destroy her." Changsun Wuji He said heavily, "You must be able to understand, right?"

Chu Suiliang clenched his fists, and after a long time, he slowly let go, and said indifferently, "Wuji, let's go."

Changsun Wuji nodded silently, got up and followed behind him, his expression firm but with a hint of sadness.No one knows right and wrong between them better than myself, and no one looks forward to seeing the happiness of his sister more than himself, not only because of his father's entrustment before he died, but also because of the pulsation between the blood and the loneliness. Helping each other and cuddling each other.

When the two of them stepped out of the wine shop, there were gradually more passers-by on the street. Chu Suiliang was about to bid farewell to Wuji, but he saw a smile on his face, and said to himself behind him: "Old Fang, What a coincidence."

Fang Xuanling also greeted with a smile: "I happened to pass by, Wuji, who is this?"

Changsun Wuji seemed to have realized it suddenly, pointed to Chu Suiliang and said, "This is a friend of mine in Luoyang. His surname is Chu and his name is Suiliang." Fang Xuanling, Master Fang."

Before Chu Suiliang could respond, Fang Xuanling looked at him in surprise: "So this is Mr. Chu?"

"Suiliang is just a commoner, so he can't afford to be a gentleman." Chu Suiliang replied calmly.

Fang Xuanling said with a smile: "Even the queen asked me if there is a famous calligrapher named Chu Suiliang in the imperial court, Mr. Chu need not be humble."

Both Chu Suiliang and Zhangsun Wuji had expressions of astonishment on their faces, and it was Zhangsun Wuji who asked, "Queen? Old Fang, are you joking?"

Fang Xuanling pretended to be dissatisfied and said, "Wuji, would I talk nonsense about this kind of thing? Since Mr. Chu is still your friend, I feel more at ease in recommending him to the emperor."

"Hehe." Changsun Wuji didn't know what to say for a while, so he could only perfunctoryly say, "That's really troublesome Xuanling."

Fang Xuanling looked at Chu Suiliang's upright and calm demeanor, and said with satisfaction: "Your Majesty is most eager for talents, and Mr. Chu can make a big splash." After speaking, he cupped his hands and said, "Then you talk again, and I will leave first gone."

At this time, the sun was still very basking, but the two people standing under the sun felt a faint chill in their bones.

(End of this chapter)