take a wife to support the family

Chapter 304 Returning to See the Emperor 2
When entering the court to meet the emperor, one must walk quickly in small steps, which is called "drive". Except for the emperor, prince and princess, only Xinwang and his wife are eligible to ride in the Forbidden City.

Song Haonian followed King Xin to the Qianqing Palace to meet the emperor, and Baihe followed Princess Xin to the Kunning Palace to meet the Empress Zhang. As if she was hugged by her nurse, she followed Lily: Today Princess Zhou is wearing a lot of make-up, her hair is full of jewels, and she is wearing a grand dress Casual clothes, not holding children; Lily also wears a full set of jewelry, so as not to be rude in front of the empress.

Concubine Xin saw that Baihe was nervous, she just thought that she had never seen the empress Fengyan before, she was a little scared, so she didn't care much, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty is very kind, don't be afraid."

Lily clenched her fist secretly, trying to calm herself down.

The chariot slowly drove into the gate of the palace. Princess Zhou, Lily and the nursing mother stepped on the embroidered pier to get out of the car. A palace lady was waiting by her side to lead them into Kunning Palace.

The queen was sitting in the main hall of Kunning Palace, Lily didn't dare to look up, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a string of round pearls on the hem of the skirt of the casual dress, which dazzled people's eyes.

Concubine Zhou has a lot of face in front of the queen. After she watched the seat, Lily had to pay her respects to the queen, and said in her mouth: "Master Li, pay respects to the empress."

The queen's voice was soft: "This is brother Xuan's daughter-in-law? Look up and let me see."

Lily held her breath, followed the female officer's instructions, raised her face slightly, her eyes drooped and she didn't dare to look directly at the queen, and only fell on the pattern of auspicious animals, flowers and birds embroidered on her green knee skirt.

The queen laughed again: "We are a family of flesh and blood, why bother to see outsiders, just raise your eyes and have a look with me."

Only then did Lily dare to raise her eyes, and saw that the queen was wearing a golden hair crown inlaid with red jewels, dressed in a big red python coat and a green-knee skirt, dressed as casual clothes.

This queen is a well-known beauty, her face is like Guanyin, her eyes are like autumn waves, her mouth is like vermilion cherry blossoms, she is dignified and beautiful.She looked into Lily's eyes with a smile, and saw that she was slightly nervous, but her eyes were clear, she was not like those treacherous and evil people, and she was not dazzled by wealth, so she nodded and said with a smile: "She is a good girl."

Concubine Zhou said: "Your Majesty doesn't know, this child was terribly afraid all the way, it seems like my concubine wants to trick her into eating her alive with your Majesty. Seeing Majesty Fengyan now, I know that we are also the same with two noses." A person with only one eye has never had three heads and six arms."

Lily blushed and bowed her head, the queen asked the maid to show Lily a seat, and asked the wet nurse to bring Ruzhen up.

Before entering the palace, the wet nurse has cleaned up Ruzhen inside and out to ensure that he will not shit and pee in front of the queen. This kid loves bright colors, and he doesn't cry when he is handed into the queen's arms. He just stares at her hair crown Full-bodied ruby ​​look.

The queen only talked about the family affairs with Princess Zhou and Baihe, and asked: "How is your family? How do you live in the countryside? We"

Most empresses and concubines of the Ming Dynasty came from good folk families. They selected the daughters of wealthy households and small officials near the capital to fill the palace. After years of guidance and education by female officials, they were able to serve the emperor and mother.

Both Empress Zhang and Princess Zhou were born in the common people, and they are not high-ranking families, but their families have a small fortune. They have never seen a family like the Li family in Liushan Village selling children and daughters, and they don't know that Song Haonian lived in the folk How to get it.

Lily said: "My natal family is really not a wealthy family. Two years ago, I was so poor that I couldn't even afford food. My mother was determined to sell the three of my sisters for a good price so that I could save money for my brothers. Brother has a good heart, but he knows how to love us."

He also said: "I just got married at the New Year's Eve. I was afraid that he would be too scared, and that he would hit me if he disagreed. It would be better later on. He is not a bad-tempered person. He looks fierce, but treats people very well." it is good."

The queen couldn't help but wonder: "What are you afraid of him doing? Can a dignified man beat a woman to show off his prestige?"

Concubine Zhou burst out laughing: "This is how rare and strange it is for the empress. For folk couples, it is common for husbands to beat their wives. If you don't believe me, ask brother Xuan and his daughter-in-law."

Lily also nodded and said: "Your Majesty is a person who lives in the Heavenly Palace. I don't know that there is a class of the most worthless men in our country. They either suffer from outside, or they can't earn a family. If they catch their wives, they will beat them up. Take it out."

The Queen said: "If Chang Ping finds out, kill their lower half!"

Princess Changping was brought up on horseback by the emperor as a child, and she was born with a violent temper. She was more like his father than the prince. If she knew about this, those men who had to compete with their wives would not One can win in her hands.

Princess Zhou also said: "Changping is right about one thing. People still have to study to understand it. For example, if we teach young children and officials, we will understand the principles of husband and wife, mutual respect and love. A villain doesn’t know that a man has to love his wife, and a woman doesn’t know how to respect her husband, take care of her husband and teach her children, so don’t you want to make a lot of embarrassing things?”

When Princess Zhou fled to Nanjing, she saw some people's sufferings along the way, and she knew better than Queen Zhou.

The two sisters-in-law sighed at each other, and then asked Lily: "You guys had such a hard life before, how did it go?" Although the news reported by Chen Bin was clear, it was not as vivid as what Lily said with his own ears.

Lily smiled and told how Song Haonian went out to sell goods, hunt and make leather, and how she picked wild fruits and vegetables at home to satisfy her hunger. She articulated clearly, although she was not as elegant as an ordinary lady, listen It's also comfortable.

Later, she talked about raising chickens and ducks at home, ordering tofu, etc. She focused on the interesting parts and talked about all the troubles and hardships encountered in these years. Both Queen Zhang and Princess Zhou listened.

If he really couldn't stay longer, the queen called a female official to carry him to the warm pavilion, "Take out the things the prince used when he was a child and let him play."

The Queen and Princess Zhou kept urging Baihe to ask her what to say. Lily drank tea while talking, and unknowingly downed two cups of tea, feeling a little urgent to urinate.

The queen was still asking: "Have you ever caught a rabbit?"

Lily showed embarrassment: "Mother, forgive the woman for being abrupt, but the woman must go and change clothes once."

The queen was taken aback, and hurriedly called the female officer over, took Lily to clean the room, and said to Princess Zhou, "Although I grew up among the people, I'm not evil, and I'm a generous person."

Princess Zhou said: "I'm afraid we are ordinary, but she is a bit generous in her fear. The most rare thing is to have a clear mind. In addition, Brother Xuan looks at her like eyeballs, so I found Brother Xuan. I don't want to be a villain. Brother Xuan bears the grudge, and simply recognizes this daughter-in-law."

The queen said: "The folks say that a poor friend should never be forgotten, and a poor wife will not go to court. When brother Xuan is in the most difficult time, she is the only one who is willing to share the troubles. Now her status is different from the past. If she is immediately forgotten, she will be frivolous."

The two most honorable women in Ming Dynasty gathered together to discuss the matter of Lily, and at the end they could only agree: Song Haonian had identified this daughter-in-law, and Li Shi had never done anything wild and rebellious. Some, but that's all.

When Lily came back from the clean room, she felt that the queen and Princess Zhou treated her more kindly than before. The queen asked how she was used to living in Beijing these days, and Lily said: "If you talk about life, the countryside can't be compared with the capital. Bi, the food and clothing these past few days are all rich and noble that I have never seen in my life, which really dazzles me. As far as the climate is concerned, Beijing is drier and cooler than Taiping County, and the flowering period is later."

Concubine Zhou said: "Exactly. I was in Taiping County a few years ago, and I only felt that the place was humid and warm. Even in winter, it wasn't as cold as Beijing."

The queen laughed and said: "It's not a coincidence for you to come. I'm afraid there will be wind and sand in a few days. At that time, I really won't even be able to leave the door. Just let me go, if it's true, you have to be careful, don't let him be blown by the wind." on."

Lily nodded quickly and said yes, she had heard about the severe sandstorms in Beijing in her previous life, but she hadn't really experienced it here. Listening to the queen, I'm afraid children can't stand such a big sandstorm.

Several people chatted and laughed for a while, the queen called a female official and said: "Go to Qianqing Palace and ask the emperor for me, I haven't seen Brother Xuan yet, why is he holding Brother Xuan from coming to see me?"

The female officer smiled and joked: "I'm afraid that the emperor will be so happy when he sees His Highness that he won't let go. Don't worry, empress, this servant will go right away."

The queen said: "Ruzhen is still here with me. If the emperor does not come, he is not allowed to see his nephew and grandson!"

The female official hurriedly went to the Qianqing Palace to deliver a message for the empress. When Lily heard that the emperor was coming, she became nervous again. The empress glanced at her and said, "The emperor is used to not caring about women, so you don't need to be afraid of him."

Lily said in a low voice: "When we were at home, we only heard that the emperor is very brave and the women are dull, so we were afraid of provoking the anger of the emperor."

The queen said: "There is me."

He also said to Princess Zhou: "I think Brother Xuan's and daughter-in-law's hairstyle looks like yours?"

Concubine Zhou nodded: "She is young, and she looks bright wearing these things. What do I save those heads for? Why don't I distribute them to these children, and I am happy to see them."

"You are ten years younger than me, and you said these things in front of me." The queen said angrily, "Since you said that, I will also give two sets of face masks to Brother Xuan and his daughter-in-law, so as to save you from gossiping around and saying that I did this." My aunt doesn't love my nephew and daughter-in-law."

Lily thanked her quickly, and the queen said: "It's your mother and concubine who tortured me."

A few people also talked about the fashions of clothes that are popular in Beijing today. Lily couldn't get in the conversation, but they listened with great interest. When the empress and Princess Zhou were talking, she set the clothes for Lily in four seasons, and asked Gong'e to write them down, "Take Xuan back later." Brother and daughter-in-law go to measure their bodies, and they will be available in a few days."

Song Haonian has not yet obtained an official title, and everyone knows that he has a high status, so the couple can only make folk-style things, not royal ones.

Thinking of this, the empress sent someone to urge the emperor: "Ask the emperor, if there is no one else, I will ask someone to make clothes for the princess of the county for brother Xuan's daughter-in-law."

Li Baihe is a civilian woman. The biggest idea in her life is to be a landlady. There are three or five people at home to help with the work. How can she think that she will be a princess of the county one day?
Rao had known that Song Hao was a county king when she was young, but she was still startled, and quickly stood up and declined: "Mother, mother's rewards these days have made me feel uneasy, and today my mother bestowed such good things, how can I be Affordable? We haven't been filial for a few days, and we really feel sorry for Bai Rao's stuff."

Suddenly a majestic voice from outside the door said: "Your Majesty and your things, you keep them, what can you afford?"

(End of this chapter)